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Disposable vapes have gained immense popularity among vapers and smokers looking for an alternative. These compact and convenient devices offer a hassle-free vaping experience. With pre-filled e-liquid and disposable single-use batteries, they eliminate the need for refills or maintenance. This ease of use makes them ideal for smokers making the transition to vaping, or as an alternative for 'social smokers' on a night out.
While disposable vapes offer numerous benefits, we should also consider their drawbacks. For example, you may want to consider the convenience versus any potential expense and environmental damage. But to what extent do these factors influence your individual needs and preferences?
Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of disposable vapes, so you can make an informed decision on which type of vape is best for you.
Pros of Disposable Vapes
These types of vapes are convenient
Disposable vapes are the most convenient way to vape. They’re designed for ease of use, making them perfect for smokers looking to make the switch to vaping, or those who prefer a simple vaping experience. They're good to go straight out of the box. Simply remove the packaging, take the vape out of the wrapper, remove the bung, and off you go.
They’re are also typically small and lightweight, fitting easily into your pocket or bag, allowing you to enjoy vaping on-the-go.
You'll find them sold in countless locations. Whether it's vape shops, convenience stores or supermarkets, it's likely that there will be a large selection of the best disposable vapes available.
They’re very easy to use
Disposable vapes require no set-up or maintenance. They’re designed to be used straight out of the box. Simply inhale on the mouthpiece, and the device activates automatically.
The ongoing maintenance is also very simple. In fact, there's basically no maintenance or upkeep involved. You can't recharge them, so this is one less thing to worry about. Disposable vapes are also pre-filled with e-liquid so there's no need for refills.
Unlike many vapes, disposables don't have any settings to check or adjust. This may be seen as a negative by some, but for others, it removes the risk of mishaps.
The convenience and ease of use of these kinds of vapes have made them popular among smokers making the transition to vaping for the first time. The NHS states that vaping “poses a small fraction of the risk of smoking cigarettes” and explains that “E-cigarettes do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful elements in tobacco smoke.”
Disposable vapes often have strong, intense flavours
Not all, but the majority of disposable vapes have strong, intense flavour profiles. You might see this as a pro or a con depending on your personal preference. The sweetness of these flavours are unlike many of the traditional 10ml e-liquid refills on the market. However, there are some 10ml e-liquids available that replicate this extreme flavour experience, such as VLTZ e-liquid.
Disposable vapes are also available in a huge variety of flavours. From Cream Tobacco to Blue Razz Lemonade, there's an array of options across lots of different brands to suit any flavour preference.
Cons of Disposable Vapes
Disposable vapes can be harmful to the Environment
You'll no doubt have seen the environmental impact of disposables splashed across headlines recently. Since these devices are intended for one-time use, they contribute to plastic waste and pollution
Disposable vapes also contain a lithium-ion battery. If disposed of incorrectly, this battery can be harmful to the environment. Reports suggest that 1.3 million disposable vapes are dumped in landfill every week.
Moreover, the environmental cost of producing a disposable battery is very similar to the environmental cost of producing a rechargeable battery. However, a rechargeable battery has a much longer lifespan than a disposable. This ultimately means far more disposable vape batteries are being produced than rechargeable batteries, which is detrimental to the environment.
As a leading vaping brand, we take our responsibility to minimise the environmental impact of our products very seriously. This is why Totally Wicked has launched a disposable vape recycling scheme in conjunction with Veolia. You can return vapes to your local Totally Wicked store so we can send them for responsible recycling. However, as a vaper, one of the best things you can do for the environment is to switch to a more sustainable e-cigarette. A vape that you can recharge and refill, such as the Skope Air, will have less of an environmental impact than the equivalent disposable vapes.
They are more expensive than refillable vapes
While disposables may appear affordable initially, their costs can add up over time, especially for frequent users. Each disposable contains up to 2ml of e-liquid and will cost around £5. A bottle of e-liquid carries a similar price tag but contains 10ml of e-liquid. In short, disposable vapes can cost up to 5 times as much as the equivalent e-liquid.
If you're looking to keep costs down, opt for a refillable vape. You can see exactly how much you could save with a refillable vape, compared to smoking, using our quit smoking calculator.
They don't have as many nicotine strength options
Most disposables on the market only have one nicotine strength, which is usually 2.0% (20mg/ml). This is the maximum legal limit for nicotine content in the UK, as per the TRPR regulations. One of the biggest positives of vaping is that you can reduce your nicotine strength over time. This is only possible when vaping e-liquid with a selection of strengths, such as Red Label.
If you're looking to reduce your nicotine intake after switching from smoking to vaping, then we would recommend a refillable vape and e-liquid. The Skope Air, Tornado GTL or arc Impact are all ideal, simple-to-use starter kits.
They can be more difficult to regulate
As with all vape products, disposable vapes need to meet UK regulations. This includes notification to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). They must also abide by the regulations laid out in the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR). These regulations are in place to ensure the safety of all vapers, but how do they affect disposable vapes?
Are disposable Vapes Safe?
Although disposable vapes must be registered with the MHRA and also meet TRPR regulations, a much greater proportion of illicit sales can be attributed to disposables than refillable vapes and e-liquids. This means disposable vapes bought via non-reputable or illegal sources often won't meet these guidelines, making them potentially extremely dangerous indeed. This has resulted in the government committing £3 million to fund an “illicit vapes enforcement squad”.
These illicit sales include products that contain more than 2ml of e-liquid. While exceeding an e-liquid limit may not seem like a big concern, it means that the product has not been subject to the relevant regulatory checks. Recent reports suggest that some unregulated devices which have made their way onto the market can have harmful chemicals in them.
If you choose to vape disposables, ensure you are buying these from a reputable vendor, like Totally Wicked. All products sold through Totally Wicked are registered with the MHRA and subject to rigorous internal testing. All Totally Wicked stores operate a Challenge 25 policy in-store and operate a strict age verification process online. Totally Wicked is a founding member of the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA). We take regulatory conformity very seriously and welcome the government's crackdown on illicit sales of vapes.
In Summary: Pros and Cons of Disposable Vapes
Pros of disposable vapes
- Convenient
- Easy to use
- Intense flavours
Cons of disposable vapes
- Harmful to the environment
- Expensive
- High nicotine content
- Difficult to regulate
Are Disposable Vapes the right choice for you?
Disposable vapes do of course have their benefits, as outlined in this article. However, there are numerous alternatives that may be a much better option for your personal needs. Be open minded when considering the right type of vaping device for your needs. Visit a Totally Wicked store or speak to our customer service team, who will talk you through the options.
You can even try some vapes in-store and decide for yourself. Although you may be happy with disposables, you could save yourself a pretty penny, while easing your environmental conscience by switching to a more sustainable product, like VLTZ.
Remember, whether you stick to disposable vapes, or go rechargeable, you can recycle any vape at all Totally Wicked stores.
