How Strong Should a Vape Be For First-Time Users? My 2 Cents…

Starting your vape journey can feel like walking into a vape shop blindfolded — too many choices, too many numbers, and not enough straight answers.

A good starting point – with respect to simple-to-use devices – would be anything from:

• Modus vape (for cannabis users)
• Vaporesso
• Mi-Pod
• UWELL
• Or anything off our best pod vapes list.

So, let’s cut through the fluff. If you’re wondering how strong your vape should be as a first-time user, the answer is: not very.

Seriously.

You don’t need a 50mg throat punch to enjoy vaping. Most people do just fine with lower nicotine strengths — think 10mg to 20mg with Nic Salts — especially if you’re not a pack-a-day smoker.

But hey, let’s dig into this properly, so you actually know what you’re doing

Vape Strength 101: What You’re Actually Choosing

When we talk about vape “strength,” we’re really talking about two things:

• Nicotine level in the e-liquid
• The power output of the device

Both play a role in how hard that hit is going to feel — and how buzzed you might get.

For beginners, getting both of these right is key to avoiding nausea, headaches, or coughing fits that’ll put you off vaping before you even get started.

Nicotine Strengths: What You’re Really Choosing (with Nic Salts, High VG & Nixodine Explained)

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Here’s a better breakdown of how nicotine strength works — and how your choice of vape juice type makes a big difference too.

What About Nicotine Salts?

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Glad you asked.

Nicotine salt (aka nic salt) e-liquids are smoother and hit faster than traditional freebase nicotine.

They also allow you to vape higher nicotine levels (20mg–50mg) without the harsh throat hit you’d normally get from freebase at those strengths.

Me? I love this brand – it’s all I vape at the moment.

Who’s nic salt good for?

• Beginners
• Ex-smokers (especially heavy ones)
• People using small pod vapes or disposables

The absorption is faster and more cigarette-like, so nic salts are great if you’re trying to quit smoking and want that “nicotine fix” without chain vaping.

High VG Freebase E-Liquids – The Cloud Chaser’s Choice

High VG juice (VG = Vegetable Glycerin) is thicker and used in bigger vapes. You’ll see these in bottles labeled “70/30 VG/PG” or even “80/20.”

• Best for DTL vaping
• Meant for sub-ohm tanks or box mods
• Smoother vapor, bigger clouds
• Nicotine levels are typically lower (0mg, 3mg, or 6mg)

If you’re not looking for a strong nicotine hit and just want flavor and clouds, high VG juice is your friend. You’ll find loads of great options in our E-Juice Reviews section.

And What’s Nixodine?

If you’ve come across Nixodine in your vape journey, you’re not alone — it’s a newer formulation starting to show up in certain vape juices and disposables.

It’s often marketed as an enhanced nicotine delivery system (just without containing any nicotine), designed to give you the smooth hit of nic salts with the satisfying punch of freebase.

Kind of a hybrid approach.

Right now, Nixodine isn’t as common as nic salts or high VG juices, but it’s gaining traction — especially in the next-gen disposables crowd. If you spot it in a product, think of it as a more refined, balanced nicotine experience.

Great for those who want quick absorption without sacrificing throat hit.

Quick Recap:

Types of Devices Matter Too

Not all vapes hit the same. Even with the same nicotine strength, a high-powered sub-ohm mod will hit way harder than a low-powered pod system.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Pod Vapes: Perfect for beginners. Easy to use, great for lower nicotine levels or nicotine salt juice.
• Disposable Vapes: Also beginner-friendly, but can be a bit high on the nicotine side (some go up to 50mg).
• Box Mods & Sub-Ohm Kits: Better suited to experienced users who want clouds for days — not a beginner move.

If you’re new, pod systems like the Vaporesso XROS Pro or the XROS 4 Nano are solid picks. Simple, reliable, and you won’t need a degree in electrical engineering to use them.

Fun Fact: Too Much Nicotine Can Backfire

Here’s something not enough people talk about — if you start off with too strong a nicotine level, you’re more likely to feel sick, dizzy, or just straight-up gross.

That’s because your body isn’t used to it, especially if you’re coming from smoking a few cigs a week. Too much nicotine doesn’t mean more satisfaction — it just means your body goes into overload.

So yeah, stronger isn’t always better. It’s like ordering the spiciest curry on the menu when you can’t handle chili flakes — not a flex, just a bad time.

Match Your Nicotine Strength to Your Vape Style

This part’s important: your vaping style plays a big role in how much nicotine you’re actually getting.

• Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) devices (like pod systems) are great with higher nicotine strengths (6mg+ or nic salts).
• Direct-to-Lung (DTL) devices (like sub-ohm mods) are best with lower nicotine (3mg or even 0mg), because you’re inhaling way more vapor.

If you’re unsure what type of device you have, check out our Vape User Guides for walkthroughs and tips.

How To Know If Your Vape Is Too Strong

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Not sure if you picked the right strength? Your body will tell you. Watch out for:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Throat burning or coughing

If that sounds like you after a few hits, it’s time to dial it down. Switch to a lower nicotine juice or consider trying a lower-powered device.

Wrapping Up…

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If you’re new to vaping, start simple and start mild. That’s the golden rule.

You can always work your way up if you feel like you need a stronger hit — but it’s harder to enjoy vaping if your first experience leaves you coughing your lungs up.

• Stick to 3-6mg juice if you’re a light smoker or brand new to nicotine.
• Try a pod vape or disposable to keep things easy.
• Listen to your body and adjust as you go.

Still figuring out your setup? Our Vape Reviews section has breakdowns on all the best gear right now — from pod systems to mods to weed vapes.