It’s safe to say Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, has caught the attention of the industry. With over 120 companies in the UK alone already stocking and selling CBD products, it remains one of the most talked about topics of interest in not just vaping but within society in general.

Huge UK brands already stock a range of CBD products from oils to capsules, highlighting the ever-growing market for this new phenomenon. We aim to discover just what exactly CBD is, the science behind it as well as how it’s already infiltrating the vaping world.

Science

CBD is a chemical compound found in the Cannabis plant. It’s a natural substance which unlike Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is not psychoactive therefore it simply won’t get you ‘high’.

According to the World Health Organization’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence, “CBD is generally well-tolerated with a good safety profile yet it’s always advisable to see how you respond to CBD before operating a vehicle or engaging in any other potentially dangerous activity.”

There is an argument over which method is the most effective, taking CBD sublingually or vaping it, however, it is agreed both methods are much more effective than taking CBD orally due to CBD entering the bloodstream on a quicker scale.

When vaped, CBD enters the lungs and diffuses directly into your bloodstream through the alveoli which exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen between the bloodstream and the lungs, rather than passing through your gut and liver resulting in a more concentrated ingestion. This avoids the ‘first-pass effect’, which is the process in which a substance is broken down by the liver, reducing its overall potency.

How Do You Vape It?

Whilst most CBD eliquids still contain PG (Propylene Glycol) and VG (Vegetable Glycerin), they’re different to standard eliquids in the way they are vapourised. The majority of CBD eliquids have a high PG solution, making the CBD concentration viscous enough to vape without losing its effect or flavour, due to the high PG consistency it’s recommended they are used at low wattages with starter kits and pod devices.

Many manufacturers recommend vaping CBD at a wattage of between 15-25 watts, allowing for a high enough temperature to produce vapour but not high enough to burn off the CBD which essentially makes them useless and a waste of money. Because of this, CBD hasn’t really cracked the sub ohm market as of yet but for those who do prefer large cloud production, it’s recommended that you add a CBD booster shot to your regular eliquids in order to achieve this.

Alternatively, for those who aren’t into the hassle of sourcing a device with all the necessary components to vape CBD, many manufacturers have designed proprietary CBD pens and cartridges, which are a simple and discrete way to vape CBD with little maintenance required.

What Products Are Available?

Here at Vape Club, we’ve recently launched a range of CBD products from esteemed manufacturers Harmony and Dinner Lady, with more products coming soon. These include flavoured CBD eliquids including dessert, tobacco and mint fused blends available in 10ml and 30ml bottles with CBD ratios from 100mg all the way up to 1500mg concentrations.

It’s worth noting concentration refers to the overall CBD content per bottle and not an mg/ml concentration, basically meaning a bigger bottle size doesn’t denote increased strength. For example, 50ml of 300mg CBD eliquid will have an overall weaker CBD concentration than a 25ml 300mg bottle.

As well as the aforementioned CBD Vape pens, cartridges and the flavourless CBD booster shots for those who wish to add a CBD solution to regular eliquids, we also stock pure base CBD which is effectively similar to booster shots, in both 10ml eliquid form with 100mg – 1000mg CBD strength, and also as crystals in 500mg strength to infuse.

Alternatively, CBD oral drops are ideal for those who don’t want to vape, these are to be ingested orally and under no circumstances are to be vaped.

Conclusion

Whilst the introduction of CBD into the vaping world is a sign of the times, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for CBD and whether it progresses vaping into a different chapter altogether. Whilst it remains a significant borderline product, the opportunity of making CBD a huge business within itself is an enticing prospect for many manufacturers both international and independent yet the provincial legislation is subject to change at any given time.

For more information, visit our website www.vapeclub.co.uk or please don’t hesitate to contact us regarding any queries surrounding CBD or vaping in general.

Salt Nicotine eliquids are one of the latest developments in the vaping industry, taking the market by storm with a huge boom in sales and interest. JUUL were the first company to produce salt nicotine blends back in 2015 and since then the popularity of salt nics have risen at a rapid rate, with the majority of the top eliquid manufactures releasing a range. However, saying this, not a great deal of info is available on their composition, effects and how to use them correctly etc.

We thought we’d give an overview of salt nicotine and answer some frequently asked questions to correlate with our latest video explaining all about it.

What is Salt Nicotine?

Salt nicotine eliquids are different to regular eliquids in both their structure as well as the effect they have on your body. By using a salt nicotine compound rather than standard freebase nicotine in eliquid, you’ll experience a faster absorption rate of nicotine into the body, with a more noticeable nicotine hit which satisfies cravings for longer.

Standard eliquids have a higher PH level than salt nic, basically meaning they are more alkaline which leads you to experience what is commonly known as ‘throat hit’ when you vape. This can result in a harshness on the throat which is both uncomfortable and offputting for some.

Alternatively, salt nicotine has a lower or more neutral PH level, meaning it’s less alkaline, so you’ll experience a smooth throat hit even at high nicotine strengths.

How To Use Salt Nics

You’ll generally find salt nicotine eliquids in higher strengths of 10mg and 20mg, or in between, and they are most often available in 50%-60% VG ratios. Because of this, it’s recommended you use salt nics with a compact vape kit or pod device.

Furthermore, there’s now a growing number of salt nicotine booster shots that can be used with shortfill eliquids should you favour large clouds. In this case, use a kit that is compatible with the VG content of your eliquid, 60% VG and higher means ideally you should be using a sub ohm kit.

You may find that salt nicotine delivers a stronger hit than you’re used to, we recommend taking a moment between puffs to see if you need to continue vaping to feel satisfied. Chain vaping or continuous vaping may also produce a nicotine hit that’s too strong and should be avoided.

When it comes to choosing your ideal nicotine content, we recommend you start low and work your way up. Despite offering a smoother throat hit, the majority of salt blends are high nicotine eliquids, which if overused could culminate in a nasty headache or a drowsy feeling.

Consuming too much nicotine can also cause something similar to ‘vapers tongue’, particularly if you combine vaping and smoking, also known as dual using. Symptoms can include an overall swelling or numbness of the mouth, whilst experiencing a decrease in the ability to taste different flavours.

This is the result of vaping too much nicotine, which is easier to do with nic salts due to their smoothness and is easily avoided by reducing your intake and simply not vaping more than you need to.

You can buy salt nicotine eliquids here at Vape Club, in the specially designated salt nic section. There you’ll find a range of flavours and strengths, to suit your specific preference.

The Pros and Cons

Like anything, salt nics has its positives as well as its negatives. Salt nics may not be right for you as even with the smooth throat hit, they have a higher nicotine content than what some people are used to, so you may not want to make the switch if higher nicotine strengths don’t agree with you.

Also, presently salt nicotine eliquids are not available in high VG concentrations, so if you’re into producing big clouds or prefer sub ohm vaping, you may want to try using a salt nicotine booster shot with a shortfill if you’re keen to try nicotine salts.

On a positive note, the high nicotine in salt nic eliquids means that you will feel the need to vape less to satisfy your nicotine cravings, which in turn will help you conserve eliquid and battery life.

As well as this, if you’re looking for nicotine that won’t reduce the flavour as much as standard blends, satisfies cravings for longer and is ideal for smaller vape kits then we’d definitely recommend salt nicotine.

Conclusion

All in all, there’s a reason why salt nics have seen an upsurge in use, honing in on a suitable solution to many vapers needs. It’s also worth noting when storing salt nicotine, it’s advised to keep in a cool, dry place at room temperature and not in direct sunlight. Moreover, salt nicotine has a longer shelf life than standard nicotine eliquids which means they won’t go off as quickly.

For more information, visit our website www.vapeclub.co.uk or please don’t hesitate to contact us regarding any queries surrounding salt nicotine or vaping in general.

Whilst the government scrambles to negotiate a decent deal to leave the European Union, it’s pretty safe to say the majority of businesses and industries will be affected in one way or another.

This includes the vaping sector, where arguably EU regulation has changed the face of vaping since the TPD (Tobacco Product Directive) first came into full effect back in May 2017; capping tank sizes, nicotine strengths, bottle capacities and also advertising laws of vape products and their potential harm-reducing benefits.

We take a look at the consequences and the future of vaping, as the UK is expected to leave the EU in a little over two months time.

Rules

It is likely that the regulations surrounding vaping are to be revised post-Brexit yet an immediate change is highly doubtful, as reported in this article from the Pharmaceutical Journal. At present, the vaping industry is regulated by the Tobacco and Related Products Regulation (TRPR) who implemented the TPD (Tobacco Products Directive) standards back in 2017.

This resulted in various concrete measures put into place, such as tank sizes being limited to 2ml and pre-mixed nicotine bottles to a 10ml maximum capacity. As well as this, the reduced risk and benefits of vaping aren’t permitted to be advertised, which in turn limits the possible reach of smokers looking to quit.

Here’s a video of the parliamentary discussion that provides a snapshot as to how attitudes to vaping have changed inside government and how it could affect the industry at large.

Opinion

The public consensus on vaping is somewhat mixed, many agreeing with the numerous studies conducted by health bodies over the past few years that vaping is far less harmful (95% to be precise) than smoking. However, there is still a large number of people who perceive vaping in the same bracket as smoking, which is mostly due to the restriction of education surrounding e-cigarettes.

As a result, the UKVIA (UK Vaping Industry Association) was formed in 2016, to teach and promote the advantages of vaping from a health and business point of view. Dan Marchant, a board member of the UKVIA, states, “The UK is seen as a world leader in the vaping sector, and yet still a significant percentage of smokers incorrectly believe vaping to be as bad as, or worse than smoking. This is a message which has been propagated by the media with the spread of junk science and the click-bait mentality but we are at last starting to see a turn in the tide. Brexit could allow the opportunity to update the advertising laws which currently curtail the ability to spread the public health potential of these products to the public. Beyond this, there is the ability to update the TRPR in general, and correct many of the unjustified restrictions on tank sizes and bottle sizes, which only serve to make vaping less convenient and stifle innovation”.

The Market

The UK remains one the largest consumers of e-cigarettes in Europe, more than double than its next competitor and the second worldwide, behind the US. The scope for growth from a financial point of view could possibly be immense, whilst the reduction of tobacco smokers could potentially see the burden on the NHS gradually lifted to a more manageable level.

All of these regulations, if revised, will arguably have a beneficial effect on vaping, which is estimated as the fastest growing industry in the UK already.

Summing Up

With the UK controlling its own laws surrounding vaping, coupled with the vast amount of studies advocating the use of vaping from PHE (Public Health England) and the NHS, it could feasibly result in a massive shift in strategy both on a social and economic level.

Needless to say that the coming years could represent a change in the opinion, size and marketability of the vaping community.

For more information on the TPD please visit the TPD Direct Gov website.

Likewise, if you have any queries on vaping, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

With the arrival of a new year, an estimated over 3 million of us are aiming to cut out smoking this January. Numerous health organisations and initiatives have heavily advocated for the use of vaping to significantly help to kick the habit, as seen by PHE’s (Public Health England) recent study into the effects of inhaling tobacco smoke and vapour.

We’ll be taking a look at five reasons as to why vaping is the way to go when quitting and how it could save much more than just your life.

Health

Let’s start with the obvious; smoking remains the largest cause of preventable death worldwide, increasing the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and angina whilst being directly linked to 72% of lung cancer deaths in the UK alone.

It’s universally accepted that smoking tobacco is inherently damaging to your body, whereas vaping has been shown to be 95% less harmful. The e-liquids in vaping devices do not contain the nasty tar and toxins of conventional cigarettes that are the chemicals which can cause harm to your body, therefore the benefits of vaping are extensive.

Addiction

Whilst nicotine remains an addictive substance, the damaging effects are relatively minimal compared to the alarming level of carcinogens and hazardous chemicals in tobacco. So whilst it’s nicotine that your body becomes hooked to when smoking, it’s not the compound that damages your body fundamentally.

Fortunately, the majority of eliquids have with the option of coming pre-mixed with nicotine or with nicotine booster shots, making it an easy transition from smoking to vaping without the inevitable detrimental effect on your health.

Price

The cost of smoking grows year on year, and when calculated it makes for startling statistics, as evidenced in our recent cost-benefit analysis animation explaining the effects on your wallet.

If you smoked a 20 pack a day, it would subtract a whopping £300 a month from your savings. On the other hand, If you made the switch to vaping, there’d be the one-off cost of a starter kit – on average around £25, then per month the cost of purchasing 120ml of eliquid and a five pack of replacement coils, coming to £73 altogether, meaning after the first month, on average you’ll be saving a huge £252 a month. Think of what you could be doing with that extra cash each month!

Personalisation

Whilst many tobacco companies pride themselves on delivering a premium, more cultivated taste than others, it’s fair to assume that the overall tobacco flavour is relatively generic across the board.

Vaping however, promotes an abundance of flavours and tastes to suit everyone’s palate. From layered dessert blends to tropical fruit medleys, the opportunities are endless and are designed with the user’s preference for certain flavours and strengths at the forefront of production. This means that whatever floats your boat, we probably have it in our handy eliquid finder.

Convenience

The laws behind vaping in public areas are relatively inconsequential and it’s usually down to the vapers discretion as well as consideration for other people in the room, as to whether it’s acceptable to vape in an enclosed space.

Many people wrongly believe that inhaling secondary vapour production is as harmful as tobacco smoke, however this is not the case at all with no evidence suggesting that passive vaping is damaging whatsoever.

Aside from this, the overall public opinion sees vaping as far more convenient and socially preferred to smoking. More and more bars and restaurants allow vaping indoors (although it’s always best to check beforehand as it’s down to the specific venue’s policy), which in turn could save you the journey of going to the smoking area and awkwardly stinking of cigarettes.

Conclusion

As you can see, the difference switching to vaping will make in your life is massive. Not only will you save money, it will also have a positive effect on your health and lifestyle in general. For more information, on starting vaping please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Intro

As January hits us, so does the inevitable New Years resolutions of cutting out smoking. A reported over half a million smokers will try and kick the habit in one way or another this month and to coincide with this, PHE (Public Health England) have released footage of a laboratory experiment revealing the effects of smoking tobacco compared to vaping.

The Findings

The experiment clearly shows the alarming nature of smoking and the effects on your body. The bell jar with cotton wool containing tobacco smoke is a murky brown, whilst its tubes are full of sticky tar mimicking what’s happening in your lungs when inhaling tobacco smoke. In comparison, the cotton wool in the e-cigarette bell jar remains virtually unchanged, albeit some water vapour and a slight blemish from the colouring in the eliquid.

Dr Shahab (Associate Professor in Health and Psychology at UCL) goes on to state, “research conducted shows that vaping is much less harmful than smoking and that using e-cigarettes on a long-term basis is relatively safe, similar to using licensed nicotine products, like patches or gum”.

The Figures

Over the past year or so PHE, as well as the NHS, have heavily advocated the benefits of vaping when choosing to quit smoking, however, the public consensus around vaping is still rather negative. 44% of smokers wrongly believe vaping is as harmful as smoking, despite the number of studies and research being made public categorically stating vaping is notably 95% less damaging than smoking tobacco.

Steve Brine, the Public Health Minister claims, “the evidence is clear that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking and they are the most popular quitting method in England. When paired with local stop smoking services, they have some of the highest success rates”.

There are over 6.1 million smokers in England alone and a reported 60% of them want to quit but many try to give up using willpower alone. Not enough is being done on a mass scale to educate and inform people on the differing effects of vaping to smoking which could arguably sway people in the right direction. The culture around vaping is treated in the same regards as smoking which whilst understandable is arguably not conducive to creating a smoke-free world. If you’re interested in reading a bit more about vaping etiquette in the workplace, as well as viewing a handy infographic on the topic, then here’s our article explaining the conceptions and laws. 

The Future

Smoking increases the risk of developing more than fifty serious health conditions, including cancer and heart disease, whilst doubling the risk of dying from a stroke. Now is the time to take action and stamp out smoking for good, with the help of vaping.

We stock a range of kits and devices suitable for all levels, for more information visit www.vapeclub.co.uk or alternatively contact us regarding any queries.

Whilst the general consensus on vaping is fairly accepted and liberal, the use of electronic cigarettes in the workplace or in public areas is somewhat murky.

With regards to this, the APPG (All-Party Parliamentary Group) has released a new report, ‘Vaping In The Workplace and Public Places’, outlining a set of guidelines and recommendations designed to challenge the common misconception that vaping, particularly second hand vaping, is not only damaging to bystanders but also socially unacceptable.

Many workplaces regard vaping as the same as smoking, which ultimately can be detrimental for those looking to quit smoking entirely. Over 96% of vapers are smokers or ex-smokers, trying to kick the habit.

What This Means For Vapers

The new report, chaired by Mark Pawsey MP (also chairman of the APPG for Vaping) has brought forward some key recommendations in relation to employees vaping in the workplace. These include:

• Permitting the use of vaping in all outside areas (terraces, courtyards and gardens) as well as leisure areas (restaurants, cafeterias and lounges) pending reasonable permission from colleagues or occupants.
• Vaping not permitted during client or staff meetings, as well as operating machinery or equipment wherein vapour could be a distraction during the performance of the required role.
• Vapers should respect the wishes of colleagues who do not wish vaping to take place around them or who dislike certain stronger smelling flavours or large-scale cloud production.
• Vapers must ensure that all vaping paraphernalia is securely stored and is inaccessible to those under the age of 18.

The Research

Comprehensive studies have suggested that the misconception of second-hand vapour being harmful is false.

Both Public Health England and The British Medical Association found that “there is a lack of evidence that exposure to the constituents of e-cigarette vapour poses specific health risks to bystanders”.

Whilst it’s determined to be respectful to ask to vape when in the vicinity of non-vapers, this notion suggests that compared to smoking, the effects of inhaling second-hand vapour are largely non-existent.

Over 96% of vapers are forced to use shelters and smoking areas, shared by smokers, to vape. Andrew Alisson of the Freedom Association goes on to state, “a non-vaper may not like the smell of vapour when they encounter it but this is much more tolerable than the harm caused by requiring vapers to share space with smokers”.

This reiterates the fact that placing vapers in a designated area with smokers, has a detrimental effect in stopping smoking altogether. Something which needs to change in order to fulfil the government’s ambition to reduce smoking rates down to 12%.

Check out this infographic our friends over at Purplebox Vapours have created on vaping etiquette in the workplace:

Introduction

Rechargeable vape batteries are often found in sub ohm kits and devices, they offer users access to increased power when they vape – compared to devices with integrated batteries.

There are a number of different vape batteries available, from the smaller 18650 battery all the way to the larger 20700, 26650 and 21700 batteries.

While they’re all rechargeable, eventually all vape batteries will need to be replaced. This week we’ll be providing you with tips to help you extend the life of your vape battery.

Charging Your Batteries

Many vape mods support internal charging of batteries, this is when you charge batteries when they’re inside of your device; but we recommend that you use a dedicated battery charger.

Not only will these dedicated pieces of hardware charge your batteries faster, they will increase their lifespan – remember not to leave charged batteries unattended. Try not to overcharge your batteries, overcharging will run your batteries down and will reduce their capacity.

The same is true for undercharging batteries, continuous undercharging will reduce their capacity. Batteries with a reduced capacity or ones that won’t hold their charge will need to be replaced.

Protecting and Storing Your Batteries

Proper protection and storage will help keep your batteries safe and in a usable condition for longer. When not in use, we recommend you remove batteries and store them in either a silicone wrap or plastic battery cases.

Unprotected batteries that come into contact with conductive materials – such as loose change and keys, can not only lose charge but potentially short circuit, causing them to explode injuring you and others around you.

Store batteries in a cool, dry location. Exposure to heat can cause a reaction in your batteries which will reduce their charge in the short term. Long term exposure can reduce the overall capacity of your battery, and potentially cause them to react violently.

Vape Batteries and Eliquid

If you find that your vape batteries are wearing down faster than usual, there are ways to keep them going for longer between charges. Your eliquid can have a big impact on this – certain blends require more power to heat them to the point they turn to vapour.

A higher PG eliquid, such as a 50% PG eliquid / 50% VG vape liquid are thinner and require less heat to turn into vapour, meaning you’ll need less power from your battery.

Vaping less in general can also help your batteries last longer. Salt nicotine eliquids provide a more potent nicotine hit, with a smoother throat hit as well; meaning you can use a higher nicotine strength eliquid than usual – which will help you vape less.

Batteries and Hardware

When using vape devices at higher wattages you may notice that your batteries run out of charge faster. To keep them going for longer we recommend you turn down the power; doing this in conjunction with using a higher PG eliquid can make a real difference to battery life.

When choosing your vape battery, we always recommend you pick a trusted and well known brand, such as LG, Samsung, Efest and Basen. It may be tempting to buy a cheaper battery, but in the long run you’ll notice the difference when it comes to performance and lifespan.

Summary

By following these tips we hope you’ll get the most out of your batteries. When it comes time to replace them we stock a wide range of 18650 batteries, 18500 batteries, 20700 batteries and 21700 batteries to suit your vaping needs.

If you have any questions about vape batteries, or vaping in general, please get in touch with us.

Introduction to TC Vaping

In this week’s guide, we’ll aim to give you a basic understanding of what Temperature Control vaping is, how it works and it’s benefits. Temperature Control vaping or TC vaping is in no way new, but often gets overlooked when compared to Variable Wattage and Power Modes. TC Mode is found on a range of vape kits and devices, it is intended for advanced users only.

How Does It Work?

Temperature Control Mode is a selectable output mode on a vape device. Once selected it allows you to set a value in Celsius or Fahrenheit, this temperature then becomes the maximum temperature your coil will be allowed to reach when the device is used. Essentially it acts like a safety net for your coil, when used properly it will stop coils from overheating; this will help you avoid dry hits, burnt coils and offer you a better vaping experience overall.

It’s important to remember that there’s not a universal temperature that will work for all vape tanks and RDAs; much like when using Variable Wattage Mode, your coil type will decide what temperature is best. Only certain coils can be used in TC Mode, these include Stainless Steel, Nickel and Titanium; for more information check out our guide to coil wire types. These coil wires will generally only work in TC mode so exercise caution when using them.

Different coil wire will react to heat in different ways, temperature will affect the resistance of your coil and certain wire types are more susceptible to heat than others. Not to worry, modern temperature control vape mods can account for this, and have a setting built into accommodate for each compatible wire type – SS, Ni and Ti. Again always check compatibility and manufacturer guidance before use.

Setting Up TC Mode

Different vape devices and kits do approach temperature control set up differently, but the process is largely the same. First off, attach your tank or rebuildable atomiser to your device. Then check that the wattage output of your device is within the defined limits of what your coil can handle, this is usually written on tank coils.

Switch over to Temperature Control Mode and pick the correct wire type (SS, Ni or TI); then set your temperature limit, which should be decided by taking into account wire type and your wattage output. We recommend you start at a lower temperature and vape a few times to decide whether you need to go any higher. The most common temperature range is between 200°C- 250°C, but always do your research.

Why Use It?

There are many benefits to Temperature Control, perhaps the greatest is the increased safety it can provide when used properly. By setting a max temperature you can stop your coils from overheating, damaging your tank and yourself. TC vaping also offers a greater degree of customisability and control than other modes can provide.
An often overlooked benefit is the way in which TC mode affects your eliquid; flavours in eliquid do react to heat, and through TC you can find the perfect temperature for your eliquid of choice, for an unmatched taste.

Conclusion

We hope that this guide has helped you understand the basics of Temperature Control, and we recommend you use it as part of your larger research. There are many variables that can affect TC vaping; from device types, to coil wire, to temperature. Always follow the guidance set out by manufacturers and suppliers.
If you have any questions about this topic, or vaping in general, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.