Vaping Terminology Explained - The Most Common Vaping Terms You May See

Vaping is a relatively new subculture in society, it is popular among a small group of people just like skateboarding, tattooing, cosplay and so on. Vaping is continuously developing and improving as time goes by, and there are more and more concepts and new content popping up in the world of vaping, so vaping terminology keeps updating, as well. Novice vapers may feel confused with those unfamiliar vaping terms and think that it is hard to make the switch from smoking to vaping, however, it is not hard at all as long as you start knowing it. Today I am going to disassemble those vaping terms and make a simple and brief explanation about it, I’ll start with NewVaping’s navigation bars.


Vaping terms on NewVaping’s navigation bars

Term:

Disposable Vape

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

Disposable vape is also known as disposable e-cigarette. It is lightweight, fully pre-charged, pre-filled with nic salt e-liquid. It is a single-use e-cigarette that requires no settings or maintenance. The structure of a disposable vape is rather simple, it is mainly composed of a built-in battery, an integrated atomizer and an LED light. So most disposable vapes are closed-system. There are many different styles and shapes of disposable vapes.


Term:

E-liquid

Classification:

E-liquid

Explanation:

E-liquid, e-juice, vape juice and juice all refer to the same thing. E-liquid is generally made from VG, PG, nicotine, and flavourings. E-liquid is used to be filled in the pods/tanks and it will be heated by the atomiser to produce the vapour and flavour.


Term:

Shortfill

Classification:

E-liquid

Explanation:

Shortfill is a kind of e-liquid and it is larger bottle of liquid in 0mg nicotine strength, including 50ml and 100ml bottles that are only filled to 80% capacity. The remaining space allows you to add a 10ml nicotine shot (or two) to boost to your desired nicotine strength.


Term:

Nicotine Shot

Classification:

E-liquid

Explanation:

Nicotine Shot (Nic Shot) is an unflavoured e-liquid designed for use with shortfill e-liquid, it is often packed in a 10ml bottle and can be added to any nicotine-free shortfill e-liquid. It can also be used for discreet vaping, topping up on nicotine or diluting a vape juice. For example, adding a 10ml 18mg nic shot to a 50ml shortfill, will create 60ml of 3mg nicotine strength eliquid.


Term:

Nic Salt

Classification:

E-liquid

Explanation:

Nic salt is extracted from the tobacco leaf, and nic salt e-liquid is a flavoured nicotine-added e-liquid, offering a whole new way to vape. Nic salt based e-liquids are absorbed by the body faster than standard freebase nicotine vape juice, providing a much more efficient hit to keep those pesky nicotine cravings at bay. It is often used in pod vapes.


Term:

50/50 E-liquid

Classification:

E-liquid

Explanation:

50/50 e-liquid means the VG and PG ratio in the e-liquid is 50:50, 50/50 e-liquid is an ideal option to start when making the switch from smoking to vaping. And it is highly recommended to use with starter pod vape kits, offering a smooth throat hit and good flavours.


Term:

High VG E-liquid

Classification:

E-liquid

Explanation:

High VG E-liquid means there is more VG content in the e-liquid, and the ratio often appears in a 70VG/30PG, 80VG/20PG, or even higher. High VG e-liquid is for huge and cloudy vapour production and a smooth throat hit. It is often used with high wattage vape devices, including sub-ohm vape pens, box mods, squonk mods.


Term:

Vape Kit

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

Except for e-liquid, vape kits contain almost everything you need to get started. A battery, a tank or pod, one or two coils, and a USB charging cable. Some advanced vape kits with powerful output do not contain a battery, so you will need to purchase compatible external 18650/21700 batteries and a battery charger.


Term:

Vape Pen Kit

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

Vape Pen is a compact, slim and multi-functional device that comes in the shape of a pen. It is more stealthy and easy to use, ideal for both beginners and advanced vapers.


Term:

Pod Vape kit

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

A pod vape refers to the vape device with relatively lower output to produce an authentic MTL vaping experience, and it is often used with nic salt e-liquid to create a smooth throat hit and quick nicotine satisfaction. A pod vape kit is highly recommended to those novice vapers and smokers who want to make a switch to vaping.


Term:

Pod Mod Vape Kit

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

A Pod Mod Vape Kit refers to a vape device that can do MTL vaping and DTL vaping. It is more powerful than a pod vape and more compact than a mod vape. Consequently, nic salt e-liquid and high VG e-liquid are suitable to use with the pod mod vape kit.


Term:

Mod Vape kit

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

A Mod Vape kit refers to a vape kit that can deliver a powerful output from 5W-200W or even higher. Mod kits come in different shapes and sizes, they usually come with a tank, a device, and a battery(external battery not included). Mod vape kit can be used with high VG e-liquid to create a big fluffy cloud vaping experience, and only advanced vapers are recommended to use the mod vape kit.


Term:

Coils

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

Coils are used to heat and vaporise the e-liquid. All kinds of vapes use coils and coils should be replaced when necessary.


Term:

RBA

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

RBA is the acronym of Re-Buildable Atomizer, it is a sort of DIY type for vape with a deck for user-installed coils and wicks. And an RBA is an atomizer that allows users to access the deck so they can create their own coils and add their own wick to make specific resistances instead of relying on pre-made coils.


Term:

RDA

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

RDA is abbreviated from Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer, RDA is a type of RBA that requires the user to manually add e-liquid by dripping it onto the coils and wicks, instead of being fed from an e-liquid tank.


Term:

RDA

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

RDA is abbreviated from Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer, RDA is a type of RBA that requires the user to manually add e-liquid by dripping it onto the coils and wicks, instead of being fed from an e-liquid tank.


Term:

RTA

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

RTA is known as rebuildable tank atomizer, it is just like any other tank you'd normally use. RTA keeps much the same features as an RDA, while it is equipped with a tank to hold more e-juice.


Term:

RTDA

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

RTDA is the acronym of rebuildable tank dripping atomizer, as the name implies, it is the combination of RDA and RTA, the deck of an RDTA is designed like an RDA and the performance is similar, but the tank section under the deck can feed juice to the build without constantly dripping. Therefore the appearance of RTDA offers a more flexible vaping style for users: you can feed the wicks by dripping e-liquid, or store the e-liquid in the tank for a longer time use.


Term:

Vaping Accessories

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

Accessories are for the users to experience a more enjoyable and full vaping experience while using vaping devices. Accessories generally includes batteries, drip tips, cotton, glass tube and tank accessories.


Term:

Drip Tip

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

Drip Tip is often equipped on the mouthpiece of a vape device, you put your lips on it and inhale to start vaping.


Term:

Batteries and Battery chargers

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

Batteries here often refer to external batteries, including 18650, 20700, and 21700 batteries. Some vape devices require single or dual external batteries. And the battery chargers can charge the external batteries.


Term:

Building Tools & Kits

Classification:

Hardware

Explanation:

Building Tools & Kits are for DIY builders building RDAs, RTAs, and RDTAs.


Term:

MTL

Classification:

Vaping Style

Explanation:

MTL vaping is an inhaling method, you draw the vapour from the vape, keep the vapour in your mouth for a while, then inhale to your lungs, that’s called “mouth to lung” vaping style. Low-output vape devices such as disposable vape and pod vape can deliver such vaping style.


Term:

RDTL

Classification:

Vaping Style

Explanation:

Restricted-direct-to-lung vaping, you inhale the vapour directly into the lung but you may feel it is tight. Some pod vapes and pod mod vapes can deliver the RDTL vaping experience.


Term:

DTL

Classification:

Vaping Style

Explanation:

Direct-to-lung means you draw the vapour from the device and directly inhale to your lungs, the vapour will pass through your mouth, not stay. DTL vaping is often realized via a powerful mod vape kit with high VG e-liquid.


Term:

PG

Classification:

Ingredient

Explanation:

  1. The ingredient that makes the vapour. No odour or colour.
  2. Organic substance that our civilization has been using for over a century: toothpaste, shampoo, medications.
  3. The vaporized form of propylene glycol looks like smoke: fake mist or smoke in stage.
  4. Carry flavour in vape juice (carry more flavor than VG). Less viscous than VG.
  5. Provide throat hit.

Term:

VG

Classification:

Ingredient

Explanation:

  1. Thick, viscous substance that is extracted from the palm plant.
  2. Used in food production, Cosmetics, Medicine, preservative, etc. VG can be used as a sweetener because it has a sweet taste.
  3. Make mass of clouds of vapour in comparison to PG.
  4. VG does not carry flavour as well but PG does.

Term:

Nicotine

Classification:

Ingredient

Explanation:

An addictive substance that is used in e-liquid


Term:

Flavouring

Classification:

Ingredient

Explanation:

The flavourings used in e-liquid are food-grade. But not all food grade flavourings are used in a vape liquid.


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