How to Vape (A Beginner’s Guide to Vaping in the UK)

Do you know how to vape? There’s no shame in not knowing, believe me! We all start somewhere, and many who have left cigarettes behind can find the initial entry point intimidating.

This is why disposables were so popular; they were single-use devices that required no maintenance and replicated the cigarette experience. But we all had a bit too much of that fun, and now it’s being taken away, sadly. So, there’s never been a better time to learn how to acquire, maintain, and operate a refillable vape kit! Let’s jump into Vaping 101, shall we?

Step 1. Select A Vape Device 

The worst thing about disposables (besides, you know, all the lithium waste) was that it made people think that vaping is a one-size-fits-all pursuit. A brief look at all the types of vapes shows that it’s a VERY customisable scene!

So take your time deciding which of the following vape devices you think will suit your needs best. Remember, in vaping, ‘most powerful =/= best for you’ in most cases. You don’t need a Chinook dual-rotor troop-carrying gunship to get the shopping home, and you don’t need a 120W sub-ohm box mod to replace a rollie.

Type Of Vape Kit	What Does It Do
MTL Pod Kit	Minimal fuss, travel-friendly, cigarette-style
Starter Kit	Simple maintenance, portable, and some small adjustment options
Sub-Ohm Kit	Moderate maintenance, simple use, big clouds, less nicotine satisfaction
Tank & Box Mod Vape Kit	Regular maintenance, advanced user functions
RDA/RTA & Box Mod Vape Kit	DAILY maintenance, extreme cloud/flavour production

Step 2. Choose An E-Liquid 

Once you have a kit, you’ll need some e-liquid to vape through it! But if you thought vape kits were varied, the vape juice selection is going to knock your socks off.

Firstly, the vape kit you want to use determines what kind of vape juice you need, and vice versa!

You see, ‘thick’ vape juices create huge clouds. These e-liquids are made with lots of ‘VG’ and require powerful sub-ohm vape kits for atomisation.

On the other hand, ‘thin’ vape juices produce vapour amounts closer to the volume of smoke made by a cigarette.

Unfortunately, the two kinds of juice won’t work in each other’s kits unless you have dedicated tanks/pods for each. While this may seem confusing, the difference between PG and VG in vape juice is very simple to understand.

Even with those elements understood and decided upon, you need to decide on a preferred flavour and nicotine strength to start using! But don’t worry about getting this part wrong; trying different vape juices is one of the great joys of vaping!

Are you a former disposable vape user? You’ll find our best nic salt flavours like disposables guide useful.

Step 3. Understand UK Regulations (TPD/TRPR)

The Wild West days of the vaping frontier are in the past now; we’ve tamed the desert and implemented aspects of regulation and… civilisation regarding vape kits and juices. While every country has its rules and restrictions, we’ll focus on UK law today.

The Tobacco Products Directive of 2014 mandated several changes to how vapes are sold in the United Kingdom. Things that will affect you, as a person hoping to purchase a vape and vape supplies, include:

• There are 2ml tank/pod size capacity limits. This sometimes means the UK receives pods artificially limited with rubber inserts. There are means and ways to circumvent some restrictions, but most vape retailers will play it safe and not actively help you break the law.

• 10ml limits on e-liquid bottles that contain nicotine before consumer purchase. Larger bottles can be bought, but nicotine will not be featured in the bottle when you buy it. You may be provided with ‘nic shots’ that you can add after the purchase.

• 20mg limits on e-liquid nicotine strength. People making their own vape juice with nic shots are allowed to exceed this limit if it’s for personal consumption.

While pubs and restaurants are not technically forbidden from allowing vaping, the vast majority have independently chosen to adopt similar rules to smoking.

Beyond the TPD, Labour has announced a commitment to banning disposable vape kits in June 2025, so we won’t be covering those devices in this guide because you won’t be able to buy one!

If you are wondering, ‘How old do you have to be to vape?’ the shortest answer is you have to be over the age of 18.

Step 4. Charge the Device 

Smokers and disposable vape users need to get used to this discipline! Your vape device is powered by a rechargeable battery, which needs to be kept topped up to continue operating and atomise e-liquid into tasty, satisfying vapour.

The majority of vape batteries currently charge off of USB-C cables, and most full vape kits include a cable. Some more budget-focused kits, however, don’t have a cable included, so you may need to look into a vape battery charger.

Some box mods use external batteries, and these NEVER come included with the device, so be sure to check what kind of cell your new mod needs.

Step 5. Prime the Coil

Coil priming isn’t a universal necessity, but if you’re using a sub-ohm kit with chunky vape coils, I’d recommend you do it to be safe.

High-VG vape juice is very thick, and it takes a while for such a viscous liquid to seep into the tightly packed cotton of your vape kit’s coils. Firing the kit too soon can cause dry hits, forever ruining the coil you hoped to use.

Press the juice applicator nozzle directly against its cotton to prime the coil and ‘paint’ it with e-liquid. This will help speed up the absorption process when you fill the tank. This is one of many helpful tips you can follow for better coil longevity.

Step 6. Fill the Pod/Tank

Next, we need to get the tank, pod, or pod-tank filled, which is one of the easier steps, but there’s no reason not to offer some help here, too.

Filling an e-cigarette involves first locating the applicator section of the tank or pod. It’s usually a rubber plug or removable mouthpiece on pods, and on tanks, it’s usually an unscrewable lid or sliding top-fill.

Open the bottle and place a coil before you start filling the pod or tank; otherwise, you’ll have a messy leak.

Start squeezing e-liquid into the pod/tank from the nozzle, taking care not to overfill (UK tanks will ALWAYS have a 2ml max capacity!).

Once the e-liquid is in place, WAIT FIVE MINUTES before firing the device up to give it time to soak thoroughly into the coil’s wicks.

First time using a pod? We have a beginner-friendly how to fill a pod vape guide you can follow.

Step 7. Turn On the Device

We’re juiced up and ready to go, so it’s time to switch on your vape kit. Buttonless devices are always ‘on’ as long as the battery is charged, so there’s no need to do anything besides put the pod in place for those.

For mods and devices with buttons, the almost universal switch-on method is five rapid taps of the firing button. Some kits, like the Aspire Zelos 3, have master power switches on the base, so check for those if your kit isn’t turning on.

Step 8. Vape

The vape is charged, the coil is fitted, the tank/pod is complete, and the device is on. It’s time to start vaping!

Of course, like everything else in vaping, there isn’t a singular ‘how to inhale a vape’ method, but rather two different ones better suited to different vaping styles, devices, and e-liquids. Let’s examine the two approaches and ensure you get a smooth, enjoyable puff.

MTL 

MTL, or “mouth-to-lung” vaping, is the vaping style that most resembles cigarette smoking. It involves drawing a mouthful of vapour into the mouth with suction pressure, then taking it down to the lung with an additional breath.

Vape juice intended for MTL inhalation and kits usually have a 50/50 or high-PG base mix ratio. The steps for using an MTL vape are straightforward:

1. Bring the mouthpiece to your lips.
2. (For button-fired kits) Press the firing button and immediately begin drawing vapour into your mouth.
3. (For draw-activated kits) Just start puffing to begin the atomisation process.
4. Draw as much vapour into your mouth as you’re comfortable inhaling. If you’re using a button-fired kit, let go of the firing button. If draw activated, just stop puffing.
5. With the vapour in your mouth, draw a short, sharp breath of air, sending all the MTL vapour down through the throat and to the lungs.
6. After a moment, exhale.

DTL 

DTL, or “direct to lung” vaping, is the other variety. This vaping style requires a powerful vape kit that uses sub-ohm coils and thicker e-liquid with a high VG volume in its base mix.

DTL vaping skips the mouth and is taken straight to the lungs. This is because the high VG content makes the vapour MUCH smoother, and is more similar to shisha and hookah smoking than cigarettes.

1. Bring the mouthpiece to your lips.
2. Press the firing button and begin inhaling straight to your lungs, as if using an inhaler or scuba mask.
3. After a moment, let go of the firing button.
4. Exhale your thick cloud of high VG vapour.

After you have mastered these two vaping styles, why not take it to the next step by learning cool vape tricks?

Basic Vape Maintenance 

Now that you’re using your vape kit regularly, you’ll need to start providing it with regular maintenance. Don’t worry, this isn’t time-consuming or complex. There’s a bit of housekeeping you can do now and then to keep your device in good condition.

1. Replace Pod/Coil When Flavour Declines 

Coils last around 2-4 weeks, after which you’re likely to notice a dip in the flavour of your e-liquid. This is because the cotton in the coil is beginning to spoil, crusty with caked-on sugar from the VG you’ve been cooking for weeks.

Simply replace the coil, prime it if needed, and allow it to sit in a filled tank or pod for five minutes before the first puff.

This will keep your flavour rich and clear and prevent issues that can arise from using a coil for too long, such as e-liquid leaking into the mod or sugar crusting over the 510 connector pin.

2. Clean the Magnetic Connection  

The contact points between your vape and the tank or pod should also be cleaned at least weekly. Either unscrew your tank from the battery or pull a magnetic pod out.

Using a kitchen towel or cotton buds, firmly wipe the metal parts within the device’s connection point and the bottom of the pod or tank.

If there’s a stubborn buildup, you can’t shift it with a simple wipe, using a little isopropyl alcohol to cut through the sugary grime. Just be sure to let the alcohol fully evaporate before reattaching the pod or tank.

3. Recharge When Needed 

Your vape kit will have some kind of battery charge indicator. Simple devices usually have something similar to a ‘green-blue-red’ LED, whereas devices with screens always have a graphic showing your current charge level.

You probably guess this, but charge your vape when the battery runs low so it’s functional for the day.

It can be a good idea to run the battery down naturally rather than always keeping it at 100%, as this can cause electronics like vapes to lose their ‘zero point’ and give inaccurate charge displays.

If your vape kit uses external 18650 batteries, they are best charged in an external battery charging bay for their longevity, though they can be charged inside the mod as well.

Vape Troubleshooting  

But that’s not quite all. Even when you think you’re doing everything right, something can go wrong. Usually, however, there’s a quick and inexpensive fix, so let’s take a closer look at some troubleshooting vape issues.

1. Leaks 

To this day, there isn’t a 100% guaranteed leak-proof vape. Sure, they leak less and less every year, but it’s always something that can happen. Here are a few tips for a leaking e-cig.

• Reinstall or tighten the coil
• With a new coil installed, force renegade juice out of the airflow ports with a strong puff outwards.
• While gripping the device TIGHTLY, flick the tank/pod downwards towards the floor to force juice out of the coil well.

Check here for more tips on leaking vapes.

2. Hot Vape 

If your vape feels too hot in your hand or lip when you’re using it, something is probably wrong. There are a few things you can do to try and sort it out:

• Long and intensive puff sessions can increase the temperature of the device. Try going slower.
• If your airflow is too narrow and closed, the unit’s overall temperature will quickly increase.
• If your power is set too high, the extra heat from the coil can disperse throughout the kit. Try lowering your wattage.

Check this guide for tips on fixing a hot vape. If none of them work, stop using your device. It sounds like there’s a serious hardware fault with the battery.

3. No Atomizer 

When you can see an atomiser/coil in place on your device’s screen, a “No Atomizer” message means that there’s a problem with the coil or its installation. This is generally quite an easy fix, though you may need somewhere to keep the e-liquid that was in your tank temporarily.

• Remove the coil from your tank/pod
• First, check it for blackened cotton or a burnt smell
• Next, reinstall it and be sure it’s firmly in place

If these steps and those in our no atomizer guide don’t resolve the issue, you likely have a dud coil and require a new one.

4. Vape Not Hitting 

This is an expanded version of the above issue. Sometimes, your vape doesn’t fire, and it doesn’t tell you what’s wrong, either. In these instances, it’s best to work through a few likely culprits.

• Your vape may require a recharge
• The connector points between the mod and tank/pod may be dirty or damaged
• If your device is draw-activated, the airflow detection hardware may be dirty or damaged
• Your airflow may be blocked and require a brush with a thin pipe cleaner.
• You may be experiencing some of the coil issues mentioned above, but there is no error message on the screen.

If your vape isn’t hitting and you don’t know why, check out our detailed guide for sound advice on how to fix it.

5. Vape Spitting 

Yuck, nothing quite as off-putting as vape juice being spat into your mouth by a bratty vape kit. A spitting vape is one of the easier fixes, though, so there’s no need to worry.

Usually, a spitting vape means that vape liquid has breached the coil’s wick wall and is now pooling in the centre with the heating element. This will ‘boil’ and cook the liquid, causing the nasty spits. Worry not:

• Grip the device hard and flick it towards the floor to force juice out of the mouthpiece
• Hold down the firing button for two seconds without inhaling to ‘cook off’ excess juice in the coil.
• If it keeps happening, change your coil because that’s a leaky one you’re working with.

Vaping Made Easy by MIST 

Hopefully, you can follow these tips to enjoy a satisfying, fuss-free vaping career. And always remember, any time you need kits, juice, mods, tanks, pods, coils, etc., come and get them from MIST for great prices and promotions!