The Ultimate Vaping Starter Guide
THE ULTIMATE VAPING STARTER GUIDE
Leaving cigarettes behind can be challenging and many smokers fail several times before they manage to successfully to ditch the habit. According to recent studies, vaping can be “twice as effective at helping smokers give up tobacco than other alternatives such as nicotine patches or gum”. Switching to vaping can be an intimidating process as you’re delving into an unknown world with a multitude of information to process. You’re likely to have a range of different questions. Will it work? What is MTL? How Much PG/VG do I need? What do all of these technical terms mean? Here at Ecigwizard, we want to break down all of the jargon that’s synonymous with vaping and give you a gulf of information that’s simple and easy to digest. From e-liquids to the various types of devices out there, this guide will cover everything that you need to know about vaping.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
WHAT IS VAPING?
CHOOSING YOUR FIRST VAPE KIT
HOW DO VAPE KITS WORK?
WHAT ARE VAPE COILS?
WHAT ARE E-LIQUIDS?
WHAT IS VAPING?
Vaping is defined as the action or practice of inhaling and exhaling the vapour produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device. However, here at Ecigwizard, we know that it’s much, much more than that. Vaping is a lifestyle; a choice for smokers who have made the decision to lead a less harmful lifestyle. To us, vaping means leaving cigarettes and all of their harmful chemicals behind and making a change for the better. The e-cigarette industry has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years and with the plethora of devices available on the market, it can be a daunting step to make as a beginner vaper. We intend to make that leap a little bit easier with this step-by-step guide into the foundations of vaping.
WHY MAKE THE SWITCH FROM SMOKING TO VAPING?
HEALTH
There are approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes. When burned, cigarettes create more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are toxic. While e-cigs do contain nicotine, they have far fewer harmful chemicals than a conventional cigarette and are a much safer option to satisfy a nicotine craving.
Over the past few years, health bodies such as Public Health England have been advocates of the vaping industry, stating that e-cigarettes are “95% less harmful to health than smoking”. They also state that “ former smokers who have now switched to using e-cigarettes or NRT have significantly lower levels of toxins than those who continue to smoke regular cigarettes”.
The NHS has also recently backed the vaping industry by opening the doors of two new Ecigwizard stores in their hospitals in Birmingham; the first of their kind. These are all gigantic steps towards securing a smoke-free Britain and there has never been a better time to make the switch from smoking to vaping.
VAPING IS CHEAPER THAN SMOKING
With cigarette prices steadily on the rise, now is the perfect time to save some money, whilst leading a healthier lifestyle. According to a new poll, smokers who have switched to vaping ‘save on average £346.32 a year after kicking the habit’. A 10ml bottle of e-liquid that is vaped with a device such as the Vaptio Tyro Starter Kit will usually last longer than a packet of cigarettes and prices start from just £3.29.
IT TASTES BETTER TOO!
When it comes to flavour, e-liquids knock cigarettes out of the park. There are numerous options to choose from with hundreds of different flavour profiles available. As the vaping industry expands, there are new e-juice flavours being created all the time, so you’ll never run out of new ones to try. Some of the popular options include fruit, desserts, menthol, and tobacco. We recommend starting with our most popular range of flavours, Wizmix, which has over 35 flavours to choose from.
CHOOSING YOUR FIRST VAPE KIT
Okay, now let’s move on to the devices that you use to vape. These are generally called e-cigarettes, e-cigs or vape kits and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The term e-cigarette is very generic and can refer to a multitude of devices.
First impressions are important and we want you and your vape to start off on the right track. There are so many different vaping devices on the market that it can be difficult to know which one to pick when you’re starting out. Choosing your first vape kit is an important decision as it will shape your view of vaping forever. We are here to help you make that choice and will outline which vape kit is right for you.
Below, we are going to break down the different types of e-cigarettes that are available to you.
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CIG-A-LIKES |
POD DEVICES |
MOUTH-TO-LUNG DEVICES |
SUB-OHM DEVICES |
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Cig-A-Like devices, as the name suggests, look and feel like a traditional tobacco cigarette. They are designed to simulate the sensations and actions of smoking, as a way of easing a smoker into the vaping world. These were among the very first e-cigarette devices and gained popularity due to their compact and discreet nature. A popular version of a Cig-A-Like device is the Ten Motives range. |
A pod device is a small and compact e-cigarette that often comes pre-filled with e-liquid. These e-cigs are usually equipped with cartridges like the JUUL Replacement Pods. Pod devices are an ideal choice for a starter as they're usually sleek, stylish and completely hassle-free – you don't have to worry about changing coils and filling them up with e-liquid. If you feel like a pod kit is right for you take a look at the brilliant ICON Starter Device. |
Mouth-to-lung (MTL for short) devices offer a tighter draw and are ideal for those who are just starting their vaping journey. Most of these devices have refillable tanks/pods that you can fill with your favourite e-liquid flavours. The options are endless when it comes to MTL Vape Kits. At Ecigwizard, we stock a vast range of the latest, and most popular MTL devices. |
These devices are catered towards more experienced and advanced vapers, due to the variety of settings available. Now I’m sure you’ve been walking down the high street and seen a big plume of vapour appear out of nowhere, well it was probably someone using a sub-ohm device. Sub-ohm devices are considerably larger than most e-cigs and when you vape them, you inhale directly into your lungs (similar to smoking shisha). |
DISPOSABLE E-CIGARETTES
Disposable E-Cigarettes, also known as Puff Bars, are vaping devices that are designed to be discarded once they are empty. These e-cigarettes typically come pre-filled with e-liquid, removing the messy process of filling an e-liquid tank.
Disposable vape kits are designed to be incredibly easy to use. All kits come fully charged and pre-filled with e-liquid and can be used straight out of the box. You simply have to remove the device from its packaging, draw on the mouthpiece and that’s it. Take a few slow draws on the device and it will activate. The battery will begin warming the e-liquid and generate delicious vapour.
These kits are an excellent entry point for new vapers, thanks to their likeness to cigarettes and user-friendly designs.
Learn more about disposable cigarettes with our What Are Puff Bars Guide.
HOW DO VAPE KITS WORK?
The vast majority of electronic cigarettes consist of 2 main components: a battery and a tank, and work in the same way.
WHAT ARE VAPE COILS?
Coils (also known as atomisers) are a crucial component of your vape kit and a must-have for all vapers. The coil is essentially the heart and soul of your e-cigarette. Coils are a metal heating element surrounded by cotton that is saturated by e-liquid. The coil soaks up and heats the e-liquid, to produce vapour. Coils don’t last forever, so they should be changed regularly to ensure that you get the most out of your e-cigarette. The lifespan of a coil depends on how much you use your device, so it’s always useful to have replacement vape coils lying around, just in case!
Coils are usually specific to particular devices or tanks, so it’s important that you buy the right coils for your e-cig. They come in various resistances that is measured in ohms. Generally speaking, coils with higher resistances such as 1.2, 1.6 and 1.8ohms are better for MTL vaping. Coils with a resistance below 1.0ohms are known as sub-ohm coils and they are ideal if want to take bigger draws or produce thicker clouds.
WHAT ARE E-LIQUIDS?
We’ve touched upon it a few times now, but we’ve not told you what it is, so it’s time to explain e-liquid. E-liquid (also known as e-juice and vape juice) is the substance inserted into an electronic cigarette pod, tank or capsule that gives the e-cig vapour its flavour. E-liquids are an essential product for each and every vaper. They come in a variety of flavours, sizes, nicotine strengths and consistency. E-liquids produce vapour once they have been exhaled and, as opposed to tobacco smoke, the vapour has a pleasant scent. E-liquids are made up primarily of four ingredients:
WHAT IS PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG)?
Propylene Glycol (PG) is a mixing agent which is a feature in a variety of products that you’re likely to use daily, such as body creams, makeup and various food products. PG is a non-toxic substance and it is entirely safe for consumption. In vaping, it carries the flavour of the e-liquid, which is why its found in a variety of food products. PG is used to provide a ‘throat hit’, which is intended to be similar to the sensation experienced when smoking tobacco. If you are looking for a stronger flavour with a harsher throat hit, then we recommend a higher PG based e-liquid.
WHAT IS VEGETABLE GLYCERINE (VG)?
Vegetable Glycerin (VG) is a natural mixing agent that gives the e-liquid its viscosity. The amount of VG within an e-liquid will control the amount of vapour that you can produce. It is considered a safe substance for consumption and is used common foods such as baked goods, grains, cheese and processed vegetables. If you find that an e-liquid gives off a throat hit that is too harsh, then you should consider a higher VG e-juice.
WHAT IS NICOTINE?
Nicotine is a naturally occurring substance found in plants and a number of foods, including aubergines (egg plant), potatoes and tomatoes. Nicotine is what makes vaping such an effective substitute for smoking, as vapers can satisfy their cravings without all the bad stuff associated with tobacco cigarettes. E-liquids are available in a variety of nicotine strengths, so you are able to select how much nicotine you want to vape based on your personal preferences. Nicotine also helps to provide a good throat hit, so if that’s important to you, then you should consider using an e-liquid with high nicotine strength.
E-LIQUID FLAVOURS
One of the best things about vaping is the wide choice of delicious e-liquids, and that’s all down to flavourings. E-liquid is flavoured with food-grade additives, all of which are perfectly safe to inhale.
For more information on the ingredients of e-liquids, make sure you take a look at our What is PG and VG guide!
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF E-LIQUID
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| HIGH PG E-LIQUID | 50/50 PG/VG E-LIQUID | HIGH VG E-LIQUID | NICOTINE SALT E-LIQUID |
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An excellent entry point for new vapers, these liquids provides a vape that mimics the sensations of smoking a cigarette. |
50/50 e-liquids provide you with the best of both worlds. A perfect ratio of PG for maximum flavour and satisfying throat hit, and VG for rich, smooth clouds; these juices strike an ideal balance. Compatible with the majority of vape kits, 50/50 e-juices are perfect for starter vapers and experienced vapers alike. |
High VG e-liquid typically comes in the form of Short Fills. These e-liquids produce great flavour with dense vapour, providing an ultra-satisfying vape. Also known as sub-ohm liquids, these e-juices are ideal for sub-ohm vape kits and tanks. High VG e-liquid is often nicotine-free, so you'll have to mix in some nic shots to give it that extra kick. |
Nicotine salts (or nic salts) are fast becoming the most popular choice of e-liquid within the vaping community. Nicotine Salts are designed to be absorbed into your system quicker than freebase liquids, and provide a much smoother throat hit. For more detail, take a look at our Nic Salt Guide |
PICKING YOUR E-LIQUID FLAVOUR
E-liquids come in a variety of flavours and we stock over 250 different tastes, online and in-store at Ecigwizard. From tobacco to menthol; from fruits to desserts you’re sure to find an e-liquid that tickles your taste buds. Try to experiment with different flavours in order to find a flavour profile that you really love. Take a look at Ecigwizard’s full range of e-liquid to find your perfect flavour.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT NICOTINE STRENGTH
The amount of cigarettes that you consume on a daily basis can be used as a good starting point for determining the ideal nicotine strength of your e-liquid. Heavy smokers (15+ cigarettes a day), typically find that 12-18mg are adequate concentrations to start out with. Moderate smokers find that 6-12mg e-liquids are ideal, but it all depends on the individual. Experiment with nicotine strengths to find an e-liquid that you’re comfortable with. Sub-ohm vapers tend to stick with 3-6mg strength because the nature of these devices produce larger clouds with more nicotine per puff.
To help you MTL vapers decide which nicotine strength is best for you, we have created a special WizMix Nicotine Tester Pack. With this pack, you can choose from one of three selected WizMix flavours and we will send you a bottle in each of the five nicotine strengths. You can then sample each strength and find out which one is perfect for you.
For those of you that are going to take the sub-ohm route have a look at our WizMaxx Nicotine Tester Pack.
That’s it! You’re now ready to start your vaping journey and begin leading a healthier lifestyle. Remember, if you get stuck along the way, head back to Ecigwizard, in-store or online, and we will be here to help you every step of the way.