A Beginner's Guide to Pod Kits | Blog| Vanilla Vapes
Posted by Claire on 8th Aug 2023
A Beginner's Guide to Pod Kits
What is a Pod Kit?
A pod kit is an all-in-one vaping system that consists of a pod filled with e-liquid or nicotine salt juice and a battery unit. The pod attaches magnetically to the battery.
Pod kits are much simpler than regular box mods or vape pens. In some, there may even be no buttons to press or settings to adjust. You insert a filled pod (either bought pre-filled or empty and filled by you) and are ready to start vaping by taking a puff.
With pre-filled pods, when the e-liquid runs out, you replace the pod with a new one to continue vaping. However, empty pods that you fill yourself work out to be far more cost-effective as you can re-fill them numerous times before they need replacing. You need to ensure that you leave a new, freshly filled pod for around 10 minutes to allow the cotton surrounding the coil to become fully saturated.
How Do Pod Kits Work?
Pod kits work using a simple automatic draw system. When you take a puff on the mouthpiece, you automatically activate the battery, which heats the coil inside the pod. The heated coil vaporises the e-liquid that has saturated the cotton wick surrounding the coil, which you can then inhale.
Most pod kits have a tight draw that mimics the feeling of smoking a cigarette. The amount of vapour produced is usually less than a box mod, but the nicotine satisfaction can be similar.
Some pod kits have buttons you can press before inhaling, while others are strictly automatic. The battery output power also varies between different devices, impacting factors like vapour production and battery life.
When Should You Change the Pod?
The most significant sign that it's time to change your pod is a decrease in flavour and vapour production. Pods have small coils and wicks that can get gunked up after vaping around 10mls of e-liquid or one week of average use.
Once the hits start tasting burnt or muted, it means the coil is at the end of its lifespan. Continuing to vape on a worn-out coil risks dry hits and e-liquid leaks.
Some other signs your vape pod is ready to be changed:
- E-liquid is leaking out of the air holes.
- You're getting a mouthful of liquid when vaping.
- The draw feels tighter than usual.
To extend the life of your pods:
- Try not vaping e-liquid higher than 50% VG.
- Avoid chain vaping too frequently.
- Let pods sit between puffs for a few minutes, allowing the wick to absorb more e-liquid.
The Benefits of Using a Pod Kit
There are several reasons vapers may prefer using a pod kit as their primary device:
- Compact and lightweight design for portability.
- Simple one-button or draw-activated operation.
- Tight mouth-to-lung draw like a cigarette.
- Compatible with 50/50 e-liquids or nicotine salts.
- Affordable price point compared to advanced mods.
- Much cheaper ongoing costs compared to disposable devices.
- Similar draw to that of a disposable device.
While pod kits don't produce the biggest clouds, the convenience and satisfaction make them ideal for beginner and intermediate vapers. With proper pod care and maintenance, they can provide an enjoyable nicotine delivery experience.
Which is the Best Pod Kit?
With so many pod kits on the market, deciding which one is right for you can be tricky.
The best pod vape depends on your budget, vaping habits and preferred draw style. We have a large selection of some of the best kits available.
Read vape pod kit reviews before deciding and consider kit bundles that include extra replacement pods.
Most pod kits work similarly, so when you compare some of the best-selling kits and have decided on the general type of kit you'd like, it often comes down to which one you like the look of.
