Are you a cigarette consumer exploring alternatives for a successful transition or simply curious about those sleek devices called vapes? In both cases, you are in the right place.
Eliminate the stress of that complex tech talk because this is going to be your friendly vape guide where you will know about every aspect of vaping from what it is to device options, tips for use or anything else you want.

So, let's get started on this journey together.

What is Vaping?

Vaping is essentially the inhaling of a vapour produced by an electronic device. Instead of burning tobacco, these devices gently heat a liquid solution, commonly known as e-liquid.

The e-liquid typically contains flavourings, and may or may not include nicotine within a base of propylene glycol (PG) and/or vegetable glycerin (VG).

In essence, vaping offers an alternative to burning material for smoke by heating an e-juice into a vapour for inhalation. This fundamental difference is often a key point for those exploring options beyond traditional smoking.

How Long Has Vaping Existed?

Vaping started back in 1963 with Herbert A. Gilbert's patent for a "smokeless non-tobacco cigarette," but it didn't achieve commercial success.

Later in the early 2000s, a Chinese pharmacist, Hon Lik, invented the electronic cigarette (a safer alternative to smoking). Since then, there have been rapid advancements in battery technology, atomiser design, and e-liquid formulations. Today, we all know it as a customisable and potentially less harmful option for smoking.

What Is a Vape Kit?

A vape kit is an electronic cigarette that contains the essential components needed to start vaping. There are two types: disposable and rechargeable.

What is a Disposable Vape Kit?

A disposable vape kit is a one-time product used with puffs ranging from 600 to 30000. Once the e-liquid is depleted, you cannot refill it. A Puff Bar is easy to use, handy, made in China, maintenance-free, and available in endless flavours, ranging from fruity to menthol ones, and many more. They are prefilled with nicotine salt e-liquids, offering a smooth throat hit, MTL vaping, and are draw-activated.

Main Components of Vape Kits

Every disposable or rechargeable vape kit, despite its shape or size, is based on a few key components like battery, coil, tanks and more that work together. Let's take a closer look at each:

What is a Vape Battery?

This is the heart of a vape kit or device, providing the electrical energy needed to heat the e-liquid. Batteries come in various sizes and capacities (550mAh to 2500mAh), affecting how long a device lasts before needing a recharge. Think of it as the fuel tank for your vaping experience.

What is a Coil/Atomiser?

The atomiser contains a coil, a wire wrapped around a wicking material like cotton, that heats the e-liquid. When power from the battery flows through the coil, it gets hot and vaporises the liquid soaked in the wick.

What is E-liquid?

E-liquid, or vape juice, is the fluid vaporised in e-cigarettes. It typically contains nicotine, flavourings, and a base of PG and/or VG.

Freebase Nicotine: Traditional nicotine provides a noticeable throat hit.
Nicotine Salt (Nic Salts): Smoother nicotine absorption, even at higher strengths, commonly used in pod systems. Available in 50/50 PG/VG ratio.
PG/VG Ratio Effects: High PG refers to a thinner liquid and a stronger throat hit. Whereas high VG refers to a thicker liquid, a smoother inhale, and dense vapour clouds.

What is a Vape Pod/Tank?

The tank or pod is where the e-liquid resides. Tanks are typically refillable and found on larger devices, while pods are often smaller, sometimes pre-filled or refillable, and used in pod systems. In a nutshell, it's the fuel storage for vape flavours.

What is Wicking Material?

The wicking material, made from cotton, soaks up the e-liquid and feeds it to the coil. Proper wicking is crucial for preventing dry hits (burnt taste) and ensuring consistent vapour production. Think of it as the delivery system for the flavour.

What is a Mouthpiece/Drip Tip?

This is the part to inhale the vapour. The mouthpiece is located at the top of the e-cig. Drip tips come in various shapes and materials, and some are designed to affect the temperature and flavour of the vapour.

What is a Circuit Board?

Advanced vape devices, like box mods, often have a circuit board or chipset. This component regulates power, provides safety features, circuit protection, and allows for user adjustments, e.g., wattage or temperature control. In short, it's the intelligent control centre of the vaping device.

How to Use A Vape?

Using a vape device involves following these steps:

Unboxing Your Vape Kit

Carefully open the packaging of your new vape kit. Ensure all the listed components are present, which usually includes the vape device (battery/mod), a tank or pod, one or more coils, a charging cable, and potentially a user manual.

Initial Inspection

Check that the tank or pod is intact and that the coil is properly sealed if it's pre-installed. Refer to your device's manual for a detailed parts list and diagrams.

Charging the Battery

Connect the provided charging cable to the vape device and a suitable power source, and allow the battery to charge fully (the charging indicator light will usually change colour).

Installing the Coil (if necessary)

If the coil is not pre-installed in the tank or pod, carefully screw it into the designated slot. Ensure it's snug but not overtightened. Some pod systems have plug-and-play coils that simply push into place.

Tank or Pod Filling

Locate the fill port on your tank or pod. This might be a rubber stopper on the side or bottom, or a top-fill mechanism. Carefully insert the nozzle of your e-liquid bottle into the fill port and squeeze gently to fill the tank, avoiding getting liquid into the centre airflow tube.

Priming the Coil

After filling the e-juice, allow it to saturate the coil for about 5-10 minutes. This process, called priming, ensures that the cotton inside the coil is fully wetted and prevents a dry hit (a burnt taste) when you first start vaping.

Attaching the Tank or Pod to the Battery/Mod

Once the coil is primed, securely attach the filled tank or pod to the battery or mod. Most devices use a magnetic connection or a threaded connection. Ensure it's firmly in place.

Turning On the Device

Most vape devices have a power button that needs to be pressed a specific number of times in quick succession (usually 5 times) to turn the device on or off. Refer to your device's manual for the exact power-on and power-off sequence. In case of single-use vapes, they are draw-activated. Just take a puff from the mouthpiece and enjoy.

Adjusting Settings (if applicable)

Some advanced devices allow you to adjust settings like wattage, voltage, or temperature. If your device has these features, refer to the manual to learn how to set your preferred vaping parameters.

Inhaling Vapour

Once the device is on, press any desired settings and hold the firing button (usually the same as the power button). While holding the button, gently inhale the vapour through the mouthpiece. Start with short, soft puffs to get a feel for the device and the vapour production.

Releasing the Firing Button

After taking a puff, release the firing button and exhale the vapour. Avoid taking excessively long or forceful inhales, especially when using a new device or e-liquid for the first time.

Powering Off the Device (when not in use)

When you have finished vaping, turn off your device to conserve battery life and prevent accidental firing.

Types of Vaping Devices

There is a wide range of vaping devices, each with its own strengths, catering to different preferences. Let’s explore them.

Vape Pens

Vape pens are cylindrical devices often recommended for beginners due to their single-button operation and a good balance of portability and performance.

Cig-a-Likes

Cig-a-likes are designed to resemble traditional cigarettes in look and feel. These are common among transitioning smokers. However, their battery life and vapour production are typically less powerful than those of other devices.

Box Mods

Box mods are larger, box-shaped devices with greater power and extensive customisation options, including variable wattage and temperature control. These devices require external tanks for enhanced performance and personalisation.\

Pod Systems

Pod systems are compact with prefilled or refillable pods that attach to a small battery. Their draw-activated mechanism makes them popular for on-the-go vaping, especially with nicotine salts.

Styles of Vaping

Vaping or e-smoking involves different techniques and equipment that include:

Mouth-to-Lung (MTL)
Direct-to-Lung (DTL)
Restricted Direct-to-Lung (RDTL)
Nicotine Salt Vaping

What is MTL Vaping?

Mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping is normally an ideal style of vaping for beginners (switching from smoking). It involves drawing vapour into the mouth, holding it, and then inhaling it into the lungs, much like taking a puff from a traditional cigarette.

MTL Vaping typically incorporates higher resistance coils, lower wattage, and often higher nicotine strengths to mimic the throat hit and nicotine delivery of smoking.

What is DTL Vaping?

Direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping, as the name suggests, involves direct inhaling the vapour into the lungs in one continuous breath, just like deep breathing practice.

DTL vaping includes lower nicotine strengths, higher wattage, and lower resistance coils to produce large amounts of warm, dense vapour and intense flavour. It's a common favourite of people seeking a powerful and visually impressive vaping experience.

What is RDTL Vaping?

Restricted direct-to-lung (RDTL) vaping is something midway between MTL and DTL. It offers a more open draw than MTL but isn't as airy as a full DTL inhale.

RDTL aims to provide a balance between flavour intensity and vapour production using mid-range wattage and coil resistances. It can be a good option for vapers who want more vapour than MTL but prefer a slightly tighter draw than DTL.

What are Nic Salts?

Nicotine salt e-liquids have significantly influenced how people vape, particularly with pod systems.

Nicotine salts allow for higher nicotine concentrations with a much smoother throat hit compared to traditional freebase nicotine. This has made higher nicotine strengths more enjoyable for MTL users.

Further, nic salts have greatly contributed to the popularity of small, convenient pod devices aimed at delivering a satisfying nicotine experience.

Beneficial Aspects of Vaping

A Healthy Transition

Vaping offers a significant transition from traditional smoking by eliminating combustion and the thousands of harmful chemicals produced. Studies claim it is 95% safer than smoking.

A Sensory Move

Vaping offers a wide range of e-liquid flavours, providing a pleasant sensory experience compared to the taste and smell of cigarettes. The milder residual scent is also a notable advantage for the users.

Controlled Nicotine Consumption

E-liquids possess various nicotine strengths ranging from 0mg to a maximum of 20mg/ml. This flexibility helps users maintain good control over their nicotine consumption.

Potential Cost Savings

Vaping is more cost-effective than purchasing traditional cigarettes. The ongoing expenses of e-liquids and coil replacements can be lower than the continuous cost of tobacco products.

The Future of Vaping

The vaping world is a hotbed of innovation, with devices getting smarter and integrating with health apps to track usage and provide personalised recommendations.

Battery tech is also expected to provide longer-lasting power in sleeker designs. Moreover, the e-liquid range is expanding with more advanced and compound flavours for unique sensations. However, with the latest update on the vape ban for disposables making headlines, the industry is also facing increasing scrutiny. This shift could reshape how vaping fits into everyday life. Manufacturers are moving towards designing big puff vapes that retain the convenience of disposables and refillable kits.

To sum up, the future of vaping isn't just about new devices; it's about a more refined, safer, and potentially more integrated role in public health.

Your Ultimate Guide to Vaping