MTL And DTL Explained

Are you in the market for a new vape? Are being bombarded with acronyms and terms you don’t understand?

When first making the switch over from smoking to vaping, you may often hear the terms MTL (Mouth to Lung) and DTL (Direct to Lung). But what does MTL and DTL actually mean?

In this post we will explain what these acronyms mean, in hope that it will make choosing your next vape kit as easy as possible.

MTL and DTL are the two terms used to describe the different vaping styles or inhaling techniques. Both styles provide a completely different texture of vapour, flavour, temperature, ‘throat hit’ and sensation.

What is MTL?

MTL or Mouth-to-Lung vaping is where the vapour from an electronic cigarette is inhaled into your mouth, then into your lungs. A two-step process that is usually more comfortable for new vapers.

MTL is a style of vaping that will provide an inhale (or throat hit) most similar to tobacco cigarette smoking, making it a popular choice for ex-smokers and new vapers.

MTL vaping is where most vapers start their journey as the inhaling technique feels more natural and comfortable for ex-smokers. Most remain using this inhaling technique, some advance to Direct to Lung (DTL) vaping.

MTL vaping works out cheaper compared to DTL vaping because less vapour is produced, less vape juice is being consumed.

Looking for a discrete way of vaping? Then MTL vaping is the one. Smaller vapour clouds are produced so you can subtly vape whilst out and about.

Vape kits designed for a MTL vaping experience will use coils with a resistance higher than 1 ohm. This means that the coil burns the e-liquid at a cooler temperature than a sub-ohm coil and therefore produces a cooler and thinner vapour. This also means that MTL vaping is more cost effective for you as less liquid is being used to make a smaller cloud of vapour. This makes the experience all the more favourable for those trying replicate the feel of smoking a cigarette whilst saving money.

If you still have questions about coils, you can check out our Ultimate Guide to Coils here. 

How do you vape MTL?

MTL vaping provides a sensation similar to smoking cigarettes, but in many ways is very different.

1. Take a long and smooth inhale into the mouth

2.  Hold it in the mouth, then draw into your lungs

Exhale the vapour

What are the advantages of MTL Vaping?

1. Real smoking sensation helps new vapers transition from smoking to vaping

2. Satisfying throat hit

3. Provides excellent flavour

4. Tighter draw

5. High nicotine strength e-liquids

6. Less vapour clouds for stealthy vaping

7. Uses less e-liquid, making MTL vaping more cost effective

8. Uses less battery life, making your battery last longer between charges

9. MTL kits are easy to use, and are most often cheaper compared to DTL kits

10. MTL kits are small, compact, lightweight and extremely portable

11. Compatible with high PG, 50/50 and Nic Salt e-liquids

What are the disadvantages of MTL vaping?

1. Vape kits are usually less advanced, with fewer ways to tailor your device to suit your individual vaping needs

2. MTL vape kits generally offer less battery life compared to DTL vape kits

3. Less cloud production

What is a Mouth to Lung (MTL) vape kit?

Mouth to lung vape kits feature a tight draw (restricted airflow) to closely match the inhale from a regular tobacco cigarette. They are generally lower powered devices with smaller batteries when compared to direct to lung kits. MTL kits are compatible with high resistance atomiser coils (resistance more than 1Ω). Although, recently more modern MTL device have featured sub-ohm coils. For example, the Uwell Caliburn A2 uses a 0.9ohm coil in it's closed pod.

MTL devices are designed to be used with high PG e-liquids (50% PG or higher), including nicotine salt e-liquids to produce a discreet amount of vapour. MTL kits can be used with all nicotine strength e-liquids (0mg-20mg), to provide a satisfying throat hit at the strength you choose.

In recent years we have seen massive demand for disposable vapes like Zombie Bars, The Juiceman Bar and Solo Bars. Disposable vapes are compact, draw activated devices that are charged and prefilled with e-liquid ready to vape. They can’t be recharged or refilled with vape juice and the coil can’t be changed, making them easy to use, cheap and super-convenient. Disposable vapes are intended for first time vapers and require a mouth to lung inhale .

What e-liquid should I use with mouth to lung (MTL) kits?

Mouth to lung kits are compatible with high PG e-liquid (50% PG and higher), and nicotine salt vape juice. The type of liquid you use with an MTL kit is crucial to getting your desired throat hit.

The PG (Propylene Glycol) in e-liquids provides the throat hit

The VG (Vegetable Glycerine) in e-liquids provides the vapour clouds

Equal parts of PG and VG will provide medium cloud production and medium throat hit

High PG e-liquids are thin in consistency and will easily saturate the wicking material inside the coil faster. Less power and higher resistance is a general rule.

E-liquids with a higher ratio of PG to VG will produce more discreet vape clouds when vaped and provide a smoking-like sensation.

Nicotine salt e-liquids like Juice Bar , Zillions  Salts , The Juiceman Salts  and Blackstone Labs Nic Salt are an ideal choice for using in your MTL vape kits available in 10mg and 20mg. 50% PG 50% VG liquids, along with high PG liquids are also a great choice available in a wide range of flavours and nicotine strengths. Salt nicotine flavours include popular disposable vape flavours like; Blue Razz Lemonade, Watermelon Ice, Kiwi Passion Fruit Guava and Blueberry Sour Raspberry.

MTL vape juice is available in all strengths (0mg, 3mg, 6mg, 10mg, 12mg, 18mg, 20mg), to cater for all types of vapers. The strength of e-liquid is displayed on the bottle. The addition of nicotine in e-liquids is there to help you manage your cravings when making the switch over from smoking cigarettes to vaping. The nicotine content is how many milligrams of nicotine is present per millilitre of e-liquid (for example 6mg/ml or 0.6%). The lower the ‘mg’ number, the lower the nicotine content present in the e-liquid bottle.

What e-liquid strength should I choose for MTL vaping?

What e-liquid strength should I choose for MTL vaping?

0mg: 0mg or (0.0%) e-liquids are nicotine-free. Designed for customers who are looking to quit nicotine altogether. The PG (propylene glycol) in e-liquid will provide a mild ‘throat hit’ even with nicotine free e-liquids, so you get the hand to mouth action and minimal throat hit associated with regular cigarette smoking

3mg: 3mg/ml or (0.3%) e-liquids are considered very low strength designed for very light smokers. Suited to customers who smoked less than 5 cigarettes per day or social vapers

6mg: 6mg/ml or (0.6%) e-liquids are considered low strength designed for light smokers. Suited to customers who smoked between 5 and 10 cigarettes per day

10mg: 10mg/ml or (1.0%) e-liquids are considered medium strength. Suited to customers who smoked between 10 and 15 cigarettes per day. 10mg is most commonly available in nicotine salt e-liquid

12mg: 12mg/ml or (1.2%) e-liquids are considered medium strength. Suited to customers who smoked between 10 and 15 cigarettes per day

18mg: 18mg/ml or (1.8%) e-liquids are considered high strength. Suited to customers who smoked 20+ cigarettes per day

20mg: 20mg/ml or (2.0%) e-liquids are considered high strength. Suited to customers who smoked 20+ cigarettes per day. In the UK 2mg e-liquid is the highest strength legally allowed following the rules set by the TPD (Tobacco Products Directive). 20mg is most commonly available in nicotine salt e-liquid. Most disposable vapes available are available in 20mg nicotine strength to make the transition from smoking to vaping as comfortable and easy as possible .

What is DTL?

DTL or Direct-to-Lung vaping is where the vapour from an electronic cigarette is inhaled directly into your lungs. This inhaling technique requires a long and steady draw (3-5 seconds). This one step inhaling technique is best suited to more experienced vapers.

DTL or Sub-ohm is a style of vaping that doesn’t closely resemble the inhale from a traditional tobacco cigarette. Instead this method is designed to produce large, thick and dense clouds of vapour, with a looser and more airy inhale.

DTL vaping is more commonly favoured by experienced vapers as the large, thick plumes of vapour can be a little more dauting for new vapers. Another reason why sub-ohm kits a more suited to experienced users is they can be a bit more complicated to use compared with pod kits and starter kits.

Looking to blow large clouds of vapour? Then DTL vaping is the one. Large, thick and satisfying vapour clouds are produced and you can take full control over the way you vape.

DTL vaping requires a low resistance vape coil, resistance below 1.0 ohms, hence the name ‘sub-ohm’ vaping. Your vape coil will display the resistance of the coil and most often provide what wattage range to set your device at for optimum performance.

If you are new to vaping we don’t recommend starting your journey with a DTL kit as they require more experience and knowledge for safe vaping. High powered vape mods can be a bit more complicated to use compared with pod kits and starter kits.

For more information about vape coils read our guide: Ultimate Guide To Vape Coils

How do you vape DTL?

DTL vaping is a very different sensation to smoking cigarettes.

1. Take a long, steady and smooth inhale directly to your lungs (3-5 second draw)

2. Exhale the vapour

What will I need to produce large clouds of vapour?

DTL or Sub Ohm vaping is a style of vaping that produces large clouds of vapour and intense flavours. Not all vape devices will help you achieve large vapour clouds.

Things you will need to blow big vapour clouds:

1. High VG e-liquids or Shortfill e-liquids (usually 70% VG / 3mg or 6mg strength)

2. High powered vape kit (power output above 40 watts)

3. Sub-ohm vape tank (with a ‘wide bore’ drip tip and wide airflow openings)

4. Low resistance vape coil (<0.9 Ω with large wicking channels)

What are the advantages of DTL Vaping?

1. Doesn’t closely resemble the inhale from a regular cigarette. Delivers nicotine in the form of thick clouds of vapour

2. Smooth inhale and more gentle on the throat

3. Warm vapour with intense flavour

4. Thick clouds of vapour deliver more nicotine per draw so you can use lower strength e-liquids (most commonly 3mg or 6mg) and get the same satisfaction

5. DTL kits usually offer more advanced vape settings so you can tailor your vape to suit your preferred style of vaping

6. Airflow control

7. Allows for higher wattages

8. Many DTL vape kits use removeable 18650 batteries, so when your battery runs low you can switch it out for a charged one

9. Huge selection of vape flavours. Premixed 10ml with nicotine, or shortfill e-liquids that you can add your own nicotine shots to reach your desired strength

10. Shortfill e-liquids are cheaper, compared to purchasing 10ml bottles to add up to the equivalent e-liquid volume (and more eco-friendly).

What are the disadvantages of DTL vaping?

1. Uses larger volumes of e-liquid compared to MTL vaping, can work out more expensive

2. Sub Ohm kits offer advanced settings and are most often more expensive to purchase

3. Sub Ohm kits are generally larger and heavier than MTL devices

4. Requires more vaping knowledge. It is important to have a good knowledge of battery safety, Ohms Law, and how to use advanced settings and features

5. Large vapour clouds can make you stand out from the crowd, and can be far from discreet

6. You can’t use high nicotine strength e-liquids

7. Reduces the longevity of your battery life, coil and vape juice

What is a Direct to Lung (DTL) vape kit?

DTL vape kits or sub ohm vape kits refers vape devices that use atomiser coils below 1.0Ω in resistance, when combined with high VG e-liquid, and a high powered vape mod will provide satisfying, smooth and mouth-watering clouds of vapour.

Direct to lung kits most often feature increased power, advanced modes that allow you to tailor, customize, and take your vaping game to the next level. A high level of power and improved battery life will provide increased flavour and vapour production, that smaller MTL kits can’t achieve.

What liquid should I use with DTL kits?

Due to the higher power output and the sub-ohm coil it is best to use a thicker e-liquid. An e-liquid with a VG concentration between 70% and 80% will suit your sub-ohm device well. It would deliver a highly flavoursome hit with large vapour production