before you get into that part, you need to make sure you're using the best type of e-liquid for your needs too. If you started off vaping with a mouth to lung vape pen or pod kit, chances are you were also using 50:50s or nic salts. If you’re still figuring out what’s what (and which one is best for you) we’re here to clear a few things up.
What’s in a 50:50 e-liquid?
The name 50:50 comes from the ratio of its two main ingredients - PG (propylene glycol) and VG (vegetable glycerine). PG is the ingredient that carries the flavour of your e-liquid and also gives you that “throat hit” feeling. VG is the part that creates more vapour and mellows out the throat hit a little too. Aside from that the other ingredients are just flavour and freebase nicotine. The strengths typically range from a very low level of 3mg and 6mg, to much higher levels like 12mg and 18mg. Freebase nicotine e-liquids are a little more slowly absorbed but also stay in your system a bit longer.
What’s in a nic salt?
Just like freebase, nic salts are also usually 50% VG and 50% PG. They also contain flavouring and nicotine but it’s the kind of nicotine here that’s different. Nicotine salts are a more neutral pH than the freebase nicotine found in 50:50s. Generally, they come in high nicotine strengths only - mostly 18mg or 20mg though more and more brands are offering a 10mg middle ground. They also absorb more quickly than regular freebase nicotine, meaning they’re great for ex-smokers who had a heavy habit.
Who should use nic salts ?
With the only real difference between the two coming down to nicotine type, it really comes down to what kind of experience you’d like from your vape. While PG offers a bit of a throat it, another factor to consider is the type of nicotine.
Freebase nicotine is more basic on the pH scale, meaning it feels more harsh to inhale on the higher end of the strength spectrum. Nic salts have been neutralised a little to still offer that high strength but with a more gentle sensation on the inhale. Basically, a 20mg nic salt feel more gentle to vape (as well as hitting faster) while an 18mg freebase nicotine 50:50 will feel a lot more scratchy. So, if you want a high strength and a strong throat hit, we’d recommend 50:50s for you. If you want the high strength but want a more mild inhale, nic salts are your new best friend.
Which one is best for me and my vape kit?
Whenever you’re using 50:50s or nic salts, you’ll be wanting to use a pod kit or a vape pen that normally utilises a plus Ohm coil (1.0ohm or higher). The reason is, the lower your resistance the more power and vapour you get through. If you used either 50:50s or nic salts in a Sub Ohm device (less than 1.0ohm), you’d get an overwhelmingly strong nicotine hit and a very scratchy throat hit.
When it comes to your own mouth to lung kit, you’ll usually have a few coil options. Given that nic salts absorb so quickly into your system, if you’re using a 20mg nic salt for example, we’d recommend using the higher resistance coils. Anything between 1.2ohm to 1.8ohm is great, they’ll give you a smooth hit, the right amount of nicotine and won’t be too potent to enjoy. Those coils also offer the most comparable inhale to conventional cigarettes, meaning they’ll emulate the tight draw you’re used to.
If you’re using a more moderate nic salt strength like a 10mg or the higher strength freebase 50:50s, the best coils for you are around 1.0ohm - 1.2ohms. They’ll give you a little more vapour but won’t be so hot and powerful that you get too much of a nicotine headrush.
Finally, if you’re on a light nicotine 50:50 strength like a 3mg or 6mg, you can use anything between 0.5ohm to 1.0ohm. The 0.5ohm will give you more vapour and a looser inhale while the 1.0ohm is that just right balance of a tighter inhale while still giving you a decent amount of vapour.
Our top nic salt and 50:50 picks:
If you’re looking to try nic salts or 50:50s (or both, to figure out which you enjoy most) we’ve got plenty of choice for you. Having said that, there are a few that particularly stand out as fan favourites. They’re all available in both nic salts and 50:50s meaning everyone can give these best sellers a whirl.