A Beginner's Guide to Vape Kits
If you're considering diving into the vaping world but feel overwhelmed by the various options and terminology, this guide is here to help you navigate the landscape with ease. Choosing the right vape starter kit is crucial, particularly when transitioning from smoking to vaping. Let's begin by understanding the components of a vape kit.
Components of a Vape Kit:
- Drip tip: The part you inhale from; it serves as a channel for vapour to travel from the coil to your lungs.
- Coil: Comprising wire and cotton, the coil absorbs e-liquid from the tank, heats it, and turns it into vapour when you press the button and inhale. Coils come in different resistances, suitable for beginners or experienced vapers.
- Tank: A plastic or glass casing surrounding the coil, holding the e-liquid.
- Battery: The power source that heats the coil to activate it. Depending on the type of vape kit, some components may vary in appearance.
Types of Vape Kits and Their Differences:
- Disposables: Discreet, lightweight, and mimicking the design of smoking, these one-time-use e-cigarettes have a limited amount of vape juice and battery life. They're a starting point but may become costly in the long run.
- Pod kits: Another lightweight option, pod kits are small and easy to carry. They offer a similar feel to smoking and usually have a higher nicotine content. Replaceable pods, sometimes refillable, make them more cost-effective than disposables.
- Vape pens: Popular among new vapers, vape pens have better battery longevity and can be charged via USB. Easy to use, they feature a quick-fire button and refillable tanks.
- Box mod kits: Typically for experienced vapers, these kits allow customization of wattage, temperature, and ventilation. They have greater battery capacity, are larger and heavier, and can be customized with different tanks.
Choosing the Right Vape Kit:
Consider these factors when selecting a vape kit:
- Nicotine strength
- How you want to vape (mouth-to-lung or direct-to-lung)
- The PG:VG ratio of your e-liquid
Adjusting nicotine strength over time is possible, and you can even opt for 0mg if you still enjoy vaping without nicotine.
Understanding PG:VG Ratios:
Propylene glycol (PG) carries flavour in your e-liquid and provides a throat hit, while vegetable glycerin (VG) contributes to vapour production. Higher PG content is ideal for beginner vape kits, while more experienced vapers can experiment with higher VG ratios for bigger clouds and smoother hits. For a full breakdown of everything that goes into e-liquid, have a look at our Ultimate Guide To E-liquids.
How to Use Your Vape:
There are two methods for using your vape:
- Mouth-to-lung (MTL): Mimicking smoking, you draw vapour into your mouth before inhaling it into your lungs. This method is suited for vapes with a coil resistance of 1 ohm or higher.
- Direct-to-lung (DTL): Preferred by experienced vapers, this method involves inhaling deeply for a more intense flavour. Sub-ohm vapes are ideal for DTL vaping.
In summary, choose a vape pen or pod kit if you prefer high nicotine content, MTL vaping, a throat hit, and strong flavour. Opt for a sub-ohm vape pen or box mod kit if you want massive vapour production, DTL vaping, a smooth throat hit, and customizable options.