Disposables Are Banned – What Are the Best Alternatives for Single-Use Vapes?

So, it’s official. As of June 1st, disposable vapes are no longer legal to sell in the UK. If you’re someone who relied on them for their ease, their flavours, or zero setup, this probably feels like a setback. But don’t panic, you won’t need to jump into the world of box mods, coils, or DIY e-liquid just to get your nicotine fix. In fact, many of your favourite disposable brands saw this coming and have already rolled out alternatives to disposable vapes designed specifically for you.

Let’s be clear. You don’t need to abandon the flavours you loved. You don’t need to sacrifice simplicity. And you definitely don’t need to spend more. The truth is, two types of non disposable vapes stand out right now as perfect replacements: prefilled pod kits (we’ll also call them big puff vapes), and refillable pod kits. They’re simple, satisfying, and in many cases more economical than disposables ever were.

Big Puff Vapes

Big puff vapes, or prefilled pod kits, are the closest thing to disposables you can get, but with the added bonus of being rechargeable and much more cost-effective. These come with prefilled pods that you just pop in and vape. Once the pod’s empty, swap it out. This alternative to disposable vapes does not require refilling.

How They Work

These devices use sealed, prefilled pods that slot into a rechargeable battery. You inhale to activate, and in some models, you can switch flavours by rotating the mouthpiece without removing pods. There is no refilling or coil changes needed.

Who Should Pick These

Ideal for ex-disposable users who want the same plug-and-play feel without the waste. Best for those who prioritise ease and flavour but want better value long-term.

Take the IVG Air 2400, for example. It offers the same bold, sweet flavours you get from IVG disposables. Except now, you get four pods in one device, each offering 600 puffs. That's a total of 2400 puffs from a single rechargeable kit. It even has a rotating mechanism that lets you switch between pods, almost like a flavour wheel. The battery charges via USB-C, and once it's empty, you don’t throw the whole thing away. You recharge and go again. It's the same IVG experience you know, just smarter and more sustainable.

If you're open to a tiny bit of setup, and we mean tiny, refillable pod kits will save you serious money. These kits come with an empty pod that you fill with your choice of e-liquid. They’re compact, beginner-friendly, and in many cases even better to vape than disposables.

How Refillable Pod Kits Work

You fill an empty pod with bottled e-liquid, usually through a side or top-fill port. The pod clicks into the battery and activates on inhale. Mesh coils (common nowadays) inside the pod enhance flavour and extend lifespan.

Who Should Pick Refillable Pod Kits

Great for vapers willing to do minimal setup in return for more flavour options, better vapour, and major cost savings over time. Perfect bridge between disposables and advanced kits.

One of the standout options is the Vaporesso XROS Mini. It’s pocket-sized, dead simple to use, and gives you a smooth, flavour-rich vape every time. The pod is built with mesh coils, so your flavours pop more. It charges fast via USB-C, and depending on how sweet your liquid is, each pod can last up to a week or more. Fill it up with a 10ml bottle of nic salt, which costs less than £2, and you're sorted for days. No coil changes, no buttons, no settings. Just fill and vape. All in all, the XROS Mini is the best refillable vape that hits like a disposable.

If you’re looking for the top 10 best disposable vape alternatives, check out our blog to make an informed decision.

If you’re wondering what replaces your favourite Puff Bar now that they’re banned in the UK, here’s your answer. Many of the best-known names in single-use vaping haven’t disappeared, but they’ve simply evolved. Below are the one-to-one upgrades: same brands, same flavours, same simplicity, but now rechargeable, reusable, and built for the long haul.

The Hayati Pro Max Plus retains the bold flavours and high puff count that made its disposable variant a hit. With an 850mAh rechargeable battery and a combined 12ml e-liquid capacity, it offers longevity with replaceable pods. The device features a transparent pod for easy e-liquid monitoring and a smart display indicating battery life, ensuring you're always in control. Its mesh coil technology delivers consistent, rich flavour with every puff. With its sizeable mesh coil head for consistent and rich flavour, the Pro Max Plus is a strong contender for the best non disposable vape.

The Lost Mary BM600 Prefilled Pod Kit mirrors the compact design and flavour profiles of the original disposable. This alternative to disposable vapes is equipped with a rechargeable battery and prefilled 2ml pods (that can be swapped for a fresh one), and it delivers up to 600 puffs per pod. The inclusion of mesh coil technology ensures a smooth and flavourful vaping experience, maintaining the brand's reputation for quality.

Transitioning from disposable to reusable, the Elf Bar 600 Prefilled Pod Kit offers the same beloved flavours in a sustainable format. With a 500mAh rechargeable battery and 2ml prefilled pods (with replacements available for purchase) containing 20mg nic salt e-liquid, it provides a familiar mouth-to-lung experience. The device's reusable nature makes it a sustainable alternative to disposable vapes.

The SKE Crystal Pro 600 Pod Kit evolves from its single-use predecessor by introducing a rechargeable 400mAh battery and prefilled pods that can be swapped for new ones. Maintaining the sleek, transparent design, this non disposable vape has extensive flavour options and utilises mesh coil technology for enhanced flavour delivery. The device's inhale activation and Type-C charging port ensure ease of use and quick recharging.

If you miss the flavour of your lost favourite puff bars, don’t worry. Many of the big-name disposable brands have launched nic salt e-liquid lines that match the taste you used to savour in their throwaway models. This includes:

• Elfliq by Elf Bar – the same flavours as Elf Bar used in disposables, now in nic salt bottles
• SKE Crystal Original – still delivering that ultra-sweet, icy finish
• Lost Mary Nic Salts – unique fruit mixes and cool hits, just like the disposables
• IVG Nic Salts – packed with the fruity, candy-style flavours IVG has been known for since the beginning.

These are available in 10ml bottles that’ll last as long as five disposables did. Use them in your refillable pod kit, and it’ll taste exactly the same, possibly better.

Let’s break it down. If you were vaping one disposable per day, at around £5 each, you were spending £35 a week. That’s over £1,800 a year, just to vape.

Now let’s compare that to an alternative to disposable vapes. A starter vape kit costs around £15–£20, and that often includes a spare pod. A blister pack of three replacement pods is under £10 and can last you weeks. And 10ml bottles of nic salts go for as little as £1.99.

With that setup, your weekly spend can drop from £35 to under £10. That’s not just a small saving. We’re talking about hundreds of pounds saved in a few months and over a grand a year back in your pocket.

There’s also the waste problem. Every disposable vape had a lithium-ion battery sealed inside a plastic shell. You couldn’t recharge them. You couldn’t recycle them. And if you were throwing one out every day, that adds up to 365 tubes of plastic waste a year per person. Multiply that across millions of vapers, and the scale becomes massive.

Now? With non disposable vapes, whether you go prefilled or refillable, you're recharging instead of binning. You're tossing one pod every few days or weeks, not an entire device every night. It's cleaner, cheaper, and just makes more sense.

If you’re still wondering whether a non disposable vape, a prefilled or refillable pod kit, can really fill the gap disposables left behind, here’s a straight comparison. These modern alternatives to disposables don’t just match the convenience you’re used to. In many ways, they improve on it.

If you're starting to feel boxed in by the limitations of even the most innovative disposable alternatives, it might be time to explore advanced pod kits. These are still compact and user-friendly, but they open up a far broader range of options. Instead of being tied to pre-filled pods or a fixed power output, you’ll find features like variable wattage, adjustable airflow, precision battery displays, and intelligent chipsets that recognise coil resistance and auto-optimise performance.

Many models include fast Type-C charging, draw or button activation, and smart memory functions that remember your preferred settings. Some even support temperature control or bypass modes, bringing a level of fine-tuned control you won’t get from disposable-style devices.

Switching from disposables doesn’t mean losing the flavours you love or taking on a complicated hobby. The new generation of non disposable vapes, namely, big puff vapes and refillable pod kits, are made for everyday vapers who just want something that works.

Yes, it’ll feel different on day one. Maybe even day two. But by day three, you’ll have it down. You’ll get used to filling a pod, recharging a device, and maybe even trying different flavours from a bottle. And the whole time, you’ll be saving money, cutting waste, and still enjoying a vape that hits the way you like it.

Disposables might be gone, but the future of vaping in the UK is looking better than ever.