It can be hard to know what to look for when looking up the best vape pen brands and other e-cigarettes. So we’d like to provide some simple explanations for how to choose a vape pen.
Choose A Vaping Style
There are generally considered to be two different vaping styles, both of which provide notably different experiences and usually require dedicated vape pens or at least coils. The two styles are referred to as mouth-to-lung (MTL) and direct-to-lung (DTL), which restricted-direct-lung (RDL) being a middle ground between them.
MTL
Mouth-to-lung vaping is the closest to cigarette inhalation. Vapour is drawn into the mouth by way of expanding pressure, like drinking through a straw. The collected vapour is then taken down to the lung with a subsequent inhalation. Mouth-to-lung vaping is most common with MTL vape kits that take thinner e-liquid and use coils with an ohmage of 0.8ohms and above.
DTL
DTL vaping is more like using an inhaler; the vapour is breathed in directly from the vape pen and taken straight to the lung. The DTL types of vape are solely the domain of what we call sub-ohm vapes that take low-resistance coils designed to absorb much thicker high-VG e-liquids. Bizarrely DTL vaping is generally a ‘smoother’ experience, as high-VG e-liquids and vape juice are much gentler on the throat despite creating huge amounts of vapour, though some smokers may find it a bit too light.
RDL
This vaping style is a middle-ground, usually offered by mouth-to-lung vape kits with adjustable airflow controls and reasonably high wattage ranges. RDL vaping is probably the least common style, as most vapers using the best MTL vape pens will find a direct lung inhalation uncomfortably rough on the throat and chest, though it certainly has its devotees.
Select Between Replaceable Coil and Disposable Tank
| Replaceable Coil | Disposable Tank |
|---|---|
| Cheaper | Convenient |
| More resistance options | Mess-free |
| Coils can be adjusted/fixed | Less Likelihood of early burnouts |
As previously mentioned, there are differences between tanks/pods that take replaceable coils and disposable vape pods that feature pre-installed coils that necessitate the pod being disposed of after a few weeks of use. Below we will go over some of the pros and cons of each.
Ultimately the choice mostly comes down to whether you prefer the value and ‘hands-on’ aspects of replaceable coils, or are more attracted to the streamlined convenience and mess-free experience that characterises disposable pod vaping.
Pick A Battery Capacity
Battery life in vapes is usually rated by the battery’s milliamps per hour, which is abbreviated to “mAh”. Generally, the higher the mAh, the longer the battery will last before needing to be recharged, though there are factors which affect this.
With vapes that take external batteries, it’s always worth checking the amperage rating (abbreviated as “A”). This dictates how much ‘stress’ the battery can be regularly put through, so if you’re looking at a powerful kit such as the Freemax Marvos X you likely want to acquire a 18650 battery with a high A rating, however this often comes at the cost of some mAh.
Another aspect which affects how quickly your battery drains is the selected wattage setting, which we’ll examine more closely below.
Choose A Wattage
Wattage is usually the medium through which your vape pen’s power setting is displayed, though some vapes do offer a voltage setting for an alternative perspective. Itis the most popular format as it is a very precise measurement.
Some vape pens have a set wattage range that either does not change or only changes to adjust to a newly detected coil resistance. There are however many vape pens that allow you to select the wattage output for your vape, and the general rule is more wattage leads to more vapour production.
- MTL vapes will usually stick to a low wattage range of 5W – 15W, as this is often all that’s required to fire up a high-resistance coil.
- DTL vapes will often have wattage ranges going as high as 200W, which is unnecessary for all but those who build their own coils.
Always be sure to check the recommended wattage setting printed on the side of your coil prior to installation.
Other Vape Pen Features to Consider
Airflow Control
Usually in the form of a slider, ring, or panel on the side of the tank or pod, adjustable airflow control allows you to open or close the air intake ports. An open port will result in a larger cloud, whereas a thinner port will result in a richer flavour and less vapour being emitted.
Draw Activation
Traditionally, a vape pen was ‘activated’ by pressing the firing button on the front of the device, which would begin the heating and atomisation process. While many vape pens still feature firing buttons, draw activation is becoming more popular. Draw activation simply means that you only need to begin puffing from the device to begin heating vape juice, which will cease when it no longer detects an air intake.
Display Screen
Some vape pens feature display screens, which give an overview of your battery level, wattage settings, and your coil’s current resistance level, which may drop over time as the coil is used. Many vape pens don’t feature a display screen, but will still often have a power-indication light to let you know if the vape pen requires a recharge.
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