TL;DR
To switch from disposable to reusable vapes, choose a pod kit that can be recharged and refilled or uses replaceable prefilled pods. Then select a nicotine salt e-liquid that matches the flavour and strength you’re used to. Setup takes seconds - just fill, charge and vape. It’s cheaper, cleaner, and just as convenient.
Introduction: It's time to switch from disposables to reusable vapes
Whether you like it or not, the 1st June 2025 has come and gone and you will now need to switch to a reusable vape kit as all disposable vapes in the UK are banned for sale. If thoughts of high maintenance, messy refilling or coil changes have put you off in the past, you’ll be happy to know that it's never been easier, cheaper and more hassle free to switch to reusable vaping. In fact, in many cases reusable vaping is even easier.
Most disposable vapes last about a day or two, and its madness to purchase a brand new vape kit every other day - you certainly need more than one on a night out, which can mean pockets or bags of ‘just in case’ devices and not knowing how many puffs each one has left.
Aside from the clutter of half used disposables, they’re a terrible waste of money, plus there's the guilt of binning handfuls of perfectly good batteries. Disposables may have been a great entry point for newcomers, but long-term, reusable vaping is more sustainable on all fronts.
On the positive side, the popularity of single use vapes has pushed convenience, flavour and ease of use to the forefront of reusable vape design. Vape brands have made refillable pod kits more lightweight and compact, with higher capacity batteries, inhale activation and easy refilling. Prefilled pod systems don't even require refilling, using replaceable pods that are cheaper and foolproof.
Moving to reusable vapes can be seamless, provided you know what to look for: vape kits that are low maintenance, cost much less and deliver the same great flavours with an even better quality vape experience. If you want to know how to switch from disposable to reusable vapes, then stick with us because we're going to show you what types of kits are on offer, how they work and what to consider when making your choice - plus a whole host of reusable vape benefits.
What are reusable vapes?
According to the UK Government classification, reusable vapes are devices that can be recharged and refilled. This means that for a device to be legal after 1st June 2025, you must be able to:
Recharge it
Replace the coil
Refill it with e-liquid
If it can’t do any one of those things then it will be banned. This leaves you two options to choose from; refillable pod kits and prefilled pod kits. One is very low maintenance, the other provides you with more options, they are both simple to use.
Pre-filled pod kits
These vapes use a closed pod fitted with a coil and prefilled with e-liquid. They can range from the following options:
Single 2ml capacity pods
4-in-1 (2ml) pod devices
2ml pods with connecting 5ml or 10ml vape juice container
The pods can be pulled out and replaced with a new one when empty. You don’t need to buy e-liquid bottles and fill the pod yourself, just buy a pack of (usually 2) replacement pods when you run out and pop in a new one. The kits recharge using Type-C connections, which is standard for all reusable vape kits - that means your device should charge in under half an hour. The flavours are just as good as any disposable, and often these devices are made by disposable manufacturers so you are getting the same design and ingredients but in reusable form.
Why choose a prefilled pod kit?
If you want a ban proof vape kit that is as close to the look, feel and simplicity of a disposable, then pre-filled pod kits are your best bet.
Key benefits
Eco-friendly: produce least amount of waste among all types of vapes. Keep the kit and only throw away 2ml pods.
Big puff vaping: Use kits that hold up to 4 pods or a 10ml e-liquid container to enjoy multiple flavour vaping and much higher puff counts.
Same convenience: Plug and play design is uncomplicated and will feel instantly familiar to disposable users.
What’s the same
✅ Rich Flavour
✅ Inhale activation
✅ Same tight mouth to lung (MTL) draw
✅ Compact and lightweight
What’s different
💥 Replaceable pre-filled pods
💥 Rechargeable
💥 49% cheaper
Refillable vape kits
Topping up a 2ml pod that has a built-in coil and charging a battery is hardly a complex matter. Refillables free you from being tied to the brand flavours of your pod kit, opening you up to a vast selection of flavours from other top e-liquid brands. Try more than the familiar combinations, in double concentrated bar salts that are as good as any disposable flavour. You can also adjust your nicotine strength, which is a big plus if you have cravings that are not that demanding or you wish to start cutting down on your nicotine.
Refillable pod kits have longer lasting battery life and handy features like airflow control and informative displays with useful info like exact battery charge and puff count. Plus you can explore coil resistance options that will change the volume and richness of your vapour. This added level of customisation allows you to get exactly the type of vape experience you want without compromising on flavour.
Why choose a refillable vape kit?
With far more customisation and e-liquid flavour options, refillable vapes open you up to all the variety that vaping has to offer without overcomplicating things.
Key benefits
Cost Savings: Get more liquid for a fraction of the price of a single use device. Refillable vapes will save you the most money in the long run.
More flavours: Not limited to a single brand's flavour choices - opens you up to hundreds of premium vape brands with thousands of flavour combinations.
Lower nicotine strengths: Options for you to cut down your intake or start low if you have mild cravings.
What’s the same
✅ Disposable bar flavour
✅ Inhale activation
✅ Simple to use
What’s different
💥 Refilling empty 2ml pods
💥 More nicotine options
💥 Greater battery life
💥 Bigger flavour selection
💥 Customised airflow
💥 Different vape styles
💥 56% cheaper
Prefilled vs Refillable Vapes: Which is Better?
Both options are user friendly and provide a flavourful vape with familiar functionality - the decision comes down to your comfort and preference.
Prefilled vapes have an almost identical level of convenience to disposables, providing a seamless transition and like-for-like experience that will have you wondering why you didn't switch sooner.
Refillable pod kits offer far more flavours, freedom and customisation options, while still keeping things relatively simple and hassle free.
How to make the switch from disposable vapes to refillable vapes
1. Choose Your Vape Device:
For example the Vaproresso Xros 4 Mini is one of the easiest to use refillable pod vapes. It uses top filling pods that are easy to access, delivers top notch flavour that's consistent and it has a large battery so you don't have to charge all the time.
2. Select Your E-liquids:
Disposable Bar Salts are your best choice as they are double concentrated for flavour to match the sweetness of disposables, while providing the same fast acting nicotine satisfaction you are used to.
3. Understand Nicotine Strength:
Almost all disposables come in a 20mg nicotine salt strength. This is the highest strength available in the UK. It is available in premixed 10ml nic salt bottles which also offer nicotine salt strengths in 5mg, 10mg & 15mg options.
4. Priming Coils:
All refillable kits will need their coil/pod primed before use to avoid burning the coil simply fill the pod with liquid untill the coil is coverd and wait 5 mins to allow it to soak, repeat when using a new coil/pod.
5. Maintenance:
Keep pod topped up (Refilling to min line)
Coil replacement every 1-2 weeks (depending on usage)
Battery charging (Charge regularly).
Choosing the Right Vape Juice
If you were a disposable user then nicotine salts and disposable bar salts are the e-liquids you want. They match the nicotine content found in disposables and are double concentrated to provide you with the same rich flavour experience.
These vape liquids have a 50PG/50VG consistency, meaning that the liquid is thin and ideal for low powered pod kits. 50/50 e-liquid delivers a satisfying feeling in the throat, carries a good amount of flavour and allows for the highest nicotine content.
If you vape lower nicotine levels of 3mg - 6mg you can vape even more cost effectively by using larger 50ml and 100ml vape juice bottles. Known as shortfills, these economical bottles are filled with 0mg of vape juice and can be vaped nicotine free or topped up with 1 or 2 of bottles of nicotine concentrate, known as nic shots.
You can also vape shortfills nicotine free, whichever you choose, they 50/50 shortfills work out a lot cheaper than 10ml premixed bottles.
How much will you actually save when switching from disposable to reusable vapes?
Cost savings are a major benefit of switching to reusable vapes. Here’s a breakdown of how much each type of vape kit costs to maintain per month and year:
Disposable Vapes (£730/year): Based on 1 x 600 puff device (5 for £20) every 2 days.
Refillable Vapes (£320/year): Based on 6 x 10ml bottles every month (4 for £10), 1 pack of coils per month (£10), and vape kit (£20). 56% cheaper than disposables.
Prefilled Pod Kits (£375/year): Based on a pack of 2 pods (3 for £12) every 4 days and vape kit (£10). 49% cheaper than disposables.