What to Look for When Buying Plant-Based Vapes (Key Factors)

Plant-based vapes are certainly having a moment. They're emerging as one of the go-to options for people looking for a cleaner vaping experience and an alternative to nicotine vapes. However, it can be hard to determine what to look for when buying plant-based vapes.

With so many products flooding the market, how do you choose the right vape for you? That's why we're here! Below, we examine five critical factors to consider when selecting plant-based vapes. Let's dive in.

What are important factors to consider when buying plant-based vapes?

Ingredient Quality & Transparency

When it comes to plant-based vapes — or any vape — the quality of ingredients and their source are among the most important factors to consider. Think of it like you would with food.

You can choose highly processed products filled with a bunch of artificial junk ingredients that are bad for you. These are often derived from genetically modified organisms, packed with artificial colors and flavors, and contain unhealthy amounts of problematic ingredients.

Or you can choose cleaner food — food with natural ingredients whose names you can pronounce.

Vapes aren't food, but the considerations are similar. You're starting on the right foot if you can find a plant-based vape juice derived from organic, non-GMO ingredients — like the juice in our ARRØ devices.

Organic production methods ensure that manufacturers don’t use ingredients that are treated with synthetic pesticides or herbicides. Going organic massively reduces your chance of inhaling harmful chemicals or residues.

There isn't as much evidence that GMOs are specifically harmful to your health. Still, most people would prefer not to be exposed to plant and animal products with genetic makeups that have been artificially altered.

You also want to look for transparency from the manufacturer regarding where its ingredients come from.

A manufacturer that is open and forthcoming about where the plants used to produce its vape juice are grown, how they’re harvested, and the methods used to process them is more trustworthy than one that tries to hide those details from users.

Flavor Profiles

Taste could be factor number one since you're not likely to use a vape if you don't like the flavors it delivers. But we're putting it at number two because safety — specifically, not exposing yourself to many artificial ingredients — takes precedence in our book.

When it comes to the flavor profiles of nicotine-free plant-based vapes, you're likely going to be choosing from options that use a variety of herbs and other botanicals to create unique flavor combinations.

Many manufacturers draw on well-known plants, like peppermint, lavender, or chamomile, to give their products appealing flavor profiles. Others might add various fruit essences to the mix.

Suppose these flavors are derived from truly natural ingredients. In that case, you can expect a much cleaner taste than you’ll ever get from vapes that rely on artificial chemical compounds to try and mimic nature's flavors.

There's almost no limit to the number of combinations you have to choose from, although there are common ingredients that many manufacturers will rely on. We mention a few of these compounds above.

Manufacturers will also combine herbs and plants that complement each other in terms of functionality or flavor.

For example, you might find a blend designed to promote a sense of calm. Such a blend could include ingredients like chamomile, passion flower, and lemon balm, all of which complement each other’s flavors and deliver synergistic effects.

The same can be said for herbs intended to give you energy. A blend for this target might contain ingredients like peppermint, ginseng, and citrus.

These are just a couple of examples, and you'll no doubt encounter dozens of other flavor combinations as you shop around for the ones that are right for you.

Ultimately, there's no getting around the fact that choosing flavors you enjoy will eventually come down to trial and error.

You can, of course, avoid flavors that you know you don't like. However, because each manufacturer tends to put its spin on even familiar ingredients, you may find some variability from one vape to the next, even if the flavor listed on the label is the same.

Price

Most people are going to be at least mildly concerned about price. Admittedly, you're not likely to find the same price variability among non-nicotine vapes as you might in other markets. However, there can still be a significant difference in the prices of these devices.

Remember that cheaper isn't always better. If a vape is more inexpensive than other options because the manufacturer is using subpar ingredients — or the device itself isn't very reliable — then saving a few bucks now could cost you more money in the long run.

That being said, it’s relatively easy to get an idea of any particular vape’s relative value just by doing simple arithmetic.

Most manufacturers will estimate the number of puffs you can expect from each device they make. That total might be as little as a few hundred puffs for disposable vape pens or tens of thousands of puffs for devices that have larger vape juice reservoirs.

To get a rough idea of what a vape will cost you to use, you can divide the price of the vape by the estimated number of puffs to get a metric known as the “per puff price.”

From there, you can estimate your usage pattern, how much each puff will cost you, and then, by extension, how much the vape will likely cost you over any regular day or week.

This number is just an estimate, but when you're comparing two vapes with similar price points, it can give you a good idea of which device offers the better value.

Brand Reputation

This consideration might fly under the radar, particularly if you're in a bind and trying to choose between a limited number of options in a convenience store or gas station.

However, if you’re given the opportunity to reflect on them, brand reputation and a company’s history should play a significant role in your selection process.

Customer reviews can give some real-world insight into how any individual vape is likely to perform and the satisfaction you're likely to derive from it. But rather than focusing on any one reviewer’s particular experience, look for patterns in the reviews that you read.

Do lots of people complain about flavors that are too pronounced? Or that don't “pop?” Do users continually praise the long lifespan of the vape? Or do they complain about shoddy construction and being shortchanged regarding how much e-juice the device contains?

These factors can give you some insight into the care the manufacturer puts into its vapes.

Also, do some research and look into third-party reviews. Third parties generally won’t review vapes that aren't gaining some traction in the marketplace, so the mere fact that third-party reviews exist for any particular product is a good sign.

Many vape experts and bloggers make a point of in-depth discussions of various vape brands. These reviews can offer more insight into a vape’s quality than random reviews on a manufacturer’s website.

Finally, pay attention to the amount of education a brand offers.

Does the manufacturer include plenty of details on where its ingredients are sourced and what those ingredients do? Is there information on the company’s history and manufacturing process?

Examine how the question “Are plant-based vapes safe?” is answered in the brand’s literature — if safety is addressed at all. Also, check for certifications from third-party labs and other hard science backing up any health and safety claims.

The more education a brand provides, the more comfortable you should feel that care is being put into its vapes.

Device Design

As when picking a flavor profile, personal preference will play a significant role in how device design affects your vape choices.

Because plant-based vapes come in many forms — everything from disposable vape pens up to reusable box mods — you have lots of choices when it comes to design.

There are pros and cons to each diffuser’s make and model. Disposable vape pens are thin, discreet, highly portable, and extremely easy to use, even for beginners. This combination makes them popular among people who prize the ability to take their vape with them wherever they go.

On the other end of the spectrum, you have box mods, which can offer many customization options. These appeal to more experienced users who prioritize flavor and the ability to customize their vaping experience over portability.

In the middle of the vaping spectrum, you’ll find standard pod systems that balance the disposable vape pen's simplicity and the box mod's performance and customization options.

Pod systems are reusable and generally use easy-to-replace vape juice cartridges. They're usually more compact than box mods but bulkier than disposable pens.

Knowing What to Look for When Buying Plant-Based Vapes

While the five factors we've discussed above certainly aren't the only ones you should consider, we think they're among the most important. Above all else, they should help you choose a vape that suits your lifestyle and vaping habits while satisfying your taste buds and protecting your wallet.

We know our ARRØ devices tick all the boxes and are one plant-based option you definitely need to try. The ARRØ lineup features an entire collection of plant-based vapes in a variety of flavors. Give them a try, and let us know how it goes!