All vapers out there will hear us, smile, and nod approvingly when we say that there exists a myriad of devices, and especially if you are a novice or just accessed the vaping realm you will most probably get easily confused with what the market has to offer.
That is why we are here to inform and assist. As aforementioned, there are a variety of vapes, from Sub-Ohm, Mouth-to-Lung (MTL), to Direct-to-Lung (DTL or DL). Let us focus on the last two for today. These names usually describe the type of vape hardware being used like which type of kits and tanks. Veteran vapers will find the names useful as from their experience they know which ones they opt for to meet their needs. For others these terms can be baffling.
Let us delve deeper then to get acquainted and guide you with what these terms mean, which inhaling technique is likely better for you, and the equipment you need to suit your style of vaping.
Mouth-to-Lung Inhale
Okay, so straight off the bat, it is obvious by now that these terms mean the technique being used to vape. So, Mouth-to-Lung is practically when you inhale and keep the vapour into your mouth before inhaling it in your lungs.
The MTL experience is closer to that of a cigarette with its tighter, more restricted draw, therefore could be more enticing for those who are switching from the smoking sector or like both cigs and vapes.
This inhaling technique means that you will experience more of a throat hit as the combination of less air drawn over the coil means that PG levels used will be higher.
Direct-to-Lung Inhale
On the other hand DTL is when you inhale the vapour directly into your lungs without keeping it in the mouth. It is like pursing your lips and taking a deep breath of air, instead you are vaping.
DTL requires greater airflow to cool the vape down, thus DL devices are designed in a way that enables them to draw more air over the coil.
This technique is also known as Straight-to-Lung inhale.
The Blurred Line
Most sites use the terms we mentioned Mouth-to-Lung or Direct-Lung, but in reality there can be a blur between these two as however you vape the vapour must pass through the mouth before reaching the lungs.
Still it is worth to know what these terms mean before purchasing anything since they are still widely used.
Restricted Direct-Lung Inhale
This term has popped recently, also known as RDL. This refers to the blur or mixture of terms we mentioned above, basically referring to the vape which is still airy, but not as airy as a full-on Direct-Lung inhale.
This method allows you to inhale the same way as DL but not as much airflow is required over the coil. While the flavour experience is similar to Direct-Lung, the throat hit is more similar to MTL.
Which is the Right One for Me?
The answer here varies depending at what we are looking at, but let us check out these different facets.
For New Vapers – usually they opt for MTL, tighter draw, higher nicotine levels, better throat hit, it also resembles smoking, however its intense and may make you cough until you get accustomed
For Flavour – some vapers say that they attain more flavour with MTL, this may be due to:
- less air is added to the vape during an MTL
- during MTL the vapour spends more time in the mouth where taste buds are located
On the other hand, with DL more vapour is inhaled meaning that flavour is more concentrated.
For Intense/Clouds Vape Experience – for those who like a more intense vapour experience or love blowing big clouds of vapour
Vaping MTL
For those vapers who hold devices which are suitable for both MTL and DL, but want to vape MTL style, we recommend that you check that the airflow is at least partially restricted.
Take a steady, smooth drag into your mouth which will be longer than that of a cigarette, hold the vapour in your mouth before inhaling downwards into the lungs, then exhale.
Vaping DL
Allowing for an airier vape here is key, so ensure that the airflow on your device is open wide.
Then the rest is easy, just as if you were breathing, take a smooth steady long vape straight into the lungs.
MTL Vaping Juice
Most vapers use an e-liquid with a high propylene glycol (PG) ratio. This is more suited for MTL devices and gives a satisfactory throat hit. We suggest Halo Originals and Max e-liquids as with their 50-50 VG:PG ratio they are ideal.
Also, Nicotine Salts are a good option, as they deliver a smoother throat hit, with vapers stating that they get a stronger, faster nicotine hit. These though are not suitable for more powerful devices like those used for DL vaping as they usually come in higher nicotine strengths.
DL Vaping Juice
DL vaping usually uses an e-liquid with a higher vegetable glycerine (VG) ratio, which does not hurt the throat despite the larger clouds, while it gives a smooth vape with more vapour.
VG:PG ratios here tend to vary, but 70:30 and 80:20 are the most common, while higher VG ratios are rare. An example of a high VG e-liquid is Double Drip which is an 80:20, while one with a slightly lower ratio is Halo Shortfills coming in at 70:30.
In Conclusion
One may appreciate by now how many devices, hardware and liquids exist in the vaping world. However, once you get up to scratch with all the offerings available on the market, and especially after you decide which technique suits you best, then you are good to go.
We suggest that you do your homework well before you start crafting your vaping set, so that your hard-earned cash is not spent wrongly. Check out also which nicotine strengths you are after, the type of coils, and ultimately the MTL or DL vaping hardware.
Well, with all the tips we provided you we are quite confident that you will be satisfied with your custom. Feel free to reach out always, as we will be extremely happy to assist.
