It's one of the most common questions we get at Futuristic Vapes: "Should I stick with disposables or switch to a refillable?"

It's 2026 and I think we should revisit this topic again, let's dive in!

The honest answer depends entirely on who you are and how you vape. But here's what nobody tells you upfront — if you're going through disposables regularly, you're spending a lot more money than you need to. And in most cases, you don't even have to give up your favourite flavour to make the switch.

We've been helping vapers in Delta and Surrey figure this out since 2015. This is our straight-up breakdown — real prices, real recommendations, and Neil's honest take at the end.

The Real Cost Difference — Let's Do the Math

This is where most comparison articles go vague. We won't.

Let's take a moderate vaper going through roughly one disposable every 3-4 days. Here's what that looks like annually across three disposable options we carry:

A note on refillable running costs: E-juice is a consumable, but so are coils and pods — budget roughly $5 per coil, and if you're going through one bottle of juice per month, add that $5 on top of your $27.99 juice cost. So your real monthly refillable cost is closer to $32.99, not just the juice alone. Even with that factored in, the savings over disposables are significant.

The numbers don't lie. If you're on the Fog Formula 1600 and going through one every few days, you could be spending over $2,000 a year on disposables alone. A refillable setup brings that down to roughly $395-$445 a year — including the device cost and coil replacements. That's a saving of well over $1,500 annually for heavy disposable users.

Even if you're on the high-capacity STLTH x Geek Bar 80K, a refillable still works out cheaper. And you get more flavour options, more control, and a better experience overall.

The Secret Nobody Talks About — Same Flavour, Half the Price

Here's the part that surprises most of our customers: you don't have to give up your favourite flavour when you switch to a refillable.

Two of the biggest disposable brands — Flavour Beast and GCore — both make bottled Salt Nic E-Juice that directly mirrors their disposable flavours. So if you love vaping on a Flavour Beast or GCore disposable, you can pick up the exact same flavour in a bottle and run it through a refillable device for a fraction of the cost.

Flavour Beast Salt E-Juice — Our #1 selling e-juice by a wide margin. Over 75 flavour options at 20mg Nicotine, directly derived from their legendary disposable lineup. Every icy fruit, every sweet blend — it's all there in bottle form. If you've ever vaped a Flavour Beast disposable, this is the exact same flavour experience at a dramatically lower cost per ml.

Geek Bar Salt E-Juice — Love the STLTH x Geek Bar 80K? This is a no-brainer. Geek Bar now bottles their most popular flavours — including Tropical Mango Ice — in Salt Nic form. Same flavour delivery, same smooth experience, just in a refillable device instead of a one-time unit.

GCore Salt E-Juice — Our #2 selling e-juice and the top choice for customers switching from the GCore G Premium 80K Disposable. GCore's e-juice lineup covers all their most popular disposable profiles and is one of the smoothest Salt Nic options we carry. Customers who make the switch from GCore disposables to GCore e-juice rarely look back.

A 30mL bottle of any of these runs $27.99. That's roughly equivalent to an entire STLTH x Geek Bar 80K (which holds 30mL of e-liquid) — but the bottle lasts you the same amount of time and costs $20 less.

The Disposable Case — When It Actually Makes Sense

We're not here to talk you out of disposables entirely. They have a real, legitimate place depending on where you are in your vaping journey.

Fog Formula 1600 — $20.00

Let's be real about the math first: the Fog Formula 1600 contains just 2mL of e-liquid. At $20.00 you're essentially paying for 1 coil and 2mL of liquid — which makes it, per millilitre of e-juice, the most expensive form of vaping available. By comparison, a 30mL bottle of Salt Nic e-juice at $27.99 works out to under $1 per mL. The Fog Formula works out to $10 per mL. That's a 10x difference in cost per mL of liquid consumed.

So why does it exist and why do we carry it? Because it's the right tool for one specific person: someone brand new to vaping who is trying to quit smoking. At $20 and zero setup required, it's the lowest commitment entry point we have. The Fog Formula comes in 32 flavour options and delivers an Intense or Hybrid hit — punchy, satisfying, and very close to what cigarette smokers are used to. Two to three days of use and you'll know whether vaping works for you. As a testing device it's perfect. As a long-term daily driver it's the most expensive option on the shelf — and you should know that going in.

Frutti Bar 35K — $29.99

Great value for someone still exploring. At 35,000 puffs with Boost Mode and USB-C recharging, the Frutti Bar lasts weeks rather than days. The range of iced and non-iced combinations — Blueberry Watermelon, Blue Razz Ice, Peach Raspberry Ice — gives you real variety to figure out what flavour profile you love. If you're not ready to commit to a refillable yet but want better value than a 1600-puff device, the Frutti Bar 35K is the smart middle ground.

STLTH x Geek Bar 80K — $47.99

This is the pinnacle of what a disposable can be. Holding a full 30mL of e-liquid — the same volume as an entire bottle of e-juice — the STLTH x Geek Bar 80K is in a different league from most disposables which typically hold 18-25mL. Boost Mode, Type-C recharging, over 20 flavours, and the combined engineering of two of the best brands in the game means this delivers a smooth, consistent experience that lasts months for moderate vapers. If you're committed to disposables and want the absolute best, this is it. Think of it as holding an entire bottle of e-juice in vape form — at $47.99, the value per mL of e-liquid is actually competitive with bottled juice when you factor in the device cost.

The Refillable Case — The Smart Long-Term Move

If you're vaping regularly — meaning more than a few times a week, every week — a refillable is almost certainly the right move financially and experientially. Here are three options we recommend, matched to different needs:

Uwell Caliburn G5 Lite — $19.99

Our cheapest entry point into refillables and genuinely one of the best beginner devices on the market. For $19.99 you get a draw-activated device with no button — exactly like a disposable — with a simple LED battery indicator and a refillable pod that handles one full 30mL bottle before needing replacement. It's the closest experience to a disposable you can get in a refillable device. Charge it, fill the pod, and vape — that's it. For someone nervous about switching to refillables, this removes every barrier.

Uwell Caliburn G4 — Our Staple Starter Kit

This is the device we recommend most often to customers making the switch from disposables. Adjustable wattage lets you dial in exactly how your puffs feel — tighter or airier, more or less intense — which is something no disposable can offer. Long-lasting battery, easy-fill pods, sleek design, and an optional button (you can still draw-activate if you prefer the disposable feel). This is the classic choice, refined over multiple generations by Uwell into one of the most reliable devices in its class.

Uwell Caliburn G4 PRO KOKO — Top-End Pod Device

If you like the compact, boxy shape of devices like the Frutti Bar, the KOKO is your refillable equivalent. Touch screen, up to 35W of power, the largest battery in its class, and stunning colour options. The square form factor feels familiar if you've been on boxy disposables, and the tech inside is significantly more advanced than anything a disposable can offer. This is the device for someone who wants to make refillables their permanent setup and doesn't want to compromise on experience.

Nicotine Strength — The Hidden Advantage of Refillables

Almost every disposable on the Canadian market is locked at 20mg/mL nicotine — that's the maximum Health Canada allows. You have no choice in the matter.

With a refillable and bottled e-juice, the world opens up: 0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 12mg, and 20mg are all available. This matters for two reasons:

First, if you're using vaping as a tool to reduce nicotine dependence, refillables give you a clear pathway — start at 20mg and gradually step down to 12, then 6, then 3, then 0. Disposables can't do that.

Second, if you find 20mg too intense for casual vaping, a 6mg or 12mg e-juice in a refillable gives you a smoother, lighter experience that you simply can't get from a disposable.

Neil's Take — The Straight Answer

Here it is, no BS:

Want to save money long-term? Get the refillable. A Caliburn G5 Lite at $19.99 plus a bottle of Flavour Beast Salt Nic at $27.99 gets you started for under $50 — and from that point on you're spending roughly $32.99 a month on juice plus a coil replacement. That's it. Device lasts years, coils last weeks, juice lasts days to a week depending on how much you vape.

Just need it for the weekend, a trip, or you're testing vaping out for the first time? Grab the disposable. No setup, no learning curve, no maintenance. Open it, vape, done. The Fog Formula 1600 at $20 is perfect for that.

Already on disposables regularly and not ready to fully switch? Move up to the STLTH x Geek Bar 80K or Frutti Bar 35K and at least get better value per puff while you figure out your next move.

The bottom line — disposables are you paying for convenience. Refillables are you paying for value. Both are legitimate choices depending on where you are. We carry everything you need for either path.

Come into our Delta store or reach out — we'll walk you through it in person and put the right device in your hands.

Shop All Disposables →  |  Shop Starter Kits & Refillables →

— Neil Singh, Futuristic Vapes
Established 2015 · Delta, BC · Same-day local delivery across the Lower Mainland