Vape pens make up around half of vape kits, but what is it? Put simply, a vape pen is a cylindrical or long rectangular device for vaping. Many vape kits – particularly sub-ohm vapes – have chunkier, blocky batteries. A vape pen provides a build that a number of vapers find more comfortable.
What Are Vape Pens?
As mentioned earlier, vape pens sport a cylindrical shape or a flat, rectangular build. This type of vape has a smaller, slim footprint (it’s designed to fit snugly in the hand with minimal discomfort) and often comes with limited features (lower wattage output, small battery, etc.) compared to more advanced kits like sub-ohm devices. This is why you’ll find pen kits marketed and recommended either as a starter kit or pod kit for beginners.
Most pen-style vape kits are geared towards MTL vaping. However, don’t be surprised that you’ll come across pen kits that can also offer a DTL vaping experience; many vape brands have integrated DTL capabilities (like the use of sub-ohm coils) to appeal to both types of vapers.
What Is in a Vape Pen?
Pen vapes consists of three elements:
- Battery: The stick or lozenge that houses the power supply and electrical components of your vape kit.
- Atomizer/Vape Tank: Whether it’s a classic steel and glass tank or an acrylic pod, the vape pen requires a section to house your vape juice. It also comes with a mouthpiece or drip tip to puff on.
- Coil: A small piece of metal containing a heating element and wicks. Tanks and some pods require replacement coils, whereas some pods come with pre-installed coils.
Keep in mind that an e-cig with a pen style can have a prefilled tank, meaning it is already filled with vape juice.
How Do Vape Pens Work?
Vape pens work by sending an electrical charge up from the battery and into the coil in the tank or pod. The heating element in the coil atomizes the e-liquid, which has been soaked into the wicks, and you inhale the vaporised e-liquid.
Some pens will have firing buttons that begin the vaping process, whereas others are built with draw-activation, detecting airflow and beginning the vapourisation the moment you begin to inhale.
How to Use A Vape Pen
Using a vape pen is generally easier than using some other kinds of vape as they usually provide a more streamlined form of use. You only need to follow a few steps to use a vape pen:
- Ensure your vape kit is charged. If it’s brand new it will likely have around 50 – 80% battery charge straight out of the box.
- Turn your pen-style vape kit on, usually with 3-5 rapid taps of the firing button. With buttonless, inhale-activated vapes, you can assume the pen is always in standby mode when not being actively used.
- Install a coil. If your pen is brand new, there will usually be a coil in place already or a disposable pod with a pre-installed coil.
- Fill the tank/pod with e-liquid. If the coil is new and unused, wait at least five minutes for the e-liquid to soak into the wicks, or else you run the risk of dry-firing, which kills coils instantly.
- Set your optimal wattage in accordance with the numbers printed on the side of the coil, though many vape pen units won’t offer wattage adjustment and will automatically assign an appropriate power output for the chosen coil.
- If your pen-style vape kit has an airflow adjustment setting, set it to a draw which is satisfying to you.
- Start vaping, either by pressing the firing button or, for inhale-activated vaping pens, simply begin puffing.
That’s the whole process!
How To Charge a Vape Pen
Vape pens will always have charging ports on them, usually for Type-C USB cables, the same variety used by most brand electronics. Some advanced kits with ‘passthrough’ tech allow you to vape while they charge, whereas some others require you to unplug the cable to allow for vaping.
Ensure you check the contents of any pen-style vape kit you’re considering; some of the more affordable pens do not come with a cable included.
Is a Vape Pen Good for Beginners?
Vape pens are ideal for beginners as they suit casual, easy use. There’s often no need to concern yourself with settings, modes, and digital display specs, the kinds of things you’d find on a more advanced battery & tank vape kit.
The thin builds of vape pens also serve to provide a familiar hand feeling to smokers who are still craving aspects of cigarette smoking.
How Much Should a Vape Pen Cost?
An MTL vaping pen can cost as little as £6.99 and still provide a satisfying experience! Vape pens vary in price, and it’s usually dependent on the features, build quality, and whether the vape pen in question has a longer battery life.
A vape pen MTL kit that costs less than £10 will likely have extremely basic use functions and no additional modes or features, whereas a £30 advanced vape kit will likely have a long-lasting battery power, display screen, and adjustable functions.
When looking for vape pens with a budget in mind, avoid asking, “Which is the more advanced vape kit?” and instead focus on the features that you feel will keep you away from cigarettes.
What is the Best Vape Pen?
With so many manufacturers focussing on vape pen kits and mouth-to-lung pod kit device options, it can be hard to tell which are the best vape pens. Don’t worry, though. We’ve tested over 100 pens (and counting!), and here are our top recommendations for this year. If you’d like to engage in some savvy browsing, then be sure to read our how to choose a vape pen guide.
Our top three choices are:
- Innokin EZ Tube Zenith Minimal
- Aspire Flexus AIO
- SMOK Nord C
Innokin EZ Tube Zenith Minimal
Best Vape Pen
9.6/10
Total
Features We Love
Massive mAh
Ample 2100mAh battery capacity
Turn Around
Fully adjustable wattage with the base dial
Squeaky Clean
The tank can be disassembled for cleaning
I didn’t hesitate to name the Innokin EZ Tube Zenith Minimal Kit the best vape pen of 2024. While every vaping device listed today is fantastic, Innokin’s vape pen delivers robust, modern functionality despite its traditional build design.
A 2100mAh battery is gigantic for a device of its size, and while it may add some weight, that’s a small price to pay for a vape pen that can be used for several days without charging.
The power adjustment is simple, requiring you to double-tap the fire button and then turn the base dial, with the display screen letting you track the wattage closely.
The Zenith Minimal Tank can fit the full and wide range of Z-Coils, giving you many vapour production options. On top of this, its vape tank can be easily disassembled for deep cleaning, which is essential if you’re switching vape juices often.
It’s bigger than the other contenders, and those seeking pure portability should look at the SMOK Solus G, but the Innokin EZ Tube Zenith Minimal Kit is the best refillable vape pen of 2024.
Pros
- Robust and comprehensive vape pen
- Multiple days of battery capacity
- Wide range of Z-Coils
Cons
- Heavy construction
- It requires more maintenance than a pod kit
Price
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£29.99
Aspire Flexus AIO
Best for: Battery Life
9.5/10
Total
Features We Love
Long-Lasting: The 2000mAh battery can last for days
Tapper: Easy to change power outputs with one button tap
Pod Puffs: Turn the pod in place to adjust airflow
It’s a common frustration; a great night out ruined by your vape’s battery dying, drawing your eyes towards the nearest newsagent for a disposable vape or – worse – ciggies.
To avoid this, you need a vape pen like the Aspire Flexus AIO, which houses a massive 2000mAh internal battery. While that isn’t a vast capacity for DTL vaping, the Flexus AIO’s output range will put all that charge to good use.
You can switch between three tiers of power with a single button press, and while the larger battery does increase the weight, Aspire keeps it manageable by using some plastic components.
Add easy refills and intuitive airflow adjustment to the mix, and you’ve got a long-lasting source of satisfaction in your palm!
Pros
- Ample battery capacity
- Easy refill method
- Simple power adjustment function
Cons
- Plastic components are fragile
- Infrequent leak issues from AF Coils
Price
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£20.99
SMOK Nord C
Best for: Beginners
9.4/10
Total
Features We Love
Simply Satisfying: No-fuss multi-purpose pod kit
Vaping 101: Learn about wattage, airflow and coils with ease
Keep Puffing: Nice and sizeable 1800mAh battery for long sessions
While new vapers need simple vape pens, I think respecting their intelligence is still essential. It’s important to learn the ins and outs of vaping when you’re getting started; think of it like learning to drive a manual instead of an automatic.
The SMOK RPM C Pod Kit provides you with everything you need to quickly increase your MTL vaping experience. The RPM 2 Meshed vape coils fit easily into the pod, and a 0.96″ OLED display gives you accurate readouts of battery life, power settings and coil health.
Explore different wattage settings, experiment with airflow pathways, and take as long as you like because the 1800mAh battery isn’t going to run out any time soon.
Pros
- A great starter vape kit
- Learn all the fundamentals with ease
- Long-lasting battery life
Cons
- Some may prefer disposable pods
- 50W maximum power output is likely to drain the battery
Price
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£24.99
Need More Advice
We hope this has helped you to understand what vape pens are and how they work. If vape pens sound like the perfect stepping stone to quit smoking, then visit the MIST online store for great deals on a huge range of vape kits and e-liquids specifically designed for new vapers.
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