From Disposable to Bar Salts: Why Switching to 10ml Liquids is the Best Choice

The UK's disposable vape ban in June 2025 forced millions of vapers to find alternatives. While prefilled pod kits emerged as the "easy" replacement, they're trapping users in the same expensive, high-nicotine cycle that disposables created. The smarter move? Refillable pod vapes with bar salts, the 10ml versions of your favourite disposable flavours.

The Prefilled Pod Problem Nobody's Discussing

Prefilled pods promised to be the seamless transition from disposables. Brands rushed to market with big puff devices featuring 10ml auto-refill containers and 2ml pods, like the ELFBAR AF5500 and SKE Crystal 15K Bar systems. But here's what they're not telling you: you're still locked into 20mg nicotine with zero flexibility.

At £7 per 10ml prefilled container, you might think you're getting value. Compare that to £1.99-3.99 for a bottle of ELFLIQ, SKE Crystal , Bar Juice 5000, or Elux Liquid. You're paying double or triple for the same amount of liquid, just because it comes in a proprietary container that only works with one device.

Real Cost Comparison: The Numbers That Matter

Cost Breakdown	Big Puff Prefilled (10ml)	Bar Salts (Refillable)
Price per 10ml	£7	£1.99-3.99
Monthly cost (3 per week)	£84-91	£24-48
Annual cost	£1,008-1,092	£288-576
Nicotine options	20mg only	0mg, 5mg, 10mg, 20mg
Flavour choices	10-15 per brand	100+ across all brands
Potential yearly saving	-	£516-804

Bar Salts: Your Favourite Flavours, Without the Restrictions

Every major disposable brand now produces 10ml nic salt versions:

• ELFLIQ – Authentic Elf Bar flavours including Strawberry Ice Cream, Blue Razz Lemonade, and Watermelon
• SKE Crystal Bar Juice – Exact Crystal Bar taste profiles from Blueberry Sour Raspberry to Lemon Lime
• Elux Liquid  – The complete Elux range including Tiger Blood and Unicorn Shake
• Bar Juice 5000 – Premium blends matching popular disposable combinations
• Maryliq – Lost Mary's signature flavours in 10ml bottles

These aren't knockoffs or "similar" flavours, they're the identical formulations used in disposables, just in bottle form. The difference? You choose your nicotine strength.

Breaking Free from the 20mg Trap

Here's where refillable systems truly shine. Bar salts come in multiple strengths:

• 0mg (nicotine-free)
• 5mg (light)
• 10mg (medium)
• 20mg (full strength)

"Refillable vapes and vape liquids are why we started Ecigone in 2014. We wanted customers to have the ability to taper down their nicotine dependence at their own pace. Prefilled pod kits, like disposables before them, lock people into the 20mg nicotine trap with no exit strategy. That's not helping anyone reduce their dependency – it's maintaining addiction for profit."

Shane, Founder of Ecigone

This flexibility matters. Start at 20mg if needed, drop to 10mg when ready, then 5mg, potentially reaching nicotine-free. Big puff prefilled systems? You're stuck at maximum strength forever.

Simple Transition, Maximum Freedom

Switching to bar salts isn't complicated. Modern pod kits are designed for simplicity:

Getting Started:

1. Choose a simple pod kit (£15-25)
2. Pick your favourite bar salt flavour
3. Fill the pod (takes 30 seconds)
4. Wait 5 minutes for first fill
5. Vape exactly like a disposable

Daily Use:

• One 10ml bottle = 5 pod refills
• Each refill lasts 1-2 days
• Replace pod every 2-3 weeks
• No settings to adjust

Popular starter devices include the Vaporesso XROS 5, Uwell Caliburn G4, and OXVA Xlim Pro 3, all draw-activated like disposables.

Environmental and Practical Benefits

The waste reduction between systems is significant:

Waste Comparison	Big Puff Prefilled	Refillable System
Containers/bottles yearly	52-156	52-156
Proprietary pods	52-156	15-20
Device compatibility	Single device only	Works with any pod kit
Recycling options	Limited	Standard bottle recycling
Waste reduction	Baseline	70% less device waste

Why Big Puff Prefilled Pods Exist (Hint: It's Not for You)

The prefilled pod market, especially these 10ml auto-refill systems, exists because companies bet on consumer habits. They're creating proprietary ecosystems where you're locked into their brand, their flavours, and their prices.

Consider what you're really paying for:

• Same 10ml of liquid costs £7 prefilled vs £1.99-3.99 in bottles
• Locked to one device manufacturer
• No ability to reduce nicotine
• Limited to their flavour selection
• Paying premium for an auto-refill mechanism you don't need

Making the Informed Choice

Bar salts aren't a compromise, they're an upgrade. You get:

• Flavour variety – Mix brands, try everything, over 100 options
• Strength control – Reduce nicotine when you're ready
• Cost savings – £40-60 monthly back in your pocket
• Device freedom – Use any pod kit you prefer
• Quality consistency – Same trusted manufacturers

The disposable ban forced change upon UK vapers. The industry responded with big puff prefilled systems that maintain the same restrictive, expensive model, just with a rechargeable battery.

Whether you stay trapped in another costly cycle or choose the freedom and savings of refillable systems with bar salts is your decision. But when the same liquid costs half the price in a bottle, and gives you complete control over your nicotine intake, the choice becomes obvious.

Prefilled pods keep you dependent. Bar salts give you choice. The maths is clear. The choice is yours.