Vaping has been quickly gaining popularity as a safer alternative to tobacco cigarette smoking, and many smokers are trying out this emerging trend. Perhaps as a newbie in this field, you might ask, “how long does a vape last?”
The answer may not be as clear-cut as it may seem. There are several factors in play that ultimately decide how long a vape will last. We need to take into account the device, battery, cartridge, and tank size, as well as you, the vaper’s own habits.
Factors Determining The Life of a Vape Pen
Unlike cigarettes that last for a definite period, vapes are unique. Factors such as battery, cartridge and tank capacity, temperature, and even the storage of these devices can affect how long a vape can last.
1. Liquid Capacity
Perhaps the biggest factor to consider in knowing how long a vape will last is its e-liquid capacity. Portable vaporizers and refillable vape pens often outlast their capacity due to being refillable, but for disposable vapes, the amount of vape juice has quite simply defined their lifetime.
When considering the lifetime of a vape in terms of liquid capacity, people usually count the number of puffs that they can get per mL of liquid. A common single-use vape cartridge lasts for around 300-500 puffs, which is equal to 1.5 to 2.0 mL of vape juice. Meanwhile, 12 mL of vape juice will yield about 5000 puffs.
2. Frequency of Usage
A major factor in determining how long a vape lasts is how often you, the vaper, would use it. The more frequently you use your vape in a day, the shorter the lifespan of disposable vape pens would be.
Frequent users may finish an entire disposable vape pen within 3-5 days. Average use will see that same pen last for longer.
3. Duration of Draw
Because a puff cannot be accurately measured, how long you draw a puff will ultimately affect the duration of disposable vape devices. This is primarily a personal preference since some people do prefer more vapor in every inhalation. The potency of your vape cart may also affect the duration of your draw, depending on how much of a kick you want.
That’s why a lifespan in terms of puff count is usually given as a range.
For example, someone who draws out longer in a single puff will rarely see their vape with a 2.0 mL capacity last beyond 500 puffs. A light inhaler may go past 500 puffs with the same pen.
4. Battery Capacity
Battery size is rarely an indication of how long a vape lasts for rechargeable vape pens and portable vaporizers. However, for single-use pens, when the vape dies is determined by when the battery life eventually runs out. Most disposable devices have battery capacities specifically designed so that you exhaust the liquid before the battery dies.
Common vape battery capacities are around 350 to 900 mAh, and high-quality pens generally have longer-lasting battery lives.
5. Temperature (Power Draw)
The power that a vape draws can also affect how long a vape lasts. A disposable pen only has one temperature setting, so its lifetime is often fixed. Other devices with variable temperature settings, however, will draw higher power as the temperature goes up
With a higher temperature, it means that the device is pulling power faster than usual, which will exhaust the battery capacity faster. Non-rechargeable vape devices will definitely last shorter if you keep on using higher temperatures.
6. Storage
The way that you store your devices affects the temperature of their heating elements and the cartridge itself. The shelf life of a vape improves when it is stored at room temperature, while you’re likely to retain the taste of its vape oil under such conditions.
If you store them in a cold place, chances are the device will also be cold. Starting the device will then require more power to bring both the heating element and the e-juice to the required power level, exhausting the battery even faster.
How Long Does a Vape Pen Last?
If you are asking about how long a vape will last, chances are you’re interested in disposable vape pens. Other vaporizers, like portable vaporizers and reusable vape pens, have a much longer lifespan due to being generally reusable until certain components need to be replaced.
Disposable vape pens are convenient vaporizers that are usually meant to be used until their vape cartridges are exhausted of e-liquids. They are small, discreet, and can be simply disposed of once they have outlived their purpose.
There are two main varieties of vape pens: single-use, and; refillable and rechargeable.
Disposable Vape Pens
Single-use disposable vape pens are not exactly meant to be used once and immediately thrown away. Instead, it means that once their cartridge is out of vape juice, they are to be disposed of right away.
These single-use vapes are often equipped with a cartridge that holds 1.5 to 2.0 mL of vape liquid. Their battery capacity is often just a bit beyond what you’ll need to burn through the entire amount of e-liquid inside. Disposable vapes last for around 300-500 puffs before eventually exhausting the vape juice in the cartridge.
Refillable Vape Pens
Refillable vape pens with rechargeable batteries are the most popular types of vaping devices. Being small, discreet, and reusable, they can last for quite some time as long as you keep refilling and recharging the device using a USB charger (nowadays USB-C).
They can hold a bit more liquid in their tanks compared to single-use vapes, around 3 to 60 mL. You’ll find that you can get around 200-300 puffs for a single full charge.
Conclusion
A vape pen can last for quite a variable amount of time. There are quite a lot of factors that you need to consider, not least of all the vaper’s habits and usage of the device. To make informed choices about your purchase, it’s best to see each individual product, check it against your own vaping experience, and see which ones would work well for your enjoyment.
