Switching From Disposable To Refillable Vapes

If you’re a disposable vaper who’s looking for something a little more long-term, then there’s plenty of routes you can go down. But why make the switch from disposable vapes to refillable vape kits and e-liquid?

Well, for starters, we’ve got the disposable ban coming up in June 2025, so there’s that to consider. But even in the meantime, there’s a whole host of reasons for you to make the switch.

Whether you’re looking to save the environment or your wallet, we’re going to cover all the reasons you might want to invest in a refillable device.

Cost Savings

One of the biggest reasons people ditch the disposable vapes for refillable vape kits is how much money it saves.

Typically costing around £6 or more at your local corner shop, disposables might not seem so expensive at first. But when you weigh them up against using vape juice, the cost really starts to add up.

In a standard disposable vape, you’re only getting 2ml of e-liquid, which works out to around £2-£3 per ml.

Conversely, a 10ml bottle of premium e-liquid will usually cost less than 40p per ml, which is less than a fifth of what you’d be paying for even the cheapest disposables on the market!

Yes, the initial cost of a refillable pod kit (for example) will be higher. But once you’ve got that out of the way, you’ll soon start to notice the cost savings.

Environmental Benefits

If the cost of disposable vapes doesn’t bother you, maybe their environmental impact will.

We puff through around three billion disposable vapes each year, and they all contain lithium-ion batteries that could otherwise be re-used.

In fact, the amount of electronic waste that the batteries in disposables produce is enough for 1,200 electric cars to run on!

Not only that, but most modern disposable vapes aren’t the easiest to recycle, and it can be quite pricey too.

This is due to their single-unit design, which makes separating the battery from the device pretty difficult.

When lithium-ion batteries and plastic waste don’t get recycled, it can have disastrous effects on the ecosystem — like water pollution and much more.

Flavours & Strengths

Disposable vape ranges often come with a limited selection of flavours. While there are a lot of different disposables out there, let’s be honest— most ranges tend to stick to a familiar set of flavours, offering little variety.

By switching to a reusable kit, however, you unlock access to thousands of e-liquid flavours, providing endless opportunities to explore and find your favourites.

In addition to flavour variety, disposables typically offer a narrow range of strengths. The vast majority come in a 20mg nicotine strength, and you might find a 10mg one if you’re lucky.

Refillable vape kits, on the other hand, allow you to choose from a wide array of nicotine levels. This flexibility not only caters to your preferred e-liquid strength, but also enables you to gradually reduce your nicotine strength over time if you wish.

Best Vape Kits To Switch To

Pod Vape Kits & Starter Kits

Starter Kits, including most refillable pod kits and vape pens, require filling with e-liquid before their first use and need to be refilled whenever the pod runs empty.

These devices come in a wide variety of styles, each offering different designs and varying levels of complexity based on your preferences and needs.

For built-in coil pod kits with inhale activation, the process is incredibly simple: fill the pod with e-liquid, attach it to the device, wait a few minutes for the coil to saturate, and then inhale through the mouthpiece.

Replaceable coil devices, on the other hand, require a bit more preparation. Before first use, you’ll need to prime the coil by soaking it in vape juice. Additionally, the coil will need to be replaced once it starts tasting burnt or stops producing vapour.

If you’re looking to keep things simple, built-coil pod kits are the ideal choice. However, if long-term cost savings are your priority, a vape kit that uses replaceable coils may be the better option.

Can’t decide what refillable pod kit to get? We’d go for the GeekVape Sonder Q2 Pod Kit. Its pods’ built-in coils and easy top-filling design offer a hassle-free experience, while compatibility with nic salts means that you can enjoy all of your favourite disposable bar salt flavours.

Plus, it’s just £8.99!

Prefilled Pod Kits

One of the key qualities of disposable vapes that draws new vapers to them is their simplicity. You don’t have to bother with refills, nor do you have to fiddle around changing coils.

prefilled pod kits are a great starting point for switching from disposable vapes, since these vaping devices are almost as easy to use, not as expensive and don’t take as much as a toll on the environment.

Prefilled pod kits like the SKE Crystal Plus Airflow Edition Pod Kit, or the Lost Mary Tappo Pod Kit, make use of pre-filled pods that contain built-in coils.

So, all you have to do to get started is pop a vape pod in and replace it with a new one when it’s run out of e-liquid.

Just like disposable vapes, most prefilled pod kits are inhale activated, so there aren’t any buttons or settings to deal with — simply puff on the mouthpiece to vape. You just have to remember to charge your device and replace the pod when its empty.

The flavour, draw, and simplicity of these devices closely mimic the experience of using disposable vapes, making the transition feel seamless.

Once you’ve become accustomed to them, you might consider upgrading to refillable pod kits, which can save you even more money in the long run.

Big Puff Vapes

Big Puff Vapes came about as a handy way of circumventing TPD (Tobacco Products Directive) regulations that put a 2ml capacity limit on vapes and pods.

Not only are big puff vapes equipped with a rechargeable battery (excluding the IVG 2400), but they’re capable of delivering more puffs than standard disposable vapes, making them both a more cost-effective and greener alternative.

Some come in form of 4-in-1 devices, like the Lost Mary 4 in 1 Pod Kit or SKE Crystal 4 In 1 2400 Pod Kit. These types of big puff vape come with four pre-filled pods that you load into the device’s built-in chamber.

Each 2ml pod delivers 600 puffs each (like disposable vape kits), which adds up to 2400 puffs in total. Just vape a pod until its empty, and then switch to a new on by rotating the top of the device.

The other types of big puff vapes are devices that come with a 10ml refill container, such as the Zap! Instafill, IVG Smart 5500, or Lost Mary BM6000.

A 10ml bottle of e-liquid is either included with or built into the device, supplementing the 2ml prefilled vape pod.

When the pod is empty, simply tilt the device upside down for the refill container to do its job. The Instafill has a button that you need to press to activate the vacuum pump, but the rest of the refill container vapes we mentioned don’t.

If we had a to pick one to recommend one, we’d have to go with the Lost Mary BM6000, it delivers up to 6000 puffs! Not only that, but you can still enjoy all of your favourite Lost Mary flavours.

Want to learn more about the big puff vapes we have available? Check out our Brief Guide To Big Puff Vapes!

Sub Ohm Kits & Vape Mods

We’ve talked about some options for MTL (Mouth To Lung) vaping, but what about DTL (Direct To Lung)?

If you’re about to switch from disposable vapes, then chances are that you’re an MTL vaper who likes that tighter, cigarette-like draw and discreet level of vapour production.

But after vaping for a while, you might fancy yourself as a bit of a cloud-chaser, as many more experienced vapers do.

Sub ohm kits and mods are usually a bit more complex and hands-on than than an MTL pod vape kit or vape pen, which is why we don’t generally recommend them to beginners.

But if you don’t mind a bit more of a learning curve, they could be well worth considering. They bring significant advantages that make them a favorite among experienced vapers.

If you want to learn more about the differences between MTL and DTL vaping, reading our Beginners Guide To Vaping Styles will come in handy.

Anyway, one of the standout benefits of sub ohm kits or mods is their extended battery life, which often far surpasses that of pod systems.

Mods also feature excellent airflow control and a wide power range, giving you the flexibility to fine-tune your vaping experience.

Depending on the device you go for, you’ll have the option for either a Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) or Direct-to-Lung (DTL) inhale. For those chasing large vapor clouds, a mod and tank system is the ideal choice.

Another key advantage of mods is the level of control they offer. Many modern mods come equipped with features that allow you to switch between modes, adjusting the difficulty and tailoring the device to your needs. This makes them versatile, capable of satisfying new and seasoned vapers alike.

While much attention is given to their functionality—and rightly so—many users are drawn to mods for their aesthetics.

With their bulkier and more substantial design, mods provide a striking visual appeal that sets them apart from the sleek and minimalist pod kits.

If you’re interested in trying sub ohm vaping devices, the Geekvape Aegis Legend 3 Vape Kit would be a good starting point.

Best E-Liquids For Switching From Disposable Vapes

When it comes the recreating the taste and feel of disposable vapes, the e-liquid that you pick is crucial. Let’s go through some points you might want to consider.

Nicotine Type

Disposable vapes offer a smooth throat feeling and a fast way of delivering nicotine, thanks to their use of nicotine salts. So, opting for a nic salt e-liquid is the best way of replicating the disposable vaping experience in refillable vapes.

Not only do nicotine salts deliver a smoother throat hit, but they’re available in higher nicotine strengths too. This is ideal if you’re trying to quit smoking.

Want to replicate the taste of disposable vapes more closely? Disposable bar salts use higher flavour concentrations than standard nic salts, recreating the most popular flavours found in disposable vapes.

For a more comprehensive comparison of the two different types of nicotine, have a quick read of our Nic Salts Vs Freebase E-Liquids guide.

VG:PG Ratio

Vape juice consists of a blend of VG (vegetable glycerin) and PG (propylene glycol).

When switching from disposable to refillable vapes, you’ll want to go for juices that contain 50% PG or more.

These e-liquids work best with low-powered pod kits and starter vapes, and are ideal for MTL (Mouth To Lung) vaping.

The only exception is when using higher-powered mods or sub ohm kits.

These devices perform best with high VG e-liquids, such as shortfills, typically mixed to a 70/30 VG:PG concentration for DTL (Direct To Lung) vaping with sub ohm vape kits.

Nicotine Strength

Ideally, you’ll want to match the nicotine strength of your e-liquid to the disposable you’ve been using for a smoother transition to refillable vape kits and e-liquids.

If you’ve been purchasing disposables without paying much attention to the nicotine strength, you’re probably vaping 20mg (2%).

If that’s the case, selecting e-liquids in the closest available strength will result in a similar level of craving satisfaction.

If you’re unsure and need a hand picking a nicotine strength that works for you, feel free to check out our What Nicotine Strength Is Right For Me? guide

Summary

Disposables haven’t had the best reputation as of late, especially with the UK disposable vape ban in 2025 looming over us. But, you’ve got to hand it to them for helping tens and thousands of people stop smoking cigarettes.

That said, you’ll hopefully be now more aware of the impact they have on both the environment and your bank account. Plus, there’s more to the world of vape flavours than the limited selection that disposables offer.

If you’ve already managed to ditch the cigarettes for disposables, it might be time move onto refillable vape devices.

If you’re in need of a direct vape kit or e-liquid recommendation, or just need any help in general, feel free to contact us!