Smoking is something that connects roughly 1/7 of the UK population. Millions of people in this country enjoy at least one cigarette every day, despite the potential health implications of doing so. It’s not that they’re necessarily unaware of the dangers associated with this activity; they simply don’t know how to stop.
Fortunately, you don’t have to go cold turkey if you want to give up cigarettes. You can always just use an alternative instead, i.e. vapes. These are great for distancing yourself from smoking, although if you’ve never vaped before, using one of these devices can be quite overwhelming. Luckily for you, then, that this guide is here to tell you some of the important things to know when switching over.
Not All Vapes Are The Same
When you buy cigarettes, you don’t simply ask the person at the counter for a pack. You have to specify what you’re after because there are different types and brands which influence the smoking experience.
Well, it’s the same situation with vapes. As vaping technology has advanced, new generations have emerged which built on past creations. This doesn’t mean that the newest vapes are automatically the best ones for you, though as you may find that the older models are more up your street.
Cig-A-Likes
If you want to go old school when vaping, you’ll want to opt for the cig-a-like. Available as disposable or refillable, this vape has a simplistic design that is easy to get to grips with. It’s intended to replicate the experience of smoking a cigarette, only without the dangers associated with that.
Plenty of beginners like to start out with a cig-a-like, although experienced smokers may find the newer models more to their liking. The low e-liquid capacity and short battery life can be offputting, but the user-friendly design does sometimes make up for that.
Vape Pens
Vape pens were developed off the back of cig-a-likes to enhance the vaping experience. More complex than their predecessors, they can be used for both mouth-to-lung or direct-to-lung hits.
These devices can vary quite significantly, with features found in later generations implemented in some models to ensure they remain relevant. Many vapers recommend these for first-timers, with vape pens promising stronger battery life than cig-a-likes. They also have stronger flavours and are relatively affordable, with the pens available in a variety of colours and sizes.
Vape Mods
In the early days of vaping, some people would mod their devices to try and get more out of the experience. Although this tinkering produced some notable results, the outcomes weren’t always without their dangers.
Fortunately, the vape mods you can actually buy now don’t have these risks, so you can appreciate the creativity without the fear of explosion.
You can get both regulated and unregulated mods, the former of which contains a circuit board. Available as tube mods and box mods, they boast higher performance, greater flavour intensity, more cloud production, and stronger battery life. You do have to buy separate batteries, though, which can take longer to charge. Plus, if you’re new to vaping, a mod may be a little too complex to start off with.
There Are Different Nicotine Strengths
Nicotine is what gets people hooked on cigarettes, so you may think its presence in vaping is something to be concerned about. However, it’s incredibly easy to change how much nicotine you’re exposed to when using vape products.
This is because e-liquids come in a variety of strengths, meaning it’s a lot easier to find a nicotine level that suits you. You might only want as little as 3 mg when you vape, or you may prefer something far stronger at 18 mg. It all depends on what your body feels it needs.
Generally speaking, the more cigarettes you smoked, the higher the level of nicotine you’ll want to go for. However, this isn’t set in stone, which is why it can be worth experimenting with. Just make sure to start off small and increase if necessary, rather than the other way around. After all, it’s probably best to aim for as low a strength as possible.
The Choice Of Flavours Is Endless
Cigarettes don’t exactly leave you with the best taste in your mouth. Vaping, on the other hand, can actually do wonders to your palate, thanks to the wide range of e-liquid flavours available.
When you see how much choice is out there, you may well feel like you’re buying your vaping juice from Willy Wonka. From citrus delights to three-course meals, the variety that’s out there is really quite marvellous.
The Vape House, which specialises in helping people make the switch from smoking to vaping, has an amazing number of flavours, including cherry Bakewell, jelly bean, and banoffee. That’s in addition to the various kits, batteries, and other essentials you might need for the best vaping experience. They’re a vape shop that will make the jump from cigarettes so much easier to cope with.
There’s A Lot Of Extras To Think About
The reason that certain vape devices are recommended for first-time users is that they’re relatively simple. You don’t have to worry yourself about certain elements that are present in newer, more complex vape products.
However, if you become a fan of this habit and want to upgrade, there are a few things you’ll need to start thinking about. That includes coils, which heat up the e-liquid to produce vapour, and Ohms, which dictate the wattage of your vape.
As with most things regarding vaping, there are varieties that you have to consider, which can complicate matters quite significantly. For instance, wires have different materials and resistances that can impact your vape experience. So, finding what works for you is always essential.
Vaping Can Be Tough To Adapt To
Given that smoking cigarettes and vaping seem incredibly similar on the surface, you might think that switching from one to the other will be incredibly smooth. However, that’s not necessarily the case.
For former smokers, vaping can be challenging to get into the first few times you do it. That’s why it’s always a good idea to follow the right tips when you transition from cigarettes.
For instance, one problem that some new vapers have is that they cough a lot, even though they never struggled with this when smoking. This is usually down to the fact that vapour can feel thicker or that the person is trying to use the device like a cigarette.
It’s important to remember that long, slow puffs are ideal when vaping and that being gentle is always the best course of action. This can take a bit of getting used to, especially if you were a long-time cigarette smoker, so don’t let any initial unpleasantness put you off.
Switching to vaping can feel like a major leap, one you might be wary about if you’ve been a smoker for a while. Just because vape products are more complex than cigarettes, though, that doesn’t mean you have to be a genius to understand them. Start out basic and gradually build up to the more complicated stuff, only upgrading once you feel comfortable doing so. Don’t be afraid to experiment, either. There are more opportunities to do this than with cigarettes, so let loose and enjoy yourself.
