Vape Starter Guide: How to Switch From Smoking

Thinking about switching from cigarettes to vaping? Good move — according to the NHS, vaping is one of the most effective ways to quit smoking for good. This guide walks you through everything you need to make the switch confidently.

Step 1: Pick the Right Kit

For ex-smokers, a pod kit or mouth-to-lung (MTL) starter kit is almost always the best place to start. They’re small, simple, and give you the same tight draw you’re used to from a cigarette. Avoid big sub-ohm “cloud” kits at first — they take a different inhale technique and can feel overwhelming.

Step 2: Choose Your Nicotine Strength

Match your nicotine strength to how much you currently smoke:

• Light smoker (under 10/day): 3mg or 6mg freebase, or 10mg nic-salt.
• Average smoker (10–20/day): 12mg freebase, or 10–20mg nic-salt.
• Heavy smoker (20+/day): 18mg freebase, or 20mg nic-salt.
• Already off cigarettes: 0mg or 3mg, then taper down.

Not sure? Start a notch higher — underdosing is the number one reason new vapers go back to smoking.

Step 3: Pick a Flavour You’ll Actually Enjoy

Lots of new vapers reach for tobacco flavours, expecting them to taste like cigarettes. They don’t — and most people end up preferring fruit, menthol or dessert flavours within a week. Buy two or three different 10ml bottles to find your go-to.

Step 4: Get the Inhale Right

Most starter kits use a mouth-to-lung draw — pull the vapour into your mouth first, then breathe it into your lungs, just like a cigarette. Direct-lung (DL) kits are different: one straight, deep inhale, like sucking through a straw on a smoothie. Read our MTL vs DL guide if you’re not sure which suits you.

Step 5: Look After Your Kit

• Prime new coils with a few drops of e-liquid before first use, then leave to soak for five minutes.
• Top up before you hit empty — dry hits ruin coils fast.
• Charge your battery from a quality plug, not a fast-charge phone charger.
• See our five tricks to make coils last longer.

Common Beginner Questions

Is vaping cheaper than smoking?

Yes — typically by a factor of five to ten. A 10ml bottle of e-liquid (£2.50–£5) lasts most vapers as long as 100–200 cigarettes.

How long do coils last?

Anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks depending on the kit, the e-liquid, and how often you vape. You’ll know it’s time to change when the flavour drops off or it tastes burnt.

What’s a shortfill?

A larger bottle of 0mg e-liquid with space left at the top to add nicotine shots. Cheaper per ml than 10ml bottles. Full explainer here.

Still Stuck? We’re Here to Help

Send us a message on Facebook any time between 12pm and 7pm, six days a week. We’ve helped thousands of people make the switch — and we’re happy to point you to the right kit for your situation, no upselling.