Posted by Pure E-Liquids on 4th Aug 2025
The dust has settled on the 1 June disposable vape ban for 2025, and vapers are beginning to see how manufacturers are moving away from single-use, non-rechargeable kits towards legally compliant, sustainably focused alternatives.
In this guide, we explain everything you need to know about suitable replacements for disposables to find a like-for-like device. One that is just as straightforward to use, but cheaper in the long run, better for the environment, more customisable and even more flavour options!
Why Do You Need an Alternative to Disposable Vapes in 2025
With the disposable vape ban in place, retailers are no longer permitted to sell devices designed for single-use vaping.
As the UK Government explained in their press release explaining why they have banned single-use vapes, only reusable vapes are accepted. A vape online store or shop must have:
- rechargeable battery
- refillable container that holds the vaping e-liquid (such as a chamber, capsule, cartridge, pod or tank)
- removable and replaceable coil (if the vape contains a coil)
Therefore, vapers may be asking questions like ‘what do I use now?’ Or will I get the same delivery of nicotine or flavour when vaping a reusable product?’
Vaping has helped millions move on from smoking. Now the industry needs to provide refillable and rechargeable alternatives that can help vapers transition from disposables, as it did from cigarettes.
The UK government has brought in this legislation to help prevent underage vaping and reduce battery waste, which has been impacting the environment.
So, legally compliant alternative vape kits and accessories that are not only better for the environment but financially cheaper than cigarettes and disposables make sense for all parties concerned.
Quick Summary of Banned Products
Below is a summary of the refill requirements and coil replacement requirements highlighted by the UK government to explain what they deem to be a banned product:
- Devices with fixed coils that cannot be replaced (whether on their own or as part of a fixed pod) which is also not replaceable.
- Devices where there is a fixed battery which cannot be replaced or recharged.
- Any device that does not have a refillable container (chamber in tank or pod, capsule, cartridge).
Key Features for Suitable Alternatives
If you have used a disposable in recent years, you may be finding it difficult to find a similar replacement that is just as easy to use.
What most will want is a familiar alternative – perhaps even from the same brand previously purchased, whether that is Elf Bar, Vuse, IVG, Lost Mary or the hundreds of other key manufacturers that have helped adult smokers quit. Below are the key selling points for a suitable alternative:
- Similar draw and throat hit (MTL, auto-draw)
- Compact and lightweight
- Strong flavour options (especially fruit, menthol, and cola)
- Low maintenance
- Cost-effective over time
- Legal and eco-friendlier
Initially, vape liquids were produced using freebase nicotine, available in its purest form.
Now, following the surge in popularity of disposable vapes, which were made with the addition of prefilled e-liquid with nicotine salt at the base, vapers will be seeking alternatives that support both types.
Vsavi is a good example of a vape juice brand that does offer high PG freebase e-liquids with the Platinum range and nic salts, available at a higher 20mg nicotine strength and smoother to vape.
Best Vapes to Replace Disposables
Any vaper whose go-to was a disposable discovered a perfect entry-level vape to leave behind cigarettes for good. Single-use kits did not need to be charged, refilled with e-liquid, coils changed, or wattage adjusted. Ready to go straight out of the pack, the original name of the product – electronic cigarette – was a justifiable comparison. A provider of nicotine in electronic form. Let's run through the top contenders for the different types of vapes:
Prefilled Pod Kits
Perhaps the closest match to disposables is a prefilled pod kit. This type involves popping a 2ml magnetic pod already filled with e-liquid into a battery-powered device that can be recharged.
Top picks include the Vsavi Starter Kit with classic vape cartridges (0.9ml per cartridge in bundle packs), the Vuse Go Reload 1000 with the Vuse Extra Intense pods and the Elf Bar 600 Prefilled Kit to follow on from the popular disposable.
Refillable Pod Kits
Next up are refillable pod kits. Slightly more customisable, you get much bigger battery life with the best pod kits than with a disposable vape. Plus, you have tons of e-liquids to choose from, as you can refill yourself!
Pods that attach on top of the battery are often made of plastic, easy to fill and can contain fixed coils (dispose of the whole pod when coil life ends) or open pods, with removable coils.
Big Vapes
The immediate response to the news that disposables will be banned was a technology switch by manufacturers to navigate past TPD regulations with more puffs per vape. The answer was ‘big puff vapes’, also known commonly as ‘big vapes’.
Big Puff Vapes contain either rotating prefilled pods so the vaper can alternate between different flavours from the same device, or a large automatic refill container. The latter system involves 10ml containers and 2ml pods. Once the 2ml pod is empty, you turn the device over to automatically refill your pod with e-liquid and then purchase a pod and container combination sold separately once all are empty.
Vape Pens
This style of vape still serves a purpose for 2025 vaping, particularly after the ban of disposables. A simple device that is slim in nature, typically activated by mouth-to-lung puffs on the mouthpiece without needing to press a button, is standard. Compact and a little longer than pod kits, rest assured, compact vape pens still fit in the pocket or bag.
Usually low in wattage, they are not usually the preferred option for those seeking big clouds or customisable settings via a screen display. Instead, they are geared towards user-friendly vaping. Quick to draw, operate, refill and reuse. Most importantly, the draw of a vape pen will feel very close to the sensation of vaping disposables.
Vape Mods
Last up, we have vape mods. These customisable devices are aimed at those who like more control and choice when vaping. They often feature adjustable airflow and the power necessary to puff bigger clouds of vapour.
Supporting high VG e-liquids to generate this cloud, vape mods tend to be operated with larger battery capacities (either internal at 1500mAh plus) or with dual external batteries. The overall experience is all about more clouds, flavour and performance, optimised by the vaper.
How Much Do Refillable Alternatives Cost in Comparison?
The idea of vaping after smoking should be long-term planning to help you first quit smoking and then, once successfully no longer needing a cigarette, drop the nicotine levels till you no longer need a vape. A major sticking point for both habits is cost.
During these tough economic times, we are all trying to penny-pinch where we can to spend our hard-earned pounds elsewhere (holidays spring to mind)!
So, if you can make any savings on vaping habits, this is always welcome, whether that is in the first week of use or after a year.
With disposable vapes, spending on one device was under £5, which made it easier for underage vapers to access if legal age requirement checks were not made. A 20mg nic salt disposable intended for heavy smokers would contain 600 puffs, typically, lasting on average one day per device. So, with that in mind, you could be spending between £35-50, depending on use per week!
Now with the ban in place, reusable vape kits cost more initially, but you can make big savings over time. After paying for a device, e-liquid bottle (10ml – 5 times the amount of a single-disposable vape), coils and/or pods, it can cost from £25-50. But the accessories often come in multipacks, with the device rechargeable and often lasting six months plus rather than one day!
Over time, you can save between £100-200 a month on average and more than £1000 in one year. If you compare vaping a refillable kit to cigarettes, which cost on average £16 for a pack of 10, the money saved is welcome!
Handy Tips for a Quick Switch
- Pick a device that receives reliable reviews and recommendations from customers for limited leaks.
- Choose nicotine strength to match disposable habits (typically 20mg)
- Look for mesh coil pods for flavour clarity and longevity
- Use vape juice with a balanced 50/50 VG/PG ratio for pod kits
- Stick to auto-draw systems if you are not a fan of button-activated vapes
Takeaway: Discover a Long-Term Alternative That Works
For the past few years, vapers have found disposables to be a useful vape on a night out, at parties or for the commute to work. But with millions in distribution unnecessarily ending up in landfill each week, a change was required.
Now, you can find a long-term alternative for disposable vapes that can be just as effective to operate but leaves more money in your pockets and more flavours to choose from.
Refillable vapes or prefilled kits serve a clear purpose. You can find multiple nicotine strength options among the thousands of vape juices at the disposal of UK vapers. Reusable kits offer rechargeable batteries, more coil options, features like adjustable airflow and multiple device designs.
It is a no-brainer. Money saved, additional flavours for your device and greater nicotine strength options to drop down the levels. As many disposables were 20mg or 10mg only, long-term use was never feasible. Alternatives are being released all the time and we are here to help if you need further assistance finding the right replacement, depending on which disposable you vaped previously.
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The dust has settled on the 1 June disposable vape ban for 2025, and vapers are beginning to see how manufacturers are moving away from single-use, non-rechargeable kits towards legally compliant, sustainably focused alternatives. |