The Vape UK guide to the pros and cons of Vape PODs and compacts

2 November 2019

By: Nicola Webster

The pros and cons of vape pods and compacts

Ultra Portable POD systems have been taking the vaping world by storm. Read our guide to vape pods and compacts to see if they’re right for you.

There are almost 3 million e-cigarette user in the UK - and the number is rising year on year. Of these vapers, over half have stopped smoking completely, and a further 750,000+ have successfully given up both smoking and vaping.


This is fantastic news! Quitting rates have improved massively since the rise of vaping; to the point where the UK smoking rate is the second lowest in the EU.


Vaping offers a real, and enjoyable, alternative to smoking. However, recent studies show that some wannabe vapers face a couple of hurdles which inevitably lead them back to the ciggies. The first barrier to success is the inefficiency of cheap vape equipment. The second is the complexity of modern box mods.

Buy cheap, buy twice!

Seasoned cig quitters will have tried all the methods on offer to get off the fags. From sprays to patches, gum to hypnosis - we’ve all been there, with varying levels (and lengths) of success. It’s little wonder then that a certain amount of scepticism will exist when making the decision to try vaping as the next quitting method.


With this scepticism may come an unwillingness to fork out a heap of cash on a quality bit of vaping kit. However, buying cheap vape pens ‘just to see if this vaping malarkey is for me’, comes with its own issues. Leaking, poor flavour delivery, short battery life; all of these arise from sacrificing quality and can, unfortunately, lead to yet another unsuccessful quitting attempt. The kit goes in the bin, and you’re probably put off from vaping for life.

What does this button do again?

As a smoker, when a craving hits you just need to nip outside, grab a cigarette out of your packet (or make a quick rollie) and light the end. So it’s understandable that newbie vapers can be put off by all the extra work required to get their nicotine fix.


Priming coils, cleaning tanks, adjusting airflow, finding the right wattage, charging batteries, learning about Ohm's Law (!) - it can all seem a bit of a daunting effort just to get a hit.


Fortunately, the solution to these known hurdles is now available. POD systems have arrived to save the day - and we think they offer the perfect solution for beginner vapers to help ease them into the world of vaping.

What are vape PODs?

Also known as ultra-portables, e-cig pods, pod mods, or compacts, vape PODs offer a fantastic middle ground between the cheap petrol station vape pen and the £70 variable wattage box mod.


Vape PODs are equipped with cartridges that come ready built with the coil, wick and e-liquid in place. Essentially you just need to plug and go.


As with any new vaping innovation, there are pros and cons. Let’s explore these further so you can make a more informed decision as to whether Vape PODs might be the quitting solution you’ve been hoping for.

PROS

Vape PODs are convenient AF!

Pod mods are ridiculously convenient. The cartridges are like tiny bottles of high quality e-liquid that just pop into the compact device. You can carry multiple flavours around with you and switch them around whenever you feel like a change, without worrying about flavour mixing.

Vape PODs allow you to sub-ohm

Despite their small stature, some POD cartridges come with a sub-ohm coil which allows you to vape higher VG liquids, delivering more delicious flavour per puff. This is a massive leap in technology from the cheap vape pens which only take +1.0 ohm coils.

Vape PODs deliver a stronger nicotine hit

In standard vape kit, flavour delivery is best when using a sub-ohm tank with a high VG e-liquid. However, sub-ohm tanks are not recommended for use with vape juice containing more than 6mg of nicotine - which often is not high enough when you first quit smoking.


Vape PODs were developed using nicotine salt e-liquids which can deliver a much higher concentration of nicotine without compromising flavour.

Vape PODs are leak-proof

Seasoned vapers have all experienced the dreaded leaky tank in their vaping lifetimes. With POD systems, however, this issue is a thing of the past. Since Vape PODs are pre-built, there is no chance of you pulling it out of your pocket to find that the vape juice has leaked all over you.

Vape PODs more closely replicate smoking

Many POD systems are activated by your breath, rather than pressing a button. Like the nicotine inhalers of yesteryear (but miles better) this action provides a more authentic smoking experience for recent smoking converts.

CONS

Vape PODs have small capacities

Since the introduction of the TPD regulations in May 2016, UK vapers have had to get used to being restricted to 2 ml tank capacity (with tank extensions as an optional extra). While many of the latest POD systems can also take 2 ml of vape juice, the smallest versions contain 1 ml or less.

Vape PODs have shorter battery life

If you’re looking for longevity, box mods will beat other vaping devices, hands down. An average vaper will get a couple of days from a single charge of a mod cell. Compare that to a Pod Mod where you’ll get around three hours of use from a fully charged unit.


If you’re planning to use a POD system exclusively, you might want to consider carrying round a spare on a night out.

Overall, ultra-portable Vape PODs offer a fantastic solution for beginner vapers, and vaping veterans alike. Whether you’re looking for something discreet when out and about, or wanting a reliable option to help you quit the cigs for good, POD systems could be just the thing for you.


We are constantly expanding our product range to make sure that everyone who wants to quit smoking for good has the best possible chance. If you want to chat about the best solution for your particular needs, get in touch. We’re always happy to help!

2 November 2019 Nicola Webster

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