Juul e-cig starterkit review - A Unique Closed System Pod Vape

We recently got our hands on a JUUL starterkit and we were pretty impressed with it performance. It's the main reason we wanted to review it and talk to you a bit about open and closed system vaporizers. Open system vaporizers are the usually products we review on a weekly basis. All in one kits, sub ohm tanks, RTAs, RDAs and even small clearomizers or vape pens. These are called open system because it allows the user to refill the reservoir with e-liquid and replace coil heads once they become obsolete.

JUUL a Closed System Vaporizer

Closed system vaporizers are electronic cigarettes that work with pods, or with sealed e-liquid containers that also incorporate the atomizer. In a broader sense it's something similar to the original two piece e-cigs and their cartomizers but with a big step into the future.

So is it worth purchasing a closed system vaporizer when open systems are so popular, affordable and relatively cheap on the long run?

Since we tested the JUUL e-cig from PAX Labs we can honestly say it's something definitely worth checking out, especially if you're a smoker. This tiny vape delivers one of the best smoke-like experiences, with excellent vapor production and a very strong throat hit. And because it's a closes system device it means you will never get your hands dirty or have to engage in complicated and messy refilling procedures. Absolutely no leaking, no dry hits and the same enjoyable taste with every single puff.

Beautifully packaged, futuristic aestetics

The JUUL e-cig from PAX Labs comes tightly packed in a beautiful white cardboard gift box and inside you will find several things. The JUUL automatic battery, a small USB magnetic charger, one multi JUULpod 4-pack, a user manual and a warranty card. The battery is rectangular, elongated and with a very futuristic design. It kind of reminds us of a pack of mechanical pencil leads in terms of shape and size and it feels very well balanced in the hand.

It is fitted with a small LED notification light, and this servers two purposes. The battery will show a white light each time you insert a functional pod inside and you can also double tap it at any time to see how much battery it has left. The light will show green when it's fully charged, yellow when it's half charged and red when it's time to plug it in. The USB charger is magnetic and the JUUL will automatically snap into place. It will keep the battery upright as it charges and the whole process never takes longer than 60 minutes.

Works with pre-filled pods

The pods slide easily inside the battery and once the white light blinks you're ready to puff. The first pods you get with the JUUL are to sample all the available flavors and after that you can order four packs $15.99. Since each pod is equivalent to a pack of cigarettes it's a pretty sweet deal. You can also use the Auto Ship subscription service feature to get the same quantity on a monthly basis with a 15% discount.

To be honest we didn't expect to get much flavor from a closed vape system but the JUUL e-cig from PAX Labs does a wonderful job. Everything from the dry tobacco to the "custardy crème brulee tastes delicious and the throat hit is phenomenal. This is probably due to the 5% nicotine concentration found inside each of the tiny 0.7ml pods and they are all rated for at least 200 puffs. The device activates itself automatically each time you take a pull and it's intended for mouth to lung use.

How to use the JUUL vape

The JUUL vape is one of the easiest to use and most straightforward e-cigarettes on the market right now. It is essentially a plug-and-vape type of device, where you just have to slide in the pod and it's ready to be enjoyed.

The best thing about this pod mod is that there is no e-liquid mixing, no burnt taste and no leaks. You can swap flavors in a matter of seconds by just replacing the pod with a new one. It is also very easy to recharge, as you plug the USB connector in any laptop, computer or wall adapter and it's ready in under an hour.

In order to get the best experience from your JUUL vape we recommend you unpack the Tobacco pod and slide inside the device until you see the LED light blink once. Then slowly inhale from the mouthpiece the same way you would from an actual cigarette.

The nicotine might feel strong at first, but it's something you can get accustomed to very fast. If you still find the 5% pods too powerful, there are 3% versions of the same nic salts flavors available on the company's website.

If Tobacco is just not your thing, then you can try the other three pods that come with the kit. To replace the pod just pull it out from the device and place it with another one. You don't have to worry about leaks since these pods are all airtight and won't spill e-liquid even if they are placed upside down or on their side.

Alternative pods, cheaper & compatible with JUUL

If you're looking for more flavors than the ones JUUL offers, there are some great alternatives. These cheaper compatible JUUL pods do not lack in quality or vapor production. We found that some even outperform the standard and limited prefilled Juul pods. Our advise is to try the pods that come in the JUUL Starterkit first to have a good idea of the vape quality you can expect. If you can't wait. You can go ahead with the tested alternatives like EON pods and Zipp Pods.

Performance and final thoughts

In terms of performance, the JUUL e-cig is not intended for direct lung users or cloud chasers. However, the amount of vapor is ideal for any smoker and the nicotine dose hits the spot just perfectly. Flavor wise, all the juices are surprisingly good and beginners will definitely love Virginia tobacco as well as Cool mint. The only small con is the modest battery life. But considering the recharge time of 1h and how easy it is to take the vape off its USB stand for a puff it's clearly not a deal breaker. All in all a perfect device for new vapers and especially for those who don't like to fiddle with replaceable atomizer heads, refillable reservoirs and dozens of settings. It's the ultimate puff and go type of vaporizer.

TIP: JUUL e-cig uses nicotine salts e-liquids inside their pods. This is the reason why it has a nicotine concentration of 5% per weight but the throat hit is similar to that of 12-18mg. If you want to know more about these types of e-liquids, how to use them and where you can find them, do check our full nic salts articles.

TIP: The JUUL is a great vape that belongs to a new kind of vapes. More of these so called pod vapes will be reviewed in the near future. Keep an eye on the top listed pod mods section on Ecigguide.com