Everything You Need to Know About Vaping: A Beginner's Guide – Ecigone

Vaping - Everything You Need to Know

So, you want to get into vaping - great! You’ll be joining millions of people who have opted for a healthier lifestyle by ditching the cigarettes. But what is it? How does it work? You may have a lot more questions like that, and I can see the intimidating nature of it. Not to fear, though; I have created this helpful guide to help you grasp the principles of vaping and by the end, you will be ready to start your vaping adventure. Let's start!

Defining Vaping

Originally dubbed e-cigarettes, vaping is the usage of a device providing nicotine without burning tobacco. This means that rather than smoke, the vapour you produce is steam, eliminating the harmful compounds often inhaled from cigarette smoke.

The word e-cigarettes is out of date; in this day and age, the device you use for vaping is either a vape, vape kit, or vape device, therefore reflecting the action of vaping and severing its association with smoking.

The History of Vaping

You’ll be forgiven for thinking that vaping was invented this side of the year 2000. But in actual fact, the world’s first patent for an e-cigarette was filed in April 1963! I know, I was as surprised as you are!

Herbert A. Gilbert developed a concept for a smokeless, battery-powered, tobacco-free vape that used flavoured water. Unfortunately, his design missed out on a key ingredient of e-liquid—nicotine—and the patent expired before he could commercialise it—lousy luck, old boy.

Now, we jump forward to 1979, when Phil Ray and his personal physician, Dr. Norman Jacobson, used the term ‘vaping’ for the first time. Together, they developed a heat-free, non-combustible nicotine delivery system. While it did make it to retailers, it was ultimately a failure, and Jacobson attributes that to the technology being inherently faulty.

Things truly started to take off in the 2000s. Tobacco firms developed their own "safe" nicotine replacements in the shape of gum and patches, so NRTs (nicotine replacement therapies) were born.

Responding to losing his father to a smoking-related ailment, Chinese chemist Hon Lik created the first completely working e-cigarette in 2003—the "cig-a-like." He realised that you didn’t just need to satisfy the nicotine cravings but also the hand-to-mouth fixation.

Now we reach the present day, and in the 22 years since the cig-a-like was born, vaping has come a heck of a long way. From countless e-liquids and high-tech vape kits to the popular disposable vapes and everything in between, they’ve helped millions of smokers (including myself) all over the world quit the habit for good.

Vaping - The Basics

With that history lesson over, I think it’s time to show you how vaping works! No matter what kind of vape kit you use, they all work in the same way:

Activation - When you press the firing button or inhale on the vape, the battery heats an element surrounding a wicking material.
Heating - The wicking material is soaked with e-liquid, and as this is heated up by the element, your e-liquid turns into vapour.
Vapour - You then inhale the vapour into your lungs and exhale, producing a cloud of vapour.

Vaping - The Benefits

Vaping has been proven again and again to be far better for your health than smoking and has helped millions of people quit the habit. In fact, it's 60% more effective at helping you quit than any other over-the-counter nicotine delivery systems.

Research has shown that it is at least 95% safer for you than smoking, and the benefits of quitting smoking start after just 20 minutes.

Your sense of smell and taste will return to normal in just two days, and your lung function will improve dramatically in just a few months. In a year, your risk of heart disease is cut in half, and the potential for a stroke is heavily reduced.

Switching to vaping has financial benefits too! If you smoked a pack of cigarettes a day, you could save up to £1000 a year by vaping. You’ll also stop constantly smelling like tobacco smoke - and let’s be real, it’s a pretty gross smell.

Finally, your friends and family will also benefit, as it has been proven that there is no risk from secondhand vaping, unlike cigarette smoke.

Getting Started With Vaping

Now you know how vaping can improve your life, you probably want to learn how to actually get started! Well, keep reading, as I’ll talk you through each step to get you started on your vaping journey.

Vaping Styles

Vaping is split into three distinct styles: Mouth to Lung (MTL) Direct to Lung (DTL), and Restricted Direct to Lung (RDL). Here’s how they work:

MTL - MTL vaping is a style that is very similar to smoking and mimics the draw of a cigarette, making it perfect if you’re an ex-smoker looking to switch over to vaping. You inhale the vapour into your mouth and then into your lungs before exhaling.
DTL - DTL vaping is designed for more experienced vapers. If you’ve seen people blowing out huge, dense clouds, that’s DTL vaping. You inhale the vapour directly into your lungs before exhaling. If you’re new to vaping, this might be a bit too intense for you, so I'd recommend starting with MTL first.
RDL - RDL vaping sits in between MTL and DTL. You can enjoy a DTL hit with MTL restriction, so it’s a great option for transitioning between the two.

When you start vaping, it’s important to figure out what kind of vaping style you want to go for. Ex-smokers will benefit from the throat hit and similarities to smoking that MTL has, while if you want to blow out massive clouds, then DTL is ideal. Of course, if you feel neither of those fit, you can always opt for RDL. Deciding this early on will help you make decisions further down the line.

Vape Kits

Vape kits are where things get exciting. Just like with vaping styles, which vape kit you choose will determine how you’ll vape, including the vaping style mentioned above. Let’s look at the different kinds of vape kits available and what they do.

Disposable Vape Kits - Affordable, practical, and incredibly user-friendly, disposable vapes are the most often used vape kits available worldwide. They come prefilled with 2ml of 20mg nicotine intensity e-liquid and use MTL; you toss them away once the battery or vape juice runs out. I would advise investing in one of the other kits on this list, though, as disposable vapes will be outlawed in the UK by June 2025.
Prefilled Pod Vape Kits—Prefilled pod vape kits are similar to disposables in that the pods used are prefilled with 2ml, 20mg e-liquid and use MTL, and when they run out, you throw them away. But they differ because they come with a rechargeable battery device, so there is far less waste, and they are much cheaper in the long run.
Refillable Pod Vape Kits - Refillable pod vape kits are the next most popular vape kit, and for good reason. Like prefilled pod vape kits, they come with a rechargeable battery device and use MTL (although some can handle RDL). Still, instead of a prefilled pod, they come with refillable pods, meaning you can top them up with an e-liquid of your choice, making them a much more flexible option. The pods have a built-in coil, and once your coil has reached the end of its lifespan, you must throw it away and use a fresh one.
Starter Vape Kits - Starter vape kits provide excellent value for money and even less waste than a refillable pod vape kit. They come with an MTL tank, a replaceable coil, and a rechargeable battery device and are usually in the style of a classic vape pen. Most starter kits let you enjoy both MTL and RDL, so you can experiment, but the removable coil increases its complexity, so you may need a little more experience before moving on to one of these vape kits.
Advanced Pod Kits - Advanced pod kits, or pod mods, are a hybrid between a pod kit and a box mod. These vape kits can handle all vaping styles, although they are a bit more complicated, and I’d recommend having some prior knowledge of airflow, wattage, coil resistance, and coil changing before buying. They have more advanced settings than a pod kit that allows you to customise your vape, but most have presets that allow you to get to vaping straight away.
Sub-Ohm Vape Kits/Box Mods - Sub-Ohm vape kits are the most complicated, but the most rewarding once you can get to grips with them. Both those and box mods allow you to heavily customise your vaping setup, from tanks and coils to all manner of settings. Designed primarily for DTL vaping, they will enable you to puff out big, dense vapour clouds. Because of the knowledge needed for customisation, along with the harshness of DTL vaping, if you’re unfamiliar with it, I suggest new vapers stick to MTL vaping before moving up to these vape kits.

Components of a Vape Kit

So, those are the types of vape kits available, but what are they made up of? Each vape kit, no matter what you choose, will have some variation of the following components:

Mouthpiece - Designed for comfort when you inhale on your vape, the mouthpiece will differ in size depending on the vaping style it’s made for.
Tank/Pod - The piece of the vape kit that holds your e-liquid, which surrounds the coil. Due to the UK TPD (Tobacco Product Directive), the capacity of tanks and pods is limited to 2ml. Disposable and prefilled pods, are non-refillable, and pod kits and beyond are refillable.
Coil - Made of a heating element wrapped around a wicking material, the coil vaporises the e-liquid soaked up by the wicking material when heated.
Battery - Made of a lithium-ion cell, vape batteries heat the coil and run the device. Whereas some kits are rechargeable via a USB port, disposable vapes include a pre-charged battery.

Vape Kit Maintenance

If you don’t look after your vape kit properly, it can lead to it not working properly or even breaking. Disposable vapes are the easiest to look after since they don’t require any maintenance! Pod kits and beyond require regular maintenance. Cleaning the contacts on your battery device and pod will ensure a stable connection, and if you have a vape kit with a tank, this will need to be taken apart and rinsed in warm water to remove any residue build-up to keep it in good working order.

Coils are particularly important to maintain. You should always prime your coil before use to ensure no dry hits or coil burning. If you get a burnt taste when vaping, the wicking material has singed, and your coil is no longer usable. We’ve got a great guide to coil priming so you can get the most out of your coils.

Vaping - E-liquids

Once you know your vaping style and what vape kit you want to get, it’s time to choose your e-liquid! There are thousands of different flavours available and a few different types on the market, but let’s start with what e-liquids are.

Defining E-liquids

An e-liquid is a liquid added to a vape tank or pod, heated by the coil and transformed into vapour bearing both flavour and nicotine. While some e-liquids create huge vapour clouds and have a far stronger taste, others concentrate on nicotine delivery with a more subdued taste. Your choice of vape kit will determine what sort you use.

What Are E-liquids Made Of?

Four chemicals make up e-liquids: nicotine, flavouring, vegetable glycerine (VG), and propylene glycol (PG). The nicotine satisfies cravings that many ex-smokers will have, while flavourings make your vape more enjoyable. VG and PG are where the main differences are.

VG is a thick, slightly sweet liquid derived from plants. It produces thick vapour clouds and a strong flavour when heated at a high temperature. Most high-powered kits work best with a high VG e-liquid.

PG is a thinner, odourless liquid found in many food products. Vaporised at lower temperatures, high PG e-liquids are ideal for usage in low-powered devices like pod kits. They also offer the throat hit that many ex-smokers will love and carry nicotine well.

The Types of E-liquid

Examining Ecigone's e-liquid line, you will find three primary varieties for vape juices: freebase, nic salts, and shortfill. Which one you choose is once again influenced by the kind of vape kit you have.

Freebase - Freebase e-liquids are the original type of e-liquid. They have a very alkaline PH value, which causes quite a harsh throat hit and goes up to a max of 18mg nicotine strengthAlso absorbed rather slowly, nicotine offers a more drawn-out hit. For MTL vape kits, particularly if you want a throat hit akin to a cigarette, they are fantastic.
Nic Salts - These are developed from freebase e-liquids by adding an acid, typically benzoic, therefore lowering the PH to a more neutral level. For MTL vaping, nic salts give a far more seamless throat hit and let the body absorb nicotine in roughly six seconds. Because of their rapid nicotine hit and smoother vape, nic salts—which go up to a max of 20mg of nicotine—are the favourite e-liquid choice for many novice vapers.
Shortfill - For DTL vapers, shortfill e-liquids are the recommended vape juice. Their regular nicotine content is 0mg, and they usually have a far greater VG level than both nic salts and freebase e-liquids. They come in 50ml + bottles, however, if you still want a nicotine hit you may add nicotine to them in the form of nic shots. They perform best in high-powered sub-ohm vape kits since the thickness of VG means it can only vaporise correctly at higher temperatures.

Which E-liquid Should I Purchase?

What e-liquid you choose depends primarily on what vape kit you have:

Freebase & Nic Salt - Low-powered vape kits like disposable vapes, prefilled pod kits, refillable pod kits, starter kits and advanced pod kits - MTL/RDL vaping.
Shortfill - High-powered vape kits such as sub-ohm vape kits and box mods - DTL/RDL vaping.

I recommend new vapers start with a freebase or nic salts in a low-powered vape kit to get the hang of vaping first. You can then proceed to high-powered kits and shortfills when you feel at ease with it. Though they are more difficult to grasp, these let you tailor your set-up and have many more options.

Summary

So there you have it - a crash course on how to begin your vaping journey! I understand that vaping can look confusing on the surface, but hopefully, this guide has broken it down into bite-sized chunks, allowing you to better understand vaping as a whole - I wish I had a guide like this when I first started out!

If you need more help and guidance, Ecigone has plenty of helpful guides to fill in the gaps and numerous informational blogs to keep you clued in on all the latest vaping developments!