How To Guides
How To Vape Properly
So, you’re wondering how to vape properly? Well, to fully understand first you need to know a little about vaping, the different types of vape juice, vape devices and how they work. But more importantly –
What are your needs when it comes to vaping?
In this article we are going to cover……
- Vaping Terms
- Different types of Vape Devices
- Different types of Vape Juice
- Different types of Vaping
- How to Vape Properly
- What is the best style of Vaping for YOU?
Vaping Terms
If you are looking for the best way to Vape, you need to know some vaping terms. This will help you decide on what is the best style of vaping for you.
Vaping
Vaping is the act of inhaling vapour from a Vape Device or Electronic Cigarette. Vaping replicates smoking but with additional benefits –
- There is no combustion
- You can choose your nicotine strength
- You can choose which flavour you want to Vape
MTL
MTL stands for “Mouth-to-lung”. This is where you draw the vapour from a Vape Device into your mouth, and then inhale it into your lungs.
In vaping, this method is more commonly used for higher nicotine strengths of E-Liquid on smaller vape devices, and replicates the sensation of smoking a cigarette well.
DTL
“Direct-to-Lung” is where you draw vapour directly from the vape device directly into your lungs – just like taking a deep breath.
This method is more generally used when vaping lower strengths of Vape Juice and higher-powered devices. This method produces more vapour on the exhale
Vape Juice
Vape Juice is a relatively new term. Other names are E-Liquid, E-liquids or Vape Juice.
E-Liquids are made of four main ingredients in varying quantities –
- Propylene Glycol (PG)
- Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
- Flavourings
- Nicotine
Vape Juice is used to produce vapour, a nicotine hit and to produce flavour from an Electronic Cigarette.
Vape Device
A vape device comes in many different styles, but they all work in the same way.
There is a battery, a coil and a tank for the E-liquid. Here are some popular devices
- All-in-Ones (AIO)
- Mods
- Pod systems
- Disposable Vapes
Ultimately, whatever device you choose to use, they all do the same thing of delivering nicotine to your system.
Nicotine
Nicotine is an addictive substance found in Vape Juice. In E-liquids there are a couple of different types used:
- Freebase Nicotine
- Nicotine Salts
Freebase nicotine is a naturally occurring Nicotine found in the tobacco plant. This is processed and used in E-Liquid. Nicotine Salts are Freebase Nicotine with an acid added. Nic Salts can produce a smoother vape and are most often found in in Disposable devices.
Different Types of Vape Devices
If you’ve decided to ditch tobacco cigarettes for Vaping, then you’re going to need a device.
The right device for you is dependent on your needs.
Pen Style Vape
A simple and straight forward device which is suited for someone who doesn’t want a variable wattage feature, and something that replicates Mouth to Lung style inhalation
Pod System Vape
Similar to a pen style vape, these feature small pods that are filled up with E-Liquid, and some even feature variable wattage settings for a more powerful vaping experience. Both MTL and DTL Style Vaping
Disposable Vape
The simplest, no frills or fuss style Vaping device on the market today. A fully self contained and sealed unit that has 2ml of E-Liquid and a small lithium ion battery inside of every device, and when either of those runs out, the device is disposed of.
Sub Ohm Vape
The big daddy of Vaping devices! These devices are designed for DTL style vaping, and High VG E-Liquids are used in to create the big plumes of vape clouds you may have seen people blowing out. Normally ran at high wattage compared to other devices.
Different Types of Vape Juice
It can be confusing knowing which type of Vape Juice is the right one to use for what you want to achieve with Vaping as well as what is the best vape juice to use in your device. But fear not, all is explained below!
Freebase Nicotine
The OG when it comes to E-Liquid! This E-Liquid is made using a “Freebase” Nicotine, usually mixed in a 50VG/50PG Ratio. Normally available in 6, 12 and 18MG this E-Liquid is used most frequently in Pen style devices, and will give a solid throat hit replicant of what a cigarette does.
Nicotine Salts
The relatively new kid on the block in the E-Liquid world but one that’s becoming the most popular choice amongst vapers. Using a different form of Nicotine to make this juice, Nicotine Salts have a faster absorption rate and also brings out a richer flavour in the vape juice.
High VG
This E-Liquid is what is used in bigger sub ohm devices, due to it being a thicker consistency, normally a 70VG or higher ratio mix. These bottles are sold in 50ml or higher and do not contain nicotine due to TPD regulations. Therefore Nicotine Shots have to be added separately.
Different Types of Vaping
There’s two different “types” of vaping if you want to call them that. You either vape in a Mouth to Lung style or Direct to Lung style.
These types are explained below;
Mouth To Lung
Mouth to lung (MTL) vaping is a vaping style where the vapour is drawn into the mouth first, and then inhaled into the lungs. It is a technique that mimics the way someone would smoke a cigarette.
This technique is often favoured by former smokers who are trying to quit smoking, as it provides a more similar experience to smoking than DTL vaping, making the transition to vaping easier.
MTL vaping typically requires a lower wattage and uses higher resistance coils than DTL vaping, which allows for a tighter draw and a more restricted airflow.
Direct To Lung
Direct to lung (DTL) vaping is a vaping style where the vapour is inhaled directly into the lungs without first holding it in the mouth. Making it a different experienceto what MTL Vaping is.
This technique requires higher wattage and lower resistance coils than MTL vaping, which allows for a larger volume of vapor to be produced and inhaled quickly and also exhaled in a quicker way also.
The airflow is typically more open, providing a smoother draw. DTL vaping is often chosen by experienced vapers who prefer a more intense flavour, as well as cloud chasers.
How To Vape Properly
There is somewhat of a technique involved with vaping to ensure that you are doing it properly. And on top of this, a certain level of etiquette is also neccessary so that you are considerate of others around you.
Vaping Do’s
- Put your vape into your mouth
- Gently inhale whilst holding the power button down and release when inhaled
- If vaping MTL, hold the vapour in for a second
- Inhale it into your lungs
- Exhale the vapour
- Only use your vape where it’s permitted
Vaping Dont’s
- Don’t sharply inhale as this may choke you
- Don’t take short sharp inhales on your vape as this could damage your coil
- Don’t blow your vape clouds in people’s face
- Don’t vape anywhere you’re not allowed
- Don’t use a nicotine strength to strong
- Don’t set your wattage too high for the coil
What Style Of Vaping Is Best For YOU?
So now that everything to do with how to vape has been explained, it’s time to try and determine what style of vaping is best for you. Hopefully you might have some idea now after reading all of the above information, but if you aren’t sure still, I’ll summarise it best below.
If you are someone who has recently quit smoking, and looking to use an E-Cigarette as your method of Nicotine Replacement Therapy, then you will want to use a Vape device which is capable of doing Mouth to Lung style vaping. This means either a Pen Style Vape, Pod System Vape or a Disposable Vape.
If you are someone that has been vaping for a little while, and are looking to take your vape game to the next level, and don’t rely on your E-Cigarette replicating the sensation of smoking a cigarette, then it may be time to move on to Direct to Lung style Vaping. This means you’ll be using a low nicotine strength vape juice, and running your device at a higher wattage to really create those big clouds of vapour you may be chasing.
