If you're ready to take your vaping to the next level, it might be time to consider a vape mod. Compared to regular vape devices, mods offer more power, better battery life, and far greater control. In this post, we’ll guide you through what a vape mod is, whether a mod might the right choice for you, and the key features to look for when choosing one.
What are vape mods?
The term vape mod refers to the device part of a more powerful electronic cigarette. The mod contains the battery (either fixed or replaceable), the chip and the controls. The mod will connect to a tank, usually via a threaded 510 connection. The term ‘mod’ came about because vape enthusiasts built or modified their own electronic cigarettes. Manufacturers saw the growing popularity of these and started creating their own mass-manufactured devices. This made the power of modified electronic cigarettes far more widely available. These days, mods come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and, in some cases, with a huge range of features. Many mods are becoming easy to use thanks to features like Smart Mode which make them more accessible for less experienced vapers. Mods are often best bought in the form of a mod kit, which combines the mod and tank in one package. This is usually more economical than buying them separately and also ensures that you have a tank and mod that are well matched to each other.
Pros and cons
Reasons to use a vape mod
They look good! Even if you never touch the advanced settings, mods often stand out for their size, style and premium feel. More power, more vapour! Mods deliver higher wattage, making them ideal for low-resistance coils and big clouds. More control Many mods come with features like wattage, ramp-up, adjustable airflow and temperature control that give you full control over your vape. Battery life is important to you Most mods pack in bigger batteries (or use replaceables), meaning less frequent charging.
Reasons NOT to use a vape mod
Massive power isn’t important to you. Devices like the Xros Pro offer satisfying vapour without the bulk or complexity of a mod. You don’t need advanced features If you’re not into fine-tuning settings, many of a mod’s benefits may go unused. You want something simple to use Mods can be fiddly. Pod vapes often give you a more user-friendly experience. You prefer less bulky devices Mods are typically larger and heavier. You can get a lot of the power and flexibility of a device with a smaller, lightweight device such as a pod mod.
Features and benefits
Almost every vape mod is loaded with features, ranging from the essentials like variable wattage through to useful extras like smart mode, right down to things not everyone will need like stealth mode. So when you’re choosing a mod, it’s helpful to learn a bit about each feature to give you an idea of what’s most important to you.
Power range / variable wattage
Most mods allow you to adjust the power/wattage going to your coil and can be classed as “variable wattage” (or VW) mods. Generally speaking, a wider range is better, but most vapers don’t need anything especially powerful. There are few coils that handle the maximum wattage of a powerful device, so these are really only relevant to vapers who build their own coils.
Temperature Control
Temperature control (TC) vaping allows you to set a specific temperature to vape at, rather than a specific wattage. This helps you avoid “dry puffs” and can help you get the best flavour out of your e-liquids. TC vaping requires either nickel, titanium or stainless steel coils. Most modern TC mods support all of these coil materials, but this is definitely worth checking before you buy.
Ramp up mode
When you start to vape, your mod fires at a specific wattage. On some devices, this wattage is fixed, often at the maximum wattage allowed by the mod. However, other mods allow you to adjust the “ramp up” (i.e. starting) wattage to suit your preferences. You can increase it for a harder hit and decrease it for a softer hit. Some devices even allow you to adjust the wattage throughout the inhale.
Output mode
Most mods don’t have too many output options beyond VW, temperature control and sometimes “bypass” mode which delivers the full power of the battery to the coil. Some mods do offer additional options such as different preheat modes for your output. Setting the output strength to “soft” gives you a gentler start to your puff, and choosing “hard” gives you boosted power at first to offer a harder-hitting vape.
Toughness
As vaping becomes part of your everyday life, you’ll find you use your mod in all locations including the outdoors. Manufacturers have started designing mods to withstand the elements. If you’re looking for a mod that can withstand the elements, a good thing to check is a device’s IP (Ingress Protection) rating which refers to how dustproof and waterproof it is.
The battery: All about capacity
The battery is one of the most important parts of any vape device. One of the most important things to think about is battery capacity, represented by a number followed by mAh. This tells you how much battery life you’ll get out of each charge. Generally, bigger numbers are better; a mod with a 3000mAh battery will last twice as long as one with a 1500mAh battery when used at the same wattage.
The battery: Fixed or replaceable?
Fixed battery mods are generally simpler and many newer vapers prefer them because you just plug in the charging cable when needed. Removable battery mods are more complicated but allow you to bring a spare battery with you when out of the house. Additionally, if a removable battery starts to perform poorly, it is cheaper to replace the battery rather than the entire mod.
Safety features and protections
Most vape mods are “regulated” mods, meaning they have chips that control the power output and support in-built safety features. Common safety features include low battery cutoff, 10-second firing limits to protect against accidental firing in pockets, short circuit protection, and protections against battery overcharging.
Stealth mode
This feature shuts off the mod’s screen and any other lights when you’re vaping to make it easier to ‘stealth vape’ or vape discreetly.
Child lock functionality
Some devices have features such as a locking functionality that prevents them from firing. This can provide peace of mind if you have children, though it remains important to keep devices and liquids out of reach.
Size
Size is usually a trade-off between portability and power. In general, bigger batteries will last longer between charges and bigger mods will be able to put out more power. Compact size is useful for portability, but bigger devices tend to have more to offer advanced users.
Ease of use
While most mods are more complicated than basic pen-style devices, there is variation in how easy they are to use. Some mods require navigating complex menu systems, while others offer simplified procedures such as single long-press button adjustments to switch modes.
Smart mode
Smart Mode is designed to take the guesswork out of controlling your mod. The device automatically detects the resistance of the coil and either sets the correct wattage or restricts the power range to prevent the user from burning the coil.
Brand
A mod’s brand can be an indicator of quality. It is advisable to stick with well-known brands with solid reputations. Choice of brand often comes down to personal preference regarding menu systems and ergonomics, so reading reviews can be helpful when choosing a manufacturer.
Bringing it all together
All of this is a lot to take in, so it is helpful to match specific features to mods to find the device that best fits your individual vaping needs.
