Vaping: An Introduction

Vaping has almost become a mainstream trend in this day and age. Most know what it is, and if you don’t, well where have you been? What most people don’t know is vaping has been around since about 2001. Only in the past two years has the industry and its consumer base really grown to be what it is today, and it only continues to get bigger. Five years ago, the options for a vape that would suit your needs were slim. You had very little to choose from, most options you had were quite expensive, and the devices took some extensive knowledge to operate. This led a lot of people away from vaping and completely turned them off to the idea. Now, the choices are endless. With so many different companies feeding into the market and new devices being released on an almost weekly basis, it’s getting crazy.

What is Vaping?

So what is vaping? Well, in a literal sense, vaping is the action of using a device (E-Cigarette) to heat up a liquid (E-Juice or E-Liquid) to produce a vapor that is inhaled. The vapor is usually flavoured although most companies will provide a “Flavourless” option to cater to all preferences. These E-liquids contain nicotine in most cases, but not all. Vaping devices have many names, “Mods” “Vape Pens”, but most will just call them vapes. Now a vape can come in many different shapes and sizes. Some can look just like a pen, while others have a more boxy look to them and tend to be slightly bigger. The vape uses the power from its battery to heat what is called the “coil” or “atomizer” which is located inside the “Tank” where the E-Liquid is held. These “coils” are the actual heating element of the device where the vaporizing of the E-liquid takes place. All coils look different but are comprised of the same basic materials. Inside them, you will find organic cotton and a Kanthal or Nichrome wire. This wire is what is heated by the battery, while the cotton surrounding it absorbs the juice to be vaporized. Coils are the only part of the vape that needs to be replaced, about every two weeks the cotton starts to lose its ability to absorb the juice and begins to burn. At which point, the coil is switched for a new one.

Is Vaping Just as Bad as Smoking?

This is a question we get asked frequently, and the answer is a strong no. As of recently, Health Canada actually acknowledges this. Now, a lot of people have tried to counter this with the argument of “We have no longer-term health results yet” “Nobody can be sure” but like I said, those people are unaware that vaping has been around since 2001. We have the past 18 years to reflect on and no negatives to show for it. We have people who work in this industry who vape from the second they wake up until the second they go to sleep, myself included, and we still have no negatives to show for it. If you talk to somebody who successfully made the switch from cigarettes to vaping, they will tell you how they can literally feel the difference in their health. The smell comes back, taste comes back, no more being out of breath simply walking up a flight of stairs. Now we are in no way saying vaping is healthy for you, obviously, nobody is certain, but the argument of if they are just as bad as cigarettes is an easy one to squash.

Is Vaping More Expensive than Smoking 

This is something that can become the deciding factor for a lot of people. Here in Ontario, cigarette prices are at an all-time high and continue to climb. Now, the initial buy of a device can be expensive depending on what you get. Dual battery devices (the bigger boxy looking ones) can be expensive because of what you need. The device which can be anywhere from $60 to $90, two batteries which are usually about $10 each, a battery charger which is usually about $25 and a tank to go on the device which could be anywhere from $25 to $50. Keep in mind all of the things I just listed are a one time buy. You buy it once, and that’s all you need. Afterward, the only reoccurring expenses are E-Juice and replacement coils, which most people average about $20 to $40 a week on. Now say you decided to go with a starter kit (which most people do), these starter kits range anywhere from $20 to $40 for absolutely everything you need. That’s it. We try our best to encourage people to try a starter kit before investing in a more expensive device to make sure that vaping is for them. All said and done, the expenses still come in lower than a moderate smoking habit. 

We hope this answers any questions you may have. These are just the questions we get asked most by our customers, so if you have a more specific question or even just want one of us to give you a rundown of everything never hesitate to reach out. One of the most overlooked things in this industry is education. With how fast everything is moving, some are forgetting how important it is. Here, we do our best to put education first. We want you to know what you’re using inside and out, and most of all, use it to your advantage to kick those nasty cigarettes.