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Public Health England (PHE) has issued a detailed report examining the health implications of e-cigarette use. Titled “Evidence Review of E-cigarettes and Heated Tobacco Products 2018”

The most eye-catching part of the report shows the health of using E-cigarettes and present a lot of real data that e-cigarettes represent only a little of the risk posed by smoking standard combustible cigarettes.

• One assessment of the published data on emissions from cigarettes and E-CIGARETTES calculated the lifetime cancer risks. It concluded that the cancer potencies of E-CIGARETTES were largely under 0.5% of the risk of smoking.
• Comparative risks of cardiovascular disease and lung disease have not been quantified but are likely to be also substantially below the risks of smoking. Among E-CIGARETTES users, two studies of biomarker data for acrolein, a potent respiratory irritant, found levels consistent with non-smoking levels.
• There have been some studies with adolescents suggesting respiratory symptoms among E-CIGARETTES experimenters. However, small scale or uncontrolled switching studies from smoking to vaping have demonstrated some respiratory improvements.
• E-CIGARETTES can release aldehydes if e-liquids are overheated, but the overheating generates an aversive taste.
• To date, there is no clear evidence that specific flavourings pose health risks but there are suggestions that inhalation of some could be a source of preventable risks.
• To date, the levels of metals identified in E-CIGARETTES aerosol do not give rise to any significant safety concerns, but metal emissions, however small, are unnecessary.
• Biomarkers of exposure assessed to date are consistent with significant reductions in harmful constituents and for a few biomarkers assessed in this chapter, similar levels to smokers abstaining from smoking or non-smokers were observed.
• One study showed no reductions across a range of biomarkers for dual users (either for nicotine replacement therapy or E-CIGARETTES dual users).
• To date, there have been no identified health risks of passive vaping.

Although using E-cigarettes may not totally risk free, but the PHE report estimates that they may be 95% less dangerous than regular smoking.

There's more to consider than meets the eye when it comes to vaping. Sure, it's easy enough to pick up a basic vaping pen, fill the tank up with you favourite e-juice and get going, but most vapers like to delve a little deeper and customise their vape. From altering nicotine levels and trying different flavours, to modifying coils and tanks to get the perfect hit, vaping can be a hobbyists deam if you care to get involved. One thing newcomers to vaping don't often think about are the kinds of batteries you use. If that sounds like you, read on...

Making the switch to vape modding

Many vapers will be content to vape away their time with standard pre-built kits, and that's fine -there are many fantastic vape kits on the market to get you started. But after a while, the likelihood is that you'll want to tailor your experience somewhat to chase the hit. That's when you should starting thinking about 'modding'. Whether you're looking for mouth-to-lung, direct-to-lung, sub-ohm or a style of their own (check here for our guide on vaping techniques), it all starts with modding. Don't be intimidated though - modding is simply a case of combining various components to make a unique vape kit that isn't readily available off-the-shelf, and thousands of us do it. It's where the real fun starts.

The importance of choosing the right vape battery

Of all the things you can modify in your vape kit, not many people think about what vape battery they're going to use. You'd be forgiven for thinking that it wasn't too important - that all you had to worry about were wicks, coils and tanks, but you'd also be quite wrong. The battery is one of the most pivotal parts of the vaping experience.

To understand why, you need to get a little scientific. First, check the amperage of your vape battery. This effectively determines how much current the battery can output at any given time, commonly referred to as its 'load'. A big load (higher currents) will allow you to vape faster or take nice, long and slow draws to create maginificent clouds. If that's your goal, go for a high amperage. The other main number you need to understand is the mAh, or 'milli-amp hours'. This effectively determines the capacity of the battery and the amount of time it will last between charges. If you travel a lot and find yourself in need of powerpoints too often, a higher mAh battery will work wonders. They're usually slightly more expensive as vape batteries go, but the convenience is worth it if you're on the road a lot.

The acclaimed 18650 battery

If you've gotten into a chat with some vaping mates at the bar, they've probably mentioned this vape battery to you at some point. Almost all vapers start with a built-in battery as part of a vape pen or similar. This is totally fine, but they will degrade over time and you'll eventually have to buy a new kit. The 18650 is gives you more control over your vape and is also detachable and replacable. The reason it's talked about so much is because it seems to have the right balance of mAh and amperage for most vapers at an attractive price point, and is often a good 'stepping stone' into the world of modding. 

Are you new to vape mods? Perhaps you're a veteran and would like to share some information on vape battery choice and how to get the best experience? We'd love to hear from you in the comments below.

Nothing is more important in your vape kit today than the atomizer you choose. A few years ago, that may not have been the case, but recent advancements have made the atomizer a real game changer when it comes to tailoring your vaping experience. Where there was once a basic atomizer in every e-cig you picked up (which you probably never gave a second thought about), there are now countless atomizers on the market and for an aspiring modder it can be difficult to know where to begin. Atomizers have made the journey from being simple disposables to rebuildable mods to help you push the boundaries of what you can achieve. Whether you're new to the vaping game or have been vaping for a while but have some questions about rebuildable mods, here's what you need to know.

There are two main types of atomizer on the market today - a rebuildable dripping atomizer (RDA) and a rebuildable tank atomizer (RTA).

Rebuildable Dripping Atomizer (RDA)

This type of atomizer is very common among hobbyists. By hobbyist, we mean someone who likes to tinker and play with gadgets, constantly tweaking their vape kit to get the best possible experience every session. The reason hobbyists are better suited to RDA's is because they take a little more work (but can have a much better payout). With an RDA, you have the ability to open your atomizer every few draws and drip your chosen liquid directly onto the wick. This gives you greater control and means that you can apply as much - or as little - eliquid as you want to achieve the right balance. It will also allow you to generate some major clouds if that's your thing.  Some more advanced hobbyists will go as far as building their own coil to customize things even further - nothing is off limits when it comes to RDAs. 

Rebuildable Tank Atomizer (RTA)

These atomizers are far more common, and you're bound to have been in contact with one if you've vaped at all. It simple and easy to use, and instead of dripping directly onto the wick, you simply refill the tank every time it starts to run out. The coil and wick sit in the middle of the tank and will 'soak up' eliquid for you. You can still build the coil to your own specification if you want to increase the voltage etc., but you can't control how much eliquid gets to the wick. The downside of this is that you lose a bit of control and can't customise each draw you like can with an RDA. The upside for newcomers and vapers that just 'want to vape', is that there's never any risk of dry hits (from not giving the wick enough juice) and you can simply pick it up an go whenever you like. 

Whether you go for RTA or RDA is purely a matter of preference, but there are a few reasons you should try one or the other. For example, if you love switching flavours regularly (sometimes even mid-session), then a dripping atomizer may serve you better than having to carry spare tanks and clean them with an RTA. If you want something you can simply carry in your pocket to the bar and vape descreetly without any 'fuss', then an RTA is right for you. Try experimenting with both and see what works!