Juul controls around 72 percent of the e-cigarette market. If you've ever used a Juul, you've used nicotine salt vapes. But what are nicotine salts?
Nicotine comes in two forms for vape juice. The most common form is freebase nicotine, which is nicotine in its purest form. Nicotine salts are more akin to those you would find in tobacco leaves and are renowned for their smoothness.
Due to the health scare surrounding vaping at present, you may be wondering if nicotine salts are safe. Should you be sticking to freebase nicotine? Do nicotine salts represent a better option?
Read on, and find out!
What are Nicotine Salts?
When you vape standard e-liquid, the freebase nicotine is completely pure. It has been extracted from tobacco leaves and contains no other ingredients.
In nicotine salt vapes, the freebase nicotine is mixed with organic acids like benzoic acid. This makes the vape smoother.
Why are Nicotine Salt Vapes Popular?
Nicotine salt vapes are popular for several reasons. Firstly, nicotine salt vapes are far smoother, even at higher nicotine levels.
Smoothness
When you vape freebase nicotine, anything above 24 mg/ml begins to feel harsh for the user. With nicotine salt vapes like Juul, nicotine levels can be up to 59 mg/ml, without feeling harsh. This has led to concerns about nicotine levels, however.
Many Juul users report feeling dizzy after vaping too much. To avoid this while using nicotine salts, vape in moderation.
Similarity to Cigarettes
The mixture of benzoic acid and nicotine is similar to how nicotine is found in tobacco leaves. This means that when using nicotine salt vapes, the liquid is more similar in feel than freebase.
Chemical Stability
Nicotine salts are a more stable and long-lasting form of nicotine. This means that when you buy a bottle of nicotine salt e-liquid, it will last longer than freebase. You should still keep it in a cool place and out of direct sunlight, but it's less likely to go bad.
High Strength, Low Price
Due to their high strength, nicotine salt vapes represent good value. You can buy a bottle of high strength juice that will last you a week for a lot less than a pack of cigarettes. They're also better value than freebase nic, in terms of value.
How Should I Vape Nicotine Salts?
You can vape nicotine salts in any device. However, pod systems are the most popular way to consume nicotine salt vapes.
These systems, such as the Smok Nord, contain a small refillable pod that holds your e-juice. Buying a pod vaporizer kit is usually a small investment, around $20. These tiny vapes can be used for stealth vaping, producing very little vapor.
They fit in your pocket and due to their tight draw, using one is similar to smoking a cigarette.
While Juul represents a good starter kit, we'd recommend using another vape. The aforementioned Smok Nord or Aspire Nautilus AIO is of better value. Their pods can be refilled, cutting down on cost and waste compared to the Juul.
Can I Use Nicotine Salts in a Bigger Device?
If you own a sub-ohm vape and don't want to buy another device, you may wonder if you can use nic salts. You'll be happy to hear that you can absolutely use nicotine salt vapes in your device.
When you buy your next e-liquid, ask for a nicotine salt nic shot, instead of freebase. If your e-liquid comes with the nicotine already mixed in, ask the salesperson if they have any of that flavor with nicotine salts.
The golden rule for sub-ohming nicotine salt vapes is to keep the nicotine content low. While a lot of nicotine salt vapes have high nicotine content, this could make you sick if used in a powerful tank. Keep nicotine content to around 3 mg/ml, up to 6 mg/ml at maximum.
Disadvantages of Nicotine Salts
While nicotine salts are a better solution for many vapers, they do have some problems.
Higher Cost Than Freebase
Nicotine salt e-liquids tend to cost slightly more than freebase vapes. This is because the extraction process is costly, and this price is handed on to the customer.
Not Every E-Liquid Offers Nicotine Salt Varieties
Freebase nicotine has been used in vaping for about a decade. Nicotine salts are still a new phenomenon, so you may have more difficulty finding an e-liquid that contains them. If you buy your liquid nicotine-free, then add a nic shot, .this is less of an issue. — Find them at The Vape House
Are Nicotine Salts Safe?
You may have heard of customers getting sick after using their Juul too much. You may have also seen the news about citizen lawyers and states filing lawsuits against e-cig companies or banning e-cigarettes.
To cut a long story short, if you buy your nicotine salt vapes from a reputable company, they are safe.
People get sick from using their Juul because they overdose on nicotine. This is complicated by teens, who cannot tolerate as much nicotine, using Juuls to the point of illness. Use nicotine salt vapes responsibly, and this won't be an issue.
If you've heard about the recent and tragic string of deaths around vaping, know that this isn't an issue with nicotine salts. Those who have died have vaped liquids containing vitamin E acetate. This contaminant is toxic when inhaled.
When you buy e-liquid from a reputable company with rigorous testing, there won't be any vitamin E acetate present in your juice.
Vape On, Garth
Nicotine salt vapes represent a great, good value introduction to the world of vaping. If you're trying to quit cigarettes, then nicotine salts represent the best possible emulation of smoking, while cutting down your risk of cancer.
We'd recommend only buying your vape juices from reputable companies. We'd also recommend avoiding the Juul, and instead opting for another pod system.
Follow these rules, and you'll enjoy tasty, low-cost vapes for years to come! Want to learn more about vapes? Take a look at our health and fitness section!
