A Field Guide to Vape Accessories

One of the biggest advantages of vaping is that you can customize your overall experience. 
By using different vape devices, incorporating vape accessories, and experimenting with the many flavors of vape juice out there, you can tailor your vape experience to suit your unique preferences. 
Many new vapers are former cigarette smokers, so this very concept may be unexpected. After all, with smoking cigarettes, the experience is pretty much always the same: light up, inhale and exhale, discard. 
Vaping allows for a whole lot more personalization. For one thing, you have the ability to choose from a variety of devices, from low wattage devices that feel more like cigarettes to impressive custom-built RDAs for professional cloud chasers. 
You also have a ton of flavor variety when it comes to vape juice options. Sure, you can stick with a tobacco flavor if you want a familiar, cigarette-like sensation and taste. But you can also sample a huge variety of creative flavors, from cotton candy to blueberry banana muffin to pound cake and candy-inspired varieties! The flavor variations are seemingly endless.
Vape accessories are another huge way to personalize your device and experience, and that’s what we’re focusing on in this post. 
Curious to explore some of the most common vape accessories? This post will introduce you to some of the most popular and common vape accessories with an explanation of what they are, how they’re used, and other vital information that can help you decide which ones are right for you! 
From batteries to wicks and coil and batteries and beyond, here’s your field guide to vape accessories.

Important: Always Choose Compatible Accessories
Browsing vape accessories can feel like being a kid in a candy shop...there so many enticing options to choose from! 
But before we dig in, an important note: always make sure that the accessories you choose are compatible with your device! 
Different devices will have different specifications, so it’s important to make sure that you choose accessories that are approved for use with your device. 
For example, that cool 810 drip tip you picked out won’t be a whole lot of fun if your device is 510-compatible. 
A little research can help reduce the chances of choosing the wrong accessories.
Be sure to read the description or instructions that come with your vape device, as they will often include information about things like compatible chargers, battery types, and more. Don’t delay your vaping pleasure by choosing the wrong accessories! 

A Field Guide to Vape Accessories
Not sure where to get started? No worries, we’re here to help. Here are some of our most common categories for accessories, with an explanation of each one. Read through to determine which accessories might be right for you and to learn some important tips for choosing the most appropriate item. 

Batteries
Batteries are a necessary accessory for vaping. Like just about any other hand-held device, from your remote control to your cell phone, you need to have ample charge to fire up your device. 
Without batteries, the heat reaction that vaporizes your vape juice simply can’t happen. It’s lights out, and nobody wants that! 
Most vape batteries will be rechargeable, and many can actually be charged via USB. So the good news is that while you’ll need to make sure you always have a battery, it isn’t something you’ll need to be replacing every few days. But eventually, it will be necessary.
Over time, everyday wear and tear and use plus daily charging can take their toll on the battery. 
So when is it time to replace your battery? There are a few telltale signs. 
For example, if you’ve started to notice that your vape device isn’t holding a charge for as long or just seems to be losing its strength overall, it may be time to replace the battery. 
Some devices will come with a battery included, but many will not. However, the manufacturer will always include instructions for suggested battery types. Be sure to buy an appropriate and/or suggested battery for your device.
Choosing the right battery is important for your safety and enjoyment as a vaper. The wrong battery could overheat your device, which could result in discomfort or even potential injury. So it’s very important to make sure that you choose a replacement battery that is compatible with your device. 
Always buy batteries from a trusted source, and always buy a high quality battery. Cheaper is not always better!

Cartridges / Pods
Many vapers love ultra-portable pod vape systems. Not only are they small, discreet, and easy to travel with, but they’re simple and convenient to refill with pods. No fuss, no mess, and extremely easy! 
Additionally, they can ease the transition from smoking cigarettes. For former cigarette smokers, pod devices are often a great starting point for vaping because they feel physically similar to the sensation of holding and smoking a cigarette.
The slim and usually cylindrical shape will feel familiar, which can help ease the transition from cigarettes to vaping.
After all, nicotine and tobacco aren’t the only things that keep smokers coming back. They also get into the physical habit of smoking, and come to appreciate the break it gives them.
The hand-to-mouth motion and short breaks associated with smoking aren’t necessarily bad things...so the ability to maintain these while changing the substance you’re inhaling and exhaling can with the transition. 
Additionally, these devices tend to be lower wattage, which means that they are well-suited to vape juices containing nicotine salts. 
These juices are often favored by former smokers over traditional nicotine vape juices because of their ability to deliver a satisfying nicotine punch without a harsh throat hit. 

What Are Nicotine Salts? 
In case you’re not sure what nicotine salts are, let’s briefly discuss.
There’s no actual salt in nicotine salts. Rather, they are the result of a chemical reaction.
With nicotine salts (also called “nic salts” or just “salts”), you start with unadulterated nicotine, plain and simple. This is what you’d find in a tobacco leaf. It’s pure, it’s the good stuff...but it’s not quite appropriate for vaping just yet.
In its unadulterated state, the amount of heat the nicotine would require to be effective would be prohibitive to pleasurable vaping. That is to say––you’d singe your lips! No fun.
Added to that, even at fairly high temperatures the nicotine wouldn’t be as quickly absorbed into the body.
The solution? Add a little benzoic acid to the mix. This helps to lower the pH level of the nicotine, bringing down the overall levels of alkalinity.
Don’t know what that means? Don’t worry, you don’t have to understand the whole chemical reaction. Ultimately, what this lowered pH level does is reduce the harshness of the throat hit when you vape. 
This is desirable because it maximizes the sensation you’re looking for in terms of nicotine hit but it won’t cause you discomfort. 
Traditional nicotine can be harsh. Nicotine can be hard on the throat, especially in higher quantities. The problem is that for new vapers, a higher level of nicotine may be necessary to help with easing the transition process. However, a scratchy painful throat isn’t awesome...so many vapers might reduce the amount of nicotine in the name of saving their throat. 
The smoother experience that comes with nicotine salts means that it’s OK to vape with a higher concentration of nicotine...and not have to worry that you’ll have a sore throat. 

Cartridges and Pods of All Types
We believe that nicotine salts and pod vape systems are like a match made in heaven. If you think so, too, you’ll definitely want a steady supply of replacement cartridges or pods...happily, we’ve got all the best ones!

Chargers
You know that sensation when your phone battery’s at 2% and you don’t have a charger? Yeah, it makes you feel helpless.
Realizing that your vape device is nearly out of battery power feels the same. Here you are, ready to enjoy a few puffs, only to realize you’re out of battery! 
Don’t fall into this sad trap...always have a charger on hand to make sure you can vape to your heart’s delight! 
But what kind of charger do you need?
No doubt about it, today’s vape devices are tech-savvy. These days, many of the modern vape devices can charge via USB, even if they have removable batteries. This is super handy because it means you can charge right from your laptop or in your car if you have an adapter.

However, many vapers also choose to invest in an external charger, too. Why? Here are some reasons: 

§Safety concerns: It’s possible that you or someone else could accidentally fire up your device while it charges on a USB since the battery is still inside. If you’re not able to monitor or don’t feel like monitoring your device while it charges, an external charger can let you charge and also give you peace of mind.

§Convenience: You don’t always have access to a USB. External chargers allow you to charge your device during these times.

§Variety: There are a variety of different types of chargers out there. Some come with a plug so that you can plug it into an outlet; usually when you’re out and about, outlets are easier to come by than USB connections. 

§Monitor your batteries: An external charger lets you easily keep an eye on your battery’s health. With a good standalone battery charger, you can monitor the health of your cells independently and get an idea of when it'll be time to replace them. 

§Current options: Vape battery chargers are a little more advanced than some other more basic chargers.

For example, many battery chargers also allow you to select your charging current. Use a low current to maximize the life of your batteries, or use a high current to charge your batteries more quickly. You can't do that with USB charging! 
Once again, a charger isn’t something that you should pick up from just anywhere, and you shouldn’t just go with the cheapest one. Lesser brands could potentially compromise your battery life.

Coils
Most vape devices will come with a built-in coil, but at a certain point you may need to replace it. Don’t get scared: it’s not as complicated as it sounds. 
But to really understand coils, you’ll need to have some basic understanding about a few other parts of a vape device’s anatomy: the tank and the atomizer. Let’s start with the vape tank. 

Vape Tank 
A vape tank is like the gas tank in your car. It’s the vessel that holds the vital, all-important fuel that helps the car go! With vaping, however, that tank doesn’t hold gasoline––it holds vape juice.  
Vape juice is necessary to vape, but it needs to be stored somewhere; the vape tank is where it hangs out until it’s heated into vapor by the atomizer. 
There are a variety of different types of vape tanks (and atomizers, as we’ll discuss in a moment)––for a comprehensive overview, visit this post.

Atomizer
Working hand in hand with the vape tank? The atomizer. The term atomizer might sound like some kind of term from high school science, but it’s really not all that confusing. The atomizer is the part of your vape device that transforms the vape juice into vapor. 
The atomizer is connected directly to the battery. For this reason, it’s super important that you not let your vape device overheat, because it can compromise how effective the atomizer is. 
Nobody wants that! 
Inside of the atomizer, you’ll find a coil. This is the mechanism that handles heating up the juice, allowing it to turn into vapor. And we all know that the vapor is what you’re after: this is what’s so fun to inhale and exhale into awesome, amazing clouds! 
Atomizers will range in size, and will typically fall somewhere between 23 and 25 millimeters wide. Larger versions are available, but these are mostly going to be suited to more experienced vapers. 
The atomizer also needs to work in tandem with the size of the airflow holes on your device. Larger airflow holes will give you a bigger airflow, resulting in bigger clouds. However, this could be to the detriment of the flavor. 
Smaller airflow holes can maximize flavor, but can reduce cloud production. But if you’re interested in clouds...that’s a whole different post!
Check out this post for tips on how to maximize your cloud production. But remember, there’s no right or wrong: it’s all about your preference. 

Coils
All right...now that you understand the vape tank and atomizer, let’s go back to the coil.
The coil is what activates your atomizer...so it’s important to have a good working one in your device.
Many vape devices will come with a built-in coil. This isn’t necessarily the case with RBAs (Rebuildables), where you’ll need to wrap your own coils...we’ll address that below, with “wicks and wires.” 
In terms of choosing a great coil, we suggest that beginners stick with the “big five” in terms of materials: 
§Stainless steel
§Nickel
§Titanium
§Kanthal
§Nichrome
But regardless of what material you choose, eventually, coils can wear out. 
How can you know if it’s time to replace? There are a few telltale signs. 
For example, if you’re starting to notice that you’re not pulling as much vapor as you used to...or if you’re detecting a burnt flavor or sensation in your vape...it may be time for a new coil. 
In many cases, buying a new coil is as easy as finding a model that is suited to your device. Most coils will mention devices sizes that they are compatible with, and it’s worth consulting the instruction manual that came with your vape device to see if there’s any suggestion for what type of coil to use.
After all...there are a variety of different types of coils out there, and it’s kind of easy to get confused by all of them! 
Aside from vape juice, your coil might be one of the most important elements to helping you vape most effectively. That’s why it’s important to have a replacement coil or two on hand, because you don’t want to be surprised or suffer poor performance! 
Depending on your vape juice preferences and personal vaping style, you may need a replacement coil for your tank as infrequently as once every few weeks or as often as once every day or two. 

Wicks and Wires 
Wicks and wires...yep, these are a few more accessories that are going to prove super handy for vapers.
These days, with the rising popularity of highly personalized mods, more and more vapers are opting to build their own atomizer coils instead of using tanks that come with pre-made coil heads. 
We’ve got a great selection of wire gauges. If you’ve already been building your own coils, then you already know that there are plenty of benefits, including increasing your device’s vapor production...which can reduce overall costs! 
If desired, you can even build a new coil every single day for just a few cents per coil to maximize your vape performance. However, to do that will require cotton (or “wick”). 
The wick of the coil is what soaks up the vape juice, allowing it to be vaporized. There are different materials for wicks, but generally your decision will be based on how often you anticipate adding vape juice to your device, and how thick and full you want to the flavor to be. 
For beginners, the best material is often cotton. This is for a few reasons, including:  
§Easy to find. Cotton is readily available at just about any online vape shop, or in person at stores. 
§Affordable. Cotton wicking is inexpensive, and costs can add up quickly when you’re vaping frequently. This is a benefit!
§Effective. Cotton is super absorbent, meaning it will soak up a ton of flavor. This gives you the best guarantee of a strong, consistent, full-bodied flavor. 
Cotton wicks aren’t the only option, of course. As you advance in your vape journey, you can explore other materials like silica wick or stainless steel mesh.
If you’re new to vaping and don’t know which atomizer or coil is right for you, don’t hesitate to ask! You can reach out to us any time for advice.  

Drip Tips 
Drip tips are an awesome, easy, and inexpensive way to further personalize your vape experience. 
In spite of the funny-sounding name, the drip tip has nothing to do with a leaky vape device. A drip tip is a mega-popular vape accessory, and one that can be used with all sorts of different devices, including Tanks, RDAs, RBAs, RTAs, and RDTAs.
If you’ve been vaping for a little while, you’ve probably already gotten a little bit of experience and you’re probably already familiar with cartridges and cartomizers ...but if you want to take things a step further, a drip tip might be the right path for you. 
A drip tip allows you an alternative to the more common cartridges or cartomizers in most vape devices. 
In terms of its physical appearance, a drip tip is a small, hollowed-out mouthpiece...not unlike the mouthpiece for an instrument, but far more stylized. But rest assured... you're definitely not going to be playing scales on this thing!  
When you use drip tip, you can avoid having to remove pieces of your device when you need to refill vape juice. The drip tip screws right on to the atomizer, letting you drip the liquid directly. This means you can feed your atomizer without needing to remove any pieces first. 
Not only is a drip tip handy, but they’re pretty stylish looking. They’re typically pretty inexpensive, too, so they’re an easy addition to your repertoire. If you’re vaping on the go, it can help keep things simple without sacrificing style. 

How Does Dripping Work? 
When you use a drip tip, what you’re doing is called “dripping.” This involves pouring the juice directly onto the device’s atomizer via the drip tip. 
The drip tip makes direct contact with the atomizer. This means that the vape juice flows right through, is heated super-fast thanks to its close proximity to the coil, and it offers a strong, consistent hit of vapor. 
For some new drippers, there will be a bit of a learning curve. It can be a little tricky at first, because you’ll need to get used to figuring out how much juice to add via this new method. 
Yeah, there might be a little trial and error and you might add too much and have an overflow...or you might let the wick get too dry by accident and get a little bit of a burnt aftertaste. But rest assured––you’re going to get used to it after just a few tries. 
With drip tips, size will matter, too. A larger opening on a drip tip will give you more vapor, because it’s got incredible airflow. But it can also reduce the intensity of the flavor. A smaller opening doesn’t give you as much vapor, but the flavor is a lot more concentrated. 

Drip Tip Advice
Here’s an important tip: always double check that the size of your drip tip is compatible with your vape device. Realizing that the tip won’t screw in because it’s sized for a different device? Huge bummer. 
Be sure to read the fine print in the product listing, and double check the sizing appropriate for your specific device. 

Replacement Glass
These days, most vape tanks are made with borosilicate glass enclosures. In case you're not in the know,  borosilicate glass is something like Pyrex bakeware...it’s very resistant to heat and shock, but at just the right angle, it still is breakable.
Accidents happen, so it’s not a bad idea to have a replacement glass enclosure on hand, especially if you only have one tank. If that baby breaks, you won’t be able to vape until you get a new piece! 

Always Buy From a Reputable Source 
You wouldn’t just buy any old vape device. You’d spend the time to research what type of device is best suited to your preferences, look at reviews online, and make sure that it will do what you need.
The same diligence is also necessary when choosing vape accessories.
To ensure that your vape device and vape accessories are high quality, safe, and won’t cause unforeseen reactions, it’s important to buy from a reputable source.

Vape Accessories: The Final Word
Vape accessories can help enhance your vape experience and make your life easier.
We want you to have the best vape experience possible, and to help realize that goal we take the time to source the highest quality and most trusted brands in our store! Check us out for all of your vape accessory needs.