The Best Vape Starter Kits for Newbies [2023 Update]

The vaping industry has experienced significant ups and downs. CDC data from 2018 revealed that almost 15% of adults had used an electronic cigarette at some point. A July 2021 Gallup poll revealed that 6% of American adults vaped in the previous week.

The market’s growth exploded until the 2019-20 vaping lung illness outbreak claimed the lives of an estimated 60 people and hospitalized over 2,700 in total. Although most cases related to illegal THC oil with harmful thinning agents, the U.S. government acted quickly. In 2020, it announced a nationwide ban on flavored e-cigarettes.

However, this hasn’t prevented brands from continuing to sell CBD and THC e-liquid in various flavors. The global e-cigarette and vape market is worth around $15 billion and continues to grow despite the best efforts of governments around the world.

With a wide range of vape pen starter kits available, vaping newcomers often have difficulty finding the right option. Should you go for a quick and easy disposable option or a pod system consisting of a vape tank and atomizer in one system?

This article helps you find the right vape pen starter kit for your needs and highlights five of the best brands in the industry.

Types of Vape Starter Kits Available

When checking out vape starter kits, your best bet is to focus on vape pens or box mod kits. A beginner starter kit can have a lot of needless accessories, so take this into account when browsing online. We recommend purchasing a kit because if you try to buy everything separately, you’ll have to ensure that everything fits and works together. This isn’t an issue with kits, and they tend to offer better value for money.

Vape Pens

A vape pen is a pen-style vaporizer ideal for anyone seeking to switch from tobacco cigarettes or marijuana joints. Ideally, you’ll find a pen capable of lasting a whole day on a single charge. Its main components are a battery and an atomizer. The latter contains a coil that heats your e-liquid and turns it into a delicious vapor.

One thing you’ll want to pay close attention to is the size of the tank. If you buy a vape pen with a small tank, you’ll have to refill it often if you’re a regular user. There are also mini vapes with tiny capacities, but they are designed for quick hits on the go. Vape pens tend to have thicker batteries than the earlier ‘cig-a-like’ devices, producing better vapor and lasting much longer.

Box Mods

Photo Courtesy of Vapornation

These devices are hailed as the ‘future’ of vaping. Pod mods are small, light, portable, and simple to operate. They resemble music devices more than e-cigarettes. Features include pre-filled pods and tighter mouth-to-lung draw. Pod mods are for users who believe “traditional” vaping is a little too complex for them.

For instance, most pod mods carry batteries with 500aMh or less, which means they don’t last very long on a single charge. Also, barring rare exceptions, pod mods can’t produce the kind of vapor production (or flavor) that seasoned vapers crave. Even so, they are solid options for newcomers, and there are now more advanced devices on the market with features such as temperature control and 900aMh batteries.

Pod Mods

Most experienced users prefer to steer clear of pod mods because they offer a limited e-liquid flavor selection and lack the power of advanced mods.

Mechanical Mods

We have only included this device to inform you that it is not for beginners. They are mechanical tubes that pull power from the battery and send it to the atomizer. Mechanical mods were once the most powerful around, but now, most regulated box mods outperform them. Also, Mechanical mods can be dangerous because using them typically implies having a working knowledge of Ohm’s Law.

Best Vapes for Beginners

We have added five brands that offer everything you need at a decent price.

1 – KangerTech

KangerTech is a Chinese company based in Shenzhen. Li Di Lin and Danny Zhu founded it in 2007, although it didn’t branch out internationally for another six years. The brand offers a wide range of inexpensive products designed for entry to mid-level vapers.

The Gem range is one of KangerTech’s biggest sellers and sells for less than $25 online. The device is available in six colors and includes a pod, manual, and USB charger cable. It also provides users with three different battery level indicators and easy juice filling. Users tend to get through 1.5 refills before needing to charge the built-in 500 mAh battery.

The Gem also provides a nice, smooth throat hit, although the vapor is possibly too warm for some tastes.

Other worthwhile KangerTech vape starter kits include:

Vbar
Ubar
Olit
Ibar
Auro

2 – Eleaf

Eleaf is a global behemoth founded in 2011. Synonymous with innovative design, the brand prides itself on producing high-quality yet affordable products. It sells a simply stunning array of vape starter kits.

The Eleaf iStick T80 is a compact option ideal for individuals craving discretion while they vape. It weighs just 120 grams but has a 3,000 mAh internal battery. The iStick T80 offers a power output between 1 and 80 watts and features an OLED screen display. This device suits coil resistance of 0.3 ohms and above and offers temperature control. Heat your material between 93 and 315 degrees Celsius to get the vaping experience you desire.

If you’re looking for something else, Eleaf has you covered. Here are just a few more examples of the brand’s enormous range of vape starter kits:

iJust AIO
iJust 3 Pro
iStick Amnis 2
iStick Pico X
iKuu i80

3 – SMOK

SMOK (Smoktech) is another Chinese brand. Founded in 2010, it is regarded as one of the big hitters in the vaping industry. SMOK remains up to date with the latest trends and offers a nice range of kits, tanks, and coils.

Its Stick V8 vape was a very popular option as a starter kit, but the SMOK Stick X8 is an improvement on the original design. Its airflow system is designed to prevent leaking, and the 4ml tank should be large enough for any vaping enthusiast. Moreover, the hinge system makes filling the tank easy, and we loved the level of vapor production, not to mention the outstanding flavor.

The kit includes two core coils, a micro-USB cable, and a 3000 mAh battery with a maximum 20 amps continuous discharge capability. The battery life indicator is an excellent feature, although you won’t have to charge it very often! Its recommended range is 30-45 Watts, and it includes safety features such as the 8-second cutoff and short-circuits protection.

Other SMOK vape starter kit options include:

Gram-25
PRIV N19
Priv M17
Stick M17
Priv V8

4 – Sigelei

Sigelei is yet another Chinese brand and is president of the Electronic Cigarette Business Committee of the China Electronic Chamber of Commerce. Located in Guangdong, the company was founded in 2011.

Its Glori kit is the definition of simplicity. You get a pod, micro-USB cable, warranty card, and user manual along with the device. The 2ml tank capacity is sufficient for beginners, and the pod is extremely easy to fill. The battery capacity is hardly earth-shattering at 450 mAh, but it is sufficient for a novice vaper.

Its max wattage output is 10W, and it contains an integrated 1.2ohm coil. Safety features include overtime, short-circuit, low resistance, and low voltage protection. The flavor produced is exceptional for such a small device, although the device works best with small draws. If you want a more powerful kit from Sigelei, you have a few options:

HUMVEE 80
213W Leather & Zinc Alloy
Top 1 Kit 2.0
Chronus

5 – Geekvape

Founded in 2015, Geekvape claims it is a pioneer and innovator in the world of vape technology. You’ll be shocked to know it is a Chinese company based in Shenzhen! The brand says it serves over 30 million customers and connects with over two million people on social media.

Certainly, it has an extremely impressive range of vape starter kits. Nicknamed ‘the indestructible beast’ by Geekvape, the Aegis Legend kit is a major attraction. It is waterproof and incredibly durable, though it takes two 18650 batteries to function and operates at up to 200 Watts. The Legend comes with a 0.2ohm coil and 0.15ohm coil. The tank is top-filled, making it easy to put your e-liquid in.

The OLED screen displays information such as current wattage, voltage output, and battery life. If you stick with low wattages, you’ll probably get a full day’s use from a full charge. However, Geekvape offers numerous other kits, including:

Geekvape Z50
Aegis Boost Pro
Wenax S-C
Obelisk 200 kit
G18 starter pen kit

Best Vape Starter Kit: What You Should Look for

Overall, while you want to avoid complicating matters, you do require a battery and an atomizer at the very least. Consider a vape box mod starter kit complete with a sub-ohm tank if you have a little vaping experience and are after an improved performance. Such devices retain the ease of use of basic vape pens but with a smoother draw and better flavor. Always check to see how many atomizer heads come with a kit.

Generally, for any clearomizer or tank, high-quality kits offer at least two coils. You should get at least a fortnight out of each. With two coils, you’ll quickly determine whether you enjoy the vaping process and if it is worth getting extra coils for the same tank in the future.

Those of you who use pod-style devices must ensure there’s a minimum of four pods included. These are the source of your e-liquid and can run out rapidly. You might find a kit with vape juice, although relatively few companies offer it.

The battery life is another major consideration. Vape pens and mods with built-in batteries are simpler to use. However, batteries are quite inexpensive these days, and having a spare rechargeable version is very convenient if you’re a regular user.

Pay attention to the battery size too. More powerful batteries enable you to use your device for longer on a single charge. While many starter kits have batteries in the 650 mAh range, plenty offer over 1,500 mAh.

Where to Buy Vape Starter Kits?

Answer these five questions before looking for a vape pen starter kit online to make the best decision:

1. How often do I vape?
2. Will I need more than one battery?
3. What is my budget?
4. Do I need a portable device, or am I only going to vape at home?
5. Will I need accessories such as a wall charger or carrying case?

There are ample options with the bare minimum – and some with a fair number of extra features. Those seeking a quick and easy vaping experience won’t need anything more than the most basic kits. They typically include a battery, clearomizer, and a USB charging lead. All-in-one kits are excellent if you want to vape and go.

If you plan to bring your device to work or use it while traveling, however, you’ll want to consider things like battery life and tank size. There are vape devices with swappable batteries that let you change them on the move. Alternatively, you can pay a little extra for a vape pen that allows for several hours of continuous use on a single charge.

Vapor.com is worth visiting as it has a massive selection of vape starter kits for sale.

Are Cheap Vaping Kits Worth Considering?

It depends on the brand, although it makes sense to keep your investment relatively low if you’re new to vaping. Some of the devices we outlined above are available for under $30. Those particular vape kits perform to a decent standard, but you shouldn’t expect to get a top-level kit for that price.

Also, there is a danger of serious harm if you purchase a bad vape kit. One possibility is that the device explodes and severely injures you. Such incidents are rare, but while the exact causes aren’t clear, battery-related issues are the most likely reason.

You must also tread carefully when you see any cheap vape liquids on offer. Avoid products with ingredients such as:

Acetoin
Benzaldehyde
Diacetyl
Eucalyptol
Formaldehyde
Vanillin

Finally, thinning agents such as PG, VG, PEG400, MCT oil, and even added terpenes could also produce toxins when heated.

Final Thoughts on the Best Vape Starter Kits

Vaping has been on the wrong end of a lot of negative publicity recently. In general, it is recognized as a safer alternative to tobacco smoking. Globally, tobacco cigarettes cause almost eight million deaths per annum and are linked with 20% of all male deaths.

However, as the vaping illness outbreak proved, vape pens aren’t completely safe either. We still await long-term studies on the general effects of using a vaporizer. What we know is that low-quality products contain thinning agents which produce carcinogens when heated. We’re also aware that poorly manufactured devices can prove harmful.

Therefore, when choosing the right vape starter kit for you, take note of the brand’s reputation and only buy products from tried and trusted manufacturers. This is the case whether you vape CBD, THC, or nicotine.

The companies and products we’ve highlighted in this guide tick all the right boxes. Once you’re satisfied with the brand, make a purchase from its official website or on Amazon. You should also check out our vaporizer reviews.