Vaping has taken the world by storm. No longer the underground hobby it once was, vaporizing either nicotine or nicotine-free vape juice is now considered cool and modern. If you've been thinking about getting your feet wet in this wonderful new world, figuring out how to get started and what equipment to use can be confusing. These 4 essential tips help new vapers find their way through the plethora of devices and smoking styles available.

Keep It Simple

When you're just starting out, you don't need 100 different vials of vape fluid or seven different devices. If you haven't vaped before, start with a simple device that purports to be easy to use and set up. It's like a warmup--once you get used to it, and get a bit of practice under your belt, you can fine-tune your experience for better enjoyment.

Although you may be tempted to sink a ton of money into specialty vaporizers or designer fluids, resist the temptation. Starter kits are terrific for learning the ropes due to their all-in-one nature. Try to choose a kit that includes a simple vaporizer, a few vials of juice, a charger, and at least one battery. Once you decide to stick with the hobby, you can choose fancier models with a greater number of options. 

Decide Between Nicotine or No Nicotine

Are you taking up vaping to help yourself quit smoking? If so, you should know that using vape juice with added nicotine can be an effective way to curb cravings while cutting out chemicals. It's also fairly easy to moderate your ingestion, because nicotine liquids are rated by dose. Ideally, you want to choose the dose that's closest to the way you currently smoke cigarettes or cigars.

Nicotine packs come in the following dose ranges:

  • 0 mg
  • 3 mg
  • 6 mg
  • 12 mg
  • 18 mg
  • 24 mg
  • 36 mg

If you don't want nicotine at all, choose 0mg. Doses of 6 mg to 12 mg work well for light daily smokers, while doses of 24 mg to 36 mg are best for very heavy smokers. As too much nicotine can make you dizzy and nauseous, choosing a fluid that's an estimated step down is a safe way to moderate your consumption.

If you aren't sure where to start, try one of the lower dose ranges first. Starting at 12 mg gives you room to increase the dose down the road; you can just increase how often you use the vape as required.

Always Grab an Extra Battery

Without a battery, your vaporizer is little more than a dead device you can't smoke. While modern models typically offer at least a couple of days of moderate use before the battery runs out, it's easy to forget to charge your device if you're caught up with life. The end result is that you end up without access to your unit when it's needed most.

If you're quitting, this could place you in a dangerous position--cravings hit, and you suddenly don't have access to your vaporizer to soothe them. It doesn't take much to encourage a quitter to go back to cigarettes, so this should be thought of as a high-risk situation.

When shopping for your unit, be sure to pick up an extra battery at the same time if your kit doesn't include one. Keep it charged and on your person whenever possible. You may never end up needing it, but if something happens and you can't get to a charger, you'll be covered. 

Monitor Your Vaporizer for Low Battery Issues

When it comes to charging both batteries, never assume that a flashing light is always the first sign of a low charge. While it's true that most devices do have a small indicator that alerts you to a dying battery, there are other telltale symptoms to watch out for:

  • Sudden changes in flavor or taste
  • Weak vapor production
  • Intermittent failure to produce vapor at all

If you experience any of these symptoms, stop using your device and allow it to cool down for a few minutes. Then, place the unit on its charger for the amount of time recommended by its manufacturer. This will differ depending on the company, but usually requires at least a couple of hours.

For more information on vapers, check out a company like Vapoligy.

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