Vaping has become an increasingly popular way for people to consume nicotine without the harmful effects of traditional cigarette smoking. However, there are still questions around the proper techniques for vaping, including how long you should wait between hits from your vape.
What is Vaping?
Vaping refers to the act of inhaling vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device. These devices heat up a liquid, commonly referred to as vape juice or e-liquid, turning it into an aerosol that the user inhales.
The vape juice typically contains nicotine, though nicotine-free options are available. It also contains vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, and flavorings. When heated, these components produce a vapor that delivers nicotine without burning tobacco like a traditional cigarette.
Why Wait Between Hits?
There are a few key reasons why it’s recommended to wait between vape hits:
- Prevents overheating – Taking too many hits in rapid succession can cause the coil and wick in your vape device to overheat. This can lead to dry hits which taste unpleasantly burnt.
- Allows wick saturation – After a hit, your vape’s wick needs time to re-saturate with e-liquid so you get optimal flavor and vapor production on the next hit.
- Avoids nicotine overload – Waiting between hits gives your body time to absorb the nicotine from each hit before inhaling more.
- Prevents flooding – Mindlessly chain vaping could flood your coil with too much e-liquid, leading to gurgling sounds, spitting, and reduced vapor.
So by taking short breaks between hits – usually waiting at least 20 to 30 seconds – you allow your vape gear to function properly and avoid an unpleasant vaping experience.
How Long Should You Wait?
There is no single rule for how long to wait between vape hits. It depends on factors like your device type, the power settings, your vaping style, and the e-liquid you’re using. However, here are some general guidelines:
For pod vapes:
- 30 seconds to 1 minute between hits
Pod vapes use simpler coil and wick systems optimized for nicotine salts. Taking too frequent hits can still flood the pod or lead to dry hits. 30 seconds allows the cotton wick to re-saturate.
For box mods/sub-ohm tanks:
- 45 seconds to 2 minutes between hits
Box mods with sub-ohm tanks require more time for the coil and wick to re-saturate and cool between hits. At higher power settings, flavors and vapor production diminish noticeably when vaping too frequently.
For RDA/RDTA rebuildable atomizers:
- 1 to 3 minutes between hits
Rebuildable dripping atomizers with exposed coils and wicks require extra time to re-saturate. Flavor and vapor production suffer severely if drippers are vaped continuously without allowing wicks to re-soak.
Other Factors to Consider
In addition to your device type, a few other variables impact how long to wait between hits:
- Vape juice PG/VG ratio – High VG juice is thicker, requiring more time to soak wicks between hits.
- E-liquid flavoring – Complex flavors with multiple flavor notes benefit more from allowing time to re-saturate.
- Power/temperature settings – Higher power and temp settings vaporize liquid faster, so allow more time between hits.
- Vaping habits – Long, slow draws vs. short, hard hits impact saturation needs.
Getting a feel for your particular device and vape style takes some experimentation. Pay attention to the taste and warmth of the vapor to find your optimal rhythm.
Signs You Need to Wait Longer Between Hits
Here are some signs it’s a good idea to increase the time between your vape hits:
- You get a burnt or dry taste – wick needs more time to re-saturate
- Vapor production decreases – coil/wick is oversaturated or overheated
- E-liquid popping or gurgling sounds – coil is flooded with too much juice
- The vape feels too hot – allowing time to cool prevents overheating damage
- Reduced flavor intensity – a saturated wick brings out complex flavors
- Nicotine effects feel overwhelming – spacing out hits better controls nic absorption
Tips for Optimizing Your Wait Time
Here are some tips to help you nail down the ideal waiting time between vape hits for your needs:
- Start on the longer end of the recommended duration for your device and adjust down if needed.
- Take longer waits if you notice any burnt taste or diminished vapor production.
- Try varying your wait time to compare flavor, vapor quality, and device temperature.
- Let juice soak wicks fully after filling/refilling your tank or dripper.
- Stay hydrated when vaping to keep wicks saturated and throat/mouth moist.
- Use lower power/temp settings if your device doesn’t tolerate frequent hits.
- Consider switching to a lower PG ratio juice if wicks seem to dry out too rapidly.
With experience, you’ll learn the ideal vaping cadence for your equipment and preferences. Don’t be afraid to experiment until you find your vape’s – and your body’s – sweet spot.
Conclusion
Finding the right duration between vape hits comes down to a few key factors: allowing your wick time to re-saturate, preventing overheating of coils, avoiding nicotine overdose, and producing optimal flavor. Recommended wait times range from 30 seconds on simple pod vapes to 1 to 3 minutes for rebuildable atomizers.
Pay attention to dry/burnt hits, vapor reduction, and unsaturated flavors as signs you need more time between hits. Vary wait times until you find the ideal rhythm for your device, vape style, and preferences. With a little tinkering, you’ll discover the perfect interval between puffs to maximize enjoyment of your vape.