Lost Vape Thelema Elite S Pod Kit Black Carbon

Overview

The Lost Vape Thelema Elite S Pod Kit Black Carbon by Lost Vape in Black Carbon at 0mg. Free UK delivery over £20, same-day dispatch on weekday orders before 4pm.

Overview of the Lost Vape Thelema Elite S Pod Kit

The Lost Vape Thelema Elite S Pod Kit in Black Carbon is a refillable pod system aimed at adult smokers and existing vapers who want something sturdier and more controllable than a basic draw-activated stick, without stepping up to a full box mod and tank. It belongs to Lost Vape's Thelema Elite family, a line that carries the brand's metal-and-texture styling into a pocketable body with a built-in rechargeable battery and a small refillable pod. This page is written for UK buyers, so everything below is framed around how the kit behaves with UK-legal pods, bottles and nicotine strengths.

Lost Vape is one of the more established names on the hardware side of the industry. Its catalogue runs from the Ursa and Orion pod systems through to the Centaurus and Thelema box mods, and the company has a reputation for solid construction and sensible, uncluttered engineering. The Thelema Elite S sits in the middle of that range. It gives you a proper replaceable coil, a battery that should cover a normal day, and a refillable pod, so you choose the e-liquid instead of being locked into one pre-filled flavour.

In the box you should expect the device, a refillable pod with a coil head already fitted, a USB-C charging cable and the standard paperwork (a quick-start card and safety information). Contents can differ slightly between production batches, so compare what arrives with the product listing and keep the card, because it carries the switching and lock instructions for your particular firmware.

Points worth knowing before you read the rest of this page:

• It is not a disposable. Single-use vapes can no longer be sold in the UK, and this kit is built to be refilled, recharged and have its coil replaced over months of use.
• It is a nicotine product for adults. You must be 18 or over to buy it, and it is intended for people who already smoke or vape, not for non-smokers or young people.
• It rewards a little set-up. Priming the coil, matching nicotine strength to your style and choosing a sensible e-liquid make more difference to the experience than any figure on the box.
• Black Carbon is a finish choice. The colour changes the look and the grip, not the electronics, so every colour in the range performs the same way.

The sections below cover performance, flavour, build quality, battery, coil technology, nicotine strength, who the kit suits, day-to-day use, troubleshooting, value and how it compares with rivals. The FAQs at the end deal with the practical questions we hear most often about delivery, returns and recycling.

Specifications at a glance

Lost Vape publishes a full technical sheet with each production run, and we would rather give you honest ranges than a single number we cannot stand behind. The summary below reflects what is typical for this class of device and what UK rules require. Check the printed figures on your pack, because small revisions between batches do happen.

• Format: compact refillable pod kit with a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
• Pod capacity: 2ml, which is the legal maximum for refillable tanks and pods sold in the UK.
• Coil type: replaceable mesh-style coil heads from Lost Vape's own range, sold in more than one resistance for tighter or airier draws.
• Battery: built-in cell in the roughly 1,000 to 1,500mAh bracket common to pod kits of this size, enough for a full day of moderate use.
• Output: modest wattage suited to pod-style vaping, in the low tens of watts. Confirm the exact ceiling on your pack before you set it.
• Charging: USB-C input, charged from a standard 5V adapter or a computer port.
• Refill method: fill port on the pod, filled from a bottle of up to 10ml, which is the UK size limit for nicotine e-liquid containers.
• E-liquid compatibility: nicotine salt and freebase e-liquids, with balanced VG/PG blends such as 50/50 or 60/40 wicking most reliably.
• Nicotine ceiling: UK law caps nicotine e-liquid at 20mg/ml (2%).
• Finish: Black Carbon.
• Age restriction: 18+, with ID possibly requested on delivery.

A note on puff counts. Refillable kits do not have a headline number the way disposables do. As a rule of thumb, a 2ml pod gives somewhere between roughly 200 and 400 draws, depending on your wattage, how long you hold each puff and how thick your e-liquid is. That is a more cautious estimate than the 600-puff figures that used to be printed on 2ml disposables, and it sits closer to what you will see in everyday use. The difference is that a pod refills in under a minute, so the limit is how long you wait between top-ups rather than a fixed total.

Performance and vapour delivery

The Thelema Elite S is tuned for the middle ground between mouth-to-lung (MTL) and restricted direct-to-lung (RDL) vaping. In practical terms that means a draw with a little resistance, moderate vapour volume and a throat hit that follows whatever nicotine strength you pour into it. It is not designed to produce the large clouds you would get from a sub-ohm tank on a box mod, and anyone expecting that will be disappointed.

Mesh coils spread heating across a larger surface area than a traditional round wire coil. Two things follow from that. First, the coil reaches working temperature quickly, so the first puff after a pause is not noticeably weaker than the tenth. Second, the e-liquid is heated more evenly, which reduces the scorched edges that cause harsh, burnt notes towards the end of a pod.

Vapour production scales with the output you choose. At the lower end of the range the kit behaves like a conventional MTL pod: tight, cool, light on vapour and easy on the e-liquid. Raise the output and the draw loosens in feel, the vapour thickens and the flavour becomes warmer and rounder, at the cost of faster battery drain and quicker e-liquid use. Most people settle in a narrow band that suits their liquid, and it is worth spending the first pod finding it instead of leaving the setting wherever it came out of the box.

Things you can reasonably expect in everyday use:

• Quick start: the coil fires and delivers vapour almost immediately, without a noticeable delay on the first draw of the day.
• Steady output: performance holds up through most of the charge, with a gradual softening only as the battery runs low.
• Controlled throat hit: with 10mg or 20mg nicotine salts the hit is smooth and fairly gentle, and with low-strength freebase it is closer to a traditional vape.
• Moderate liquid use: expect to refill a 2ml pod once or twice a day if you vape steadily, and less if you use it occasionally.

It will not match a high-wattage sub-ohm setup for sheer volume, and that is a deliberate trade. The whole point of a kit in this class is a compact, low-fuss device that suits someone replacing cigarettes, not someone chasing cloud contests.

Flavour profile and what to expect

A pod kit does not have a flavour of its own, because you supply the e-liquid. What the hardware controls is how faithfully that liquid is rendered, and this is where a mesh coil and a modest pod size earn their keep. Because the coil heats broadly and evenly, delicate top notes such as citrus zest, mint, light berries and tea tend to stay distinct instead of collapsing into one sweet blur.

In practice, most users find the following broad pattern:

• Fruit and ice blends: bright and clear, with the cooling element coming through without overwhelming the fruit. Mesh coils suit this style particularly well.
• Tobacco and nutty liquids: reasonably true to their description at lower output, where the heat stays gentle. Pushed too high they can turn sharp and papery.
• Desserts and custards: rich and rounded at medium output, though very sweet liquids will leave residue on the coil sooner than fruit or menthol blends do.
• Menthol and mint: crisp and clean, with the cooling effect noticeable rather than aggressive.
• Colas and drinks flavours: carbonated-style notes translate well, but they tend to be sweet, so expect to change the coil a little more often.

Flavour is also a reliable early-warning system for a worn coil. A fresh coil tastes crisp and the last few days of its life taste progressively flatter, muted or faintly burnt. If a favourite liquid suddenly seems dull, the coil is the first thing to check, ahead of the liquid, the battery or the device.

Choosing e-liquid matters more than most people expect. Very sweet liquids with heavy sweetener content gum up a coil faster, which shortens its life and dulls flavour sooner. Lighter, fruit-forward or menthol-led liquids usually let a coil last longer. If you plan to switch between flavours often, rinse the pod with lukewarm water, dry it fully and let it stand before you refill, because lingering residue from the previous liquid can ghost into the next one. Better still, keep one pod for fruit and menthol styles and another for creamy or dessert styles if you vape both.

Finally, remember that flavour is subjective. The hardware gives you a clean canvas; the liquid and your own preferences do the rest.

Design and build quality

Lost Vape has built its name on devices that look and feel deliberate, and the Thelema Elite S continues that. The Black Carbon version has a dark, textured finish with a carbon-style pattern that gives the body a more grown-up look than the glossy plastic of many entry-level pod kits. It also helps with grip: a slightly textured surface is harder to drop and shows fingerprints less than a polished one.

The body is compact enough to fit in a trouser or jacket pocket, and light enough that you stop noticing it after a day or two. The corners are rounded, the seams are tight, and the pod seats into the device with a firm, positive click rather than a loose wobble. That matters in practice, because a poorly seated pod is the single most common cause of leaks and poor connections on devices in this class.

Details worth checking when yours arrives:

• Pod fit: the pod should sit flush with no visible gap and should not rattle when you shake the device gently.
• Finish: the Black Carbon surface should be even, with no peeling, rough patches or visible glue at the edges.
• Buttons and ports: any button should feel crisp, and the USB-C port should accept the cable without wobble.
• Fill port: the silicone bung should seat fully and not lift under light pressure.

As with any pocket device, treat the finish with a little care. Keys and coins in the same pocket will scuff it over time, and a darker finish will show scratches more than a lighter one. A soft pouch or a lanyard is a cheap way of keeping it tidy, and wiping the contacts on the pod and device with a dry cotton bud now and then keeps the connection reliable.

Build quality is the sort of thing that is easier to judge after a month than on day one, and we would rather say that plainly than promise indestructibility. What we can say is that the construction is in line with what you would expect from an established hardware brand, and it feels more robust than the lightweight kits at the bottom of the price range. If you drop it on a hard floor, inspect the pod and the fill bung before you use it again, and stop using the device if you see cracks or damage to the casing.

Battery and charging

The Thelema Elite S uses a built-in rechargeable battery rather than a removable cell, and charges over USB-C. We would put its capacity in the 1,000 to 1,500mAh bracket common to this size of kit, and for most people that is a full day of moderate use between charges. Heavier use, or a higher output setting, will shorten that, while lighter use can stretch it to a second day.

How long a charge lasts depends on three things you control: output setting, puff length and how often you vape. A rough guide is that a battery in this range gives several hundred draws at a modest setting, and noticeably fewer if you run it near its upper limit. If you are replacing cigarettes and vaping steadily through the day, plan to top up in the evening and, if you are out for a long stretch, carry a short cable or a small power bank.

Sensible charging habits keep the battery healthy for longer:

• Use a standard 5V USB adapter: a basic phone charger or a computer port is fine. There is no benefit in using a high-wattage fast charger, and an unbranded, poorly made adapter is a risk you do not need.
• Do not leave it charging unattended overnight on a soft surface: put it on a hard, non-flammable surface where air can circulate.
• Avoid extremes of temperature: do not charge or store it in a hot car, on a radiator or in freezing conditions.
• Stop using it if it swells, gets unusually hot or smells odd: unplug it, move it somewhere safe and do not use it again.
• Top up at around 20 to 30 percent where you can: regular deep discharges wear a lithium-ion cell faster than short top-ups.

A typical full recharge takes in the region of an hour, give or take, depending on the adapter and the battery's starting level. The device indicates charging state with its light or display, and the quick-start card shows what each signal means. If the device does not respond to the cable, try a different cable and adapter before assuming a fault, because worn cables are a common culprit.

When the battery finally reaches the end of its life, which is usually after a year or more of daily use, do not put the kit in household waste or ordinary recycling. Lithium-ion cells can start fires in bin lorries and recycling plants. In the UK, shops that sell vapes are required to take back used ones, and household waste recycling centres accept small electricals. The Recycle Your Electricals website has a postcode search to find your nearest drop-off point.

Coil and pod technology

The most important part of any pod kit is the coil, and the Thelema Elite S relies on replaceable mesh-style coil heads from Lost Vape's own range. A mesh coil is a thin sheet of metal with a pattern of holes, wrapped around cotton wicking, instead of a single round wire. The larger surface area is why these coils warm up quickly, deliver flavour evenly and tolerate a wider range of power settings than a basic wire coil.

Coil heads for kits like this are normally offered in more than one resistance, measured in ohms. The general rule is straightforward:

• Higher resistance (around 0.8 to 1.0 ohm): tighter, cooler, more cigarette-like draw, lower vapour, longer battery life, a good match for nicotine salts at 10mg to 20mg.
• Lower resistance (around 0.4 to 0.6 ohm): airier draw, warmer and fuller vapour, faster battery use, a better match for lower-strength nicotine salts or freebase.

Check the product listing for exactly which resistances are available for this kit, because compatible coil heads are specific to the pod design and are not interchangeable with those from other brands.

Coil life is variable. Typical life is somewhere between one and three weeks of regular use, and it is driven by the e-liquid you use, the power you vape at, and how often you let the coil run dry. Sweet, thick liquids shorten it, as do high output and chain vaping. Signs the coil is spent include a flat or burnt taste, reduced vapour, a gurgling sound, and a pod that seems to empty faster than it used to. Replace the coil at that point instead of persevering, because a burnt coil tastes unpleasant and delivers poor performance.

The pod itself is a plastic reservoir with a 2ml capacity, which is the UK legal limit for refillable tanks. It has an airflow path, a fill port and the coil head seated at the base. It is designed to be refilled many times, but it is not infinite, and the plastic can crack, cloud or leak after many refills. If you see any cracks, replace it.

To get the longest life from each coil, prime it properly, avoid dry puffing, keep the output within the range suited to your liquid, and do not let the pod run empty. A coil that stays wet lasts far longer than one that regularly runs dry. If you are uncertain, a lower setting is always the safer starting point than a higher one.

Nicotine strength guidance

Choosing the right nicotine strength is the decision that most affects whether a pod kit works for you, and it is also where people most often go wrong. UK law caps nicotine e-liquid at 20mg/ml (2%), and that same cap applied to the disposables that used to be sold here before single-use vapes were banned. Nicotine e-liquid is also limited to bottles of 10ml and refillable pods or tanks of 2ml, so you will see those numbers throughout the market.

There are two main types of nicotine in e-liquid. Nicotine salts are smoother at higher strengths and are the usual choice for pod kits. Freebase nicotine is harsher at higher strengths, so it is usually sold in lower strengths and suits more open, higher-wattage devices. As a starting guide:

• Heavy smokers (around 15 or more cigarettes a day): 20mg nicotine salt at a low output. This gives the hit and the nicotine delivery that most people switching from cigarettes need.
• Moderate smokers (around 10 cigarettes a day): 10mg to 20mg nicotine salt, starting at 20mg if cravings are strong and dropping to 10mg once you are comfortable.
• Light smokers or social vapers: 5mg to 10mg nicotine salt.
• Experienced vapers coming from larger tanks: 3mg to 6mg freebase, or 5mg to 10mg salt, with a lower-resistance coil and a slightly higher output.

Match nicotine to power. The more heat and vapour you generate, the more nicotine reaches your throat in each puff, so a high strength at a high output can feel harsh and leave you light-headed. If you move to a looser draw or a higher setting, you will usually want to drop the strength a step. If a puff makes you cough or feels uncomfortable, reduce either the strength or the output.

Signs the strength is too low include constant cravings, chain vaping and still reaching for a cigarette. Signs it is too high include nausea, dizziness, headaches, a racing heart or an unpleasantly sharp throat hit. If you notice the second group, stop and drop to a lower strength.

Nicotine is addictive, and vaping is not risk-free, even though it carries far less risk than smoking. It is intended for adults who already smoke or vape, and it should not be used by non-smokers, young people, or anyone who is pregnant unless advised by a healthcare professional. Local stop-smoking services in the UK can give free advice, and many offer vape starter kits to people who want to quit.

Who the Thelema Elite S is for

No single device suits everybody, and a kit like this makes more sense for some people than for others. The Thelema Elite S is a good fit for the following kinds of buyer:

• Smokers switching from cigarettes: the tighter draw and nicotine salt compatibility give a familiar sensation, and the controllable output means you can adjust as you cut down.
• Ex-disposable users: if you were using single-use vapes before the ban, this is a natural next step. You get a similar pocketable format, but with a refillable pod, so the cost per day is lower and you choose the flavours.
• Vapers who want a sturdier everyday device: if you have gone through a few cheap, flimsy kits, a more solidly built one is worth the step up.
• People who value flavour: the mesh coil and the freedom to use your own e-liquid give a more varied and accurate flavour range than pre-filled options.
• Those who want some control without complexity: adjustable output gives room to tune the vape without a menu full of settings.

It is probably not the right choice in the following cases:

• Non-smokers and non-vapers: nicotine is addictive and this product is not for you. Please do not start.
• People who want large clouds: a pod kit does not match a sub-ohm tank on a box mod for vapour volume, and trying to force it will only drain the battery and burn the coil.
• Anyone who wants zero maintenance: refilling, priming and changing coils is simple once you have done it a few times, but it is more involved than opening a sealed device. If you want a no-fuss option, a pre-filled closed pod system may suit better.
• Buyers on the tightest budget: cheaper kits exist and may be entirely adequate if you only vape occasionally.

If you are unsure which camp you fall into, think about your habits. If you vape a handful of times a day, a smaller kit with a modest battery will do. If you vape throughout the day and care about flavour, a device in this class has more to offer. And if you are relatively new, starting with a higher resistance coil and a nicotine salt around 10mg to 20mg is the gentlest route in.

How to use the kit

Setting up a refillable pod kit for the first time takes a few minutes, and getting it right avoids most of the problems people run into later. Read the quick-start card first, because the exact switching and lock sequence depends on the firmware in your device.

• Step 1, charge it. Plug in the USB-C cable and give the battery a full charge before first use, using a standard 5V adapter.
• Step 2, check the coil. Make sure the coil head is fully seated in the pod and the pod clicks firmly into the device.
• Step 3, fill the pod. Remove the pod, open the fill port, and slowly add e-liquid down the side of the port until you reach the maximum fill line, which is the 2ml limit. Do not overfill and do not cover the central air tube.
• Step 4, close it and wait. Press the bung fully home and leave the pod to stand for around five to ten minutes so the cotton wicks properly. This is the most important step, and skipping it is the usual reason for a burnt first coil.
• Step 5, prime with a few gentle draws. Take two or three short puffs without firing, if your device allows it, or fire for only a second or two at the lowest setting.
• Step 6, start low. Begin at a modest output and adjust upwards in small steps until the flavour and vapour feel right.

Day-to-day habits that help:

• Refill before the pod is empty: topping up when you can still see liquid around the coil keeps the cotton wet.
• Take steady, medium-length puffs: long, hard drags overheat the coil and burn through liquid.
• Pause between puffs: a few seconds between draws lets the cotton re-saturate, especially with thicker liquids.
• Keep it upright when you can: carrying it mouthpiece-up reduces the chance of liquid pooling in the airflow path.
• Lock it in your pocket: if your device has a lock function, use it, so it cannot fire against keys or coins.

Keep e-liquid bottles out of the reach of children and pets, and store them upright. Wipe the mouthpiece with a clean, dry cloth when it gets grubby, and never use water directly on the electrical contacts. When you change e-liquid or coil, give the pod a quick rinse with lukewarm water, let it dry fully, and refill. It is a short routine that quickly becomes automatic.

Troubleshooting common problems

Most problems with pod kits come down to a short list of causes, and nearly all can be solved at home in a minute or two. Work through the most likely cause first.

• Burnt or harsh taste: usually a dry or worn coil. Check the pod has liquid, wait a few minutes after refilling, lower the output, and replace the coil if the taste does not improve. Also check that you are not using a very sweet, thick liquid at a high setting.
• Weak or muted flavour: often a coil near the end of its life, or residue from a previous e-liquid. Rinse the pod, let it dry, refill with fresh liquid and try a new coil if needed.
• Leaking from the pod or device: check the fill bung is fully closed, the pod is not overfilled, and the coil is seated firmly. Leaks can also follow changes in air pressure, for example during a flight or a drive up a hill, so keep the pod mostly empty when travelling.
• Gurgling or spitting: too much condensation in the airflow path. Blow gently through the pod to clear it, wipe the mouthpiece, and avoid overfilling. A thick liquid at a low output can also contribute.
• No vapour or the device does not fire: check the battery charge, make sure the pod is seated properly, clean the contacts with a dry cotton bud and check the device is not locked. If it still fails, try another pod or coil to find out where the fault lies.
• Flashing light or error message: these often indicate a short circuit, low resistance, low battery or no pod detected. Take the pod out, reseat it, and refer to the quick-start card for what each signal means.
• Dry hits: a harsh, hot puff with little vapour. Stop vaping, refill and wait. Continuing to puff on a dry coil will ruin it and can make you cough.
• Battery drains quickly: consider whether the output is set too high, the battery is ageing, or the device has been kept in the cold. Warm it to room temperature before charging.
• Pod will not fill: make sure you are using a bottle with a narrow nozzle and that you are aiming at the fill port, not the central tube.

If none of these steps helps and the device appears faulty, stop using it and contact us with your order details. Please do not try to open the casing or repair the battery yourself. Under UK consumer law, goods must be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose, and you have a right to reject faulty goods within 30 days of delivery. A short description of the fault and a photo or short clip usually speeds things up.

Value for money and how it compares with similar kits

Judging value on a refillable pod kit means looking at the whole cost of using it over a few months, not just the sticker price. The upfront cost is the kit. After that you pay for e-liquid and replacement coils, and those two items add up to your running cost.

For a typical user the running costs look something like this. A 10ml bottle of nicotine salt e-liquid commonly sells for a few pounds, and at a moderate rate of use a bottle can last somewhere between a few days and a couple of weeks. A pack of replacement coil heads usually costs a few pounds and holds several coils, each lasting roughly one to three weeks. Taken together, a regular user can expect to spend noticeably less per week than they would have on a steady run of pre-filled disposables, and a good deal less than on cigarettes. Because prices change, check the current listing for exact figures before you buy.

The things that make the Thelema Elite S a fair-value purchase:

• Refillable: you are not paying for a new battery and shell each time the liquid runs out.
• Replaceable coils: when performance dips, a new coil head costs a fraction of a new device.
• Rechargeable battery: thousands of puffs are available over the life of the kit.
• Choice of e-liquid: you can shop around, buy larger multipacks and pick up offers.
• Build quality: a sturdier device is more likely to last than a flimsy one, which spreads the purchase price over a longer period.

There are caveats. Cheaper pod kits exist, so if you only vape occasionally the savings from a more durable device may take a while to materialise. The price also depends on which e-liquid you buy and how heavily you vape, and a heavy user will go through more coils. Finally, a refillable kit asks a little more of you than a sealed disposable did: you have to carry e-liquid, refill and look after the coil.

On balance, we would call it fair value for a regular vaper who wants a dependable day-to-day device and is happy to learn a simple routine. If you vape only now and then, or you just want the cheapest way in, a lower-priced kit may be enough for your needs.

The pocket pod-kit market is crowded, and the Thelema Elite S competes with several well-known names. The comparisons below are meant to be fair rather than promotional, and they reflect general characteristics of each range. Specifications change between versions, so check the current listing for any model you are weighing up.

• Vaporesso XROS series: a hugely popular range of slim pod kits with mesh-style coils, built around simplicity and a low price. They are lighter and cheaper to buy, and a safe choice for beginners. The trade-off is that they usually feel less substantial in the hand and offer less in the way of output control than a kit in this class.
• Uwell Caliburn range: small, light and straightforward, with a long-running reputation for MTL vaping and an easy-to-use pod design. They are good if you want the smallest possible device. The Thelema Elite S gives you a sturdier feel and more flexibility, while the Caliburn is easier to slip into a small pocket.
• OXVA Xlim range: well regarded for build and flavour, with a pod format that many users like. It is the closest rival in terms of price and ambition, and the choice often comes down to which design you prefer in the hand and which coil range you like.
• Geekvape Wenax range: robust, with a focus on durability and a similar target audience. It is a reasonable alternative if you value rugged construction.
• Voopoo Vmate range: simple, widely available and easy to live with, though generally pitched at beginners rather than people who want to tune the vape.
• Lost Vape Ursa Nano: from the same maker and typically aimed at a more compact, simpler experience. Choose it if you want the brand's build quality at a smaller size and with fewer features.

Where the Thelema Elite S makes the strongest case is in the combination of solid construction, a mesh coil and user-adjustable output in a pocketable body. Where it is weaker is on price against the cheapest kits and on size against the smallest ones. If your priority is the lowest outlay or the slimmest device, a rival may suit you better. If you want a sturdier everyday kit with room to adjust, it is worth a place on your shortlist.

Whichever you choose, compare the cost of coils and pods for the model as well as the headline price, since that is where the running cost comes from.