The Ultimate Vaper’s Guide to the Best 2019 Starter Kits

Jun 22, 2022Updated Sep 17, 20266 min readReviews

A starter kit puts everything you need to vape in one box: a device, a tank or pod, and usually a coil and a charging cable. By 2019 there were more affordable kits than ever, so we rounded up the ones that impressed us most that year.

Below you will find those picks and what each did well, followed by what has changed since and a checklist for judging any starter kit you are considering now.

Types of starter kits

• Pod systems. Small, light and simple. Most are mouth-to-lung devices designed for nic salts. Open pods can be refilled with the juice of your choice, while closed pods come prefilled.
• Box mod kits. A larger device paired with a sub-ohm or mouth-to-lung tank. They offer adjustable power and airflow, longer battery life and more room to experiment.
• Pen-style kits. A slim battery and tank that sit somewhere between the two.

Our 2019 picks

These were our favorites in 2019. Device lines move fast, so read this as a snapshot of that year rather than a current shopping list.

Wismec Active 80W Starter Kit

For a durable, reliable and fun option, the Wismec Active stood out. We put it through its paces, and it proved rugged, water resistant and shock resistant. It even doubled as a Bluetooth speaker, so you could play music through it.

SMOK X-Priv Baby 80W with TFV12 Big Baby Prince

The X-Priv Baby’s standout feature was its small, pocket-friendly size. It was built for direct-to-lung vaping with open airflow, and it came with the TFV12 Big Baby Prince tank, whose coils were easy to find online and in shops at the time.

Innokin Coolfire Mini with Zenith D22 Tank

If you wanted a tighter, mouth-to-lung draw, this Innokin kit delivered it in a compact package with an excellent, affordable Zenith tank. Innokin had a long track record of reliable, good-value devices. A mouth-to-lung draw feels closer to a cigarette’s, which is why many adults who used to smoke prefer it.

Pod systems: ZB GO and ABAY

If you wanted a more discreet setup, pod systems were the rising option in 2019, and two made our list.

ZB GO was our own open pod system, built to give vapers a lot of value for the money. Its pods held a generous 2 ml of juice, and because it was an open system, you could fill it with any e-liquid you liked. ZB GO has since been retired. Our ZB GO review has more of its history.

ABAY was one of the simplest options around: a closed pod system that was easy for new vapers and portable enough for experienced ones. In 2019 we found its flavor richer than other pod systems we had tried, and its portable charging case extended battery life. We put it head to head with another popular pod in a ZampleTalk episode.

What has changed since 2019

• Pods and disposables grew. Pod systems and nic salts became far more common, and prefilled disposables spread quickly.
• The age limit rose. Since December 2019, federal law has set 21 as the minimum age to buy any tobacco or vaping product.
• FDA authorization. Every vaping product needs FDA premarket authorization. The application deadline was September 2020, and many products are still under review.
• Shipping rules. Since 2021, the PACT Act has restricted mailing vapes. USPS does not ship them to consumers, and carriers require an adult signature.
• Flavor rules. Flavor restrictions vary by state and city and change often, so check the rules where you live.
• Charging. Many newer devices charge over USB-C rather than micro-USB.

How to choose a starter kit today

If you smoke and are thinking about switching, talk to your doctor first. Nicotine is addictive, no vaping product is FDA-approved as a quit-smoking aid, and public-health bodies disagree on the details. With that said, here is how to judge a kit.

Pick your draw

Mouth-to-lung kits have a tighter draw and work with higher nicotine strengths and nic salts. Direct-to-lung kits have open airflow, make bigger clouds and pair with low-nicotine, high-VG juice. Our sub-ohm guide covers the direct-to-lung side.

Decide how much upkeep you want

Pod systems need little more than refilling and a fresh pod or coil now and then. Box mod kits add settings to learn and, often, removable batteries to look after. Rebuildable atomizers are for hobbyists.

Check the running costs

Before you buy, check how easy it is to find replacement coils or pods, and what they cost. A cheap device with hard-to-find coils is no bargain. Our guide on when to change your coils helps you plan.

Look at the battery

Built-in batteries are simple. Removable batteries can be swapped, but you need quality cells, a proper charger and a case to carry spares in. Never carry loose batteries in a pocket with keys or coins. Our guide to recommended batteries explains more.

Match the juice

Use nic salts or 50/50 juice in pods and mouth-to-lung tanks, and high-VG freebase juice in sub-ohm tanks. What Are Nicotine Salts? and What Are PG and VG? explain why.

Buy from a reputable seller

Choose a retailer that verifies your age, and check fda.gov for current information on authorized products. For more on getting set up, read our beginner’s guide to vaping.

Disposables worth trying

If you would rather skip coils and refills altogether, a disposable is the simplest setup there is: it comes prefilled and ready to use. When it runs out, dispose of it properly, since it contains a lithium battery that should not go in household trash. Browse all our disposable vapes, or start with these:

The Zamplebox Club has a Salt Nic Box for pod systems and a Disposable Vape Box too. You can swap, skip, pause or cancel anytime.

Common questions

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. For adults 21+ only.