If you have found this guide, you must be starting your journey of finding the best way to quit smoking using an e-cigarette or vape pen. In this Vapers Guide, we will outline some of the best vape pen kits to buy, understanding what e-liquids you can use in your vape pen, how much should a high quality vape pen cost and more helpful information to help you to find the best e-cigarette to help you quit.
WHAT ARE THE BEST VAPE PEN KITS TO BUY?
There are a number of factors to consider when looking for the best vape pen on the market. Depending on the vaping experiences you want, the type of vape juice you would like to use and the throat hit you want, are all important factors to have clear before you set out to find the best vape device for you.
If you are still smoking traditional cigarettes and looking for a vape kit, SMOKO E-Cigarettes has been helping their customers to quit smoking for the last 9 years. With 2 main closed vape systems that are easy to use, produce a realistic smoking sensation and have a decent battery life, the SMOKO E-Cigarette (cigalike) and the SMOKO Vape POD are both great Starter Kits for someone looking to try vaping for the first time.
Both the designs of SMOKO’s starter kits are essentially pod kits, meaning you don’t need to worry about replacement coils, refilling the e-liquids or replacing the vape tank as they are already included in a great pocket-sized device.
WHAT E-LIQUID CAN YOU USE IN A VAPE PEN?
Any vape kit that you decide to use, you will need to understand what e-liquid you can use in your vape pen. The e-liquid (or vape juice as some people refer to it as) contains the flavour and nicotine that is vapourized in your device.
E-Liquids (like SMOKO's UK made e-liquids) contain only 4 ingredients - Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerine (ingredients found in chewing gum, candy, ice cream, cake mixes and soft drinks), Food flavouring (found in most of our food we now eat) and nicotine (which is the only reason that we smoke). For a closed system vape pod kit, you will generally find a 80% PG / 20% VG ratio to ensure a strong “throat hit”. For larger devices and vape box mods, you will generally find they recommend a 30% PG / 70% VG ratio in the vape juice.
So depending on the types of vape pens you are investigating, you will want to choose the right e-liquid ratio to get the best performance.
HOW MUCH DOES A VAPE PEN COST?
The cost of a vape pen or vape starter kit can vary significantly. If you are looking at a larger box mod with replaceable ohm coils and vape tanks, you could be spending between £30 for a basic design to over £100 for a vape device with all the bells and whistles. The latter of these usually will have an adjustable ohm battery and mesh coils and are designed to be used by very experienced vapers.
On the other side of the market, closed vape pod systems could be cheaper than your next pack of cigarettes. In fact the SMOKO E-Cigarette Starter Kit, which comes with everything a first time vaper would need to quit smoking, is only £9.99! The cigalike style is uncomplicated and pocket-sized and replicates the feeling of smoking a cigarette.
HOW DOES A VAPE PEN WORK?
A vape pen works with a bit of science and some advanced engineering to create a smoke-like vapour while delivering the same nicotine hit. Each vape kit contains a heating element called a coil or atomizer. The power from the mah battery heats up the coil which then vapourizes the e-liquid. This smoke-like vapour travels up the mouthpiece where you draw it into your lungs. And that is how the magic happens!
Depending on the type of vape kit you choose, the power from the rechargeable battery is either activated when you draw on it or when you press the button.
HOW DO I USE A VAPE PEN?
Using a vape pen is pretty simple once you understand the basics. You need a power source from a battery, a heating element called a coil and e-liquids. When you active the power from the battery, the smoke-like vapour is produced almost instantaneously.
Now that you understand how a vape pen works, you then use it like you would smoke a normal cigarette. We recommend holding your vape pen at a 45° angle and drawing on the end of the e-cigarette a little bit slower and longer than you would draw on your cigarette. If you hold in the vapour in your lungs for a few for a few seconds, the nicotine will be absorbed into your bloodstream and will satisfy your cravings. In theory, using a vape pen should replace your craving for a traditional cigarette once you get used to how they work!
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF VAPE PENS?
There are a number of different types of vape pens that you can choose. The 2 main styles are referred to as closed and open systems.
Closed vape pen systems come with a refill or pod that has a built in coil and is pre-filled with e-liquid and ready to use without a lot of hassle. Simply attach the vape pod to the end of the battery, draw on the end like you would draw on a cigarette and you should experience a realistic smoking sensation.
Closed system vape pens are also referred to as e-cigarettes, cigalikes and pod systems and are perfect for an adult smoker looking to quit for the first time.
Open system vape pens or box mods are a bit more complicated and take a bit of getting used to. They have the same components that can be replaced and require a bit of maintenance. Mesh coils, vape tanks, batteries, mouthpiece and the vape juice are the main elements to an open system.
To activate an open system, you will have to fill the vape juice into the vape tank, attach it to the battery and press a button to produce the vapour. Open systems are generally suitable for a much more experienced vaper.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT VAPE PEN FOR YOU?
Choosing the right vape pen for you depends on if this is your first time trying vaping to help you to quit smoking or if you are a more experienced vaper. The different types of vape pens work under 2 activation styles - Direct To Lung (DTL) and Mouth To Lung (MTL).
IS SUB-OHM VAPES FOR DIRECT TO LUNG (DTL) VAPING BETTER?
Sub-oh vape box mods or open systems are technically classified as Direct to Lung (DTL) vaping due to the delivery of the vapour. When you press the button on a DTL vape, the vapour is produced and “pushed” deep into your lungs. For many first time vapers, this can be overwhelming as it will feel quite unnatural compared to how you smoke a normal cigarette.
BEST VAPES FOR MOUTH TO LUNG (MTL) VAPING?
Mouth To Lung (MTL) vaping is a more realistic smoking sensation as you activate the MTL vape the same way you draw on a cigarette. The battery activates the coil which vapourizes the e-liquid which you draw into your lungs like a normal cigarette. MTL vapes will feel much more realistic and similar to your current smoking habit.
WHICH IS BETTER, AUTOMATIC VAPE PEN OR BUTTON PRESS VAPE?
Depending on which vape device you choose, your vaping experience will require you to either press a button or it will happen automatically when you draw on the end of the vape refill. Most DTL open vapes or box mods will require you to press a button to activate the process. Whereas a MTL vape is more like an automatic vape pen and works when you draw on the end of it.
WHAT IS VARIABLE WATTAGE?
Variable wattage on a vape is usually only found on the DTL vape kits and box mods. This will give the user more control on the amount of vapour that is “pushed” into their lungs. Variable wattage can range from 20 watts up to 150 watts of power.
Most MTL closed pod vape kits do not have variable wattage on the batteries as they are designed to be a perfect alternative to traditional cigarettes.
HOW TO CHARGE A VAPE PEN?
Charging a vape pen is pretty straight forward. The battery on most vape pens will have an indication light that will flash when it needs to be recharged. Most vape pen kits will come with a charging cable or charger. To recharge a vape pen, simply attach the battery into the charging cable and plug into a USB port. Depending on the size of the vape pen battery, most vape pod kits will recharge within 1 to 2 hours.
HOW TO CLEAN A VAPE PEN?
Cleaning your vape pen depends on the type of vape kit you have chosen. Most MTL closed pod systems require very minimal cleaning and maintenance. The odd wipe of the battery connection is usually the extent of the cleaning required.
With box mods and DTL vape pens, you will need to clean all of the elements on a regular basis including the ohm coil, vape tanks, mouthpieces and batteries. It is important that you keep your DTL vape pen and its components cleaned regularly to ensure they work properly.
WHERE CAN I BUY VAPE PENS?
There are lots of places where you can buy vape pens. Some E-Cig shops have dedicated website's (like ours), while others are lumped in with other products.
Whether you go to the corner shop, a petrol station, a specialist vape shop or online, you will find a seemingly endless amount of choices. If you are buying a vape pen for the first time, we would recommend looking at a closed system, MTL vape pen from a company with great customer reviews that uses high quality ingredients in their e-liquids.
ARE VAPE PENS BAD FOR YOU?
When you compare smoking traditional cigarettes and tobacco products to vape pens, no, vape pens are not bad for you. Understanding there are over 4,000 chemicals and 50 known carcinogens in a normal cigarette and that smoking is the leading preventable cause of death according to Cancer Research UK, switching to an e-cigarette is now viewed as one of the best ways to quit smoking.
Public Health England recently stated that “e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful than traditional cigarettes”.
Ensuring you find a high quality vape pen from a reputable e-cigarette brand and you use the right e-liquids, vaping and vape pens have been found to be a lot less harmful than smoking.
HOW TO USE A VAPE PEN FOR THE FIRST TIME?
Using a vape pen for the first time is very straight forward if you are using a high quality MTL vape pen. Simply attach the pre-filled vape pod or refill to the battery, hold on a 45° angle and draw on the end like you would a normal cigarette. Easy.
CAN YOU FLY WITH A VAPE PEN?
It is possible to get a flight with a vape pen but we would recommend that you speak with your travel agent and airline beforehand. As well, most vape companies will have specific instructions on how you should carry your vape pen when you board a flight.
With SMOKO, we always recommend you remove your vape pen from the pods or refills before getting on the flight as the change in air pressure can cause the e-liquid to expand and may leak into your vape battery. As well, we recommend carrying your vape pen, e-liquids and refills in your carry-on luggage as the temperature is controlled in the main part of the plane.
CAN YOU PUT WATER IN A VAPE PEN?
It is not advisable to put water in your vape pen for a number of reasons. The viscosity of water is much lower compared to e-liquids and could leak into your vape battery causing damage to the circuitry.
Secondly, water will not vapourize in a vape pen. And finally, there is no logical reason why you would want to put flavourless water in a vape pen. Using a dampened cloth to clean your vape pen is ok but always ensure there is no excess water left anywhere on your vape.
CONCLUSION – A VAPERS GUIDE TO THE BEST VAPE PENS FOR E-LIQUID
If you are a first time smoker looking to quit smoking using a vape pen, the best choice would be an easy to use, pocket-sized closed vape pen kit that comes pre-filled with high quality e-liquids. This will make your transition from traditional cigarettes to a vape pen very straight forward. So if you are ready to quit smoking with the help of a vape pen, why not checkout some of our best vape pen Starter Kits.
