The United Kingdom’s vape landscape has shifted significantly following the 2025 government ban on single-use disposable vapes. Aimed at reducing underage vaping and tackling environmental concerns, the ban prohibits the sale of vapes that are not rechargeable, not refillable, or do not have a replaceable heating element. This has led many to wonder: what happens to the popular “10000 puffs vape” disposable vape devices that dominated the market prior to the ban?
Interestingly, while the traditional 10,000-puff disposables are now illegal, the market has quickly adapted. New, legal alternatives have emerged that offer a similar experience, including high puff counts, flavour variety, and convenience — all while staying within the framework of UK regulations. This article explores the vape options that are still available, what’s legal, and what to expect from vaping in a post-disposable world.
Understanding the Ban: What’s No Longer Allowed?
As of June 1, 2025, the UK government implemented a comprehensive ban on single-use vapes. These include:
- Sealed devices that are not rechargeable
- Units that cannot be refilled or reused
- Products without replaceable coils or heating elements
The core reason for this regulation is twofold. First, the government aims to reduce vaping among children, who were frequently targeted by brightly packaged, sweet-flavoured disposable vapes. Second, single-use vapes have contributed to a growing environmental issue, with millions of non-recyclable devices being thrown away each week.
This ban means many of the once-popular high-puff disposable models, particularly those boasting 10,000 to 15,000 puffs per unit, are no longer legally sold in the UK.
So, What’s Still Legal?
Despite the ban on disposables, the sale of rechargeable, refillable, and coil-replaceable vape devices remains legal. In fact, manufacturers have quickly responded to the changes by redesigning their products to fit within these new legal frameworks.
Here’s what qualifies as legal under the current UK rules:
- The device must be rechargeable via USB or other standard power source
- It must feature either a refillable tank or prefilled pod system
- The heating element (coil) must be replaceable, or the pod must be swappable
Furthermore, nicotine-containing pods or tanks must not exceed 2ml in volume, and nicotine strength is capped at 20mg/ml, as per the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD).
So while the era of traditional single-use 10,000-puff vapes is over, new formats have emerged that offer cumulative high puff counts across multiple refills or pods — making the “10,000 puff” experience still accessible to users in the UK.
Legal 10,000+ Puff Vape Options
Let’s look at the types of vape devices that deliver high puff counts while remaining compliant with the UK’s new regulations.
1. Prefilled Pod Kits
Prefilled pod kits like Crystal Prime 10000 are among the most popular alternatives. These devices use small pods (each containing 2ml of e-liquid) that are prefilled with flavours and nicotine and can be replaced when empty. Each pod typically offers around 600 puffs. A pack of five pods, therefore, gives around 3,000 puffs — and with some kits allowing you to swap between pods easily, a user can comfortably reach 10,000 puffs over time.
Notable examples include brands that previously offered disposables and have transitioned to pod systems. They now provide rechargeable base units and multiple pods per pack, giving a similar long-lasting vape experience without violating the law.
2. Multi-Pod Systems
Some newer vape kits are designed to simulate high puff counts by combining multiple pods into one device. These systems allow users to load three or four pods into the device simultaneously. When one pod runs out, the next kicks in automatically or through manual switching. This setup can easily deliver up to 2,400 to 10,000+ puffs, depending on the number of pods.
Such designs maintain TPD compliance by ensuring no single pod exceeds 2ml. The total e-liquid volume may reach 8ml or more, but since the device uses replaceable pods, it’s still legal.
3. High-Capacity Refillable Pod Systems
For more experienced users, refillable pod kits offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option. These systems let users manually refill a pod with any e-liquid (as long as it complies with UK regulations). A single refill might provide 600 to 800 puffs, and with a refillable pod capable of being refilled 10–15 times, users can get well beyond 10,000 puffs from a single coil-pod combo.
These devices are rechargeable, and most use replaceable coils — making them fully legal and highly customizable.
4. Hybrid Vape Kits
Hybrid kits combine features of both disposable and refillable systems. For instance, some allow the use of large e-liquid containers (up to 10ml) but feed the e-liquid into a smaller, TPD-compliant internal tank. This innovation delivers longer-lasting vaping without violating the 2ml rule, since the e-liquid is dispensed gradually.
These systems often boast total puff counts in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 or more, depending on usage and nicotine strength. They are also rechargeable and use replaceable mesh coils, which enhance flavour and efficiency.
Brands Offering Legal 10,000 Puff Alternatives
Several well-known vape brands have released UK-compliant devices tailored to mimic the high puff count of banned disposables. These include:
- Elf Bar: Known for its Elfa and Elfa Pro pod systems, Elf Bar offers prefilled pods in popular flavours and a rechargeable base that can be reused indefinitely.
- Lost Mary: Previously dominant in the disposable market, Lost Mary now offers pod kits that are sleek, flavour-rich, and legally compliant.
- IVG: Known for their IVG 2400 and newer devices, IVG provides multi-pod systems offering 2,400–10,000 puffs per device, using prefilled, swappable pods.
- SKE: This brand has released TPD-compliant pod kits designed to offer long-lasting vaping experiences, with high puff capacities spread across multiple pods.
- Hayati: With newer models such as the Hayati Pro Ultra Plus, this brand has entered the market with hybrid systems promising up to 25,000 puffs through refillable tanks and rechargeable batteries.
Why These Options Are Better Long-Term
The shift away from single-use vapes is not just a legal change — it’s an opportunity for more sustainable and cost-effective vaping. Here’s why:
- Cost Savings: Buying one rechargeable device and replacing pods or e-liquid is much cheaper over time than buying single-use disposables daily or weekly.
- Environmental Benefits: Fewer devices are discarded, and e-waste is drastically reduced.
- Customizability: Users can explore different flavours, nicotine strengths, and even switch to nicotine-free options as they reduce dependence.
- Regulated Quality: Legal devices are subject to more safety and health oversight, reducing the risk of counterfeit or untested products.
Final Thoughts
While the UK vape ban has effectively ended the era of disposable 10,000-puff vapes, it has also spurred innovation. Vape manufacturers have adapted quickly, launching legal alternatives that provide similar satisfaction, longevity, and flavour — without the environmental or legal downsides of their predecessors.
Whether through prefilled pod kits, hybrid systems, or refillable setups, users can still enjoy the 10,000-puff experience legally. These new devices may even offer a better user experience in the long run — not just for vapers, but for the environment and the public health landscape as a whole.
