Guide to Sub-Ohm Vaping; Who, What, Why, How?

Guide to Sub-Ohm Vaping; Who, What, Why, How?

The next level of vaping for enthusiasts

25 March 2022 | Hannah Rubery

Guide to Sub-Ohm vaping (Image)

If you’ve been vaping a while now you’ve probably heard of the term “Sub-Ohm Vaping”. And you’d be forgiven for not knowing what it means. This type of vaping is certainly more for the advanced vaper who isn’t afraid of some homework and learning a few electronics. Although there have been moves to make Sub-Ohm vaping more streamlined for those who want to try without having to get too technical. So maybe you’re looking at getting into Sub-Ohm vaping? Here are some things you should know…



What is Sub-Ohm vaping?

Sub-Ohm vaping is a method of vaping using particular vape equipment to create big clouds and make the most of flavour. It’s a DTL-type vaping (Direct to Lung) and is achieved through high power kits with super low resistance. It’s called Sub-Ohm vaping as the coils that are normally used are around 0.15-0.6 Ohms (below 1 Ohm, hence the name). There are some vapers who take it to the extreme lower than 0.15 with rebuildables and mechanical mods, but these are only for the most experienced vapers.



Who is Sub-Ohm Vaping for?

Predominantly, Sub-Ohm vaping is for advanced vapers who are comfortable with vaping and know their way around a vape kit. Even with ready-made Sub-Ohm vape kits, a general understanding of the science behind Ohm’s Law is necessary – this ensures that you not only have a good vape, but a safe one! Sub-Ohm vaping is for cloud chasers, those who focus more on big flavours than a nicotine rush.



How is it different to other vaping methods?

In comparison to normal vape coils vary from 1.6 to 2.4 Ohms, a bit of a difference from the low resistance of Sub-Ohm vaping. It also tends to lend itself more to high VG, low PG ratios with lower nicotine strength. Regular vaping is designed to replicate the sensation of smoking cigarettes and thereby give a throat hit and high nicotine strengths to satisfy cravings. On the flipside, Sub-Ohm vaping is much smoother but offers more of a lung hit instead.



What do you need to Sub-Ohm vape?

Firstly, a good quality kit. Don’t feel inclined to pick up some sub-par version or even try to DIY your own unless you are super competent in handling wattage and resistance. Too many vaping accidents happen due to poorly made kits or cheaply manufactured ones. Invest in quality Sub-Ohm tanks and mods, you can even buy pre-built ones for ease of use that vape with even the best handmade kits. Combine a good quality Sub-Ohm tank with a mod that can push out at least 40 watts and you should be able to enjoy a good vape experience.

There are several ways to enjoy Sub-Ohm vaping. The simplest method uses Sub-Ohm tanks which are disposable, pre-made coil heads. A great starter kit is the GeekVape L200 (Aegis Legend 2) 200W Starter Kit.

Another is RDA (Rebuildable Drip Atomizers) which is the original way to Sub-Ohm but requires a little more skill. These contains a deck where you drip the juice directly onto the coils and wicking material every few puffs. A great RDA to use would be the An RDA for Vaping by Coilturd.

Finally, there is RTA (Rebuildable Tank Atomizers) for those who don’t fancy the task of dripping. These require a bit of coil building to complete but offer an easier alternative to dripping but you’ll still need some technical know-how. Some of our recommendations for this type of Sub-Ohm vaping would be the Blotto RTA 1.5 – Vaping Bogan/Dovpo, Stock Coil Tank, Uwell Crown 5 and the SQUONK KIT.



What E-Liquid is best for Sub-Ohm vaping?

As mentioned before, E-Liquids that are low PG/high VG lend themselves to your high wattage devices. Sub-Ohm kits vaporise VG much better than normal kits, as they produce more heat. Vapers using these sorts of kits are best to use E-Liquids that are very low in nicotine strength or nicotine-free. Can you use nic salts in Sub-Ohm vaping? These types of E-Liquids are much better suited for low powered kits like pod kits. Using nic salts with Sub-Ohm vaping are likely to give you too strong of a hit.

Due to the high-powered devices, they tend to use a lot more liquid therefore if you’re not careful, you could end up inhaling a lot more nicotine than intended. That’s why shortfills and longfills lend themselves to Sub-Ohm vaping as they’re nicotine-free and come in much larger volumes of liquid than nicotine-containing E-Liquids. If you do wish to vape Sub-Ohm nicotine, the general rule of thumb is to half the strength of what you normally vape.



How to vape Sub-Ohm Safely

Chiefly, make sure to educate yourself. If you decide to go the route of building your own Sub-Ohm kit, make sure to thoroughly research Ohm’s Law, guidelines for resistance and wattage, and which kits are best for you to use. The safest way to Sub-Ohm vape is to use a regulated box mod alongside an authentic battery. Again, make sure you’re buying good quality, the last thing you want is you new kit blowing up in your face – a stark truth that can occur if you are not careful.



As long as you are following these guidelines and doing the necessary research, you’re sure to have a great time chasing clouds. Sub-Ohm vaping isn’t for everyone but, if you’ve been vaping for some time and are looking for something new, it’s certainly worth a try to see if it’s for you.