
What is the Best Wattage to Vape at?
Navigating wattage is a crucial element of vaping that can open up a world of wonderful experiences. Understanding it is key for beginners and veterans alike - if you want perfect vapour clouds and exquisite flavours, getting your wattage right is the place to start.
But what is wattage, and how does it affect your vaping experience? Fear not—this handy guide will answer all those questions and more!
How Does Wattage Affect Your Vape?
The power your vape device outputs is measured in wattage. By changing the wattage, you can adjust the temperature of your coil and alter the flavour, vapour, and throat hit. Many vape devices have settings that let you adjust this manually, allowing you to quickly find the sweet spot that's right for you.
Wattage and Vaping
Wattage is a key component in vaping. It acts as your device's power unit to create heat from the coil. This level of heat can change the flavour and cloud density of your vape, meaning that by controlling it, you can tailor the experience exactly to your liking.
Low wattage is your best friend if you prefer a more subtle flavour with a smoother hit. If you prefer more voluminous vapour clouds and a stronger flavour, then high wattage is the way to go! This flexibility allows you excellent control over your vaping experience right down to the last puff.
Vaping and Different Wattage Levels
Wattage is all about nuance. Changing it by just a few points can alter the experience in subtle ways, such as intensity and quality. Low wattages mean a lower coil temperature, resulting in a cooler vape, which in turn produces a milder flavour and a much smoother throat hit.
On the other hand, high wattages heat the coil more for a warmer vape that produces a much stronger flavour and throat hit. If you're after a more relaxed experience with more subtle undertones, then low wattage is perfect for you. But if you prefer a bold and vibrant experience, then you'll feel right at home with a high wattage.
Vape Kits and Their Wattage
These days, most vape kits come with built-in power settings that allow vapers to adjust the power output on the fly. Thanks to this, all your favourite e-liquid flavours can be brought to life in exciting ways.
Not all vape kits have the same power level, though. Pod vape kits, one of the most popular types of vape devices, tend to have a max power output of 5-30W that is usually adjustable, as this allows for the cooler coil temperature discussed above.
Higher-powered devices like sub-ohm vape kits are far more potent than pod kits because they use high VG e-liquids requiring higher vaporisation temperatures. They usually have a max power output of 50-100W, which is always adjustable for these kits.
Adjustable power is vital as it allows vapers to enjoy all the nuances of vaping in one device, something that veteran vapers will appreciate and new vapers will find very convenient!
What Wattage is Enough?
Wattage is dependent on three factors: battery, coil, and e-liquid. These three factors determine what is enough. The capacity of the battery plays a big part in the power output—the bigger the battery, the bigger the output. Coils come in different resistances, and these resistances need a certain amount of wattage to do their job properly.
Finally, different e-liquids respond better to different power outputs. For example, a 50VG/50PG e-liquid performs best at a low wattage, say 30 and below, while a 70VG/30PG e-liquid requires much higher power to provide the best experience.
What Wattage is Best For Me?
Deciding on the power output that's best for you depends on how you like to enjoy your vaping sessions - when it comes down to it, it's a personal choice.
10-30W is ideal for those who want a smoother, cooler vape with a mild flavour. 30-50W will satisfy those who prefer a warmer vape with rich flavours for a more balanced experience. 60W and above is recommended for more experienced vapers and delivers dense vapour clouds, strong throat hits and intense flavour production.
Wattage and Vaping Styles
If you're an experienced vaper, you'll know that vaping styles are another factor that relies on power output. For you new vapers out there, let me explain.
Vaping has three distinct styles - MTL (Mouth to Lung), RDL (Restricted Direct Lung), and DTL (Direct to Lung). Once again, which one you choose is personal preference.
MTL vaping is primarily found in low power devices like pod kits. Vapour is first inhaled into the mouth, and then into the lungs. It's designed to more closely mimic smoking cigarettes, and is perfect for those who are switching over to vaping and are looking for a similar experience.
RDL vaping sits in the middle. Some pod kits as well as sub-ohm kits can utilise this style. Vapour is inhaled directly into the lungs like with DTL vaping, but with a more restricted airflow like with MTL vaping. This style is ideal for those who want the best of both worlds.
DTL vaping is at the other end of the spectrum. The vapour is inhaled directly into the lungs with no airflow restriction. This style is almost exclusive to high powered devices like sub-ohm kits and provides strong flavours and large vapour clouds.
The Capabilities of Your Vape
When considering which vape kit to buy, it's essential to consider their different capabilities and wattage ranges.
Low-Powered Vape Kits
Low-powered devices such as disposable vapes and pen-style vapes are designed to closely replicate smoking and usually have a wattage between 7 and 15W. This is more than enough power to give the feeling of smoking a cigarette. These beginner-friendly kits tend to also have a fixed wattage, making them more beginner-friendly.
Mid-Powered Vape Kits
The next step up is mid-powered vape kits. We're talking about your refillable pod and pod mod devices here. They tend to have a wattage range of 40-50W and sometimes allow for manual adjustment, letting vapers who know their way around a device play with flavour intensity and vapour production.
High-Powered Vape Kits
Your high-powered kits are the Sub-Ohm and RTA/RDA devices. These kits jump right up, tend to have a 50-200W range, and always have manual adjustment. This allows vapers to fully explore the depth of flavour in their e-liquids and generate huge amounts of vapour, making them an ideal choice for experienced vapers.
Wattage and Vaping Styles
If you're an experienced vaper, you'll know that vaping styles are another factor that relies on power output. For you new vapers out there, let me explain.
Vaping has three distinct styles: MTL (mouth-to-lung), RDL (Restricted Direct Lung), and DTL (direct-to-lung). Once again, which one you choose is a personal preference.
MTL vaping is primarily found in low-power devices like pod kits. Vapour is first inhaled into the mouth and then into the lungs. It's designed to mimic smoking cigarettes closely and is perfect for those who are switching over to vaping and are looking for a similar experience.
RDL vaping is in the middle. Some pod kits and sub-ohm kits can utilise this style. Vapour is inhaled directly into the lungs, like with DTL vaping, but with more restricted airflow, like with MTL vaping. This style is ideal for those who want the best of both worlds.
DTL vaping is at the other end of the spectrum. The vapour is inhaled directly into the lungs with no airflow restriction. This style is almost exclusive to high-powered devices like sub-ohm kits and provides intense flavours and large vapour clouds.
The Best Wattage for the Different Styles
MTL, RDL and DTL are terms you may have heard in the vaping sphere but don't know what they mean. Let me enlighten you. MTL stands for Mouth to Lung and refers to inhaling and holding vapour in the mouth and then into the lungs. DTL stands for Direct to Lung, which means inhaling vapour directly into the lungs. RDL stands for Restricted Direct to Lung and sits in between MTL and RDL, allowing a looser draw while mostly keeping the feel of MTL.
Now you know what we're talking about, let's take a look at what wattage is best for each style:
MTL - 7-25W is the perfect range, as lower wattages produce a cooler, looser vapour more akin to smoking.
RDL - 20-40W is ideal for RDL, as it needs a little more oomph and helps balance flavour and vapour production nicely.
DTL - 40-200W makes for a great DTL experience. The higher wattage produces a thicker, warmer vapour, allowing big clouds and a much more intense flavour.
Summary
As you've seen, wattage is a huge component in getting your vaping experience just right. From components like batteries and coils to the different vaping styles, what wattage you choose directly affects your experience. Hopefully, with this guide in hand, you'll be able to find the components and devices you need to get the exact power output for your vaping session.
Remember, whatever you choose, do your research, vape responsibly, and most importantly - have fun.
Wattage FAQs
What wattage should I use my vape at?
This depends on the style of vaping you want. MTL vaping should be done at 7-25W, RDL vaping at 20-40W, and DTL at 40-200W.
Does higher wattage mean more flavour?
Yes! A higher wattage means the coil heats up more, producing a more intense flavour. Just make sure you're using an e-liquid suitable for a higher wattage—something with a high VG content will do the trick.
Is it better to vape at high or low wattage?
Lower wattage produces less vapour and a more subtle flavour, while high wattage brings a more intense flavour and far more significant vapour clouds. What you decide on is up to your personal preference.