iQ Vape

If you live in a European country and vape, you've probably heard of TBD and, quite recently, TBD compliance. In this post, we look into the Tobacco Products Directive initiative, what it does and what it means for vapers and vape shops. What is TPD? TPD is short for Tobacco Products Directive, a bill designed to regulate the tobacco and e-cigarette industries in the EU. Regulations pertaining to the e-cigarette industry can be found in Article 20 of the document, which has become the foundation for vaping regulations in the UK and most other EU countries. Some of the key points mentioned in the Directive are: 10ml e-liquid limit per bottle (e-liquid bottles can only be legally sold if they don't contain over 10ml of vape juice) 2ml e-liquid limit for tanks (tanks in vaping devices can not go over the capacity of 2ml) 20mg/ml limit on nicotine levels (the concentration of nicotine in e-liquid can not go over 2% or 20mg/ml. Generally, nic salt e-liquids can go up to as high ...

Most of our devices are designed for vaping nic salts. This includes our lightest and delightest iQ AIR and the compact but powerful iQ ONE (which actually comes with two interchangeable coils so that you have your choice of nic salts and free base). So why do we prefer nic salts? There are a few things we've considered. Nic salts are typically recommended for ex heavy smokers as they allow for high nicotine concentrations — nic salt e-liquids can go up to 50mg/ml. If you are an ex-smoker and are new to vaping, nic salts may prove to be the most workable solution as they can closely mimic the sensation you used to get from smoking. Thus, there is a lower risk of you going back to smoking. Nic salts are a great fit for low wattage devices. And compact low wattage devices are (in most cases) the best fit for new vapers as they come with almost no learning curve and minimal maintenance letting you get started with vaping right away. Low wattage devices tend to be compact, ...

One of the best things about vaping is the versatility it offers: you have your choice of flavors, can vape with nicotine or without and choose between a variety of kits. Today, we are looking into the pros of pod mods. Pod mods (in their current shape and form) appeared on the market quite recently: the first pod mod was released by Pax Labs back in 2010 and had quite a few design flaws. But pod systems have since come a long way and have quickly gained popularity — especially among new vapers. So why do we like pod mods? They have quite a few things going for them: First and foremost, it's their simplicity. Pod systems are really easy to use — and this is something new vapers truly appreciate. With pod systems, you don't need to tweak with settings, assemble and re-assemble your device, change coils and wicks. There is no learning curve as well — you simply take your pod mod and inhale. This is what makes pod systems so attractive to new vapers. Second, it's the f...

A coil is an essential element of any vape kit: from complex and powerful box mods to compact pod mods. If you've just started vaping, you probably don't yet need to know all the intricacies of coil building and wicking. However, as your interest in vaping progress and you read articles or maybe even attend a few vape forums, you will start coming across some lingo. In this mini-guide, we have gathered some essential abbreviations and terms related to vaping coils. The list below is by no means extensive and is only meant to give you a general idea about some most frequently used coil related worlds. Coil abbreviations BCC — bottom coil clearomizer. A vape kit with the heating element situated at the bottom of the vape tank. BDC — bottom dual coil. A bottom coil device is a kit that contains a tank, a drip tip, a base, and an atomizer coil. The atomizer heads, in this case, are still one piece but they contain two coils. BVC — bottom vertical coil. A device wit...

One of the qualities that make the iQ VIVA one of our bestselling mods is its glass tank. Lots of vapers prefer glass to both plastic and pyrex — and even willing to pay a little bit extra for devices that feature a glass tank. Glass is considered a premium material when it comes to vaping devices — and a glass tank will often be the most expensive part of your whole atomizer. So, sporting a glass tank on your vape kit is not cheap. But what do you get for the price? A glass vape tank looks really cool and gives the device a heavier and quality feel. But is it just about the aesthetics or are there functional advantages as well? There are quite a few. First, you will be able to clearly see how much juice is left in the tank. And in order to do that, you won’t need to take the device apart, which makes things quite convenient. Second, a glass vape tank is compatible with all types of vape juices. And you definitely don’t want your e-liquid to get into a chemical reactio...

You probably already have your own well-thought-through checklist of what you look for when buying a new vape kit.  Some vapers are looking for power, clouds and customization options and opt for a variable wattage/voltage device. Others prefer simplicity or are looking for a super-compact kit that would be ideal for stealth vaping. But there is one factor that most vapers would agree on — a vape kit needs to be safe.  Most vape mods come with a standard set of must-have safer features like short-circuit protection, overtime protection, and others. But what do these features protect your kit from and why are they necessary?  What is short-circuit protection? Short circuit protection protects your device from excessive currents that go beyond the acceptable current rating of your equipment. As soon as an overcurrent is detected on your device, it will trip and break the circuit. What is reverse battery protection? Reverse battery protection is ...

According to Public Health England vaping is 95% less health risk than smoking. And this makes it a very viable alternative to smoking traditional tobacco cigarettes. As smoking is a process of combustion, lighting a cigarette leads to the release of over 7,000 chemicals, some of which are known carcinogens. With vaping, you get to avoid that and you will be inhaling is heated e-liquid, which is, in most cases, Propylene Glycol, vegetable glycerine, flavorings, and nicotine. With that, vaping is not without faults. And there are a number of side effects you can experience as a vaper. In this mini-guide, we will address some of the common issues that vapers may be faced with and the ways of dealing with them. Dry mouth and skin issues One of the most frequently experienced side effects of vaping is dehydration. Vapor has the nature of attracting water molecules from its surroundings. Thus, you may notice an itchy feeling in your throat and mouth, and even feel your skin gettin...

Second hand vaping is often compared to second-hand smoking. What it means is basically when someone else, other than the vaper, is involuntarily inhaling the "clouds" the vaper is producing. There is a lot of confusion surrounding second hand vaping and when compared to second-hand smoking, the two are often treated as the same. In this post, we will look into the actual effects of second hand vaping. What is second-hand vapor and is it the same as second-hand smoke? Second-hand vapor is different from second-hand smoke. Smoke is a product of combustion. When you burn any substance, volatile gases, carbon monoxide and other potentially toxic substances are released into the air. Burning tobacco (which is basically what smoking is) sets free over 7,000 chemicals, hundreds of which are considered toxic and over fifty are carcinogenic. This makes smoking a dangerous habit for the smoker and second-hand smoking an unhealthy side-effect for those around. In fact, the U.S. Cent...

This depends on what device you are using and the type of e-liquid as well.  The highest nic strengths available these days are probably in nic salt pods that can go up to 50mg and sometimes even higher. These work with low wattage devices, like pod mods. In general, if you want to vape at high nicotine strengths, you will need a low wattage device. Vaping 50mg vape juice on a sub-ohm device is simply not a good idea.  Another factor here is where you live. Some countries put restrictions on nicotine strengths. For instance, in the UK, the max nicotine concentration in e-liquid is restricted to no more than 20mg. As mentioned above, you can also DIY your own e-juice. But this is recommended for advanced vapers only and, even in this case, it's strongly advised not to go above the  50mg nicotine level. 

If you are an ex-smoker (or on the way to becoming one), vaping is a very efficient way to leave cigarettes behind once and for all. It can deliver nicotine into your system without the thousands of chemicals that come with traditional smoking. If you are used to smoking, choosing the right nicotine level for your e-liquid is essential for the success of your quitting process. So, how do you choose the right nicotine level? Depending on the vaping regulations in your country, you may find different ranges of e-liquid nicotine strengths available. Thus, some countries restrict e-liquids strength to the max of 20mg/ml, while in others you will be able to purchase Nic Salts pods going over 50mg/ml. Below, we will go over the most common nicotine concentrations and explain what they mean. 0mg/ml Nicotine is not an essential component of any e-liquid. If you want to stop using nicotine altogether — you absolutely can. There are lots of e-liquids on the ...

If you are new to vaping, even something as basic as choosing your e-liquid can seem overwhelming. And we don’t blame you: there are so many vape juices on the market these days that choosing one to start with can prove to be a formidable undertaking. In this quick post, we will tell you about the key things to take into account when your first e-liquid . Flavor The flavor is probably the most exciting part of this selection process — but also a very important one. If you don’t like the flavor of your e-liquid, the rest doesn’t really matter — you simply won’t be vaping it. So, how do you know which flavor you might like if you’ve never vaped before? If you used to smoke, you might want to start with something familiar like a tobacco blend that — will help mimic that sensation you used to get from smoking and feel familiar. If you are not keen on tobacco, the next popular classics would be menthol or mint. These flavors are cool and refreshing and are generally liked by...

Vaping  and nicotine seem to go very well together — and the ability to efficiently deliver nicotine into one’s system is what has made vaping popular in the first place. One of the best things about vaping (and one of its many advantages over smoking) is its versatility. Vapers do not only have a wide selection of flavors to choose from — but they can also decide how much nicotine they want in their e-liquid. Or, if they don’t want any nicotine at all. One of the most popular questions regarding vaping zero nic is “what’s the point”? Too many vapers, vaping without nicotine seems pointless and unnecessary. But what we believe that what is being missed here is the fact that vaping has long evolved beyond a simple nicotine-delivery method into something more. And vaping zero-nic e-liquids gives you the chance to fully enjoy the process without having to consume nicotine. And there are other benefits to consider as well. It’s not addictive Nicotine is an addictive substanc...

E-liquids come in a variety of flavors, PG/VG ratios and nicotine concentrations. But can the color of the e-liquid tell you anything about the quality of your upcoming vaping session? What color are most e-liquids? Most vape juices on the market comes in the same palette of colors ranging from clear to yellowish to light brown or light orange. This typically means that your e-liquid has a “standard” set of components like propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavoring and nicotine (or lack thereof). You may also find e-liquid that comes in bright or even fluorescent colors like blue, green, pink, etc. This typically means that some coloring has been added to the vape juice. If you are not a fan of extra additives, you should avoid juices of “unnaturally” bright colors. What if my e-liquid changes color? It is normal for e-liquid to change color over time. Especially, if it has been left open and under direct sunlight. For nicotine, light and oxygen are...

Once upon a time there was a trend in the e-cigarette world for vaping gadgets to get bigger and bigger. Cigalikes became vape pens, vape pens turned into box mods. As the batteries on vaping devices kept getting bigger and bigger to accommodate vapers’ growing demands, so did the devices themselves. But ever since the first pod systems hit the market, things have somewhat changed. Pod kits and, especially, the ones that come with disposable pods, are really easy to use as they eliminate most of the maintenance work that might seem intimidating to new vapers. A typical vaping device stores its e-juice in a glass tank. The tank is either screwed into the threading at the top of the device or is a permanent part of the said device. A pod vaping system, on the other hand, stores its e-liquid in a drop-in plastic pod. Some pods snap into place and some are secured in a magnetic base. In a standard vaping tank, the glass tank and the metal hardware aren’t disposable — and the only...

A vape tank is an essential part of most vaping devices. While some smaller vaping gadgets do come with replaceable pods, traditional mods feature a tank that you need to fill with e-liquid directly. Typically, vape tanks are made of plastic, glass or Pyrex — and there are notable differences between the three. Plastic vape tanks Vaping gadgets with plastic tanks tend to be substantially cheaper than glass and Pyrex tanks. But, as it often is, there is a price to pay. The main disadvantage of plastic vape tanks is their low durability: High temperatures and acidic components in e-liquids will quickly wear out your tank. For instance, if you vape a lot of citrus-flavored e-liquids, you will notice your tank eroding and even melting. There is also concern about the chemicals that are released when a plastic tank is heated to high temperatures Glass vape tanks Devices with glass vape tanks are more expensive — but with that, they are not affected by acidity and t...

From pod mods to box mods — all vaping gadgets come with batteries. And this means that there is a risk, though very small, of something going wrong. The worst case scenario here would be a battery explosion — and nobody wants that. There are two main causes of battery problems: low quality vaping gadgets and poor battery maintenance habits. The best way to make sure your battery works well and your vaping sessions are safe is to take proper care of your battery. Regulated mods feature a circuit board to regulate the current and come with built-in or removable batteries. These types of devices are most suitable for rookie vapers. You will be able to make small adjustments to the wattage and voltage — but the current will be controlled preventing damage to your battery. With that, there are still a few things to watch out for. Buy quality gadgets. Make sure your device comes with a full set of safety features onboard: short-circuit, overtime, overcharge, overheat, low ...