E-Liquid vape pens are by far the most popular type and the type most people refer too when they talk about vape pens. With the starter kits, you get everything you need to start vaping except the actual e-liquid as the flavors and strengths are so vast it would be counterproductive for the manufacturers to include it.
A typical kit comprises of a base unit which often houses the battery, on the shaft you have the power and fire buttons. You also get a tank with a pre-installed coil and a USB charging cable.
The kits vary from brand to brand but the majority also give spare atomizer coils, glass housing and a selection of replacement o-rings.
Vaping Score:
9.6
Out of 10
Based on build, reliability and quality of the device.
8.9
Out of 10
Based on build, reliability and quality of the vape pen.
EVOD style vape pens are another popular type of vape pen, used to vape e-liquid and often referred to as EGO E-Cigs.
They are basic vape pens and ideal for the new vaper or those who are trying to quit smoking with e-cigs. They are all available in starter kit form and the only thing you have to buy in addition is the e-liquid, as with all vape pens and e-cigs.
EVOD generally have an atomizer which has a resistance greater than 1-ohm, and therefore require less power and also ideal for mouth to lung inhales as the draw is slightly more resistant and requires a harder pull, similar to regular cigarettes.
Designed specifically for the new vaper it is very easy to use. The coils can be replaced and come in different resistances so the user can find their perfect match. Although the vape cloud isn’t as big as the best e-liquid vape pens, you still get a nice tasting vape, smooth and satisfying, especially for the mouth to lung vapers.
8.9
Out of 10
Based on build, reliability and quality of the vape pen.
8.8
Out of 10
Based on build, reliability and quality of the vape pen.
8.0
Out of 10
Based on build, reliability and quality of the vape pen.
CBD Vape pens are no different than regular vape pens, they can be used for both e-liquid and CBD liquids.
There are companies that specialize in just CBD Vape Pens, but in our opinion, they are not as good as the mainstream brands.
Don't be fooled into buying a separate pen for CBD. Just change the coil as you would when changing e-liquid and try it out. Or buy one of the best vape pens that can be used for both e-liquid and CBD as listed here.
Vaping Score:
9.6
Out of 10
Based on build, reliability and quality of the device.
8.9
Out of 10
Based on build, reliability and quality of the vape pen.
Finding the best vape pen can be a bit of a challenge due to the amount of choice on the market. Luckily with so much choice and a little education, you should be able to find exactly the right type to suit your needs. We are now going to take a look at some important factors about vape pens which will help you find the best vape pen possible.
Vape pens may not be suited to all users, if you’re unsure which type of e-cigarette to choose, then revert back to our guide on the best e-cigs which covers all the different types of devices and which type of user they best suit.
Vape pens, which in some cases are known as vaporizers, have been on the market since 2011 and populated by Joytech with the EGO type. This particular device was in direct competition with the Cig-a-like type of e-cigarettes, but due to their higher power rating started to become more and more popular with users. Over the following few years, most of the manufacturers started copying Joyetechs original EGO design and produce their own versions known as the EVOD design, trying to capture the market and put their brand on top as the best vape pen.
Now in 2021, the best vape pens have come a long way and the amount in the vaping market is huge. Users have all sorts of choices, so make sure you read on to make sure you choose the right type of vape pen to suit your needs.
Vape pens are named such due to their physical appearance, they consist of a tubular battery in which you screw a similarly shaped tank which holds both the e-liquid and coil (aka atomizer). They are very convenient to carry around with you, and as previously stated, hold more battery capacity and therefore produce a much better vaping experience than the smaller Cig-a-like type devices and pod vapes.
There are many different types of vape pen on the market, as you can tell in our rankings above. Each type suits a particular user and there are variants of the basic types. This may make it a little confusing, but we will clarify which each type is used for and which type of user it suits.
This type of vape pen is the more traditional device that people mean when they mention a vape pen. It uses normal vape e-liquid which contains nicotine and is used in a similar way to other e-cigarettes that are available on the market. The type of user this vape pen is suited to those who are using Cig-a-like or vape pod e-cigs and want a stronger hit. Within this category of vape pen there are a number of further sub-categories that include:
The Dry Herb vape pen is a completely different type of device that is used for vaping, as the name suggests, dry herbs. This vape pen again consists of a battery element but instead of an e-liquid tank, it has a chamber known as the oven. The dry herbs are placed in this oven chamber and when switched on the vape pen will slowly heat the herb to around 350°F up to 420°F. The vape pen will keep the herb at this temperature and indicate to the user that it can be vaped. The idea here is that the herb is kept to a temperature below combustion to reduce the smoking effect and produce only a vape. Dry herb vape pens use to be popular but due to their lack of performance and the new release of CBD e-liquids they are now not as popular with users.
Again popular last year was the use of Wax or Oil vape pens, which became known as ‘dabbing’. This involved using a high concentrate wax extract of a herb and placing in a special chamber within the vape pen similar to the dry herb oven we explained above. Quite often the 2 types of vape pen are combined and the manufacturer will offer a different tank for either dry herb or wax/oil. This type of vape pen has also become less popular for the same reasons.
The first step you need to take in finding the best vape pen is to decide which type of vape pen will suit you. The most popular is the e-liquid vape pen as this is used with normal e-liquid and now with CBD e-liquids, which are used in favor of Dry herb and Wax vape pens. We are now going to look at some key features to consider when choosing the vape pen.
The smaller the vape pen the better right? Well wrong, unfortunately! The smaller the vape pen is the less powerful the battery will be, although you may not notice the difference in the shop, the smaller type of vape pens work with a relatively high atomizer or coil, usually around 1.5-ohms. This type of coil is meant for mouth to lung vaping and suits an ex-smoker. The small vape pen only needs a small wattage to produce vapor, around 5-15W so a small battery should be fine. Just remember, the smaller the battery the less amount of puffs it takes until it requires a recharge.
If you’re moving onto vape pens from Cig-a-likes or vape pods, you may be wanting a little stronger hit when you vape. This is where you may want to choose a vape pen that has both mouth to lung and direct lung inhale (known as sub-ohm vaping) support. With sub-ohm vaping the coil is below 1-ohm, ideally around 0.5-ohm or below, but this type of coil requires around four times more power. So choose a vape pen with a large battery capacity of greater than 1000mAh.
The tank capacity becomes particularly important if you are choosing to try sub-ohm vaping. This type of vaping uses a lot more e-liquid than the other and therefore requires a relatively larger tank to save you having to carry e-liquid bottles around with you. For sub-ohm vaping, we suggest buying a vape pen with a tank capacity of no less than 3ml.
If you live within the EU, you will find that the tank capacity is limited to 2ml due to the TPD (Tobacco Products Directive). This cannot be worked around and thus will have to carry around spare e-liquid. The sub-ohm vape pens use a lot more e-liquid than regular coils, so it may be worth considering to use larger coil sizes (above 1-ohm).
Having an adjustable airflow control within a vape pen is going to suit all types of vapers, so really lookout for this feature. The more airflow you have the smoother the vape and you can set it to your ideal preference. With sub-ohm vaping this is more of a necessity than a nice to have option.
Many vapers believe the sole responsibility of resistance of airflow is due to the airflow being adjustable or not, but this is not the case. The width of the coil also has a huge impact. If you look at the coil and the inside diameter is relatively small, the resistance of airflow is going to be considerably less than a wider inside diameter coil, regardless to the amount of airflow adjustment available.
Most vape pens come with a tank that can be screwed off and a coil that can be changed. The manufacturer or model should provide a variety of different coils with different resistances ranging from 0.2-ohms to 1.8-ohms. These coils are often standard stainless steel coils, but if you’re after a more modern vape pen, then choose one that offers mesh coils in addition to the standard. Mesh coils produce a better vaper taste and an all-around better vape.
It is worth knowing that if you use a coil below 1-ohm, this is known as sub-ohm vaping and is used for direct lung inhales. Direct lung inhales is when you take the vape down to your lung in one smooth breath. Any coil above 1-ohm is used with mouth to lung vaping which resembles traditional cigarettes, this is where the vape is drawn into your mouth first, then down to the lungs.
Once you have chosen the best vape pen for your needs there are a few basic instructions you need to follow to make sure you get the most out of your vaping experience. Make sure to read these tips in full, and if you have any questions then ask us, we will be only too pleased to help.
Once you have taken the vape pen out of the packaging, there are a few steps you need to take.
Your vape pen is now ready to be used, many like to let the vape pen sit for a few minutes to ensure complete and equal saturation of the coil. But following the simple tips above will ensure that not only you have the best vape pen, but you will also get the best vape from it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Nicholas King
Hi! I’m Nicholas King, the founder, and Chief Editor at SmokeTastic. As an ex-smoker and now vaping enthusiast for over 13 years myself, I understand the transition between smoking and vaping. My aim is to share useful information about all the different vape and e-cig products on the market, self-help tips, and detailed reviews.
I hope you find something on SmokeTastic that helps you with your decision process.
Hi! I’m Nicholas King, the founder, and Chief Editor at SmokeTastic. As an ex-smoker and now vaping enthusiast for over 13 years myself, I understand the transition between smoking and vaping. My aim is to share useful information about all the different vape and e-cig products on the market, self-help tips, and detailed reviews.
I hope you find something on SmokeTastic that helps you with your decision process.