In the Electronic Cigarette Kits category, you’ll find devices with very different designs. Some are small and simple, others are larger and come with settings; some use e-liquid that you refill yourself, while others use prefilled pods. A kit consists of a device with a battery and a tank or pod that holds and heats the e-liquid, and each choice affects how you’ll use it.

To choose the right one, you need to know which features matter and what each one means in practice. Let’s take a detailed look at them all and answer any questions you may have!

1. Type: Pod, Box Mod, Pen or Vaporizer?

The first decision is what type of device to choose, as this determines its size, settings and how you fill or replace the e-liquid.

• Pod Kit: compact and lightweight, it fits easily in your pocket. The e-liquid and coil are housed in a pod that you replace when needed. It is usually activated by pressing a button or taking a puff. Some pods are refillable, while others come prefilled (see section 3 for more information).
• Box Mod Kit: a larger device, usually with a screen and adjustable power settings. It typically offers longer battery life and can often be used with other tanks, not just the one included in the kit.
• Pen Kit: a cylindrical device reminiscent of the first devices on the market. It has few or no settings, so all you need to do is fill it and vape.
• Vaporizer: this term covers devices designed for different uses. This category includes everything from kits that look like pod or box mod devices to vaporizers designed for herbs and concentrates. Read the manufacturer’s description before choosing one to make sure it does what you need.

Choose this if: you want a small device you can take anywhere (pod or pen), or if you want adjustable power and long battery life (box mod).

The table below gives you a quick overview of how the three main types differ.

2. Vaping style: Mouth-to-lung (MTL) or direct-to-lung (DL)?

The question here is how you want your draw to feel. Your choice also determines how much vapor the device produces, how much e-liquid it uses, and how quickly the battery runs down.

• Mouth-to-lung (MTL): the draw is “tight,” like a conventional cigarette. You hold the vapor in your mouth for a moment, then inhale it into your lungs. This style usually produces less vapor and uses less e-liquid and battery power.
• Direct-to-lung (DL): the draw is more “open,” and the vapor goes straight into your lungs. It produces much more vapor, but requires more power, which means it uses more e-liquid and battery power.

Choose this if: you want a cigarette-like feel and a more compact device (MTL), or prefer plenty of vapor and an open draw and want a larger battery (DL).

The table below shows the differences side by side.

3. What do you put inside: refillable liquid or prefilled pods?

The kit works either with liquid that you add to the tank yourself or with a pod that already contains liquid. The difference lies in maintenance and the range of flavours you can choose from.

• E-liquid: fill the tank or pod with your choice of liquid from a wide range of flavours and nicotine strengths. Refill bottles hold up to 10 ml, and when the tank is empty, you simply refill it. After a while, you’ll also need to replace the coil.
• Prefilled pods: the pod already contains the liquid and coil. Insert it and vape; when it runs out, replace the whole pod, with no refilling or coil changes needed.

Choose this if: you want to choose your own flavour and nicotine strength and don’t mind refilling (e-liquid), or if you prefer zero maintenance and simple replacement (pods).

SkroutzTip: Before installing a new coil, drip 2–3 drops of liquid onto the cotton and wait a few minutes to prevent it from burning on the first use. If the vapour decreases or the flavour changes, it’s a sign that the coil needs replacing.

4. Battery: built-in or removable?

The battery determines how long the device will work before needing to be recharged, and how easy it is to replace. Battery life depends on more than just mAh: a high-power device (DL) will drain the same battery much faster than a low-power one (MTL).

• Built-in battery: charge the entire device with a cable. It’s a simpler, more compact option, but the battery isn’t easy to replace when it wears out over time.
• Removable 18650 battery: the most common type of removable battery, supported by devices that take one or more batteries. When it runs out, swap it for a charged one and carry on.
• Removable 21700 battery: larger than an 18650 battery, and generally offers longer battery life in high-power devices.

To filter by capacity, you can narrow down devices with a battery of at least 1000 mAh or at least 3000 mAh.

Choose this if: you want a simple device without having to deal with batteries (built-in), or if you vape a lot and want to keep a spare charged battery on hand (removable).

SkroutzTip: If you choose removable batteries, get a separate charger too, so you can charge spare batteries while using others.

5. Tank capacity

The tank (or pod) holds the e-liquid, and its capacity determines how often you’ll need to refill it. Consumption also depends on your vaping style: with DL vaping, the tank runs out faster.

In the EU, tanks for e-liquids containing nicotine cannot exceed 2 ml, which is why many kits have a small tank. If you see larger tanks, check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out which e-liquids they are intended for.

• Up to 1.9 ml and 2–3.9 ml: compact devices that need more frequent refills.
• 4–5 ml and 5.1 ml and above: larger tanks mean fewer refills and are usually found in larger devices.

Choose this if: you vape frequently throughout the day and don’t want to refill constantly (larger tank), or if you prefer the smallest device possible (smaller tank).

6. Power adjustment and special features

Some devices give you control over how they work, which can affect which one is right for you.

• Power adjustment: the device lets you change the power (watts) to adjust the vapour and heat. Each coil has a recommended power range, usually printed by the manufacturer on its metal casing, along with its resistance in ohms (Ω).
• Squonk: devices with a small bottle inside the body, which you squeeze to feed liquid to the coil. This is a more specialised option, suitable for those who want to refill less often.

Choose this if: you want to adjust the power (power adjustment), or you’re interested in a device that you don’t have to refill often (squonk).

7. What you'll need with the kit

A kit won't be self-sufficient forever. In addition to e-liquid, you'll eventually need replacement parts.

• E-liquids: if the kit is refillable, you'll find e-liquids in a variety of flavors and nicotine strengths. If you prefer to make your own e-liquid, you can also browse the DIY for e-cigarettes category.
• Coils: the consumable part that heats the e-liquid and needs to be replaced periodically, depending on usage, power, and e-liquid.
• Tanks and accessories: if your device is compatible with a different tank, browse our atomizers and e-cigarette accessories.

Don’t forget! By taking the above features into account and combining the ones that suit your needs, you can find the right kit for you. Before deciding, take a look at other users’ reviews to see what their experience was like.

This guide is intended exclusively for adult smokers who have decided to use an e-cigarette and is not an encouragement to start smoking or vaping. Products containing nicotine are addictive. If you have any questions about using them, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

This article was created with the help of AI and reviewed and edited by the Skroutz team.