How to Use a Vaping Device: A Beginner’s Guide

How to use an e-cigarette? This is an interesting question and one that many smokers are asking today. A few years ago, "e-cigarettes" or the more common "vape" were quite rare, and most people had never heard of them. Now, the term "vape" has even made its way into the Oxford English Dictionary and is a common topic online. But do you know how to use an e-cigarette? Or is that the wrong question?

This is what we call "vapor"...

E-cigarettes are alternatives to traditional cigarettes, and today’s devices can produce surprisingly large clouds of vapor, but it’s not smoke. When you burn something, you see smoke, but in e-cigarettes, nothing is burning. Instead, what’s really happening is that the liquid is evaporating, atomizing into tiny water droplets, which you can also call "aerosol," and that’s what you inhale.
Although it’s common to talk about smoking, e-cigarette users don’t like to use that term. It’s very inaccurate, and of course, most e-cigarette users have reduced their smoking or quit entirely. Using an e-cigarette and smoking are not the same thing, so it’s best to understand it as vaporizing an e-cigarette rather than smoking.

Now that we understand this, if you’re interested in trying e-cigarettes yourself (of course, we don’t recommend non-smokers to try, as there’s no need), there are a few things worth knowing. Please continue reading to learn how to use e-cigarettes correctly.

It’s not a cigarette

Most people who buy e-cigarettes are looking for a substitute for traditional tobacco cigarettes, and they often think that their usage is completely the same, which can make the vaping experience poor. In fact, if you know how to use them correctly, e-cigarettes can be at least as satisfying as their smoking predecessors.

The first thing you need to remember is that e-cigarettes are not cigarettes. This name makes sense to newcomers because it informs them of its purpose. But in some ways, it has become a marketing nightmare, with some confused individuals even claiming, "It’s still a cigarette."

Uh! That’s not true... a cigarette is tobacco wrapped in paper, and the difference from a cigar is that it’s wrapped in paper while a cigar is wrapped in tobacco leaves. E-cigarettes do not contain any tobacco, so they are not cigarettes. There’s no way to twist the definition of "cigarette," so it’s fundamentally impossible for e-cigarette devices to be similar to them.
So what is it?

On the other hand, it can replace cigarettes. Think about what cigarettes provide you: nicotine, something to inhale, a hand-held activity, a habit you enjoy. As long as you use e-cigarettes correctly, you can also use them to achieve all these experiences.

Many smokers mistakenly believe that they can use e-cigarettes just like cigarettes, and they find the vapor unsatisfying and still crave nicotine. If this sounds familiar, that’s good news. You just need to change a few things to get the same satisfying experience.

Vaping like a pro

The first step to satisfying vaping is to have the right device. Don’t choose those old-fashioned e-cigarettes that look like real cigarettes; their shape and size may be similar to the cigarettes you’re used to, but their functionality may not meet your needs. Instead, you can choose a pen-style device or a box mod. However, you should also avoid using drippers or sub-ohm tanks, as they are designed for advanced users, not for those looking to quit smoking.

Next, choose the right nicotine strength for your e-liquid. Perhaps your e-liquid’s nicotine strength is too low, which may sound good, but that’s not the case. If you’re a smoker, you likely need a higher nicotine strength to satisfy your needs. Generally, you may need e-liquids with a nicotine strength of 6mg or higher to achieve the desired effect.

When you smoke a cigarette, you often take quick, hard puffs, which is not suitable for e-cigarettes. Because when you stop inhaling, the coil may just be starting to heat up. Use a longer, gentler inhalation technique with e-cigarettes, allowing the coil to work properly and produce the right vapor and flavor.
Summary of how to use e-cigarettes:

Step 1

When using, be careful not to inhale too hard; inhaling too hard will not produce vapor. When you inhale too hard, the e-liquid is directly sucked into your mouth without being atomized by the atomizer. So, a gentle inhale will actually produce more vapor.

Step 2

When vaping, please try to keep your inhalation longer, as a longer inhalation allows the e-liquid in the pod to be fully atomized by the atomizer, thus producing more vapor.

Step 3

Pay attention to the angle of use; keep the mouthpiece up and the device tilted down. If the mouthpiece is down and the device is up while inhaling, gravity will cause the e-liquid to flow into your mouth.

Step 4

If e-liquid gets into your mouth, please remove the pod, open it, and clean the excess e-liquid from the mouthpiece and atomizer before using it again.

Step 5

Ensure that the battery has enough charge; insufficient battery power can also lead to e-liquid not being fully atomized and getting into your mouth.

Step 6

For the first three uses, charge for a full 5 hours; after that, normal charging should take about 3 hours.

You may need a few days to adapt to the differences between vaping and smoking, but it’s definitely worth sticking with it. If you still have cravings for cigarettes, don’t worry; you’ll soon be able to replace them. Many people initially still smoke occasionally, then suddenly realize they haven’t lit a cigarette in days. Once you get used to how e-cigarettes work, you’ll likely find that you no longer need cigarettes.