Box mods are the largest and most powerful types of vapes on the market. They’re usually shaped like small boxes and are typically around the same size as cigarette packs, which is why the term “box” is used to describe them. A box mod will often have two removable batteries, allowing it to reach power levels as high as 200 watts. Box mods with built-in batteries are also available, and those usually operate at somewhat lower power levels.
If you’re a long-term vaper and want to step up from disposable vapes or a small pod system and start using something a bit more powerful, there’s a good chance that a box mod might be the right choice for you. The best box mods are some of the most luxurious, most durable and most fun vapes that you can buy today.
Before you jump in and buy a box mod, though, it’s important for you to understand that using a mod may change your vaping experience significantly. In this guide, we’ll explain how you can expect your experience to change and why you might – or might not – want to buy a box mod.
First, though, how did box mods come about in the first place? As you’re about to learn, that’s actually a pretty interesting story.
How Were the First Box Mods Invented?
Today, all of the world’s box mods are mass-produced in factories. That, however, wasn’t always the case. The earliest mass-produced vaping devices were very small and usually looked like tobacco cigarettes or ballpoint pens. Although those small vapes basically did the job, there were some people who weren’t fully satisfied by the experience and wanted devices that could offer bigger clouds and longer battery life. Something with a bigger battery cell, they reasoned, would offer more stable voltage and could accomplish those things. That’s how the first mods came about.
In the early years of vaping, the term “mod” actually referred to some other item that was modified to become a vaping device. Some of the earliest mods were made from flashlight tubes. Others were made from wood or metal boxes that people built or machined themselves. In other words, the first box mods were actually home-made items that people produced on their own.
By the mid-2010s, though, the vape manufacturers in China were aware of the demand for larger vaping devices and had begun to make mass-produced box mods. Before long, the products were far superior to anything that people could make by hand, and the market for boutique vape mods faded away.
Why Should You Want to Buy a Box Mod?
In many ways, box mods are objectively the best vaping devices on the market. That doesn’t necessarily mean, though, that they’re the best for you. These are the reasons why you might want to buy a box mod.
Power
You want the most power that a vaping device can possibly deliver. A dual-battery box mod can typically operate at up to 200 watts and even higher, which is exactly what you need if you build your own high-end coils of use a demanding sub-ohm vape tank.
Battery Life
You want the most battery life. A dual-battery vape mod might have a total battery capacity of around 4,000-6,000 mAh, and you’ll need that much power if you’re going to use a device that operates at a high wattage. Some people also use vape mods with less demanding tanks that operate at lower wattages, and in that case, you may find that you can go days without charging your device.
Big Clouds and Big Flavor
You want the biggest clouds and boldest flavors. If you use a high-end box mod with a good sub-ohm tank, you can literally fill a room with clouds – and when you’re using that much e-liquid with each puff, the flavor can be truly amazing.
Luxury Touches
You want a vaping device that feels like a true luxury product. A good box mod may have all sorts of luxurious features like gold-plated connectors, wood or leather paneling, a large full-color display and water resistance.
Advanced Features
You want to experience the most advanced features that the vaping industry has developed. A good box mod will have features like smart coil recognition and automatic temperature limiting. It may even give you the ability to create your own power curve that customizes your device’s wattage delivery.
These Are the Things You Need to Know Before Buying a Box Mod
Although box mods definitely have the most advanced features of any vaping device, you’ve certainly noticed that not everyone uses that type of device. These days, in fact, the majority of the people who vape use smaller devices like disposable vapes. So, it’s clear that box mods aren’t necessarily the right devices for all vapers. Why might a box mod not be the right device for you? These are the things that you need to know before you buy your next vape.
Different Inhaling Style
Vape mods usually include sub-ohm tanks, and using a sub-ohm tank will mean that you’ll need to change your inhaling style compared to what you’re doing now. Small vaping devices like pod systems and disposable vapes are designed for the mouth-to-lung (MTL) inhaling style, which is the same way that you inhale when smoking a cigarette. Sub-ohm tanks, on the other hand, are designed for direct-to-lung (DTL) inhaling. That’s how they produce such enormous clouds. If you want big clouds and bold flavors, you’ll need to get used to the DTL inhaling style. If you want vaping to feel like smoking, though, you’ll want to stick with the MTL inhaling style. You can use a box mod with a MTL vape tank, but there aren’t many of those on the market today.
Little Throat Hit
When you use the DTL inhaling style, you’ll inhale a very large amount of vape juice each time you puff on your device and will need to use e-liquid with a lower nicotine strength to compensate. The most common nicotine strength used with sub-ohm vape tanks is 3 mg/ml. You don’t need to worry that you won’t find the experience satisfying because the big clouds will make up for the lower nicotine strength. When you use a sub-ohm vape tank, though, you experience little to no throat hit. If flavor is the most important aspect of vaping for you, you’ll probably love using a box mod. If throat hit is more important, though, you may want to continue using a smaller device.
Larger and Heavier Hardware
It’s also important to understand that if you’re currently using disposable vapes or a pod system, a box mod will be significantly larger and heavier than the device you’re using now. In fact, box mods are the largest vaping devices on the market. You will still be able to fit your device in your pocket if you really want to, but it won’t be as easy to carry as the device you currently use.
Higher Ongoing Costs
Another thing to keep in mind is that buying a vape mod will probably mean that you’ll pay higher ongoing costs to vape than you do now. That’s because you’ll probably need to buy vape coils more often than you currently do – especially if you enjoy using sweet e-liquids. Sweeteners cause coils to burn out more quickly, and the more vape juice you use, the faster the process will be. Some people who use vape mods replace their coils every couple of days.
Higher Complexity
In order to have a good experience with a vape mod, you really need to enjoy gadgets. Using a box mod means that you’ll have to learn how to use your device’s menu system. It also means that you’ll need to perform periodic maintenance tasks like replacing your coil and cleaning your tank. If you don’t enjoy learning how to take care of gadgets, a box mod may not be the right vaping device for you.
How Do Box Mods Compare to Pod Mods?
A pod mod is essentially a cross between a box mod and a pod system. Like a pod system, a pod mod uses a plastic pod rather than a glass tank for e-liquid storage. Like a box mod, though, a pod mod has the ability to operate at higher wattages. With a pod mod, you can enjoy the convenience and sleek design of a pod system and the higher vapor production of a box mod. One downside of pod mods, though, is that they generally don’t have the ability to accept 510-threaded attachments and therefore won’t work with third-party tanks like a box mod can. However, many pod mods do have several coil options to provide some flexibility.
Wrapping Up
Reading this article, we hope we’ve helped you understand what box mods are and whether you should consider buying one. As you’ve learned, box mods are the most advanced vaping device on the market. They’re high-end products that are powerful and very luxurious. The one thing a box mod isn’t designed to do, though, is provide a vaping experience that feels like smoking a cigarette. If you prefer simplicity and throat hit, you might be happier if you stick with the type of vaping device that you’re using now.