Aspire Vape Kits, Tanks & Coils

Why Aspire still leads on MTL

Mouth-to-lung vaping mimics the draw of a cigarette: you pull vapour into your mouth first, then inhale. It is how most people smoke, and it is the most effective format for nicotine delivery from a nic salt. Aspire understood this early. The original Nautilus tank, launched in 2013, was built around a tight, adjustable MTL draw and a coil that could be swapped without tools. That design principle has run through every device they have made since.

The coil systems are the other part of the story. Aspire uses several coil families across the range. BVC (Bottom Vertical Coil) is the original, still used in the Nautilus series tanks. BP coils appear on the newer pod range including the Loomix. AF coils go in the Flexus series. U-Tech coils are specific to the PockeX. Each is designed around the draw characteristics of its host device, which is why Aspire kits tend to perform consistently out of the box rather than needing adjustment.

For anyone switching from cigarettes, that consistency is the most important factor. You do not want a device that vapes differently depending on how hard you pull. Aspire's MTL lineup delivers the same draw every time, which makes the switch easier to maintain.

Aspire range at a glance

The main Aspire kits stocked at VapeCity, with draw style and who each suits.

Replacement pods and coils available separately.

Aspire Gotek: the most practical starter kit

The Gotek X3 is the current entry point into the Aspire range and it earns its position. A 1,200 mAh battery means it will get most users through a full day on a single charge. Side-fill makes topping up straightforward. The draw works in both MTL and RDL depending on how hard you pull, which gives it a bit of flexibility for people still working out what they prefer.

At £8.99, there is not much comparable hardware that does the job as reliably. The original Gotek X is also available at £6.99 with a smaller 650 mAh battery, which suits lighter users or those who want a backup device rather than a primary. The Gotek Pro steps up to the Gotek X 2 form factor at £12.99.

Replacement Gotek X pods are available at VapeCity at £15.99 for the two-pack. The pods are side-fill, rated for both MTL and RDL, and the coils are integrated so you replace the whole pod rather than swapping just the coil. That approach keeps the kit simple and keeps the draw consistent across replacements.

Popular Aspire kits at VapeCity

A quick guide to the main devices, who they suit, and what they cost.

The Nautilus 3SR: Aspire's flagship MTL tank

The Nautilus name goes back to the original Aspire Nautilus in 2013, which was one of the first tanks to offer adjustable airflow in an MTL format. The 3SR is the current iteration. It is a standalone tank with a 510 connection, designed to pair with any box mod, and it is included in the Zelos M80 kit at VapeCity.

What makes the 3SR different from the standard Nautilus 3 is the single rod (SR) coil format. Both use BVC coils in principle, but the 3SR accepts the updated coil design that offers better consistency across resistance options. The BVC family covers a wide range from tight MTL coils at higher resistances down to looser RDL options, which means you can tune the draw on the same tank by swapping the coil.

At £20.99 for the tank alone, or included in the Zelos M80 kit at £15.99, the Nautilus 3SR is the most flexible piece of Aspire hardware in the range. It suits experienced vapers who want control over their airflow and draw without moving into sub-ohm territory.

Running costs: what Aspire coils and pods cost per month

Most vapers replace their coil or pod every one to two weeks depending on how heavily they vape and what liquid they use. Sweetened e-liquids wear coils faster; unflavoured or menthol liquids run cleaner and extend coil life.

For pod kits like the Gotek X3, replacement pods cost £15.99 for a two-pack. At one pod per fortnight that is approximately £32-£35 per month in consumables. Loomix replacement pods (2-pack) are £19.99, so around £40 per month at the same cadence. Both sit comfortably below what most people spend on cigarettes.

PockeX users replace U-Tech coils rather than whole pods. Aspire PockeX replacement coils are available at VapeCity as a multipack. The Nautilus BVC coil range is also stocked. If you use the AF Flexus coil range, these are available as a 5-pack at £33.99, which comes to roughly £6.80 per coil — a competitive price point for a name-brand coil.

A reasonable budget for Aspire hardware running costs is £30-£50 per month in consumables, plus e-liquid. That compares to £150-£300 per month for a pack-a-day smoker at current cigarette prices.

Setting up an Aspire pod kit for the first time

1. 1

   Charge before first use

   Aspire kits ship with a partial charge. Connect via USB-C and charge to 100% before first use. The LED will change colour or turn off when complete, depending on the model.

2. 2

   Fill the pod before inserting it

   Remove the pod, open the side-fill port (push the silicone flap aside on Gotek pods) and fill with your e-liquid. Leave a small air gap at the top. Snap the port closed.

3. 3

   Prime for 5 minutes

   Insert the filled pod into the device and wait 5 minutes before vaping. This lets the cotton in the coil saturate. Vaping dry coil ruins the coil immediately and leaves a burnt taste that does not go away.

4. 4

   Start with a shorter draw

   On first use, take a 2-3 second MTL draw. Aspire coils are consistent from new but a gradual start helps the cotton wick evenly across the full surface.

5. 5

   Know when to replace the pod

   A burnt taste or noticeably reduced vapour production means the coil is done. Replace the pod or coil. Continuing to vape a spent coil does not revive it.

Aspire vs other pod kit brands

Compared to Voopoo, Aspire sits more firmly in the MTL lane. Voopoo's PnP platform is broader — it covers everything from tight MTL to full sub-ohm — which suits experienced vapers who want to switch between styles. Aspire's focus on MTL makes its kits simpler and more predictable, which is an advantage for people who are not interested in tweaking their setup.

Against Oxva, Aspire's pricing is competitive at the entry level. The Gotek X3 at £8.99 undercuts most of Oxva's Xlim range. Oxva's build quality has a slight edge in terms of materials and finish on the upper-end kits, but for a no-fuss starter, the Aspire range holds its own.

Innokin is the closest comparable in terms of brand philosophy: both are hardware-first brands that have been building vape kits since the early years of the industry, both emphasise reliability over novelty, and both sell into the same switcher market. Between the two, it comes down to which product line fits your hand better. Aspire tends toward slightly smaller form factors; Innokin leans toward more traditional box mod aesthetics.