A New Buyers Guide To Vaping : Vaping Devices
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Vaping culture has built up its own dense vocabulary over the past decade, and it can feel overwhelming for newcomers walking into a vape shop for the first time. Between ENDS, MTL, DTL, squonks, and pods, it is easy to feel lost before you have even picked a device.
This guide breaks down the main types of vaping devices in plain language, so you can walk in (or shop online) knowing exactly what you are looking for.
Different Vaping Styles for Different Tastes
Every vaper develops their own way of enjoying the flavours and nicotine delivery that make vaping appealing. Here are the main categories you will come across:
ENDS: Electronic Nicotine Delivery System
ENDS is simply the umbrella term for any nicotine product you do not set on fire — vapes, e-cigs, personal vaporisers, pods, mods, and vape pens all fall under this term.
MTL: Mouth to Lung
MTL vapes imitate the mechanics of smoking a cigarette: you draw vapour into your mouth first, then inhale it into your lungs. They typically use higher-resistance coils, lower wattages, and produce far less vapour than direct-to-lung devices, which makes them a popular entry point for people switching from cigarettes.
DTL: Direct to Lung
Direct-to-lung vaping means drawing vapour straight into your lungs in one motion, similar to breathing normally. It produces much bigger clouds and a more intense flavour delivery than MTL, but it is less discreet and generally works best with lower-nicotine freebase or shortfill e-liquids rather than strong nic salts. DTL setups are usually built around sub-ohm tanks rather than pods, since tanks are designed for the airflow and coil resistance this style needs.
Cig-a-Like
Cig-a-likes are styled to look and feel like a traditional cigarette. They produce minimal vapour and a tight throat hit, making them a familiar-feeling starting point for smokers making the switch.
Squonk Mods
A squonk mod has a soft bottle built into the housing that you squeeze to feed e-liquid directly up to the coil deck. Squonk setups are usually mechanical (unregulated) mods, which deliver excellent flavour but require a solid understanding of Ohm's law and battery safety — so they suit experienced vapers rather than absolute beginners. If you want to go deeper on that side of things, our crash course on Ohms for vape builders is a good next read.
Vape Pens
Vape pens are a reliable, low-fuss starting point: simple to use, affordable, and discreet. Many new vapers start on a pen before graduating to a direct-to-lung mod or pod system as they get more comfortable.
PV: Personal Vaporisers
Personal vaporisers are the more advanced descendants of the vape pen. They use more configurable tanks and coils, and let you swap individual coil heads instead of replacing the whole atomiser — which usually works out cheaper to run over time.
Pods
Pod systems are compact, refillable (or in some cases disposable) devices built almost exclusively around nicotine salt e-liquids. They deliver a throat hit and nicotine curve that feels closer to smoking than any other device type, at higher nicotine concentrations than most freebase e-liquids offer. If you are trying to decide between a compact pod and a larger tank setup, our full pod vs tank comparison breaks down the differences in more detail.
MTL vs DTL vs Pod: Quick Comparison
| Feature | MTL (Mouth to Lung) | DTL (Direct to Lung) | Pod System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Ex-smokers wanting a familiar draw | Cloud and flavour chasers | Beginners wanting simplicity |
| Typical e-liquid | Freebase or nic salt, higher strength | Freebase or shortfill, lower strength | Nic salts almost exclusively |
| Vapour output | Low | High | Low to moderate |
| Discretion | High | Low | High |
| Maintenance | Low | Moderate to high | Very low |
Not sure which nicotine strength or e-liquid type pairs best with your device? Our guide to finding your perfect nicotine strength and our explainer on freebase vs nic salt e-liquids cover this in detail.
A Bonus for 420 Enthusiasts
If you are after something a little more herbaceous, there are also devices designed specifically for dry herb and concentrate use. These are separate from nicotine ENDS devices but worth knowing about if you shop across both categories.
Herb Vapes
Loaded directly with dry bud and used as a discreet, effective vaporiser — a smoother option than combustion, with none of the product going to waste.
Wax Vapes
Built for concentrates, wax vapes are discreet, powerful, and convenient for use at home or on the go.
3-in-1 Wax/Oil/Herb Vapes
These all-in-one devices handle dry herb, wax, and oils (or combinations of the three), giving you flexibility in one device.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best vape device for a complete beginner?
Most new vapers start with either a simple vape pen or a pod system, since both are low-maintenance, affordable, and forgiving while you learn the basics.
What is the difference between MTL and DTL vaping?
MTL draws vapour into the mouth before inhaling to the lungs (closer to a cigarette draw), while DTL pulls vapour straight into the lungs in one motion, producing bigger clouds and requiring lower-resistance, higher-wattage setups.
Do pod systems only work with nic salt e-liquids?
The vast majority of pod systems are designed around nicotine salt e-liquids because of their smoother throat hit at higher strengths, though some higher-wattage pods can also run freebase e-liquid.
Are squonk mods suitable for beginners?
Generally no. Squonk mods are usually built on unregulated mechanical mods, which require a solid understanding of battery safety and Ohm's law, so they are better suited to experienced vapers.
Can one device work for both nicotine vaping and dry herb or concentrates?
Some 3-in-1 devices are built to handle wax, oil, and dry herb, but these are separate from nicotine ENDS devices and are not designed to vape e-liquid.
Looking for the Perfect Vape for Your Needs?
Here at Skyline Vape Shop we stock the latest vaping tech across pods, mods, squonks, MTL, and DTL setups. Browse our Vape Starter Kits collection if you are just getting going, or check out Vape Batteries and Accessories and Coils and Pods to keep an existing setup running.
Not sure which device suits your needs? Visit our website or get in touch with our Vape Shop team for personalised advice.
