I’ve been intrigued about nicotine pouches for a while, especially after reading that one in five professional footballers use them.
For a bit of background, I’ve been using nicotine for years - starting as a casual smoker and eventually transitioning to vaping. However, my body has adapted to nicotine and while I still enjoy vaping, I really miss the strong nicotine rush I used to get.
So when I was asked if I wanted to try nicotine pouches for a week, I jumped at the chance, especially after hearing that some colleagues experienced a really strong hit from pouches.
Fair to say, the results were quite surprising - in both good and bad ways. But let’s start at the beginning…
Choosing a nicotine strength
I usually vape e-liquids with nicotine strengths between 10mg and 20mg. However, a couple of colleagues warned me that matching the nicotine strength of pouches to that of e-liquids can result in a very strong nicotine rush. They vape 18mg e-liquids and chose 18mg pouches, which they found too intense. So, I decided to start with a 10mg pack of Elux Fresh Mint.
Opening the product for the first time
First, I did find opening the case a little fiddly - you have to rip the label off and then half twist the case. I’m guessing that’s no bad thing as it does make the case more child-resistant.
When I opened the case, a strong minty smell immediately hit my nose. I was also surprised at the size of the pouches - they were a lot bigger than I was expecting!
I looked for instructions, but I couldn’t see any clear details on how to use nic pouches. However, after looking at instructions online and speaking to colleagues, I took a deep breath and tucked it between my lip and my gum.
What it felt like the first time
The first time I put the nicotine pouch in my mouth, it stung and made my mouth and lips tingle. In fact, I was very tempted to take it straight back out, but the effect started to subside after two minutes, and was completely gone after ten. (There is a caveat to the stinging sensation - see the notes below about the experience different brands give you.)
I didn’t feel anything else for about five minutes, after which I started to notice the impact of the nicotine. What’s surprising is that I also noticed the same type of throat hit I get from vaping, despite some guides online saying it won’t give you a throat hit - although that could just be me!
Another thing I found initially was that when I was speaking with the nicotine pouch in, it became really noticeable, and I had to adjust its position in my mouth. However, after a week, I’d become completely used to this. I also noticed that while some advice online says to place the pouch between your top lip and gum, I found it more comfortable to put it between my lower lip and gum.
What the nicotine hit was like
From the start, and in contrast to my colleagues, I didn’t get a really strong nicotine rush from the pouch. Initially, I put it down to using a weaker strength, but even after increasing to 18mg/per pouch, I didn’t get a massive hit. Obviously, this varies from person to person. However, I did notice that after around 10 minutes I felt alert but relaxed.
What I did find was that the sensation of the nicotine was continuous, compared to the shorter hit you get from a vape or a cigarette. On most occasions, I kept the pouch in my mouth for about 30 minutes, and noticed the sensation stayed with me for about fifteen minutes afterwards.
On a positive note, it completely assuaged my nicotine cravings, and I didn’t feel the need to reach for my vape once while I was using it.
Switching brands
For the stronger version, I used the Airplane Mode 18mg Rose Grape, and in contrast to the Elux version, I found this didn’t sting or create a tingling sensation - in fact, it was a better experience all around.
Usefulness
For me, nicotine pouches’ key utility is their absolute discretion. Sometimes I could feel the pouch in my mouth when I was talking, but when I checked neither my friends nor my colleagues had noticed them.
I found them particularly useful when I played bingo. You’re not allowed to vape (or, obviously, smoke) in the bingo hall, and I didn’t fancy leaving the building to go to the smoking shelter, so I popped in a nicotine pouch instead.
The other situation I found them useful is when using nicotine around my children. I try to be discreet about my nicotine use around my kids, which can be tricky when I want a quick vape. I find this particularly hard with longer car journeys, and nic pouches turned out to be the perfect answer for this scenario.
I also think these would be very useful for people who have to work for long periods of time before they can take a break to vape. (I work for a vape company so that’s not a problem for me!)
One situation when I think it would be harder to use them is when at a bar or restaurant, as you shouldn't use them when eating or drinking.
Value for money
A pack of 20 nicotine pouches costs around £3.99. I think long term they would work out as more expensive than vaping a refillable, rechargeable device. However, they would be far cheaper than using disposable vapes or cigarettes. Overall, I think they are good value if used in conjunction with vaping for those times when it’s inconvenient (or impossible) to vape.
Final thoughts
It surprised me how effective pouches turned out to be. That’s mainly because I thought my craving for nicotine was habitual - enjoying the act of vaping itself. However, when using a pouch, I didn’t feel the need or habit to reach for my vape at all.
I also find that because they are so discreet, they help you successfully navigate a range of situations in which it wouldn’t be appropriate to vape.
If I could only pick one form of nicotine use, it would be vaping. I find vaping to be more enjoyable, and the physical stimulation to be relaxing. Ideally, though, I would use a combination of vaping when able to and pouches for those situations that vaping was not allowed.