Beginner’s Guide to Vaping: Your #1 Way to Stop Smoking

Want to quit smoking and start vaping? Start your journey here with our beginner’s guide to vaping.

You might be aware that smoking kills half of its users, and those who try to quit usually have to make several attempts before it sticks. Cold turkey, nicotine patches, gum, medication—not a single NRT (nicotine replacement therapy) product offers guaranteed success.

But evidence shows that vaping has a 59.7% to 74% success rate, making it even more effective at helping smokers quit than nicotine patches and gum. E-cigarettes are immensely less harmful than smoking, too—up to 95% safer, according to Public Health England. And don’t even get us started on the cost of tobacco these days.

If you’re ready to quit smoking cigarettes and make the switch to vaping, we’ve got you covered. We’ll take you through all the steps to get you started on your vaping journey, from finding the right vaping device to explaining all the terms you’ll need to know.

Let’s dive in!

What is Vaping?

Vaping is when you inhale vapour from an e-cigarette. This device contains a battery, a reservoir to hold E-Liquid, and a metallic element—a vape coil. Vape kits work by conducting electricity from the battery through the coil, which then heats the liquid. The result is the vapour which is then inhaled.

There are only a few ingredients that make up an E-Liquid: vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, nicotine, and flavourings. E-Liquids can also be nicotine-free, free of propylene glycol, and there are even some available without flavourings. Still, there are never more than four ingredients in any given E-Liquid.

These ingredients are all safe for human consumption and can be found in an array of pharmaceutical and food products, from soaps to medications to canned foods. Even nicotine can be found in tomatoes, aubergines, and potatoes, among other natural sources.

How to Start Vaping

To start vaping, you’ll only need a few things. Your shopping list will vary depending on whether you choose a refillable device or a non-refillable (disposable) vape kit, but regardless, you won’t need much—and you won’t need to spend a lot, either.

Most vape devices are only compatible with specific E-Liquids. In addition, they have a part (either a pod or a coil) that needs to be replaced periodically. Much like a printer’s ink cartridge, you’ll need specific replacement pods or coils to maintain your device.

When it comes to finding compatible E-Liquids and replacement parts for your first vape kit, everything will be clearly detailed in the product description. And if you’re ever unsure what to get, you can contact our customer support for assistance.

Vaping can be confusing when you first get started, and a lot can happen when you quit smoking and start vaping. So, let’s break it all down piece by piece.

What Vape Kit is Best for New Vapers?

There are a variety of vape kits that are ideal for new vapers. These vaping devices prioritise convenience, ease-of-use, and compatibility with the high-nicotine E-Liquids you’ll need to start off using when you first make the switch.

Disposable vapes are by far the easiest devices to use, though their cost will stack up over time—and their environmental impact is worth considering, too. For more adventurous beginners, a refillable vape kit is an excellent option.

Let’s break down the choices you have as a new vaper. For a more in-depth look at all the different types available, check out our vape kit guide.

Disposable Vapes

But if you’re making the switch to vaping from smoking, we don’t recommend you start with a nicotine-free vape, as this won’t satisfy your cravings and may lead to you going back to smoking.

For more info on disposables and how they work, check out our in-depth disposable vape guide.

Cons of Using Disposable Vaping Devices

Just because disposables are the easiest choice for newer vapers does not mean they are the only choice. There are a few drawbacks to using puff bars as your full-time device.

They’re not good for the planet, as they produce a lot of waste. They’re made of plastic, contain leftover E-Liquid, and hold a small battery inside. As a result, you’ll need to dispose of them responsibly.

Companies are currently working on finding the best way to dispose of them, but at the moment, you cannot simply discard them in your regular waste bin. They should be disposed of at your nearest recycling centre.

Secondly, all of this convenience comes at a premium. Using refillable vaping device is more cost-effective.

Again, this is something you’ll have to weigh up yourself. Disposables eliminate the learning curve and have zero setup. All the friction involved with figuring out how to charge, fill, or operate a vape kit is removed, which is excellent for beginners. All you need to do is concentrate on giving up smoking.

If you’re looking for a more long-term solution, there are many more e-cigarettes which are ideal for beginners.

Prefilled Pod Kits

Closed pod kits are ideal for beginners who don’t want the hassle of refilling or changing coils. Still, there are even cheaper and more customisable options if you choose a refillable kit.

Starter Vape Kits

Plus, a pod kit or pen is compatible with high-nicotine vape juices, like nic salt, which simulate the throat hit from cigarette smoke without all the added carcinogens and harsh chemicals.

Pod devices and vape pens are easy to set up and maintain over time, cheaper than disposables, and best of all, you get to choose your E-Liquid! This means you get the option of choosing your nicotine strength, deciding between a nicotine salt and a freebase E-Liquid, and finding your favourite E-Liquid flavours.

With thousands upon thousands of options on the market, the vape world is your oyster when you choose a refillable vaping device.

Advanced Vape Kits

Advanced vape kits, or sub-ohm vape kits, are designed for more experienced vapers employing a Direct-to-Lung vaping style (more on this later).

These bulky kits, designed for sub-ohm vaping, often have a variety of settings and options, from temperature control to variable wattage. A sub-ohm kit will usually have a high power output and provide a much longer battery life than other types of devices.

Some sub-ohm kits even require an external battery (or batteries) to operate. 18650 batteries are the most common type used in these devices. The upside of removable batteries is that you can charge them separately and keep spares as a backup, and they offer better battery life overall.

One downside to sub-ohm vaping is that you cannot vape high-nicotine juices. In fact, the recommended maximum is 6mg, though 3mg is the sweet spot. This is because the high power output delivers large clouds of vapour, which would create a very unpleasant feeling at higher nicotine strengths.

While these e-cigarettes are highly customisable and have better battery life, we do not recommend them for beginners simply due to the vastly confusing settings. Plus, sub-ohm vapers have to mix their own nicotine shots, find the correct E-Liquids for their coils, and understand the settings. New vapers are better off starting with a much simpler device.

What are the Different Vaping Styles?

There are three main vaping styles: MTL, DTL, and RDTL. Each one denotes the way vapour is inhaled into the lungs from an e-cigarette. It’s important to understand which vaping style you fall under before purchasing a vape kit.

Mouth-to-Lung (MTL)

Mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping, is the most common vaping style. If you’re a new vaper making the switch, you’re most likely an MTL vaper.

Mouth-to-lung is essentially the way that we smoke conventional cigarettes. Think of it like drinking from a straw: a two-part process where you suck the vapour into your mouth and then inhale it into your lungs. This vape style is known for its sharper throat hit, higher nicotine strength, more discreet vapour production.

MTL vape kits—like disposables, starter pod systems, and vape pens—are built for Mouth-to-Lung.

Direct-to-Lung (DTL)

Direct-to-Lung (DTL) vaping is more akin to smoking shisha or a water pipe. Better yet, it’s how you breathe: straight into your lungs. DTL e-cigarettes have much wider airflow configurations and use a thicker E-Liquid blend to create larger clouds.

Direct-to-Lung vaping is mostly found in sub-ohm devices used by advanced vapers with lower nicotine strengths and E-Liquids that are higher in vegetable glycerine.

Restricted Direct-to-Lung (RDTL)

RDTL, or RDL vaping, is a cross between Mouth-to-Lung and Direct-to-Lung. This style is generally considered an airier MTL, with equal parts throat hit and vapour production. As you become more comfortable with vaping, you may shift toward RDTL.

You’ll likely find that a number of pod devices offer both MTL and RDTL styles, which usually means that you can adjust the airflow on the device to be tighter or looser to better suit your preferences.

Choosing an E-Liquid

Once you have your first vape kit, you’ll need to choose your vape juice. With tens of thousands of E-Liquid flavours available to set your taste buds alight, it can be hard to decide. You’ll want to take into account nicotine strength, nicotine type, and E-Liquid type above all else. We go into more detail about choosing the best vape juice for you in our in-depth beginner’s guide to E-Liquids if you’re looking for more information.

How Much Nicotine Do I Need?

There are lots of different nicotine strengths available, which will vary depending on the type of E-Liquid you choose. Some people who want to give up their traditional cigarette habit choose to go nicotine-free, but this isn’t the wisest choice.

The nicotine strength you choose should be determined by how many cigarettes you would normally smoke per day.

Remember: you’re vaping to quit tobacco smoke, so you don’t need to go nicotine-free from the jump. Don’t be a hero. Make sure you’re getting enough nicotine to satisfy your cravings as you quit. You can lower your nicotine strength over time as your desire to smoke wanes.

What Type of Nicotine Should I Buy?

There are two different types of nicotine, each offering a different range of nicotine strengths. They also serve different functions. If you’re a new vaper, we recommend nicotine salts.

When comparing Nic Salts vs 50/50 E-Liquids, you should take into account your needs. If you still feel strong nicotine cravings, it’s a good idea to opt for salt nicotine, as it’ll provide a higher dose of nicotine much quicker than freebase will. Still, freebase does have its upsides.

Nicotine Salt

Nicotine salts—also known as salt nicotine, salt nic, nic salt, and variations thereupon—are a form of nicotine created by adding an acid to the nicotine molecule (usually, salicylic, lactic, or benzoic acid).

This reduces the pH level of the nicotine, which helps to produce a smoother throat hit at higher strengths compared to freebase nicotine. Plus, the lower pH value allows the nicotine to enter the blood stream faster, resulting in a much quicker nicotine delivery.

Salt nicotine is available in 5mg, 10mg, and 20mg nicotine strengths, though the standard is 20mg. Not all manufacturers produce 5mg or 10mg options.

Nicotine salt E-Liquid has really taken off in the last few years and is highly recommended for new vapers.

Freebase Nicotine

“Freebase” is the form of nicotine found in cigarettes. This type of nicotine can be found in freebase 50/50 E-Liquids, as well as the nic shots used to add nicotine to shortfills (more on these later).

Freebase nicotine is known for its strong throat hit and prolonged nicotine delivery. With freebase, the nicotine takes longer to kick in, but it lasts in the blood stream longer than nic salts do.

The higher the nicotine strength, the sharper freebase will feel on your throat—whereas salt nicotine will feel smooth regardless of your chosen strength. For new vapers using a high strength, this can often feel too harsh, which is why many opt for salt nic over freebase.

Another upside to freebase is that it’s available in strengths as low as 3mg (all the way up to 18mg)—so, when you’re ready to start tapering your nicotine intake, you can switch to freebase to wean yourself down.

VG/PG Ratio

VG/PG ratios are present in every E-Liquid. These two ingredients make up the base of every E-Liquid. Their ratio determines the types of e-cigarettes that will be compatible with a given E-Liquid.

What are the Different E-Liquid Types?

There are 4 main E-Liquid types: freebase 50/50 E-Liquids and nicotine salts, which are used in low-powered MTL devices, as well as shortfills and 100% VG E-Liquids, which require high-powered sub-ohm DTL devices to use.

Coils and Pods

Coils and pods are the replaceable parts of your e-cigarette. Your device will usually require one of these to be replaced every week or two, though the frequency of upkeep will depend on how you vape, how much you vape, and the E-Liquid you choose.

Vape Coils

Every e-cigarette houses a coil, otherwise known as an atomiser. This piece of metal conducts electricity from the battery to heat the E-Liquid to create vapour. In the case of disposable vapes or prefilled pods, the coils are built into the device and cannot be replaced.

If you look closely at a coil, you’ll notice small holes around the circumference with pieces of cotton inside. These pieces of cotton—called wicking material—absorb the E-Liquid in order for the coil to create vapour.

Since we’re talking about tiny pieces of cotton, it makes sense that these would degrade over time. All coils have a lifespan, and coil life will depend on a number of factors, including the sweetness of your E-Liquid and how frequently you vape, among other factors.

You can tell that a coil has reached the end of its lifespan when it starts to taste burnt or begins losing its flavour.

Coils can be either replaceable or non-replaceable, which is the case with pods that have built-in coils. In practice, built-in coils tend to degrade slightly faster than changeable coils, though for many vapers, changing replaceable coils can feel like a chore.

There are two main types of coils: high-resistance and low-resistance. Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).

Conclusion

Vaping can be extremely confusing when you first get started, and it can even be daunting enough to send you back to traditional cigarette smoking. Fear not: we’re here to help.

Once you’ve got the basics down, you’ll realize you only need a few things to get started: a vape, some E-Liquid, and replacement pods or coils. And if you choose to go the disposable vape route, all you’ll need is a supply of e-cigarettes.

A vape or an e-cigarette is your best option if you’re trying to quit smoking thanks to its high success rate. Plus, the flavour options are endless.

We’ve compiled an array of other new vaper guides to help you get started on your journey, but if you’re overwhelmed by the process or you’re ever in need of assistance, our expert team of vapers in our vape shop is on standby to assist. You can contact us via phone, live chat, or email for assistance at any point in your journey.