Walk into any vape shop and you will see two kinds of e-liquid on the shelf: nic salts and freebase. Neither is better or worse, they just suit different setups and different vapers. Here is how to tell which one is for you, in plain terms.
Freebase is the original. The nicotine has a bit of a kick to it at the back of the throat, which plenty of people actually enjoy, and it tends to come in lower strengths like 3mg, 6mg and 12mg. It shines in bigger, more powerful kits, the sort with a tank that makes plenty of vapour, and the flavour really opens up. If you like a lungful of cloud and a proper throat hit, freebase is your friend.
Nic salts are the smoother, more modern option. The nicotine is in a form that goes down easy even at higher strengths, so 10mg and 20mg salts feel gentle rather than harsh. They give you a quicker nicotine lift too, which is why they suit small pod kits and anyone who has just come off cigarettes or disposables. Less cloud, less faff, more of a discreet draw.
The simplest way to choose is by your device. A small pod kit with a tight, cigarette-like draw wants nic salts. A bigger sub-ohm kit that pumps out vapour wants freebase. Put salts in a high-powered tank and the nicotine becomes overwhelming. Put low-strength freebase in a tiny pod and you may not feel enough.
If you are switching from smoking, most people get on best starting with a 20mg nic salt in a pod kit, then easing the strength down over time. But there is no need to guess. Tell us what you are using and how much you smoked, and we will point you to the right one.
