Best Vapes and Best E Cig Starter Kits In 2022

A Brief Introduction To The E-Cigarette

Finding the best e-cig to suit you personally can be a little daunting, considering the amount of sheer choice the buyer has these days. Way back in January 2014 according to a study on BMJ Journals there were 466 different brands of electronic cigarette, now in 2022, there's thought to be thousands to choose from.

It was also reported recently, in the transitions in electronic cigarette use among adults study, that half of all users of electronic cigarettes (who were tested), discontinued their use within the first set time period. This may be due to the quality of the product, or the wrong type of e-cig (or e-liquid) being used.

So how do you go about finding the right, and more importantly, the best e-cig product to suit you, that you will be able to stick with?
Good question, as most advice is just based on general models, suiting either the complete beginner or an experienced vaper.
We here at SmokeTastic decided to write this guide, to help all sorts of users find the best e-cig to suit them, and form categories to suit the different type of user. Simply identify which category of vaper you fall into, and take a look at our suggestions to find the best e-cig device.

It couldn't be simpler!

The Complete Beginner

If you are completely new to e-cigarettes and want a simple to use device, you have 2 choices:

Cig-a-like E-Cigs – The most basic e-cig which looks like a real cigarette, with low power and a small amount of vapor.

The Cig-a-like is a 2 piece design, featuring a battery and a cartomizer (named so because it’s a combination of an e-liquid cartridge, and an atomizer built into one).

The battery is more often than not automatic, which means instead of pressing a button when you vape, it automatically detects airflow and activates automatically.

You do have to pick carefully, as the cartomizers only come in a limited amount of flavors and strengths.

One other thing to be cautious of, is the low power battery and thus a low amount of vapor this type of e cig produces. Although at first, it may seem to resemble smoking in many ways.

Many people often give-up with the Cig-a-like e-cig pretty quickly and move onto other types like the vape pen.

Vape Pod E-Cigs – Similar in functionality to a Cig-a-like e-cigs, but with a fresh modern design.

Vape pods are relatively new to the market, in comparison to Cig-a-likes, and are by far the most popular option for beginners. Thanks largely to their simplicity and modern look.

Again they are a two-piece design, comprising a battery and a cartridge, known as a pod. This pod is where the e-liquid and atomizer are held, so using the same principles as the Cig-a-like.

Make sure you look at the flavors, and strengths of the pods, as they can be limited. Ideally, you should choose one which is refillable, so you can use the same pod multiple times, which cuts down on cost and allows you to choose any e-liquid you like.

The Ex-Smoker

You are looking for an e-cigarette that has all the same properties of a cigarette, which includes the pull resistance, taste, and nicotine content. With the idea of slowly reducing your nicotine intake over time.

In this case, you need to look for e-cigs that have a coil, (often referred to as an atomizer) of greater than 1-ohm.

This type of coil is specifically designed for a mouth vape and has a similar resistance to smoking a real cigarette.

The vapor production on these types of devices is also similar to the amount of smoke your use too.

All Cig-a-like and Pod Vapes are of this nature, so the same principles apply here.

Important:

The most important thing to consider, is to choose an e-cig that allows you to refill with any e-liquid.

This gives you the option to try multiple different tobacco and regular flavors than the sealed units. It also allows you to choose the strength of nicotine.

If you're new to e-cigarettes, then it’s best to start at a reasonably high level. That level depends on how often you plan to use your e-cigarette.

For example, if you enjoy smoking, and just want an alternative then it’s a good choice to pick between 6-12mg strength. If however, you just want a strong hit to get you through the day, then choosing a higher nicotine content will help, but not be as enjoyable.

The Return Vaper

You may have tried electronic cigarettes before and it just didn’t sit right for you. This may have been for a number of reasons. We’ll explore a few to give you a better chance of sticking with it and more importantly, enjoying it!

There are many reasons why users don’t stick with the e-cig, here are a few, and the things you should try next:

• The harsh feel on the throat – This is a too often heard about complaint you hear from ex-vapers and one that happens from a misunderstanding in advice.

The harsh feel on the throat comes from using too high of a nicotine level in the e-liquid. It’s often thought that if you’re a heavy smoker, you need a stronger nicotine level, but this is completely wrong.

Think about it a little differently, if you enjoyed smoking and want to enjoy an e-cig, then using a 3mg e-liquid twice as much as a 6mg e-liquid, will give you the same amount of nicotine and satisfy your cravings. The lower the nicotine level the smoother the vape.

• Problems with the feel of the draw – There are 2 types of techniques, one where you pull to your mouth, then in known as ‘MTL’ and the other where you pull directly in known as ‘DL inhales’.

The difference between the 2 is controlled by the resistance of the coil, where MTL users use a resistance above 1-ohm, and the DL inhale users use a resistance below 1-ohm, known as sub-ohm vaping.

Chances are, you were using the wrong type of coil to suit your preferred type of technique. Most smokers moving onto e-cigarettes, start with MTL and move onto DL inhales over time.

• The taste wasn’t right – There are so many e-liquids to try and all have a different blend, even if you just look at the tobacco flavor.

Try using an e-cig that allows you to refill, this way you have access to thousands more of flavors, and can even blend your own.

When you switch over to e-cigs, there is going to be a time where you need to get used to it. Many new vapers consider the experience like changing a brand of cigarette, to help them mentally get over that change.

Top Tip:

A top tip from us is to try the different fruit or menthol flavors, instead of trying to find an exact match of your current brand of cigarette. Often a complete change is better than a subtle one.

E-Cigs For The On and Off Vaper

If your the type of user who finds they keep jumping back and forth to the e-cigarette, then there’s a good chance you haven’t found the exact product that suits your type of vaping.

This could be due to a number of factors which include:

• The hit on your throat isn’t as good as smoking. This could be due to the amount of nicotine in your e-liquid. Try switching to a 3mg juice temporarily, to see if that helps. Also, try switching to DL inhales, using a coil less than 0.5-ohms, this improves flavor and gives you the hit faster.
• The taste of the e-cigarette doesn’t really hit the mark. Make sure you buy a device that is refillable and buy some test e-liquid sets, just smelling the juice in a shop, doesn’t really give you an idea if it’s going to be an ‘all day vape’ or not.
• The e-cigarette airflow isn’t right. This really depends on the type of coil and technique you are doing. If your doing ‘MTL’, then buy a device that allows you to experiment with DL inhales. Also, get a device that has a good airflow control within it, allowing you to adjust the airflow to suit your needs.
• Too much of a pain to set it up. There are many devices on the market, some are incredibly tedious to set up, whilst there are some that are incredibly easy yet still produce a good vape.

E-Cigs For The Experienced Vaper

This type of user may be experienced with vaping, and enjoys it to a certain effect, but want to get more from their vaping experience.

Luckily there are many additional choices, where you can experiment and try different setups, these include:

• Wattage and Temperature Control. – This is where you buy a box mod that has both wattage and temperature control. With wattage control, you control the power going to the control, best around 50-100W. With temperature control, you control the temperature of the coil so you never experience a dry hit, you can also set the wattage in temperature control mode with some mods, so the wattage will drop as soon as the temperature of the coil gets too hot.
• RDA and RTA setups. – This is where you can build your own coils and screw them into your ‘deck’. With RDA tanks you drip the e-liquid manually on the coils and vape. With RTA’s you fill a tank above the coils like a regular tank. Check out the difference between RDA and RTAs for more information.
• Squonk Mods. – If you love the taste coming from an RDA, but don’t like the idea of carrying a bottle around with you to ‘drip’ onto the coils, then a Squonk mod should be considered. It has a squeezable bottle built into the mod which you squeeze to drip e-liquid on your deck.

Who Are E-Cigarettes For?

The popularity of the e-cigarette has exploded in 2019 making 2022 an interesting year for ecig products, the most popular way to quit! The humble e-cigarette has changed a lot over the past few years, so there is a lot to learn especially if you're looking for the best ecig starter kit, for example. You need to be aware of the health issues relating to e-cigs, to fully understand what vaping represents before making a purchase. The FDA has also been busy studying e-cigs, to make sure the devices available to consumers are of the highest quality.

You may have read a number of media stories concerning vaping and e-cigs, the fact however remains, there is little known about the long-term effects of using ecigs, it is therefore critical that you learn as much about them as possible before starting. Another good resource to use is the Surgeon General site, where they give you an overview of the ecig, and health impacts.

The purpose of these e-cigarette products is simple, it is to be used as an alternative to smoking, and as such, should only be used by adults who want to replace their smoking with an alternative, and arguably, a healthier option. Many people who turn to these devices are in fact successful in quitting smoking altogether, many have simply cut down but some also have tried and failed. So using e-cigs is not, necessarily, going to be the solution to quit smoking for all. The FDA also has strict guidelines on how ecigs are to be marketed, including restrictions on labeling them as a quit smoking aid.

Recommended Users:

E-Cigs should only be used by either, a smoker who is looking to cut down or quit their cigarette consumption, a smoker who wants to avoid the harsh smell of stale cigarette smoke or the ex-smoker who is tempted back.

So, if you are a smoker or ex-smoker, how do you know which type of electronic cigarette to choose from, and which is the most suited starter kit? You don’t want to waste your money on an expensive e-cigarette, only to realize that it’s for a more experienced vaper. The advice that we can give, start simple. Either a cheap Cig-a-like e-cigarette, or a more expensive pod type e-cigarette or vape pen. The box mod type vapes and the Squonk mods are for the more experienced vapers, who want more of a vape hit. Take a look at our quick explanation of each type:

Which Type of ECig Starter Kit Will Suit You?

The Cig-a-like E-Cig

The Cig-a-like is the oldest type of ecig, that many vapers start with. Suited for people who smoke but want an easy to use e-cigarette to help cut down with.

Best Cig-a-likes Ecigs!

The Vape Pod

Also known as pod vapes or just pods, they are sealed easy to use e-cigs with more power and flavor than Cig-a-likes. Again popular with new vapers and ex-smokers.

Best Vape Pods E-Cigs!

Vape Pens

Slightly larger than pods, but you get more power and a stronger vape. *Suits both MTL and DL inhale vapers giving a heavier hit. Suits both new and experienced vapers.

Best Vape Pen E-Cigs!

Box Mods

Called so because of their box shapes. More powerful that vape pens and often with extra features such as wattage/temperature control. More for an intermediate/experienced vaper.

Best Box Mod E-Cigs!

* There are two types of techniques, MTL (using an atomizer/coil above 1-ohm). This is where you suck the vaper in your mouth then in. The second is DL inhales (with atomizers below 1-ohm, known as sub-ohm vaping). This is where you take the vape directly in. All Cig-a-likes and pod ecigs mainly support MTL vaping where vape pens and box mods offer both styles.