How To Vape? An A to Z Guide!

Vaping 101

What is Vaping?

E-cigarettes are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “vapes,” “e-hookahs,” “vape pens,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).” Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items. It consists of an atomizer, a power source such as a battery, and a container such as a cartridge or tank. Vape Mods are great additions to the industry too. There is all types. Box Mods, Pod Mods, Pod Systems, Mechanical Mods, Squonk Mods, Vape Pen Mods & more.

Instead of smoke, the user inhales vapor. As such, using an e-cigarette is often called "vaping"." which is an in depth version of the first definition. It was created by Hon Lik & Herbert Gilbert in 2003. He was downing 3 packs of cigarettes a day and wanted to get away from them some how.

Atomizers & Rebuildables

An atomizer uses the power drawn vaping device that’s powered by high-amp batteries to generate heat. The atomizer has a metal coil typically made of Kanthal, nickel, stainless steel or titanium. The electric resistance of the wire determines how much power is drawn from the battery.

A Rebuildable (RTA, RDA, RDTA) are a little different then tanks because tanks hold juice & RDA’s don't. RDA’s give you the option to customize your vaping experience fully. You build your own coil and it gives you the option to choose your own wicking material. Users usually use cotton. Tanks use replacement coil heads. They are prebuilt coil heads that screw on the tank itself. Specifically the deck part. Rebuildables give you the options you want, as well as offer the best performance of clouds and flavor. On the other hand its more advanced & maintenance because you are literally building your own coil.

In a nutshell when it comes to tanks, they are easy and more convenient. They hold juice and offer a great performance. Rebuildables are more of a niche market. People that like to blow big clouds, do tricks & love that good old cloud production will go with RDA’s.

Uwell Crown 5 Sub-Ohm Tank

Type: Atomizers

5ml Max Capacity | Self Cleaning Design | Adjustable Bottom Airflow | Three Airflow Slots

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Batteries

What does the numbers mean? 

The battery numbers are a measurement. An 18350 is 18mm in diameter and 35mm long. The 0 at the end means it is a round battery. 18350: 18mmx35mm | 18500:18mmx50mm | 18650:18mmx65mm

What do the letters mean? 

The first letter indicates the basic chemical makeup of the battery. The second and most important letter indicates the material. “I” means that it is a Lithium Ion class battery. “C” indicates the material as cobalt; “M” indicates manganese; “N” indicates nickel. The “R” just means rechargeable. The “AW” on some batteries is initials for Andrew Wan, who owns a China-based company which purchases large quantities of batteries from the big boys (Samsung, Panasonic, etc.) and performs quality tests on each one.

Types of Batteries

At one point in time the most cigarette-like vaping batteries had an automatic operation, but the performance is generally better with manual options. What that means is, when you inhale on a vape with an automatic battery, a sensor detects the rush of air and makes the battery start working. So it's really simple. Now, with a manual battery you press the button to activate the battery. It seems very inconvenient but most vapers get used to it quickly & love it because it offers way more freedom the manual way.

Automatic Batteries

Automatic Batteries

• Easy to Use
• Usually requires a shorter charging time
• May experience a delay between puffing and inhaling the vapor
• May need a few short puffs to let the coil heat up before your main puff.

Manual Batteries

• Usually has more power, offers more vapor and produces a better puff
• Offers more control and usually a longer cut off period
• Usually have a longer life because of size
• Can usually be turned on or off to preserve the battery

Samsung 25R 18650 2500mAh 20A Battery

Type: Batteries & Chargers

18650 Size | 2500mAh Capacity | 20 Amps | 3.6V

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Vape Mods

Vape Mods are larger devices than e-cigarettes, and are known for offering better flavor production & high vapor production. This kind of device takes from the ecig type but has additions. Hence the name "Mod". These advancements can take many forms. For example, because of their many different shapes and sizes, mods tend to have larger batteries. Plus, the mechanism used to heat the vape juice is more powerful than the typical e-cigarette. Whatever the enhancements are, you’re unlikely to find them in regular cig-a-likes or vape pens; only in advanced or modified models.

SMOK SCAR-18 230W Box Mod

Type: Box Mods

Dual 18650 Batteries | 230W Output | Shock, Dust, & Waterproof | 0.96" TFT Display

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Starter Kits

A vape starter kit is exactly what it means. If you're new, and you want a place to start. A Starter kit is the way to go. Your vape will come with a battery, a coil, a tank and a mouthpiece. Everything you need besides the vape juice. These are the four main parts of any vaping device. Most of the time these kits don't come with juice. You will have to buy it separately. Of course, you’ll receive a battery if it's built in, or the usb to charge the battery that you have to purchase if it didn't come with one. You will also receive instructions on how to use your new device. For beginners, this is great because you can save money on the packs and test out vaping before dishing out more money on additional accessories and vape juices. Do your research before purchasing and make sure you find a vape starter kit that has pods or e-liquid, a charger and all the essential parts. Then compare the pricing to each individual item, and you’ll find that the starter kits are much more budget-friendly.

Geekvape Aegis X Starter Kit

Type: Vape Starter Kits

AS 2.0 Chipset | 200W Max Output | Water, Shock, & Dust Proof | OLED Display | Dual Batteries

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Pod Systems

Pod Systems are essentially the middle-ground between your simple gas station vape pen and a $100+ mod or starter kit. You can consider these Starter Kits but for Salt Nic. They really do serve their own niche group of people in this industry. These portable systems are also more powerful. While a vape pen or cigalike battery caps out at around 180mAh, pod devices can reach upwards of 1000mAh. Perhaps most impressively, POD systems are fairly cheap. For around thirty bucks, you can scoop up what’s considered to be a high-end POD system, whereas lower-end models will cost as little as $20.

SMOK Nord X Pod System

Type: Pod Systems

60W Max Ouput | OLED Display | RPM & RPM2 Pod | 1500mAh Built-In Battery

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Disposables


Disposables have become very popular within the vaping industry. The name fits it so well because you literally can dispose of it after use. It also comes ready to hit right out the box. Most devices need to be refilled, but these disposable vapes are different. It can only be used once. Unlike the refillable pod mods, disposable pods vaporizers possess two main characteristics. Batteries can't be recharged, and or the vape isn’t refillable. Hence the name disposable vape pen. It doesn’t require filling, cleaning, or any kind of maintenance. In our opinion this is the equivalent of a cigarette but for the vape industry.

FOG X Magnum Disposable Device

Type: Disposable

1300 Puffs | 5% Salt Nic | 800mAh Built-In | 4mL Capacity

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Nicotine

Freebase Nicotine


One of the most common types of vape juice that has been used since the beginning of vaping is called freebase nicotine. Freebase means that the nicotine is in its purest form. In turn, the nicotine is much more potent when heated and it can be absorbed much faster in your lungs and in your brain.

ORGNX Eliquids Banana Ice

Type: Freebase Nicotine Vape Juice

Banana Menthol Flavor | 60mL Squeeze Bottle | 70VG/30PG

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Salt Nicotine

Nicotine salt is the natural state that nicotine is in tobacco leaves. Nicotine salt is much more stable and not as volatile as the freebase form. Salt nics also take higher temperatures to vaporize and the ions don’t easily travel to your nicotine receptors in your body. Salt nicotine devices (pod systems) are usually below 40W. Going above 40W when vaping salt nicotine might be harsh on the throat for most people. To put simply, if your goal is to get the nicotine buzz this is the most effective way to deliver nicotine to your body compared to the freebase form.

Tobacco-free nicotine

TFN has some of the same biological properties as tobacco based nicotine without the foul smell and flavor of tobacco. The main difference is this nicotine is derived from plants & Nicotine derived from plants other than tobacco also has no odor or taste, which means cleaner, better tasting flavors in the products it’s used in. It's derived from other sources and not the tobacco leaf. So TFN makers will source nicotine from potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, other sources.

Final Thoughts

Why Vaping?

Vaping, as compared to smoking, is much more fun and an effective platform to socialize without involving any direct or indirect health hazards. Vaping is not just about quitting smoking. Vaping is a whole new world – a world where your nicotine fantasy meets physical pleasures of taste buds. Vaping can be exciting only if you start trying some vaping tricks on your own and perhaps, later on, show off your skills in public. Vaping also involves knowing the right things for your vaping needs. Vape pens, pod mods, box mods, and cig-a-likes are all potentially available. It’s up to you to decide your way of doing things.