Vaping has taken over the world and is particularly popular as an alternative to smoking cigarettes. If you’re new to vaping, it’s easier to get started than you think. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is vaping?
Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling vapor created by an electronic cigarette or similar device. The device heats a liquid to produce vapor using cartridges that contain a liquid containing nicotine, flavor, and chemicals.
If you’re not already a smoker, it’s not recommended, but for those who want to quit cigarettes, vaping has been found to be much safer.
Types of vaping
There are two main types of vaping devices. Mouth To Lung (MTL) works similar to a cigarette – you pull the vapor into your mouth and then inhale as a secondary motion. Most smokers will use this as it’s a familiar habit. Direct Lung (DL) vaping is different and is much more powerful – it sees the user fill their lungs with vapor quickly in a deep breath.
Choosing a device depends on the strength of experience you want.
How does a vape work?
A vape has three parts – the battery supplies power to the device, the tank is where the liquid is stored and is interchangeable, and the atomiser (with coil and wick) vaporises the liquid. The atomiser’s wick absorbs the e-liquid, then the user presses a button the battery – or simply inhales, depending on the model – which powers the coil, vaporising the liquid.
About eliquid
Eliquids come in a range of flavors, strengths and types – with the main ingredients being propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine and flavor concentrates. There’s also the option for nicotine, but you need to check your local laws about the purchase of nicotine-based vapes.
Some of the most popular flavors include fruit such as watermelon and mango, desserts like sticky date pudding and mint slice, menthol and mint, even plain tobacco flavor.
Vaping equipment
When starting out, your best bet is to purchase a starter kit as this will have everything you need for your first vaping experience, including batteries, cartridges, chargers and vape pen.
Mods are also similar to starter kits with everything you need, but they are larger and generally provide more power for longer vaping. Some mods have separate tanks and batteries, but they’re not generally recommended for beginners, so make sure you get the right advice from the seller before you make a decision.
Pods are another form of vaping that are becoming increasingly popular, operating in a similar way to starter kits but they’re usually smaller. There are closed systems, which means you buy pre-filled pods that you can dispose of once done; and open systems which work much the same as regular devices that you can fill with your own eliquid. Pods are much smaller than typical vapes.
Another option if you’re just starting out is disposables. These give you the chance to decide if vaping is for you, or not. You simply use these until the battery dies or the juice is gone, and then throw it away. They’re often cheaper than regular vapes, but the batteries don’t last long.
Keeping safe
Be sure to keep safety in mind when you’re starting out vaping. Make sure you only use the vaping charger that’s been made for that particular battery (will prevent overheating), remove the battery as soon as fully charged, don’t store batteries together and ensure terminals don’t touch each other, and keep the batteries out of sunlight or heat. Keep your e-liquids in a cool, dark place in the house, out of reach of children and pets. Never lick or ingest the e-liquid as this can be extremely dangerous, and if you do touch it, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
Finally, if you have any further concerns or you want advice on whether it’s right for you, talk to your GP!