Refillable Vape Kits

Refillable vapes are rechargeable reusable devices that you fill yourself with e-liquid bottles. A refillable vape kit includes a rechargeable battery and a refillable pod or tank. When it runs out, refill it with any liquid you choose. When the coil wears out after a week or two, replace that. The device itself lasts 12-18 months or longer with basic care.

Since the June 2025 disposable vape ban, the UK vaping market has split into two options: prefilled pod vape kits and rechargeable refillable vape kits. Prefilled kits lock you into 20mg nicotine strength and limit you to whatever flavours that brand makes. Refillable pod vapes work with any 10ml nic salt or shortfill, giving you thousands of flavour options and complete control over your nicotine strength.

Most rechargeable vapes use a top-fill system. Remove the vape pod, open the fill port, pour in your liquid, close it back up. Takes 30 seconds. These non disposable vapes work with liquids from any UK brand, including all the popular bar juice e-liquids from Elf Bar, Lost Mary, Elux and SKE Crystal. Pod kits are most popular because they're compact and simple. Refillable vape pens offer more power with bigger tanks.AIO kits fall between the two. All give you the freedom that prefilled pod vape systems can't match.

Control Your Nicotine Journey

Rechargeable refillable vapes offer complete nicotine strength flexibility compared to prefilled pod kits. Prefilled pod vapes lock you into 20mg nicotine strength because that's what comes in the pods. Refillable vape kits let you choose any strength: 20mg, 10mg, 5mg, 3mg, or even 0mg nicotine.

With a rechargeable vape, you can start at 20mg and gradually reduce to 10mg, then 5mg, then 3mg, eventually reaching 0mg if that's your goal. Same device throughout your nicotine reduction journey. Disposables and prefilled kits locked everyone into 20mg for years. Refillable pod vapes return control over nicotine consumption to the user.

Nic salt bottles cost £1.99 at Ecigone regardless of strength. Try different levels without buying new hardware. Read our nic salt strengths guide for advice on which strength suits your needs.

Thousands of Flavours vs Limited Selection

Prefilled pod devices typically offer 30-40 flavours maximum - whatever the brand manufactures. Refillable vape kits work with over 2,000 e-liquid flavours from every UK manufacturer.

All the major Chinese disposable brands now make 10ml nic salt e-liquids with their exact same popular flavours. ELFLIQ nic salts contain all Elf Bar flavours. Lost Mary Nic Salts bottles recreate all Lost Mary flavours. Elux Legend Nic Salts are available with all Elux flavours. SKE Crystal Bar Juice offers all SKE Crystal flavours. These bar juice e-liquids taste identical to the disposables because they're made by the same manufacturers.

At Ecigone, every 10ml nic salt bottle costs £1.99 - including all the disposable-style bar salts. Same flavours at a fraction of the cost. One bottle equals 5-6 disposables worth of vaping. Prefilled pods cost £6-7 each for the same amount of liquid.

Rechargeable vapes give you access to disposable-style bar juices plus thousands of other UK e-liquids from brands like Dinner Lady, Vampire Vape, and IVG. You're not limited to what one brand decides to make. This is why experienced vapers choose refillable vapes over prefilled pod vapes.

Device Longevity: Years vs Months

A quality rechargeable vape kit lasts 12-18 months or longer with basic care. The rechargeable battery is good for hundreds of charge cycles. Coils need replacing every 1-2 weeks (costs £3-5 per pack), but the device itself keeps working. Many vapers use the same refillable pod device for over two years.

Prefilled pod vape kits typically last a few months before the battery degrades or components fail. They're designed as a step up from disposables, not as long-term devices. After 3-4 months, most people replace them. This makes reusable rechargeable vapes far better value because you're not constantly buying new hardware.

The best refillable vape brands like Vaporesso, OXVA, Uwell and VooPoo make reliable kits built to last. Clean your device weekly, avoid overcharging, and store it correctly. A £20-30 rechargeable vape that lasts 18 months costs far less than replacing prefilled kits every few months.

Massive Cost Savings

At Ecigone, 10ml nic salt bottles cost £1.99. Prefilled vape pods cost £6-7 for the same 10ml of liquid. That's £5 saved per refill. Refilling twice a week saves £10 weekly or £520 yearly just on liquid costs.

A rechargeable vape kit costs £15-30 upfront. Coils cost £10-15 monthly. Total first-year cost: roughly £250-300. Compare that to prefilled systems where you're spending £600-700 yearly on pods alone, plus replacing the device multiple times. Most people save £300-400 per year with refillable pod vapes. Check our detailed cost breakdown guide.

Even cheap rechargeable vapes from quality brands give you months of reliable use. After the initial purchase, ongoing costs are minimal. This makes refillable vape kits the most cost-effective option in the post-ban UK market.

Environmental Impact

While prefilled pod kits are better than disposables, they still create significant waste. You're binning plastic pods every few days and replacing the entire device every few months. Rechargeable vapes cut waste down to just small coils every 1-2 weeks and occasional device replacement after 12-18 months.

A single refillable pod device replaces dozens of prefilled pods and multiple device replacements over its lifespan. Empty 10ml e-liquid bottles can be recycled with normal plastics. When your reusable vape eventually reaches end of life, recycle it at battery recycling points. Most shops have bins for this.

Non disposable vapes make environmental sense. One device, hundreds of refills, minimal waste. The June 2025 disposable vape ban happened partly due to environmental concerns. Rechargeable refillable vapes are the solution, not prefilled systems that still create ongoing waste.

Best Refillable Vapes for Beginners

For those switching from prefilled pod kits or disposables, straightforward pod kits with draw activation work best. The Vaporesso XROS 5 and OXVA Xlim Pro 3 work straight out of the box. Fill the pod with nic salt, wait 5 minutes, and start vaping.

Beginner-friendly rechargeable vapes should have long battery life (1000mAh+), leak-resistant pods, and clear indicators. Auto-draw means no buttons. Magnetic pods make refilling quick. These features make the switch from prefilled systems straightforward. The Vaporesso XROS 5 beginner guide walks you through setup.

A quality refillable pod vape becomes just as convenient as prefilled kits once you've refilled it a few times. The 30-second refill process becomes second nature. Meanwhile, you're saving £5 per refill and have access to any flavour, including all the bar salt flavours from your favourite disposable brands.

Best Refillable Vapes for Ex-Smokers

Ex-smokers need a tight MTL draw and reliable nicotine delivery. Compact pod kits with 1.0Ω+ coils work best. The Uwell Caliburn G4 offers the cigarette-like draw that makes switching easier.

Starting with 20mg nic salts suits heavy smokers. After a few weeks or months, you can drop to 10mg when ready. This gradual reduction isn't possible with prefilled systems where you're stuck at 20mg. Look for refillable pod vapes with restricted airflow and MTL coils. Read our switching from smoking guide for detailed advice.

The best rechargeable vape for ex-smokers delivers consistent throat hit and lets you control nicotine intake. This is why experienced ex-smokers avoid prefilled systems - they want the flexibility to reduce strength over time.

Best Budget Refillable Vapes

Quality refillable vapes from established brands cost £15-25. The key is choosing devices with readily available coils. Proprietary pod systems from unknown brands might save you £5 upfront but cost more long-term when coils are hard to find or the device fails quickly.

Budget reusable vapes should have USB-C charging, leak-resistant pods, and decent battery (500mAh minimum). A £20 refillable pod vape from Vaporesso or VooPoo gives you months of reliable use and costs less than a month of pre-filled pods. Browse our pod kits collection for value options.

Even cheap rechargeable vapes from known brands outperform prefilled systems on cost. Your £20 upfront investment saves you £5 per refill compared to prefilled pods. After four refills, the refillable vape has paid for itself.

Best Refillable Vape Pens for Cloud Chasers

Refillable vape pens with sub ohm coils suit those wanting bigger clouds and stronger flavour. These use lower resistance (0.4-0.6Ω) and work with high VG shortfills at 3mg or 6mg. More power means warmer vapour and denser clouds.

Refillable vape pens have larger batteries (1500-3000mAh) and bigger tanks (4-5ml). Less charging and refilling. Many offer adjustable wattage. This level of customization isn't available with prefilled pod kits, which are designed for simplicity rather than performance. Check our sub ohm guide for recommendations.

For advanced vapers, rechargeable vapes are the only option. Prefilled systems can't deliver the power, customization, or performance needed.

Using a refillable vape takes slightly more effort than prefilled pod kits initially, but becomes second nature quickly.

1. Charge Your Device Fully charge your rechargeable vape using the included USB-C cable before first use. It takes 1-2 hours. The LED or screen shows when charging is complete. Don't leave devices charging overnight.

2. Prime Your Pod or Coil If your refillable pod vape has a removable coil, add 2-3 drops of e-liquid onto the cotton inside. If it's a sealed pod, fill it with liquid. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before first use. This prevents dry hits and extends coil life. Our priming guide covers this in detail.

3. Fill the Pod Remove the pod. Open the fill port (rubber bung or plug). Pour in e-liquid, avoiding the central airflow tube. Don't overfill. Close it, wipe excess, and reinsert the pod. This is the only extra step compared to prefilled systems, and it takes 30 seconds once you've done it a few times.

4. Start Vaping Draw-activated devices work by simply inhaling. Button-activated devices require pressing the button while inhaling. Take slow draws. The first few puffs might taste slightly off as the coil saturates. Improves quickly.

5. Maintain Your Device Refill when about 1/4 full. Replace coils every 1-2 weeks when flavour drops. Clean pod and contacts weekly. This basic maintenance keeps your reusable vape working for months or years, unlike prefilled systems that often fail after a few months regardless of care.

Most refillable pod vapes work with 50/50 nic salts. This ratio wicks correctly in pod systems and delivers good flavour. At Ecigone, all 10ml nic salt bottles cost £1.99 regardless of strength or brand. Try 20mg if you're used to prefilled pods, or start lower if you prefer.

For Those Switching from Disposables:

Bar Salts (Disposable-Style E-Liquids) These are 10ml nic salt bottles that recreate exact disposable flavours. Every major Chinese disposable brand makes them:

• ELFLIQ - All Elf Bar flavours
• Lost Mary MARYLIQ - All Lost Mary flavours
• Elux Legend Nic Salts - All Elux flavours
• SKE Crystal Bar Juice - All SKE Crystal flavours
• IVG Bar Favourites - All IVG 2400 flavours

These bar juice e-liquids taste identical to disposables because they're made by the same manufacturers. Browse all bar salt e-liquids to find your disposable favourite.

UK-Made Nic Salts Hundreds of flavours from premium UK manufacturers like Dinner Lady, Vampire Vape, and Pod Salt. These often have more complex, authentic flavour profiles than disposable-style liquids.

High VG Shortfills (For Powerful Devices) More powerful refillable vape kits can use high VG shortfills (70/30 ratio) at 3mg or 6mg. These produce bigger clouds and stronger flavour but need lower resistance coils. Don't use high VG in small pod kits.

Match liquid to device. Pod kits work with nic salts and bar juices. Sub ohm kits need shortfills. Browse our e-liquid collection to find what works for your refillable vape. Whether you choose disposable-style bar salts or explore new UK brands, every option is available - unlike prefilled systems where you're limited to what that manufacturer makes.

Refillable Vapes vs Prefilled Pod Kits

Since the June 2025 disposable ban, prefilled pod kits have been marketed as the convenient option. They are convenient - no refilling required. But that convenience costs you £300-400 yearly compared to rechargeable vapes, locks you into 20mg nicotine, limits you to maybe 40 flavours total, and gives you a device that lasts months rather than years.

The best rechargeable vape options give you nearly the same convenience (30-second refills) with complete control over strength, access to 2,000+ flavours including all the bar salt versions of your favourite disposables, massive cost savings, and devices that last 12-18 months or longer. For most vapers, especially anyone wanting to reduce nicotine intake or explore different flavours, refillable vape kits are the clear choice.

Prefilled systems made sense during the transition from disposables. Now that the market has adjusted, refillable pod vapes offer everything prefilled kits do, plus flexibility and savings.