What’s the difference? Pod Kits vs Box Mod Kits vs Disposables

Each have their own pros and cons but it really depends on the user

14 January 2022 | Hannah Rubery

If you’re new to the vaping scene or perhaps just dipped your toes in, you’d be forgiven for not knowing all the lingo when it comes to vaping. You may have already heard mention of pods and tanks, and certainly you’ve heard of disposables, but let’s break down exactly what they are, and which could be best for you.

DISPOSABLE DEVICES

You’ve certainly either tried or heard of these before. The convenient and easy way to first begin vaping when switching from smoking, disposable devices offer a cheap and simple solution for nicotine cravings. Pre-filled and with built-in batteries that are pre-charged, these devices are ready to go straight from the box. Generally, they tend to last most vapers 2-3 days, heavy vapers even less, which can make using these often quite costly. But there’s no denying that the portability and ease of use make these exceptional for first-time vapers thinking of quitting smoking.

POD DEVICES

Pod devices, or Pods for short, are E-Cigarettes that are rechargeable and come equipped with small pod cartridges. These cartridges hold not only your E-Liquid but the coils used to vaporise the E-Liquid. Pods are available either as open pods (refillable with coil already installed), closed pods (pre-filled) and open pods with replaceable coils. For this reason, these devices lend themselves to those new to vaping but are looking for a more cost-effective way to vape than disposables.

Pod devices also lend themselves to stealth vaping as they’re not built with creating large puffs of clouds in mind. Instead, these devices are the nicotine delivering machines that are guaranteed to give you that hit you crave when trying to quit smoking.

BOX MOD KITS

These are designed for the full vaping experience. Built with sub-ohm vaping in mind, these high powered, high wattage devices tend to produce an abundance of clouds. Mod Boxes are just the power behind the kit, there are also separate parts such as the tank that are required but can be bought together as complete kits. They offer extreme personalisation due to the ability to interchange parts to tailor your vape to your needs, making them perfect for tailoring to MTL (Mouth-to-Lung) or DTL (Direct-to-Lung) vaping. Whether you prefer a heavy hit, thicker clouds, stronger flavours or more, you can make it your way with a box mod kit. For this reason, they tend to be more for those who have already experienced vaping or show a keen interest in them – we promise once you start researching how to build your own coils and the benefits of a vape mod, you’ll soon be hooked.

EASE OF USE

When comparing how easy to use, an important aspect for those who are first-time vapers, disposables will always win hands down. These slim, convenient devices were developed with ease of use in mind. It can’t get much easier than simply picking one up, popping it out of the box and giving it a good draw on as you would a cigarette. Most operate on draw-activation making them feel just like traditional smoking; a familiar habit and familiar feeling can be what helps many make the leap from smoking to vaping.

On the other end of the spectrum, a box mod device may be a little too much for first-time vapers as there are requirements to upkeeping them. They do however offer the most customisable approach to vaping and are perfect for sub-ohm vaping which is more tailored towards advanced vapers. They also offer the ability to change parts, change the wattage of your device, install new mods, atomisers and much more, all of which can be a bit much for a new vaper.

The true middle ground, pod devices can be just as easy to use as disposables. Many offer a simple button press to fire up the device, but many recent models also include draw-activation. Running these is simple, just charge when you need to, pop out a used cartridge and replace with another to continue vaping.

MAINTENANCE

Disposable devices require no maintenance due to them being ready to go from the box, and once all the E-Liquid has gone or the battery has died, they can be disposed of. It’s important to note though that due to them containing lithium batteries, you should still take proper care when handling these devices to ensure your own safety. If your disposable device starts to feel overly warm or you notice that it is leaking, discard it immediately. Never use a disposable device if it looks damaged or if it has leaked.

Box Mod kits have a tank that requires to be refilled with E-Liquid, coils and cotton to be replaced once they start to burn, plus cleaning to ensure your device is safe to use and of course hygienic. Maintaining these types of devices can seem like a chore but many who invest in these types of devices find it fast becoming a hobby. Rather than just maintenance, many vapers look to improve their vape mods but as these are electrical devices you must handle them with care and proper research.

Pod devices can be just as easy to use as disposables without the worry of replacing parts other than your pod/cartridge. A feat that is usually easy to do by simply popping out the old pod and clicking the new one into place. There’s no fussing with replacing coils (unless you buy the more environmentally friendly pods with replaceable coils) or cleaning out tanks here, but you will need to recharge your device when it’s running low.

EXPERIENCE

Now the master of the vape experience will always go to the Box Mod kit simply because of the sheer customisability they offer. Being able to tailor a vape to your needs and desires is always going to offer a premium experience. And if you’re one of those who also likes to chase clouds then Box Mod kits are going to be your thing.

Pod kits offer a balanced experience, finding the middle ground between satisfaction and fun. You won’t be making giant clouds around your head with these, but you will certainly be getting the nicotine hit thanks to many of them working best with nicotine salts. If you’re looking to quit smoking then nicotine salts are the best option for a strong nicotine hit like traditional smoking, but with a gentler feel to the throat than freebase E-Liquids. Pod devices are perfect for nicotine salts due to the lower wattage than vape mods, but of course, you can alter this on a vape mod to make them more suitable.

Cheap, quick and available in a wide range of flavours nowadays, disposable devices allow you to try new brands and new flavours without much investment. But due to the limited capabilities of disposables flavours may not quite hit as strong, the throat hit may not be good enough due to the limited battery power, and of course once it’s finished, short of buying another one, it’s over and gone.

THE ULTIMATE BLEND

Have you heard of Pod Tank Kits? These new creations are the cream of the crop, blending both pod kits and tank kits into one to create the most versatile way to vape. Giving you the convenience of a pod kit with the customisation of a tank kit, these devices are the perfect step between the pair. If you’re looking to step up from a pod kit or perhaps want to dive straight in with a pod tank kit, you’ll certainly won’t regret it with one of these. Check out the Voopoo Drag X to see just what a top-class pod tank kit does!

Overall, it really depends on what you are looking for, which benefits you the most. Which have you tried and what’s your preference? Let us know in the comments.