Elf Bars, despite being disposable devices, have quickly become one of the most widely-known vape brands. Prized for their convenience, widespread availability and notably rich flavour, their approachability and ease-of-use has made them an instant household name.
Here at MIST we’ve had the chance to use and examine all of the best disposable vapes, and we’ve concluded that Elf Bar didn’t just get lucky; it’s a genuinely amazing range that is helping more smokers than ever before take that first vital step away from cigarettes.
Today we’d like to provide some useful information to anyone with any curiosity or nervousness about Elf Bars in order to leave you better informed.
What Is an Elf Bar
An Elf Bar is a small vaping device intended for short term use before being disposed of. Elf Bars cannot be refilled and most cannot be recharged, arriving as closed systems that have been pre-filled with nicotine salts.
Elf Bar began back in 2018, when Shenzhen IMiracle Technology Co. released its first batch of closed-system disposable kits which were met with immediate enthusiasm by new vapers and smokers alike.
While many people use the term ‘Elf Bar’ to refer to all disposable vapes, Elf Bars are simply the most popular brand available, a bit like people saying ‘Sellotape’ to describe all brands of sticky-back plastic.
Elf Bars sometimes have alternative names due to an ongoing trademark dispute in the United States, but always feature recognisable builds and design aspects.
What Are Elf Bars Made Of?
Elf Bars are made of several components. Plastic casings house a small draw-activated heating element placed near or within either an e-liquid reservoir or a sponge soaked in e-liquid.
The e-liquids used by Elf Bar products are always made using nicotine salts, a variety of e-liquid that uses harmless benzoic acid to neutralise any chest or throat discomfort, which is often caused by traditional ‘freebase’ e-liquids.
The nicotine salt e-liquid is brewed with a 50 VG / 50 PG ratio, meaning an equal split between vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol. This produces a minimal cloud which is heavily laden with rich flavour.
How Do Elf Bars Work
Elf Bars are almost always buttonless. The internal mechanism uses something called ‘draw-activation’, which means it detects a sudden movement of air and instantly begins atomizing the e-liquid within for as long as it detects breath being drawn.
You can demonstrate this by blowing into the base of an Elf Bar; you’ll immediately begin to see vapour emerging from the mouthpiece above, though we don’t recommend you waste your 2mls of e-liquid in this way for long! An LED light will often indicate the device is firing.
Are Elf Bars Safe?
Elf Bars go through strict batch testing before leaving their production facilities, providing the highest grade of quality control. Being the most successful disposable pen manufacturer, Elf Bar are extremely averse to any negative press about their products, and as such will always ensure that their disposable vapes are fault-proof and incapable of firing without draw-activation.
Any reported Elf Bar 600 side effects can be attributed to heavy vape use, such as dry mouth, throat irritation or nausea associated with too large a dose of nicotine.
How Long Do Elf Bars Last?
Elf Bar disposable vapes sold in the United Kingdom generally have similar lifespans, as the Tobacco Products Directive restricts the sale of any disposable vape containing a vape juice chamber larger than 2ml in capacity.
As a result, there hasn’t been much need to produce larger batteries or units that can be recharged. Depending on your frequency of use, you can expect most Elf Bar models to last between 1-4 days.
There are rechargeable units similar to disposable vapes such as the Elf Bar Elfa Pod Kit, but these are closed-pod systems where you discard the spent pods and retain the rechargeable battery unit.
To learn more about Elf Bar lifespan, read our guide on How Long Do Elf Bars Last.
| Elf Bar Model | Battery Capacity | Rechargeable (Yes/No) | Days of Usage (Casual / Heavy Use) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elf Bar 600 | 360mAh | No | 2 days / 1 day |
| Elf bar NC600 | 400mAh | No | 2 days / 1 day |
| Elf Bar Gee 600 | 500mAh | No | 3 days / 2 days |
| Lost Mary QM600 | 550mAh | No | 4 days / 2 days |
How Many Puffs in an Elf Bar
For the same TPD-related reasons as mentioned above, different models of Elf Bar will usually have very similar puff counts due to the e-juice capacity limit and subsequent small batteries.
Those of you capable of draining an Elf Bar of all e-juice prior to the built-in battery running out are likely to get around 600 puffs or so from each bar, pen or box.
There are Elf Bar disposable vape devices sold in the United States and elsewhere abroad that are larger and contain bigger batteries and e-liquid reservoirs, however you will be unable to purchase them from licensed retailers in the UK.
The days of usage stated below will vary due to single-use battery size, rather than nic salt e-liquid contents.
| Elf Bar Model | Puff Count | Days of Usage (Casual / Heavy Use) |
|---|---|---|
| Lost Mary AM600 | 600 | 3 days / 2 days |
| Elf Bar NC600 | 600 | 2 days / 1 day |
| Lost Mary BM600 | 600 | 4 days / 2 days |
| Elf Bar 600 | 600 | 2 days / 1 day |
How Many Cigarettes in an Elf Bar?
On average, an Elf Bar sold in the UK is equivalent to roughly 20 cigarettes. This may surprise you, however it’s worth keeping in mind that Elf Bars usually often nic salts with a 20mg strength, which is the UK legal limit.
Stronger Elf Bars are available overseas, but once again the TPD restrictions make them illegal for UK retailers to stock. If you get the chance to try one while abroad you’ll notice the difference in strength very quickly!
| Elf Bar Model | Number of Cigarettes |
|---|---|
| Elf Bar 600 (0mg) | 0 |
| Elf Bar 600 (10mg) | 10 |
| Elf Bar 600 (20mg) | 20 |
| Lost Mary BM600 (20mg) | 20 |
How Much Nicotine Is in an Elf Bar?
In the European market, there are three nicotine-strength options available for Elf Bar. Those seeking to quit smoking should moderate their Elf Bar usage, as while it lacks the well-known harmful effects of cigarette smoking, you don’t want to accidentally increase your nicotine dependency.
Do Elf Bars have nicotine strengths, you may ask? We can advise you that the original Elf Bar 600 is manufactured in both 10mg and 20mg, and a 0mg version of this disposable is also available.
Be sure to check the nic strength of the disposable you’re interested in to be sure you aren’t buying a pen that’s going to overwhelm you.
What Elf Bar Flavours Are the Best?
This – like all matters of taste – is subjective and with so many flavours to choose from it’s tough to pick a winner. We can, however, tell you from both our sprawling experience with authentic Elf Bars and customer feedback which disposable flavours truly stand apart from the crowd.
Below you’ll see three Elf Bar flavours which have left a solid impression on both the MIST team and MIST’s regular shoppers. You can also check our full review of the best Elf Bar flavours.
[UPDATE] Some of the flavors we’ve featured in the review may no longer be available or have a different name in the UK. Elf Bar (and their sister brand Lost Mary) recently announced that they dropped Bubble Gum, Cotton Candy, and Rainbow Candy flavours. It is expected that more flavours will follow. You can read the news here. We will keep you folks updated!
Blueberry Sour Raspberry
Score: 8/10
A popular favourite, Blueberry Sour Raspberry combines two contrasting berry blasts of flavour to provide both sweet and sour tastes. Berries have always been popular vape flavourings, and Elf Bar are known for enhancing their flavours with a touch of extra sweetening.
Soft, gentle blueberry sweetness is the first taste you notice, enveloping the tongue in pleasant fruit notes that aren’t too strong. On the exhale you get the raspberry, a searing and tangy note of flavour that leaves a cheeky tongue-twisting note that’ll have you quickly going for another puff.
Cola
Score: 10/10
Cola can be a tricky flavour to pull off, a delicate balance of rich sweetness and gentle spices that too much of either throws off entirely. Luckily the Cola flavour from the Lost Mary QM600 range is perfect, capturing the moreish dark plunge of sugary flavour better than any other disposable vape.
A hint of ice is also present, not enough to dominate the profile or impact the overall flavour but just the right amount to lend that ‘straight-from-the-fridge’ refreshment, making this is a great choice of disposable vape for a sunny day out.
Blue Razz Cherry
Score: 8/10
A great favourite around the office and hugely popular with our customers, the Blue Razz Cherry flavour from the Lost Mary AM600 range is a super-sour blast of sweet flavour with nothing held back. The choice to blend two sour flavours was a risky one but it paid of magnificently.
An immediate hit of seductive sour cherry juice hits the taste buds right off the bat, ensconced within a cool pathway of gentle ice. Upon exhaling the blue raspberry sweet tartness kicks in, sending your flavour receptors into overdrive, with the ice note providing a palate cleanse so as to not overwhelm you with any cloying residual sugar. An absolute smash hit.
FAQ’s
Why Does My Elf Bar Taste Burnt?
If you’re getting a burnt taste from your Elf Bar it will be because the e-liquid within has all been atomized prior to the battery running out. Any burnt or acrid taste is a sign to simply dispose of the vape, as there’s no e-liquid left to inhale.
How to Recharge Elf Bars?
Elf Bars sold in the UK are not rechargeable devices, as they come with pre-installed batteries with enough charge for you to get through all the e-liquid within.
If this becomes a frequent frustration for you, we recommend looking into a refillable vape kit or a rechargeable closed-pod system such as the Elf Bar Elfa Pod Kit which uses the same flavours for its pods as well as USB-C charging.
Can You Refill an Elf Bar?
An Elf Bar device cannot be refilled once the e-liquid within has all been inhaled. Even if there were a way, the wicking materials and coil within would begin to degrade quickly due to overuse, which would result in an unpleasant diminished flavour.
Need More Help?
We hope this article has been informative to you and has left you with a better understanding of what exactly an Elf Bar is.
Elf Bar isn’t the only disposable vape range available, and we recommend you browse our full selection of disposable refillable kits by taking the time to visit the MIST online store today.
And be sure to check out the MIST Youtube channel for more informative and entertaining content regarding vapes, e-liquid and digestible technical explanations of the ins and outs of vaping at large.
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