If you haven't heard by now, earlier this month the federal Department of Health and Human Services announced a nationwide ban on virtually all pre-filled vape pods. The ban takes effect February 1, and will likely affect millions of users of closed-system vapor devices.

If that includes you, it's important to understand the changes coming to the market and plan now to be prepared for what comes next...

You may have heard horror stories circulating on the internet reporting on the dangers of exploding vape devices, many of them from seemingly credible sources. These can be understandably distressing, with accounts of burns suffered or houses catching on fire frequently part of the coverage.

Does this really happen? If so, is it a frequent enough occurrence that you should be worried? We've got some answers for you, and luckily the truth should help you relax a bit...

For many people, quitting smoking is part of a broader push to live a healthy lifestyle. That might include getting more active, or watching your diet to shed a few pounds.

That begs the question: with all of the sweet, indulgent vape treats on the market, is the dessert flavor in your tank sabotaging your effort to lose weight?

A flurry of sensational news coverage has resulted in a patchwork of laws that are likely to leave vapers confused as to their own legal status and ability to purchase tobacco alternatives.

Let’s take a look at what’s been going on, and address how it might affect your situation...

Experienced vapers will be familiar with iJoy, a manufacturer known for innovative products ranging from smaller pod systems like the IVPC to more advanced mod systems like the Diamond Mini or Shogun. Their latest offering is the Mercury 12 AIO Pod System, which we're going to take a look at today. 

The latest brand to challenge the Orion is Sense. Their Orbit TF Pod System is a companion to the base Orbit, which behaves more like a traditional pod and shares some key components. For this review, we’ll focus on the Orbit TF, because it adds extra features that we think make it a standout new offering. Let’s dive in!

When it comes to smaller pod systems, the Smok Novo Pod Mod is high on the list as one of the most accessible devices to use. It’s arguably an easier-to-use device than similar pod systems such as Aspire’s Breeze 2 or Smok’s Infinex because it relies on pre-filled pods that you can pick up and snap into place whenever your juice runs out.

We've long saluted efforts in Great Britain to move people away from smoking along with the use of vapor products as a helpful transition. We've recently learned that food banks are giving away e-cigarettes to smokers that frequent them, and we couldn't approve more. The English estimate that the average Briton smoker could save 70 pounds (about $90) every week by switching. That's a significant addition to a weekly food budget that could free low-income people from the need to visit food banks, benefits of vaping over smoking to one's health aside.

Summertime is upon us, which means it’s time to grab your swim trunks, head to the beach, and fill your tank with an extraordinary fruit vape: Ruby by Boho Vape. Pop on your ruby slippers and click them three times, then prepare for a world of tropical wonder.  

For a fresh, summertime fruity flavor, today we’re going to explore one of the juiciest flavors from Humble Juice Co, Berry Blow Doe e-liquid. Humble is one of the more well respected brands of e-liquids, and this is one of their most popular flavors. Vapers love it so much they're now offering a new twin pack that offers more juice for your buck, doubling up on 60 ml gorilla bottles at a special reduced price. Sleek black packaging also replaces the old clear bottles, lending a more refined look.  

For all the cloud chasers out there hungry for the next generation in massive sub-ohm tanks, the current installment of Smok's award-winning line isn’t just a beast, it’s the beast king! The Smok TFV12 is an upgrade from the TFV4 and 8 series, offering even more airflow, more cloud-blasting capability, and more options than just about any other sub-ohm clearomizer on the market today.

The state of New York is looking to ban all nicotine products, including vapor liquids and devices, from pharmacies. Recently, similar local proposals were enacted in the state capital, Albany and New York City, and now some legislators in the state are pushing for a statewide ban.

After learning about how pod mods work, we've come to the fun part: picking out your favorite flavors and an ideal nicotine level. Where to start? Well, here’s a rundown of flavor categories and a quick guide to nicotine strength (more on that latter point here).

Protesters took to the streets in New York as the state’s legislative bodies voted to to ban vaping flavors. The New York State Assembly and Senate approved a near-complete flavor ban in early March (with possible carve-outs for tobacco and menthol flavors), which prompted advocates to march and hold signs on the streets of Buffalo to express their outrage.

When it comes to quality refillable pod systems, the Origin Refillable Pod Mod Starter Kit by Sigelei is a solid offering from a proven manufacturer. Sporting an egg-shaped design and offering quality vapor production, this new device enters a pretty crowded field of competitors. There’s unfortunately not a whole lot to differentiate this device from the field, aside from the respected Sigelei name, which has been around since the earliest days of advanced vapor devices.

If you’re a vaper planning a trip to the Tokyo Summer Olympics next year, you might want to leave your gear at home. According to the Associated Press, an Olympics committee announced that vaping will be banned at all indoor and outdoor events, and within the perimeters of related venues.   

the fallout from the surprise resignation of federal Food and Drug Administration czar Scott Gottlieb. The linked piece explores not only Gottlieb's journey from a champion of vaping to one of its most dedicated foes as underage use rose to "epidemic" proportions under his watch, but also how approvals for new drugs skyrocketed during his tenure and tobacco stocks gained following the news of his departure.

Altria Group, the parent company of Big Tobacco brands including Marlboro and Virginia Slim, made a bold move in a presentation to shareholders that, if heeded, could alter the face of the vaping world as we know it. In late February, Altria Group's Chairman and CEO Howard Willard trekked to Boca Raton, Florida to speak to investors at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York Conference on his company's holdings, which include the aforementioned tobacco brands and a 35 percent stake in cigalike upstart Juul, among others.

The VooPoo Rex 80W & UForce Tank Starter Kit is a smaller box mod that offers a lot of power for a single battery system. If you’ve never tried a device with a sub-ohm tank before, this would be a good first device to start on. The Rex/UForce combo maxes out the potential of a single high-drain 18650 cell and offers various helpful features. Rex can deliver up to 80W of power for massive clouds, while the UForce tank holds up to 3.5 ml of liquid.  

The Nunu Disposable Sub Ohm Tank (3 Pack) by Sikary USA is a trio of clearomizer tanks built like an actual tank at an incredibly affordable price. These have all the quality vapor production you’d expect from a bigger sub-ohm tank with none of the maintenance that’s usually required. Disposable tanks are basically replaceable coils with plastic tanks over top of them. The Nunu has a 0.15 ohm resistance mesh coil with a 3ml refillable tank. Using a disposable unit like this is sure to cut precious time out of your daily vaping routine when you’re on the run.