With the rapid growth in the popularity of disposable vapes, companies are introducing more disposables with heftier batteries and larger e-liquid compartments. Most companies choose to market their disposables by publishing the “puff count” – in other words, how many puffs you’re supposed to get out of one disposable e-cig to help customers understand what they’re getting.

But is puff count accurate? Is it a reliable way for customers to decide which vape is best? Or is it something akin to false advertising, perhaps providing wrong information and expectation to the consumer? To answer that question, let’s dig deep into the world of disposable vaporizers!

Is There a Better Measure than Puff Count?

Vaping has come a long way in recent years, and disposables come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from small vape pens to hefty single-use devices. Some smaller devices claim to offer 200 hits, while some of the largest claims to give you 5000 puffs before you have to dispose of them! 

But have you ever counted the actual number of hits you get from a device? Chances are, you have other things going on in your life, and you don’t have the time or patience to count every puff you get out of your disposables. And even though it might be fun to find out whether they stand up to the claims, it would be a very time-consuming project!

Here’s something that requires far less time and patience: looking at the cold, hard facts about these devices. Most disposable vapes should have specifications listed on the packaging and/or thru the website you ordered them. You’ll want to look for two critical pieces of information:

• Battery Capacity
• Liquid Capacity

There’s usually other information listed as well, such as nicotine strength, but for now, we’ll pay attention to the battery and the amount of liquid each device holds.

Taking a Look at Some Real-World Puff Count Estimates

While all puff count estimates are just that, estimates, you could do some basic math to determine how the numbers add up (or don’t). Take a manufacturer’s specifications for one lower-end model’s battery and E-Liquid capacities and use that as a baseline compared with the higher-end models. Do the numbers add up when scaled to the higher end device? If an entry-level device claims to give 400 puffs with a 350mAh battery and 1.8ml e-liquid tank, then on paper, a high-end device that claims to offer 1800 puffs needs to have four times the battery capacity and e-liquid capacity theoretically. It can fall short by a little and still achieve the estimated puff counts, but if the discrepancy is too large, then caution is advised.

Other Factors to Consider

Some companies use the words “estimated” or “approximately” when listing the puff counts. Others use phrasing such as “up to X puffs” while others say “upwards of X puffs.” So, there are some differences in language across the board, and some vape companies certainly make an effort to show that puff counts aren’t perfectly accurate.

It’s also true that different devices use slightly different technology. Other e-liquids could have some variations due to the exact ratio of ingredients used in them. And, different people could also produce more or less vapour according to their vaping style.

But that goes to prove further that puff counts aren’t the be-all, end-all calculation for how much you’re going to get out of a specific disposable vape. They’re just an estimate, and they can vary much more significantly than companies might lead you to believe.

For Best Results, Look at the Capacity Instead

At AIRSCREAM, we market our AirsPops according to their battery and liquid capacity. If you check the order page or the packaging of AirsPops, you’ll find the following information:

AirsPops ONE USE

• 550mAh battery
• 3ml e-liquid

The puff count? It depends! We could make up a number of puffs that we think you’ll get out of the device, but we believe that could be misleading to consumers because there could be variations from one person to the next. Instead, we make it easy for you to find the battery and liquid capacity information so you can make a sound judgement on your own.

The Bottom Line
So, does it make sense for consumers to make purchasing decisions based on the number of puffs advertised by various e-cig companies?
Here’s the takeaway: it’s important to remember that puff count is only an estimate. That may be fine with you, and there’s nothing wrong with getting a rough estimate of how long a particular device might last. But since there is so much variation in puff count, you might not be getting the value you think you’re getting.
If you want to know what’s going on, it’s always best to look at the complex numbers – the battery power and the amount of e-liquid in the device. Also, make sure to take your habits into account. Heavy vapers will probably go through a disposable much more quickly than someone who takes smaller draws less frequently. Choose one with a higher battery and liquid capacity if you want it to last longer and vice versa.
With this information, you can go forth as a well-informed vape consumer! If you haven’t given AirsPops a try yet, shop our selection of disposable e-cigs today. They contain 5% nic salts and come in a variety of irresistible flavours!