Disposable vapes have changed the vaping game. Almost overnight, vape pens, puff bars and e-cigs skyrocketed to unprecedented levels of popularity - everywhere you look, these pocket-friendly pops of colour are clutched in the hands of vapers, readily available in shiny new packets on the shelves of every corner shop.

The less intimidating cousin of more traditional, advanced vapes, the boost of brands such as Elf Bar, GeekVape, and Nerd Bar saw this more accessible alternative snatch the interest of consumers, and it’s easy to see why. With no batteries to charge, no juice to refill, and a compact design that requires no clunky accessories to cart around, there has never been a simpler way to smoke. 

Disposable vapes offer a tasty alternative to those wanting to wean themselves off cigarettes, or an effortless introduction to the world of vaping for beginner vapers who want to see what the hype’s all about.

If you fall into the latter category, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to disposable vapes, with all the info you’ll need to get started. 

What Are They?

In short, disposable vapes are a single-use vaping device. They come pre-prepared, require no setup whatsoever, and last as long as the vaper takes to use them all up. They come in all sorts of tantalising flavours, and offer a hassle-free alternative to more heavy-duty reusable vapes.

How Do They Work?

Disposable vapes are made up of four essential parts:

Juice. The tasty ingredient that gives vapes their flavour and nicotine - also referred to as e-liquid.

Battery. The single-use draw-activated powersource that makes the vape function.

Atomiser. The heating element within the vape - a coil that turns the liquid into smoke as you inhale. The wire of the coil is wrapped around a cotton wicking material, which absorbs the e-liquid. The coil vaporises this saturated liquid upon inhalation, as drawing is what activates the battery.

Mouthpiece. The part of the vape you inhale from - a component that functions with a mouth-to-lung style of smoking, where the user inhales the smoke first into their mouth and then into their lungs.

How Are They Different?

With more traditional vape devices such as sub-ohm vapes and refillable pens, there is a degree of maintenance and knowledge required that disposable vapes bypass - all the components are pre-combined and ready to go, with no upkeep necessary.

Advanced vapes need their e-liquid refilled, their batteries replenished, and their parts properly cleaned, or even replaced. When a disposable vape empties of juice and power, however, it’s simply time to stop using it. The advantage of this is that you don’t have to worry about knowing what to do or when to do it - you can just start vaping straightaway, and simply stop when the vape runs out.

Advanced vapes also offer the user the option to pick and choose the cocktail of e-liquid they contain, based on the user’s preference, as they require regular refilling. As disposable vapes are not refillable, the e-liquid they contain will always come pre-mixed with a set amount of key ingredients:

Nicotine. For those wanting to crush their cigarette cravings or kick a social habit, this is an important factor to consider when purchasing a disposable vape. In the UK, there is a legal limit of up to 20mg of nicotine per vape bar. If you’re a new vaper who’s never smoked a cigarette before but fancies a smooth transition to a more advanced vape, you might want to start with a lower level of nicotine in your disposable vape. This is part of the reason it’s important to buy from properly regulated retailers, as you can be sure of the nicotine content in the device you’re vaping.

PG:VG Ratio. PG (Propylene Glycol) and VG (Vegetable Glycol) are essential elements of any e-liquid. PG carries the nicotine and flavour, while VG is what causes the vapour as it thickens the consistency of the e-liquid. The majority of disposable vapes contain a 50:50 ratio of PG to VG.

Flavour. Whatever your taste, there will be a vape flavour for it. Disposable vape manufacturers are constantly coming up with new flavour concuntions to satisfy any customer, with various fruits, sweets, desserts and mints amongst the most popular choices. There are also a range of tobacco-flavoured vapes on the market, intended to mimic the sensation of a cigarette even further for those trying to give up tobacco.

How Do I Use Them?

Part of the appeal of disposable vapes is their incredibly simple functionality. No set-up required, no maintenance, no buttons, not even an ‘on/off’ switch. All you need to do is vape.

Disposable vapes are activated through inhalation, meaning the battery starts working when you draw on the mouthpiece, creating the smoke which is then inhaled. 

As these kinds of vape utilise a mouth-to-lung style of smoking, they are ideal for ex-smokers or those wanting to give up cigarettes, which are smoked with the same technique of drawing the smoke first into the mouth and then into the lungs before exhaling.

What Is Dry Heat?

The enemy of vapers, dry heat is the unpleasant blast to the back of the throat that can occur when there’s not enough juice on the wicking material, meaning you get a dry mouthful of burnt cotton rather than a satisfying hit of Raspberry Lemonade or Watermelon Ice.

Usually, this is a signal that your tank of vape juice is all used up and it’s time to dispose of the bar. However, if it’s a brand new device or you’re sure there’s some liquid left, there’s a chance you could simply be vaping too quickly.

The wick of the vape needs a chance to resoak between hits. Unlike cigarettes, this means allowing a minute or so to pass between every few puffs to avoid the dry, juiceless hit. This might be a tricky habit to break at first if you’re more used to smoking cigarettes, but a hit of dry heat will probably serve as a helpful reminder.

When Should I Replace Them?

You’ll know when it’s time to move on - when the juice is all used up in your vape bar, you won’t get any smoke upon inhaling, or you’ll experience the dreaded dry heat. Once your vape is empty, you simply need to properly dispose of it.

Typically, a disposable vape will last for around 500 puffs. This means the amount of time you squeeze out of it is entirely dependent on how often you’re using it, but the average vaper tends to have one bar on the go for an average of four continuous days.

The time it takes to use up an entire vape will also depend on factors such as the length of draws you are taking - if you’re taking deep, long puffs you’ll probably polish off a bar quicker than someone who takes shallow, short puffs.

Which Is Right for Me?

When it comes to choosing a disposable vape, you’re not short on choice. 

The most popular brands on the market right now are Elf Bar, Geek Bar, and Elux, but there are countless other options available. It really comes down to personal preference - maybe you prefer the flavours on offer with a certain brand, or the ergonomic features of another. Fortunately, the affordability of disposable vapes makes them perfect for testing and trying until you find your favourite.

If you’re interested in giving disposable vapes a go, we have a whole range of brands, flavours, and colours to choose from. Browse our collection today to see if we’ve got the right bar for you.