Disposables vs. A Caliburn Vape

April 20, 2026

The question I get most these days is "What are you vaping?" That usually leads to flavour questions, and eventually the big one: "Why not disposables?"

Let's settle it. No sponsored angles, no outside influence. Just what I actually use every day and why.

The Cost of Vaping

I've been on Uwell Caliburns for years. Long enough to have cycled through most of the lineup, and long enough to have watched disposables take over the market without ever feeling the pull to follow. The first reason I never made the switch is simple: cost.

Quick note before the numbers - this is based on my actual usage not any one else. I'm more on the medium-high end of the usage scale. Sorry, Mom.

The comparison has always been the same. What does a disposable actually give me versus a bottle of juice? Let's use what's been leading the market for a while now as the reference point: the Flavour Beast Beast Mode Max 2. At $45.99 with 20mL of juice, the Max 2 gets me roughly 5-7 days of real-world use depending on how I vape and which firing mode I'm running. Fair to note, I can stretch it further by compromising stronger firing modes for eco mode and cutting back on usage, but on average I'd be empty within 5-7 days regardless. Either way, I'm looking at nearly $200 a month pre-tax, and that's with actively holding the device back from its full power.

My current setup requires no compromises. I run Flavourless STRKE Salts at $32.99 per 30mL bottle, which covers me for about 12-14 days. A pack of four Uwell GPP pods is $21.99 and lasts me close to 2 months without stretching the coil or being conservative. Keep in mind, I run flavourless so my coil longevity is extended. A heavy juice would reduce this time. I swear this isn't a promo, but honestly, shout out to Uwell for the GPP pods, nothing short of top tier. The device itself, the Caliburn G5 Lite, set me back $14.99. It paid for itself almost immediately.

In a normal month, my Caliburn setup runs me about $70-80 pre-tax. In a month where I need pods, I'm looking at $100 pre-tax.

This is the part people don't sit with until they've actually lived it. The upfront cost of a device feels like spending money; the constant ongoing cost of disposables just feels like routine. Add it up, and there's no version of the math where disposables win. Cost was the first reason I never made the switch, and it remains the most straightforward one.

My Opinion on What a Disposable Can't Give You

Beyond the savings, there are things I just can't get from a disposable. My biggest one is transparency. I started vaping in a time when the quality assurance of the juice mattered. ISO lab certification, lab reports, and ingredient disclosure all meant something.

It was important to know where your juice was made and who made it. To me, it still is.

All disposables are made and filled in China. There is no ISO certification, no lab reports, no disclosure on their juice. To me, it's essentially a guessing game on what I'm actually vaping. Brands that used to pride themselves on being manufactured or filled in Canada have abandoned ship, outsourcing their flavours to disposable producers overseas, while riding the trust they built before disposables.

Meanwhile, MOST (not all) Canadian manufacturers are keeping quality, disclosure, and transparency alive. The brand I vape is manufactured, filled, and sold out of Lindsay, Ontario by DVINE Labs. They're proactive about transparency - facility accreditation, full process transparency, right down to the equipment they use. If I contacted DVINE today, they could tell me exactly what's in the juice I vape, when it was made, and who made it. If I need something as simple as VG/PG ratio clarification, they provide it to an exact percentage.

This isn't a needle in a haystack situation either. There are multiple Canadian manufacturers pouring that same level of quality assurance into their craft across hundreds of vape juice brands.

That confidence in what you're actually vaping - it just doesn't exist with disposables.

The Quiet Truth

This one isn't about cost or what's in the juice. It's the part we all quietly ignore.

It's estimated that 844 million disposable devices are tossed globally per year. The volume of disposable vapes being thrown away every year is staggering, and the vast majority aren't being recycled. Be honest, have you ever recycled a disposable properly? 

The design discourages it 99% of the time - the battery is sealed inside, the components aren't meant to be separated, and most people don't think twice about where it ends up. The lithium doesn't just sit quietly in the ground either. Battery fires in UK waste facilities increased 71% in 2024, with over 1,200 fires recorded, many traced back to lithium batteries from disposables. The devices also contain lead and mercury that leach into soil and water over time. It's not great.

The Surfrider Foundation recorded a 150% increase in vapes collected during beach cleanups between 2021 and 2024. Not cigarette butts. Vapes.

I'm not here to lecture anyone. But when you're on a refillable setup, the footprint is fundamentally different. One device, used ongoing, versus a constant cycle of single-use plastic and lithium batteries hitting landfills. That matters to me, even if it's not the first reason I give when someone asks why I never switched. I try not to be preachy.

The environmental impact is real. I'd anticipate bans on disposables in the future, and it's hard to justify a counter-point given their current build state.

Why The Caliburn?

Taking everything that matters to me into account, the Caliburn series makes sense. It's low cost, high performance, reusable, and honestly, they just work. The lineup has expanded enough that the choice actually matters, so here's how I'd break it down for those curious.

Caliburn G5 Lite

$14.99

This is where I'd point most people first. This is my daily device. It sounds like the budget option and it is, but not in a way that compromises daily performance. A 1600mAh battery, 35W output, adjustable airflow, and GPP pod compatibility for flavour and coil longevity. The translucent shell with an LED that pulses with your draw is a nice touch that makes it feel more premium than the price suggests. If you want to make the switch from disposables without spending much, this is a no-brainer starting point.

Caliburn G4 Mini

$21.99 

This is for the person who wants something truly compact. Auto-draw only, 1100mAh battery, adjustable airflow slider. It's built for simplicity. PRO-FOCS and 2A Type-C charging round it out. This one is popular with people who've tried pod systems before and just want the format in as small a package as possible.

Caliburn G4

$39.99

This is what I'd call the full daily workhorse. It adds a firing button alongside draw activation, a colour screen, and Uwell's dual-mode system: Storm Mode for harder, more intense hits and Waves Mode for something smoother and more relaxed. The 1300mAh battery handles a full day without issue. This is the one I'd recommend to someone who wants a device they'll still be happy with a full device generation from now. It's got the longevity potential of the Caliburn G2, which is a huge compliment.

Caliburn G4 Pro

$43.99

A 2.51" touch screen, six UI options, and a Custom Mode that lets you fine-tune output at the start, middle, and end of your draw. It ships with both a 0.4ohm and 0.6ohm pod, and the 1800mAh battery is the strongest in the G4 family. If you're the type who actually wants to tune how your draw performs, not just set it and forget it, this is the one.

All four run GPP pods, so once you're in the ecosystem your ongoing costs stay simple and predictable.

End Rant

Cost, transparency, and environmental impact. Those are my three reasons I never switched to disposables and stuck with a Caliburn.

If disposables are your thing, that's genuinely fine. No judgment here. But if you've ever done the math and felt uneasy about it, wondered what's actually in the juice you're vaping, or just wanted a setup you feel good about long-term, the Caliburn with reputable vape juice is worth a serious look.

That's the setup, Folks.