Direct to Lung vs Mouth to Lung Vape: What’s the Difference? | Vape Town Online

People choose to quit smoking for a whole host of reasons. Because their habit is too expensive because they want to lead a healthier life or just because they no longer want to be a smoker.

But, lots of people find that the traditional methods to quit smoking, patches, gum and simply going cold turkey, often fail and they find themselves going back to smoking regular cigarettes again. 

It’s thought that one reason why these traditional methods of quitting might not work is that they don’t replicate the inhaling and exhaling sensation that smokers are used to when smoking cigarettes. 

But, since they first became popular in around 2012, many people have found success in quitting smoking by using vaping and e-cigarettes. 

Research by the NHS estimates that around 1.5 million people in the UK have succeeded in quitting smoking cigarettes by making the switch to e-cigarettes and vaping. 

This could be in part because inhaling e-liquid vapour through a vape mod has a similar feeling to taking a drag of a cigarette.

But, for people who are brand new to vaping and looking to use e-cigarettes as a way to cut back on or quit smoking, there are two different methods of vaping to be aware of; direct-to-lung and mouth-to-lung.

Each vaping method has a slightly different sensation when you inhale and so will suit different vapers and their needs. In this guide, we’ll explain the difference between each vaping method so you can choose the right vape for you based on your particular needs. 

Mouth-to-lung vaping

The mouth-to-lung vape style, also known as MTL vaping or M2L vaping, is the recommended way to inhale for beginner vapers. 

This is because it is the style of inhalation which most closely replicates the sensation of smoking a cigarette. For beginner vapers, this means that they won’t have to learn a new technique; simply inhale from your chosen vape mod the same way you would usually inhale a cigarette. 

With this method, you take a drag in through the vape mod and collect the vapour in your mouth before breathing it fully into your lungs. As you collect the vapour in your mouth before you breathe it into your lungs, this method of vaping is best for experiencing the full flavour of your vape juice and the hit on your throat is much like when inhaling a cigarette.

This method of vaping is much gentler on your throat than the smoother, more intense direct-to-lung vape style. 

Because the vapour collects in your mouth before being breathed into your lungs, there is also less cloud production with a mouth-to-lung vape style compared with direct-to-lung vaping. This can make it more popular for people wishing to vape in public who want a subtler vape experience. 

Direct-to-lung vaping

The direct-to-lung vape style, also known as DTL vaping or D2L vaping, is generally preferred by more experienced vapers who are looking to produce bigger clouds of vapour. 

When a vaper inhales in a direct-to-lung style, they breathe the vapour from the e-liquid straight into their lungs, as you would breathe in the air usually. Because the vapour goes straight to their lungs, this style of vaping is smoother and has less of a throat hit for a vaper and therefore not recommended for beginners. 

Direct to lung vaping is achieved by using more airflow from large atomisers and wide drip tips which are only compatible with certain vape mods. If you want to move on to direct-to-lung vaping but aren’t sure what mod to go for, speak to our team of vaping experts, they’ll be more than happy to give you advice. 

As this style of vaping goes directly to your lungs, it tends to be more intense than mouth-to-lung vaping which means you should use low nicotine or nicotine-free e-liquid to avoid any unpleasant throat burn. 

Which vape style is best for beginner vapers?

Mouth-to-lung is the way to go for beginner vapers who are looking for a similar experience to cigarette smoking to help them cut back or quit smoking regular cigarettes. It provides a much smoother throat hit and allows you to fully enjoy the flavour of your chosen e-liquid. 

For help selecting the correct nicotine strength for your vaping needs, check out our Vape Town guide to nicotine strengths. And, should you have any other queries about the best way to switch from smoking to vaping, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Always vape responsibly

We are here to help you and we want to be sure that you know how to get the best from your e-liquid and vaping equipment. As you make the switch from smoking, please educate yourself about proper safety and maintenance. Our comprehensive battery and coil guides can help you with this.