Switching from a heavy smoking habit to vaping and figuring out where to start can be a bit daunting, there is quite a lot on offer and you want to make sure that you make the right choice so that your switch is a successful one. With all the modern advances available in the vaping industry, you can get kits that replicate the feel of dragging on a cigarette while also offering the same craving satisfaction you need. In this article, we have cut away all the chaff and will help you zero in on the setup that is right for you.
Which vape is closest to smoking a cigarette?
If you are trying to make the switch from smoking to vaping, the MTL style of vaping is your best option. MTL stands for “mouth to lung” which describes the process of drawing vapour into your mouth and then inhaling it into your lungs. It is essentially the same process you use for smoking. This style of vaping will have a tight draw, similar to smoking a cigarette and will give off less vapour.
Starting with an MTL vape kit will make the transition easier as it does not require you to learn any new technique. Saying that, if you enjoy vaping and wish to explore further, there is nothing stopping you, but starting off with something close to home gives you the best chance of sticking with it.
What Nicotine Level Should I Start Vaping at?
The best type of nicotine for heavy smokers is called nicotine salt - or nic salts for short. Relieving that nicotine itch as fast as possible is key and nic salts do just that, as they are designed to be absorbed quickly by your body and satisfy your cravings for longer periods of time. Nic salts create a smooth throat hit, deliver excellent flavour and produce a discrete amount of vapour.
Nic salts are designed especially for mouth-to-lung vapers and are available in 5mg, 10mg or 20mg strength options - we’d recommend you start off with the 20mg if you are a heavy smoker. Once you have successfully made the switch to vaping, you can decide to lower your nicotine level over time, but starting off with something strong will help keep those cravings away.
What is the best vape for trying to quit smoking?
The innovation in current-day vaping technology has led to devices that deliver a near-identical experience to smoking a cigarette with intuitive design features that make them effortless to use. With that being said, there are a couple of options worth considering.
Disposables
Outselling any other vape kit, disposable vapes offer straight-out-the-box instant gratification that delivers bold flavours - which have raised the bar for vaping e-liquid industry - and high levels of premixed nic salts that quickly satisfy cravings. They are an excellent place to start if you are completely new to vaping and a bit put off by all the jargon and can help you make the break away from your smoking habit.
Recently Big Puff disposables have hit the market, offering a more bang for your buck approach. These economical kits use prefilled pods or 10ml vape juice containers that deliver puffs in the thousands. Not only are these kits more economical, they also guarentee that you won't be left inconveniently stranded as they can last for a week or more using rechargeable batteries. Find the very best big puff vapes on offer in our 10 Best Big Puff Disposables blog.
Lost Mary BM6000
- Up to 6000 Puffs
- 10ml e-liquid container
- 16 Flavour Choices
Lost Mary's beloved BM600 has been ramped up to deliver up to ten times the use, with an innovate rethink that provides 6000 puffs. The Lost Mary BM6000 considerably larger than its predecessor, but still highly portable. The kit comes with a 10ml vape juice container that fits into the device and is used to top up the 2ml pod within.
You do this by simply tilting the kit upside down, the e-liquid bottle is see through, so you'll know when the device is nearly at its end. The kit uses a 650mAh battery that you can recharge, and has a battery display that will let you know when your low. This is a game-changing vape kit and a worthy upgrade from its predecessor.
Elf Bar 600V2
- Lightweight & discrete
- 28 Flavour Choices
- 20mg Nic Salts
The famous Elf Bar just got even better. The upgraded QUAQ Mesh Coil delivers superlative flavour with a longer lifespan, ensuring every last drop of delicous e-liquid is harnessed. You'll get instant craving satisfaction from the 20mg of premium nic salts and with 28 sublime flavours to choose from, you'll never get bored!
Insta Max 20K
- Up to 20,000 Puffs
- 10 Flavour Choices
- 20mg Nic Salts
Here is a disposable that delivers over 30 times as many puffs as a standard kit. That's right, a 20,000 puff unit that is fully TPD-compliant and legal in the UK. Two separate 10ml chambers will keep your 2ml pod topped up while you recharge the 550mAh battery and enjoy hours of uninterrupted satisfaction.
Refillable Pod Kits
Refillable pod kits are over 50% cheaper than disposables and their constant innovation has led to a design concept that has quickly become the most successful way smokers achieve escape velocity from their smoking habit. Pod kits replicate the draw of a cigarette and are designed to make vaping as user-friendly and enjoyable as possible while opening the user up to an endless range of flavours and more nicotine-strength options.
A refillable pod kit carries a rechargeable battery and a 2ml capacity pod, which can be filled with the vape e-liquid of your choice. Various coil options will offer different types of draw, depending on preference, from a tight cigarette-like pull that produces a discrete amount of vapour, to a looser, more airy draw producing a bigger cloud.
Competition with disposables has focused their design on convenience and effectiveness and many pod kits now feature the instinctive auto-draw feature found in disposables as well as options for adjusting your airflow.
Uwell Caliburn G3 LITE
- 1200mAh all-day battery
- Auto-Draw
- Easy Top Fill
- Leak-Free Pods
The latest in the famed Caliburn Series, the G3 LITE finally delivers a larger 1200mAh battery for longer use between charges. The fuss free, buttonless design feels solid and durable, whilst being lightweight and comfortable to hold. The pods sit in a clear holder, giving you full view of exactly how much juice you have left. The pods are very easy to refill, they're SSS leak resistant and provide a smooth and flavourful vape with the Pro-FOCS technology. This is a simple vape kit that does the job really well.
Vaporesso XROS 4 Mini
- Lightweight & Stylish
- Simple design
- 1000mAh Battery
- Rich Flavour
- Lea-Free Pods
The XROS 4 mini is one of the best selling vapes of all time. ITs simple to use, durable, stylish and produces a smooth vape rich with flavour. A top notch and slimline aluminium alloy build contains a whopping 1000mAh battery and 30W of power. This is a versatile kit that will vape your favourite nic salts with the 0.6ohm pod as well as open you up to high VG e-liquids with the 0.4ohm option.
Elf Bar ELFX
- Simple Design
- QUAQ Mesh Coil Flavour
- Adjustable Airflow
- Perfect for disposable users
If you want something that you can use once disposables are banned on the 1st June 2025, the ELX is about as close as you can get. Its made by disposable giants Elf Bar, it's straightforward, fill from the top, leak free pods. Extra little adjustable airflow slider for added customisation and a big battery to keep you going for hours between charges. Why not combine this kit with the ELFLIQ vape juice range for a seamless transition from your Elf Bar disposables.
What is the best vape that tastes like a cigarette?
Fruit, dessert and candy flavours are synonymous with vaping, but when you first start out, you may just want a juice that tastes as much like tobacco as possible. Well, you are spoilt for choice with the range of nic salt tobacco flavours on offer, from straight-up no-nonsense cigarette flavours to various tobacco blends like Virginia or Menthol all the way to creamy cigar and even liquor tobacco flavours.
Hopefully we’ve cleared up a few questions and concerns about getting into vaping if you’re trying to drop a heavy smoking habit. We’ve also got a whole range of guides - including one on quitting smoking to help get you prepared. If you’re ready to dive in, make sure you check out our 5 for £20 nic salt deal as well as the rest of the starter vape kits we’ve got too. Don’t worry if you still have more questions, we’re here to help you out whether that’s with kit advice or just an e-liquid flavour recommendation. You can contact us with any questions and we’ll get you on track as quickly as possible.
Cigarette - Pod Salt
- Replicates tobacco flavour of a cigarette
- 11mg or 20mg Strength
When starting out with your first flavour, you may just want a like for like experience and you won't get any closer to a cigarette flavour than.. Cigarette by Pod Salt. This is a straight up flavour with notes of toasted Virginia tobacco that will feel very familiar. And with options of 11mg or 20mg nicotine strengths, there is something for heavy and moderate smokers.
Menthol Tobacco - Nasty Juice
- Rich tobacco and Icy Menthol
- 10mg or 20mg Strength
Enjoy a savoury and refreshing menthol tobacco flavour with robust notes of roasted tobacco chased by a cool and minty freshness that is moreish and satisfying. And the 20mg of nicotine salts will kick those cravings to the curb.
Cream Tobacco - Elfliq
- Smokey tobacco wrapped in vanilla
- 10mg or 20mg Strength
If you enjoy the taste of a smooth Cuban cigar, then Snoow Tobacco will tickle your tastebuds with its rich and smoky tobacco flavour wrapped up in a creamy vanilla tone that makes this a smooth and satisfying vape.
How many puffs of vape is equal to a cigarette?
Approximately 10 to 15 puffs of a vape with 20mg of nic salt e-liquid are equivalent to smoking one cigarette. Cigarettes have their own built-in cutoff, but you don’t get that with a vape, so when you first start out it is best that you take a couple of puffs and see how you feel, with fast-absorbing nic salts you may need less than you think and you don’t want to make yourself sick. So start slow and find out how much your body is comfortable with.
How many hits of a vape are equal to a pack of cigarettes?
A 2ml pod kit with 20mg of nic salts will net you about 400 puffs which is about 30 to 40 cigarettes, upwards of two packets of cigarettes. Considering that you get 5 refills per 10ml bottle juice, that means you are getting approximately 2000 puffs or 7 to 10 packs of cigarettes per 10ml bottle of nic salts. And at an average cost of £3 to £4 per 10ml bottle, you can now appreciate how jaw-droppingly economical refillable vape kits actually are.
Hopefully, we’ve cleared up a few questions and concerns about getting into vaping if you’re trying to drop a heavy smoking habit. We’ve also got a whole range of guides - including one on quitting smoking to help get you prepared and our Utlimate Beginner Vaping Guide will explain it all, check it out!
If you’re ready to dive in, make sure you check out our 5 for £20 nic salt deal as well as the rest of the starter vape kits we’ve got too. Don’t worry if you still have more questions, we’re here to help you out whether that’s with kit advice or just an e-liquid flavour recommendation. You can contact us with any questions and we’ll get you on track as quickly as possible. our Utlimate Beginner Vaping Guide will explain it all, check it out!
www.vapesuperstore.co.uk contains general information about vaping and vapour products. The information provided is not medical advice, and should not be relied upon unless explicity cited. We do not make any warranties surrounding the health benefits, reliability and accuracy of written copy across all pages on our website, including blog content and content posted on social media.
