Disposable Vapes

How do I use a disposable vape?

Both cigarettes and disposable vapes use a 'mouth to lung' style inhale action, so if you are a smoker switching to vaping, you should find vaping with disposables quite similar.

Bear in mind that there are some slight differences in the process. It takes longer to get a nicotine 'hit' from a vape, so the vapour is often held in the lungs longer - up to 30 seconds for vapes instead of around 8 seconds or so for smoke from a cigarette. Unlike smoking a traditional cigarette, this allows the nicotine to be absorbed by your mouth, nose, and lungs.  

1. Remove the vape from the packaging, remembering to remove any battery guard or freshness seal stickers.

2. Prime the device with a short inhale on the mouthpiece to warm the coil. Vapour production is not required.

3.  Inhale slowly and steadily for a few seconds and fill your mouth with vapour.

4. When your mouth is full, draw the vapour into your lungs, or swallow.

5. Hold the vapour in your lungs until you feel the nicotine hit.

6. After the hit, slowly breathe the vapour out through your nose or mouth.

This takes a little getting used to, but you should be fine after practising a few times. 

If you are vaping for the first time, it is better to take shorter vapour inhalations. By inhaling less, you can ensure you don't overwhelm yourself. Shorter draws also mean smaller nicotine hits - useful when working out your tolerance level and how to get the effect you want.

Are disposable vapes safe?

Compared to other vape devices, disposables sold in the UK are just as safe as any other. 

While the Lithium-ion batteries used in disposable vapes are a potential fire hazard and can explode when damaged or overheated, these issues are extremely rare as reputable manufacturers build safety features into their devices to prevent this from happening. 

It should also be noted that Lithium-ion batteries are not unique to vapes and are used widely in many different consumer electronic products. In all cases, these batteries are perfectly safe when handled and disposed of appropriately.

In the UK, vape devices containing nicotine must be registered and regulated. For safety, disposable vapes can hold a maximum of 2ml of e-liquid containing no more than 2% or 20mg of nicotine. The toxicology and emissions information of these e-liquids must also be submitted to the MHRA for approval before launch.

Are disposable vapes bad for you?

Although disposable vapes and vapes, in general, are relatively new, early research shows they are far less damaging to the lungs than smoking cigarettes because they don't produce the harmful chemicals created when burning tobacco. 

A recent OHID (previously known as Public Health England) report stated that vaping is, in fact, 95% safer than smoking. However, this does not mean vapes are proven risk-free, and studies are ongoing into their potential long-term effects on health.

It is important to note that the majority of disposables contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that is known to cause harm to the developing brain. Studies show that nicotine use in the under 25s can damage the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.

Counterfeit vapes also present a significant health risk. In recent investigations, fake vapes sold by unscrupulous UK retailers have been found to contain heavy metals, such as lead, and harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, which can cause serious damage to the lungs and other organs. 

For your protection, we advise purchasing only UK-legal vapes from an established and trusted vape specialist like Vapourcore and that you check the authenticity of the products you buy via the vape brand's website. These vapes should be TPD-compliant. 

Choosing a disposable vape - a quick buying guide

Over the last few years, disposable vapes have exploded in popularity, becoming one of the most popular vaping devices on the market. Consequently, there is now a vast range of brands, flavours, and device styles to choose from. With such a bewildering list of options, here are some useful tips to help point you in the right direction:

• Disposable vapes are not all the same. They use different coil technology, e-liquids, and flavour recipes to produce the flavoured vapour you inhale, so it is worth testing a few different ranges to find the one that suits your preference.

• Most disposables contain the same 20mg volume of Nicotine as this is the UK legal limit. If you want to reduce your Nicotine intake, simply reduce the number of puffs you take and the frequency you use your device, or look for the less favoured 10mg and zero Nicotine options.

• Projected battery life in disposables is usually fairly standard from brand to brand. Some ranges have smaller batteries due to device size, and some have more powerful batteries to deliver more power to the coil or to last longer. Most ranges have inconsistencies in battery longevity from device to device. Unfortunately, that is the nature of disposables. If you want better battery performance, switch to a rechargeable pod kit.

• ELF Bar 600s are currently the most popular disposables range. These vapes have intense, often sweet-tasting flavours, and ex-smokers like them because of the similar experience they provide to smoking a cigarette.

• SKE Crystal Bars and Lost Mary BM600s also have intense tasting flavours but use a different device aesthetic and some unique flavour options.

• Try the Hexa or Kiwi Go disposables with their Feelm Tech coil technology for vapes that provide a more consistent vaping experience with smoother vapour and a more flavourful taste. 

• If you find the flavours in these brands a little overpowering, try the Elf Bar Cigalikes and the Beco Bar ranges, which both have gentler flavours. As the name suggests, Cigalikes provide a more cigarette-like experience for those who prefer the feel of holding a cigarette.

• Our top 5 most popular disposable vape flavours are 1. Watermelon, 2. Blueberry Sour Raspberry, 3. Strawberry Cherry Ice, 4. Blueberry, 5. Apple & Peach. These are always a good place to start if you are unsure what flavour to pick.

• Menthol and Tobacco flavour options are also available for those who prefer something that tastes more like a traditional cigarette. If menthol is your thing, try a few different devices, as they all taste different and have varying degrees of cooling effect.

• Choose an 'Ice' flavour variation if you want a cooling sensation in your fruit-flavoured vapour.

• Choose a device like the Elf Bar 600 or the Lost Mary BM600 if you are a new vaper looking for the most beginner-friendly device. All disposable vapes are considered easy to use, but these are the ones most people prefer.

• Choose the SKE Amare Crystal or the SKE Crystal Bar device if you want a different stand-out device. 

To learn more about these products, check out our in-depth product reviews section in our blog. For the full lowdown on disposables, read our ultimate disposable vape guide.