Move over cigarettes. The vape market is slated to reach up to $168 billion by the year 2030.
It's hard to identify just one reason why vaping has exploded in popularity. It uses futuristic technology, doesn't fill your lungs with tar, and doesn't stink up a room with smoke and ash. When you drop by your local smoke shop, though, you'll see a half dozen different types of vapes to choose from.
Vaping for beginners is challenging since, well, it's a complicated little niche community. To help you out, let's take a look at the different benefits of vapes available and the benefits they provide.
What Are the Different Types of Vapes?
Vaping is an ever-evolving industry, so the vape devices you see now may include new options and technologies in the coming 10 years. Industry leaders are developing new machines, new processes, and new methods. That said, five distinct device types remain in common use:
- Disposables
- Pens
- Mods
- Pod mods
- Herb vaporizers
Vape aficionados have tried all of these at one point or another. It's important to experiment to know which one works best for you. Plus, seeing that the whole market falls into 5 distinct categories helps get over the paradox of choice when shopping.
We've covered the differences between these types of vapes in previous articles. So today, let's discuss the vape benefits each has over the rest.
Disposable Vapes
Vaping began as a disposable market. In particular, with the "cig-a-like" vaping devices. As their name suggests, they have the physical appearance of a cigarette with a vaporizer packed inside.
Cost
The main benefit of disposable vapes is their low, low cost. You can buy them as singles or entire packs for cheap.
For people coming from real cigs, the cost savings are a huge allure. Smoking is an expensive habit where the average pack of cigarettes hovers at $8.39. Multiply that by a dozen packs a month, and it takes a real hit to your wallet.
While an individual disposable vape is more expensive than a single cigarette, it lasts much longer. A single disposable can compete with a full cigarette pack in nicotine content. You could save some money by buying a vape disposable pack for cheap.
Ease of Use
Other options on this list are more complex. They'll require some adjustment to get used to them.
Disposables work right out of the box. They have the most intuitive controls and don't require a charge. They provide the best no-hassle experience of the bunch.
Availability
All the other options on this list require you to buy them from a smoke shop or e-commerce vendor. Not so for disposable vapes. You can buy them almost anywhere: grocery stores, convenience stores, and even gas stations.
Forgot your box mod at home? You can swing by the Shell on the way to work to get a cheap substitute.
Stealth Vaping
Stealthing (vaping discreetly in a public place) allows you to enjoy vaping where cigarettes may not be allowed. Disposables, especially cig-a-likes, are so small they disappear into the palm of your hand. It's very easy to stealth one without anyone getting wise.
Pens
Pens are the next generation after cig-a-likes. They can be disposable or rechargeable, yet their profile is only a bit larger than cig-a-likes. These are some of the most popular options on the list for reasons we'll discuss below.
Cost
Pens do cost more than cig-a-likes, but they can be cheaper in the long run. Cig-a-likes are often single-use, but pens feature a rechargeable battery and refillable tank.
Replacing the juice in a pen is much cheaper than buying an entire disposable. Then, you simply recharge the battery and use it again.
Other Substance Options
The vast majority of vaping devices focus on nicotine, but pens are one of the few that allow you to vape cannabis. You can even try synthetics such as delta-8 and delta-10. Disposables with these substances are rare and often only available in a dedicated smoke shop.
More Flavors
With cig-a-likes, what you see on the shelf is what you get. There's no way to swap out the juice even if you wanted to.
Vape pens allow you to use any e-juice you like. As long as you can put it in the tank, it will work.
Stealth Vaping
Pens are still very small. They look like a carpenter's pencil in form factor, albeit cut in half. It fits in the palm of your hand and slips into any jeans or bag pocket.
Stealth vaping with pens is still very much an option. Especially when it comes to cannabis alternatives.
Mods
When you are ready to go to the next level, you get yourself a mod. A mod is a rechargeable, big-tank vaping device for regular users and pros. It can produce a much larger power output, improve airflow, and allow for customization.
Next-Level Vaping Experience
You can get a serviceable experience using disposables and pens, but box mods are a "fine wine" by comparison. They've got a sub-ohm tank, high-quality atomizer, LED display screen, and adjustable settings. Translation: they turn your vape experience up a few notches.
With the exception of pod mods, you won't get a better vaping experience.
Longer Lasting
Pens don't usually last as long. With heavy use, a pen may only last a year until the battery craps out or it breaks. They don't build them for repairability or longevity.
A mod can effectively last your entire life if you take good care of it. You can replace the battery, the tank, the mouthpiece, and much more. They lend themselves to tinkerers who don't mind getting their hands dirty.
Superior Customization
Don't like the limited output on a pen? Too bad. There's not much you can do to change it.
Mods allow you to customize almost every aspect of the device right out of the box. You can change the wattage, temperature settings, and airflow.
Plus, you can swap out all the parts for better aftermarket options. You can even use any e-juice you like, such as CBD.
Vape Tricks
You've probably seen the videos of vape competitions. Skilled vape artists will blow complex smoke patterns in stunning performances.
In the vast majority of cases, they are using a box mod. The mod allows them to produce more vapor by increasing the temperature and airflow, as well as the wattage.
More Environmentally Friendly
Sadly, disposable vapes have one major downside: they are horrible for the environment. Since they are single-use devices, people throw them away and never use them again. They end up contributing to the world's growing e-waste problem.
Mods and their like do not. These devices are meant to last years.
Pod Mods
Think of a pod mod as a low-profile box mod. It fits the same "bang for your buck" into a device that's not as chunky. In particular, it uses a pod tank system and higher-concentration nicotine salt liquid to overcome size limitations.
Cost
Purchasing a mod can be expensive, especially if you want one that's high-quality. A pod mod can be the budget option you use to replace it. Since it has a pod system and salt nicotine, it packs the same punch.
Smaller Form Factor
A normal box mod is big. It almost requires two hands to use. This could be a turn-off for some people who dislike the weight and hand strain.
The pod mod is smaller and more discreet. It's not ideal for stealth, but it does cut down on the bulk that is common in box mods.
Dry Herb Vaporizers
E-juice is an effective way to get a lot of "smoke" from very little material. It does, however, have the downside of limiting users to an e-juice-only experience. You can't use dry herbs, such as your bud.
Dry herb vaporizers use wizardry to transform their contents into a smoke-free vapor. They cook the plant matter below its combustion point, extracting a vaporized form of its desired compounds.
More Options
An herb vaporizer can't use e-liquid. Still, it opens up your options to anything smokeable that you have on hand. Many individuals keep one on hand as a backup in case they can't, say, get e-liquid for their delta-8.
Less-Harmful Smoking Experience
Regular smoking is chock full of health hazards, namely from the tar and chemicals it produces. A blunt carries the same risk, to our dismay. A dry herb vaporizer helps you to enjoy your plant of choice without turning your lungs black.
Thus, it's a happy halfway point that creates less harmful vapor out of your favorite compounds. E-juice, especially the cheap kind, can be cut with cheaper drugs that pose a health risk. Remove all ambiguity with an herb vaporizer.
Find Vapes at Rapture Vapor
The different types of vapes on this list all give you excellent options for your specific use case. You have vapes that are affordable, easy to use, and convenient, such as disposables and pens. Then you have more complex, configurable options such as mods, pod mods, and dry herb vaporizers.
At Rapture Vapor, we provide all the tools you need for an exceptional vaping experience. Get started with our disposable options.