You've had the kit for a few days now. It's sitting on the kitchen counter, fully charged, filled with your first bottle of e-liquid. You pick it up, put it to your lips, and pull like you would on a straw. Two seconds later you're bent double over the sink, coughing so hard your eyes water, wondering if this whole vaping thing was a mistake.
It wasn't a mistake. It's just that nobody tells you how to inhale a vape correctly before you start. And it turns out the technique matters far more than the device you bought.
A puff that would work perfectly on one type of vape will send you into a coughing fit on another. This guide walks through exactly how to draw, hold, and exhale — the difference between the two main inhaling styles, and what to do if you're still coughing after a few days. Get the technique right, and the whole experience changes completely.
Quick Reference: What's Going Wrong and What to Do
| What's Happening | Likely Cause | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Coughing on every puff | Pulling too hard or too fast, like a cigarette drag | Slow the draw right down — sip rather than gulp |
| Getting no vapour at all | Drawing in air instead of pulling through the device | Seal your lips fully around the mouthpiece |
| Harsh, scratchy throat hit | Nicotine strength too high for your draw style | Try a lower mg or a smoother nic salt |
| Vapour never reaches your lungs | Missing the pause-then-inhale rhythm on an MTL kit | Draw to the mouth, pause, then breathe in |
| Coughing fit that lingers | Deep DTL-style pull on a tight, restricted MTL device | Match your draw to the device it's designed for |
Quick Answer: The Right Way to Inhale a Vape
Most beginner kits — including anything in our starter kits collection — are built for MTL vaping, short for mouth-to-lung.
That means you draw the vapour into your mouth first, pause for a beat, then breathe it into your lungs — almost exactly like drawing on a cigarette. Slow and gentle beats hard and fast every time.
If you've picked up a bigger device with an open, airy draw, you're more likely looking at a direct-to-lung kit. There, you pull the vapour straight into your lungs in one long, steady breath — more like a deep sigh than a sharp pull.
Using the wrong technique for your device is the single biggest reason beginners cough.
✅ The Golden Rule
Slow and gentle beats hard and fast. Most beginner pod kits are MTL. Draw into your mouth, pause, then breathe in. That's it.
Why Do I Cough Every Time I Vape?
A cough is your body's way of clearing out something it thinks doesn't belong there. And vapour genuinely is new to your airways — so a bit of coughing at first is completely normal.
But if it's happening on every single puff, it's usually down to one of a few fixable things:
- Pulling too hard, too fast — like you're taking a big drag on a cigarette
- Using a deep, direct-to-lung style pull on a tight, restricted MTL device
- A nicotine strength that's too strong for the way you're inhaling
- Simply being new to inhaling vapour at all — which settles with practice
The good news is that almost all of this comes down to technique, rather than anything being wrong with you or the device. Slow everything down, and most of the coughing disappears within the first few sessions.
What's the Difference Between MTL and DTL?
These are the two main inhaling styles in vaping — and mixing them up is where most coughing fits come from.
MTL vaping (mouth-to-lung) draws vapour into your mouth first, where it sits briefly before you breathe it into your lungs. It's tighter, gentler, and feels closest to smoking a cigarette. Which is why most ex-smokers get on with it straight away.
The other style is DTL vaping, short for direct-to-lung — which skips that pause entirely. You pull the vapour straight into your lungs in one continuous breath, similar to a deep sigh. It needs an open, airy draw and produces a lot more vapour. Which is why it's mostly found on larger sub-ohm tanks and box mods rather than beginner pod kits.
👄 MTL — Mouth to Lung
- Draw into your mouth first
- Pause for a beat
- Then inhale into your lungs
- Feels like: smoking a cigarette
- Best on: pod kits, MTL tanks, nic salts
💨 DTL — Direct to Lung
- Pull straight into your lungs
- One continuous deep breath
- No pause, no hold
- Feels like: a deep sigh
- Best on: sub-ohm tanks, box mods
How Do I Know Which Technique My Device Uses?
The draw itself is usually the giveaway. If the pull feels tight and a little restricted — similar to sipping through a straw — that's an MTL device. And it's what you'll find in most pod kits, including popular options like the Vaporesso kits range.
If the draw feels open and airy, with barely any resistance, that's DTL — typically found on sub-ohm tanks.
Manufacturers usually confirm this on the product page too. Coil resistance is another clue. Anything above about 1.0 ohm is built for MTL. While anything below 1.0 ohm — sometimes called sub-ohm — is built for DTL.
If you're ever unsure, it's always safer to assume MTL and draw gently until you know otherwise.
Myth vs Reality: Inhaling a Vape
There's a lot of half-right advice floating around about vape technique. Here's how some of the most common claims actually hold up.
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| It should feel exactly like smoking a cigarette | MTL vaping is similar, but the pause-then-inhale rhythm is slower and gentler than most cigarette drags |
| Coughing means you're allergic to vaping | Mild coughing at first is usually just your airways adjusting to a new sensation — not an allergic reaction |
| Pulling harder gives you more vapour | Pulling too hard just floods the coil and causes a harsh, gurgling hit — not more vapour |
| Every device is inhaled the same way | MTL and DTL devices are built for opposite draw styles, and mixing them up is the top cause of coughing |
✅ Reality Check
Coughing is almost always about technique, not tolerance. Match your draw style to your device and slow the pull down — and most coughing clears up within a few sessions.
How to Inhale a Vape Properly, in 4 Steps
- Know your device. Check whether your kit is built for MTL or DTL before your first puff. Most beginner pod kits and anything using nic salts — like the flavours in our 10ml e-liquids collection — are built for MTL.
- Seal your lips. Close your mouth fully around the mouthpiece so no extra air sneaks in around the edges. A loose seal is one of the most common reasons beginners get a mouthful of cold air instead of vapour.
- Draw slow and steady. Gentle and unhurried wins every time. On an MTL device, draw into your mouth, pause for a beat, then breathe it into your lungs. On a DTL device, pull it straight into your lungs in one long, smooth breath.
- Exhale, don't force it. Let the vapour out in one relaxed breath. There's no need to hold it in like some people do with smoke — vapour doesn't work the same way, and holding it just wastes it.
Which Devices Use Which Technique
Different devices are built around different draws. And matching the two makes a huge difference to how comfortable your first few weeks of vaping feel.
Beginners are almost always better off starting with something from our MTL vape tanks collection or a simple sealed pod kit — rather than jumping straight to a sub-ohm setup.
| Device Type | Technique | Feel of the Draw |
|---|---|---|
| Sealed pod kit | MTL | Tight, like sipping through a straw |
| MTL vape tank | MTL | Adjustable but still restricted and cigarette-like |
| Sub-ohm DTL tank | DTL | Open and airy, straight to the lungs |
| High-wattage box mod | DTL | Big, open draw — needs a full deep breath |
Am I Drawing In Air Instead of Vapour?
A surprisingly common beginner problem is drawing in ordinary air rather than pulling vapour through the device. Usually because of a loose seal around the mouthpiece or a nervous, half-hearted puff.
It feels like nothing, tastes like nothing, and produces no cloud. Which understandably confuses a lot of first-time vapers.
If this keeps happening, check that your coil — from our coils collection — is properly seated and primed. And make sure your lips are forming a full seal with no gaps at the corners of your mouth.
A confident, steady draw works far better than a tentative one.
How Long Does Vaper's Cough Usually Last?
According to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), around 5.5 million adults in Great Britain currently vape. And the vast majority get past the early adjustment period within the first couple of weeks.
Coughing tends to be most noticeable in the first few days while you're still learning the technique. It should ease steadily as your draw becomes more natural.
📊 Real UK Stat
An estimated 5.5 million adults in Great Britain currently vape, according to ASH's July 2026 Smokefree GB survey — with the large majority having switched from smoking rather than starting from scratch.
How to Avoid Coughing Altogether
Most coughing fits are avoidable once you know what to look for. None of this takes any special skill — just a few small adjustments to how you puff.
- Slow the draw down — especially in your first week
- Try a nic salt from our 10ml e-liquids collection if freebase nicotine feels harsh on your throat
- Stay hydrated — a dry throat is more easily irritated
- Give yourself a proper gap between puffs instead of chain vaping
⚠️ Safety Note
If you have asthma or another lung condition, Asthma + Lung UK advises speaking to your GP or nurse if vaping seems to trigger your symptoms — since some people find the vapour irritates their airways.
Final Verdict: Getting Your Technique Right
Learning how to vape without coughing almost always comes down to two things: matching your draw to your device, and slowing everything right down.
Start with MTL if you're not sure. Seal your lips properly. And resist the urge to pull hard just because that's what worked with cigarettes.
Give it a few days of gentle practice, and most beginners find their technique clicks into place naturally. If you're still struggling, a device from our starter kits collection designed specifically for MTL is usually the easiest place to reset and start again.
At a Glance: Issue, Fix, and Where to Shop
| Issue | Fix | Where to Shop |
|---|---|---|
| Coughing on every puff | Slow the draw down and match technique to device | Starter kits collection |
| No vapour, tastes like air | Check the seal and reprime the coil | Coils collection |
| Harsh, scratchy throat hit | Switch to a smoother nic salt e-liquid | 10ml e-liquids collection |
| Not sure which draw to use | Start on a dedicated MTL tank | MTL vape tanks collection |
| Want a beginner-proven brand | Try an entry-level Vaporesso kit | Vaporesso kits collection |
FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is it normal to cough a lot when I first start vaping?
Yes — a bit of coughing in the first few days is completely normal, especially if you're new to inhaling vapour or recently stopped smoking. It usually settles quickly once your technique improves and your airways get used to the sensation. If it's still happening heavily after a couple of weeks, it's worth reviewing your device, nicotine strength, and draw style.
Q. Should I hold the vapour in my lungs like smoke?
No. There's no need to hold vapour in the way some people do with cigarette smoke. Vapour is absorbed quickly, so a natural, brief pause before exhaling is all you need. Holding it in longer doesn't give you more nicotine or flavour — it just wastes vapour and can make your throat feel drier than it needs to.
Q. Why does my throat feel harsh even though I'm using the right technique?
A harsh throat hit with good technique usually points to nicotine strength rather than draw style. If you're using a high mg freebase e-liquid, try dropping the strength or switching to a smoother nic salt, which tends to feel gentler even at similar nicotine levels. A worn-out coil can also make hits feel harsher than they should.
Q. Can I switch between MTL and DTL on the same device?
Some devices — particularly certain pod kits and tanks with adjustable airflow — are built to handle both styles reasonably well. Most beginner kits, however, are optimised for one or the other. So switching styles on a dedicated MTL device usually just leads to coughing. Check your device's specifications before trying to mix techniques.
Q. Why do I taste nothing at all when I puff?
Tasting nothing usually means you're drawing in air rather than pulling vapour through the coil. Often because of a loose lip seal or an unprimed coil. Check that your pod or tank is filled properly, that the coil has had a few minutes to soak up e-liquid, and that your mouth forms a complete seal around the mouthpiece.
Q. Does inhaling technique affect how much nicotine I get?
Yes, to some extent. DTL vaping draws more vapour into your lungs per puff. But MTL vaping with the pause-then-inhale rhythm allows more time for nicotine to be absorbed through the mouth and throat as well as the lungs. This is one reason MTL devices are often paired with slightly higher nicotine strengths than DTL setups.
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About the Author
This guide was written by the Vape Online Store editorial team, who research UK vaping technique, hardware, and regulations every week to help new vapers get the most out of their first kit. We are not medical professionals, and this article is for general information rather than personal health advice.
