A person holding a high VG vape juice shortfill

What Is a High VG Vape Juice?

High-VG vape juice produces much larger clouds and tends to be a lot smoother to inhale through your vape kit. However, this e-liquid isn’t universally compatible with all vape tanks, pods, and coils. In this article, we’ll discuss what precisely high-VG shortfills are, their PG VG ratio, and what makes them perfect for sub-ohm vaping.

What Is a High VG E-liquid? 

A photo collage showing different high VG shortfills

So, what does high-VG mean in vaping? High-VG juice is an e-liquid type that, as its name suggests, uses more vegetable glycerine (VG) than propylene glycol (PG). Almost all vape juices involve a mixture of PG vs VG in their base mix before adding flavour concentrates and sweeteners, but high-VG e-liquid results in more eye-catching vapour production due to the higher VG ratio.

Is High VG Better?

High VG vape juices are better for those who want bigger clouds. 50 VG / 50 PG and high-PG e-liquids will only generate a very moderate amount of vapour, about an equal amount to smoke from a cigarette.

You needn’t worry about any discomfort from inhaling so much vapour too, as VG-rich clouds are much smoother on the throat, with vegetable glycerine doubling as a popular natural ingredient in many cough syrups.

Due to the huge clouds high-VG e-liquids create, these e-liquids tend to be fairly low in nicotine strength to prevent you from becoming nauseous from inhaling too much nicotine at once. Keep in mind that although they have a higher ratio of VG, high VG e-juices arrive nicotine-free. You will need to add a nic shot, similar to 70 vg shortfills.

One downside to high-VG e-liquids is that the coils intended for atomising it usually require high power outputs, often resulting in your e-liquid being used up a bit faster.

Below, you’ll find a table that outlines some of the benefits and detriments of high-VG, high-PG and 50/50 vape juices.

Vape Juice TypeCloudsNic StrengthThroat HitAtomisation Rate
High VGHighLowLowHigh 
50/50ModerateLow to HighModerateLow
High PGLowLow to HighHighLow

Can You Use 100 VG for Vaping?

Yes, you can use 100% VG for vaping, though you will require specific hardware to do so. MTL vape kits (which use coils with ohmages of 0.8ohm and higher) will be incapable of absorbing and atomising the thick 100% VG E-liquid, usually resulting in a spoiled, ruined coil.

You must use vape coils with low resistances (0.7ohms and lower), with a sub-ohm vape mod that’s capable of providing the high-intensity outputs these coils require.

Many ask, “What wattage do I need for 100% VG?” Ideally, you should use a vape coil capable of handling a wattage output ranging between 40W – 100W. 

Does High VG Burn Coils?

Yes, high-VG does burn coils faster. This is due to several factors:

  • Thicker e-liquid takes longer to soak coils, meaning more opportunities to fire a dry coil accidentally
  • Increased levels of sugar will wear down the wicking materials faster (VG is a naturally derived sugar solution)
  • More power is being sent through the coil, which is likely to wear the materials out faster

Is High VG Pod Friendly?

Yes, high-VG is pod-friendly, though it relies solely on the coil being used inside the pod.

Most vape pods are for MTL vaping and will be compatible with high-resistance coils or arrive with said coils pre-installed.

There are, however, sub-ohm pod vapes that are intended for use with high-VG e-liquids. In fact, if you tried using 50/50 or high-PG e-liquids in these sub-ohm pods, you’d likely experience leak issues, as the coil anticipates a thicker vape juice.

Is High VG Good for Sub Ohm Vape Kits?

Yes, high-VG is good for sub-ohm vape kits. As a matter of fact, it’s what’s intended, as the best sub-ohm vape kits are designed solely for producing large clouds of vapour, and high-VG e-liquid is essential for achieving this. Remember, a high VG e-juice only atomise correctly when heated with a wattage output of around 40W – 100W, and you’ll require a sub-ohm vape kit to achieve that kind of power output.

Our top sub-om vape kits recommendations for high VG are:

  1. Vaporesso Target 200 Kit (iTank 2 Edition)
  2. Eleaf iStick Power Mono
  3. SMOK RPM C Pod Kit
 

Vaporesso Target 200 Kit (iTank 2 Edition)

Best Sub-Ohm Vape
9.3/10
Total
Battery
9.2/10
Clouds
9.6/10
Flavour
9.2/10
Functionality
9.5/10
Price
9/10
Price
£52.99
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Features We Love

Tooth Hurty

230W outputs can generate insane cloud volumes

Skinny Sub-Ohm

Slim and portable for a dual 18650 mod

Button Bliss

Button-release spin-top refill port on the iTank 2

We chose the Vaporesso Target 200 (iTank 2 Edition) as our winning sub-ohm vape kit because it combines everything you want from a direct-to-lung device.

Do you need a long battery life? Dual 18650’s will provide. Like a giant cloud? 230W outputs can fog up any room. Want a casual walkabout kit? It can fit in your pocket. Would you prefer a more in-depth DIY experience? Bypass mode’s got you sorted.

And that’s to say nothing of the tank! The first time you press the release button on the tank and feel the lid spin-off with the force of a switchblade, you’ll fall in love on the spot.

The Vaporesso Target 200 (iTank 2 Edition) Vape Kit has everything. It’s powerful, pretty, and the best DTL vape for you cloud fans.

Pros

  • Very powerful 230W max outputs
  • Several power modes are available
  • Easy to carry around

Cons

  • No damage protection rating
  • The colour screen may drain the battery somewhat
Price
£52.99
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Eleaf iStick Power Mono

Best for: Battery Life
9.1/10
Total
Battery
9.8/10
Clouds
8.8/10
Flavour
9.1/10
Functionality
8.9/10
Price
9/10
Price
£49.99
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Features We Love

Chunky Charge: Massive 3500mAh battery life capacity
Round & Sound: Soft textures and round edges for grip comfort
Hybrid Heaven: GTL Pod Tank is easy to fill and provides excellent taste

Sub-ohm vape kits like the Vaporesso Target 200 above use external cells to provide long life, but we appreciate that many of you find storing, charging and rotating batteries tiresome. For you, we’d recommend the Eleaf iStick Power Mono Kit instead.

You’re not going to have to worry about the 80W output draining your battery when you’re clutching 3500mAh of pure power in your palm. You’ll be surprised, too, because the mod is weirdly lightweight, if a little vast in scale.

The GTL Pod Tank is easy to refill and takes both MTL and DTL coils, though we acknowledge the tapered mouthpiece isn’t ideally suited to huge inhales, and the acrylic pod can shatter if dropped.

But so can glass, and ultimately, if the pod tank is a stopping point for you, then just grab the mod and whack any sub-ohm tank on there instead!

Pros

  • Biggest battery life of any vape kit
  • Simple 5W – 80W wattage adjustment
  • Very comfortable to hold and grip

Cons

  • It has a wide design
  • The pod tank’s mouthpiece can be restrictive
Price
£49.99
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SMOK RPM C Pod Kit

Best for: Price
9.1/10
Total
Battery
8.8/10
Clouds
9/10
Flavour
8.9/10
Functionality
9.2/10
Price
9.8/10
Price
£19.99
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Features We Love

Value Vaping: Very reasonably priced sub-ohm vape kit
Pocket Puffs: Compact build you can take anywhere
Ride the Slide: Easy refills with a simple sliding pod top mechanism

Some of the sub-ohm vape kits in this list are sold for more than £50, and we understand that isn’t a price point everyone can comfortably manage. If you’re on a bit of a budget, kits like the SMOK RPM C allow you to enjoy some fat clouds without breaking the bank.

Priced at only £19.99, the RPM C doesn’t make many sacrifices for the sake of cost. The battery is 1650mAh, larger than on the Geekvape H45 Classic, which costs almost twice as much. Refilling is particularly satisfying with this kit, thanks to the sliding top-fill pods, which are a bit of a staple in SMOK’s more recent RPM devices.

Is it the best sub-ohm vape kit? No. There are no ingress protections, the shaded pod is hard to see through for juice gauging, and the screen is too small for our liking. But for less than £20, it’s the best sub-ohm vape pen and a bargain.

Pros

  • Affordably priced sub-ohm vaping pen
  • Small and pocket-friendly design
  • Easy to refill

Cons

  • 1650mAh battery not up to all-day 50W use
  • A shaded pod makes juice gauging tricky
Price
£19.99
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What Tank Is Best for High VG?

There are numerous tanks that are excellent for use with high-VG liquid. It’s hard to say which is the ‘best’, as vaping is a very personalised pursuit, and no two vape setups are exactly alike.

Our list of the best sub-ohm vape tanks features many brilliant examples, and each is perfect for use with high-VG vape juice.

Our top tank recommendations for high VG are:

  1. Vaporesso iTank 2
  2. Voopoo Uforce-L Tank
  3. SMOK T-Air Subtank
 

Vaporesso iTank 2

Best Sub-Ohm Tank
9.7/10
Total
Flavour
9.6/10
Clouds
9.5/10
Coils
9.8/10
Features
9.7/10
Price
9.8/10
Price
£23.99
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Features We Love

Hit The Switch

Button-release sliding cap for easy refills

CORE Blimey

Unique COREX coil tech improves cloud and flavour levels

Messless

Designed for leak-resistant sub-ohm vape use

Vaporesso has always known its way around innovative sub-ohm tank designs, and the iTank 2 showcases its expertise in various ways.

Based on our experience, most sub-ohm tanks can sometimes be messy, so we’re pleasantly surprised that the iTank 2 has a built-in self-cleaning system that ensures your hands will remain juiceless. 

If you’ve been frustrated by tank disassembly in the past, you’ll also love the iTank 2’s button-release refill mechanism. Many companies have tried to do the button release on their sub-ohm tanks, and we’ve not encountered one as well made as Vaporesso’s offering with the iTank 2.

Another feature we like with the iTank 2 is the coils. The tank sees the return of the GTi Coil series, which will let you experience Vaporesso’s COREX technology that conveys MTL levels of flavour intensity through your sub-ohm tank.

The Vaporesso iTank 2 is a stunning piece of kit, laden with advanced features yet simple enough for an absolute beginner to master it instantly. Easily our best sub-ohm tank for 2023.

Pros

  • An advanced yet affordable sub-ohm tank
  • Richly flavourful and cloudy coils
  • Highly leak-resistant design

Cons

  • Glass somewhat exposed
  • It could use a slightly wider airflow port
Price
£23.99
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Voopoo Uforce-L Tank

Best for: Clouds
9.6/10
Total
Flavour
9.5/10
Clouds
9.9/10
Coils
9.4/10
Features
9.6/10
Price
9.6/10
Price
£25.99
Shop now

Features We Love

Tri-Air: Three air inlets for maximum clouds 
Quiet Puffs: Reduced noise when inhaling 
Leakless: Condensed juice reservoir prevents e-liquid leaks 

Of course, the main reason people engage in sub-ohm vaping is to create huge clouds from sub-ohm tanks, and the Voopoo Uforce-L Tank is laser-focused on doing just that.

Every aspect of the Uforce-L has been geared towards emitting the most considerable clouds possible. The tank features leak-proof airflow slots on the top, with a remarkable three inlets to provide the most air circulation possible with every inhale.

Due to the unique design of the inlets, we were surprised to find that the Uforce-L is almost entirely silent, a far cry from the usually distinctive ‘hiss’ given off by most powerful sub-ohm tank units.

The Uforce-L is compatible with the full range of Voopoo PnP Coils. While not the most advanced mesh coil range by any means, it covers a broad spectrum of resistances, giving you even more control over how large and corporeal your clouds will be.

The Voopoo Uforce-L Tank is a sophisticated tank built for both clouds and stealth, a rare combo that you’ll love if you’re a cloud chaser.

Pros

  • Vast airflow for huge clouds
  • Stealthy sub-ohm vaping with reduced sound
  • Heat sink prevents the tank from raising in temperature

Cons

  • Large, tall design with exposed glass
  • The airflow control slider is a little loose
Price
£25.99
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SMOK T-Air Subtank

Best for Leakproof
9.4/10
Total
Flavour
9.3/10
Clouds
9.4/10
Coils
9.3/10
Features
9.6/10
Price
9.4/10
Price
£20.99
Shop now

Features We Love

Top Shelf: Top-based airflow control prevents spills 
Honey Honey: Honeycomb airflow ports provide precise control 
Rubber Ring FTW: Five separate leak-preventing rubber partitions  

While SMOK has always been praised for their sub-ohm tanks, they have suffered from some leak issues. The T-Air Subtank seeks to address these issues, and we found that it did so very adequately, providing us with a marvellously cloudy inhale without anything escaping from the airflow ports.

Part of the winning formula of the T-Air Subtank is in the airflow placement; by being situated above the e-liquid chamber, there’s no issue of gravity and pressure forcing e-juice out that way, ensuring you can enjoy a cloudy puff without getting sticky fingers.

The adjustable airflow is remarkable for other reasons as well. A unique honeycomb design means you have far more precise control over how open or close the airways are, giving you more cloud control than you get with most sub-ohm tanks.

So if soggy fingers are a frustration you’ve had enough of, consider the SMOK T-Air Subtank for a mess-free vape setup.

Pros

  • Highly leak-resistant build
  • Exact airflow control system
  • Dual filling system for quick top-ups

Cons

  • Coils can only handle 70W maximum
  • No sliding top-fill system
Price
£20.99
Shop now

Need More Help?

Now that you’ve read this explanation, we hope you understand high-VG vape juice better. If you feel this is the way you’d like to vape, then visit the MIST online store for great deals on vape juice and the sub-ohm kits needed to atomise them.

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