In recent years there has been an overwhelming amount of evidence that vaping is becoming one of the best ways to quit smoking. For example, 2021 research cited by the NHS found that pairing vaping with expert support made smokers up to twice as likely to succeed in quitting cigarettes than those who used nicotine patches or gum.
With around 6.6 million current smokers in the UK – 13.3% of the population – vaping continues to be a helpful way to reduce dependence on harmful tobacco cigarettes. However, many current smokers don’t know where to start with vapes, especially if they’re reluctant to pick up the costly and environmentally harmful disposable cigarettes that are popular at the moment.
So, to help cigarette users get started on your smoke-free journey, this article will explore why vape kits are the best way to quit, how much you can expect to spend on vaping, and where to buy your kit.
What are vape kits?
A vape kit is another way of saying e-cigarette or vape, named a ‘kit’ to distinguish it from more advanced devices where serious vaping hobbyists mix and match their power sources, tanks, and coils. In short, a kit is a fully-functioning vape that has everything you need to start vaping straight out of the box (except for e-liquid).
Consisting of a battery, a coil, and a mouthpiece, vape kits come in a wide range of different models, designs, and colours. For new vapers, the best type of vape kit is called a ‘starter kit’ – these are designed to be beginner-friendly and intuitive to use.
Are vape kits cheaper than cigarettes?
With the average price of cigarettes currently at £12.84 for a pack of 20 (64p per cigarette), smoking is not cheap. Smokers get through an average of 10 cigarettes per day, according to the most recent data from the Health Survey for England, which means that they are smoking 300 per month on average. That means they get through 15 packs of cigarettes per month, costing £192.60. Per year, the total cost of cigarettes is £2311.20.
The upfront cost of a vape kit
In comparison to cigarettes, vape kits have a higher upfront cost. Depending on the model and features you choose, vape kits can cost less than £20 for a starter kit. For example, an Uwell Caliburn A2 pod kit can set you back as little as £13.99, only slightly more than a single pack of cigarettes, while an OXVA Xlim SE pod kit is just £14.99.
While most of the cheapest vape kits on the markets are pod kits – kits that use convenient little pods of e-liquid instead of the traditional vape tank – pen-style vape kits such as the SMOK Vape Pen V2 pen kit (£16.99) and the Innokin Endura T20-S kit (£19.99) are also cheap as chips.
The cost of e-liquids
Of course, while the upfront cost of the vape device is the biggest cost, there are also the costs of e-liquids and coils or pods (depending on what the device you choose uses) to consider.
E-liquids are inexpensive and can vary in price substantially based on the brand and type of vape juice you prefer. Beginner-friendly nic salts are perfect for ex-smokers starting out with their first vape kits. These 10ml bottles of flavourful e-liquid provide a smooth and rapid nicotine hit – ideal for former smokers who are still battling cravings.
Nic salts tend to cost around £2 to £3.50, with sales and multi-buy offers allowing you to buy them even cheaper than this.
How quickly do vapers get through e-liquids? In short, it depends entirely on your vaping habits. One 10ml bottle of e-liquid is more or less equivalent to 100 traditional cigarettes, so the average 10-a-day smoker will see their nic salts lasting around 10 days. However, you may find that you pick up your vape more frequently than this while trying to fight the cigarette cravings, so on the whole expect your nic salt bottles to last around a week or slightly less.
If you buy a bottle of nic salts that costs £2.99 each week, that means spending almost £12 per month and £143.50 per year – substantially less than the cost of cigarettes even after you add on the original price of the vape kit!
The cost of coils or pods
Finally, your last vaping expense is the coils or pods that need to be replaced to keep your device running. Here’s a quick explanation of the difference between pods and coils.
Coils are the heating element in your vape. When you take a puff, the coil heats up and turns the e-liquid in the tank into that delicious vapour that you breathe in through the mouthpiece. In a traditional vape with a tank, the coils must be replaced at least once a month to keep them in good working order, but the tank can be used permanently.
Pods are small, convenient alternatives to using a vape tank. Instead of needing to carefully replace your coil, which some vapers find fiddly or annoying, you can replace the pod with a new one that contains a brand new coil. Pods are very cheap and may come pre-filled with e-liquid or may allow you to add your own.
While replacing the coil of your vape kit can be a little fiddly at first, it’s a lot easier than most people expect and can save you lots of money in the long run. Pods are more convenient but they can be slightly more expensive.
Regular vapers will need to replace their coils once every week or two, while heavier vapers may need to replace their coils every few days. The price of coils varies between different brands and models. For example, the coils for the SMOK Vape Pen V2 pen kit mentioned earlier are priced at £9.99 for a pack of five, or just under £2 each. For a vaper getting through a coil a week, that’s just around £8 a month or £96 a year.
For the Uwell Caliburn A2 pod kit, pods cost £9.99 for a pack of four, or just under £2.50 each. Lasting around 1-2 weeks each, these pods will set you back just £9.99 a month (£120 per year) for heavier vapers and less than £5 per month (£60 per year) for less frequent users.
So, how much can vapers expect to spend overall?
Even with a generous estimate, a vape kit, e-liquid supply, and coils or pods, can cost you less than £300 per year. That’s a tiny fraction of the average smoker’s annual spending of just over £2311 on cigarettes.
Where can you buy vape kits?
If you’re used to popping into a supermarket or cornershop to buy your cigarettes, don’t worry – vape kits are just as accessible. One place to buy your vape kit, e-liquids, and coils is in your local vape shop. This is a great option for beginners because you can get recommendations from the expert workers in the store.
Alternatively, you can take your time to browse vape kits online from a store like Legion of Vapers. With a wide range of different vape kits on offer and their helpful guides aimed at beginners, this online vape store is the perfect place to get started on your vaping journey.
Conclusion
With vaping estimated by Public Health England to be 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it’s likely that the popularity of this smoking cessation method will only continue to grow over the coming years. As more and more smokers turn to vape kits instead they’ll be able to enjoy both the health benefits and the substantial cash savings of making the switch. So, why not swap your cigarettes for a vape kit today?
