You’ve just bought your first proper vape to quit smoking. Three days in and it’s either not satisfying you, tasting burnt, or you’re coughing your guts up. You’re thinking, Maybe vaping just isn’t for me. New vapers typically mess up nicotine strength, don’t prime their coils properly, choose the wrong device type, and expect it to feel identical to smoking from day one. These aren’t complicated problems. You just need to know what you’re doing wrong so you can fix it.
Mistake 1: Getting the Nicotine Strength Wrong
This is the biggest mistake, and it kills more quit attempts than anything else. Most new vapers either go too low because they don’t want to seem “addicted,” or too high because they think more is better. Both are wrong.
- If you smoked 10+ cigarettes daily: Start with 20mg nicotine (that’s 2%, the UK legal maximum). Don’t go lower just because it sounds like a lot. You need proper strength to actually satisfy cravings.
- If you smoked 5-10 cigarettes daily: Try 10-12mg nicotine. This gives you enough without being overwhelming.
- If you smoked fewer than 5 daily: Start around 6mg and see how it feels.
Signs your nicotine is too low:
- Still desperately want cigarettes
- Vaping constantly, but never satisfied
- Headaches and irritability
- Thinking about smoking all day
Signs your nicotine is too high:
- Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- Nausea or stomach upset
- Racing heart
- Headaches (different from withdrawal headaches)
Get this wrong and vaping won’t work. Simple as that. Don’t be a hero, use the strength you actually need, not what sounds impressive.
Mistake 2: Not Priming Your Coils
This one catches everyone out and makes them think their device is broken. New coils are dry. The cotton inside needs to soak up e-liquid before you can vape it. If you don’t let this happen, you’ll burn the cotton instantly and it’ll taste like Satan’s arsehole for the rest of that coil’s (very short) life.
How to prime a coil properly:
- Install the new coil in your tank or pod
- Drop 3-4 drops of e-liquid directly onto the cotton through the holes
- Fill your tank/pod with e-liquid
- Wait 5-10 minutes (this is the bit people skip)
- Take a few gentle puffs without firing the device
- Start vaping at low power, gradually increase
That 5-10 minute wait is crucial. I know you’re gagging for a vape, but if you don’t wait, you’ll ruin the coil before you’ve even started.
Why this matters:
Burnt coils taste disgusting and can’t be fixed. You’ve just wasted £3-4 and you’re back at square one. Ten minutes of patience saves you money and disappointment. Set a timer if you need to. Do anything except fire up that vape before it’s ready.
Mistake 3: Chain Vaping Too Hard
You’re used to smoking, where each cigarette has a natural endpoint – it burns down, you’re done. Vapes don’t work like that. There’s no automatic stop. New vapers often hit their device constantly because they’re chasing that “finished a cigarette” feeling.
What happens when you chain vape:
- Coil doesn’t have time to re-saturate with liquid
- Cotton starts burning
- Device overheats
- You consume way more nicotine than intended
- The battery dies faster
- You feel sick
How to avoid it:
Take a few puffs when you need nicotine, then put the vape down. You don’t need to sit there puffing away for five minutes straight. Think of it like sipping water versus downing the entire bottle. Small, regular doses work better than marathon sessions. If you’re constantly reaching for your vape, your nicotine strength is probably too low. Bump it up, and you’ll need fewer puffs to feel satisfied.
Mistake 4: Choosing the Wrong Device Type
Walk into a vape shop as a new vaper and you’ll be confronted with hundreds of options. Most people just grab whatever looks cool or whatever the person behind the counter pushes.
For ex-smokers, you want:
- Pod systems – Small, simple, mouth-to-lung devices that feel like smoking. Brands like Caliburn, XROS, or Vaporesso work brilliantly.
- NOT sub-ohm tanks – These are for cloud chasers and hobbyists. They’re complicated, expensive, and nothing like smoking.
The draw (how tight or airy it feels) matters massively. Cigarettes have a tight draw – you have to pull quite hard. That’s called mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping. Sub-ohm devices have loose, airy draws. It’s direct-lung vaping – like taking a deep breath. Feels completely wrong if you’re used to smoking.
What to look for:
- Described as “MTL” or “mouth-to-lung”
- Uses high-resistance coils (1.0ohm or higher)
- Works with nic salts
- Small and pocket-sized
- Simple operation (few or no buttons)
If the person in the shop tries to sell you a massive box mod with a tank the size of a Red Bull can, walk out. They’re not listening to what you actually need.
Mistake 5: Not Staying Hydrated
Vaping dries your mouth out. Properly. This is because PG and VG (the base liquids in e-juice) pull moisture from your mouth and throat. When you’re dehydrated:
- Everything tastes weird or muted
- Your throat feels rough
- You get headaches
- Vaping becomes unpleasant
The fix is stupid simple: drink more water.
Aim for 2-3 litres daily if you’re vaping regularly. Keep a bottle with you. Take a swig between vaping sessions. Tea and coffee don’t count – they’re diuretics and actually dehydrate you more. Stick to plain water. This sounds basic, but half the people who complain about vaping tasting bad or feeling harsh are just dehydrated. Sort your water intake, and loads of problems disappear.
Mistake 6: Sticking with Flavours You Don’t Actually Like
Just because your mate loves strawberry ice doesn’t mean you will. Just because tobacco flavours seem like the “sensible” choice doesn’t mean they taste good. Loads of new vapers force themselves to vape flavours they don’t enjoy because they think they “should” like them. That’s mental.
Finding flavours you’ll actually vape:
Try small bottles first. Don’t commit to 100ml of something you’ve never tasted.
Flavour categories:
- Fruits – Fresh and light, good all-day options
- Menthol/mint – Refreshing, popular with ex-smokers
- Desserts – Sweet, rich, can be intense
- Tobacco – For people who actually like tobacco taste (not everyone does)
Most people who smoke don’t actually want tobacco-flavoured vapes. They associate the taste with stress and addiction. Fruit or menthol flavours feel more like a fresh start.
If you’re not enjoying what you’re vaping, you won’t stick with it. Find something that makes you actively want to vape instead of smoke.
Mistake 7: Ignoring Device Maintenance
Vapes need basic maintenance. Not loads, but some. Ignore it and your experience goes downhill fast.
Weekly maintenance checklist:
- Check your coil – If it’s dark brown or black, replace it. If it tastes burnt, replace it immediately.
- Clean the mouthpiece – Wipe it down, rinse with warm water. You’re putting this in your mouth constantly.
- Check for leaks – Tighten connections, wipe away any leaked liquid.
- Clean the contacts – Where the battery connects can get gunky. Quick wipe with tissue sorts it.
- Charge your battery properly – Don’t let it die completely every time. Charge when it hits 20-30%.
This takes maybe five minutes total per week. Skip it and you’ll be dealing with burnt hits, leaks, and dodgy battery life. Treat your vape like you’d treat your phone. Not precious, but not completely neglected either.
Mistake 8: Expecting It to Feel Exactly Like Smoking
This is more psychological, but it trips loads of people up. Vaping isn’t smoking. It’s similar, but not identical. The throat hit is different. The ritual is different. The sensation is different.
What’s different:
- Vapour feels lighter than smoke
- Nicotine absorption is slightly slower
- No harsh burning sensation
- Different hand-to-mouth motion
- You don’t get that “finished a cigarette” cut-off point
What’s the same:
- Nicotine delivery (if strength is right)
- Hand-to-mouth habit
- Something to do during breaks
- Social aspect
Give yourself 1-2 weeks to adjust. Your brain needs time to accept vaping as the new normal instead of constantly comparing it to smoking. Most people who stick it out for a fortnight never want to go back to cigarettes. But if you expect vaping to feel identical from puff one, you’ll be disappointed.
Mistake 9: Buying Cheap, Dodgy Kit
You don’t want to drop loads of money on something that might not work for you. But buying the absolute cheapest device from a random website or market stall is asking for trouble.
Problems with ultra-cheap devices:
- Inconsistent performance
- Break quickly
- Poor battery life
- Terrible flavour
- Sometimes actually dangerous
You don’t need to spend £100. But spend £20-35 on a decent starter kit from a reputable brand. It’ll work properly and last for months.
Brands worth trusting:
- Vaporesso
- Uwell
- Aspire
- VOOPOO
- Innokin
Buy from actual vape shops (online or physical) rather than random eBay sellers. You want something with a warranty and customer support. A £25 device that works is infinitely better than a £10 device that’s rubbish. Don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish.
Mistake 10: Giving Up Too Quickly
The biggest mistake is quitting vaping after three days because it’s “not working.”
Everything feels weird at first. The flavours seem strange. The throat hit is different. You’re not sure if it’s satisfying you properly.
Give it two full weeks minimum.
That’s how long your body needs to adjust from smoke to vapour. To retrain your habits. To figure out what works for you.
What to do in those first two weeks:
- Experiment with nicotine strengths if needed
- Try different flavours
- Adjust your vaping style (longer or shorter puffs)
- Stay properly hydrated
- Don’t beat yourself up if you have the odd cigarette
Most people who make it past day 14 successfully quit smoking. The ones who give up on day 3 usually end up smoking again. Push through the adjustment period. It gets easier, more natural, and more satisfying. You just need to give it a proper chance.
Last Words
Don’t expect perfection from day one. Don’t compare every puff to cigarettes. Don’t give up when something feels slightly off. Sort these mistakes out and vaping becomes easy, satisfying, and way cheaper than smoking. Ignore them and you’ll struggle unnecessarily. You’ve got this. Just avoid the cock-ups everyone else makes and you’ll be fine.
