Choosing your next e-liquid can feel surprisingly tricky. Two options dominate the UK market right now: nic salts and shortfills. Both give you a great vape, yet they suit very different needs. So which one fits you? Let us break it down clearly, so you can shop with confidence.
What are nic salts?
Nic salts, or nicotine salts, occur naturally in the tobacco leaf. Brands then use them to make a smoother, faster-acting e-liquid. Because the throat hit stays gentle even at higher strengths, you can happily vape 10mg or 20mg. That matters a lot if you have just switched from smoking. After all, a satisfying hit makes it far easier to leave cigarettes behind.
Most nic salts come in handy 10ml bottles. They also work best in small, low-power pod kits and MTL (mouth-to-lung) devices. In short, you fill, you vape, and you go. Browse the full nic salt range to see the strengths and flavours on offer.
What are shortfills?
Shortfills tell a different story. These larger, nicotine-free e-liquids arrived when TPD rules first landed. A 60ml bottle usually holds 50ml of liquid, which leaves room for you to add a nicotine shot. Add one 10ml nic shot and you create 60ml of 3mg e-liquid.
Shortfills shine for flavour and clouds. They tend to be higher in VG, so they pair well with bigger sub-ohm and DTL (direct-to-lung) kits. Plus, you carry fewer bottles when you are out and about. Take a look at the shortfill collection to start building your own blend.
Nic salts vs shortfills: the key differences
Here they are side by side, so you can compare at a glance.
| Factor | Nic salts | Shortfills |
| Nicotine strength | Higher and smooth (10mg–20mg) | Start at 0mg, then add a shot (often 3mg) |
| Throat hit | Gentle, even at strength | Stronger; smoother once mixed |
| Best device | Pods and MTL kits | Sub-ohm and DTL kits |
| Flavour & clouds | Clean, quick hit | Big flavour, big clouds |
| Convenience | Grab and go | A quick mix first |
| Value | Lower upfront cost | Often cheaper per ml |
So which one should you choose?
Here is the simple version, sorted by the kind of vaper you are.
- New to vaping or just quit smoking: Start with nic salts in a pod kit. The smooth, strong hit eases the switch.
- Heavy ex-smoker who wants a strong hit: Go for nic salts at 20mg.
- Flavour chaser or cloud lover: Pick shortfills in a sub-ohm kit.
- Vaping all day on a budget: Shortfills plus nic shots stretch much further.
- Cutting down your nicotine: Shortfills give you the most control. More on that next.
Using shortfills to reduce your nicotine
This part excites a lot of vapers. Shortfills let you dial your nicotine down gradually. For example, mix one 18mg shot into a 50ml shortfill and you get roughly 3mg. Later, simply use half a shot, which drops you to about 1.5mg. Step by step, you ease toward zero. Our guide on how to mix a shortfill and reduce nicotine strength walks you through every step.
What the 2026 rules mean for your choice
A little context helps here. The single-use disposable ban took effect on 1 June 2025. As a result, many vapers have moved to refillable pods and pod kits. Happily, both nic salts and shortfills fit that world perfectly. Nic salts drop straight into a refillable pod. Shortfills, once mixed, suit a refillable tank. Either way, you stay compliant and in control.
One more thing worth knowing: from 1 October 2026, a new Vaping Products Duty adds £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid. Larger shortfills can therefore offer better value per ml, so they may suit budget-conscious all-day vapers even more.
Shop nic salts and shortfills at My Vapery
At My Vapery, every product is genuine, tested and fully compliant. So you can buy with total peace of mind. Browse our nic salts for a smooth, ready-to-go hit. Or explore our shortfills and nic shots to build your own blend. Still unsure? Start small, try both, and find the everyday vape that suits you best.
