Vaping has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years, especially among hobbyists and ex-smokers. For beginners, two of the easiest vape types to start with are pens and pods. But this has raised an important question among the vaping community: Which is better?
When it comes to comparing a vape pen vs pod kits, it all comes down to your preferences and vaping style. Still, we've put together a full comparison so that you can find a vape kit to suit your needs. So let's get right into it.
Vaping Experience
When you're choosing between a vape pen or a vape pod, you're going to want to consider the experience each one will give you.
Vape pen kits are devices that take on a slim, sleek design (hence the name) and have a battery and a tank or atomizer that holds your vape juice. They are typically more versatile and can be used for both Mouth-To-Lung (MTL) vaping and Direct-To-Lung (DTL) vaping, depending on the specific model and its settings.
MTL vaping involves pulling the vapour into your mouth and then exhaling, which is similar to the way that you would smoke a cigarette. DTL or sub-ohm vaping, on the other hand, is when you pull the vapour directly into your lungs, which makes for larger and thicker clouds.
Vape pod kits are normally smaller and more compact than vape pens. They normally have a built-in battery that can be recharged and pre-filled pod systems that can be replaced when the juice runs out. So, when your pod is empty, you can simply grab a new one, pop it into your device, and start vaping.
Usually, pod kits are designed for MTL vaping, which makes them a good choice for ex-smokers who want the same vaping experience as smoking a traditional cigarette.
Designs
For some of us, the way that a pen or pod is designed makes a huge difference to our experience. So let's take a closer look at the unique design features of each type of kit...
Vape pens usually have a more cylindrical shape and are slightly bigger than pod vapes. They normally have two main components, which include the battery and the tank or atomizer. The battery section is longer and wider than pod vapes and will have a rechargeable battery with control buttons to adjust the wattage and voltage.
The tank is what holds the vape juice and connects to the battery. On some devices, there may also be a little glass or plastic window where you can monitor how much vape juice is left.
In contrast, pod-style vaping devices are more compact and sleek in their design. They have a rectangular or oval shape and are more lightweight and discreet than vape pens. The whole device is generally sold as one unit, with a built-in battery.
Instead of having a tank for e-liquid, they use vape pods. These can be either disposable, pre-filled vape pods or refillable vape pods. They connect to the battery section with a click-in mechanism or magnetically, and are activated when you draw on the pen - that means no controls to fuss with when you're vaping.
Convenience
When it comes to convenience, both pod vape kits and vape pens are great options. They are both great devices for on-the-go vaping and require very little knowledge of vaping to operate.
However, if we had to pick one of them to take the crown for convenience, then we'd have to opt for pod vapes. But why? Well, firstly, pod vapes are lightweight and more compact than pens, which means that you can easily slip them into your pockets when you're out and about. Plus, you don't need to switch them on or off or adjust any of the settings before you vape. You can simply inhale and pocket your pod kit again while you're on the go.
Ease Of Use
Pod kits are designed to be simple and user-friendly. Plus, pod vape kits are usually draw-activated, which means you don't need to adjust any of the settings when you vape. Instead, you just inhale and the pod vapes will do the rest. This makes them good for beginners or anyone who wants a more straightforward vaping experience.
On the other hand, vape pens offer a bit more room for customisation which is great for hobbyists and enthusiasts who want to adjust their experience. But figuring out how to use your pen can take some time and practice. So, if you want something that's a little easier to use, pod vapes may be a better choice.
Type Of Vape Juice
So we already know that vape pens have refillable tanks and that vape pod kit systems have disposable and replaceable pods. But what kind of vape juice can you use with these two vape kits?
When it comes to pod kits, they are designed to be with 50/50 e-liquids or nicotine salts. All pod kits are lower powered devices, meaning they are designed to be used with e-liquids that have a thinner consistency.
The majority of vape pens are also compatible with nic salts and 50/50 vape juice too. However, some vape pens can differ in that they may be capable of operating at higher temperatures allowing them to also be used with shortfills.
Nicotine salts are vape juices that usually have much higher nicotine levels and give you a smoother throat hit, while freebase liquids come in a variety of flavours and strengths. Shortfills are all completely nicotine-free, allowing them to come in much larger bottles. They have a higher VG content making them ideal for vapour production whilst still producing great hits of flavour.
If you're using a pod system that requires pre-filled pods, you'll need to buy new vape pods when you want to try new flavours or replace your empty vape pod. In this instance, you will not be able to change the type of vape juice and you are limited to the type of vape juice that comes in vape pods.
Vape pods tend to be less versatile, though, because the pod that you can buy will normally depend on the brand of your vape and the flavours that they sell. Still, some of these vape pod kits have refillable pods. These vape pods can usually be filled with the same vape juice you would use with your pens.
Settings and Features
Vape pens and pod kits are designed with a lot of similar settings and features. If you’re looking for the more feature-rich of the two, we suggest opting for a vape pen. Both include a range of features that allow you to customise and fine-tune your experience.
Some of the most common features of vape pens and pod kits include:
- Adjustable wattage or voltage: A lot of vape pens let you adjust the wattage or voltage output. For example, the Innokin Endura T18 II features three different wattage settings for you to choose from. This helps to control the amount of power that's delivered to the coil, which affects the vapour production, intensity of the flavour, and throat hit.
- Adjustable airflow: Both vape pens and pod kits commonly feature an adjustable airflow which changes the amount of air that flows through the device as you inhale. The more airflow that is pulled through the vape device, the lighter and cooler the vapour feels. One of our particular standouts is the Uwell Caliburn G2 Pod Kit which is designed with an adjustable airflow wheel that helps you accurately find your sweet spot.
- Nicotine strength options: Some pod systems have vape pods that come in different nicotine levels and concentrations. This makes it easy to adjust how heavy or light you want your vapour to be.
- LED indicators: Most vape pod kits and vape pens have LED lights that indicate the battery life of your vape, which is not only handy but looks great, too.
Affordability
Although you can find budget-friendly models of pens and pod systems, there are some other important factors that can affect how affordable your device is in the long run. Firstly, pens are generally more expensive because of their size and power outputs. And, since pod kits sometimes fall short on the customisation side of things, they are less expensive when you initially buy them.
However, buying vape juices to refill your pens may make them a worthwhile investment after a while. This is because it's common to replace pods more frequently than you would refill your pen, and the cost of these pods starts to stack up after a while! Still, if you vape infrequently, a pod may be much cheaper than buying new coils and vape juices.
Conclusion
Choosing between a vape pen and pod kit is pretty much a matter of personal preference and the features and setting you prioritise when you're vaping.
Although vape pens offer more versatility, power, and customisation options, pod kits are the clear winners when it comes to ease of use and convenience.
Both options are great for beginner vapers, but we'd recommend trying them out for yourself to get a feel for which one suits you best. For any questions, contact our team today!
