What does MTL mean?

An Introduction to Your First Vape Kit

As a new starter in the market for your first vape, you are going to see a lot of acronyms. When looking for a beginner kit you are bound to come across the phrase ‘MTL’ a lot. In this article we’re going to explain what it means, break down why it is relevant to you when making the switch from smoking and make your first vape purchase an informed and enjoyable one.

Mouth to Lung

When you inhale a cigarette you draw the smoke into your mouth and then inhale it into your lungs, in the vaping world this is known as mouth-to-lung (abbreviated to MTL). This style of inhaling is also what gives you that satisfying throat hit – something that is missed almost as much as the nicotine!

With beginner vape pod and pen kits, the idea is to replicate this method of inhaling as well as the throat hit, so you get a like-for-like experience which – along with the right amount of nicotine – makes for an almost seamless transition as you can take longer draws than you would on a cigarette. This is done by utilising various aspects of the device’s design features along with the type of e-liquid you use. Let’s go through these in more detail.

Coils

The coil is what turns your e-liquid into a vapour, it is a tiny metal tube that encases a metal mesh or coil wrapped in a layer of cotton. The cotton will soak up the e-liquid and when you activate the device, it will heat up the coil and voilà, you’re vaping. A single coil will last roughly a week and they come in packs of three or five.

MTL coils have narrow centres – which is where your airflow will come through – and they also have a higher resistance. This means they are built to only allow a certain amount of your device’s power through when you activate your device.

Coil resistance is measured in Ohms, with mouth-to-lung coils existing in ranges of 0.6ohm to 1.5ohm. The lower the number (lower the resistance) the more power will get through. This translates to a warmer and much airier vape. Conversely, higher resistance coils with higher numbers will let through less power and provide a tighter and more discreet volume of vapour.

Vape kits usually include a range of coil resistances, with a new kit often containing one high resistance (e.g: 1.2ohm) and one low (0.8ohm) resistance coil option. This offers you the opportunity to discover what kind of vape you prefer and it is recommended that you try both.

Battery & Power

Inside your vape device is a rechargeable battery that can range from 250mAh all the way up to 1800mAh. To put this into perspective, the average mobile phone battery ranges from 3000 – 5000mAh. MTL vape kits don’t use that much power but a good starting point is 500mAh and up. They should last a day between charges depending on use and the latest kits feature USB Type-C charging that can have you back up and running pretty quickly.

The amount of power an MTL starter kit will put out is between 9 – 28 watts. Some kits will offer you the choice of adjusting the power settings while others are fixed or will be determined by the type of coil you use.

Airflow and Mouthpiece

We mentioned earlier how coils affect airflow. When you vape, air will get pulled through small openings in your device and drawn up through the narrow centre of the coil – picking up the vapourised e-liquid as it goes. Starter pod kits and vape pens are designed to deliver a restricted draw that suits MTL-style vaping.

Some kits will have fixed airflow openings whilst others feature an adjustable airflow, which affords you the ability to tweak the tightness of your draw according to your liking. The mouthpiece of these kits is tapered to provide a restricted cigarette-like feel. If you’d like something that is round and feels more like a cigarette between your lips you can choose to have a look at vape pen options.

E-Liquid & Nicotine

Now for the fun part, what juice to pick? You want to look out for e-liquids with a 50-50 consistency. This is the ratio of the two base ingredients PG & VG and denotes the thickness of the liquid.  

50-50 freebase e-liquids are thin and are vaporised readily by the lower power output of MTL starter kits. They are called freebase because they contain nicotine that has a higher pH value and will deliver a strong throat hit. They come in nicotine strengths of 3mg, 6mg, 12mg or 18mg. It is worth noting that the throat is quite harsh above 6mg of freebase nicotine.

If you are a seasoned smoker you’ll need a good amount of nicotine to make sure your switch is successful and nic salts are the way to go. They share the same 50-50 consistency as freebase but are blended with nicotine that has a lower pH. This translates to a smooth yet gratifying throat hit at strengths of 5mg, 10mg or 20mg. Nic salts also absorb more quickly than freebase nicotine meaning they’re great if you have a heavy smoking habit.

Make the Switch

To make your transition away from smoking even easier, we’ve put together a list of MTL kits highly rated by our customers and staff here at Vape Superstore. What’s more, we’ve added a pack of coils, three premium e-liquids and hammered the price down to give you everything you need in one affordable bundle. Or check out our full range here.

Our top 3 MTL Starter Kit recommendations

The Caliburn G2 is the perfect starter kit for any vaper looking for a compact and affordable device. It features progressive airflow control allowing you to adjust the draw of your vape. With an internal 750mAh battery, 18W of power to use with 0.8ohm and 1.2ohm coils, a sleek design and great flavour you’re sure to fall in love with your first pod system!

The Caliburn G2 bundle delivers a full setup with a pack of five coils and your choice of 3 RAD nic salt flavours.

If you’re looking for a discreet and convenient device to use on the go, the UWELL Cravat Pod Kit is the perfect option. Its slender, lightweight and compact design makes it easy to fit in a bag or pocket, so you can take it wherever you go. Easy to use and hassle-free, the UWELL Cravat Pod Kit features an inhale activation system and provides excellent flavour with its 1.2ohm refillable mesh coil pod and 300mAh rechargeable battery. Grab this bundle offer and get one pack of replacement pods & 3 x 10ml Fifty Fifty Freebase E-liquids.

The Pockex Kit is a firm favourite among vapers looking for a simple, easy-to-use kit. This pocket-friendly device features a 1500mAh battery and two coil options, allowing you to choose your preferred vaping style. With its press-to-vape style and ease of refill, this classic design is intuitive while being both durable and lightweight. With this bundle you’ll get a pack of 5 coils and 3 flavours of our very own Fifty-Fifty freebase e-liquid range.