A questions that always arises on the topic of vaping and e-cigs is whether to use disposable cartridges or refillable tanks and e-liquid bottles. It often comes down to a question of convenience versus cost savings. Disposable cartridges, often called cartomizers because they contain the atomizer inside the casing, can also be refilled and many brands offering blank cartridges, allowing you to have the best of both worlds. What are the differences, advantages and disadvantages to each? We will go over each to help you make an informed decision that best fits your needs.
What is a Cartridge or Cartomizer
Today’s modern e-cig cartridges usually always contain the atomizer heating element along with an enclosed felt containing a few drops of e-liquid. They are usually made of an aluminium casing and screw onto the battery. The cartomizers are offered in various flavors and nicotine strengths and sometimes sizes depending on the brand. They can last anywhere from 200 to 500 puffs and are the most convenient way of vaping with your e-cig. You can easily travel with them without worrying about spills in your bag or having to constantly wash and maintain your tanks. Being that they are fully disposable and recyclable, they require no maintenance whatsoever and many e-cig makers offer rewards for returning your dispensed cartridges for recycling. A last thing to note, is that keeping nothing but cartridges is a safer option when having children around when put next to an e-liquid bottle that can quickly be ingested by a child.
Blank or Refillable Cartridges
One thing many people don’t know, is that you can also find plenty of brands offering blank cartridges that can be refilled using e-liquid bottles. The silicone tip easily comes off so you can add a few drops of your e-liquid flavor and it’s as simple as that. One thing to note is that they don’t last as long as refillable tanks, as the felt and atomizer will get worn out after a few uses. Additionally, because of the felt sponge that retains the e-liquid, you cannot change flavors on one single cartridge between uses. With that said, refillable cartridges do not require any maintenance and remain very economical.
Pros:
- Disposable and affordable to replace
- No spills or e-liquid messes
- Requires no maintenance or cleaning
- Can be recycled or returned for shopping points
- Easiest most convenient way to vape
- Refillable cartridge options exist
Cons:
- Costs more money than strictly using refillable tanks and bottles
- Often has less choice in flavors
- Causes some waste, especially if incorrectly disposed of
E-Liquid and Refillable Tanks – Clearomizers
Bottles of e-liquid are sold by various makers in sizes of 15ml to 30ml and just a few drops can last more than a day depending on how much you vape. The most economical way to vape is by using e-liquid bottles and tanks turning the cost of refills into pennies. With that said, it also requires much more work on your part. Tanks need to be washed and dried out between flavor changes as well as periodically needing maintenance. Atomizers and wicks also need to be replaced after their lifecycles and represent an additional small cost to account for. These re-fillable tanks do offer a few perks. For one the atomizers are usually bigger and slightly run hotter producing a bit more vapor and flavor, this is not always true and varies from brand to brand. Let’s quickly go over tanks and their required maintenance. As mentioned before regarding safety, forgetting to store away your e-liquid bottles around your children can cause a high risk of poisoning if they happen to get their hands on it. Cartridges also pose a threat but not as imminent as the liquid form factor.
Re-Fillable Tankomizers – Clearomizers
Re-fillable tanks are often called tankomizers or clearomizers for being see through. These tanks can come in different sizes and outlast cartridges for longer use cycles. They often feature a measuring decal to know exactly how much you have put in the tank. The atomizer and wicks need to be replaced periodically and washed when switching from one flavor to another. Washing is a bit tedious, requiring you to disassemble and dip the pieces in lukewarm water while vigorously shaking them to remove the remaining e-liquid from the tank and wick. It does not always go off without a hitch and you can sometimes retain a hint of previous flavors, this is a good indicator that it is time to replace the wick. The award for all this maintenance is a considerably lower cost to refill. Where a cartridge can cost anywhere from $1 to $2, using bottles brings the cost down to a fraction of that. The performance is also usually a little better but many of the best brands make exceptionally good cartridges that perform just as good.
Pros:
- Considerable cost savings in the long run
- Less waste overall – atomizers can also be recycled
- More choices in flavors from various e-liquid makers
- Can be filled to last longer than cartridges
Cons:
- Requires maintenance and regular cleaning
- Less convenient for travelling
- Risk of spilling e-liquid
Conclusion
As you can see, both options offer very distinct advantages and one is not dominant over the other. There will be a bigger demographic for cartridges for the simple reason of convenience. Having an e-liquid bottle get crushed in your bag is a disaster and the smell might never go away. While if you want to spend the least amount of money as possible on e-cigs, refillable tanks are the way to go. People whom travel lots will always benefit from having a few packs of cartridges and there is nothing wrong with using both either. Tanks and clearomizers come in various shapes and forms and often cater to the techier and advance vapers out there. Nowadays, you can get a bit of both worlds with blank re-fillable cartridges that can be used a few times before being disposed of. In the end, it is a question of personal preference and taste, but we highly recommend to start with cartridges for all beginners.