Vaping is harder some countries than others. Looking up ‘JUUL’ on Google will lead you to a few sites to order vape products, a few Reddit threads, and several articles outlining the current vaping climate.
I’ll save you some time and tell you that nothing’s really changed. If you want to get your hands on a pod device, you’re going to have to order it from an online retailer.
That said, there are a multitude of places you can order vapes from.
Looking for a JUUL Shipped to Australia?
What is JUUL
What is the JUUL? In short, this type of vape is a device that uses replaceable cartridges to meet your daily needs.
It’s a slim, low profile vape that you can carry around your pocket like a pack of gum.
These all in one systems are designed to be used by people looking for an easy way to stealth vape.
Marketed towards former smokers looking to switch to a new product, these USB chargeable devices are quickly becoming a favorite among new vapers.
How does JUUL Work?
The main device is basically a miniaturised box mod. It holds all the necessary components you need to send a current into a JUUL pod.
Inside these cartridges you’ll find a small coil, a wick, and juice.
All you need to work this vape is to charge it, pick your favourite flavoured pod, pop that sucker on, and you’ve got a day device with enough e-juice that it’s comparable to a pack of cigarettes.
JUUL Australia Starter Kit
While sourcing a JUUL sounds like a difficult prospect, the reality is that you have plenty of options if you’re looking to purchase one of these pod vapes.
Let’s break it down further and check out what the company offers.
Basic Kit
This version of the product comes with the following.
- Rechargeable JUUL device
- USB Charging Dock
- A one year limited warranty
The basic kit may appeal to those who have decided to use 3rd-party compatible pods or will use a refillable pod that can be filled with any brand of e-liquids.
Starter Kit with Pods
This version of the kit is going to cost a little more cash, but it comes with four JUUL pods in addition to everything you’d get with the basic kit.
The flavours you’ll end up with are ‘Virginia Tobacco, Mint, Mango, and Creme’.
It’s not great if you’re not a fan of these flavours, but I’d highly recommend this setup for entry level vapers just switching from smoking.
This basic set of flavours will introduce you to some of the more common flavours on the market.
JUUL Pod Flavours
Beyond coming in eight different flavours, JUUL pods also come in nicotine strengths of 3% and 5%. Fresh cartridges also come in either packs of two or four.
Below is the full list of flavours you can purchase directly from JUUL’s website.
- Virginia Tobacco
- Mint
- Mango
- Cucumber
- Menthol
- Fruit
- Creme
- Classic Tobacco
There’s also a mixed pack offered only at 5% nicotine strength, but the flavours are the same thing you’d get from the starter kit.
>>>JUUL Australia Related : Best JUUL compatible Pods for 2020
The Advantages of JUUL
Let’s start this off by saying just how convenient a pod device is.
If you’re the type who vapes more than a pack worth of nicotine a day? Just carry extra pods and you’re set.
Replacing cartridges is an incredibly easy process with none of the fuss you’d normally have with rebuildables or even sub ohm devices.
You don’t have to top off your tank, prime your coils, check airflow, wattage, or take any preparatory steps at all. Just pop in a pod and start vaping.
If you’re worried about battery life, you don’t have to worry too much about it if a pod a day is enough to meet your nicotine needs.
A full charge equals about the 200 or so draws you’ll get out of a pod, and if that’s not good enough, these devices are cheap enough that you can buy a JUUL without breaking the bank.
Or, you know, carry the dock with you and a portable power bank in an empty pocket.
Another positive is just how stealthy these little vapes are. You could easily mistake a JUUL as a flash drive from a distance, and the vapour produced by a JUUL is fairly minuscule.
If you need to take a quick pull in an empty bathroom, you can be in an out of a stall after a few draws with no one the wiser.
If you’re trying to be a bonafide ninja, you can even use the environment to mask the minute sound this device makes and hold the vapour in your lungs.
In about 15 or 20 seconds, there’ll be so little vapour left that whatever is exhaled will invisibly melt into the air by the time you finish blinking.
The Disadvantages of JUUL
A Juul is a great entry level vaping device, but it does have its fair share of weaknesses.
The first downside is cost regarding both the pods themselves as well as shipping fees.
The inability to purchase e-juice in Australia also applies to pods, and sadly, there’s no option to buy cartridges in bulk.
Regardless, most vapers are going to go through a pod a day, so you can see why this method of vaping is going to get fairly expensive.
And while I won’t say that you can’t refill a used cartridge, I’m not going to recommend that you do so.
I’m fairly certain that path leads to a voided warranty, loss of flavour, further decreased vapour production, leakage, and possible safety hazards.
And speaking of vapour, you won’t be cloud chasing anytime soon. The tiny size of the wick, low power, and lack of airflow options, cripples any potential this device has in making huge clouds.
If you’re just starting up with vaping, a JUUL is a great place to begin, but it isn’t the best option for vapers looking for a powerful mod.
Where to Purchase JUUL in Australia?
The problem with buying JUUL devices in Australia relates to the pods being sold.
Namely, they contain nicotine and that automatically makes JUUL Labs’ products a Schedule 7 poison.
With how these devices are marketed towards former smokers and without the option for non-nicotine e-liquid, there’d be no point selling these devices directly in Australia.
If you want to try out this pod device, you’re going to have to rely on the online market to get your fix.
Fortunately, it’s easy enough to Google potential sellers in just a few seconds. Another bonus is that your e-juice probably won’t get grabbed at customs.
Make sure to have your nicotine prescription just in case, but you’re allowed to import 3 months’ worth of e-juice per order, with a maximum of 15 months’ supply in a year.
POD Vape
If you’re looking for something similar to a JUUL device that won’t break your bank, I do have a few alternative vape pods that you can look over.
The best part of these following vapes and why they won’t end up beggaring your savings?
Each of these devices uses a refillable cartridge.
Compare Pod Vapes
| Visit Website | Remarks | Battery Size | Capacity | Open/Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JUUL | It's the Juul! | 200 mAh | 0.7mL Capacity | Closed |
| Uwell Caliburn | Best refillable pod vape | 550 mAh | 2mL Capacity | Open |
| Smok Nord | Big Pods + big battery | 1100 mAh | 3mL Capacity | Open |
| Innokin EQ | Flavour + throat hit | 800 mAh | 2mL Capacity | Open |
| Lost Vape Orion | Premium device | 950 mAh | 3mL Capacity | Open |
| Suorin Drop | Good all-rounder | 310 mAh | 2mL Capacity | Open |
| BO Vaping BO One | Just like the JUUL | 380 mAh | 1.5mL Capacity | Closed |
#1 - Uwell Caliburn Pod Vape
PRO’S
- Very simple to use
- 2ml pods are easy to fill
Amazing flavour - Good cloud production
- Good airflow
- Small and thin profile
- Pods are magnetized to the body
- Battery can charge outside the device
- Includes several device protections
CON’S
- Difficulty handling thicker e-juice
- Coils can’t be changed
One of the more well known pod vapes on the market, the CALIBURN might seem a little small to be named after King Arthur’s legendary sword in the stone, but it’s one hell of a machine.
It uses a proprietary flavour technology, called Pro-FOCS, to soothingly apply the full taste of your chosen e-juice on the tip of your tongue.
I found myself enjoying the dual fire option. Being able to pick between an automatic draw or button fired activation is quite nice.
I had a great time carrying around this vape, it’s so unobtrusive that I’d completely forgotten it was in my pocket multiple times throughout the day.
I had to check several times to make sure it was still there, but whatever minute panic I felt was eased away by the calming and thick vapor produced by this small powerhouse.
It’s not comparable to what you’d get out of a dripper, but the clouds you can make with the CALIBURN isn’t anything to sneeze at.
Another aspect of the design I find great is that the pod itself acts as the mouthpiece.
Better yet, the pods are easily refillable.
Enough so that I didn’t feel the need to carry around extra pods when a small e-juice bottle did the job well enough.
The battery is also powerful enough that you can vape for a few hours without having to worry about charging it up.
I did have one issue with this device, however. It tends to hiss and spit with sweeter juices.
You’d probably get the same problem with an e-liquid mixture that uses a higher PG concentration due to the thickness.
#2 - SMOK Nord
PRO’S
- Great taste and cloud production
- Especially with mesh coils
- 3ml pods are bigger than the competitors
- Long lasting battery
- Battery LED indicator
- Multiple device protections
- Proprietary magnetized connection to base
- Automatically adjusts power based on coil type
- Comes with two coils
- Can swap coils without tossing the pod
- Easy to use and operate
- Pods are easy to refill
- Inexpensive
CON’S
- Slightly bulkier than other pod vapes
- Can’t manually adjust wattage
- Not enough power for MTL with mesh
While on the fatter side compared to its competitors, the extra heft of the Nord comes with big pods and a bigger battery.
This upgraded design of the Novo also uses pods with bigger windows, easily allowing you to gauge how much e-juice you have left.
I loved carrying this vape around.
The batteries are powerful enough that I didn’t have to worry about charging it throughout the day, and the extra 1ml worth of juice it holds meant I didn’t actually need the second pod I brought with me.
Most of the time, anyway. As long as you’re aware of how much juice you got left, it’s easy to ‘ration’ out the number and length of your draws for a full day of vaping.
It got to the point where I’d forget to refill a pod, but stopped worrying about it after realising that 3ml lasts for most, if not all, of my usual work day.
And don’t even get me started on how this machine can use both standard and mesh coils. Being a huge fan of mesh, I had to give it a try. With the level of cloud production and taste mesh is known for, I found myself pleasantly unsurprised at the high quality of both categories.
What’s great about this device is how awesome it is for entry level vapers. Being able to use three different types of coils, the Nord starts is an excellent starting point to begin researching RBAs, or rebuildable atomisers.
Now the coils themselves are a proprietary design, so replacing them isn’t difficult. But it makes you wonder what else you can do with a bigger box mod.
#3 - Innokin EQ Pod Mod
PRO’S
- Top tier flavour for pods
- Powerful throat hit
- Adjustable wattage
- Uses mesh coils
- Long coil life
- Small and unassuming
- Nicotine hits hard
- Works great with e-salt
- Pretty good MTL draw
- Inexpensive
CON’S
- Battery life is an issue
- Heavy juice drain
- Non-replaceable coils
- A bit of a chore to refill
This adorable design from Innokin brings with it the one function the previous entrant of the list was lacking.
The ability to manually adjust the wattage being fed into the coils.
This ‘boost’ mode allows for you to get masterfully close to a true MTL style of vaping.
With the capability of swapping between 13.5 and 15.5, you’ll get to choose the type of draw you want to go for.
And it’s incredibly easy to do with only one button on the device. Just turn it off, hold down the firing button, and wait for it to change colours to the mode you want. Then turn it back on and get to vaping!
I’m incredibly impressed at this level of customisation afforded by a pod vape of all things. Sure, two watts doesn’t sound like much, but you’ll notice the difference in flavour, vapour production, and the feeling you get when breathing in vapourised e-juice.
About the only issue I have with this device is that the coils are integrated into the pods.
Some of you might also not appreciate the stronger nicotine hit in the boost mode, but that’s easily adjustable.
#4 - Lost Vape Orion DNA GO
PRO’S
- Easy to Refill
- Pods snap on and off easily
- Mouth to lung or Direct to lung
- Stealthy and discreet
CON’S
- Premium device means premium price
If you are looking for a top of the line vape pod the Lost Vape Orion DNA GO is the perfect choice.
Easy enough for beginners to use the Orion also sports a range of features that you can tinker with to find the perfect draw to suit your personal taste.
The device very solid, yet lightweight and looks very cool – think mini walky-talky. The premium alloy shell with carbon fiber panels on the Orion have excellent grip and the whole device feels quality.
The combination a EVOLV DNA chip and the Escribe software is a first in a pod device.
I trialed this device for over 2 months (it was my daily vape before the Caliburn was released) and it never let me down. In fact I hardly touch my main mod, as this pod is so versatile.
#5 Suorin - Drop
PRO’S
- Leak-resistant, Refillable pods
- Tight draw mimics smoking
- Stealthy and discreet
CON’S
- No Airflow Control
The Suorin Drop is an interestingly designed pod vape. So interesting that SMOK decided to copy its quirky profile.
The Suorin Drop has a battery capacity of 300mah, good for half a day of vaping. If you plan to use this as a main device, be sure to bring your charger, or you can get multiple Suorin Drops if you so wish.
The Suorin Drop comes in a variety of colors – black, tiffany blue, yellow, brushed gunmetal, and red. Perfect for those who want their devices to match their personalities.
It is quite thin, measuring at just 12mm and stands at about 12mm, easily pocket-able. Good thing it doesn’t leak easily.
Performance-wise, the Drop vapes fantastic. It’s aimed at MTL users so don’t expect to chase clouds here. Flavor it top-notch as well, something many other pod vapes can’t manage.
However, the Drop often misfires on me. Whether it’s a one-off with my unit, I’m not sure, but overall it’s a nice, interesting device that performs great when it works.
PRO’S
- Longer battery life
- Ergonomic design feels good
- Plug and Play pre-filled nicotine-salt pods
CON’S
- Closed pod system is hackable, but not made easy
At first glance, you will notice how the BO One from BO Vaping looks a lot like a JUUL.
But unlike the JUUL, the BO One offers more accessories and has a wider range of flavors available. Pods are not refillable though, which can be a deal breaker for some.
The BO One comes with a magnetic USB charger, though you can purchase a portable charging station with 1500mAh of power, good for about three to four recharges.
It costs extra but the BO Power charging station is worth it especially if you plan on making the BO One as your all-day vape device.
Pods are equipped with Fiber Freaks wicks, ensuring you don’t get any wicking issues. Switching pods is very easy, literally plug-and-play. You don’t get leaks too, which is a huge plus.
The BO One has a loose MTL draw to it, though don’t expect to chuck clouds here.
Overall, the BO One is an elegant solution to your search for a nice JUUL alternative.
Lung hits are still possible, though with a restricted airflow.
PRO’S
- Adjustable airflow (MTL to restricted lung hit)
- Good battery life
- Leak free refillable pods
CON’S
- Long(ish) charge time
The new Aspire Breeze 2 addresses everything that limited the success of the original.
It now has a much improved refillable pod system, and it looks better too.
The battery is now 1000mAh, which for a device this small, is more than enough to last a day of vaping.
Pods are easily detached with a new release function and can be filled with up to 3ml of eliquid.
The Breeze 2 still uses the same U-tech coils as the original, though it can now offer a true MTL experience.
Lung hits are still possible, though with a restricted airflow.
PRO’S
- Good flavour and a solid throat hit
- Attractive, sleek design
- Great For Beginners
CON’S
- Finger print magnet
At first glance, you might mistake the SMOK Rolo Badge with the Suorin Drop, another pod vape device with the same spade-like shape.
However, where the Suorin Drop lets you vape on the pointed end, the Rolo Badge is inverted, the drip tip is on the wide end.
The Rolo Badge is a well-made piece of tech, made of zinc-alloy and weighs a fair bit (about 70 grams).
Refilling is easy if you have a needle-tip bottle, and the pods are magnetic, so you won’t get any satisfying clicks here.
The device offers a true MTL draw, though it’s a bit looser than others. Still, it works great and should appease many MTL vapers.
PRO’S
- No leaking or bad-tasting puffs
- Powerful internal battery
- Quality design
CON’S
- No pass-through charging
A more traditional copy of the JUUL, the Kandypens RUBI manages to one-up the original by offering refillable pods.
Shaped like the JUUL but powered by a slightly larger battery, the RUBI is one of the best alternatives to the JUUL.
Its vapor production is impressive for its size, flavour is nothing to sneeze at, and leaks and spitbacks are virtually non-existent.
However, the device is far from perfect. It doesn’t support pass-through charging, which can be a deal breaker for some, and with the way it’s designed, you have no way of knowing the eliquid level.
You can top off often to ensure you don’t run out of e-juice in the middle of a drive or walk, but this oversight can be a hassle.
However, despite the drawbacks, the Kandypens RUBI remains as one of the best pod vapes in Australia. And about the battery? It comes with a lifetime warranty.
PRO’S
- On/Off switch can save battery life
- slim credit card design
- Well made, with no leaks
CON’S
- No Airflow Control
Another pod vape device that doesn’t follow the pen style mold is the Suorin Air Kit.
Just about the size of a credit card, it still manages to be portable and works as a stealthy option for those used to big, bulky mods.
The design is similar to a smart phone, making it sleek and elegant. The colour choices all look great as well, giving the device a classy look.
Inside, a 400mAh battery powers the kit, double the capacity of the JUUL. It vapes at a constant 16 watts of power, which is another plus, and the throat hit is great.
The kit can hold up to 2ml of e-juice and has a 1.2ohm coil, perfect for a MTL vape.
If you are looking for a direct lung hit, this might work only if you like a restricted hit.
Cartridges are refillable as well, making the Air Kit a more consumer friendly device than the JUUL.
Though battery life may not last you the whole day, the Suorin Air Kit’s size and practicality more than makes up for it. Definitely worth a look if you are on the market for a pod vape.
My Favourite Pod Vape of the Bunch
I have to admit, this was a tough one. Each one of these vapes did me solid as a daytime carry option. And while each had their pros and cons, there is pod vape of the three that is a solid winner.
The SMOK Nord wins this one.
My most important criteria is that the device in question had to fulfill the requirements the JUUL was designed to fill.
It needed to be easy to carry, simple to use, and most importantly, provide an entry level substitute to smoking without being a chore to learn.
The Nord beats out all the others due to its larger e-liquid capacity and battery life.
While all the vapes on this list are super simple to use, the one thing former smokers worry most often about, is whether or not a vape is going to last through the day.
The device by SMOK has more than enough battery life to last for a full day of use, and the juice contained in a single pod is enough for most former smokers who are getting their feet wet.
There’s even just enough e-liquid that while you’ll have enough to get through the day, it’s easy to cut down on your nicotine intake when you start factoring in the limited juice capacity.
Pod Vapes Buying Guide
What is a pod vape?
Now we know that we cannot yet buy the juul in Australia, but lets look first at what exactly the alternatives in size and design actually offer.
In essence, a pod vape is a step higher than a cig-a-like, and a step lower than your VW box mod.
It’s usually shaped like a vape pen, though there some shaped like a small box mod, a badge, and even a credit card. It offers much more versatility and customisation than a vape pen however.
What sets pod vapes apart from the usual starter mods is that instead of a drip atomizer or tank, pod vapes use e-juice pods (hence the name).
These are small tanks with a coil built-in, that can be replaced as easily as plugging in a USB drive. Some pods are pre-filled, though there are some that can be refilled with your e-juice flavour of choice.
Refillable vs pre-filled pod systems
As mentioned, there are two types of pods available for use in pod vapes – refillable and pre-filled.
Refillable systems use pods that come empty and users can fill it with any e-juice they so desire.
These can refilled as long as the coil holds up. The only time you’ll need to replace it is when the coil burns out or if it cracks.
While refillable pods are not marketed as rebuildable, there are some industrious vapers who find ways. It’s not easy, but if you don’t want to spend too much on refillable pods, you can always rebuild it.
As for pre-filled systems, these are pre-filled by the manufacturer. They come in various flavours, though these are usually limited.
Designed to be used once then thrown away, pre-filled pods are for those who don’t want to bother with refilling, and by extension the leaks and mess that come with it.
Pre-filled pods can be swapped out anytime, enabling you to change flavors on the fly.
You can do this with refillable pods too of course, unlike tanks where one has to empty out the e-juice and fill it with a new one. Not to mention having to replace the wick to get rid of the old flavour.
Who should use pod vapes?
Pod vapes are perfect for users who don’t want to fiddle around with coils and wicks, don’t want to bring around huge mods, and usually, those who prefer high nicotine e-liquid.
A high nic content sacrifices clouds for a satisfying throat hit.
Australian vapers who only care about their nicotine fix and don’t care much for clouds or rebuilding should check out pod vapes.
The only maintenance you need for these devices is to charge them regularly, clean them, and to refill (if using refillable pods).
Benefits of pod vapes
- Stealthy
- Easily transportable
- Resistant to leaks
- Easy to use
- No rebuilding of coils
- No rewicking needed
- Can swap out flavours on the fly
Downsides of pod vapes
- You can’t customise your vape
- Cloud chasing is impossible
- Heavy vapers need to recharge constantly
Nicotine Salt E-Juices : Best for Pod Vapes
All of the above are refillable so you can just fill it up with your e-liquid and you are good to go.
However, pod devices tend to lessen the throat hit if compared with regular mods and atomisers. That said, to get the most out of your pod device, using nicotine salt e-liquid is the best.
Stronger throat hit when used with regular mods, but when coupled with pod devices, the throat hit is just perfect.
JUUL uses a 5% concentration of nicotine salts and it is best to start there.
Australian Juul Users Advice
If you find the hit to be too harsh, you can go for a lower percentage.
I you find it too weak, gradually up the concentration of the nic salts til you find the best hit for you.
All the pod devices above are compatible with nicotine salts and in fact, work best with it. Whatever you choose, all it boils down is what feels right to you.