MTL Vs DTL Vaping

In this article, we are going to get into the nitty-gritty of MTL vs DTL vaping. They're going head to head in a battle to decide which one is best for you and your vaping needs.

If you want somewhere to go next?

• Best MTL Vape Guide

Here's what we are going to be chatting about. Skip ahead if you can't wait:

• What is DTL vaping?
• What is MTL vaping?
• MTL vs DTL
• MTL and DTL devices 
• Coil options 
• What eliquid for MTL?
• What e liquid for DTL?
• 3 of the best DTL vape kits
• 3 of the best MTL vape kits 
• 3 best MTL and DTL kits

What is DTL vaping?

Before we put MTL vs DTL head to head, let's quickly explain the difference. First of all, DTL stands for direct-to-lung. This does exactly what it says on the tin. You inhale the vapour directly into your lungs, taking a slow and steady draw.

This is a vaping style more commonly chosen by cloud chasers, sub-ohm and intermediate to advanced vapers. 

Hang on - WTF is sub ohm vaping? Find out in that link back there!

What is MTL vaping?

MTL vaping stands for mouth to lung. Again, this is exactly how to do it. You inhale it into your mouth then your lungs. 

This is a vaping style often chosen by ex-smokers as it is the traditional inhale of a cigarette. Mostly you will find this style with vape starter kits. 

MTL vs DTL

Now, there’s a question. To be honest, it totally depends on what you want to get from your vape experience. 

If you want to quit smoking and prefer the high nicotine and mouth to lung inhale, then you will choose mouth to lung. 

If cloud chasing is more your bag, then you’d be looking at a DTL device. Neither one is better than the other, they just offer slightly different experiences to the user.

MTL and DTL kits

At the end of this MTL vs DTL showdown, we will share some of the best devices for each vaping style. But, firstly you might want to know what sort of thing to expect. 

• If you want to skip: Read the Best MTL vape kits, tanks and juices

There is obviously the inhale which is different between the two kits, then there are a few other things too.

MTL 

• Usually smaller
• Discreet
• No huge clouds 
• Compatible with higher nicotine juice
• Coils above 1ohm

DTL

• Often larger
• Clouds
• Power 
• Coils below 1ohm (ideally 0.5ohm and below)

Coil options

Okay, so we mentioned coils and ohms just there. Stay with us. It isn’t complicated when you read a little more into it. 

An MTL coil will be noticeably smaller than a DTL coil. The MTL’s are often thinner which restricts the airflow and gives the user a tighter draw, much like smoking. 

The DTL has a wide-open coil which allows more air and more cloud! 

On the side of the coils, you will notice that there is resistance and suggested wattage on the side. Mostly, a DTL coil will be less than 1ohm and watts will be above 25. An MTL coil will be above 1ohm and below 25 watts.

Most of your starter kits don’t allow you to fiddle with wattage and it is set, such as on the Aspire Pockex. Other MTL kits such as the Rover 2 do allow you to adjust watts if you do fancy making some adjustments.

Best MTL E-liquids

When you use a mouth to lung device you will be best off with a high PG liquid. High PG is thinner and moves through the coils best giving you a good throat hit. Also, they can be up to 18mg nicotine, or 20mg if you choose nic salts, making it the ideal choice for the ex-smoker. 

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Best DTL liquids

When you use a direct to lung device you want to make sure your e-liquid has a higher quantity of VG. VG is thicker, provides a smooth throat hit and big clouds. Anything above 70% VG is ideal for your sub-ohm vape kits.

The nicotine levels in DTL, high VG juice, are ideally no higher than 6mg. Due to TPD compliance, all juices above 10ml will be 0mg. These are often your high VG, but you can add your own nic shots to bring the nicotine content up higher. 

Best DTL kits

So, you’ve decided that you want a smooth throat hit, cloud, adjustable power and low nicotine. That right there is a direct to lung choice! Let’s look at the best DTL vape kits on the market right now. 

Best Mouth-to-Lung Kits

MTL vaping more your bag? Let’s have a look at kits that best replicate smoking, these can be used with high nicotine and have a cigarette-like draw. 

Best MTL and DTL kits (yep, have your cake AND eat it!)

Final thoughts on MTL and DTL

Let's just summarise briefly on what we've learned here. 

MTL is ideal for newly ex-smokers looking to replicate the draw and throat hit of a cigarette and enjoy higher nicotine e-liquids. You will need to be using a coil 1ohm and above for these high PG juices.

DTL is best for vapers looking for cloud, smooth throat hit and low nicotine. You will be using a coil with a resistance below 1ohm.

If you can't quite decide, check out the versatile kits which allow both vaping styles, depending on the coil you have installed.