Want to give vaping a try but not sure where to start?
Our new beginners vaping guide covers everything you need to know!
The world of vaping is exciting, but with constantly evolving technology, it can sometimes be a little confusing for new vapers. Understanding your e-cigarette is important. Your first puffs will largely influence how you think about vaping. In this beginner’s guide, you’ll find all of the information you need to have a great first experience.
An e-cigarette is a device that heats e-liquid, turning it into vapour, which delivers nicotine and flavours. E-cigarettes were designed to help smokers transition from cigarettes. Millions of people around the world say that vaping has helped them transition from smoking. According to Public Health England, e-cigarettes are 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes. You can find out more information about e-cigarettes and your health here. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about vaping, we hope this guide will help you.
Your smoking habits will dictate what type of e-cigarette you need. If you are a heavy smoker, your vaping device will need long battery life and good nicotine delivery. Battery life is measured in mAh (milliampere-hour), usually displayed on specific models either with a number, a bar, or lights. Making sure you have sufficient battery life allows you to vape on the go wherever you are. The battery/mod – What powers your vape!
Many vapes mimic the feeling of smoking a cigarette with tight airflow draw and vapour heat, optimized for higher nicotine e-liquids, which are generally advised for new vapers. The amount of power used in these vapes is usually lower, offering an experience similar to smoking. Airflow design: what’s your vape style?
Vaping allows you to inhale nicotine by heating the e-liquid to produce vapor. This satisfies nicotine cravings, but also mimics the sensation of smoking, by providing a “throat hit” that many smokers have become accustomed to. Depending on your previous smoking habits, choosing the right nicotine strength in your e-liquid is essential to enjoy a satisfying vaping experience. What E-liquid to choose?
Although choosing a first vaping device is a personal journey, this list of best-selling vape kits is a great place to start for most new vapers.
Though vaping devices come in all shapes and sizes, they can typically be broken down into two key components: the battery and the atomiser. Let’s start by looking at the battery portion of a typical vaping device.
The battery portion of a vaping device supplies power to the atomiser, which heats e-liquid and creates vapour. A typical entry-level kit uses a built-in (AKA “internal”) battery, meaning it’s a self-contained unit, which can be charged via USB-C or Micro-USB.
Most entry-level kits do not have additional functionality within the battery unit and are operated using a single button, which turns the device on/off and is held to vape. Some basic devices have no buttons at all and use a pressure activated switch to power the atomizer when you take a puff.
Advanced batteries are typically called Mods. Mods include features such as variable power, temperature control and other emerging technologies. Mods tend to be larger than basic devices, allowing for larger capacity batteries and smart chipsets.
Some mods use external batteries. This allows the user to swap out the battery on demand for a freshly charged one. If you choose a mod with an external battery, it is recommended that you always charge batteries with a dedicated external charger and always store the battery safely when not in use. For more information about battery safety visit here.
The atomiser portion of your device turns e-liquid into vapour and holds a reserve of e-liquid, ready to be vaped. The atomiser can be broken down into two key components: the tank/pod and the coil.
The terms “tank” and “pod” simply refer to the connection design of the atomiser. Typically, a tank uses the industry standard 510 connection, meaning it can be used with any compatible 510 devices. A pod, on the other hand, uses a proprietary connection, meaning it can only be used with the device it was specifically designed for.
Tanks are larger, refillable, and typically made of stainless steel and glass. Pods are usually made of food-grade plastic and can be pre-filled or refillable.
Your coil is where the magic happens. E-liquid saturates the wicking material and is vaporised by a heating element called a coil. The wicking material is usually organic cotton and the coil is most commonly kanthal wire or mesh. Coils have a limited life span which is affected by your chosen e-liquid, power output and how frequently you vape. When your device starts to lose flavour or produces a burnt flavour, it’s time to install a new coil.
There are three important things to note about the design of your coil: resistance, wattage range and airflow design.
Resistance, expressed in Ohms (Ω), tells you how easy it is for current to flow through the coil. Usually, low resistance coils are designed for higher power/wattage output and high resistance coils are designed for low power/wattage output
All Innokin coils have a designated wattage range which is written on the side of the coil and on the coil packaging. If your device features variable power, make sure you never exceed the recommended output range, as this could burn the coil. We recommend starting at the lower end of the recommended wattage range of the coil and increase to the heat to your personal preference. If your device does not feature variable power, you don’t need to worry about this.
Airflow design dictates the amount of airflow running through the tank/pod.
Mouth-to-lung (MTL) coils are designed for tight airflow, low power output and higher nicotine strengths. MTL closely recreates the experience of a cigarette. If your Innokin device features variable airflow, try the tighter draw settings at first and then adjust the airflow to find your preferred draw. Learn more about the best MTL vape tanks in 2021 here.
Direct-to-lung (DTL) coils are designed for open airflow, higher power and lower nicotine strengths. DTL vaping produces a large volume of vapour and intense flavour. If your Innokin device features variable airflow, try a more open draw for the best DTL experience.
Restricted-Direct-Lung (RDL) coils produce more vapour than MTL coils and use less power and e-liquid than DTL. RDL coils are a good choice if you are looking for more vapour and flavour than MTL and less nicotine in each puff.
E-liquid is the name given to the fluid that your device turns into vapour. It might seem like a complicated product, but really it can be broken down into four key components. Let’s take a closer look.
The first component is nicotine. Not all e-liquids contain nicotine but for most people trying to transition from smoking, this is very important. Choosing the right nicotine strength will vary from person to person, but here’s a broad guideline depending on your smoking habits:
There are two forms of nicotine commonly found in e-liquid. The first is freebase nicotine. Freebase nicotine is the standard choice in vaping, providing a slow release to the bloodstream and noticeable throat sensation in higher doses.
The second form of nicotine is nicotine salt. Nicotine salt has become more common in recent years. Compared with freebase nicotine, it releases into the bloodstream more quickly and produces a much smoother throat hit.
MTL vaping can use nicotine strengths anywhere from 3mg/ml to 50mg/ml (20mg/ml max in Europe). We recommend starting at 12mg/ml and adjusting as required.
DTL coils should use between 0-6mg/ml nicotine and should not be used with higher nicotine levels.
Vapers often choose to decrease the amount of nicotine in their e-liquid over time and may find it easier to stop vaping than it was to stop smoking. You can find a more in-depth guide to choosing the right nicotine strength here.
The next component of e-liquid is Propylene Glycol (PG). PG has a wide range of applications in food and medical products. PG has low viscosity, so it’s ideal for e-liquids designed to be used in vaping devices with small wicking ports. PG can create a stronger throat sensation when used as a large proportion of an e-liquid blend and some people are sensitive to it. If you are sensitive to PG, try using e-liquids with low PG content.
The third component of e-liquid is Vegetable Glycerine (VG). VG is derived from a range of vegetables and has a wide range of applications in food products. VG has a syrup-like viscosity and produces large amounts of vapour when heated. In addition to this, VG imparts almost no throat hit. E-liquid blends containing 70% or more VG are normally labelled “high VG” and should only be used in devices that have an appropriate wicking design.
The final component of e-liquid is flavour. Some e-liquids may use a single flavouring, while others use a blend of flavours to create a unique flavour profile. All flavourings used in e-liquids are food grade and there are thousands on the market. This means there is practically an infinite number of flavour combinations possible.
Treating your Innokin device with care is important in order to achieve a consistent vaping experience. Let’s start with setting up your new device for the first time.
1. Remove the device from packaging, taking note of the included user manual and safety guide.
2. Charge device fully using the supplied Innokin charging cable.
3. If your device uses replaceable coils, disassemble the atomiser and prime your coil by placing 2-3 drops of e-liquid on the wicking holes on the sides of the coil.
4. Reassemble atomiser, ensuring a good seal.
5. Fill atomiser with e-liquid and allow the coil to saturate (prime) for 10 minutes.
6. If your device features variable power, set it to the low end of the recommended range for your coil.
7. You’re now ready to vape! Gradually adjust the airflow and power settings of your device (where applicable) until you find a combination that provides a satisfying experience.
It’s important to regularly clean your atomiser to ensure optimal performance. Generally, it’s best to do this when changing to a new coil, or a substantially different e-liquid to what you were previously vaping.
1. Disassemble atomiser.
2. Run all components of the atomiser (except coil) under hot water.
3. Allow to air dry.
4. If installing a new coil, prime it.
5. Re-assemble atomiser and fill with e-liquid.
6. If a new coil was installed, wait 10 minutes before vaping.
Your Innokin battery/mod may be exposed to small amounts of e-liquid residue over time. This is normal but should be monitored and cleaned regularly with a paper towel, paying particular attention to the area where your device connects with the atomiser. Never submerge your device in water or apply any liquids to the exterior of your Innokin battery/mod.
Overwhelmed by vape terms and slang? Check out this Vape Glossary to learn more about what they mean.
The Endura T18II is our take on the traditional pen style vaping device. Equipped with a 1300mAh built-in battery, adjustable airflow and simple variable power, the Endura T18II is a perfect introduction to vaping. Compatible with Prism series coils, this device is designed for a smooth, tight draw, which closely mimics a traditional cigarette and enhances the flavour of your e-liquid. The large 1300mAh built-in battery ensures all day battery life when used in conjunction with medium to high strength nicotine e-liquids. This is the ideal device for transitioning smokers, who want a streamlined experience.
The Sceptre offers the same fantastic performance of the Endura T18II, with a modernised pod form factor and wider variety of vaping experiences. Equipped with a 1400mAh built-in battery, adjustable airflow and simple variable power, the Sceptre is compatible with mouth-to-lung (MTL) and restricted direct-to-lung (RDL) S-coils, making it perfect for new vapers who want to experiment with different styles of vaping. The Sceptre 1.2Ohm coil provides a smooth, tight draw, closely mimicking a cigarette. The 0.5Ohm coil allows for a more open draw and increased vapour production. This versatility, combined with simple operation and long battery life make the Sceptre a great option for any new vaper.
The Endura T22 Pro is a natural step up from devices like the T18II, with a box style form factor. Equipped with a massive 3000mAh built-in battery, four levels of variable power and the latest iteration of the Endura tank, the Endura T22 Pro delivers great mouth-to-lung (MTL) performance and all-day battery life in a simple package. The T22 Pro is compatible with our acclaimed T18E coils, which provide unrivalled flavour, a smooth, tight draw and longevity you can rely on.
The Zlide Tube is a pen style vaping device, optimised for longer battery life and simple operation. Equipped with a massive 3000mAh built-in battery, Zlide tank and smart power delivery, the Zlide Tube is a great introduction to vaping for users who require maximum battery life. The included Zlide tank features fully adjustable airflow, convenient top filling and is compatible with all Innokin Z-coils, including a substantial range of mouth-to-lung (MTL) and restricted direct-to-lung (RDL) options, with new innovative coil designs that are improving constantly.
The Coolfire Z50 is a step up from our entry level devices. Equipped with a 2100mAh built-in battery, full variable wattage and packaged with the Zlide tank, the Coolfire Z50 offers a full range of vaping experiences, all-day battery life and compatibility with a huge range of 510 threaded tanks. The included Zlide tank features fully adjustable airflow, convenient top filling and is compatible with all Innokin Z-coils, including a substantial range of mouth-to-lung (MTL) and restricted direct-to-lung (RDL) options, with new innovative coil designs that are improving constantly. The Coolfire Z50 kit is a great introduction to the world of vape mods, in a compact and simple package.
The EQ FLTR was engineered to provide transitioning smokers with a familiar experience. Degradable soft filter tips, automatic draw, and an ultra-compact form factor ensure that making the switch is simple and affordable.
The EQ FLTR allows users to choose from refillable pods and the RC pod, which is compatible with 1.2Ohm Sceptre coils. The combination of efficient power output and tight airflow make this device ideal for high nicotine strength e-liquids, which are often the best choice for heavy smokers.
The simplicity and compact design of the EQ FLTR result in a fantastic option for new vapers who require a discreet device that closely mimics the experience of smoking.
If the starter kits that we recommend are not what you’re looking for, then no worries! Innokin has launched “Find your Vape”. Simply click the link below and select the features you want on your device. It will automatically recommend three of the most compatible vapes for you.
FIND YOUR VAPEUse the “Find your Vape” link to find a vape that best suits you. Then, leave a message in the section below and let us know if this article and “Find your Vape” has been helpful. Don’t forget to mention which device it recommends. You’ll have a chance to win that same device!
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