As well as the best kits we’ve selected above, the Vaping Post team has listed the other products that perfectly meet the needs of the new vaper. These packs generally include everything you need to vape. Remember, you usually need to buy e-liquid separately to fill your e-cigarette and be able to make vapour. Make sure you check before you buy!
A guide to understanding starter kits
Below is a list of the most common questions asked by new vapers. We’ve tried to summarize the answers for you, and cover the essentials for when you come to buy. We update our recommended products and this list throughout the year.
An e-cigarette kit is equipment usually sold in one box. Selling all of these parts together gives the user a complete, ready-to-use vaping device. People often talk about a “starter” kit to specify that the vaping kit is suitable for smokers trying e-cigarettes for the first time. It is sometimes also called a beginner’s kit. A kit usually includes a battery, a clearomizer (tank), one or more coils (the part that heats the e-liquid), a charger and a user manual. This content may vary, depending on the manufacturer. Specialist shops specifically recommend starter kits because they are easy to understand and save the end customer money. Their usually simple set-up makes kits quite attractive to smokers who are new to e-cigarettes. Although this type of equipment is really aimed at new vapers, it’s also great for long-term use. Often, smokers need several weeks before they actually quit.
The benefit of starter kits is how easy they are to use, and how well the components work with each other. Of course you can always put together a kit yourself. Here at the Vaping Post, we regularly suggest ways you can combine parts made by different brands but that are perfectly compatible. If you do decide to try this type of personalized assembly, make sure the parts you choose are compatible and work well together. That is especially true of the screw thread used to fit the clearomizer, and the combination of the battery power and coils you use.
In addition to the practical aspects, it is often less expensive. For example, a manufacturer may decide to lower the unit price of each component to sell at the most attractive price. You can usually find starter kits for under 60 Euro, for example.
It’s relatively simple to use a kit, since all you have to do is check that your battery is sufficiently charged, then screw the clearomizer or atomizer onto it. Take care to examine the clearomizer to make sure that it has a coil inside it and that the tank is filled up with e-liquid. Before you use it for the first time, you should read the user manual provided by the manufacturer. Once your clearomizer is filled with e-liquid, wait a few minutes so the wick that feeds the coil is properly soaked. Leaving out this step means you risk getting a dry puff or dry hit, which feels horrible in your throat and can create dangerous compounds like aldehydes. Finally, if your model allows, lower the battery power and then gradually increase it until you get the vapour level you want. Refer to the user manual for any power recommendations from the manufacturer. If the coil heats up too much, you risk changing the vapour it makes and not vaping properly.
We tend to choose a kit for its overall appearance and its battery in particular. Those are important criteria for an item you’ll be holding a lot. A kit that’s too big, for example, isn’t practical to carry around and will probably end up in a drawer.
The most important element, however, is still the clearomizer. That’s what makes the vapour when the battery delivers its electrical charge. Once people get used to a clearomizer, they tend to keep it. Or, if it breaks, they usually replace it with a similar model because it delivers the best vaping experience for them. That means they use it to completely replace cigarettes.
The most important thing for a successful transition from tobacco to e-cigarettes is to find a clearomizer and an e-liquid that are right for you. The look, size and battery life are important, but should always be secondary factors. Choosing a clearomizer that delivers the performance you want is a crucial step.
Finally, check whether your clearomizer is for direct or indirect inhalation. If you’re new to vaping, choose an indirect inhalation clearomizer. That means when you vape, it’s like smoking a tobacco cigarette – first you pull the vapour into your mouth, then you inhale it into your lungs. With direct inhalation, on the other hand, you inhale the vapour directly into your lungs, as you do when you breathe. This vaping technique creates huge clouds, but it’s not usually suitable for smokers who are new to vaping. We’d recommend that you avoid direct inhalation clearomizers if you’re a beginner.
Sometimes people differentiate between kits “for beginners” and those for “advanced users” for example. This usually comes down to two criteria.
Kits for advanced users often have a battery, or more specifically a box, which gives them a lot more control over the settings, e.g. temperature control. Beginner’s kits, on the other hand, are simpler and more intuitive, and a lot of them work perfectly well without you changing any of the settings. If the geeky aspect of vaping isn’t your thing, and you just want to vape without messing with settings, stick to a starter kit like most new vapers. They work brilliantly!
Also, some advanced kits are all about the volume of vapour they can make. Kits that make a lot of vapour are often aimed at “advanced users” simply because they are usually less effective as a cigarette substitute and usually feature direct inhalation clearomizers (see the previous question). That makes them more appealing to users who are no longer addicted to tobacco.
