Buying your first vape is confusing, sub-ohm this, mesh coil that, a wall of devices that all look the same. It doesn't need to be. If you're starting out or switching off disposables, you want a kit that's simple, refillable and made for nic salts. This guide explains what to look for and rounds up the best beginner vape kits at Riot.
Key Takeaways
➔ Beginners want a small, refillable pod kit - simple, pocketable and cheap to run
➔ Look for MTL (mouth-to-lung) devices, which give a tight, cigarette-like draw and pair with nic salts
➔ Refillable kits cost more up front but far less over time than disposables
➔ The Aspire Cyber G Slim and Oxva NeXlim are our top beginner picks
➔ Prefer no refilling at all? A pre-filled pod system is the easiest start
➔ Not sure? Our Vape Kit Finder matches you to the right one in a couple of taps
What makes a good beginner vape kit?
You don't need power or clouds to start, you need something easy. The best first vapes share a few things:
It's a pod kit
Small, refillable pod kits are the modern standard: fill the pod, click it in, vape. No buttons to fiddle with, no coil-building.
It's MTL (mouth-to-lung)
MTL means a tight draw, like pulling on a cigarette, the natural style for anyone coming off smoking. If you want to understand the two styles, our guide to MTL vs DTL vaping breaks it down.
It runs nic salts
Beginner kits are built for nic salts, the smooth, fast-satisfying nicotine that suits new vapers. (New to those? Start with our nic salts guide.)
It's refillable
Refillable beats disposable on cost and waste every time. Switching off single-use? See our disposable alternatives.
The best beginner vape kits at Riot
Here are the kits we'd actually hand a first-timer, and who each one suits.
Aspire Cyber G Slim - best budget starter
Pocket-sized, dead simple and around £12, the Cyber G Slim is the easiest way in. Fill it, vape it, done, ideal if you're testing the water.
Aspire GoteK X3 - simplest all-rounder
The GoteK X3 is a no-nonsense pod vape at around £12 that suits total beginners and returning vapers alike.
Aspire Cyber GT - best battery life
Want to charge less often? The Cyber GT steps up to a bigger 2400mAh battery for around £18, a great all-day first vape.
Oxva NeXlim - best all-rounder
Our top pick if you want a device to grow with. The NeXlim is a refillable MTL kit with adjustable power, a big 1600mAh battery and top-fill 2ml pods, around £25. Smooth, reliable, and it takes any XLIM/NeXlim pod.
Connex - easiest, no refilling
If filling a pod isn't for you, the Connex system uses pre-filled flavour pods, click one in and go. The closest thing to disposable convenience, but rechargeable and far cheaper per puff.
| Kit | Price (from) | Best for | Refillable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspire Cyber G Slim | ~£12 | Cheapest, pocket-sized | Yes |
| Aspire GoteK X3 | ~£12 | Simple all-rounder | Yes |
| Aspire Cyber GT | ~£18 | Bigger battery | Yes |
| Oxva NeXlim | ~£25 | Best all-rounder | Yes |
| Connex | Pod system | No-refill convenience | Pre-filled pods |
Prices are a guide - check the product page for the latest.
Refillable vs pre-filled: which suits you?
Two easy routes, depending on how hands-on you want to be:
➔ Refillable pod kits (Aspire, Oxva) - you fill the pod with any nic salt you like. More flavour choice, lowest running cost.
➔ Pre-filled pods (Connex) - click in a ready-filled pod, no mess, no measuring. Simplest possible start.
Both beat disposables on cost and waste. If you want the full lay of the land, our Types of Vapes guide compares every format.
What to pair with your kit
A kit is only half the setup, the flavour and strength make the experience:
➔ Strength - most ex-smokers start at 10mg or 20mg nic salt, then step down. Our strength chart has the full guide.
➔ Flavour - Bar Edtn is our best-selling range and the natural first stop off disposables. Or browse the whole nic salt collection.
➔ Can't decide? Build a bundle and try a few flavours to find your all-day vape.
Which one is right for you?
If you want our shortcut: grab the Cyber G Slim to keep it cheap and simple, or the Oxva NeXlim if you want one device to stick with. Prefer zero faff? Go Connex. Still weighing it up? Let our Vape Kit Finder do it for you, and if you're brand new to all of this, start with our New to Vaping guide.
Vape Kits and More from Riot
The right first vape makes switching stick. Riot's beginner-friendly kits are simple, refillable and built to run our UK-made nic salts, so you get real flavour and real value, not another bin-bound disposable. Browse all pod kits and devices, match yourself with the Vape Kit Finder, or build a flavour bundle to go with it. You must be 18+ to buy.
