What Are the Different Types of Vapes?

Visit any vape shop and you'll find a wide range of vape devices, each designed for different vaping styles and preferences. If you're new to vaping or thinking about upgrading your device, the number of options can seem confusing at first. Most vape devices fall into a few simple categories, making it much easier to choose once you understand the differences.

Every vape is made for a different type of user, from complete beginners to experienced vapers. Knowing what each type offers will help you choose a device that suits your needs. Here's a simple look at the main types of vapes and what they're best for, from pocket-friendly pod kits to powerful box mods. We'll also explain MTL and DTL vaping, as that's one of the things many new vapers find confusing, along with a few simple tips to help you choose the right device.

Pod Vape Kits

Pod kits are small, neat devices that use refillable or replaceable pods. They're light, simple to use and a great way to start vaping without a lot of fuss. Most fit easily in a pocket or small bag, so you can carry one around all day without even noticing the extra weight. Because there's so little to learn, they're often the first device people reach for when moving away from cigarettes or trying vaping for the very first time.

There are two main styles here:

• Closed pod kits come with sealed, pre-filled pods. You just click a new pod in when the old one is empty. There's no mess and no e-liquid to pour.
• Open pod kits have pods you fill yourself with your favourite e-liquid. This gives you far more choice over flavours and nicotine strength, and it works out cheaper the more you vape.

Pod kits are light, easy to slip in a pocket, and give a tight draw similar to smoking a cigarette. That's why so many people use them when switching from tobacco. Battery life is usually decent for a day of normal use, and pods click in and out in seconds, so there's barely any learning curve.

Why people choose them:

• Small, light and easy to carry around all day
• Simple to use, even for someone who's never vaped before
• Closed pods mean no mess; open pods mean more flavour choices.
• Reusable, so less waste and lower running costs over time

Good for: anyone who wants a simple daily vape without carrying a big device.

Vape Pens

Vape pens are longer and slimmer, shaped a bit like a fountain pen. They usually have a bigger battery than pod kits and a refillable tank instead of a pod. Some let you swap out the coil when it wears down, which keeps running costs low.

Vape pens sit nicely between beginner and advanced gear. They're still simple to use, but they last longer between charges and give a bit more vapour and flavour than a small pod system.

Why people choose them:

• Bigger battery, so less time plugged in charging
• Refillable tanks hold more e-liquid than most pods
• Replaceable coils mean cheaper running costs long term
• Still simple enough for anyone to pick up quickly

Good for: people who vape often through the day and want a device that keeps up without constant charging.

Box Mods

Box mods are the bigger, boxier devices you'll spot with dials, screens and buttons. They usually pair with a separate tank and let you adjust things like wattage, airflow and sometimes temperature.

Because you can fine-tune the settings, box mods suit vapers who already know what flavour and cloud size they enjoy and want full control over it. They tend to have larger batteries too, so they last longer between charges, which cloud chasers and heavy vapers appreciate.

Why people choose them:

• Full control over wattage, airflow and sometimes temperature
• Big batteries that last much longer between charges
• Produce thicker clouds and stronger flavour than smaller devices
• Screens make it easy to check battery life and settings at a glance

Good for: experienced vapers who like to tweak their setup and enjoy bigger clouds. They're not really built for beginners, though, since there's more to learn and the bigger size isn't as pocket-friendly as a pod kit or vape pen.

Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) Vapes

This isn't so much a shape of device as it is a way of vaping. With MTL, you draw the vapour into your mouth first, then breathe it into your lungs, exactly like smoking a cigarette. The draw is tighter and the clouds are smaller.

MTL vapes are usually paired with nicotine salt e-liquids, which feel smoother at higher strengths. This combination makes MTL a firm favourite for people quitting smoking, since it copies the habit they already know.

Why people choose it:

• Feels just like smoking, which helps when quitting cigarettes
• Uses less e-liquid per puff, so bottles last longer
• Smoother on the throat, even at higher nicotine strengths
• Easiest style for beginners to get used to straight away

Good for: ex-smokers and anyone who prefers a smooth, cigarette-like hit.

Direct-to-Lung (DTL) Vapes

DTL is the opposite style. Here, you pull the vapour straight into your lungs in one go, like taking a deep breath. This produces thick clouds and a stronger flavour hit, but it needs a looser airflow and higher power, so it's usually found in box mods and bigger tanks.

DTL vapes work best with high VG e-liquids, which are made to produce big, smooth clouds rather than a strong throat hit.

Why people choose it:

• Produces thick, satisfying clouds
• Brings out stronger, richer flavour from e-liquids
• Loose airflow feels more like taking a deep, relaxed breath
• Pairs well with high VG e-liquids for a smoother experience

Good for: Cloud chasers and flavour fans who've already got some vaping experience under their belt. It's worth trying MTL first if you're new, then moving on to DTL once you know what strength and flavours you like.

Heat-Not-Burn Devices

Slightly different from the rest, heat-not-burn devices heat tobacco sticks rather than e-liquid. They give a taste closer to traditional tobacco without actually burning it, which cuts down on smoke and smell.

These are worth a mention because more smokers are turning to them as a halfway step, though they work quite differently to standard vapes and use their own sticks rather than e-liquid.

Why people choose them:

• Closer taste to real tobacco than most e-liquids
• Less smoke and smell than smoking a cigarette
• No e-liquid, coils or tanks to deal with
• Feels familiar to long-term smokers making the switch

Good for: smokers who miss the taste of tobacco but want to move away from burning it.

Vape Types at a Glance

How to Pick the Right One for You

The right vape depends on what you want from it. What works for one person might not suit another. Ask yourself:

• How new are you to vaping? Start with a closed pod kit for something simple.
• Are you trying to quit smoking? MTL pod kits or vape pens with nic salts copy the feel of a cigarette.
• How often do you vape through the day? A vape pen or box mod saves you from constant charging.
• Do you care about flavour and cloud size? DTL devices and box mods give bigger clouds and richer flavour.
• Do you want to fine-tune your own settings? A box mod lets you adjust wattage and airflow yourself.
• What's your budget, both now and ongoing? Pod kits are cheap to start with and work out cheaper in the long term than throwaway options.
• How much upkeep are you willing to do? Pod kits need very little; box mods need the most looking after.

After answering these questions, you'll have a much clearer idea of which vape is right for you.

Final Thoughts

Vaping has come a long way, and there's now a device for pretty much every habit and preference. Whether you want something dead simple for everyday use or a powerful mod you can fully customise, understanding these basic types makes shopping so much easier.

At FogFathers, our team is always happy to chat through your options and help you land on the right device, flavour and strength for you. Pop into the shop or browse our range online, and let's find your perfect vape together.