Before your lips touch the mouthpiece, you need to understand the basics of vaping. 

The system works the same, regardless of whether you’re working with e-cigarettes, disposable, or rechargeable vapes.

In short, a vape system involves a battery (referred to as a vape mod) that powers a heating element (coil) that ultimately vaporizes 

 the e-juice in the atomizer.

Differences in your power and vapor sources affect your experience, and they play a major role in how you inhale vapor. 

This section explains the nuances of each part and how to use this information to choose a suitable vape.

The Power Source

Most vapes use lithium-ion batteries in some form to power the device. This includes:

Box mods

Vape pens

Tube mods

Pod vapes

E-cigarettes

While the name “mod” is a nod back at early vapers who modified their power source using flashlight batteries, we now have a range of options that come at different price points and offer different features.

The main difference is how much power they provide. Different power levels relate to how easily you can use the device and what you can use it for.

Low power mods, like those in pods, pens, and e-cigs, are pretty straightforward and require no experience for safe handling. They may or may not be rechargeable, but most won’t offer power scaling. They’re just enough to get you a hit of nicotine.

Medium power sources are used in all-in-one devices, tube mods, and box mods. You may need some experience (or at least read the instructions) before you can use them safely, and they’re usually rechargeable. These vape systems may offer adjustable power up to 100 watts.

High power power sources are reserved for box mods and mechanical mods. You should not handle these without experience. They use more powerful rechargeable batteries (i.e. 18650, 20700, and 21700), and offer adjustable power beyond 200 watts.

Your vape device will use an atomizer or tank to hold e-liquid. This is a separate chamber that connects to the mod and houses a resistance heating element (usually a metal coil) as well as an absorbent wick and your juice.

When you take a hit, the coil heats the liquid on the wick and instantly creates the smoke-like vapor you consume. Over time, you will need to replace the coil in every vape system. It won’t burn out, but over a few days or weeks the juice will affect the flavor and lead to subpar experiences.

If you’re buying a vape system, consider how you want your vape juice contained.

Pre-filled pods, cartridges, and cartomizers are incredibly convenient and portable. They require less maintenance as you replace all the parts of the atomizer with each pod, but you’ll spend more money and create more waste in the long run. They’re usually exclusive to a certain system.

Refillable atomizers are good for multiple uses. More advanced systems like sub-ohm tanks use replaceable coils, while pods, carts, and some cartomizers need replacement after a few refills.

Rebuildable tanks require more attention for installing wicks and coils, but you can reuse them as long as you’re willing. These atomizers are usually marked with an “R” at the beginning of their acronym (i.e. RDA, RTA, RDTA).

Choose an atomizer that is suitable for your vape mod. Fitting together is only half the battle. You should also make sure their coil resistance and power work well together.

The coils in your atomizers come in different resistance ranges measured in ohms. Low resistance coils (less than 1.0 ohm) create greater vapor clouds, while high resistance coils (greater than 1.0 ohm) put out more discreet clouds.

What Juice to Use

The juice you use factors into how you inhale from your vape as well as how much power you need.

The first factor to consider is nicotine content. Generally, you’re looking at:

Higher nicotine content (12 to 60 mg) in lower power devices

Medium nicotine content (6 to 12 mg) in low to medium power devices

Low nicotine content (0 to 6 mg) in high power devices

If your focus is on faster effects, you’ll want a lower power device. Some of these are exclusive systems, and they may limit how much you can do with your vape beyond a simple inhale.

Recreational vaping focuses on lower nicotine concentration, but you can always use an adjustable power device to check all boxes.

Regardless of what you ultimately choose, make sure your device is suited for that juice and start small. Never use “DIY”mixes, and take your time learning how to inhale the vapor properly.

What Device to Use  Vape

Choose a decent quality device from a reputable brand, ideally a starter kit, if you’re interested in pursuing more advanced inhalation methods and vape tricks later on.

Disposable vapes like those from SPIRIT Vape will get you started and satisfy any cravings, but there’s little room for improvement there. Brands like Spiritbar Vape offer high-quality disposable vapes perfect for beginners looking for convenience and ease of use.