Vaping devices that store their e-liquid in pre-filled pods are some of the most convenient products that the vaping industry has to offer today. They’re much more environmentally friendly than disposable vapes since you don’t need to discard your entire device when it runs out of vape juice. Although you do have to replace the pod when it runs out of e-liquid, it only takes a second to do so, and that makes pod systems almost as convenient as disposables.
Pre-filled pod vapes do have one drawback, though, which is that the pods can be fairly pricey in relation to the amount of e-liquid that you get. It’s common to see prices in the range of £5-6 for a box of two pods, which will most likely last through two days of vaping at the most. Compare that to the price of a bottle of nicotine salt e-liquid – typically around £4 for a 10 ml bottle – and it’s obvious that pre-filled pod systems aren’t the most economical vaping devices on the market.
So, is it possible to use a pre-filled pod system and save a little money by refilling your own pods? The answer to that question is “maybe,” because it depends on the design of your device’s pods and how much work you’re willing to do. Recently, manufacturers have worked hard to make their devices more difficult to refill because they want people to be locked into their proprietary ecosystems. In this article, we’ll explain how to refill four of the most popular pod systems in the UK today.
Before we get started, though, let’s discuss a few things that you need to know before you begin.
Some Warnings Before You Begin
Before you try to pop the cap off of your vape pod and refill it, you need to understand three things.
- You’re going to have a much better time if you use a pod system that’s designed for refilling. The folks at eCigReviewSite.co.uk have compiled a list of the best refillable pod vapes in the UK, and it’s worth your time to take a look at the list and see what’s available. Refilling a pre-filled vape pod is a fairly complicated job. Refilling a pod that’s actually designed for it, on the other hand, takes just a few seconds. Consider sparing yourself the work and buying a refillable vape instead.
- Refilled pods are often very prone to leaking. If you don’t work very carefully, you could end up having a mess on your hands.
- A refilled pod will never have quite the same flavour as a fresh pod. That’s partially because of the residue that forms on the pod’s heating coil as you vape and partially because you’re unlikely to find a bottled e-liquid exactly matching the pod’s original flavour.
If you still want to try refilling your pod with those warnings out of the way, let’s dig right in. Here’s how to refill some of the most popular brands in the UK today.
How to Refill a JUUL Pod
JUUL was the first popular pre-filled pod system. The creators may not have anticipated the possibility that users would want to refill their pods, and as a result, these pods are fairly easy to open. Here’s how to do it.
Things You’ll Need: Small screwdriver, tweezers
- Take the screwdriver and push it into one of the locking tabs on the sides of the pod’s black mouthpiece. Pry the tab open and do the same thing with the tab on the other side. Lift the mouthpiece off of the pod.
- Use the tweezers to remove the two fabric pads under the mouthpiece. Dry the pads with a paper towel and replace them.
- Remove the silicone gasket that seals the top of the pod. Add your e-liquid to the pod and replace the gasket.
- Replace the mouthpiece and push it down until it snaps into place.
How to Refill a JUUL 2 Pod
The JUUL 2 is the newer version of the JUUL platform. It features an automatic pod authentication system to help reduce the proliferation of counterfeit pods, and it also has a new pod designed to deter refilling. Nevertheless, it is possible to refill a JUUL 2 pod. Here’s how to do it.
Things You’ll Need: Flashlight, drill bit or heavy-duty sewing needle, blunt syringe tip, tape
- Use the drill bit or sewing needle to poke a hole into the pod. The hole should be positioned near the top but offset from the pod’s main air channel. You can see the air channel if you shine a flashlight through the pod. Your goal is to create a hole just large enough for your syringe or the tip of your e-liquid bottle.
- Insert the syringe tip into the hole and position the e-liquid bottle at the tip’s opening. Alternatively, if the hole that you’ve created is large enough, you can just put the tip of your e-liquid bottle into the hole. Use the flashlight, so you can tell when the pod is full.
- Cover the hole with tape to prevent the pod from leaking.
How to Refill a Vuse Pro Pod
The Vuse Pro system is the latest pod-based vaping device from tobacco giant R. J. Reynolds. The device connects with a mobile application to verify the age of the user – and, of course, the pods are designed to be as difficult as possible to open.
Things You’ll Need: Needle-nose pliers, paper towel
- Turn the pod upside down. Grasp the metal base with the pliers and wiggle the base gently while pulling it until it snaps off.
- Remove the plastic coil assembly under the base. If you see a silicone gasket under the coil assembly, remove it as well. The gasket sometimes comes out on its own when the coil assembly is removed.
- Dry the inside of the pod with the paper towel.
- Add e-liquid until the pod is almost full.
- Replace the gasket and coil assembly. Snap the pod’s base back into place.
How to Refill an Elf Bar Elfa Pro Pod
The Elf Bar Elfa Pro is a pre-filled pod system from Elf Bar, the maker of one of the most popular brands of disposable vapes in the UK. The Elfa Pro features many of the same flavours as Elf Bar disposables, presenting a lower-cost alternative.
Things You’ll Need: Small screwdriver, blunt syringe tip
- Turn the pod upside down. Find the seam at the base of the pod. Insert the screwdriver into the seam and pry gently to remove the pod’s base. You may need to work your way around the circumference of the pod to loosen the base fully.
- Find one of the two filling holes under the pod’s base. These are positioned away from the centre of the pod.
- Insert the blunt syringe tip into one of the holes and position the tip of your e-liquid bottle at the syringe’s opening. Add e-liquid until the pod is almost full.
- Snap the pod’s base back into place.