What is an E-cigarette?

An electronic cigarette, commonly known as an e-cigarette or vape, is a handheld device that uses a battery-powered heating element to vaporise a liquid solution, often containing nicotine, which is then inhaled by the user. The act of using an e-cigarette is commonly referred to as vaping.

E-cigarettes come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from small and discreet to large and customizable. The basic components of an e-cigarette include a battery, a heating element or coil, a tank or cartridge to hold the liquid solution, and a mouthpiece for inhaling the vapour. Some e-cigarettes also have additional features such as adjustable wattage, temperature control, and LED lights indicating the battery and e-juice levels.

E-juice is the liquid solution used in e-cigarettes. It consists of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavourings, and sometimes nicotine. E-liquids come in a wide variety of flavours, including fruit, mint, iced, and tobacco. Advocates of e-cigarettes argue that they are a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes, as they do not contain many of the harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke.

The right e-cigarette should allow you to vape all day without craving a cigarette. So… how do you find the right one? Your budget, usage rate, and level of tech-savvy will all determine what e-cigarette is best for you. If you’re switching from smoking to vaping for the first time, here’s a quick breakdown of the major types of e-cigarette.

A disposable vape is a no-fuss way to switch from smoking to vaping full time. It is ready to use as soon as you take it out of the box; the e-liquid and battery are already inside and good to go. Once the e-liquid runs out or the battery goes flat, you simply dispose of the e-cigarette and start another. Disposable devices have what’s called a ‘puff count’ indicating how many puffs you will get out of the device in its lifespan. Disposable devices with a higher puff count are rechargeable so that the battery doesn’t die before the e-liquid is used up. Disposables are typically available in 20 mg nicotine strength.

A closed pod device is a rechargeable e-cigarette base that uses disposable, pre-filled e-liquid pods. These require a bit more assembly than a disposable, but are still very user friendly. You simply charge the device, pop on a pod, and replace the pods when they run out. Most pre-filled pods come in a 3 pack containing 2 mL of e-liquid per pod. Closed pod devices are typically available in 00 mg, 20 mg, BOLD 35 mg, and BOLD 50 mg nicotine strength.

An open pod kit is more a customizable experience than the two previous types of e-cigarette. Most closed pod kits contain a battery (device), at least one pod, a charging cable, and an instruction manual. Generally speaking, open pod kits work best with salt e-liquid. Since these devices require you to insert your own e-liquid, they can accommodate anything from 00 mg to 20 mg nicotine strength. You can experiment with different pod resistances to adjust the wattage, taste, throat hit, and cloud. A pod’s lifespan can range from 2 weeks to 1 month depending on your usage, so you should change out your pod on a regular schedule.

If you’re not sure how to choose your e-cigarette nicotine strength, check out this breakdown of nicotine strengths, as well as our guide to e-liquids.