How to Inhale a Vape: A Beginner’s Guide to Vaping the Right Way

When switching to vaping, knowing how to inhale a vape correctly is essential. Whether you’re transitioning from cigarettes or trying vaping for the first time, mastering the right inhaling technique helps improve flavor, prevents coughing, and enhances your overall experience. In this guide, we’ll break down the different inhaling methods, how to match your technique to your device, and how to avoid common beginner mistakes.

Why Inhaling Technique Matters

Unlike cigarettes, vaping offers two primary inhaling styles. Each technique affects your nicotine delivery, throat hit, and vapor production differently. Choosing the wrong method for your device or e-liquid can lead to a poor experience or irritation.

Two Main Vaping Inhalation Methods

1. Mouth-to-Lung (MTL)

Best for:

• Low-wattage devices (e.g., pod systems)
• Higher nicotine strength (e.g., nicotine salts)

How it works:

• Draw vapor into your mouth.
• Hold it briefly.
• Inhale into your lungs.
• Exhale.

Why use MTL:

• Feels similar to smoking traditional cigarettes.
• Delivers a satisfying throat hit.
• Conserves e-liquid and battery.

Ideal devices:

• Closed pod systems
• High-resistance coil vapes
• Nicotine salt disposables

2. Direct-to-Lung (DTL)

Best for:

• High-wattage devices (e.g., sub-ohm tanks)
• Lower nicotine strength (e.g., 3mg or 6mg freebase)

How it works:

• Inhale the vapor directly into your lungs.
• Exhale immediately.

Why use DTL:

• Produces large vapor clouds.
• Maximizes flavor.
• Smooth inhale with less throat hit at lower nicotine levels.

Ideal devices:

• Box mods
• Sub-ohm tanks
• High-wattage disposables with adjustable airflow

How to Inhale a Vape for the First Time

If you're new to vaping, start slow:

1. Choose the right device. Beginners typically benefit from MTL devices like pod vapes or disposables.
2. Start with low wattage and gentle puffs. Avoid deep inhales until you're comfortable.
3. Use the appropriate e-liquid. Nicotine salts (10mg to 20mg) are smoother for MTL, while freebase nicotine (3mg to 6mg) suits DTL.
4. Avoid chain vaping. Give your device a few seconds between puffs to prevent overheating or dry hits.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Inhaling too fast: Can cause coughing or throat irritation.
• Wrong technique for the device: MTL on a sub-ohm device may feel too airy, while DTL on a pod may feel too tight.
• High nicotine in a DTL setup: Can lead to nicotine overload or harshness.

Tips for a Smoother Vaping Experience

• Hydrate: Vaping can cause dry mouth. Drink water regularly.
• Adjust airflow: More airflow suits DTL; tighter airflow is ideal for MTL.
• Prime coils properly: Let e-liquid soak in before vaping to avoid burnt hits.
• Try different flavors: Find what suits your palate—some flavors are smoother or more flavorful with specific devices.

Conclusion

Understanding how to inhale a vape properly is key to enjoying vaping. Whether you prefer a cigarette-like MTL draw or a cloud-chasing DTL inhale, using the right technique for your device ensures a more satisfying and safer experience. Take your time experimenting with different methods and setups until you find what works best for you.