When you’re first learning to vape, understanding the basics of how your e-cig works is super important, since it gives you insight into why you like or dislike certain parts of the vape experience. Vaping is super-personalised, and what works for you might not work for your friend who also vapes, since we all process and react to smoking and vaping in different ways.
There are a few different parts you need to know about when you’re vaping, and these are the same in all e-cigarettes, even if they look very different from each other.
The casing - the case of your vape can come in a massive variety of shapes, sizes, colours and configurations. Most beginner vapers start off with a small vape pen style device, or a “cig-a-like” (an e-cig that is designed to look like a traditional tobacco cigarette, to help make the transition from smoking to vaping as easy as possible), however you will also likely see bigger vape mod cases and a whole world of other styles out there too! The casing holds all of the smaller, more fiddly parts of your vape - in more advanced devices, these tend to be removable and replaceable, but if you’re just getting started they tend to be built-in, so you don’t need to mess around with them before you’re ready to.- The battery - this is the part that powers your vape. Most e-cigs will use a rechargeable battery, and most beginner kits, like the V2 Starter Kits, will have the battery pre-built into your main device, so you don't need to worry about it. The battery in your device powers all the additional bells and whistles you might have - LED indicators and a button to start vaping for example. However, its main job is to power the vape coil...
- The coil - this is a little metal contraption that is the part of your vape that gets hot. For this reason, it’s almost always tucked well into the casing of your vape. The coil is powered by your battery and heats up the e-liquid in the tank, turning it into vapour. If you’re reading about vape coils or mesh coils in any major depth, you’ll probably see the terms “resistance” and “sub-ohm” banded around quite a lot. This refers to sub-ohm vaping, which is a style of vaping that can create massive, fluffy clouds of vapour. Most beginner vapers won’t get into sub-ohming straight away, but if you’re interested in finding out more about this kind of vaping, there are plenty of guides available to help you. However, if you’re just getting started, all you really need to know is that the coil heats up your e-liquid (but only until it evaporates and becomes vapour, not until it burns) and is powered by the battery.
- The e-liquid tank is where your e-liquid is kept when you’re not vaping. For reasons that are now obvious, the tank and the coil are generally right next to each other, to allow the e-liquid to heat. Most tanks will have some sort of fabric wick which connects to the coil - this allows the liquid to be heated evenly and not to burn. Some tanks are refillable and you can put any e-liquid you choose in there, while others are what’s known as a “closed system”, which is common in beginner devices. In a closed system, all you need to do is pop on and off a small, prefilled cartridge. That means no messing around or potentially sticky refills - you simply pick up your vape, press the button and go!
E-cigarettes and regular cigarettes are similar in that you inhale from both and they both usually contain nicotine, but that is pretty much where the similarities end! Regular cigarettes use combustion (which means the tobacco leaves and filter papers actually burn), while e-cigarettes heat their e-liquids to the point of vaporisation, without burning them. Unlike tobacco cigarettes, e-cigs don’t contain tar, and are overall much better for your health than vaping - vaping is 95% safer than smoking, according to the NHS and PHE, with considerably fewer potential health risks. Instead of burning, an e-cigarette only heats your e-liquid until it turns into a gas or vapour which you can then safely inhale and exhale, without bringing in any of the toxins or harmful chemicals you’d find in tobacco smoke.
How to Use Your Electronic Cigarette or Vape Pen
V2 E-cigarettes and PRO Series Vaporizers work in the same way as almost every e-cigarette on the market - they have a battery that is used to heat up the e-liquid (containing pharmaceutical grade nicotine, e-liquid flavourings, water and PG & VG, two key ingredients in e-liquids) contained in the cartridge or tank. Then, the e-liquid is vaporized which allows you to simulate the "smoking experience" and help reduce nicotine cravings. The great thing about e-cigarettes and vape pens like the V2 Classic range is that they are very easy to use, and are actually pretty similar to the easy experience of smoking a cigarette. Instead of flicking a lighter, all you do is twist the prefilled cartridge into the battery and you’re ready to go!
The V2 Classic range of vapes are designed to offer a perfect balance between physical weight and vaping/smoking time between recharges. To use your electronic cigarette, simply screw a flavour cartridge on to the end of the battery and puff on it like you would a regular cigarette. When you draw air through the cartridge, the heating element will automatically activate and produce inhalable vapour containing your chosen strength of nicotine and selected flavouring compounds.
One thing you should remember - particularly when you’re just starting vaping and need to build good habits - is that a standard tobacco cigarette has about 6-7 puffs, while your e cigarette will last a lot longer. You should always use your vape, including your V2 Cigs e cigarette, in the same way as a tobacco cigarette. Only take 6-7 puffs on it at once, and don’t hang on to it for 15 or 20 minutes. Think of it like this: How would you feel after chain smoking for 20 minutes? Not great, we’d wager! While vaping is much better for you than smoking, you still shouldn't overconsume and vaping when you feel nicotine cravings is enough.
Plus, if you use a vape for too long, the rechargeable battery will go flat incredibly quickly, but will last a long time if used like a normal cigarette, so always take a break between sessions.
If you’re finding that you aren’t getting the kind of vapour production you’re used to, one of our favourite tricks is to “prime” your V2 e-cig before you start - to do this, all you need to do is take a few quick, strong puffs. V2 Cigs electronic cigarette use is a little different than using an old fashioned ignitable cigarette. To adjust the vapour thickness, you may want to prime the e cigarette. To do this, give it a few strong puffs in rapid succession before puffing normally. This action will heat up the vapour e-liquid a little bit more so it becomes warmer and this will create thicker/richer vapour in subsequent puffs.
Also, it's 100% okay to mix smoking and vaping - this is known as dual use vaping. There is nothing wrong with having a cigarette in the morning and then vaping for the rest of the day, and your journey to becoming smoke free is completely your own. We know it is very difficult to quit smoking, and that’s why it’s vital to take things at your own pace. Any progress is better than not quitting at all, after all, so don’t feel like dual use vaping is a cop out! The first step is always the hardest, and there are thousands of dual smokers and vapers out there who already feel happier and healthier after cutting down their tobacco intake.
V2 Platinum E-Liquids
The V2 platinum e-liquids are available in prefilled cartridges, refillable pods and as bottled e-liquid, so it’s easy to find one that’s right for you.
V2 electronic cigarettes, including the V2 Starter Kit, consist of two primary components, the flavour cartridge and the battery. V2 Platinum cartridges contain our pharmaceutical-grade solution of nicotine, water, flavourings and a base of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin (two FDA approved inhalants and food additives - read more about PG and VG here).
Also, it's 100% okay to mix smoking and vaping - this is known as dual use vaping. There is nothing wrong with having a cigarette in the morning and then vaping for the rest of the day, and your journey to becoming smoke free is completely your own. We know it is very difficult to quit smoking, and that’s why it’s vital to take things at your own pace. Any progress is better than not quitting at all, after all, so don’t feel like dual use vaping is a cop out! The first step is always the hardest, and there are thousands of dual smokers and vapers out there who already feel happier and healthier after cutting down their tobacco intake.
V2 Platinum E-Liquids
The V2 platinum e-liquids are available in prefilled cartridges, refillable pods and as bottled e-liquid, so it’s easy to find one that’s right for you.
V2 electronic cigarettes, including the V2 Starter Kit, consist of two primary components, the flavour cartridge and the battery. V2 Platinum cartridges contain our pharmaceutical-grade solution of nicotine, water, flavourings and a base of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin (two FDA approved inhalants and food additives - read more about PG and VG here).
Our prefilled cartridges offer the ultimate in convenience and are great for new vapers who simply want to set up and go! In each V2 Cigs Classic Cartridge, you will get the equivalent of about 20 tobacco cigarettes, and our cartridges come in packs of five, for a long-term, affordable and simple solution to help you become smoke-free for good. At just over £2.50 per cartridge, you’ll be saving around £10 per cartridge, every single time! For reference, a pack of five V2 pre-filled cartridges is £12.99, which is about the same as one pack of cigarettes. Plus, when you buy multiple cartridge packs, you can also save money in bulk!
The most economical option is to use a refillable tank like you can find in the V2 Pro Series Vaporizers! While a device like this will last you much longer, on average than the V2 Classic Batteries, it is much more of an investment, and you’re best off having some vaping knowledge behind you before you pick up a device like this. For more experienced vapers, however, this style of vaping can’t be beaten!
Picking the right flavour, strength & taste of your e-liquid is so important, no matter whether you're using pre-filled pods, refillable pods or a vape tank. If you don't get the choice right first time it is important to continue and not to get frustrated and give up - there are so many different flavours on the market today that there will be one out there for you, we promise!
Lots of new vapers also find it helpful to try a mix of nicotine strengths to see which one helps reduce your cravings best. Even if you’ve been a heavy smoker for many years, there’s no guarantee that the amounts of nicotine in e-liquids will affect you the same way as nicotine in tobacco cigarettes, so it’s best to tart with a lower strength than you think you’ll need and work up, rather than starting off too strong and being put off. If you do find your cravings aren’t satisfied or that you’re vaping much more than you ever smoked, that might be a sign that a stronger nicotine e-liquid is right for you. The V2 range of e-liquids is available in 0%, 0.6%, 1.2% and 1.8% strengths for every taste.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Started with the V2 Starter Kit
The V2 Starter kit is one of our most popular products, and for good reason! This cig-a-like device is great for new vapers as it is super easy to use and effectively imitates the experience of smoking a cigarette, making it a brilliant option to get you smoke free for good!
Unpacking Your V2 Cigs Starter Kit
When your new vape device arrives, the first step is obviously to open the box. Although lots of vape kits differ slightly when they first arrive, the majority of them will contain kits at least one battery, a charger, a pack of atomizers/flavour cartridges or an empty tank, and an owner’s manual or user guide, and our V2 Starter Kit is no exception! We highly recommend you read the device manual before you start vaping to prevent any issues down the line - if you are having trouble, however, we have a short guide to help and our customer service team are always on hand to give you advice and answer any questions you may have about your order. You get in touch with our team online through live chat, by email or on the phone!
Charging Your V2 Cigs Battery
It’s tempting to get vaping straight away, but you should always charge your new device before using it for the first time. We recommend this for any vape you buy, not just the V2 range. Fortunately, it’s really easy to charge your V2 batteries - simply insert the charger that comes with your vape kit and you’re off! There should be a small light on the charger that lights up or flashes, depending on the model you choose, and it will change colour when your device is fully charged. While most vapes use the small USB charging cable you’ll be familiar with from your phone or tablet, we recommend that you only ever use the charger that comes with your device or a compatible replacement charger cable from the same brand. Once fully charged, the V2 Classic batteries can last up to one week on a full charge, depending on how many puffs you take per day. When the battery requires charging it will blink intermittently. The battery can be fully charged in 2-3 hours.
A great accessory you may want to consider is a V2 Cigs Manual Battery or a PRO Series Vaporizer. Unlike the automatic batteries which activate by puffing, the manual batteries and vaporizers have buttons installed on the body of the e-cigarette or device allowing the vaper much more control of the vaping experience. It is really a matter of personal preference; for every person that prefers a manual battery or vaporizer with a button to operate it, you will likely find two people that prefer the automatic option because of its ease and simplicity. As a general rule, automatic batteries are a little easier to use, making them the most popular with brand new beginner vapers, but if you try a draw-activated vape and find you can’t control the vapour as well as you’d like, give a button-activated device a go.
How to Change Your E-Cigarette Cartridge
You'll know when a cartridge is used up when the flavour becomes weak and has a bit of a bitter or burnt taste. Cartridges are disposable and can be discarded after use. Just screw off the old cartridge and screw on a fresh one.
Changing your cartridge is super easy, which is one of the reasons the V2 range is so popular. Simply unpack your flavour cartridge and pick off the rubber stay-fresh caps - you can use a paperclip, tweezers or very small pliers to do this. Then, screw the cartridge securely onto your electronic cigarette battery. Your e-cig will enter standby mode as soon as you screw in the cartridge. And just like that, you’re ready to go again, simply start vaping by taking a few quick puffs.
Enjoying Your E-Cigarette or Vaporizer
This kind of device is great for beginners, as the actual experience of inhaling and exhaling is very similar to that of smoking a tobacco cigarette. This style of inhaling is known as mouth-to-lung vaping, since you hold the vapour in your mouth for a moment before inhaling, just like you do with traditional cigarettes, so there’s not much to learn when you’re just starting out. However, when you pick up your device to vape, we recommend priming the vape by taking a few strong, quick puffs before you start vaping properly. This action will warm the e-liquid and prime the heating element producing a thick consistent vapour with each subsequent puff for the best possible overall experience!
Quitting smoking is a mammoth task, which is why we’re so passionate about vaping. Vaping can be an amazing nicotine replacement therapy tool and alternative to tobacco to help you cut down on your cigarette intake or quit completely, and we’d love to be a part of your journey to becoming smoke-free! Check out our range of vape kits or feel free to get in touch with our helpful customer service team to see how we can help you. Good luck!