Should I Use High or Low Resistance Coils ?

by Jemma Wolfe
High or Low Resistance Coils: What You Need to Know

High or Low Resistance Coils: What You Need to Know

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • What is Vape Coil Resistance?
  • What are High Resistance Coils?
  • What are Low Resistance Coils?
  • Mesh coils and DTL vaping
  • Sub ohm vaping: what to know
  • How to Choose Vape Coils
  • Beginner vaping
  • Intermediate vaping
  • Advanced vaping
  • High or Low Resistance Coils?
  • Vape Coil Resistance at myCigara

High resistance coils, and low resistance coils. What are they, what’s the difference, what should I pick, and what does it matter? Vape users of all levels are liable to find themselves, at least once, pondering the question: should I be using high resistance coils, or low resistance coils?

This blog aims to guide readers through this specific question, and other closely related questions regarding vape coil resistance. We’ll try to serve a broad audience with this blog; each section will tackle a query, going first into the basics before delving into slightly more advanced, specialised knowledge. That being said, this blog does presuppose a certain base level of vape coil know-how. If you’re in need of a refresher, we recommend checking out our main blog, “All about Vape Coils.”

Otherwise, assuming you’ve got your vape coil basics down pat, this blog will take you through the importance of vape coil resistance. Taking you through what resistance is and how it affects vape coils, plus the pros and cons of both high resistance coils and low resistance coils, this blog aims to ultimately help you find the vape coil that is right for you, and your own personal vaping journey.

What is Vape Coil Resistance?

What is Vape Coil Resistance?

If you’re reading this blog, you no doubt already have a basic understanding of vape coils—what they do and how they work. If so, you’ll probably also have noticed that vape coils tend to be described and sold with an ascribed numerical rating given as ohm or Ω. So what exactly does this mean, and why does it matter for vaping?

As we already have a standalone blog devoted to Ohm’s law as it pertains to vaping, we won’t go into the full depth of it here. Nonetheless, there are some key facts worth noting, moving forward:

●Ohm is the SI unit for electrical resistance

●The symbol for Ohm is Ω

●Resistance limits how much electrical current can pass through any electrical system.

●A higher resistance means a lower current, and vice versa.

So, what resistance does in any given electrical circuit is limit the electrical current flowing through it. For vape kits, the amount of electrical current that flows through the coil determines how hot the vape coil gets. This in turn, has an effect on how hot or cool your vapehit is, and thus how harsh or gentle a throat hit it produces.

Thus, the higher the resistance of your vape coil, the less electrical current will be able to pass through it. Conversely, a lower resistance coil will let through a higher current.

So, we’ve established that higher resistance = lower current, and lower resistance = higher current, but what exactly does this mean in terms of the end-user experience of vaping? Let’s look into that now, starting with high-resistance coils.

What are High Resistance Vape Coils?

What are High Resistance Vape Coils?

High-resistance coils are, as you’d imagine, vape coils that have a high electrical resistance. But what counts as high resistance in terms of vape coils, and what does that do for your vape experience?

Firstly, a general rule of thumb would be that any vape coilsrated 1Ω or higher would be considered high-resistance. Of course, what a 1Ω rating means is that current passing through the coil will never be of a higher value than the supplied voltage from your vape kit’s battery.

So, again, a higher resistance keeps the overall device’s electrical current lower. What does this actually do? Predominantly, it makes a vape kit much more beginner-friendly, for two main reasons.

● Because a higher resistance keeps the current lower, itessentially means the vape kit will normally be operating in a low-power mode.

● Higher resistance = lower current = lower power = less heat.

● Less heat means that the device itself is less likely to overheat and encounter any electrical issues.

● In terms of the end-user experience, lower heat means a cooler vape hit, which further means a less harsh throat hit.

So what we see is that high-resistance coils make vaping more beginner-friendly for two reasons, which are essentially interlinked: the higher resistance provides a lower temperature, keeping the device safe and providing gentler vape hits.

This is why higher-resistance coils are typically paired alongside starter vape kits; as part of an overall system designed to help new users. By becoming acclimated to user-friendly MTL vaping styles, smokers will have an easier time when they quit smoking and transition into vaping.

That’s really what you need to know when it comes to high resistance coils, so let’s now move onto low resistance coils.

What are Low Resistance Vape Coils?

What are Low Resistance Vape Coils?

As you’ve no doubt guessed by now, low resistance coils are the inverse of high resistance coils. As before, there would also be an inverse, general rule of thumb for what counts as low resistance for vape coils: anything below 1Ω. That said, popular low resistance coils often hover more around therange 0.6Ω and below. This is really the core of what’s meant when people talk about “sub ohm vaping” —a method of vaping that centres around using coils that are rated below 1Ω; literally, sub-ohm.

The role low resistance vape coilsplay are the same as high resistance coils, but inverse. To wit:

● A lower resistance allows a higher current through the system, meaning your vapekit can be used in a more high-power mode.

● Lower resistance = higher current and power = more heat.

● Of course, higher power andheat also mean a vapekit that can be more dangerous if not properly handled and adjusted.

Generally, this kind of vape kit setup requires above average know-how —but the payoff is being able to get more bang for your buck. For advanced vapefans, using low resistance coils—in conjunction with high-powered and highly-customisable vape mods—gives them free reign to really tailor their vaping experience to specific preferences.

This, of course, is the flipside to the aforementioned MTL style of vaping: DTL vaping—or, as described earlier, sub ohm vaping.

Mesh coils and DTL vaping

Mesh coils and DTL vaping

If you’re a slightly more beginner user, you may have also heard the term “mesh coils” bandied about. Our full guide to vape coils will tell you more about how they differ from conventional vape coils, but the gist of it is as follows:

Advanced vaping uses high levels of power, which creates high operating temperatures. Mesh coilshave a larger surface area than conventional coils, giving more space for heat to dissipate. This ensures a suitably cool vapehit and throat hit, even during high-temperature, high-powered vaping.

All vape coils eventually burn out with continued use; but traditional wire-spool vape coilswould burn out far quicker when subject to consistent, high-power, advanced vaping. For these reasons, mesh coilsare fast becoming a go-to choice for sub ohm vaping.

Sub ohm vaping: what to know

Sub ohm vaping: what to know

As noted above, starter vape kit setups with higher-resistance coils tend to be quite foolproof in terms of device failure, overheating, etc. Likewise, most advanced vapekit setups are fairly safe in this regard too; these devices tend to have smart chipsets with various built-in safety protections.

However, in terms of the end-user experience; if you don’t have the correct knowledge of your vape kit and its settings, relative tocoils and e liquid types, you may run afoul of an unpleasant vaping experience. Hot mouthpieces, harsh throat hits, gunked-up and prematurely burnt-out coils; these are just some of the problems the uninitiated vaper may stumble across.

However, we’re not saying this to put you off. None of these problems are particularly risky or dangerous, they’re just not very enjoyable! Provided you take your time and get to grips with vaping in general, making the move to DTL vaping can be highly rewarding. As with any vaping products, sub ohm vaping and low-resistance coils work wonderfully —within the proper context!

And on that note, we’re going to examine how to choose the right vape coil resistance to suit your needs.

How to Choose Vape Coils

How to Choose Vape Coils

By now you should have a decent idea of what to expect from both high resistance coils and low resistance coils. With that info in hand, you should be ready to start selecting which coils are right for your personal vaping needs.

In our main vape coils blog, we highlighted a slight shift in the vaping industry toward convenience; often, manufacturers do the legwork for the consumers. This means you don’t necessarily have to worry too much about making sure your vape coilsare compatible with your vape kit, as they’ll often come already bundled together.

That said, we always think it’s worth having underlying knowledge of how your vape components work together, and which combinations are effective for which goals. So what we’ll do is run you through three main tiers or categories of vaping, suggesting which hardware works best for that group, and we’ll throw in some recommended brands to give you a clearer picture.

Beginner vaping

Beginner vaping

For beginner vapers, we would recommend high resistance vape coils. As noted in the section on high-res coils, these are better for MTL vaping styles. The reason this approach is typically recommended for people new to vaping, is that it’s designed to replicate the sensation of smoking, making for an easier transition to vaping.

Beginner-friendly vape kits that use high resistance coils are typically categorised under the fitting umbrella of vape starter kits. Often on the lower end of the wattage scale, with comparatively high resistance coils, vape starter kits —as typified by brands like Innokin —are ideal for a classic MTL vaping experience; offering balanced flavour, subtle vapour, and smooth throat hits that will help ease the transition from smoking.

Intermediate vaping

Intermediate vaping

By intermediate users, we normally mean someone who’s been vaping for a while —typically with a vape pen or other starter kit —and has a bit of technical knowledge; someone who’s maybe ready to mix up their setup.

For this type of vape user, you may start to land in that middle ground of coil resistance: lower than a beginner, but still higher than advanced vaping. you’re in luck, there’s actually a whole vaping style based around this middle ground, and it’s called RDL vaping.

For this kind of middle ground of vaping, our recommendation would be a pod vape kit. Pod kits, from brands such as Voopoo and Uwell, are all about versatility, combining the user-friendliness and portability of a pen-style kit with the customisation of an advanced vapekit. This means you can begin to play around with switching between MTL and DTL vaping, and get a sense of the variety of vaping available.

Advanced vaping

Advanced vaping

Our final main category, advanced vaping, consists of several elements that go hand in hand: advanced vaping means DTL vaping, which means sub ohm vaping, which means sub ohm vape coils and a suitably high-powered vapemod to go alongside them.

We have a range of vape mods to choose between, from big-name brands such as Geekvape and Voopoo. Likewise, we have a selection of requisite sub ohm vape coils to ensure that you have the most cloud-tastic DTL experience possible.

When it comes to picking the right coils for your vape, make sure to have a read of our product descriptions; most of these will give you insight into which coils play well with which kits. As mentioned earlier, you’ll want to be looking for coils that are ideally 0.8Ω or lower, and you may well want to consider checking out some mesh coils.

High Resistance Coils or Low Resistance Coils?

High Resistance Coils or Low Resistance Coils?

To answer the overall question of which coil resistanceyou should use, then: it depends! We know we answer this to a lot of vaping questions, but there’s a reason for it. Vaping isn’t one-size-fits-all; different vape users have different needs and wants from vaping. Broadly though, we can break it into three main categories:

If you’re fairly new to vaping, want something that’s similar to the feel of a cigarette, that will help you quit smoking, you’ll want high-resistance coils —anything 1Ω or higher. These will ensure smooth throat hits and a moderate amount of vapour, perfect for helping you get used to vaping. Typically, these will come already bundled with a vape starter kit, to get you moving in the right direction

If you’re a bit more used to vaping and want something that’s going to give you the biggest, fattest clouds, alongside an intense flavour sensation (but with a comparatively harsh throat hit), low resistance coils are your friend. Whether mesh coilsor classic wire coils, look for ratings below 1Ω, but especially in the below 0.8Ω range. Pair them with your favourite box mod, and let rip.

For that middle ground between high and low, where you want the best of both worlds, free from extremes, look to the versatility of pods. Maybe one day you fancy MTL vaping, maybe the next RDL or even a touch of DTL? Most pocket-sized pod mods will include two differently rated coils, allowing you to play around with styles. Look for a resistance range of about 0.7Ω to 1Ω —not quite deep sub ohm, but not too high either.

So that’s it really! Getting the right vape coil resistance may seem daunting at first, but manufacturers nowadays do a lot of the legwork for you; most vapekits include a suitable vape coil, so you won’t be starting out with a mismatch. Plus, once you get the hang of this key vape component, you’ll begin to unlock a whole world of vaping variety, perfect for letting you do your thing on your journey toward being smoke-free.

Understanding Vape Coils Resistance at myCigara

At myCigara, we exist to make the UK smoke-free. We believe that vaping is a viable method to help people quit smoking so we aim, through vaping blogs and product education, to help our readers figure out if vaping is right for them. To help assist vapefans of all levels, our selection of leading vaping blogs covers four main areas: product reviews, product comparisons, user guides, and industry news.

If you’ve finished reading this blog, odds are you’ve got a bit of coil know-how already and are looking to get started. To that end, why not check out our selection of vape coils from a range of big-name brands. From Innokin starter coils, through to pod-friendly Voopoo coils and Uwell coils, all the way up to sub ohm Geekvape coils, there’s something for everyone.

Outside of visiting us online, why not drop into your nearest myCigara vape shop? Our expert store staff are ready and waiting, and will be able to help you find the right vape coil, vape kit, or just serve up some general vaping advice. Of course, you can always get in touch with us directly, and we’ll do our best to ensure you have the best possible vaping experience.

What’s the difference between MTL and DTL vaping?

If you’re a beginner, you might see these terms as just another roadblock on your way to quitting smoking for good. In fact, they are an essential part of your vape journey. Without gaining an understanding of these different terms and how to enact them yourself, you will be unable to unlock the world of possibilities that new box mods, sub ohm devices, and pod kits have to offer.

The terms MTL and DTL represent a small section of the ever-expanding vocabulary that has been created by vapers to describe the different styles of vaping. The vast majority of people stick with one style, with the minority switching between the two.

There’s no need to feel intimidated by these terms. Once you’ve learned how to DTL and MTL vape yourself, the process will become as easy as breathing. Simply read through this article to discover the different vaping styles and choose the one that is right for you.  

What is mouth to lung vaping?

MTL stands for mouth to lung, which is also sometimes abbreviated to M2L. Beginners favour this style of vaping because it replicates the ‘throat hits’ that occur when smoking a traditional cigarette. As the name suggests, a throat hit is created when the nicotine concentrate in your cigarette or e liquid hits the back of your throat. You can create a stronger throat hit by using high PG blends, e liquids with a higher nicotine concentration, and by decreasing the airflow on your device. MTL vapers favour an intense flavour experience over creating clouds.

When performing a MTL vape, the individual will inhale, hold the vapour in their mouth, and then draw the vapour into their lungs. Most people find that enacting a mouth to lung vape is the most natural way to inhale their vapour.

Once you have familiarised yourself with the technique, you need to consider how long you want to hold the vapour in your mouth. This depends on your personal preferences regarding throat hits. The longer you hold the vapour, the more intense the flavour experience and the throat hit.

It is also important to consider how dense you want the resulting clouds to be. Hold your vapour for a shorter amount of time to create less vapour and have a more unobtrusive vape.

What vape hardware do I need for mouth to lung vaping?

You won’t have to look far to find an MTL compatible kit. This style of vaping dominates the market for beginner and pod kit enthusiasts alike. We recommend browsing through our collection of starter kits and pod kits to find the best mouth to lung vape kit for you.

Our customers love pod kits because they are both affordable and compact. Despite their compressed exteriors, they are packed full of technological advancements, and have the added benefit of hassle-free click-in magnetic systems. We stock both open pod and closed pod systems.

Although direct to lung kits dominate the advanced vape device market, mod enthusiasts will be happy to know that there are some options available to them. Vape mods typically have variable wattage functions that can reach highs of 80W. However, if you want an MTL draw then you should set the output to no more than 15W. You should also be cautious about adjustable airflow features, and make sure to reduce the airflow where possible.

What e liquid should I use for mouth to lung vaping?

High PG e liquids are perfect for MTL vaping. PG, which stands for propylene glycol, is an essential part of your MTL experience because it carries flavour better than its counterpart, VG. Mouth to lung vapers prefer flavour over vapour because they want to create an intense taste sensation when they hold the vapour in their mouth.

It is common to find high VG e liquids that have an 80VG/20PG composition, but the same cannot be said of high PG e liquids. We stock 50PG/50VG and 40PG/60VG compositions in our online vape shop. Browse through our selection of Dinner Lady 50/50 e liquids for an unforgettable mouth to lung experience.

What is direct to lung vaping?

DTL vaping has several names. It refers to direct to lung, straight to lung, and D2L vaping. This style can be difficult to accomplish for people who have just transitioning from smoking to vaping because they are more accustomed to an MTL style.

Straight to lung vaping happens when a vaper takes a slow, long drag on their device. They then inhale the vapour directly into their lung, not pausing to hold the vapour in their mouth as they would do if they were enacting an MTL vape.

Beginner vapers who want to try the DTL vaping style should be warned that their first attempt might result in a coughing fit. Because they have just transitioned to vaping, their lungs are still coated in tar from cigarettes. A direct to lung hit can be somewhat of a shock to their system.

Once vapers have grown accustomed to the DTL style, they are able to inhale for between five and ten seconds. For an optimal vape experience, we recommend attempting to inhale for nearer to ten seconds. Exhaling quickly increases vapour production and creates dense, immense clouds.

What vape hardware do I need for direct to lung vaping?

Most pod devices and starter kits do not accommodate DTL vaping. People who want to attempt a direct to lung vaping style should opt for a variable wattage kit or a box mod. Sub ohm kits are ideal for DTL vapers because they often come complete with the hardware needed for a successful hit.

Unlike MTL kits, the ideal DTL kit should have a wide 810 drip tip. This allows you to inhale as hard as you can to create the power needed to suck the vapour straight into your lungs. Direct to lung enthusiasts should also opt for sub ohm coils because they contain low resistance and are compatible with the high wattage output that is needed to draw on your device for longer.

An adjustable airflow option is vital for DTL vapes. Luckily, most sub ohm kits come complete with this feature. A wider airflow is essential for inhaling more vapour into your lungs and creating bigger clouds.  

What e liquid should I use for direct to lung vaping?

Whereas MTL vapers should opt for high PG e liquids, DTL vapers should buy high VG vape juice. VG stands for vegetable glycerin, which is known for providing a smoother throat hit. This is essential when you are inhaling a great deal of vapour, as the resulting throat hit can be overwhelming.

There is much more variety when it comes to high VG compositions in comparison to high PG blends. There is a range of compositions with as much as 60, 70, 80, and even as much as 90% VG. It is important to note that VG is considerably thicker than PG. Because of this, it is not compatible with very sub ohm tank on the market. To check whether your tank is suitable, have a look at the size of the wicking holes in the coil itself. If they are on the smaller side, it will be difficult to pull viscous high VG e liquid through the holes when you inhale. If you are ever in doubt, make sure to research your tank before filling it with high VG concentrates.

It’s also important to consider the amount of nicotine you want as a DTL vaper. We recommend low levels of nicotine for people who prefer a direct to lung vape. Any higher than 6mg nicotine strength will create a harsh throat hit that most beginner vapers will find overwhelming.

Mouth to lung or direct to lung coils?

It is important to choose the right coils for your personal vaping style. MTL coils are a lot smaller than DTL coils. The smaller the diameter of the coils, the less air that can be pulled through the coil, which makes for a tighter draw.

In contrast, sub ohm coils have a wider diameter to allow for more holes in the coils and therefore more air. DTL coils need to allow more air to pass through the coils in order to accommodate a longer inhale.

Are cigarettes mouth to lung or direct to lung?

People who want to kick the habit for good often opt for a mouth to lung vaping style, because it replicates the ‘throat hit’ that occurs when smoking a normal cigarette. This is also why new vapers might struggle to integrate a direct to lung vaping style into their lives. Most people are not accustomed to ‘bypassing’ their mouth whilst smoking.

Can I smoke direct to lung on a sub ohm tank?

When learning about MTL and DTL vaping, it can be difficult to find the right kit for you. In fact, most sub ohm tanks are designed with direct to lung vaping in mind. You’ll get the most satisfying vape experience out of advanced kits. These kits have variable wattage features, which are crucial for DTL vapers because their kit requires a strong power output in order to accommodate the long draw time.

Are JUULs mouth to lung?

Beginners love the JUUL starter kit because it provides an intense mouth to lung experience that recreates the feeling of smoking a traditional cigarette. This device comes complete with a tight airflow, which is essential for creating a satisfying MTL draw.

The JUUL has a slimline design which is perfect for vapers who want a lightweight and discrete device. It has the added benefit of a JUUL app, which monitors usage, allows you to secure your device, and even has the ability to find your JUUL in case you misplace it. We recommend this kit for vapers who want all of the benefits that come with modern technology.

Mouth to lung devices at myCigara

Here at myCigara, we understand the importance of helping beginners make the first step in their vape journey. We stock a wide selection of mouth to lung devices from industry-leading brands. When you buy MTL devices from our online vape shop, you can rest assured that you are buying products that have stood the test of time. With everything from the Aspire PockeX and the Smok Nord Pod kit, there’s something to satisfy every taste bud in our MTL range. 

Direct to lung devices at myCigara

If you’re unsure about which devices boast direct to lung capabilities, look no further than our selection of sub ohm kits. Because these kits typically come with bigger coils and variable wattage capabilities, they have all the hardware required for long draws. We recommend the Geekvape Aegis Boost Pod System, and the Voopoo Drag 3 Kit because they are all firm fan-favourites.