How to Use a Vape Pen: The Beginner’s Guide

There’s a reason why many of the most popular vaping devices on the market are vape pens. It’s because vape pens offer a perfect balance between size and performance. Some vape pens are about the same size as small cigars, which is dramatically smaller than full-sized vape mods. Because they’re larger than the disposable vapes and other small vaping devices that you can buy in convenience stores, though, they offer significantly better vapor production and battery life than entry-level vaping products.

In other words, if you want a vaping device that’s going to provide the same satisfaction as a cigarette while still fitting comfortably in your pocket, you’ve got to buy a vape pen – and in this article, we’re going to provide a little Vaping 101 session to help you with your first purchase. If you’re looking for a simple guide that’ll teach you how to use a vape pen, you’re in the right place. We’re about to teach you how to vape. 

Overview: Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use a Vape Pen

We’ll begin this article with a quick step-by-step overview on how to use a vape pen. If you need more details about how to do one of these things, scroll down to find additional information.

• Take the vape pen out of the package and find the charging cable and main battery component of the device.
• Begin charging the vape pen by connecting it to your computer. Connect one end of the charging cable to your computer and connect the other end to your vape pen’s charging port. When the light on the vape pen changes color or turns off, it’s fully charged.
• Fill the vape pen’s pod or tank. Before you start vaping, wait at least five minutes for the e-liquid to absorb into the coil. To avoid a burnt taste, it’s important for the coil’s wick to be completely saturated.
• Turn the vape pen on if it has a manual fire button. You can usually do this by pressing the button five times. If your vape pen doesn’t have a manual button, it’s on as soon as a tank or pod is connected.
• Use your vape pen by puffing gently on the mouthpiece or by puffing while holding the fire button. Some vape pens support both puff-based and button-based firing.
• Refill the tank or pod when the level of e-liquid is low. Don’t try to vape until your device is completely out of e-liquid because the coil can burn if it’s allowed to dry out.
• Replace the coil or pod when your vape pen begins to produce a burnt, smoky flavor.

How to Charge a Vape Pen?

A vape pen will always come with a USB charging cable. To charge the device, simply connect it to your computer and wait for the device’s indicator light to turn off or change color. When the light changes, the vape pen is fully charged.

How to Fill a Pod-Based Vape Pen?

You might have noticed that three of the four vape pens we recommended below store their e-liquid in removable pods rather than traditional vape tanks. That’s the way the entire vaping industry is moving these days; pod-based vape pens are some of the most popular vaping devices on the market. To fill a pod-based vape pen, you’ll start by pulling the pod out of the device. Look for a filling hole covered with a silicone stopper on the side or bottom of the pod. Remove the stopper and add e-liquid through the hole until the pod is nearly full. Replace the stopper and put the pod back into the device.

How to Fill a Tank-Based Vape Pen?

If you have a device such as the Innokin Endura T18X, you have a tank-based vape pen. Like most modern vape tanks, the Endura T18X has a top-filling design that allows you to fill the tank without removing it from the device. Twist off the tank’s top hardware and add your e-liquid to the outer portion of the tank, being careful to avoid getting e-liquid inside the center air channel. Replace the top hardware after filling the tank.

How to Use a Vape Pen?

After filling your vape pen and waiting a few minutes to ensure that the wick is completely saturated with e-liquid, you’re ready to start vaping. If you have a button-activated vape pen, you may need to turn the device on. With most vape pens, you’ll do that by pressing the activation button five times quickly. The device’s light will probably blink in response. If you have a draw-activated vape pen, you can vape simply by puffing – and if you have a button-activated vape pen, you’ll vape by puffing while holding down the button. If you have a dual-mode device like the Innokin MVP Pod, you can vape with or without the button – it’s up to you.

The most important thing to remember as you learn how to use a vape pen is that you shouldn’t inhale as firmly as you would when smoking a cigarette. A small vaping device always works best when you use gentle air pressure. If you puff too firmly, you’ll end up getting e-liquid in your mouth.

How to Replace the Coil in a Vape Pen?

The atomizer coil in a vaping device is subjected to constant heat stress when you vape, and it has a finite life. Depending on how frequently you vape and what type of e-liquid you use, you can expect your vape pen’s atomizer coil to last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks before it requires replacement. When you’re no longer happy with your vape pen’s flavor quality, it’s time for a new coil. There are three different ways to replace the coil in a vape pen, and the method that you’ll need to use depends on your device’s design.

• If you use a pod-based vape pen in which the coil is a permanent part of the pod, you’ll replace the coil by replacing the entire pod. The Innokin Klypse and Innokin ArcFire function in this way.
• If you use a pod-based vape pen with a replaceable atomizer coil, you’ll replace the coil by removing the pod from the device and pulling or unscrewing the coil from the bottom of the pod. Screw in or push in a new coil and refill the pod. The Innokin EQ FLTR functions in this way.
• If you use a tank-based vape pen, you’ll replace the coil by removing the tank from the device. Unscrew the tank’s bottom hardware. In the case of the Innokin Endura Apex and Innokin Endura T18X, you’ll pull the old coil out of the tank and push in a new coil before replacing the tank’s bottom hardware. With some other tanks, you’ll find that the coil is connected to the tank’s bottom hardware. Unscrew the old coil and screw in a new one before reassembling the tank.

How to Fix Problems with Your Vape Pen?

Fix a Vape Pen That’s Not Charging

• Replace the charging cable. Most vape pens will work with any USB cable that fits the charging port and is certified for power delivery.
• Try a different USB port. Don’t use a quick-charging wall adapter for a mobile phone, tablet or computer.
• Clean your vape pen’s charging port. You can remove dust and lint with a thin item such as a toothpick.

Fix a Vape Pen That’s Not Hitting

• Charge the battery. If your vape pen isn’t charging when you connect it to a power source, you’ll need to troubleshoot that issue.
• Turn the vape pen on. If your vape pen has a manual fire button, you can usually do this by pressing the button five times. If the device doesn’t have a button, it should turn on when a pod or tank is connected.
• Remove the pod or tank and confirm that the area under it is dry. If the pod or tank has leaked, dry your vape pen thoroughly with a paper towel.
• Replace the pod or coil if your vape pen still isn’t hitting.

Fix Weak Hits with a Vape Pen

• Increase the power level if your vape pen has adjustable wattage or voltage.
• Experiment with different airflow settings if your vape pen has adjustable airflow. You may find that closing the airflow slightly makes the vapor feel warmer and more intense.
• Increase your nicotine strength if higher-strength e-liquids are available in your area.
• Try a different e-liquid flavor. Flavors with “ice” in their names contain menthol, which reduces throat hit. You might prefer a flavor that creates a more assertive sensation in your throat.

Fix a Burnt Taste with a Vape Pen

• Refill your tank or pod if it’s empty.
• Decrease the power level if your vape pen has adjustable wattage or voltage.
• Replace your pod or coil if your vape pen produces a burnt, smoky flavor. A vape will begin to taste burnt eventually as e-liquid residue builds up on the coil. Your coil will also burn out more quickly if your e-liquid is sweetened.

How to Choose the Right Vape Pen for Your Needs?

As we bring this article to a close, we’d like to finish with a quick buyer’s guide that you might find helpful if you’re just getting started and haven’t chosen your vape pen yet. These general tips will apply to you regardless of where you are in your vaping journey. See our list of the best vape pens if you’re looking for specific product recommendations.

Find the Right Balance Between Portability and Power

The more powerful a vape pen is, the larger it tends to be. Powerful vape pens also tend to cost more than entry-level devices, so you’ll need to find a balance between portability and power that works for you. If you’re a new vaper, a high level of power may not be what you need. A smaller and more portable vape pen can provide a very cigarette-like experience when it’s paired with a high-strength nicotine salt e-liquid, and that may be exactly the type of experience that you want.

Find the Right Balance Between Simplicity and Flexibility

A vape pen with a very simple design may be what you want if you’re just beginning your transition from smoking to vaping. On the other hand, if you’re an experienced vaper or don’t mind tinkering with gadgets to improve your experience, you may like a vape pen that gives you options such as adjustable wattage and multiple coil or pod choices.

Choose Between Built-in and Removable Coils

If you’re buying a pod-based vape pen, you’ll have an important choice to make because some pods have built-in coils, and others have removable coils. A pod system with built-in coils is simpler to use because you’ll discard the entire pod when it begins to taste burnt. On the other hand, a pod system with removable coils gives you more room for customization and will cost less to operate in the long run because replacement coils cost less than complete pods with pre-installed coils. That could be important to you if you prefer sweetened e-liquid because sweeteners cause coils to burn out more quickly.