WARNING: Vaping products contain nicotine, a highly addictive chemical.
Health Canada
For adults of legal purchasing age only. In British Columbia, the minimum age is 19.
Adults comparing devices in Burnaby may consider a prefilled disposable vape or a rechargeable, refillable pod kit. Nicotine concentration is only one product requirement. This guide compares upkeep and listed costs, subject to the eligibility of the exact product.
Listed liquid volumes do not establish product eligibility. Confirm the exact cartridge and refill-container construction against BC's separate capacity limits before ordering.
The short answer
- Choose a disposable if you want nothing to set up or maintain, or you vape occasionally.
- Choose a pod kit if you vape every day and want a lower cost per mL, more control over strength and flavour, and less waste.
How each one works
Disposable vapes
A disposable arrives prefilled with e-liquid and with a built-in coil and battery. Modern high-capacity disposables, like the ELFBAR BC Pro 80K or Sniper Pro 35K, have a rechargeable battery because they hold more e-liquid than one charge can use. When the e-liquid runs out, the whole device is finished.
Pod kits
A pod kit is a rechargeable battery that takes a replaceable pod. You either fill the pod yourself from a bottle of e-liquid (refillable pods) or click in a prefilled pod (closed systems like RELX). The coil is inside the pod, so when the flavour starts to fade, you replace the pod, not the device.
Upfront cost: what you pay on day one
| Item | Price at Vape Father |
|---|---|
| ALLO Ultra 25K disposable (17mL) | $29.99 |
| Sniper Pro 35K disposable | $29.99 |
| ELFBAR BC Pro 80K disposable (25mL) | $41.99 |
| Uwell Caliburn G3 Lite pod kit | $26.99 |
| OXVA XLIM SE 2 pod kit | $28.99 |
| Uwell Caliburn G3 Pro pod kit | $40.99 |
| Allo Intense E-Juice 20mg, 30mL | $23.99 |
| Vaporesso LUXE X 0.6Ω pod | $5.99 |
Prices are listed prices at the time of writing and can change. On day one the costs are similar: a pod kit plus a 30mL bottle is around $50 to $65, and a large disposable is $30 to $46.
Cost over time: where pod kits pull ahead
The fairest comparison is cost per mL of e-liquid, because that is what you actually use up.
| Option | E-liquid | Price | Approx. cost per mL |
|---|---|---|---|
| STLTH x Geek Bar 80K | 30mL | $45.99 | $1.53 |
| ELFBAR BC Pro 80K | 25mL | $41.99 | $1.68 |
| ALLO Ultra 25K | 17mL | $29.99 | $1.76 |
| Allo Ultra 65K | 20mL | $39.99 | $2.00 |
| Allo Intense bottled e-liquid | 30mL | $23.99 | $0.80 |
Bottled e-liquid costs roughly half as much per mL as the disposables above. You also need to replace pods every so often (a replacement pod like the LUXE X is $5.99), but for someone who vapes daily, the device usually pays for itself within a few weeks of switching. For an occasional user, the difference is small and a disposable's convenience may matter more.
Upkeep
| Disposable | Pod kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | None | Fill the pod, let it soak a few minutes |
| Refilling | Not possible | From a bottle, or swap a prefilled pod |
| Coil changes | Never | Replace the pod when flavour fades |
| Charging | USB-C on most large models | USB-C |
| Things to carry | Just the device | Device, plus e-liquid or spare pods |
Choice and control
- Nicotine strength: check the label for the exact concentration. With a refillable kit, use a compatible liquid that is eligible for sale at your destination. Do not assume that a nicotine-free e-substance is eligible for retail sale in BC.
- Flavour: with a disposable you commit to one flavour for the life of the device. With a refillable pod you can switch at every refill.
- Draw and output: kits like the XLIM SE 2 and Caliburn G3 Pro have adjustable output, and pods come in different coil resistances for a tighter or looser draw.
Waste
Every disposable contains a lithium battery and is discarded when the e-liquid runs out. A pod kit's battery is reused for months, and only the small pod is replaced. Whichever you choose, don't put vapes in household garbage; take them to a battery recycling drop-off.
Which one should you choose?
A disposable makes sense if:
- You vape occasionally and don't want to maintain anything.
- You want to try a flavour before buying the same one in a bottle.
- You need a backup device for travel.
A pod kit makes sense if:
- You vape every day and want to spend less over time.
- You want to control strength, flavour and draw.
- You'd rather throw away fewer batteries.
Common mistakes when switching
- Buying the wrong pods. Pods are model-specific. Check our compatibility guide before you buy spares.
- Vaping straight after filling. Wait about five minutes after filling a new pod so the coil soaks, or you may get a burnt first puff.
- Using a low-resistance pod with salt nic. Very low-resistance pods (0.3Ω to 0.4Ω) run at higher power and suit freebase e-liquids. For a 20mg salt nic, a pod around 0.6Ω to 1.2Ω is more typical.
- Running a pod too long. When the flavour fades or tastes burnt, replace the pod. A tired coil wastes e-liquid.
Freebase vs salt nic e-liquid
Bottled e-liquids come in two main types. Salt nic e-liquids use nicotine salts and are designed for lower-power pod devices; they are the closest match to how a disposable feels. Freebase e-liquids are designed for higher-power, lower-resistance setups. Both are limited to 20 mg/mL in Canada. Browse our salt nic e-liquids and e-liquids.
Getting started with a pod kit
If you are switching from disposables, the Caliburn G3 Lite is the simplest place to start. Pair it with a 20mg salt nic e-liquid, which is closest to how a disposable feels. Before buying spare pods, check our pod compatibility guide so you get the right ones.
Try both in Burnaby
Staff at our store at 4619 Kingsway can show you both types side by side, and BC rules allow customers in adult-only stores to test a product they intend to buy. We are open 9am to 12am daily, or you can order same-day delivery, free on $80+ orders within 20 km.
