A Beginner's Guide to Sub-Ohm Vaping

What is Sub-Ohm vaping?

Sub ohm vaping (also known as cloud-chasing) is a type of vaping that uses specific liquids and equipment to produce large clouds of vapour. Users enjoy Sub Ohm vaping because although the flavour and vapour production are increased dramatically, the sensation is very gentle on the throat. Most users inhale the vapour produced in one long continuous draw, straight into the lungs (also known as a lung hit). Sub-Ohm Vaping requires 4 things: a sub tank, sub coil, battery and liquid.

Sub Tanks

Sub tanks are great for Sub-Ohm Vaping, here's why. They differ from normal tanks in a few important ways. They always have a large airflow, this is for two reasons. Firstly, it allows the user to take large continuous draws with little effort. This increases the amount of vapour taken in and also mixes the vapour with lots of air, creating big clouds. Making them perfect for Sub-Ohm Vaping. The other reason for the large airflow is that the heating element (also known as a coil) stays cool when drawing in. The coils must stay cool otherwise they will overheat and produce a burnt taste.

A sub tank will have a larger coil than normal tanks. The coil is a small replaceable unit containing a wire that gets hot and cotton to wick the E-liquid. The coils produce the vapour. Getting very hot, if the coils are not constantly saturated in E-liquid, the cotton wool in the coil will burn and the result is a very harsh experience known as a ‘dry hit’.

A large air flow helps prevent this happening by allowing fresh liquid to constantly flow through the coil. Dry hits happen with “normal” vaporisers too but the results are worse with sub tanks because of the amount inhaled.

Batteries

Sub tanks require their own type of batteries. Because the Sub Tanks get a lot hotter than normal tanks they draw a lot of power from a battery. If the battery is not sub ready the battery will not “fire” at all and in some cases the battery can be damaged. There are many types of sub battery and the size and shape can vary. There is a misconception that they need to be box shaped. Do not assume your current battery will work because of its size or shape but instead check when purchasing that you are buying a sub ready battery

Sub batteries do not give out any more power than other batteries but they can handle long sustained power draws. This does mean that they can easily handle all other tanks as well. It is very much like a HD ready TV which can also handle normal content.

There are two main types of sub battery. One which the user charges (containing a built in power source very much like a traditional E-Cig battery), and one which takes rechargeable batteries that need to be added separately, usually referred to as a ‘Mod’. The batteries that go inside a mod look like a regular batteries someone might use around the house but are in fact high performance high drain batteries. It is important that these batteries are used.

Liquids

PG and VG are the two main ingredients in e-liquid. PG simulates the scratchy feeling at the back of the throat, often enjoyed by people who are looking for a cigarette replacement. VG is very smooth on the throat and produces big clouds.

Because a Sub-tank user inhales such a large quantity of vapour, a traditional E-liquid (which has high PG), would give a very harsh experience to the throat and produce little cloud. As well as this, the amount of nicotine would be way too high, making the whole experience very unpleasant. So Sub E-liquids have high VG quantities for clouds and very low nicotine.

VG liquid is very thick. If a high VG liquid is put into a normal “non sub” tank it may be too thick to flow through the coil, resulting in the coil drying out and giving a burned taste. So the right liquid should be used in the right tank.

Things to Remember

• Sub tanks can only be used on Sub-ready batteries.
• Sub batteries can easily handle normal tanks but batteries that have variable power should be turned right down to avoid burning out the coil.
• The rechargeable batteries that go in the mods are high performance and a substitute will not work
• Sub tanks require high VG liquid
• Sub liquids should have very low nicotine
• When using a new coil in a sub tank, the coil has to be completely saturated in the liquid - otherwise the wire inside will get hot and burn the cotton, resulting in a ‘dry hit’

You can find our full range of Sub-Ohm Vaping devices and accessories here