4 Categories: Their pros, cons & prices!
The vaping niche flooded the smoking market by storm since its first appearance in 2003 and has since been innovated almost daily.
Even with all the modern tweaks and changes, there are 4 categories in which all vapes fall, and in this article, we’ll look at their features and what these devices cost to purchase, and to maintain.
But first, let’s clear out the air in terms of what vaping is and what its effects can potentially be.
What is vaping, and is it worse than smoking?
Vaping can be defined as the heating and inhalation of e-liquid through an electronically powered device, that is intended for this purpose. E-liquid is transformed into an aerosol when heated to a particular point, and contains no tar.
A coil, which is powered by a (rechargeable) battery is responsible for heating the e-liquid to a desired temperature and are replaceable in most cases along with your e-liquid content.
Vaping is popularly known as a smoking harm-reduction tool, and is intended for use by smokers who want to reduce the consumption of tar and other carcinogens.
One study has shown vaping to be up to 95% less harmful than smoking.
Vape Prices: How much are vapes generally?
Affordability; another benefit vaping has above cigarettes.
Vape devices are available in a price range of R80 – R4000 or more, depending on a long list of features. On average, you can get your hands on a modern vape that will help any kind of smoker for between R300 – R600. We take a look at a detailed breakdown of different categories, models and prices below.
In terms of maintenance, you can expect to purchase at least one container of e-liquid per month (sometimes as little as 1 every 2 months).
Some devices will also require you to replace coils after about 2-4 weeks. It is important to note that e-liquids are more expensive with higher nicotine profiles, and are available in a range of 20 ml – 120ml bottles.
30ml Bottles usually range anywhere from R120.00 – R240.00 per unit, which will depend on the specified nicotine profile. If you’re still in need of more nicotine with your favourite flavour, nicotine shots are available as an easy and flavourless way to increase nicotine strengths.
How long do vapes last?
A good quality vape can last anywhere from 1 – 3 years or more if cared for properly, without replacing any parts other than the coils and e-liquid, of course.
Normally, batteries are the first big replacement needed after a year or two, as their cells simply die with time. Vape mods are the perfect mechanism to have for lifelong replaceable parts; everything from the battery to the tank and even the mouthpiece!
Disposables on the other hand has a set number of puffs per device, after which it has to be disposed of. These devices are available in a series of closed system flavours and last anywhere from 800 – 5500 puffs per device. Disposable vapes that offer 2000 puffs or more usually have a charging port, but cannot be refilled.
They are a cheap and easy way to stay vaping in cases of damage, loss or theft of your original device, and are perfect for those on the go.
Do vapes save money?
Maintenance on a vape costs around R150 – R400 per month, depending on frequency and intensity of use.
In extreme cases, maintenance of a box mod can easily cost in excess of R400 per month, due to expensive coils, excessive e-liquid consumption and the array of customizable accessories that come with it.
So in comparison, it all depends on how much you would usually spend on cigarettes per week or per month.
Vapes are a healthier alternative to smoking and can be more affordable; some e-liquids (nicotine salts) come in nicotine strengths of up to 50mg, which drastically reduces frequency of use. They have a smooth throat sensation and quickly eliminate nicotine cravings, and are taken up into the bloodstream up to 4 times faster than nicotine found in a cigarette.
4 Main Types of Vapes: Vape Prices 2022
As you might have noticed, the cost and customizability of vapes differ largely by type. Let’s have a look at the key features of the 4 most popular categories of vapes on the market today:
Box mods
Often referred to as the “Pinnacle of vaping”, box mods, or simply “mods”, are the most customizable of the vaping family and offer boatloads of settings and extra features to create the ultimate personalised vaping experience.
Box mods are also the most costly of all vape prices and cost anywhere from R600 – R4000 or more in the most extreme cases. Box mods are usually purchased without tanks, coils or mouthpieces to leave customization up to the user. Only in some cases they will include these parts.
These devices are an all time favourite for cloud chasers and flavour enthusiasts, as box mod flavour delivery and cloud production is known to be quite superior.
Pod Mods
Pod system vapes are arguably the second most used type of vape on the market. They’re rechargeable, and require you to replace either the entire pod or only the coils once every 2-4 weeks.
Closed system pod devices require you to replace the entire pod instead of only the coil, and are not refillable.
Open system pod devices allow you to replace coils and refill e-liquid to your liking, and normally support 2 different levels of coil resistance. A higher ohm (0.8 – 1.0) results in a higher resistance, which in turn will create smaller clouds when exhaling. A resistance of at least 10.0 ohm is required when vaping nicotine salts.
Lower resistance coils (0.4 – 0.6) offer less resistance and will in turn create larger clouds. These coils are not suitable with nicotine salts or any e-liquid containing an excess of 16 – 18mg nicotine.
Pod system vapes are compact, discreet and affordable, and a good option for those looking to quit smoking. They’re available for an entry-level price of R300.00 and can cost up to R550.00 – R600.00 for premium brands.
Vape pens & Cigalikes
Vape pens are devices shaped meticulously similar to that of a pen, and offer most of the same features that pod system devices do.
Vape pens are generally older than pod systems and do not have the user friendliness or cutting-edge technology that pod systems have nowadays. You can replace their coils and they’re also refillable, but because of their age they are mostly prone to a couple of these known downsides:
- Not leakproof
- Not shockproof
- Not widely available
- No chipset technology
- Shorter battery life
Cigalikes are, as the name suggests, vape devices that replicate a cigarette. The effort put into replicating a cigarette smoking experience is quite impressive, with features going as far as replicating the exact rolling paper pattern, the tightness of each draw and even the burning LED ash tip that lights up when you drag.
Their batteries normally last between 6 – 8 months before an entire new cigalike is purchased. They do not work with e-liquid, but rather have refillable cigarette cartridges that are available in different nicotine strengths.
Disposables
Disposable vapes are the new kids on the block, and popular for good reason. They’re closed system devices and are purchased in a single flavour for the duration of its lifetime.
These vape prices range based on a lifespan of between 800 – 5500 puffs before the entire device is disposed of. On average, you’ll pay around R80.00 – R110.00 for a 800 – 1500 puffs device, around R150.00 for a 2500 puffs device and around R230.00 for up to 5500 puffs per device.
Disposable vapes are available in either 50mg or 0% nicotine, which seemingly throws you to either extreme. On the plus side, 50 mg nicotine vapes enable even veteran smokers to need only 2 or 3 puffs to eliminate a strong nicotine craving.
Important: Do not dispose of any vaping device in a normal black or recycling bin. Vape devices are powered by lithium-ion batteries which can take an excess of 100 years to fully decompose!