Vaping for Beginners
So you are making the switch to vaping huh? It’s normal not to have everything figured out just yet.
There is a lot to wrap your head around. That’s why we have prepared this beginner's guide on vaping that will orient you to the basics and everything you need to get started.
What is Vaping?
Simply put, vaping is the modern way of smoking.
Vapers use devices called e-cigarettes/e-cigs/vapes. They are powered by batteries that heat atomizers/coils, which vaporize vape juice/e-liquids/e-juice into an inhalable aerosol.
Vaping Methods
You might have seen vapers with different devices producing huge or small clouds of smoke. That depends on the method of vaping they are using.
There are two major vaping methods; MTL and DTL vaping. MTL means Mouth to Lungs and DTL means Direct to Lungs.
MTL (also called the classic method) is the simplest method of vaping which simulates smoking a cigarette. You just take a puff like you would when smoking a cigarette. MTL is the beginner's recommended vaping method.
DTL involves inhaling directly into the lungs. Sub-Ohm vaping, a popular vaping style by most experienced vapers, is also a form of DTL vaping.
We have a comprehensive guide to DTL, MTL, and Sub-Ohm vaping that explains these methods in depth and the best devices to use for each style.
Is Vaping Safe?
Vaping wasn’t so popular until a decade and a half ago. During this time, there have been multiple studies and reviews of evidence presented regarding vaping. Credible sources have established that vaping is 95% less harmful than smoking cigarettes.
Vaping isn’t risk-free, but it is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. Some of the chemicals used in e-liquids have long-term harmful effects. Vaping carries a cancer potency of just under 0.5% of the risk of smoking.
Although vaping is relatively safe, nicotine-based e-liquids expose users to nicotine addiction. Scientists say that nicotine is as addictive as cocaine and heroin.
Compared to smoking, we can conclude that vaping is safer. However, vapers should take caution to minimize the risks associated with vaping.
Vaping Devices for Beginners
How you vape and the experience you get all depend on the type of vaping device you use. Choosing the best vape for a beginner can be a daunting task considering the many types of vapes in the market.
We wouldn’t want you to ruin your first vaping experience by using a sophisticated device you can’t operate.
Let’s break down the different types of e-cigarettes that you can readily buy from the popular vape stores in Kenya.
Starter Kits
Starter kits describe a group of vape pens designed with the utmost simplicity to fit a beginner. They include disposable, refillable, or rechargeable vape options. Operating a vape starter kit is as simple as using a traditional cigarette.
Most cigalikes, disposable vapes, and some pod kits fall under this category. Most of these are MTL devices activated by inhaling or by a button.
Disposable Vapes
Brands have come up with simple and affordable disposable vapes that have become popular choices by beginners. Disposable vapes come packed with pre-filled e-juice and a pre-charged battery. The e-juice lasts several puffs, and once it’s exhausted, the user disposes of the device.
Disposable vapes are the simplest forms of e-cigarettes. They are made in different flavors and sometimes a blend of two or more flavors. Flavors can be anything from tobacco, menthol, tropical fruits, and others.
To use a disposable vape, you just need to buy your favorite flavor and start inhaling. Some require a button to activate, then inhale when pressing the button.
For someone trying to quit smoking, starting with flavors like tobacco and menthol can make a great transition, then explore other flavors after some time.
Pod Kits
Pod systems represent a group of vaping devices with compartments known as pods. Pod vapes or pod mods are the newest generations of e-cigarettes. Most are small-sized and convenient, available as disposable vapes, and most with rechargeable batteries.
Pod kits have compartments called pods that house e-liquids and wicks. These pods are available in replaceable and refillable versions.
Pod kits are sleek and easy to use. Like disposable vapes and most starter kits, pod devices are activated either by a button or by inhaling.
While some pod kits are simple and easy to use, some brands have made sophisticated pod mods with extra features similar to mods. Most in this class are used for DTL vaping.
Mods
Box mods, or simply mods, feature box-shaped sections that house a battery, vape tanks, and replaceable coils. They have larger batteries than other vape kits and some customizable features. Simple mods exist, operated by a single button.
However, most mods are more advanced and with cool features that customize the vaping experience to set preferences.
Mods are mostly used for DTL and Sub-ohm vaping by experienced vapers. Simpler versions can be used by beginners too.
E-liquids Selection
A lot of credit goes to the vaping hardware, but in a real sense, vape juice or e-liquids carry the day. While vaping devices (especially mods) have cool features that make vaping fun, that wouldn’t happen without e-liquids. The nicotine hit, delicious flavors, and big clouds all come from vaporizing e-liquids.
Choosing the right e-liquid is easy because it all comes down to personal preference. Different vape juice brands have varying nicotine strengths or no nicotine at all, different PG/VG ratios, and different flavors. This means that you can buy e-liquids that fit your preferred composition.
Nicotine
Nicotine is an essential component in e-liquids. There are nicotine-free vape juice brands. Nicotine is an important ingredient for those transitioning from smoking to vaping.
There are two common forms of nicotine in e-liquids; freebase nicotine and nicotine salts, also known as nic salts. Freebase nicotine is the standard vaping form with a slow release into the bloodstream.
Nic salts provide higher-strength nicotine and provide quick release into the bloodstream, and a smooth throat hit.
MTL vaping can be used with high-strength nicotine ranging from 3mg/ml to 50mg/ml. DTL, on the other hand, the recommended nicotine strength for DTL vaping is 0-6mg/ml.
We recommend a beginner using MTL go for a nicotine strength of between 3mg/ml and 12mg/ml.
PG/VG
PG means propylene glycol, while VG means vegetable glycerine. Both are components of e-liquids. PG and VG have a range of applications in food, medical and vaping products.
PG has a low viscosity, hence ideal for vaping devices with small wicking ports. It offers a more pronounced throat sensation than VG. Some people can have a negative reaction to PG. Such people are recommended to use VG-based e-liquids.
VG on the other hand is derived from different vegetables and applied in different food products and vape juice. VG is more viscous than PG and produces denser clouds of vapor. It is very gentle to your throat, hence the perfect option for people sensitive to PG.
Due to VG's high viscosity, e-liquids with more than 70% of VG are labeled as such so that they can be used with the right wicking design. This also eliminates the chances of clogging wicking ports for some devices not designed for VG.
Some e-liquids are made as blends with different PG/VG ratios. We have a comprehensive PG/VG guide to help you better understand these e-liquids components.
Flavor
The e-liquids flavor profile is unique for each brand. Some are made of a single flavoring, while others are blends of different flavors. The choice of vape flavor depends on personal preference. Brands have invested in making brilliant flavor combinations that make vaping more fun.
Terminologies That a Vaping Beginner Should Know
Atomizer: Also known as the coil. It hits up the e-liquid.
Diluent: Liquid that carries the flavors and nicotine, available as PG, VG, and AG.
AG: Aqueous Glycerin, a low viscosity VG made by adding distilled water to make it thinner.
Dry hit: A very unpleasant taste experienced when a coil burns or when there is no e-liquid left.
Cloud Chasing: Used to describe sub-ohm vaping that produces big vapor clouds.
mAh: stands for milliamps Hour. Used to measure the capacity of a battery. Those with a higher mAh last longer.
Priming: The practice of allowing the coil and wicks to soak with an e-liquid before using it to avoid a dry hit.
RBA, RTA, RDA, and RDTA: These describe different types of rebuildable atomizers. This has been covered in detail in the link provided.
Ohms: SI units for resistance
Resistance: refers to coil resistance.
Sub-ohm: coils with a resistance of less than one ohm.
Throat hit: Throat sensation that you feel when inhaling vapor or smoke.
VW: Stands for Variable Wattage, describing a function in some vaping devices that enables you to adjust wattage and control power output.
Wick: It is the wicking material, usually cotton, that absorbs e-liquid and carries it to the atomizer.
Flooding: Refers to vape juice overflowing inside the coil, causing spitting and gurgling.
More Resources to Get you Started
We have more helpful articles and guides on various topics on vaping that will help you get started and learn more about e-cigarettes and the vaping practice.
Besides useful information, we have the best quality e-cigarettes for sale available at the best vape price in Kenya. Browse through other sections on this website using the menu above this page to see our products and services.
We also offer home and office vape delivery in Nairobi at no extra cost. Order online and let the vapes come to you.