If you’re looking to make the switch from smoking to vaping ensuring that you choose the right level of nicotine in your vape is a large part of making a smooth transition. If when starting out vaping you’re not reaching the nicotine hit you are used to when smoking, there may be a risk you return to cigarettes. Therefore, when buying e-liquid, the strength of the nicotine is a crucial decision if not the most important decision when beginning vaping.
WHAT IS NICOTINE?
Nicotine is the chemical compound that’s mainly derived from a tobacco plant, Nicotine is an alkaloid, this means it contains nitrogen and is chemically similar to things like coffee. Nicotine is an optional extra to e-liquid, the majority of e-liquids are available in strengths starting from 0mg (being no nicotine), 3mg, 6mg , 12mg and 18mg .
WHAT DO THE NUMBERS OF THE BOTTLES OF E-LIQUID MEANS?
This number relates to how many milligrams of nicotine there is per millilitre of e-liquid. Essentially - the lower the number, the less nicotine there is. Sometimes it’s written in a percentage format too - for example a 3mg/ml is 0.3% nicotine.
WHICH NICOTINE STRENGTH IS RIGHT FOR ME?
The important thing when answering question simply comes down to your smoking habits how many you have a day and whether your cigarettes were a light variety or not. The strength you use is personal to you, trying a stronger liquid might help you make the switch from smoking to vaping and once you’ve found the right one you can gradually reduce it over time. The other benefit is, if you go for a slightly lower strength, you can vape until you’re satisfied rather than having too strong a hit.
0mg nicotine - the nicotine free option is ideal for social smokers who only have the odd cigarette when they’re out and just want the feel of smoking, or to dilute their juice that does have some nicotine to make it a little more mild.
3mg nicotine - This is the lowest level nicotine you can get in a liquid, it’s often the ideal final step for people who have reduced their intake to almost nothing.
6mg nicotine - Another low-level nicotine strength, it’ll still give you the nicotine buzz you’re looking for, this one is for those of you who are getting through around 10 a day.
10mg nicotine – this is for people who are smoking between 10 and 20 a day but don’t want anything too strong but strong enough to give you a buzz and to keep the cravings at bay
12mg nicotine - Made for your average smoker, who gets through up to a pack a day. It’s a good place to start to get you used to vaping and will give you enough to keep the cravings away.
18mg nicotine through to 20mg nicotine - This a high nicotine level for people who are getting through a serious number of cigarettes, by this we mean people who are smoking above 30 cigarettes a day.
SOME FURTHER TIPS
It’s a process - if you’re a heavy smoker it’s OK to start out with a high nicotine content, if it helps you quit, it’s what’s going to be better in the long run and you can gradually reduce the strength over time, however If in doubt, go a bit lower, it’s worth trying the slightly lower strength so you don’t overdo it and end up with a nic headache,
the last thing we want is for you to have a bad first vaping experience. The other thing is, if it’s a bit lower you can just take a few more drags until you feel about right.
Not all electronic cigarettes are made for high-strength nicotine, with Sub Ohm devices being too powerful for the high doses, you’ll need something different. To help you choose the best one for you needs, why not have a look at our top 5 lists to find something that suits you.
