Buying disposable vapes isn’t as easy as it used to be. With hundreds—if not thousands—of options to choose from, various nicotine strengths, puff counts and capacities, flavors, and designs, understanding what to look for when buying disposable vapes can be a confusing prospect.
We’re here to make it easier by sharing what to know before buying your next disposable vape. Below is our list of the top five factors to consider when comparing vaping devices.
In this article, we'll cover:
How to Know what Disposable Vape to Buy?
What to know before buying a vape? There are various aspects to consider when selecting the best vape for you. Here’s how to choose a vape based on the most critical components to make picking the right vape easy:
Nicotine Strength
Your number one consideration when selecting a disposable vape should be nicotine strength. A lot of other things can go wrong (or right) without much impact, but if you choose the wrong nicotine strength, your entire vaping experience is going to be affected.
The best disposable vapes come in a wide range of nicotine strengths — from 0 mg (otherwise known as nicotine-free) to 18 mg and even 50 mg in some cases.
Formulations commonly deliver 0 mg, 3 mg, 6 mg, 12 mg, or 18 mg of the addictive compound. While the many options may seem excessive to some, the selection allows you to fine-tune your nicotine intake.
The right disposable vape strength for you depends on what you’re looking to get out of your device and your experience with nicotine in the past.
If you’re a heavy smoker who’s making the switch to vapes, you probably won't find satisfaction with anything other than higher-strength disposables.
In keeping with the same logic, a moderate smoker might prefer mid-range options: 6 mg or 12 mg.
A light smoker — or someone who’s hoping to become a light smoker — would want to stick with disposable vapes with lower strengths of 3 mg or 6 mg. Vapes with these nicotine levels are often the final step in a path leading to being nicotine-free.
Are you someone with zero exposure to nicotine? In that case, you're going to want to stick with the lower strengths or even try nicotine-free disposable vapes to get used to the act of vaping without any risk of addiction.
Ultimately, choosing the right nicotine strength for your disposable vapes may come down to a little bit of trial and error. You're looking for a balance that satisfies your cravings without causing unwanted side effects.
If you experience nausea or headaches, you should move to a lower-strength formulation.
On the other hand, if you're getting zero satisfaction from your vape device, experiment with more potent formulations until you find the level that gives you what you’re after.
Battery Life and Vape Juice Capacity
For the second factor on our list, we turn to longevity. This functionality is where battery life and vape juice capacity combine to give you a diffuser’s “puff count.”
Puff count estimates the number of inhalations a given diffuser offers. It’s the best way to determine how long a disposable vape will last before you need to buy a new one.
You’ll find that most disposable vape batteries are rated between 350 mAh and 650 mAh. Although there are some exceptions, a higher-capacity battery will generally last longer.
In addition to battery capacity, you want to look at the quantity of vape juice — that is, how much e-liquid is actually in the diffuser.
To make lifespan easier to judge, most manufacturers will give you an estimate of the number of puffs their disposable vapes will deliver before being depleted. These puff counts generally range from around 300 puffs to 3,000 puffs or more.
Remember that these are average puff counts based on average vaping behaviors. If your vaping style is outside the norm — maybe you take deeper drags than most — your actual puff count will most likely be lower than what is listed. If you take lighter puffs, it will most likely be higher.
Remember that bigger — or, in this case, more — is not always better when considering puff counts. Smaller disposable vapes that last for only a few hundred puffs may be ideal if you vape only occasionally.
However, if you’re a “chain vaper,” you should look for more robust disposable vapes with puff counts in the thousands — unless you enjoy constantly worrying about replacements.
As with every other factor on this list, your mileage may vary. When considering our advice, you should always remember your unique usage patterns.
Flavors
If you don't like a vape’s available flavors, nicotine strength and price per puff cease to matter. If, on the other hand, you fall in love with one particular flavor, the enjoyment you get from the taste alone will almost always trump drawbacks like a lower puff count or less nicotine than your body expects.
Most disposable vapes come in two flavor categories: single flavors and blends. Single flavors are generally standards like Tobacco, Menthol, and Coffee, or single fruit flavors like Banana or Strawberry.
Blends, on the other hand, are limited only by a manufacturer's imagination. You can find straightforward blends like Raspberry Watermelon and Strawberry Mint alongside more complex and unique flavors like Piña Colada and Birthday Cake.
If you're transitioning from tobacco cigarettes, you may prefer a more straightforward flavor, but if you're someone who wants to experiment with new flavors, then the sky really is the limit.
Ultimately, there are no hard and fast “rules” for choosing flavors for disposable vapes. You'll simply have to try a few until you settle on one that strikes your fancy.
Device Design
Design can affect everything from how discreet disposable vapes are to how long they last. Good design can increase portability and maximize the enjoyment you get out of the act of vaping itself.
Disposables can range from small pen-like designs — which make them look like traditional cigarettes and even cigars — to box-shaped options that look nothing like anything you’ve ever smoked.
For many of these designs, there's a trade-off. Smaller and thinner options are more portable and discreet, making them preferable for anybody who’s often on the go and wants to bring their vape.
Larger devices may be less portable, but they often offer a longer battery life and a greater e-juice capacity, which means more puffs per device if you are on the road.
You can also find disposables with all manner of bells and whistles — from LED battery lights to e-juice capacity indicators — and diffusers simply there to get the job done without a bunch of theatrics.
These tend to be simpler, stripped-down devices focusing on core aspects like flavor rather than glitzy add-ons.
The device design that’s best for you is a personal decision, much like flavor preference. Some people prefer the more traditional look of a vape pen, while others may opt for a more boxy design.
Ultimately, choosing a device that is easy to use and fits into your lifestyle is essential.
A Solid Brand Reputation
Safety always has to come first regarding anything you put into your body — including the vapor you inhale from a disposable vape.
As so many vape manufacturers are flooding the market with products today, it's essential to know the brand you're choosing is one you can trust.
One of the best ways to ensure this is to look for brands with solid reviews on their websites and third-party review sites.
Pay attention also to longevity. Has the brand been around for a while, and has it proven itself with customers over the long haul? “Are disposable vapes safe?” is an important question, and the answer is yes — as long as you buy from a trusted manufacturer.
Although we’re all for new manufacturers bringing new vapes to market, we'd rather not be guinea pigs trying out brand-new products.
Not to toot our own horn, but our Z Stick has been on the market since 2015. We have offices in 12 countries and have sold over $300 million worth of vapes.
If nothing else, these numbers illustrate how many people know and trust the quality of our Z Stick line of disposable vapes.
Price and Value
Finally, we come to the question of price and value for money. While this can be a somewhat subjective yardstick — with some people willing to pay a premium for various reasons — most people want to get more bang for their buck.
One easy way to measure the value of a disposable vape is to calculate its price per puff. The math here is pretty simple: divide the device’s price by its estimated puff count.
For example, if a $10 vape delivers an estimated 1,000 puffs, each puff costs around one penny. When you have a good idea of your typical usage pattern, you can calculate how much a vape will cost you to use daily.
Remember that you can often find deals on your favorite vapes by buying directly from the manufacturer rather than online or offline retailers.
Many manufacturers offer bulk discounts or loyalty programs that allow you to save money on every order you place with them directly.
Knowing What to Look for When Buying Disposable Vapes
Whether you’re new to vaping or a seasoned user, understanding the factors in this article can be an excellent primer for choosing a vape. It should help you find the right disposable diffuser.
Remember, though, that finding the perfect device might involve some trial and error. But that’s part of the fun! Comment below and let us know how you make out.
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