Step Into the Vape Shop: What to Expect on Your First Visit

In this exclusive guide to visiting vape shops you will find the basics you need to know when starting your journey and things to look out for on your first visit.

Any keen vape enthusiast will know that when you visit a new store or in particular, vape shop, you’re not sure what to expect on your first visit. We have put together this inclusive guide so you can understand what to expect on your first visit to a professional vaping establishment.

Vape shops aren't a scary place. The staff will take a keen interest in your daily habits to help suggest a suitable device or e-liquid you might enjoy. You may be asked a lot of questions that may feel intrusive, but these are simply to try and gain a better understanding of the way you like to vape/smoke or the style that suits you the most. In a market saturated with alternatives, this can be quite confusing. This is where a helpful, local, and friendly vape shop can offer you their expertise and experience to suggest the perfect vape for you!

A Transformation of Vape Shop Practices

Since the beginning of the vaping industry, you were able to buy e-liquids in many forms and in absolutely any strength imaginable. Around 2016, the TPD (Tobacco Product Directive) swooped in and brought heavy regulations for the manufacturing of e-liquid and vaping devices in the UK, in an effort to maintain good practices in the vaping industry and permanently change the way that vape shops operate and their responsibilities to their consumers. This move towards TPD compliance affected the industry positively, offering additional safety to the end-user. One example is that vape shops can now only offer you a bottle containing nicotine in a maximum capacity of 10ml. This was also to avoid any potential risks to minors who may get hold of such items.

First Time at a Vape Shop: What to Expect

When visiting a vape shop for the first time, you can expect to be greeted in a relaxed and friendly environment. The general layout varies depending on the vape shops you visit and their individual style or layout. You will notice a plethora of vaping kits ranging from £10 to vaping devices in the £100s or even £1000s, depending on what they have to offer. However, please remember that you never have to spend more than is necessary, and a vape shop worth its salt will always sell you what you need, rarely opting for what is the most expensive.

Vast Selection

You will notice that in most vape shops, the shelves will be overflowing with different flavours, colours, and varieties for you to choose from. Some shops may offer you an opportunity to sample them before you buy, but not on every occasion. You may also notice several different shelves with different sizes of bottles available, and from our experience, this means that particular e-liquids are specifically formulated for the type of device you are using. Within a new environment and not knowing where to look or what to choose from, you can ask the helpful staff to guide you through their selection.

Vape shops will frequently offer the entire range of 50/50 and 70/30 e-liquids in 10ml, 30ml, 50ml, 80ml, 100ml, 200ml + to suit your specific budget, device, and flavour profile you’re looking for. The devices available can vary from one shop to the next, but they will generally stock a selection of MTL (mouth to lung) and DTL (Direct to Lung) devices for you to choose from.

Terminology

You may hear such terms as 50/50, 70/30, MTL, DTL. We agree, they sound crazy at first, but don’t worry! We’re going to explain them for you.

Depending on the vaping styles that suit you best throughout your vaping journey, you will encounter several different terms used. Here’s a guide to give you a better understanding of what they all mean:

Mouth to lung (MTL) devices will offer a much tighter draw, similar to how a traditional cigarette would be smoked (mouth is filled with vapour and then inhaled to lungs), and also a similar throat hit as the one given by a traditional cigarette. If you are new to vaping, this would be the general recommendation from most vape stores to start with. Another point to add is that when choosing an e-liquid strength, you should try to mimic a similar dose depending on the number of cigarettes you are currently smoking to drive away those niggling cravings!

Direct to lung (DTL) devices will offer a less restrictive air flow and provide you with large, dense cloud production. These types of devices will also offer an intense flavour production when used correctly. The ideal way to use a DTL device is to inhale the vapour straight to your lungs, bypassing the need to inhale into the mouth and breath to your lungs. This style of vaping is generally for advanced or enthusiast vapers.

PG and VG, Propylene Glycol and Vegetable Glycerine, are the two main components inside every e-liquid. Your bottle of e-liquid will also contain flavour concentrates and nicotine. Propylene Glycol carries the flavour and also provides the “throat hit” that you feel when vaping, whilst the Vegetable Glycerine provides the density of the cloud and adds a subtle sweetness to the e-liquid. Combining the two chemicals in different ways when tailoring your vaping experience will provide very different results. 100% Vegetable glycerine will offer the dense cloud but may lack in flavour production. Using 100% Propylene Glycol will deliver an overly harsh throat hit.

50/50 e-liquid is a term used to determine the viscosity (thickness) of the liquid in your bottle of juice. A 50/50 liquid will generally be used for the MTL devices to provide you with good flavour profile and light vapour with an additional throat hit.

70/30 e-liquid is a thicker formula, specifically designed for a 'cloud chaser' vaping style and provides a thick cloud, smooth throat, and good flavour delivery.

Advanced Vaping Styles Explained

You may hear other more experienced vapers using terms such as RDA and RTA. Advanced vaping is popular with long-term vapers who may wish to take their vaping experience to the next level. In this fashion, the individual can build their very own coils and tailor them to provide much larger clouds than traditional vaping kits. The combination of different resistance wires, such as Kanthal and Stainless Steel, will offer intense flavour production with certain e-liquids.
These styles of vaping are generally for vaping enthusiasts and are not recommended for complete beginners.

Our Final Words

We hope this informal guide to your first vape shop visit helps clear up some questions or queries as visiting a vape shop can be a intimidating experience for a new vape user. 

If you have any more questions or queries don't hesitate to contact or visit us in store and we will be more than happy to help. Feel free to submit your questions to info@rhythmnvape.co.uk