Picture this: you walk into your favorite vape shop, only to find that your go-to Geek Bar is sold out. If you've experienced this lately, you're not alone. A geek bar shortage has taken vapers by surprise, making it hard to find those popular devices in stock. This shortage stems from a perfect storm of import tariffs and increased FDA crackdowns, which have throttled supply in the United States. Meanwhile, demand for disposables has never been higher—a recent study noted a rapid rise in disposable e-cigarette use among young adults since 2021.
Fortunately, vapers are a resourceful bunch. If you're craving a new Geek Bar device but can't find one, you're not out of luck. The vaping industry is already buzzing with Geek Bar alternatives that fill the gap. In fact, some of these new devices feel like the next Geek Bar in terms of performance and flavor. Below, we'll introduce eight standout picks that have emerged during the Geek Bar shortage. Each offers something unique—whether it's massive puff counts, cool tech features, or even a hookah-style experience. Let's dive in and find your geek bar alternative!
Geek Bar Alternatives: 8 New Picks to Try
RAZ LTX 25K Disposable Vape
One of the first brands to step in is RAZ, and the RAZ LTX 25K is a powerhouse. This sleek disposable boasts up to 25,000 puffs on a single device – an almost unheard-of capacity!
RAZ RYL Classic 35K Disposable Vape
Next up is another entry from RAZ: the RYL Classic 35K. It's a detachable vape in the sense that it comes with a lanyard attachment and even features a small LED or OLED screen to keep you informed of battery and puff count (35,000 puffs available in soft mode).
Flum UT Bar 50K Disposable Vape
The Flum UT Bar 50K is a dual flavor disposable vape with two vaping modes (an Eco mode for up to 50,000 puffs and a Turbo mode for bigger clouds around 25,000 puffs). This Flum model is a great geek bar alternative for those who found Geek Bars a bit too standard and want something more playful.
Flum Mello 20000 Disposable Vape
Flum makes our list again with the Mello 20000. This device shows that Flum isn't just about wild features—they also nail the fundamentals with a twist of style. The Flum Mello offers 20,000 puffs of smooth 5% nicotine vapor, thanks to a generous 15 mL of pre-filled e-liquid and a powerful rechargeable battery.
KORI Hookah Head 120K Disposable E-hookah
Now for something completely different: the KORI Hookah Head 120K. This device is essentially a disposable hookah pen on steroids – a true game-changer for hookah lovers. The KORI Hookah Head isn't shaped like a typical vape pen; it's designed as a hookah bowl replacement. In either configuration, it delivers an astonishing 120,000 puffs per unit.
Pyne Pod Click 66K Disposable Vape
The Pyne Pod Click 66K brings a clever twist to the disposable game. Dubbed a "starter kit," this device blurs the line between traditional pod systems and disposables. In total, you get up to 66,000 puffs from the two pods combined (yes, you read that right). The kit features a 750 mAh rechargeable battery base that you'll reuse for both pods, meaning less waste and more value. Essentially, Pyne Pod has created an eco-friendlier disposable; you don't toss the battery until you've exhausted all pods.
Ploox Me X 15000 Disposable E-hookah
The Ploox Me X 15000 is another device inspired by hookah culture, but in a more portable form. If the KORI Hookah Head is the full-sized beast, the Ploox Me X is the pocket-friendly version – essentially a disposable hookah pen meant for personal use. It's rechargeable via USB-C, so you can enjoy all 15,000 puffs without worry (a 650 mAh battery is inside to support multiple sessions).
VOZOL Gear Shisha 40000 Disposable Vape
Last but certainly not least, meet the VOZOL Gear Shisha 40000. This is a disposable vape that truly pushes the envelope of design and experience. VOZOL geared this device (no pun intended) to mimic an authentic hookah session in a handheld format. How? For starters, it features the world's first audio-interactive vaping system – as you inhale, the device produces a bubbling sound similar to a hookah's water pipe! You'll get up to 40,000 puffs on this device before it's done, which is plenty for numerous evenings of use.
Geek Bar vs RAZ vs Flum: Which One Stands Out?
With all these new devices available, vapers inevitably wonder how they compare to the famed Geek Bar. Two names that come up often are RAZ and Flum, since they've produced some of the closest competitors. So, geek bar vs RAZ vs Flum – what's the deal?
First off, Geek Bar vs RAZ: Many are surprised to learn that RAZ is actually made by Geekvape, the same company behind Geek Bar. In fact, the first RAZ disposables were marketed as "powered by Geekvape," essentially making RAZ a direct offshoot of the Geek Bar lineage. This means if you loved Geek Bar's build quality, draw, and flavors, RAZ will feel very familiar. Devices like the RAZ LTX 25K and RYL Classic 35K deliver a very similar inhale and throat hit to Geek Bar – just with more bells and whistles (think higher puff counts, screens, and power modes). You could argue RAZ is essentially a new Geek Bar in disguise, engineered to sidestep the supply issues. So in the geek bar vs raz debate, RAZ has the edge in availability right now, and it matches Geek Bar on satisfaction. It's a perfect one-to-one replacement if you're after the same kind of vape experience.
Now, Geek Bar vs Flum: Flum is a different brand (unrelated to Geekvape) that has made a name for itself through creativity. If Geek Bar devices were the reliable sedans of the vape world, Flum's are the feature-packed sports cars. In a geek bar vs flum comparison, the core performance (flavor, nicotine delivery) of both is top-tier – you won't be disappointed by either. However, Flum's disposables like the UT Bar 50K or Mello 20K distinguish themselves with unique features: multi-flavor capability, interactive screens, quirky designs, etc. Geek Bars, by contrast, were relatively straightforward (one flavor, simple LED indicator, no extra gimmicks).
It's worth mentioning the new hookah-style devices (KORI, Ploox, VOZOL) in this context too. These are quite different from a Geek Bar. They use much lower nicotine, focusing on flavor and smooth clouds over a strong nic hit. If you're comparing your options, know that a Geek Bar (typically 5% nic) will feel much stronger per puff than, say, a VOZOL Gear Shisha at 0.5% nic. The hookah disposables are fantastic for long sessions and big puffs, but they won't give you a quick nicotine rush like a Geek Bar did. Therefore, the "best" alternative really depends on your style: do you want a geek bar alternative that exactly mimics the original (then go with RAZ or similar 5% devices), or are you open to a different experience (then Flum or the e-hookah products might be more fun)?
The good news is that all these brands – RAZ, Flum, KORI, Pyne, Ploox, VOZOL, and more – are readily available despite the Geek Bar shortage. Many online vape stores have stocked up on them, so you can easily find cheap disposable vapes online to try out. In fact, the shortage has inadvertently expanded vapers' horizons, introducing us to new flavors and formats. Who knows, you might end up liking these new picks even better than the old Geek Bars! The key takeaway: don't panic over the Geek Bar shortage.
FAQs
Q: Why is there a Geek Bar shortage?
A: The Geek Bar shortage in the U.S. is primarily due to a one-two punch of supply chain and regulatory issues. High import tariffs on Chinese-made goods have made it harder and more expensive to bring Geek Bars into the country, and on top of that, the FDA has been seizing "illegal" vape shipments that don't have prior authorization. Geek Bars (like most disposable vapes) haven't gone through the full FDA approval process, so they're in a gray area legally. Recently, enforcement got stricter, so far fewer Geek Bar devices are making it to store shelves. In May 2025, Reuters reported only a few dozen shipments of vapes came through U.S. customs, versus over a thousand in the same period a year before, due to the Geek Bar shortage.
Q: What is the best Geek Bar alternative?
A: "Best" can vary from person to person, but a few standouts have risen to the top. If you want something almost identical to Geek Bar in performance, RAZ would be my first recommendation. RAZ devices (like the LTX 25K and RYL 35K) are made by the same company as Geek Bar, so they deliver a very similar flavor and throat hit – basically a true Geek Bar replacement.
Q: What is a disposable hookah pen?
A: A disposable hookah pen is essentially a vaping device designed to emulate the hookah (shisha) smoking experience, but in a portable, electronic form. Traditional hookahs are those water pipes you might see at lounges – they use charcoal-heated flavored tobacco and have long hoses. A disposable hookah pen tries to give you similar thick, flavorful clouds and smooth taste without needing the actual hookah apparatus. They usually have lower nicotine content (around 0.5% like in Ploox Me X or VOZOL Gear Shisha) because hookah sessions involve a lot of continuous puffing, and the goal is more about flavor and smoke density than a strong nicotine hit.
Q: What is a detachable vape?
A: A detachable vape refers to a device where part of it can be removed and reattached – usually the battery or the pod/tank – rather than the entire unit being one fixed piece.
Q: Where can I find cheap disposable vapes online?
A: You can find cheap disposable vapes online through a variety of reputable online vape stores. In fact, during this Geek Bar shortage, shopping online is one of the best ways to score the new alternatives.
