6 Types of Vaping Devices (Key Features, Pros, Cons) – Cyclone Pods

6 Types of Vaping Devices (Key Features, Pros, Cons)

by Blog Admin

It doesn’t matter if you're an experienced or a new vaper. Finding the right device for your needs is essential for a pleasurable vaping experience.

Luckily, there are 6 types of vaping devices that you can choose from.

Whether you prefer DTL or MTL vaping, high or low nicotine levels, or want to know which vape device is the safest — this article has got you covered.

We’ll break down the pros and cons of each vaping device to ensure you find the best vape for you!

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2 Types of Vape Delivery Systems (MTL & DTL)

Before diving into the different types of vaping devices, let’s quickly cover the common vaping styles or delivery systems.

There are broadly two types of vapor delivery systems – mouth-to-lung (MTL) and direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping. Regardless of the vaping device you use, it’ll always fall under one of these two styles of vapor delivery.

As the name suggests, MTL vape devices pull the vapor into your mouth before inhalation, and DTL devices allow you to inhale vapor directly into the lungs.

While these delivery systems may seem similar, they offer different vaping experiences. Each method delivers nicotine, flavors, and vapor into your system differently.

Here’s an overview of MTL and DTL vapes:

  • MTL vapes offer a draw similar to a regular cigarette, making them popular among new vapers looking for a cigarette-like experience.

    They have restricted airflow, smaller batteries, and produce less vapor — which allows manufacturers to use e-liquids with higher nicotine levels.

  • DTL vapes have unrestricted airflow, large external batteries and produce large amounts of vapor — prompting manufacturers to use lower nicotine levels in the vape juice to account for these increases.


With that covered, let’s look at the different types of vaping devices available in your nearest vape store.

6 Types of Vaping Devices (Pros, Cons, Ideal For)

Vape devices have evolved rapidly over the years. Today, there’s a wide variety of vaping devices, each offering unique features, benefits, and experiences.

Here are the six most common types of vape devices you can find today:

1. Dry Herb Vaporizers

Unlike other devices in this list, dry herb vapes don’t vaporize e-liquids. Instead, they heat herbs and plant matter to a specific temperature (below combustion) to extract the desired compounds in the vapor form.

Cannabis and tobacco are two popular herbs commonly used for dry vaping.

Key features:

  • Has an MTL system
  • May have an LED screen (displaying battery life and temperature level)
  • Adjustable temperature settings


Pros of dry herb vapes:

  • Lets you set the optimum temperature to vaporize your herbs of choice
  • Built-in filtration systems
  • Safer and more effective delivery of active compounds than smoking herbs and tobacco products


Cons of dry herb vapes:

  • Expensive
  • High-maintenance
  • Can cause addiction when used with herbs like tobacco and cannabis


Ideal for:

  • Experienced vapers who use herbs for therapeutic or recreational purposes


Note: Some herbs used in dry vapes, like cannabis, could be illegal in your state.

2. Mod Vapes (Box Mod / Vape Mod)

A mod vape (aka box mod, vape mod, or mechanical mod) is a powerful vape device that uses large vape juice tanks, high power outputs, and high airflow to produce large vapor clouds. They can be customized to suit MTL or DTL vaping styles.


If you’ve ever seen someone in public blowing massive clouds of vapor into the air while holding what looks like an early 2000s Nokia phone — you've witnessed a mechanical mod vape (possibly a Vandy Vape or Marvos T.)

Note: A mod vape is an advanced device that requires extensive knowledge of different vaping components to be used effectively. So it may only be suitable for experienced vapers.

Key features:

  • Sub-ohm e-liquid tanks
  • Customizable coil or atomizer to improve vaporization
  • Large external batteries
  • LED display screens (displaying wattage controls, battery life, puff counter, and temp settings)
  • Digital puff counter


Pros of mod vapes:

  • Adjustable voltage, wattage, and temperature settings
  • Adjustable airflow control on the atomizer to control vapor production
  • Large aftermarket potential for customization


Cons of mod vapes:

  • Mod kits are large and heavy (inconvenient for traveling)
  • Mod kits are high-maintenance and expensive
  • May lead to addiction from nicotine use


Ideal for:

  • Experienced vapers and cloud chasers

3. Pod Mod Vapes (E-Cigarettes)

A pod mod is an MTL vaping device that offers the performance of a full-sized vape mod, but stores its e-liquid in a pod instead of a traditional glass tank.

They’re available as both disposable and reusable devices. If reusable, they come with detachable and refillable e-liquid pods (pod system).

A pod device typically uses nicotine salt based e-liquids to deliver high doses of nicotine and flavor.

Pod mods are the most popular vape devices on the market, thanks to their unmatched convenience, low pricing, and high nicotine levels. Pod vapes are a go-to for most e cigarette users — old and new.

Key features:

  • Adjustable airflow
  • Refillable pod system
  • Battery level indicators
  • Automatic "power off" timers (if not used for a certain amount of time)
  • “Pull-activated” firing mechanisms


Pros of pod mods:

  • Inexpensive and easy to use
  • Widely available
  • Large flavor range


Cons of pod mods:

  • Small battery life and low vapor production
  • Lack customizability
  • May lead to addiction from nicotine use


Ideal for:

  • Smokers who want to make the switch from a traditional cigarette to a vape kit
  • A regular vaper looking for a convenient secondary vape device

4. Vape Pens

Vape pens are pen shaped vaping devices slightly larger than traditional e-cigarettes. Vape pens are sleek and discrete, allowing you to enjoy vaping at your discretion. They can accommodate both freebase and nicotine salt e-liquids.

They are also customizable, creating a fully personalized experience. The best vape pen is one built for your style of vaping, so try to customize it to suit your needs best.

Key features:

  • Can be adjusted to DTL or MTL vaping
  • Internal batteries
  • Single firing button


Pros of a vape pen:

  • Adjustable temperature control and airflow
  • Inexpensive with large aftermarket potential
  • Variety in vaping experience (MTL or DTL)


Cons of a vape pen:

  • Fragile and high-maintenance devices
  • Small battery life
  • May lead to addiction from nicotine use


Ideal for:

  • All vapers

5. Cig-Alike Vapes

As the first generation of the modern electronic cigarette, "cig-alikes" were designed to resemble the look and feel of a regular cigarette as closely as possible. This is because manufacturers believed that this design would be more appealing to tobacco smokers — which it did.

Although cig-alikes are old news in 2023, you can still find some hidden in the shadows of your local tobacco or vape shop.

Their design is simple — a small internal battery, an atomizer (coil), and an e-liquid vape cartridge built into one (usually designed to look like a traditional cigarette filter.)

Key features:

  • Internal battery
  • Has an optimizer and e-liquid vape cartridge built into one
  • “Pull-activated” firing mechanism


Pros of cig-alike vapes:

  • Discrete
  • Inexpensive
  • Easy to use


Cons of cig-alike vapes:

  • Often poorly built with unregulated E-juices (prefilled)
  • Produces less vapor
  • Causes addiction
  • Limited range of flavors


Ideal for:

  • Ex-smokers looking for a cigarette-like experience

6. Nicotine-Free Vapes

Nicotine-free vapes provide all the features of the popular “pod mod” devices, with one additional benefit — they are nicotine-free!

Nicotine-free vaping products come in reusable and disposable forms, which use a refillable vape pod (if reusable) instead of a glass tank.

Not having nicotine in your vape device allows you to enjoy all the pleasure of conventional vaping without exposing yourself to harmful and addictive chemicals like nicotine or diacetyl.

Key features:

  • Battery level indicators (LED light)
  • Nicotine-free
  • “Pull-activated” firing mechanisms
  • Refillable vape pod (if it’s a reusable device)


Pros of nicotine-free vapes:

  • Non-addictive
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable
  • Low maintenance
  • Large flavor range


Cons of nicotine-free vapes:

  • Low-quality devices may have unregulated ingredients
  • Untrusted brands may still contain nicotine
  • Some brands’ devices have small battery lives


Ideal for:

  • New vapers looking for a non-addictive vaping experience


Looking to test out nicotine-free vapes for yourself?
Try out the Gust Super disposable vape from Cyclone Pods. The Gust Super pod device comes with a massive 5000-puff e-liquid tank and is available in 11 delicious flavors, including

  • Mango
  • Strawberry
  • Watermelon
  • Menthol


Ready to commit to safer and more satisfying vaping?
Check out the Cyclone Pods Thunder Device vape kit to kickstart your journey!

This reusable starter kit has all the bells and whistles of a pod mod vaping device, including a 1.5ml pod and a battery that lasts several days. Not to mention pod vape devices are easy to use and low-maintained!

Now, in case we missed something, let’s answer some common questions about vaping devices you may still have.

3 FAQs About Vaping Devices

Here are the answers to some questions you might have:

1. What are the Most Common Types of Vapes?

Disposable vapes are the most common devices available — especially among young people. They are affordable, widely available, and allow e cigarette users to try new flavors without commitment.

The average disposable vape can contain between 300 to 5000 puffs and vary in price accordingly.

Unfortunately, many disposable vapes contain nicotine, even if the label says they don't — so it’s essential to buy them from trusted suppliers.

2. How Many Puffs of a Vape Equal One Cigarette?

Generally, vape manufacturers claim that 10-15 puffs from a vape equal one cigarette (the general number of puffs needed to finish a cigarette).

While this is a fairly accurate range, many factors — like the size of the draw you take — can influence this number. Since you can't "finish" a vape like a cigarette, it's essential to keep track of your puffs and not get carried away (aka "blind-puffing").

And remember — vaping is much safer on your lungs than smoking tobacco products (95%, to be precise) if done in moderation.

3. Which Type of Vape Is Better?

The “best vape device” for you comes down to your personal preference. What we can tell you is that nicotine-free vapes are by far the safest vaping product options available. The standard of quality in vapes has also massively improved over the years.

But despite this, some low-quality vapes may still include harmful substances like diacetyl, which can cause severe adverse health conditions and side effects. Some side effects of low-quality e cigarette use include:

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Increase in blood pressure and narrowing of the arteries


To name a few.

Luckily, some vape companies, like Cyclone Pods, have made it their mission to make vaping safer, non-addictive, and more accessible.

Get the Most Out of Vaping With a Cyclone Pods Device

Different vaping products and devices on the market provide unique vaping experiences. Finding the best for you is up to your personal preference. However, if safety is your main priority, nicotine-free vapes are a no-brainer!

Cyclone Pods is a US-based vape company that has a range of high-quality vapes that are free from:

  • Nicotine
  • Diacetyl
  • Vitamin-E acetate
  • Formaldehyde


Cyclone Pods’ vapes give you peace of mind knowing that you can still enjoy vaping without exposing yourself to harmful chemicals.

So what are you waiting for?
Visit Cyclone Pods today to see how you can improve your quality of life and vaping experience with nicotine-free vapes!

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