Vape starter kits are, as their name suggests, designed for those new to vaping. While many vape kits come loaded with myriad features and functions intended for specific forms of experienced use, vape starter kits are meant to be simple to use and demonstrate the advantages of vaping without frustrating the user. With more people getting started vaping than ever before, it would be helpful to use our significant experience to explain some of the ins and outs of a vape starter kit. We hope that after reading this, you’ll better understand what you need.
What Are Vape Starter Kits?

Starter vape kit devices come in both traditional mod & tank designs and as pod vape kits.
Vape kits may have some cool features installed, but the intended function of a vape kit will be to provide you with a comfortable, easy-to-use vape kit with a simple default adjustable wattage or automatic wattage mode that prevents you from making mistakes.
Unlike other types of vapes like a sub-ohm pod kit, a vape kit for beginners will have a relatively moderate wattage output, as most new vapers are looking for a cigarette or disposable vape replacement, not a powerful cloud machine.
What Comes In a Vape Starter Kit
A starter vape kit usually comes with nearly everything you need to start vaping. Some very budget-friendly kits like the Freemax Maxpod 3 Pod Kit don’t include a Type-C charging cable as it’s often safe to assume people already own one from a different piece of technology.

- Battery/Mod: The largest part of the vape kit that contains the battery, often (but not always) featuring a display screen, firing button, and charging port. Still, some auto-draw MTL pod kit batteries will be a simple rectangle or cylinder with nothing but a charge port.
- Tank/Pod: The top of your starting kit and the part to store the vape juice you intend to vape. 99% of tanks attach to the mod/battery with a 510 screw connection, though pods often connect via magnets or click-in grips.
- Coils: A vape kit will always come with a coil. Traditional tank & battery kits usually come with two coils, one pre-installed and the other in the pack. Starter kit coils usually come in different ohmages, so you can try both and decide what to buy in the future. Some pod vapes feature disposable pods with pre-installed coils, so you don’t have to bother with coil maintenance.
- Charging Cable: Since 2021, the standardised charging cable for starter vape kits has been USB-C (Type-C USB), as used on modern Apple devices.
- User Manual: Vape starting kits will almost always come with a small booklet or pamphlet explaining the device’s use, often featuring an exploded diagram of all the manufacturing components.
Do Vape Starter Kits Come With Juice?
Not all vape starter kits come with juice. If the model doesn’t have pre-filled pods like the Lost Mary Tappo Kit, you will likely need to acquire some vape juice before you can begin vaping.
Many vape retailers, such as MIST, will offer free e-liquid to accompany your beginner vape kit; just be sure to check before you buy if you haven’t secured some e-liquid already. We also stock different e-liquid flavours, from nic salts to 50/50, in varying nicotine strengths.
What Do You Need for a Vape Starter Kit?
Aside from getting vape juice, you might also need to pick up a charging cable, a separate battery (if the device has an external battery), or a pack of spare coils (or pre-filled tanks). To be safe, always check the inclusions of these crucial aspects, as only some pod kits will come with all components, especially in the case of budget vape kits such as the Voopoo Doric Q Pod Kit.
How Long Does A Vaping Starter Kit Last?
A vaping starter kit lasts as long as a piece of £8 – £30 hardware can when treated well! When looked after and not subjected to rough treatment, a vape starter kit can often be expected to last up to two years, though this varies from kit to kit.
After three years, the internal batteries in vape kits tend to weaken and may necessitate a new vape kit purchase.
How Do You Set up a Vape Starter Kit?
To kick-start your vaping journey, you will need to know how to set up a starter kit. Luckily, it isn’t hard to do so; E-cigarettes for beginners are designed to get you started vaping as quickly and painlessly as possible. You just need to follow a handful of steps:
- Unpack the battery unit/mod and tank/pod.
- Check whether the tank/pod has a pre-installed coil; if not, insert one of the coils included with the kit following the instructions.
- If using an MTL pod kit, ensure the pod doesn’t have a sticker on the base preventing an electrical connection.
- With a coil inside, fill your tank/pod with e-liquid, following the instructions for your given tank or pod. UK tanks and pods have a 2ml e-liquid capacity, so don’t squeeze too hard, or you might get a spill.
- Be sure to wait 5-10 minutes the first time you fill your pod/tank so that the coil within can soak up the e-liquid. A too-dry coil is prone to burning, which ruins the coil and necessitates immediate replacement. The next time you fill your pod/tank, the coil should be moist enough to permit immediate vaping.
- Tap the firing button 3-5 times to switch the vaping device on.
- If using a kit with variable wattage, ensure your kit is set to a power output optimal for your coils. The coils should say their optimal wattage levels on the side, near the listed ohmage (look for this symbol: Ω).
- Ensure your kit’s adjustable airflow slider or ring is at least partly open to avoid burning the coil.
- If your device is button-activated, press down the firing button, inhale, and let go of the firing button as you stop inhaling. If your device is auto-draw-activated MTL pod kit, start puffing!
And that’s every step you need to take when unpacking your new e-cigarette starter kit!
What Is the Best Wattage for a Beginner Vape?
Most beginner vapes will usually only need a wattage output between 9W – 15W. Keep in mind that most starter vapes use thinner e-liquids that produce less vapour and usually have the potential to contain higher nicotine levels. These vape juice varieties usually require a coil with a high ohmage (between 0.8Ω and 1.8Ω).
What Is the Best Starter Vape Kit?
As we’ve mentioned before in our other vape guides and reviews, vaping is never ‘one-size-fits-all.’ This means that different vape starter kit options will have distinct advantages that may suit your vaping style and make it the best vape kit for you.
Some enjoy a longer battery life, whereas others prioritise pocket-friendly compact portability. Others still want the most streamlined, user-friendly kits possible, whereas some vapers prefer beginner kits with some features to play with.
Check out our review of the best vape starter kits for a list of excellent beginner options. In our bountiful vaping experience, every one of the kits featured below can provide a perfect entry to vaping.
The Best Vape Starter Kits Are
- Geekvape Sonder Q
- Uwell Caliburn GK3
- Lost Vape Thelema Mini 45W
Geekvape Sonder Q
Best for: Flavour
Features We Love
Q-uite Tasty: Q Cartridges deliver rich and pure flavour
Stable and Able: Consistent power output regardless of charge
Take a Drag: Optimised buttonless draw-activation
Vape flavour doesn’t just come down to the variety of juice but the medium by which it’s atomised; An e-liquid is only as good as the coil it’s soaked into. And the Q Cartridges used with the Geekvape Sonder Q make flavour their central focus.
The Q Cartridges premier Geekvape’s VPU coil-design philosophy. The non-woven wicks impart no taste impurities, with a porous ceramic core keeping fresh e-juice ready for instant atomisation.
The central vertical mesh coil also promotes equal heat distribution to ensure a consistent atomisation rate, making every puff as tasty as the last.
With all that intricate design, you’d be surprised to hear that the Sonder Q is a straightforward piece of value-priced kit. In terms of flavour, it’s the best vape pen for beginners, built for draw-activated MTL puffs that simulate a cigarette inhale. But there’s no cigarette in the world with flavour as rich as the kind you’ll taste from a Q cartridge.
Pros
- Q Cartridges designed for maximum flavour
- Ceramic coil cores promote long coil life
- Fluted design for a comfortable grip
Cons
- It is a very basic MTL kit
- Removing the mouthpiece for refills can be fussy
Uwell Caliburn GK3
Best for: Travel
Features We Love
Neat & Discreet: Compact built is perfect for travelling with
Light & Tight: On weighs 52g
Old School Screen: Watch-style LCD screen won’t drain battery charge
A travel vape needs more than a compact build to be the best. It’s essential also to consider battery life and refill ease, as these are the issues that plague the wandering vaper.
The Caliburn GK3 Pod Kit reveals an understanding of these issues by Uwell, as steps have been taken to ensure the vaping doesn’t stop while you try to make your connection.
The battery has been increased to 900mAh, a 210mAh increase on the GK2’s cell capacity and easily enough to see you through your journeys. Refilling is also quick and convenient thanks to the snap-off mouthpiece, so removing the pod from the mod is unnecessary.
Lastly, and this is a feature I especially love, the Caliburn GK3 features a very detailed display screen, but unlike TFT and OLED displays, it won’t drain your battery because Uwell opted for an LCD, just like a digital watch or calculator.
Pros
- Delightfully small MTL vape kit
- Lightweight and easy to carry everywhere
- LCD screen doesn’t use too much battery charge
Cons
- Some may think LCD screen looks ‘cheap.’
- There is no option to choose changeable coils
Lost Vape Thelema Mini 45W
Best for: Clouds
Features We Love
Cloud Capable: Comes with DTL and RDL coils
Power Quest: Expansive 5W – 45W output range
UB FTW: UB Lite tank has recessed glass to prevent breaks
Most people looking for good vapes for beginners whose attention has been grabbed with enormous plumes of thick vapour will need a kit like the Lost Vape Thelema Mini to do the same. A kit like this gives you both moderate MTL and cloudy DTL uses, so you aren’t closing any doors on vaping styles.
The UB Lite tank has a 0.3ohm mesh coil, perfect for cloud production. The default mouthpiece is tapered for mouth-to-lung vape draws, but the kit includes a wider RDL tip perfect for ripping giant plumes.
45W isn’t as much adjustable power as some kits like the Geekvape T200 offer, but it’s enough for a new vaper to get started without requiring vaping experience to operate well, which is an issue with more advanced sub-ohm kits.
Pros
- Wattage range and coils suit cloudy vaping
- Traditional vape kit design
- Easy mesh coil installation
Cons
- 1500mAh may not achieve all-day DTL vaping
- Heavy build
Need More Help?
Thank you for reading! It’s never too late to quit smoking and permanently switch to vaping, so visit the MIST online store and ask our expert team for advice in picking a starter kit that works for you and your lifestyle.
Check out the MIST Youtube channel for tips and info on what to look for in your first kit.
