New to Vaping? A Beginner's Guide to Getting Started
Getting started with vaping is much simpler than it might seem. With so many devices, nicotine strengths and e-liquid options available, it's easy to feel overwhelmed at first, but once you understand the basics, choosing the right setup becomes straightforward.
Whether you're switching from smoking or simply curious about vaping, the key is finding a device you enjoy using, a nicotine strength that satisfies your cravings and a flavour you'll actually want to keep coming back to. Get those three things right, and everything else quickly falls into place.
How Does a Vape Actually Work?
Every vape kit works in much the same way, whether it's a simple pod kit or a more advanced device.
Inside every vape are three essential components: the battery, the coil and the pod or tank.
The battery supplies power to the device. The coil, which is made from a small piece of wire wrapped in absorbent cotton, heats up when the battery is activated. The pod or tank holds the e-liquid and feeds it into the cotton inside the coil.
When you press the fire button, or simply inhale on many modern pod kits, the battery powers the coil. The heated coil turns the e-liquid into vapour, which you then inhale through the mouthpiece.
Although the technology sounds complicated, modern pod kits do almost everything automatically, making them incredibly easy for beginners to use.
What's Inside E-Liquid?
Most e-liquids contain four main ingredients:
Vegetable Glycerine (VG)
Propylene Glycol (PG)
Food-grade flavourings
Nicotine (although nicotine-free options are also available)
Each ingredient plays an important role in the vaping experience.
Vegetable Glycerine, commonly known as VG, is a thicker liquid that produces larger vapour clouds and creates a smoother inhale.
Propylene Glycol, or PG, is thinner and carries both flavour and nicotine more efficiently. It also produces a stronger throat hit that many former smokers find familiar.
For most beginners, a 50/50 VG/PG e-liquid provides the perfect balance of flavour, vapour production and nicotine delivery, making it an excellent place to start.
Mouth-to-Lung vs Direct-to-Lung
One of the first terms you'll come across when buying a vape is MTL or DTL.
Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) vaping closely replicates the sensation of smoking a cigarette. You draw the vapour into your mouth first before inhaling it into your lungs. It produces a smaller amount of vapour, uses less power and is generally considered the easiest style for beginners.
Direct-to-Lung (DTL) vaping involves inhaling the vapour directly into your lungs in one smooth breath. DTL devices operate at higher power levels and produce much larger vapour clouds, making them more popular with experienced vapers.
Most disposable vapes and refillable pod kits are designed for Mouth-to-Lung vaping, which is why they're usually recommended for anyone making the switch from smoking.
Choosing the Right Nicotine Strength
Selecting the correct nicotine strength is one of the most important parts of successfully switching to vaping.
As a general guide:
5–10 cigarettes per day: 3–6mg
10–15 cigarettes per day: 6–12mg
15 or more cigarettes per day: 12–20mg
If you still experience strong cravings after vaping, your nicotine strength may be too low and increasing it slightly could help.
On the other hand, if you notice headaches, dizziness or nausea, that's often a sign your nicotine strength is too high and should be reduced.
Don't worry if you don't get it perfect immediately. Many people make small adjustments during their first few weeks before finding the nicotine strength that suits them best.
Nic Salts, Freebase or Hybrid?
There are three common types of nicotine used in modern e-liquids.
Nic Salts have become the most popular option for smokers making the switch to vaping. They provide a much smoother throat hit, absorb into the body more quickly and work particularly well in pod kits.
Freebase Nicotine offers a stronger throat hit that's closer to the sensation of smoking a traditional cigarette. It's often chosen by people who prefer a slightly sharper inhale.
Hybrid Nicotine combines elements of both Nic Salts and Freebase, providing a balance between smoothness, throat hit and nicotine absorption.
For most beginners, Nic Salts are generally the easiest and most satisfying place to start.
Choosing the Right Flavour
Finding the right flavour is a personal choice, and there's no single option that's right for everyone.
Some people prefer tobacco or menthol flavours because they feel familiar after smoking, while others find it much easier to leave cigarettes behind by choosing something completely different, such as fruit, sweets or dessert flavours.
Popular flavour categories include:
Fruity blends
Menthol and ice flavours
Desserts and sweets
Tobacco flavours
Drink-inspired flavours
Don't be surprised if your favourite flavour changes over time. Many vapers start with tobacco before moving to fruit flavours, while others do the exact opposite.
Treat your first few bottles as an opportunity to experiment until you discover what you genuinely enjoy.
The Best Beginner Vape Setup
If you're completely new to vaping, keeping things simple is often the best approach.
A refillable pod kit paired with a Nic Salt e-liquid in the correct nicotine strength offers an excellent balance of simplicity, performance and long-term value.
Disposable vapes can also be an easy introduction, but once you've found a flavour and nicotine strength you enjoy, switching to a refillable pod kit is usually the more cost-effective option.
The most important thing isn't buying the most expensive vape—it's finding a setup that satisfies your nicotine cravings, feels comfortable to use and gives you a flavour you'll enjoy every day.
Final Thoughts
Starting your vaping journey doesn't have to be complicated.
Choose a reliable vape kit, pick a nicotine strength that suits your current smoking habits and don't be afraid to try a few different flavours before settling on your favourite.
Once you've found the combination that works for you, vaping becomes simple, enjoyable and far easier to stick with.
Browse our range of Pod Kits, Nic Salts and E-Liquids to find everything you need to get started today.