What is The Best Vape To Quit Smoking?

Quitting smoking is a deeply personal journey and in order for it to be successful it is vital you find the right kind of support for your needs.

While vaping is emerging as a popular alternative to cigarettes for many people, it is important to remember that it is not the only answer. From Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) such as nicotine gum, lozenges, or patches, to behavioural therapy and counselling; there are many routes to a smoke free lifestyle.

One or even a combination of these options could be the key to your success, it’s all dependent on the type of smoker you are, your lifestyle, and of course what you want to achieve on your journey. For an impartial take on the cessation options out there to try, check out our guide, Finding the Right Alternative.

In this blog however, we will explore the question ‘which vape is best to quit smoking?’. If you have decided vaping could be for you, this blog will give you an idea of where could be best to start that journey.

There are a lot of vaping products out there, and it is fair to say that some of them are certainly better suited to smokers looking to transition than others. Read on to find out a little more about them, and if you are very new to vaping and want to understand some of the terminology you may read below, check out our Vaping Glossary.

Consider Your History & Goals

The biggest factor in working out which vape is best to help you quit, you must first consider your needs – these will largely be determined by the amount you are smoking.

You should also consider where you want to end up on your journey. If you want to replace cigarettes with vaping but do not want to stop consuming nicotine altogether, then you have a very broad set of options to choose from.

If however you are aiming for a complete cessation journey ending in a zero nicotine lifestyle, it could be worth considering a product range that offers a flavour you can enjoy that is available in a full range of nicotine strengths allowing you to go from as high as 18mg all the way down to nicotine free 0mg. Allowing you to step down gradually at your own pace.

If stepping down towards a nicotine free lifestyle sounds like what you are aiming for, you can explore some advice for that journey here.

Nicotine Strength

Whether you are getting through twenty each day, or only one or two, the frequency of your habit will help you work out which strength of product is best to try first.

Those who smoke more will likely find greater satisfaction by starting at a higher nicotine strength such as 12mg or 18mg. For those who smoke only a few cigarettes, lower strengths such as 3mg or 6mg.

Nicotine Salts

While higher strength vape liquids offer more craving-beating potential, ‘standard 50-50’ style e-liquids, which make up a majority chunk of the market and are likely to be the first you encounter, also come with a throat hit.

Some people value the throat hit as it is reminiscent of the heat of smoking a cigarette. For others it can be off-putting, after all you may want to get away from everything about cigarettes, that harshness included! The harshness comes from nicotine’s naturally alkali pH.

If you find yourself struggling with strong cravings but want to avoid a harsh hit, then nicotine salts could be a good option to explore. They use a different kind of nicotine to the ‘freebase’ used in normal vapes. Salt nicotine might sound odd, but it has a very neutral pH which means even at high strengths such as 20mg (a common nic salt option) it vapes as smoothly as a 3mg or 6mg freebase e-liquid.

You can learn more about different e-liquids and how they might fit your lifestyle in our blog, Which E-Liquid Is Best For Me?

Vaping Devices for Ex-Smokers

Ultimately, the strength and variety of e-liquid you choose can dictate which kind of device you will require for your journey. For your first steps however, it is always best to keep it simple. The NHS offers the following advice:

“Which vape is best to quit smoking?

A pod device or vape pen are good choices, as they are discreet, make small clouds and can give high amounts of nicotine. Starter kits come with a range of flavours.

It's important to choose an e-liquid with the right strength of nicotine to satisfy your individual needs. You need to start at a nicotine level that matches your cigarette use – how frequently and how much you smoke. A specialist vape shop or your local Stop Smoking Service can advise you.

They also give you an idea about what type of devices these small and simple kits are called:

• compact pod devices shaped like a flash drive or pebble (either disposable, or rechargeable and refillable with e-liquid capsules)
• vape pens with a tank you fill with your choice of e-liquid, and a replaceable coil and rechargeable battery
• "cigalikes" designed to look like a cigarette (either disposable, or rechargeable and refillable with e-liquid capsules)
• customisable devices with variable power (these are more difficult to use and need more maintenance)

If you would like to have a closer look at an example of a vape pen, meet the EDGE Pro. If you would like to do the same for a pod device, meet the EDGE GO.

NHS Advice for New Vapers

The NHS has a wealth of information you can trust, exploring many different aspects of your cessation journey. When it comes to vaping however, they offer the following advice:

Pick the right kit

Get advice from a specialist vape shop or a local Stop Smoking Service. Finding the right device and strength of nicotine in your e-liquid may take time – so stick with it.

Use a vape as much as you need

You should use the vape as much as you need to manage your cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Try nicotine patches for extra support

You can use patches with a vape if you need to, as these give ongoing support by releasing nicotine slowly. You can top up with your vape to deal with immediate cravings.

Talk to others who have made the switch

Talk to people who have switched from smoking to vaping. Ask them what they wish they had known before they started and if anything in particular helped them through it.

Expert stop smoking support

Vaping is particularly effective for quitting if you get expert help from your local Stop Smoking Service. They can give advice about the right device and nicotine strength for you, how to use a vape, plus extra support to help you succeed. Some services also offer free vaping starter kits.

Find your local Stop Smoking Service

More information about vaping from the UK Gov

Our Sources:

https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/vaping-to-quit-smoking/