Your basic e-cigs, which are called cig-a-likes, basically suck. They work, sure, but not well when compared to the other vapes out there. For comparison, look at a standard pod vape and you see that it generally hits harder, lasts longer, and all-around works better. Although the typical pod vape is pretty much awesome, it’s not all blue skies with pod vaping. There are issues here and there so we want to make you all aware of what problems you might run into with pod systems.
Pod Vape Problems
Busted Batteries
Having a battery that stops working isn’t unusual for vaping devices, it’s actually what eventually happens to all vape batteries. What is somewhat unusual is a vape battery that doesn’t work right out of the box. Dead on arrival batteries are not limited to pod vapes but it is an issue that some pod vapers might encounter. For batteries that don’t work right off the bat, a return or exchange may be necessary. Some retailers won’t take defective vapes back so you want to make sure you know what the policy is before you bother trying to return one. There are some local vape shops that will let you test new vapes before you leave the parking lot and return them if they don’t work. Just make sure you know ahead of time and be sure to test it before you leave if you have the option of returning it if it’s defective.
E-Juice Leaks
Vapes leaking e-juice is one of the most upsetting issues we’ve encountered with vaping devices and it’s not limited to pod vapes. The thing is, though, many pod vapes have issues with leaks. The vape pods can leak e-juice either out of their mouthpiece or through the bottom where they connect to the battery. Leaking through the bottom isn’t a big deal, particularly if it’s just a slight amount of residue that’s easily wiped out. The real issue is when the e-juice comes out of the pod’s mouthpiece and ends up in your mouth, which is absolutely not where you want it to be. We’ve seen this issue with many pod systems and although it seems to be more common with refillable pods, we’ve run into prefilled pods that have leaked as well.
There are a lot of different reasons why a pod might leak, such as:
- Elevation/pressure changes
- Accidentally squeezing the pod
- Biting the pod while using it
- Vaping too much without pausing between hits
- Defective pods & batteries
- Using a pod after the coils have died
- Battery is low and needs to be charged
Defective batteries might throw you off, making you wonder how the battery can cause the pod to leak. As an example, imagine a battery that has been poorly machined, causing the connection area to be too tight for the pod to be properly inserted. The battery then squeezes the pod while it’s connected, causing it to leak. We’ve seen it happen.
It’s generally recommended that you rinse your mouth out if you end up with e-juice in it. You should also wash any e-liquid off your skin if it happens to come in direct contact. For leaky pods and the like, you can always try to reach out to the manufacturer or the store from which you bought it to see if there’s an easy fix or to see if it can be exchanged or returned.
Poorly Manufactured
Some pod systems are very poorly manufactured. Quality control isn’t where it needs to be, which allows defective products to end up in the hands of customers. Sometimes it’s worth spending a little more money to get a nice pod system. We recommend doing your research before you buy a new pod vape system. This way, you’ll have a reasonably good idea of what you’re buying ahead of time and won’t end up with a cheap piece of trash for a vape.
They’re Still Pretty Awesome
As you can see, there are some problems with pod vapes. All of the issues that they might have aside, they’re one of the best options today for vapers who want a portable vape with ample vapor production. Seeing how small they are, you might think they don’t hit that hard. Guess again because some pod vapes hit really hard. Battery life is generally good enough to last a day or so, but even when it’s not there’s always the option of carrying a second battery. This might sound like a whack idea, carrying a spare battery, but you have to remember that pod vape batteries are small, which makes carrying a spare fairly easy.
Then there are the flavors. Because some pod systems are refillable you essentially have access to every e-juice flavor on the planet, which means over 7,000 flavors at your fingertips. You can use whatever you want. You can also nic salts, which are great because they come in higher strengths. At the same time, you can also use freebase nicotine. You pretty much have all of the options as far as vape juice flavors and nicotine go. The world is yours.
On top of all this awesomeness, you can also find pod mods, which are highly customizable. This means you can control the voltage and wattage if you want. Replace your coils. Or if you don’t want to deal with any of that, you can just get a simple pod vape that uses prefilled pods and keep your maintenance to the minimum and just enjoy your vapor.
