If you’re new to vaping, you may not be familiar with the terms ‘mouth to lung’ (MTL) and ‘direct to lung’ (DTL). Essentially, MTL and DTL describe how you inhale the vapour in your e-cigarette.
It’s important to research what the difference is between Mouth to lung vs direct to lung vaping before buying a vape kit or e-cigarette to make sure you purchase the best product for your vaping style. Let’s explore the two different styles.
Mouth to Lung (MTL) Explained
Mouth to lung vaping is inhaling the vapour created by your e-cigarette through your mouth and then into your lungs. It’s more similar in style to cigarette smoking, making it a great option for vaping beginners looking to transition off cigarettes and on to e-cigarettes.
How to Pick an MTL Vape Kit
Vape kits designed for MTL vaping have a higher resistance coil. The coil is the atomiser inside the e-cigarette that is responsible for vapourising the e-liquid inside. The coil resistance is measured in ohms. MTL vaping kids normally have a resistance of at least 1 ohm, meaning the e-liquid is vapourised at a lower temperature, creating a smaller amount of vapour. MTL kits replicate tobacco smoking, creating a similar amount of vapour as smoke from a traditional cigarette.
Choosing the Right e-liquid for your Mouth to Lung Vaping Kit
E-liquids contain a ratio of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine (indicated on the packaging). It’s important to choose an e-liquid that is compatible with your MTL vaping kit. If you use an e-liquid with the wrong ratio of propylene glycol or vegetable glycerine, you run the risk of shortening the lifespan of the coils inside your vaping kit, not to mention experiencing a burnt taste from your vaper. As a general rule of thumb, try to choose an e-liquid with 50% propylene glycol and 50% vegetable glycerine in your MTL vaping kit.
Advantages of MTL Vaping
Here are some reasons why people choose MTL vaping kits over DTL vaping.
- Easy to use
- Cheaper than DTL vaping kits and use less vape juice
- Very similar to smoking, making it great to transition off cigarettes
- MTL kits accentuate the flavour of your e-liquid
Direct to Lung (DTL) Vaping Explained
DTL vaping (also referred to as ‘sub ohm’) is a different style of vaping that involves inhaling e-cigarette vapour directly into the lungs. Unlike MTL vaping which replicates cigarette smoking, DTL is more like taking a normal breath. The vapour produced by a DTL vaping kit is thicker and warmer, making it more suitable for experienced vapour. Having said that, there are some great, easy-to-use ‘sub ohm’ kits for beginners who want to try DTL vaping.
How to Pick a DTL Vape Kit
As we learned above, the resistance of the coils within a vaping kit is measured in ohms. While an MTL kit usually has a resistance of at least 1 ohm, DTL vaping kits have coils with a resistance below 1 ohm. Thanks to the lower resistance, DTL kits can heat the e-liquid to a hotter temperature, creating thicker, warmer vapour. DTL vaping kits are generally larger and more complicated to use than MTL kits, boasting an LED screen and a range of settings to customise your vaping experience. While these extra features are great for an experienced vaper, they could be a little overwhelming for beginners.
Choosing the Right e-Liquid for your Direct To Lung Vaping Kit
Always choose an e-liquid with a lower nicotine level when using DTL or ‘sub ohm’ vape kits. DTL kits produce more vapour, so it’s best to choose a less nicotine-rich e-liquid (3mg is a good starting point) to avoid getting an excessively strong hit of nicotine. It’s also recommendable to choose an e-liquid with at least 50% Vegetable Glycerine (VG) and a maximum of 50% Propylene Glycol (PG). Generally speaking, e-liquids with over 50% PG will be very harsh when used in a DTL vape kit.
Advantages of DTL Vaping
- DTL kits have more features and settings, for a more personalised vaping experience
- The denser vapour means that you get more nicotine with each inhalation, making it easier to switch to a lower strength e-liquid
- It creates a thicker cloud of warmer, smoother vapour, which many people prefer
Key Takeaways
If you vape regularly or you’re considering taking up vaping, it’s important to know the difference between MTL and DTL vaping. Choosing the right vaping style will make vaping a more enjoyable experience and ensure that you choose the best products to use with your vape kit to maintain your device for as long as possible.
