Introduction to Vaping
We will cover...
What is vaping? · What kind of vape is right for me? · Choosing the correct e-liquid
WHAT IS VAPING?
In the simplest of terms, 'vaping' is a modern and the most popular alternative to smoking.
Vapers inhale a vapour from "juice" or "e liquid". The e-liquid is heated by an electronic device (a vape), creating the vapour which the user then inhales.
Vape devices come in different styles, sizes and formats, including smaller and bigger mods.
Each is comprised of a heating element, wicking material, battery, and a tank that holds the e liquid.
The wicking device is wrapped around a heating coil. It absorbs the e-liquid and when power is applied, the vapour is produced.
Is Vaping Safe?
Whilst we don't recommend starting to vape if you are not already a smoker, vaping has been identified as being up to 95% safer than smoking.
Obviously you are going to be better off not smoking or vaping, but switching from smoking to vaping is likely to significantly improve your overall health.
When buying good quality products from reputable sellers such as Vapeology, you are ensuring you are buying compliant and safe products.
WHAT KIND OF VAPE IS RIGHT FOR ME?
In Aotearoa, you can choose from 3 main categories of vaping:
· Prefilled Pod Vapes (Closed Pod Kits)
· Nic Salt Optimsed/Open Pod Kits
(What most people start on to quit smoking)
·Sub-ohm Kits & Mods (Usually for advanced vapers)
Prefilled Pod Vapes
One of the simplest, cheapest, and most accessible vape options out there.
They use a rechargeable battery and pods that come pre-filled with e-liquid - just pop one in, vape until it’s empty, then replace it with a new pod.
Closed pod systems are super easy to use, which makes them perfect for beginners or anyone wanting something fuss-free. Most brands offer a solid range of flavours, and some give you a choice of nicotine strengths.
While they’re affordable upfront, regularly replacing pods can get expensive over time - especially compared to refillable (open pod) systems.
They’re ideal for trying vaping out or as a short-term option.
PROS: Convenient, beginner-friendly, cheap to get started.
CONS: Weaker vape experience, short battery life, and can get pricey if used long-term.
Nic Salt Optimised Kits
Open pod kits are one of the most popular choices for people switching from smoking to vaping.
They’re a lot cheaper in the long run compared to disposables or closed pod systems, and they often mimic the feel of a cigarette, making the transition smoother.
These kits use refillable pods or tanks that you fill yourself with your preferred e-liquid. You’ve got heaps of choice when it comes to flavours and nicotine strength—whether you’re after high-nicotine Nic Salts or lower-strength Freebase options, these devices can handle both.
They’re also compact and easy to carry around—perfect for your pocket!
PROS: Refillable, more cost-effective, lots of flavour and nicotine options, and a smooth switch from smoking.
CONS: May feel a bit limited if you're chasing bigger clouds or a stronger vape hit.
Sub-ohm Kits & Mods
Mods are similar to starter kits in that many come with everything you need to get going—but they’re typically bigger, more powerful, and built for a stronger, longer-lasting vaping experience.
They’re great if you want intense clouds, bold flavour, and less frequent charging.
Some mods are sold without tanks or batteries, so you can mix and match to suit your style. Since most tanks and coils are compatible with most mods, this makes them the most customisable option out there. You can tweak everything—from flavour intensity and vapour production to airflow.
Mods are ideal for more experienced users or anyone who’s really into tailoring their vape setup.
PROS: Big clouds, strong flavour, long battery life, and fully customisable. One of the most cost-effective options over time.
CONS: Geared more toward advanced users, can be pricey to set up, and often need spare batteries and an external charger.
Internal VS. External Vape Batteries
There are both pros and cons to either style of vape batteries, picking out which is best for you will help narrow down your options when it comes to picking out a new sub-ohm vape kit or box mod.
Ask yourself:
· Are you good at remembering to charge your electronics?
· Are you good at keeping track of things?
· Are you hands on?
· Do you vape on the go a lot?
If the answer was no to those questions, you'd probably work best with an internal battery kit.
That way you can charge it whenever it happens to go dead, as it is just a simple plug in charge and you won't have to keep track of a charging dock or extra batteries.
Now if you answered yes to those, you'd probably work best with an external battery kit. What's nice about the externals is that you can always keep an extra charged battery on hand for when yours dies, that way you can just pop in a new battery instead of having to wait for your device to charge.
Internal Battery
PROS: Easy to charge, just plug in with a USB cable. Keeps price lower, not needing external charger + spare batteries
CONS: Waiting for it to charge back up - that time can drag!
External Battery
PROS: Easy to keep charged, just put in a spare battery! Longer battery life, no waiting around to charge. Essentially have a vape that never has to run out of charge!
CONS: Higher price to set up with external battery charger + spare batteries
CHOOSING THE CORRECT E-JUICE
What is e-juice made from?
E-liquid or e-juice usually composed of four primary ingredients:
· Vegetable glycerine (VG) – used in many food and pharmaceutical products
· Propylene glycol (PG) – found in everything from soft drinks to prescription medication
· Nicotine
· Flavouring
Nicotine and flavouring are easy enough to understand, but VG and PG are important to the overall vaping experience.
The ratio of VG/PG can also decide how intense the physical sensation of inhaling will be. VG produces more vapour and a smoother hit, but doesn't carry flavour well. PG is the ingredient that carries the flavouring, but by itself is quite harsh, gives a very throaty hit, and doesn't produce much vapour. Every juice will include a percentage of each.
Nicotine Salts vs Freebase E-juice
So what are Nic Salts? To make it simple, nicotine salts basically allow you to vape at a higher nicotine strength without feeling an incredibly strong throat hit. This is good for everyone because they end up vaping less due to the amount of nicotine they get from the nicotine salt liquid. Nic Salts are also absorbed faster into the blood stream, causing more of a "head rush", like smoking a cigarette.
Nic salts are generally made for people looking for an alternative to smoking since the nicotine hit is similar to what you would get from cigarettes and the smoothness of the process helps with easing discomfort in the transition.
Nic Salts may be a perfect match for you if you:
· Want to quit smoking cigarettes
· Are a heavy smoker
· Want to start vaping but you don’t know where to start and the devices seem too high tech
· Are highly dependent on nicotine, and enjoy the headrush feeling of a cigarette
· Are a Mouth-To-Lung vaper
ONE IMPORTANT NOTE
High nicotine salts operate in lower powered devices, therefore users are strongly recommended to avoid using high powered devices to vape it. (Use at 25W Max)
On the other hand, if you want to vape freebase e-liquid, you can vape it using any device with high or low power depending on your preference.
Freebase Juice
Freebase e-juice is what you are naturally familiar with in your vape juice. The only difference is that the nicotine is in its purest form compared to other nicotine derivatives.
Freebase e liquid is generally made for people who already vape or for people who are looking to lower their use of nicotine level.
Who should use freebase/regular nicotine?
· Users who want less nicotine and mainly flavour
· Cloud Chasers
· Sub-ohm Users
· Direct-Lung Vapers