Vape Coils

There are three main components in a vape kit that enable you to vape. The tank which holds e-liquid, a battery which provides power, and a coil (also known as an atomiser).

The coil is situated inside your vape tank, and will usually consist of a coiled piece of wire (hence the name) which is wrapped in a wicking material like cotton. The wick soaks up the e-liquid in the tank, and when powered, the coil heats up and turns it into vapour which you then inhale.

Ohms are the measurement of resistance in metal. With vape coils it is an indication of how much vapour your coil will produce. Coils with a high resistance (above 1.0 Ohm) produce less vapour and require less power. Coils with a resistance below 1.0 Ohm are known as sub ohm coils - they require more power but produce a larger amount of vapour.

When it comes to picking your coil resistance, you should always consider what sort of vape you want to experience. Coils can be split into two main groups based on their resistance. These are:

Mouth to Lung Vape Coils

Mouth To Lung coils (or MTL coils) will have a higher resistance (above 1.0 Ohm). They produce a small amount of vapour which supports a mouth to lung vaping style. MTL coils should be used with a high PG or 50/50 e-liquid.

Sub Ohm Vape Coils

Sub ohm coils will have a low resistance (below 1.0 Ohm) and will create large amounts of vapour to support a direct to lung vaping style. Sub ohm coils should be used with a high VG e-liquid, for example 70% VG.

Aside from different resistances, there are also differences in coils based on their structure, materials used, and the tanks they're intended to be used with.

What Are Ceramic Coils?

Ceramic vape coils, like all coils, use a metal heating element. However, where they differ from standard vape coils is the wicking material. Instead of simple cotton wicks they use a porous ceramic material, or in some cases a combination of ceramic and cotton.The benefits of ceramic coils include a reduced risk of spitback, improved flavour from e-liquid, faster heating at lower wattages and a longer lifespan overall. Leading vape brands like Smok and Vaporesso produce some of the most popular ceramic coils.

What Are Mesh Coils?

Mesh vape coils became very popular very quickly. Rather than using a wound piece of wire like standard coils, they instead feature a curved mesh net. This net has a larger surface area enabling it to heat more e-liquid at a faster rate resulting in a boost in both flavour and vapour production. Also, the net design of mesh coils stops the occurrence of hot spots and results in a longer-lasting coil. You'll find sub ohm mesh coils for greater vapour production as well as mouth to lung mesh coils for enhanced flavour creation.

What Are Temperature Control Coils?

Temperature Control mode is found on advanced kits. This mode lets you set the max temperature your coils will reach and your device will alter the wattage output accordingly as you vape. This helps to ensure you do not overheat your coil and burn it, as well as avoiding dry hits. These kits require special temperature control coils which use materials such as Stainless Steel or Nickel for the wire.

What Are Rebuildable Vape Coils?

Created solely for use with rebuildable atomisers such as RDAs and RTAs, rebuildable coils are available in different resistances to support either mouth to lung or sub ohm vaping. A wide range of premade coils are available that can be installed directly into a device without having to be first measured and wrapped. If you're using rebuildable vape coils you'll also need special cotton that can be used as a wick. This vape cotton can be found in reels and pre-cut for quick set-up.

All coils will eventually need to be changed, generally once a week. You'll know when it's time to change your coil when the taste of your e-liquid starts to deteriorate or you notice a drop in vapour production. If you're looking for a longer-lasting coil, we recommend trying a mesh coil or a ceramic coil.

What Coil Do I Need?

As a general rule, each manufacturer will create specific coils for specific kits, so if you're using an Aspire vape kit then you will also need the Aspire coils to fit that kit. However, they will often produce a range of different resistances and coil types for you to choose from, depending on what your preferences are - for example, different resistances (MTL or sub ohm). Some manufacturers do make cross compatible models. For example a number of Innokin Coils can be used with several different Innokin vape kits.

There are plenty of coils to choose from and picking the right one can make a huge difference. The best thing to do is learn a bit more, a great place to start is our beginner’s guide to coils. It contains everything you need to know about coils. If you're looking for a recommendation or one-to-one assistance, our customer service team is available via phone and e-mail.