This is a quick guide for beginner vapers that explains nicotine strength in a nutshell. If you’re making the switch from cigarettes and using vaping as a method of cessation, this will help. Even if you’re not, straying too far from the current path can be a daunting task, but in the realm of robust throat hits and epic flavor, it is worth exploring uncharted territories.
Normally, I don’t recommend going for higher levels of nicotine if you’re edging out a cigarette addiction, but the occasional partaking of heavier juice can be somewhat pleasant and continues to keep the cancer sticks at bay. Those are the real problem. While no vaping company or vaping advocate worth his or her salt has ever claimed that vaping is healthy, pivoting into vaping from a daily pack of cigarettes is a more effective method of smoking cessation than your typical NRT (nicotine replacement therapy).
We receive many questions concerning this dreaded switch. Other questions come in droves regarding withdrawal symptoms, side effects, etc. Adding to that chaos, the media is clamouring about lung illnesses and all the potential (supposedly) life-threatening side effects of vaping. But of course, they do not mention the illicit THC products that are creating this chaos in the first place). This leads to people feeling scared to even get near someone who vapes.
The reality is a lot simpler. If you want to try nicotine gum or a nicotine patch as a quitting aid, go ahead. If it works for you, fantastic. If you’ve tried several times and it’s not working. Or you’ve thrown every method against the wall and nothing has stuck, then I would recommend vaping. I’ve done it myself and I know it works. Why? Because I can mimic my cigarette experience.
This leads us to the first point: knowing your threshold. Nicotine levels are shown in milligrams in the e-liquid bottle or packaging. Different mg levels mean a different experience. Let’s take a look at the most common nicotine strengths:
- 0mg / 3mg:
This is the most common for newbies or those who’ve leveled down their intake and stuck at a happy medium. It’s flavorful but the throat hit is very light – too light for those who smoke more than a few cigarettes per day.
- 6mg / 9mg:
Things begin to get serious here. The throat hit is heavier, and this threshold is ideal for smokers who smoked a pack a week up to half a pack per day.
- 12mg / 18mg:
This is crazy town. Personally, anything higher than 12mg tastes bad and I rather go Salt Nic, but some people swear by this. The flavor is potent, and the throat hit is quite intense – not for the faint of heart.
- 24mg / higher:
Only for former chain-smokers (I’m guessing, to be completely fair). The flavor is too dark, and the throat hit makes me gag. I don’t know many people who go for this strength, but this is for those who smoked 2 packs or more – or drink petroleum.
- Nicotine Salt: 25mg to 50mg:
This was my go-to when 12mg became too bitter for my taste buds. Nicotine salt is a special kind of nicotine that is processed with other organic components. The flavor is smoother than high strength freebase liquids.
During this time, vaping is taking a hit thanks to fraudulent vendors, but this switch has been extending ex-smokers lives. Don’t believe the news. Once you know your threshold, simply pick the nicotine strength that matches it. If you only smoked one cigarette per day, try 0mg or 3mg. If you smoke 1 pack of cigarettes a day, 12mg might be a good place to start. You get the drift.
Ultimately, it’s up to your goals. If you want to ease off the cigarettes and lower your consumption, the best practice is to start at your threshold and slowly ease off – slowly lower the nicotine strength until you find a healthier balance. After this, some wish to stay at low nicotine levels and others choose to kick it altogether. It’s up to you. Good luck.
