How to Vape Properly: A Beginner’s Guide for UK Vapers
If you’re new to vaping and your first experience felt underwhelming, you’re not alone. Many beginners expect vaping to feel exactly like smoking traditional cigarettes and end up disappointed. The truth is, vaping is different - and once you know how to vape properly, it can be far more enjoyable. Here’s a simple guide for UK vapers to get started the right way.
Choosing the Right Vape Device
When starting out, the key is to keep it simple. A good beginner-friendly vape should be portable, easy to use, and reliable. Luckily, “simple” doesn’t mean low quality. Today’s UK market offers excellent entry-level options that deliver great flavour and performance without the hassle.
Popular starter choices include:
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E-cigarettes - slim, cigarette-style devices ideal for switching smokers.
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Rechargeable Vapes - prefilled with e-liquid and designed for convenience. Just recharge the battery and replace the pod when needed - no messy refills or coil changes required.
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Refillable Vapes - offering flexibility, these allow you to choose and refill your own e-liquid while still keeping things simple.
These devices are designed to help you focus on enjoying your vape, not on complicated maintenance.
Choosing the Right E-Liquid
Your vape juice (e-liquid) plays a huge role in your overall experience. In the UK, you’ll find a wide range of PG/VG blends, nicotine strengths, and flavours to explore.
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Higher PG (propylene glycol) = stronger throat hit and sharper flavour.
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Higher VG (vegetable glycerine) = smoother inhale with thicker, cloudier vapour.
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Nicotine strength = choose higher for heavy smokers making the switch, or lower if you want a smoother vape.
Flavour is the fun part - from classic tobacco and menthol to fruity, dessert, or exotic blends. The best way to find what works for you is simple: experiment. Try a few different flavours and blends until you find your perfect match.
How to Inhale a Vape Correctly
One of the biggest mistakes new vapers make is taking short, sharp drags like they would on a cigarette. With vaping, slower and longer draws give the heating element time to vaporise the e-liquid properly. This results in better flavour, smoother hits, and a more satisfying vape.
There are two main inhaling techniques:
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Mouth-to-Lung (MTL): Ideal for smaller vapes with higher nicotine levels. You draw vapour into your mouth first, then inhale it into your lungs, just like smoking a cigarette. Perfect for ex-smokers transitioning to vaping.
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Direct-to-Lung (DTL): Best for sub-ohm devices and lower nicotine strengths. You inhale vapour directly into your lungs in one deep breath, then exhale immediately. This style creates bigger clouds and a smoother experience.
Tip: Allow a few minutes between vaping sessions. This prevents throat irritation and gives your coil time to cool down, extending its lifespan.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to vape properly doesn’t take long, and once you find the right device, e-liquid, and inhale style, the experience becomes much more enjoyable. Whether you’re switching from cigarettes or just starting your vaping journey, there’s a wide range of vape kits, e-liquids, and rechargeable vapes available in the UK to match your style.
