The buzz phrase “big puff” has completely taken over the world of vaping in the UK over the last year. Big puff vapes are disposable vapes that contain more e-liquid than the 2 ml that’s typically allowable under the constraints of the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD). They don’t violate the TPD because the e-liquid isn’t already installed in the vape when you buy it; you have to install it yourself.
Naturally, big puff vapes are a huge deal in the UK. People love the convenience of disposable vapes, but they don’t like the cost or the environmental impact of devices that only last around 600 puffs before they need to be replaced. Big puff vapes don’t cost significantly more than traditional disposable vapes, but they deliver thousands of puffs rather than hundreds. In some cases, they’re even rechargeable and refillable.
Traditional disposable vapes will be banned in the UK beginning on 1 June 2025. It’s important to understand this because some big puff vapes will still be available after the ban, and others won’t. In order to remain available, a device needs to be rechargeable and refillable. It also needs to have a replaceable coil.
What Types of Big Puff Vapes Are Available?
It’s likely that a lot will change between now and 1 June because manufacturers will be releasing new devices and redesigning existing ones as the ban approaches. At the time of writing, though, big puff vapes are available in three styles.
- Replaceable Pods: This style holds multiple pre-filled pods and allows you to switch between the pods as they become empty or when you want to change flavours. These devices will remain available after the disposable vape ban as long as they’re rechargeable and replacement pods are available separately.
- Self-Refilling: This style has an external e-liquid container that attaches to the device and refills an internal container automatically as you vape. Self-refilling big puff vapes won’t be available after the ban because their containers and coils aren’t replaceable.
- Refillable Pod: This style has an e-liquid pod that’s refillable but not replaceable, and it typically comes with a bottle of e-liquid. This style is less popular than other types of big puff vapes because if you’re going to fill your own pod anyway, you might as well buy a device with a replaceable pod because it’ll last much longer and won’t be any more difficult to use. Big puff vapes with non-replaceable pods won’t be available after the ban.
With that basic explanation out of the way, let’s move on to the list. These are the best big puff vapes that you can buy in the UK right now.
IVG Air System (4-in-1 and 2-in-1)
- Style: Replaceable Pods
- Still Available After Disposable Vape Ban: Yes
The IVG Air series are the best big puff vapes that you can buy in the UK right now. These devices have excellent technical capabilities and a huge flavour selection – and more importantly, they’ll still be available after the ban on disposable vapes takes effect.
The system consists of two devices. They are the IVG Air 4-in-1 – which holds four pods – and the IVG Air 2-in-1, which holds only two pods but is smaller and more pocketable. The pods hold 2 ml of e-liquid and last up to 600 puffs each. IVG Air pods are sold in packs of two, and they’re available in 27 flavours at the time of writing.
The IVG 2400 – which is discussed below – was the first big puff vape with replaceable pods, so it’s safe to say that IVG are the technology leaders in this area right now. The IVG Air 2-in-1 is also the only big puff vape that holds two pods rather than four, making it a great option if you want a vape that lasts longer than a typical disposable vape but still fits easily in your pocket.
The IVG Air 4-in-1 and 2-in-1 are both loaded with convenience features. The 2-in-1, for example, has windows on both sides to remind you what flavours are installed. It also has a quick-release button that makes it easy to pop the device open when it’s time to change the pods.
The IVG Air 4-in-1 is also windowed, so you can tell which flavour is currently active. We love the fact that this device has a high-capacity 1,100 mAh battery, which lasts much longer than the battery in a typical disposable vape.
Lost Mary 4-in-1 and Elf Bar 4-in-1
- Style: Replaceable Pods
- Still Available After Disposable Vape Ban: Yes
The Lost Mary 4-in-1 and Elf Bar 4-in-1 use technology similar to the IVG Air system in that you install the pods in a chamber at the top of the device and switch between the pods by twisting the device. Both devices are windowed like the IVG Air, allowing you to see which pod is currently selected. The refill pods are available in both single flavours and assortments.
The Lost Mary and Elf Bar brands share the same parent company, which is why they’re similar in their capabilities and have similar flavour assortments. Aside from the obvious differences in their appearance, there are two other significant differences between the Lost Mary 4-in-1 and the Elf Bar 4-in-1 that you need to be aware of when choosing which device you want to buy.
- Elf Bar 4-in-1 pods are available in a larger range of flavours at the time of writing. However, Elf Bar and Lost Mary 4-in-1 pods are cross-compatible with both devices.
- The Elf Bar 4-in-1 has a battery capacity of 1,500 mAh, while the battery capacity of the Lost Mary 4-in-1 is 850 mAh.
Both devices feature two vaping modes, which sets them apart from the IVG Air system. In the normal vaping mode, both devices deliver up to 2,400 puffs like other 4-in-1 vapes. In the new “Eco” mode, though, they deliver up to 3,200 puffs. You can click a button to switch between modes. You might like that feature if you find the normal mode a bit too overwhelming due to the high nicotine strength and would like a smoother experience.
The Lost Mary 4-in-1 and Elf Bar 4-in-1 will also appeal to existing fans of these brands, as all of their most popular flavours are available here.
Titan 10K
- Style: Replaceable Pods
- Still Available After Disposable Vape Ban: No; coil isn’t replaceable
Compared to the 4-in-1 vapes described above, the Titan 10K represents a slightly different take on how a big puff vape with replaceable pods can work. Although the device holds four pods, the pods are essentially just reservoirs and don’t have built-in coils.
Under the magnetic cover of the Titan 10K, you’ll find four pod chambers. The top chamber is the one that’s active, and the bottom three simply function as storage for the future. When the pod in the top chamber is empty, you’ll discard it and move another pod to that chamber.
The big feature of the Titan 10K is the fact that it includes eight pods rather than the four pods that you’ll get with other big puff vapes that use replaceable coils. You’ll get 16 ml of e-liquid in all, which is much more for the money than any other disposable vape available today.
Unfortunately, the Titan 10K will not be available after the disposable vape ban takes effect without a major design revision because the built-in coil isn’t replaceable.
IVG 2400
- Style: Replaceable Pods
- Still Available After Disposable Vape Ban: No; battery isn’t rechargeable and pods aren’t sold separately
The IVG 2400 is essentially the precursor for the IVG Air system. It’s very similar in design to the IVG Air 4-in-1, but it doesn’t have a rechargeable battery and isn’t reusable after the pods are empty. The pods are also not sold separately.
In its current state, the IVG 2400 won’t be available once the disposable vape ban takes effect. To make the device compliant, IVG would need to give it a rechargeable battery and offer the pods separately. They could end up doing those things because the IVG 2400 is the most popular big puff vape in the UK right now. Because the IVG Air 4-in-1 is such a similar device, though, it seems more likely that it’s going to replace the IVG 2400.
Note that although the pods for the IVG 2400 look similar to IVG Air pods, the pods have slightly different shapes and aren’t interchangeable.
Lost Mary BM6000 and Elf Bar AF5000
- Style: Self-Refilling
- Still Available After Disposable Vape Ban: No; devices aren’t refillable and coils aren’t replaceable
So far, all of the devices that we’ve discussed have been ones with replaceable pods because those are the types of big puff vapes that most people in the UK are buying. The Lost Mary BM6000 and Elf Bar AF5000 represent a completely different paradigm because they require a little less effort and look more like traditional disposable vapes. Because the devices aren’t refillable and don’t have replaceable coils, they won’t be available once the ban takes effect – but you can still enjoy them for the next few months.
The Lost Mary BM6000 and Elf Bar AF5000 are similar in design. Each device has 2 ml of internal e-liquid storage along with a separate 10 ml bottle of vape juice, supplying 12 ml in total. After buying the vape, you assemble it by snapping the e-liquid container into the bottom of the device. The container then supplies the internal pod with e-liquid as you vape.
The BM6000 and AF5000 are produced by the same manufacturer, so they’re similar in design. They do have slightly different features, though, helping to differentiate the two. Here’s how they compare.
- The Elf Bar AF5000 is slightly smaller and lighter.
- The Lost Mary BM6000 has a built-in display that shows the device’s current battery life. The battery is also removable for easy recycling.