In 2021 disposable vapes developed from a niche product to the biggest trend in UK vaping – a trend that shows no sign of slowing down!

Disposable devices are incredibly easy-to-use. While a reusable device such as a mod or a pod-mod may need its coils and pods changing, and regular re-filling with e-liquid, with a disposable you just inhale, enjoy and dispose of when finished.

From a harm reduction perspective, this has been great, as their sheer simplicity means they have introduced many smokers to vaping for the first time.

It’s true that disposable devices have been available for many years, but have only taken off in popularity in the last two years. That’s largely down to improvements in performance and flavours – with the best disposable devices now producing vapour and taste to match that of reusable devices.

With more brands and ranges released on a regular basis, if you’re looking for a disposable vape device, it can be tricky to choose the best brand. In this post, we’ll highlight the best brands available in the UK, as well as what to look for when choosing a disposable vape device.

Also see our Best Vape Brands and Best Vape Juice Brands round ups.

Contents

• Best overall disposable vape brand
• Best disposables at a glance
• Best disposable vape brands in-depth
• Don’t forget about nicotine strength
• How to avoid illicit disposable vapes
• How we choose these brands
• Does disposable vape quality matter?
• Remember, disposables aren’t always the best option…
• FAQs

Best overall disposable vape brand

Elf Bar 600

The Elf Bar brand has become globally synonymous with disposable vapes – often being the first brand people think of.

With over 40 flavours available, the Elf Bar 600 range offers the most choice of all the brands we stock. From the super popular Watermelon to the more traditional Cream Tobacco, there’s an Elf Bar 600 to cater to all tastes.

Filled with nicotine salt in 10mg, 20mg and nicotine-free options, each Elf Bar 600 can last up to 600 puffs before needing to be replaced.

Pros

• Huge selection of 40+ flavours
• Choice of 10mg, 20mg & nicotine-free strength options

Cons

• No pure tobacco flavour option

Also see: 12 best Elf Bar flavours for our choice of the top flavours based both on in-house testing and customer feedback.

Best disposable brands at a glance

Range	Strength Options	Puffs*
Elf Bar 600	0mg/10mg/20mg	Up to 600
Lost Mary (BM600 & AM600)	20mg	Up to 600
SKE Crystal Bar	20mg	Up to 600
IVG Bar Plus +	20mg	Up to 600
Element Klik Klak	0mg/10mg/20mg	Up to 600
Lota Enviro	20mg	Up to 600
Riot Bar	0mg/10mg/20mg	Up to 600
Doozy Nix	0mg/10mg/20mg	Up to 600
Nasty Air Fix	10mg/20mg	Up to 675
Geek Bar	20mg	Up to 575
VLTZ Bar	0mg/16mg	Up to 500

*Please note that puff count is estimated and will vary depending on the length and intensity of your inhale.

Best disposable vape brands in-depth

Lost Mary

The Lost Mary brand from the Elf Bar company is rapidly gaining popularity in the disposables market.

The popular Lost Mary BM600 range’s unique ombre colour design and bottle-style shape not only make them stand out but ensure they are even more pocket-friendly than their pen-style counterparts, while still lasting up to 600 puffs.

Flavour-wise, the range has over 20 options and is mostly fruit based, with a few candy, menthol and beverage blends also in the mix.

Lost Mary AM600 disposables feature the same flavour collection in a more classic bar-style shape, while still being extremely compact and also lasting up to 600 puffs. They come with a frosted, translucent design which offers great grip.

The latest Lost Mary QM600 range has a different aesthetic – with a rectangular shape and rounded mouthpiece and a sleek, crystal-like finish. Featuring many of the same flavours we’ve seen in previous ranges, QM600 disposables utilise QUAQ coil technology and a mesh coil for more rich and consistent flavour production.

Devices in all 3 ranges come with a 20mg strength nic salt – perfect for new vapers looking to replace cigarette smoking with enough nicotine to satisfy their cravings.

Pros

• Unique bottle-like shape (BM600)
• Good grip
• Over 20 flavour choices

Cons

• No tobacco-based flavour options
• May be too sweet for some

Also see: Best Lost Mary Flavours.

SKE Crystal Bar

SKE Crystal Bar disposables get their name from their sleek, crystal-like design. These slimline yet solid devices are made from sturdy stainless steel with a stylish, shiny finish.

Lasting up to 600 puffs per bar, the Crystal Bar range offers a large and varied choice of flavours with over 35 options ranging from tropical fruit, beverage and ice cream flavours to more traditional tobacco and menthol blends.

Filled with 20mg nicotine salt and featuring a mesh-design coil, Crystal Bar disposables offer a flavourful vape with high nicotine content and a smooth throat hit.

Pros

• Large & varied flavour choice
• Mesh coil for smooth, even flavour

Cons

• Only available in 20mg strength

IVG Bar Plus +

With 4 ranges to choose from, IVG are behind some of our most popular disposables – and for good reasons!

The IVG Bar Plus + range replaced the original IVG Bar collection with an upgraded battery, larger flavour choice and redesigned rubber finish for a more comfortable grip.

Available in flavours ranging from Classic Menthol to the refreshing Pink Lemonade, IVG Bar Plus + vapes also have the bonus of a unique hybrid airflow system that gives a cross between Mouth-to-Lung and Direct-Lung vaping styles.

Each IVG Bar Plus + disposable can last up to 600 puffs and boast a 20mg nicotine strength that is ideal for former smokers who are new to vaping.

Also see the IVG Bar Diamond and IVG Crystal disposables ranges.

Pros

• Ultra-airflow design
• Rubber finish for great grip

Cons

• Only available in 20mg strength option

Lota Enviro

Lota Enviro disposables are so different they could be the start of a whole new vape trend.

The key to this is the e-liquid inside them. Instead of simply using propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, they use a 30% water base. (Read more about water-based vaping here.) The result is an ultra-smooth vape that went down a treat with our in-house tasters. The taste is fantastic too, although with early versions we did find the battery didn’t last quite as long as other disposables.

We also love the fact that these disposables are eco-conscious and recyclable. The body is created from a strong paper shell, while the battery can be removed from the device when it is finished. This makes them very easy to recycle.

Available in a selection of fruit and candy-based flavours, Enviro disposables use  fixed mesh coil and come with a 20mg nicotine strength for a smooth, satisfying inhale!

Pros

• Smooth, pure flavour
• Recyclable paper design

Cons

• No tobacco or menthol flavours
• Battery life not quite as long as other ranges

Element Klik Klak

If you love to try out different flavour mixes, Element Klik Klak disposables are ideal – giving you the chance to mix and match flavours to find your perfect combination.

Using unique patented magnetic technology, you can simply click two devices together to create over 50 different flavour mixes. They can also be enjoyed on their own too!

As the name suggests, they make a super satisfying click when you click two of them together, making them great fun to play with – and ideal for people who always need something to do with their hands.

Klik Klak disposables are available in 10 fruit-based and candy-inspired flavours in 20mg strength and last up to 600 puffs each – while a paired set will last up to 1200 puffs.

Pros

• Pairing technology – mix & match flavours
• Satisfying click sound when you put two together

Cons

• Only available in 20mg strength
• No tobacco flavours

Riot Bar

Doozy Nix

Nasty Juice Air Fix

Vampire Vape Geek Bar

VLTZ

Does disposable vape quality matter?

The UK and the EU have strong regulations around e-liquid which are designed to protect vapers. These include banning certain ingredients that may cause harm and requiring both e-liquid and devices to be tested for possible toxins. That’s one of the reasons why the UK can say that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking.

However, that recommendation applies to devices and e-liquid that comply with UK regulations. If e-liquid is not tested and submitted, we can not have the same confidence about its quality.

Don’t forget about nicotine strength!

Many vapers who come to our shops to buy disposable vape devices had not previously realised that they can come in different nicotine strengths. That’s because many shops only sell the highest nicotine strength legally allowed (20mg).

If you are a heavy smoker, it’s generally best to use the highest strength available, as this is the best for satisfying nicotine cravings. However, at the same time, you don’t want to use more nicotine than you need. If you are a light or occasional smoker, you might want to try a lower strength, such as 10mg.

If you are well along the journey to weaning yourself off nicotine, you could even go for a zero nicotine option (available with brands such asQBar, Nasty Air Fix and VLTZ).

How to avoid illicit disposable vapes

Fortunately, there are some clues that can help you to suss out whether a disposable vape is illicit or legal.

E-liquid content

How much e-liquid does the device hold? If it holds more than 2ml, it’s not legal to sell in the UK. Even if it’s a well-known brand, it doesn’t mean it’s legal – it could be an imitation, and will almost certainly have been illegally imported.

Nicotine strength

How strong is the e-liquid? UK regulations mandate a maximum nicotine strength of 2%. If the strength is more than 20mg (2%), the device is being sold illegally.

Where are you buying it?

Most dedicated vape stores are keen to supply only legitimate products – after all, their livelihoods depend on it. On the other hand, some market stalls, pop-up shops and even convenience stores have been caught selling illicit vape devices. That’s not to say every market stall will break the law, but it does mean that buying from reputable vendors means you can have more confidence in the quality of your device.

(Do also note, if you look under 25 and your age is not queried, chances are the vendor is not following UK vape regulations.)

How we choose disposable vape brands

We look for brands that have an established reputation for quality. We do have the experience of years in the industry, which gives us a good idea of which brands can be trusted.

In addition, we ensure that every device is notified in the UK – this means that the details, including ingredients and the results of emission testing, have been submitted to the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Remember, disposables aren’t always the best option…

Disposable vapes have introduced many thousands of smokers to vaping for the first time. They can also be a great back up for experienced vapers who are at a festival, heading on holiday with only hand luggage or out for the night – anywhere where charging options are limited and you don’t want to be carrying spare chargers, e-liquids, coils etc..

But they’re expensive and aren’t the best choice for the environment.

1ml of e-liquid in a disposable vape typically costs around £2.50. It’s rare for e-liquid in a bottle to cost more than 40p per ml. Disposables are also much worse for the environment than reusable devices.

So while disposable vapes can be a great segway into vaping, there are other options that are more sustainable – both for the environment and your pocket!

Starter kits

It’s well worth looking at a simple vape starter kit. Designed for beginners with features like inhale firing and automatic power output, they have the added benefit of rechargable batteries and the option of refillable pods and changeable coils – making them a longer-lasting investment.

Rechargeable disposables

If this seems like too much of a transition, rechargeable disposables such as the Aspire R1 make a great middle step. These devices feature a fixed coil but also have the benefit of a battery that can be recharged and a pod that can be refilled. Although you will still need to dispose of the device when the fixed coil burns out, they are still a longer-lasting option than regular disposables.

FAQs

How long does a 600 puff disposable last?

The length of a disposable vape device depends on a number of factors, including how often you puff, how long you puff for, how hard you inhale and so on. That said, most disposable devices will last the average user about a day of use.

How do I use a disposable vape?

Remove the device from its packaging. Remove the plastic packaging from the tip and the film from the bottom. Inhale.

Read more:

Disposable Vape Guide