With so many pod devices on the market today choosing one can be tricky! If you’ve never tried a pod before you’ll want to be aware of some of the pitfalls to look out for when buying one.
Is long battery life a must? Are you a mouth-to-lung or direct-to-lung vaper? Do you want a refillable pod or a pre-filled pod? Join us while we take a look at some useful tips to consider when you’re looking for a new pod device.
Please also feel free to check out our round-up of the best pod vapes in 2020!
1. Mouth-To-Lung (MTL) Vs Direct-To-Lung (DTL)
A mouth-to-lung or MTL vape essentially means you inhale the vapor into your mouth before breathing it into your lungs. The majority of pods available are MTL vapes. This system of vapor delivery is especially popular with smokers making the switch from cigarettes to vaping!
A direct-to-lung or DTL vape on the other hand means you inhale the vapor straight down into your lungs. Devices that offer this method of vapor delivery are often more powerful and produce bigger vapor clouds!
Before choosing a pod it’s important to decide on which method suits you best. If you’ve never tried a vape before then I’d recommend starting with a MTL pod vape. This style most closely mimics the draw on a cigarette so you’ll likely have more success in making the switch!
2. Battery Life
When choosing a pod device it’s also important to consider the battery life of the device. The battery capacity on a vape device is measured in terms of mAh (milliamps per hour). As a rule of thumb you’ll generally want to avoid anything with a battery capacity under 400 mAh.
In the real world a battery capacity of around 400-600 mAh will last you for a good half a day of regular vaping. If you’re looking for a pod that’ll see you through the day I’d recommended looking for one with a capacity of 1000+ mAh.
It can soon become frustrating if you’re constantly having to charge your pod device every few hours. If you’re a smoker looking to switch to vaping also consider that you don’t want to be running out of battery when you’re out and about. This will only make it that much harder to resist buying a pack of cigarettes!
3. Refillable Pods (Open) Vs Pre-Filled Pods (Closed)
A refillable pod or open system pod is exactly what the name suggests; a pod that allows you to refill the e-juice when you run out. A pre-filled or closed system pod on the other hand comes with a set amount of e-liquid inside. Once you’ve vaped the e-juice inside a closed pod you simply remove the pod and throw it away.
The main benefit of buying a pod that’s refillable is you’ll save money in the long run. You can continue using the pod until the coil and wick inside stop delivering tasty flavor. For me this was a must when choosing a pod. Not only does it allow you to save money but you also get the added bonus of being able to try multiple flavors through the same pod.
4. Draw Activated vs Button Activated Pod Vapes
While some pod vapes are activated when you draw or puff on them, others require you to push a firing button to activate the vape. While this can seem like a minor difference it’s worth considering which might suit you better.
One of the biggest pros of a draw activated device is the replication of the smoking experience. If you’re making the switch from smoking to vaping it’s little details like this that can really help to replace the habit. As well as this a draw activated vape means you won’t accidentally be firing the device in your pocket. I’ve wasted more than a few coils that way…
On the other hand, it seems to be a common problem for the draw activated function to go wrong. The biggest issue seems to be runaway e-juice that interferes with the draw activation sensor. Similar reports have mentioned problems with the sensitivity settings on these sensors. Some pod users have reported having to draw really hard on the device to activate the function. Whatever you do, make sure to read several reviews of a device before hitting the add to cart button.
5. Price
Before buying a pod vape you’ll also want to carefully consider the price. You might find a really great pod for a reasonable price but it’s worth considering how much the replacement pods cost.
Depending on the device you choose you could be changing the pod fairly regularly. If the replacement pods are costly this can soon build up. One of the biggest benefits for me when switching from smoking to vaping was the amount I saved. It really helped me stick with vaping knowing just how much money I was adding to the sock drawer.
Final note…
When choosing a pod device it’s really worth considering the above, especially if it’s your first time vaping. You want to give yourself the best possible chance of kicking the habit and sticking with vaping for good.
We hope you found this guide useful and please feel free to drop us a comment below! Happy vaping!