Starting the process of quitting smoking is already challenging enough. When transitioning to vaping, the lingo of seasoned vapers can make things even more confusing for beginners.
We don’t want any of these new terms to overwhelm and scare you away from the benefits of vaping, so we’ve put together a glossary of common vaping terminology to help you out!
All Day Vape
An all day vape or ADV is an E-Liquid that can be used all day long. Some may be too intense to be vaped all day.
Amps
Amps is short for amperage, which is the measure of electrical current used to measure vape device batteries.
Analog Cigarette
A name for a traditional cigarette.
Atomiser
The atomiser is an electronic component within your vape device that heats up the E-Liquid and turns it into vapour. They are also commonly known as coils.
Batteries
Vape devices will use a battery to power the kit. It can be built-in and charged using a USB cable or be a removable battery that can be recharged or replaced.
Box Mods
A box-shaped vaping device. The larger box format allows for more battery capacity, display screens and control buttons, creating a more powerful device that can be customised to your specific vaping requirements.
Cigalike
An e-cigarette with a design that closely resembles a tobacco cigarette.
Coil
Coils are the part of the vape device that heat up the E-Liquid and turn it into vapour.
Clearomiser
A term for the part of the vape device that holds the E-Liquid. The clearomiser features a drip tip (mouthpiece) and an atomiser coil, and connects these parts to the battery. They are also known as tanks.
Cloud Chasing
A cloud chaser is a vaper who aims to produce massive clouds of vapour.
Cotton
Cotton is the material most commonly used to wick the coil in your vape kit. The cotton absorbs the E-Liquid and holds it in place while the coil heats it.
Direct to Lung
Also known as DTL vaping, direct to lung vaping sees the vapour inhaled directly into the lungs without holding it in your mouth first.
Drip Tip
The drip tip is the name of the mouthpiece on your vape kit, from which you inhale the vapour. They can be found in an assortment of sizes, styles and textures to make your vape experience right for you.
Dripping
Dripping is when E-Liquid is directly dripped onto the coil.
Dry Hit
If the wick isn’t saturated with E-Liquid or the coil is burning the juice too quickly, then you may experience a dry hit. A dry hit will taste bad and may irritate your throat. It can also damage your coils, so always make sure your tank has enough E-Liquid before you start vaping.
Electronic Cigar
An e-cigarette that has the shape, style and flavour of a cigar.
E-Cigarette or Electronic Cigarette
An atomiser vaporises nicotine, which is then inhaled as vapour, rather than smoked like a traditional cigarette. Using one is usually called ‘vaping’.
E-Liquid
A liquid solution that is usually made up of propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, water and nicotine. Nicotine-free E-Liquids are available. You can also find great E-Liquid deals here at RED Box Vape!
Flavour Chaser
Refers to a person who prioritises getting great flavour from their vape.
Flooding
Flooding occurs when E-Liquid floods into the atomiser.
Freebase
Nicotine E-Liquid, in its purest form, is called freebase. This is commonly used in 10ml E-Liquids. At higher strengths it can prove harsher.
Gooseneck
The gooseneck is an extended and flexible drip tip that allows you to hold the vape device further away from you.
High Resistance
An atomiser that allows the coil to use a higher voltage.
Hybrid
A mechanical mod that doesn’t use a standard threaded 510-connection; instead, the atomiser is essentially directly fitted to the battery.
Inhaling
The act of breathing in the vapour from the vape device.
Joules
A measure of energy used in mods that have temperature controls. The higher the joules, the higher the heat.
Juice
Juice is an alternate name for E-Liquid. Vape juice or e-juice are commonly used.
Kanthal Wire
A type of wire that is commonly used to build coils. It is available in a range of different resistances.
Leaking
E-Liquid can leak from the bottom of the tank. This is a common issue.
Low Resistance
Low resistance coils have a resistance of less than 1.0 ohm. This is commonly referred to as ‘sub-ohm’. Low resistance coils make larger clouds of vapour.
Mechanical Mod
Also known as mech mod, these devices have a battery and switch that are manually operated. They have less safety features and no adjustment.
Mod
Originally used to describe e-cigarettes that had been uniquely modified, mod now more often refers to manufactured box-style vaping kits. Mods allow the modification of certain settings on the device, such as wattage, temperature and voltage.
Mouthpiece
The part of the vape kit that you put in your mouth the vape through. It is inserted into the atomiser. It can be either a drip tip or the top of a cartridge.
Mouth to Lung
Often shortened to MTL, Mouth to Lung is when the vapour is drawn into the mouth before being inhaled into the lungs, similar to how you would smoke a cigarette.
Nicotine
Nicotine can be added to E-Liquid in a range of strengths. It is an addictive substance.
Nicotine Level or Strength
The amount of nicotine in an E-Liquid is measured in mg per ml, or as a percentage. For example, 5mg per ml is 0.5% nicotine. In the UK, the maximum strength of E-Liquid is 20mg.
Nicotine Salt
A type of naturally forming nicotine found in leaf tobacco. It allows for nicotine to be vaped at higher strengths without such a harsh throat hit. Also known as nic salts or salt nicotine, this form of nicotine is better absorbed than freebase nicotine, so it can satisfy cravings faster.
Nicotine Shot
A 10ml bottle of nicotine that can be added into a shortfill bottle to create a larger bottle of E-Liquid.
O-Ring
A trick involving blowing vapour into the shape of a big ring.
Ohm
A measure of electronic resistance used to measure the resistance of the coils used. The lower the resistance, the faster the coil heats up, and the more vapour is produced.
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is a material commonly used for e-cigarette wicks and is considered a favourite by many vapers.
Pen
A vape device with a shape that resembles a ball-point pen.
Priming
Soaking the coil before using it reduces the chance of a burnt coil. This process is known as priming.
Propylene Glycol (PG)
Used in most E-Liquids, Propylene Glycol (typically written as PG) is a colourless and odourless liquid that provides a throat hit to vapers, which helps to replicate the sensation of smoking.
Regulated Mods
A type of e-cigarette battery that uses a circuit board to regulate the current. They are considered safer than mechanical mods.
Resistance
The resistance of the coil, which is measured in ohms. It contributes to the amount of flavour and vapour your device produces.
Squonk / Squonking / Squonker
A squonk device is one that has an E-Liquid bottle directly attached to the coil - squonking refers to using one of these devices. You squeeze the bottle as you vape. Using a squonk device makes you a squonker!
Starter Kit
A vape device kit that is recommended for beginners. They are often simpler to use.
Sub-Ohm
When the resistance of your atomiser/coil is below 1.0 ohms, then it is sub-ohm. You would use a sub-ohm set up if you want to create bigger, thicker clouds of vapour.
Tank
The part of the vape kit where the E-Liquid is held. It contains the heating element, wick and leads to the mouthpiece.
Temperature Control (TC)
You can set a temperature at which you want the device to operate at.
Throat Hit
The feeling at the back of your throat when the vapour is inhaled. The intensity of the throat hit will depend on the strength of the nicotine used and the type of E-Liquid.
Vape
The act of inhaling vapour from an e-cigarette.
Vaper
A person who vapes.
Vaper’s Tongue
Sometimes a vaper can experience taste loss when an E-Liquid is used too often, as the taste buds become desensitised to the flavour.
Vaping
The act of using an e-cigarette.
Vapour
Water vapour that is produced when the E-Liquid is heated by the atomiser.
Vegetable Glycerine (VG)
Vegetable Glycerine (typically written as VG) is a key ingredient in E-Liquid. It adds a sweet flavour and makes big clouds. It is commonly used in combination with PG (Propylene Glycol), although 100% VG E-Liquids are available.
Watt
A measure for units of power: 1 watt = 1 joule per second.
Wick
The wick absorbs the E-Liquid and holds it in place until it is vaped. It is made of fabric, usually cotton.
Wire
The material used to build a coil.
Wrap
A wire is wrapped around to create a coil shape. The higher the number of wraps made, the higher the resistance.
Zero Nic
E-Liquid that contains no nicotine.
We hope that this helps you to better understand the world of vaping!
If you have any questions about vaping and making the transition from smoking, then please get in touch with our team, who will be happy to help you out!
You can also take a look at our blog for more tips and advice!
We hope that this helps you to better understand the world of vaping!
If you have any questions about vaping and making the transition from smoking, then please get in touch with our team, who will be happy to help you out!
You can also take a look at our blog for more tips and advice!
