Big-puff kits are the closest thing to the old single-use bars: prefilled, no settings, recharge and go. Refillable pod kits ask you to fill a pod from a bottle, and in return they cost a fraction per millilitre and take any flavour you like. Here is the honest trade-off.
The short version
- Big-puff kits use prefilled pods topped up from sealed containers. Nothing to fill.
- Refillable pod kits use bottled liquid from about 30p per ml, versus roughly 27p to £1.10 for big-puff kits.
- Big-puff kits suit people who want zero fuss; refillables suit people who vape a lot.
- Puff counts are manufacturer ratings. Compare millilitres instead.
Two ways to vape the same liquid
Since the UK ban on single-use vapes began on 1 June 2025, two rechargeable formats have taken over. Big-puff kits pair a rechargeable battery with a prefilled 2ml pod that draws from a sealed 10ml container. When the liquid is gone, you swap in a refill pack. The Lost Mary BM6000 and HQD Glow Air 70K are good examples.
Refillable pod kits like the Vaporesso Xros and Oxva Xlim ranges have an empty pod you fill yourself from a 10ml bottle. The coil is usually built into the pod, and you replace the pod every week or so.
Both give a mouth to lung draw, both charge by USB-C, and both use nic salts.
What it costs per millilitre
Puff ratings are calculated by each manufacturer under its own test conditions, so they are hard to compare. Millilitres are not. Here is what a millilitre costs across a few popular options, using shop prices and the liquid stated on the box.
The interesting result is that the very biggest big-puff kits, like the HQD Glow Air 70K at £11.99 for 44ml, come close to bottled liquid on price per ml. Smaller kits and refill packs cost noticeably more.
Refillable pods add a running cost for replacement pods, about £2.25 to £3 each, but that is small next to the liquid saving for anyone who vapes heavily. A 10ml nic salt bottle starts at £2.99.
Source: Spectrum Vaping prices divided by stated liquid volume, rounded.
Which format suits you
Most people know within a few seconds which side of this they are on. If the thought of filling a pod from a bottle sounds like a chore, a big-puff kit is your friend. If you vape all day and want any flavour on earth, refillable is the obvious move.
There is a middle path, too. Some vapers keep a big-puff kit for nights out and a refillable for home. Others start on big-puff kits and switch once they are comfortable.
Nicotine is addictive. Both formats come in 20mg, but refillables make it easy to choose lower strengths like 10mg or 5mg whenever you want.
Which describes you best?
Big-puff kit. Swap a pack when it runs out and keep going.
Refillable pod kit. The liquid saving adds up fast.
Refillable. Any 50/50 or nic salt liquid works.
Refillable, or a big-puff kit with 0, 5 or 10mg options like the Hayati Pro Max Plus.
Myths worth clearing up
Big-puff kits arrived quickly, and some confusion arrived with them. Tap through the cards below.
The headline numbers on big-puff boxes are the most misunderstood part. A kit rated at 70,000 puffs is not seven times better than one rated at 10,000; what matters is the millilitres inside and how you vape. Long, deep draws use far more liquid per puff than the short ones used in manufacturer testing.
Refillables have their own myths, mostly about mess. Modern top fill pods are far tidier than the tanks of a few years ago.
Switching from big-puff to refillable
If you decide to try refillables, the switch is easier than it looks. Pick a kit with a tight mouth to lung pod, such as the Oxva Xlim Go 2 or Vaporesso Xros 6 Mini, and a 10ml nic salt at the same strength you use now.
Match strength like for like. If your big-puff kit was 20mg, start at 20mg. Dropping strength at the same time as changing device often leads to vaping more to compensate.
Tick off the list below and you will be set. Browse vape kits for the device and vape pods for spares.
Popular refillable kits
If you are ready to try refillable, these are some of the most popular pod kits in the shop right now. Every one of them takes 2ml pods and works well with nic salt.
For a direct comparison of two favourites, see our Oxva Xlim Go 2 vs Uwell Caliburn G3 Lite guide, or the Xros 6 vs Xlim Pro 3 face-off if you want more battery.
Not sure on strength? Our nic salt vs freebase vs pouches guide covers how each delivers nicotine, and why salt suits small pods so well.
Quick answers
Are big-puff kits cheaper than refillable pods?
Usually not. Refillable pods with 10ml bottled liquid cost from about 30p per ml. Big-puff kits range from about 27p per ml for the largest kits to well over 50p for smaller ones and refill packs.
Can I refill a big-puff kit with my own liquid?
No. They are designed for the brand's own sealed refill packs.
Which is easier for a beginner?
Big-puff kits. There is nothing to fill or set. Refillables need a little more care but are still simple.
Do both formats use nic salts?
Most big-puff kits use 20mg nic salt. Refillable pods can use nic salt or 50/50 freebase at any strength.
