VG or PG? Let’s Take a Closer Look
VG or PG? If you’re someone who vapes, chances are you’ll have come across 70/30 and 50/50 e-liquids. But what are these different types of e-liquid ratios and how do they differ?
Well, these ratios refer to the ingredients in your e-liquid, and some types of liquid work better with some devices. Theoretically, you can use any liquid with any vape kit, but for optimum performance, maximum taste and to avoid leakage you’ll want to use the right vape juice with your device.
To help clear up any confusion and ensure you’re using the correct vape juice, here are the different types of e-liquid, along with some helpful info on the devices they work best with.
What is VG and PG?
Let’s start off by looking at the two most common ingredients in e-liquid: vegetable glycerin (VG) and propylene glycol (PG).
VG is a clear, viscous liquid that’s typically made from palm, soybean or coconut oils. This product is used as a thickening agent and is responsible for those thick plumes of vapour you get when you vape.
PG is also a colorless, odourless liquid that has a slightly sweet taste. Used in a wide range of everyday products, you’ll find propylene glycol in many food items, cosmetics and medicines. It’s also used in e-liquid due to its emulsifying effects as it helps to keep the ingredients mixed together.
When producing e-liquids, manufacturers use different PG:VG ratios to achieve various levels of thickness. This is done because some devices work best with the thinner consistency of PG, while others are better-suited to the more viscous VG.
What’s the difference between VG and PG e-liquid?
When manufacturers use higher levels of VG (70/30 e-liquids) in their products, it’s to create the thicker plumes of vapour cloud-chasers crave. It’s also smoother than PG, which is important because if it wasn’t then the large quantity of vapour it delivers would make the throat hit too much to handle.
50/50 e-liquids contain 50% PG and 50% VG. These vape juices contain just enough PG to provide a decent throat hit, which is great for beginners looking for something that can replicate smoking. The thinner consistency also means this e-liquid vaporises at lower temperatures, ensuring it strikes a fine balance between flavour and cloud production.
Which devices work best with 50/50?
As mentioned already, PG has a thinner consistency than VG, meaning it requires less power to vaporise. This makes 50/50 e-liquids ideal for plus-ohm devices with coils that have a resistance of above 1-ohm.
When used with a plus-ohm device, the high resistance of the coil prevents it from getting too hot, meaning the thinner PG is vaporised correctly. Using a higher percentage of PG with sub-ohm kits could also result in your e-liquid leaking and your coils burning out faster. The throat hit would also be way too intense.
If you’re just starting out, chances are you’ll be purchasing a plus-ohm kit. Starter kits, which are designed for those who are new to vaping, all come with plus-ohm coils, so if you pick up one of those then it’s the 50/50 e-liquid you should go for. Innokin make some really great starter kits.
Which devices work best with 70/30?
With its more viscous consistency, VG is better suited to sub-ohm devices. That’s because the lower resistance of the coils allows more power to pass through them, ensuring the thicker liquid is properly vaporised.
Sub-ohm vaping is great for those looking for maximum vapour, and while drop for drop the flavour produced by VG isn’t as intense as PG, the sheer amount of vapour you get with a sub-ohm device more than makes up for it.
Many types of pod kits and mod devices use sub-ohm coils, and we also have a range of advanced kits, many of which work great with 70/30 e-liquid. With that said, although most of our advanced devices are sub-ohm, some of them are hybrids which allow you to use both sub-ohm and plus-ohm coils. With that in mind, for an optimum vaping experience always make sure you’re using the correct coil.
Hopefully you now have a good idea about the different types of e-liquid and which devices they should be paired with. If you’re still unsure about anything then take a look at our e-liquid guide which should have all the info you need.
Alternatively, if you’re a beginner and you’d like some basic info on best practice, check out our Getting Started guide which should ensure a smooth transition to the wonderful world of vaping!