Vaping has become one of the most popular alternatives to smoking, and their popularity continues to grow.
However, with so many different types of starter kit on the market, it’s difficult for new vapers to know the best vape pen for them. We’re about to change all of that.
In this post, you’ll see the top vape pens for 2026 and what makes them unique. Let’s dive in.
Vape pens: what are they?
Vape pens are a type of vape kit that has a pen-like shape, and are relatively small and compact, fitting well into a pocket or bag for easy portability.
Like all vapes, they can contain nicotine, ensuring you can satisfy your nicotine cravings during a stop smoking attempt, to give you the best chance at success.
These battery-operated devices use an e-liquid to create a vapour, which is made with a combination of vegetable glycerine and propylene glycol. They are at least 95% less harmful than smoking, as identified by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, and do not produce carbon monoxide, tar and many of the other toxic chemicals which are found in traditional cigarettes.
Pen style vape kits are ideal for ex-smokers because they are convenient, and the slim, pen style design feels relatively similar to a cigarette making them feel more familiar to those making the switch.
Why make the switch from smoking to vaping?
Fewer health implications
It’s no secret that cigarettes harm a person’s health and there are many chemicals within a cigarette known to be carcinogenic which can result in cancer and other severe health conditions. A vape kit allows you to cut out these harmful substances while still maintaining your usual nicotine intake to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
In fact, toxicological studies looking at the use of nicotine containing vapes have found that those who make the switch to vaping and completely stop smoking have significantly reduced levels of the carcinogens and toxic chemicals associated with cigarette smoking. For this reason, many heath authorities like the Royal College of Physicians endorse vaping as an alternative to smoking.
Lower cost
Twenty years ago, cigarettes were around £4.50 a pack, but today the average cost of a pack is around £12 or higher. For those with a heavy smoking habit, a lot of their monthly budget will go into tobacco.
Vaping can cost less in the long run and once you invest in the vape device, you can end up spending a lot less on e-liquids and coils/pods.
Research from University College London has found that those who make the switch from smoking to vaping could save up to £780 per year, you can read more about this in our post ‘Vaping and smoking: a breakdown of annual costs'
More control over your nicotine intake
Each vaper has different needs when it comes to nicotine strength, and for this reason vape juices are available in a wide variety of different strength options. This allows the user to find the strength that most accurately reflects their nicotine intake from smoking, and will best manage their nicotine cravings.
This also gives you the option to reduce your nicotine strength over time if this is something you are interested in doing.
The advantages of a vape pen
Easy to use: pen style starter kits are easy to navigate because they do not have an array of different settings and buttons that are needed to operate them. Most vape pens only have one button, and some don’t even have one at all and instead are inhale activated.
Compact: another benefit of pens is how compact they are. You can put them in your pocket or bag and won’t even feel the difference, and they are easily portable for when you are on-the-go.
Discreet: while an advanced vape kit is usually know for the impressive cloud production, they aren’t exactly discreet. Vape pens are great for general use as they don’t create as much vapour but still offer plenty of flavour and a satisfying inhale.
The best vape pens for 2026
So, now we come to the moment you’ve all been waiting for; our top vape pen picks for 2026. These kits are cost-effective and reliable, giving you the perfect experience while you’re a beginner. They vary from prefilled pod kits to refillable ones, so you can find the option that best suits your own personal needs and vaping style.
Best prefilled pod vape pens
If you’re looking for the simplest vaping option to get started with, a 2ml prefilled pod kit like the Elf Bar 600 is a great way to go. Not only is the device compact, lightweight and discreet, but it also requires virtually no maintenance or existing vaping knowledge.
All you need to do to get started is insert a pod and inhale through the mouthpiece. The prefilled pods are ready to use and click into place with a secure magnetic connection, and there are no buttons or settings to worry about.
The only maintenance required is to recharge the battery whenever it starts to get low, which the device will indicate via a flashing light, and to replace the pod when the e-liquid runs out.
The Elf Bar 600 pods are available in an array of the most popular Elf Bar flavours and each come prefilled with 2ml of 20 mg/ml vape juice. Each pod can offer up to 600 puffs before it will need to be replaced, and even that is easy as you simply need to remove and dispose of the used pod, then insert a new one. Plus, if you are interested in trying any other e-liquids the Elf Bar 600 is also compatible with the ELFA Pro pods, which include a refillable pod option that you can pair with any compatible vape juice.
Another great vape pen option comes from the SKE Crystal 600 Pro, which features a user-friendly design and convenient 400 mAh built-in rechargeable battery. The SKE 600 Pro has an extremely lightweight design that fits perfectly in your hand, ideal for on-the-go use.
The device and SKE Crystal 600 Pro replacement pods are available in all of the most popular SKE Crystal flavours, including favourites like blueberry sour raspberry, cherry ice, and menthol, offering a wide variety of options to suit all different preferences.
The pods come prefilled with 2ml of 20 mg/ml vape juice and offer up to 600 puffs before they will need to be replaced. The pods also come in packs of two which means you always have a spare pod ready when you need it.
Another great prefilled vape pen is the Vuse GO Reload 1000 pen kit. This kit offers a compact and sleek design and is compatible with all of Vuse’s prefilled pods. It can hold one pod at a time, offering up to 1,000 puffs per pod change.
One of the highlights of this prefilled pen vape is that the pods are available in a variety of nicotine strengths. Most prefilled vapes offer a standard 20 mg/ml nicotine strength, but that doesn’t suit every vapers preference.
Vuse pods offer anywhere between 3 mg/ml to 20 mg/ml nicotine strength e-liquid, so there’s something to suit every vaper. In addition, they come in a vast range of flavours, including golden tobacco, mint ice, and very berry.
The Vuse GO Reload 1000 pen kit is rechargeable, with a 360 mAh built-in battery, and also has a device locking button. It’s draw-activated and simple to use, offering a convenient option for when you’re out and about.
Best big puff vape pens
If you like the idea of a prefilled pod kit but would like something that can last a little longer between pod changes, a big puff vape pen like the SKE Bar 15K could be a great option to consider.
This vape pen can hold more than 2ml of e-liquid at a time, coming with a 2ml prefilled pod and 10ml refill which attach together to offer a total of 12ml of 20 mg/ml vape juice. This higher e-liquid capacity allows for up to 15,000 puffs per pod change, letting you keep vaping much longer before you need to replace the pod & refill.
The SKE Bar 15K pod packs are available in a wide variety of different flavours, allowing you to change the flavour with each pod change to help you find all of your favourites. Plus, the device features a handy display screen that shows the remaining battery percentage, so you always know when your battery is getting low.
Another big puff vape pen comes from the Hyola Pro Max, which utilizes a 2ml pod and 8ml refill for up to 8,000 puffs per pod change. Not only does this kit offer plenty of puffs, but the impressive 1800 mAh built-in battery also offers plenty of power to keep you going between charges.
The device features a fun, colourful design with the colour of the device corresponding to the flavour. Plus, the slim, pen-style design is compact enough to be pocket-friendly. Replacement Hyola Pro Max pods are available in a variety of flavours and feature a mesh coil for top notch flavour and great efficiency. Each replacement pod pack comes with a 2ml pod & 8ml refill for a total of 10ml of 20 mg/ml vape juice.
Best refillable vape pens
If you would prefer a refillable vape pen which you can pair with a wider range of vape juice options, something like the VOOPOO Argus G3 Mini is a great place to start. As the name suggests, this keep offers a compact design but still packs quite a punch with a 1350 mAh battery and a wattage output of up to 30 watts.
The device makes it easy to tailor your vaping experience to best suit your needs by offering a choice of different pods. The Argus G3 Mini recognises which pod has been inserted and will automatically adjust the power output to best suit that pod, letting you experiment with different options in an easy and approachable way.
The replacement pods can be repeatedly refilled with your choice of 50/50 or high PG e-liquid, only needing to be replaced when the coil starts to taste burnt. This not only gives you access to a huge variety of flavour options but also lets you choose the exact nicotine strength best suited to your needs.
The Vaporesso Vibe SE is another fantastic option when it comes to refillable vape pens, with added features that let you adjust your vaping experience to meet your preferences. Choose from two different power settings; eco mode optomises battery consumption to help the 1100 mAh battery last even longer, while power mode boosts the vapour production.
Each of the replacement pods has two different resistance coils housed inside, and the device will automatically switch between the two depending on your chosen power mode. Plus, the mesh coil design offers smooth, consistent flavour and greater longevity.
The Vaporesso Vibe SE also makes it easy to keep track of when to charge your battery and refill the pod. The vibrant LED indicator light lets you know the status of your battery while the clear-view smart pods have a clear design, so your remaining e-liquid is easily visible and you know when you need to think about topping it up.
Vaping offers many benefits to smokers who want to make the switch to an alternative nicotine source, and there's never been a better time to start. If you'd like to find the best vape kits for your needs, Evapo has an extensive collection of beginner vape kits.
If you need any support choosing the right vape kit or e-liquid to suit you, pop into your local Evapo store or reach out to our Customer Service Hub, we're always available to advise and help you along your vaping journey.
Sources
gov.uk 29/09/2022
apcjournals.org 07/02/2017
rcpjournals.org 09/2023
ucl.ac.uk 26/06/2019
