Have you been thinking of switching from smoking to vaping, but you’re unsure where to start? It can be a daunting process, but if you’re armed with the right information, things will be a little easier. Don’t worry, that’s what we’re here for. We can point you in the right direction and guide you through the process.
You might be wondering, what are the best vapes for heavy smokers? There are countless devices and vape juices to navigate through and learn about, which can be intimidating. So we’ve done the hard work for you and selected some of the best options. We’re well into 2025, and countless new devices have hit our shelves. Here’s a refresh on your best options.
Our Best Vapes for Heavy Smokers in 2025
We’ve chosen the vapes below based on several factors to ensure that there’s something for everyone. Some boast massive batteries, others tons of tech, and a few just offer simple, affordable, but high-quality vaping. Let’s take a look.
1. Oxva NeXlim GO Pod Kit
The Oxva NeXlim GO is one of our favourites for smokers who want to switch to vaping. It’s a great starter kit that features a massive 1800mAh capacity battery with fast-charge tech, adjustable airflow, Eco and Boost modes, and a preinstalled 0.8Ω pod cartridge that is ideal for MTL vaping.
You’ll get 40W of max power for an intense yet satisfying hit that replicates cigarettes, auto-draw functionality for ease of use, and a clear battery level indicator light. Some people might prefer to have a screen, but we think that for ex-smokers, simplicity is the key.
The NeXLIM pods have a 5-layer leak-proof design for easy refilling and can be chosen with 0.6Ω, 0.8Ω, or 1.2Ω coils. Because they’re refillable, you can access the broadest possible range of e-liquids and flavours.
2. Hayati Pro Ultra Plus 25000 Prefilled Pod Kit
The Hayati Pro Ultra Plus 25000 prefilled kit is another great choice for heavy smokers. It’s a sleek, compact prefilled device with a big battery, a high puff count, and many great reviews.
You’ll get a 1250mAh fast-charging battery, two 2ml prefilled pods, a high-quality dual mesh coil, and two 10ml auto-refilling e-liquid tanks in each pod, giving you up to 25,000 puffs.
It’s not just quantity either; the advanced coil tech performs with 19 flavour combos to deliver a satisfying hit. Tech-wise, you get a simple screen to keep track of battery charge and tank level, ensuring you never get caught short of either.
3. Lost Mary BM600 Prefilled Pod Kit
An absolute classic and one of our best sellers, the Lost Mary BM600 is perfect if you’re taking your first steps into vaping, or if you’ve been used to disposables. Based on the BM600 disposable, you simply can’t get a better pod vape kit for the price.
Granted, it doesn’t have the biggest battery, and the 2ml pod is only good for around 600 puffs (about the same as a pack of cigarettes), but you get everything you need for less than £5!
If you’re not sure vaping is for you, there’s no better or cheaper way to find out. It’s super simple to use and small enough to easily slip into your pocket, bag, or purse, but it still provides a great vaping experience. There are many classic Lost Mary flavours to choose from, and you can take advantage of our multibuy deals on
4. Lost Mary BM6000 Prefilled Pod Kit
The BM600’s bigger sibling… the Lost Mary BM6000 offers the same great vaping experience and excellent flavours, but in a more advanced pod kit.
While it looks similar to the BM600, you’ll notice it’s slightly larger and features a handy screen to keep track of your battery level. The battery is nearly double the capacity at 1000mAh, and the 2+10ml replaceable pod offers around 6,000 puffs. They also feature an upgraded QUAQ mesh coil for better flavour production, and the visible window lets you monitor e-liquid levels.
We’re big fans of the Lost Mary BM6000 pod vape kit, and we think it’s one of the best vapes for heavy smokers on the market right now. While it costs more than its little brother, it’s still incredibly affordable.
5. Elf Bar Elfa Pro Prefilled Pod Kit
The Elf Bar Elfa Pro is a versatile, affordable, quality kit that’s an excellent choice for most users. Like the Lost Mary BM600, it doesn’t have the largest battery, and the pods are only 2ml, but unlike its closest rivals, the Elfa Pro works with prefilled and refillable versions for extra convenience and flavour choice.
You can choose from countless Elf Bar flavours, or take advantage of our whole e-liquid collection to refill with your own choice of nic salts. The pods feature advanced QUAQ mesh coil technology to produce better flavour and reduce power consumption. You can also choose from 12 different battery colours, which are sleek and discreet.
Also coming in at around £5, it’s an excellent choice for a first-time vaper or heavy smoker, especially if you prefer the pen-style design.
6-7. Vaporesso XROS 5 and 5 Mini
We’ve included both the Vaporesso XROS 5 and 5 Mini here because they’re very similar and both offer a great experience for a heavy smoker. Check out our recent full review of both for more in-depth information, but to summarise, we love the sleek design, excellent performance and reliability.
Both use Vaporesso’s COREX 2.0 pods for excellent flavour and cloud production, and each features a 1500mAh battery, SSS leak-resistance tech, and adjustable airflow. However, XROS 5 also includes a 0.88-inch HD screen, variable power modes and 3A fast charging.
They’re both at the more premium end of the market, coming in at just under £24 for the XROS 5 and £16 for the Mini, but we highly recommend both.
What Are The Benefits of Vaping?
When it comes to vaping, the main benefit we like to focus on is tobacco harm reduction. Vaping enables you to ease your nicotine cravings effortlessly, all while excluding tobacco entirely from the equation. That’s the goal.
Cigarette smoking can lead to lots of severe adverse health effects, and the distressing fact is that smoking is the leading cause of premature, preventable death globally. With endless ingredients in tobacco and thousands of chemicals in cigarette smoke, it’s not surprising you’re thinking of switching to vaping.
Vaping is proven to be one of the most effective tools for quitting smoking. Modern vape kits enable you to replicate the taste and feel of smoking a cigarette. Plus, vaping lets you customise your experience and make each puff a joy, all while being far less harmful than cigarettes.
Things To Look Out For When Picking Your Vape Kit And Sticking To Your Quitting Journey
Vaping Styles
Let’s start with vaping styles. There are a couple, but to keep it simple, we'll focus on one: mouth-to-lung (MTL).
When it comes to pod vape kits, most deliver a mouth-to-lung vaping style. This is similar to how you would smoke a cigarette. When vaping MTL, you inhale into your mouth and then into your lungs before exhaling. Sounds familiar, right? Well, it’s straightforward and comes naturally for smokers; that’s why it’s the most popular way of vaping, and it’s effective as well.
Most pod kits (like the disposables that came before them) are MTL devices, which makes them attractive to ex-smokers and regular vapers. MTL vaping lets you enjoy each puff to the fullest with optimal flavour production and a good nicotine hit.
Throat Hit for Heavy Smokers
This is important for any ex-smoker, as it’s not just the nicotine you’ll miss, but the experience of smoking itself. Vaping won’t completely replicate smoking, but freebase nicotine in particular can closely replicate it. What’s more, if you choose a vape kit with variable power and airflow settings, you can dial it in to just how you like it.
Nicotine Types and Strengths
Nicotine is a crucial part of every vaper's journey, especially when you’re new to the scene and are used to smoking cigarettes. This is something you want to get right to maximise your chances of staying off the ciggies.
There are various nicotine types and nicotine strengths. We’ll outline the two main types that first-time vapers should focus on.
Nicotine Salt E-Liquids
Overview
Nicotine Type: Salt Nicotine
Nicotine Strengths: 5mg to 20mg
Device Type: Pod Vape Kits
Customer Base: Beginners and Regular Vapers
Nicotine salt vape juice is the number one choice for most regular vapers for its enjoyable vaping experience. This vape liquid contains salt nicotine - the natural form of nicotine found in tobacco leaves. It allows for smooth inhales even at higher strengths, perfect for mouth-to-lung vaping and fast-acting nicotine delivery. Nic salts are produced in all the popular fruity and menthol flavours, which are perfect for those who are looking to get their nicotine cravings under control with a more enjoyable taste than a tobacco flavour.
The main customer base for this type of e-liquid is beginners and regular vapers, as it’s used in most pod kits. For an ex-heavy smoker, we’d recommend 20mg strength as this will be the closest to what you’re used to. Over time, you can taper down to lower strengths.
Freebase Nicotine E-Liquids
Overview
Freebase nicotine vape liquids are perfect for those who like a bit of a kick in their vaping sessions. This vape juice contains the pure form of nicotine, which is derived from the natural form of nicotine. This increases the liquid’s throat hit but delivers a less instant nicotine hit; this is good for those who like to vape throughout the day rather than just getting a quick few hits in.
Regular vapers favour freebase nicotine e-liquids in lower strengths as they get quite intense in high strengths. Typically used in pod vape kits, freebase nicotine is perfect for those who would like to replicate a typical cigarette smoking experience with tobacco flavours, a noticeable throat hit, mouth-to-lung vaping, and, of course, the ability to find the perfect strength between 3mg and 20mg in the e-liquid.
Ease of Use
Vape kits aren’t always the easiest to get used to and operate, with different settings, strengths, pods and coils to understand. So if you’re new to vaping, we recommend keeping it simple. Choose a device without a screen, prefilled pods, and the easiest switch to get you going with minimal maintenance and hassle. After that, you can move on to refillable pod vape kits with screens to adjust settings, power modes and puff counts to help you cut down on nicotine and dial in your experience.
Battery Life & Device Size
Lastly, you’ll need to consider your device's battery capacity and overall size. A larger capacity means more extended periods between recharging, and you’re less likely to run out unexpectedly, but they may also cost more and come in a larger casing. Similarly, if you want something sleek to slip into your pocket or bag, a smaller device might be perfect for you.
If you want the best of both worlds, we recommend something like the XROS 4 Mini or 5 Mini. Both come with bigger batteries, but are still physically small, and they also allow you to refill the pods on the go.
What’s Next?
Remember that you’re doing this for the first time, so allow yourself to adjust to the experience of vaping for the long term, if you want to make some healthy adjustments in your life.
For more information, read our guide on quitting smoking with practical strategies. And if you’re ready to take the step, check out our range of starter vape kits, or contact us for anything else you need.