Mouth to Lung (MTL) vs. Direct to Lung (DTL): The Two Styles of Vaping

Mouth to Lung vs Direct to Lung Vaping

Vapers seek a variety of benefits from their vaping experiences. The vaping industry has met the challenge of providing the diverse hardware choices and e-liquids that enable everyone to vape their preferred way.

You will certainly find flavours that you love and nicotine strengths that relieve your cravings. You can also benefit from a device boasting the look and size that best suits your needs. Most importantly you can choose your vaping style – mouth to lung (MTL) or direct to lung (DTL).

But what do these terms mean and which vaping style is the right one for you?

What is mouth to lung vaping?

You are probably discovering that the vaping world features unique terminology and jargon that can prove to be somewhat confusing, at least initially. Vaping is a relatively recent innovation that has demanded the use of new ways to describe the various products involved together with the diverse aspects of vaping.

Happily, mouth to lung is a phrase that is almost self-explanatory. MTL vaping is simply the practice of inhaling vapour into your mouth before drawing it into your lungs. It’s the same inhalation method that you would have used when smoking traditional cigarettes.

What are the benefits of MTL vaping?

There are several benefits to MTL vaping that are worth considering:

MTL vaping will feel familiar as it replicates the action of smoking.
You can expect a significant throat hit with MTL vaping – good if you are trying to quit smoking.
MTL devices deliver discreet vaper.
If you are vaping on a budget, MTL devices tend to be affordable choices.
MTL vapes are often simple, user-friendly options that you can quickly master.
You can vape the best nic salts flavours with MTL hardware.

What hardware do you need to vape mouth to lung?

To enjoy MTL draws you need a vape kit that boasts high resistance coils. This used to mean vape coils with resistances greater than 1.0 ohm. But these days you will find coils with resistances as low as 0.6 ohm that are suitable for MTL vaping.

Most MTL devices such as vape pens and pod kits feature limited functionality and so are easy to master. The ranges of the leading brands such as Innokin, Aspire and GeekVape give you numerous MTL options that are ideal for both beginners and more experienced vapers. You will definitely find a stylish and reliable vape kit that suits your needs.

What about e-liquids for MTL vaping?

MTL vape kits feature higher resistance coils that are compatible with e-liquids that are at least 50PG. These include salt nicotine flavours which tend to have 50:50 bases and work best with coil resistances of 0.6 ohm to 0,9 ohm.

If your device is fitted with a coil with a resistance of 1.0 ohm or greater, e-liquids that are at least 70PG such as those in the Hangsen and 88vape ranges would be great options.

What is direct to lung vaping?

Vaping should help you to quit smoking. You will almost certainly begin your vaping journey with an MTL device. But when you find that smoking has been firmly consigned to the past, your vaping priorities could change. You may find that you no longer require much of a nicotine hit or throat hit. You might realise that flavour, clouds or both are your primary interests.

It should come as no surprise to learn that direct to lung vaping is the practice of drawing vapour directly into your lungs rather than holding it in your mouth for a short time before drawing it into your lungs.

DTL vaping delivers little or no throat hit but far bigger clouds of vapour. The greater amount of vapour means that you absorb more nicotine with every puff and so you will require a lower nicotine strength. DTL vaping will see you plough through more e-liquid than previously and the required kit tends to be more costly than MTL vapes. There are cost implications when you switch to DTL vaping but there are many benefits too.

What are the benefits of DTL vaping?

Most vapers eventually transition from MTL to DTL vaping, but DTL draws are not for everyone.

Here are the significant benefits that you could enjoy:

You can produce huge clouds of vapour.
DTL vaping delivers intense flavour.
DTL vaping enables you to explore exciting functionality.
DTL hardware enables you to fine tune you draws.
Some e-liquid flavours are only available with high VG bases suitable for sub ohm/DTL set-ups.

What type of vape kit do you need for DTL vaping?

To generate massive clouds vape coils must heat to higher temperatures and so must boast lower resistances. DTL vaping is also known as sub ohm vaping. DTL coils boast resistances that are less than 0.60 ohm. Indeed, to truly max out on vapour you will require a vape kit compatible with coils that have a resistance of 0.2ohm or less.

You will find DTL kits in the ranges of many leading brands. While the functionality offered by these devices does vary, most are more complex offerings than MTL vapes. You can explore variable wattage, temperature control, custom curve and other operating modes.

The enhanced capabilities of DTL vapes means that they tend to be larger and more costly. It is possible to invest in a relatively simple sub ohm device, but you would then lose the opportunity to explore the many possibilities offered by the more advanced hardware options.

Your choice of sub ohm device will depend on your priorities – clouds, functionality or ease of use.

Which e-liquids are suitable for DTL vapes?

The low resistance coils of sub ohm vaping hardware are compatible with high VG e-liquids. Look for vape juices that are at least 70VG if you wish to produce amazing clouds.

Can you strike a balance between MTL and DTL vaping?

Yes! If you would like to improve the intensity of flavour you experience and produce bigger clouds but still benefit from a noticeable throat hit, you should try restricted direct to lung (RDTL) vaping. RDTL vaping sits somewhere between MTL and DTL vaping. It is primarily the domain of the latest pod vape kits that offer superior performance compared to the small beginner-oriented pod vaping systems. But these devices are smaller, lighter and somewhat less powerful than sub ohm vape mods.

RDTL equipment has slightly restrictive airflow that slows inhalation a little while still allowing you to inhale the vapour directly into your lungs. RDTL is a vaping method that offers a great compromise and could also prove useful in easing your transition to sub ohm set-ups.

MTL, DTL OR RDTL, which should you choose?

It’s best to begin your vaping journey with an MTL vape as this will be easy to use and will ensure that you benefit from the nicotine hits you need. When you have fully transitioned to vaping, you could still find that you gain the satisfaction and enjoyment you seek from MTL draws. But if you crave more intense flavour or bigger clouds, it would be worth trying sub ohm vaping. DTL hardware should also prove appealing if you love your gadgets and would relish learning how to set up your kit then use the various operating modes.

There’s no doubt that if you favour simplicity and convenience, MTL vaping is likely to the better choice. If you love to tinker, DTL vaping could be the answer. But the lines between hardware categories are blurring. It is possible to invest in a simple DTL kit or a relatively complex MTL kit. RDTL vaping is also in the mix.

No vape kit is right for everyone and you might need to try more than one before you find the hardware that hits the spot for you.