Choosing the right PG/VG ratio for your vape device depends on your personal vaping preferences and the type of device you use. PG (Propylene Glycol) and VG (Vegetable Glycerin) are the two main ingredients in e-liquids, and the ratio between them influences factors like throat hit, vapor production, and flavor. Here’s a guide to help you choose the best ratio based on your needs.

Key Characteristics of PG and VG:

PG (Propylene Glycol)

  • Throat hit: Provides a stronger throat hit, similar to the sensation of smoking a cigarette.
  • Flavor: Carries flavor better, so e-liquids with higher PG content often have more intense flavor.
  • Vapor production: Produces less dense vapor compared to VG.
  • Consistency: Thinner, meaning it flows more easily through coils and wicks faster.
  • Sensitivity: Some people are sensitive to high PG levels, which can cause throat irritation.

VG (Vegetable Glycerin)

  • Vapor production: Produces thicker, denser clouds of vapor, making it ideal for cloud chasers.
  • Flavor: Mutes flavors slightly compared to PG, but many still find it satisfying.
  • Smoothness: Provides a smoother throat hit, making it easier on the throat.
  • Consistency: Thicker, meaning it takes longer to wick and is best for sub-ohm devices with larger coils.
  • Sweetness: Has a natural sweetness that can enhance the taste of certain e-liquids.

Common PG/VG Ratios and Their Uses:

1. 50/50 PG/VG Ratio

  • Best For: Mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping, smokers transitioning to vaping, and smaller vape devices like pod systems.
  • Experience: Provides a balance between flavor and vapor production. You get a decent throat hit and a fair amount of vapor, but without being overwhelming.
  • Devices: Ideal for lower-wattage devices, such as pod systems or smaller MTL devices with high-resistance coils (above 1.0 ohm).
  • E-Liquids: Works well with both freebase nicotine and nicotine salts, depending on your preference.

2. 70/30 VG/PG Ratio

  • Best For: Direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping, sub-ohm vaping, and cloud chasers.
  • Experience: Provides a smoother throat hit with dense vapor clouds and slightly muted flavors. This ratio is popular for users who prioritize vapor production over throat hit.
  • Devices: Ideal for high-wattage, sub-ohm devices that can handle the thicker consistency of VG. These devices usually have large wicking holes to accommodate the slower wicking of high-VG liquids.
  • E-Liquids: Best paired with freebase nicotine or nicotine-free e-liquids, as high VG is often too thick for nicotine salt e-liquids used in pod systems.

3. Max VG (80% VG or Higher)

  • Best For: Advanced users focused on cloud production, using powerful sub-ohm devices.
  • Experience: Provides a very smooth inhale with massive clouds, but the flavor intensity is reduced compared to lower VG ratios. The throat hit is minimal.
  • Devices: Suitable for high-powered, advanced devices with sub-ohm coils (below 1.0 ohm) that can wick thicker liquids properly. These setups usually require higher wattages.
  • E-Liquids: Typically used with freebase nicotine or no nicotine, as the thicker consistency may struggle to work with nicotine salt systems.

4. 60/40 or 70/30 PG/VG Ratio

  • Best For: Flavor chasers and those who prefer a strong throat hit.
  • Experience: Offers a stronger throat hit and more intense flavor, with less vapor production compared to higher VG blends. Ideal for former smokers who miss the cigarette-like hit.
  • Devices: Works best with mouth-to-lung (MTL) devices that use high-resistance coils. Not suitable for sub-ohm devices due to the thinner consistency of PG, which can cause leaking.
  • E-Liquids: Commonly used with freebase nicotine and nicotine salts, especially for higher nicotine strengths.

How to Choose Based on Your Device and Preferences:

1. For Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) Devices or Pod Systems

  • Best Ratio: 50/50 or 60/40 (PG/VG).
  • Why: These devices are designed for higher-resistance coils, and thinner e-liquids with higher PG wick better. They also provide a stronger throat hit, which is often preferred by ex-smokers.

2. For Direct-to-Lung (DTL) and Sub-Ohm Devices

  • Best Ratio: 70/30 or higher VG blends (like 80/20).
  • Why: Sub-ohm devices are designed for producing large clouds and operate at higher wattages. Higher VG ratios produce thick vapor and a smoother throat hit, ideal for DTL vaping.

3. For Nicotine Salts

  • Best Ratio: 50/50 or 60/40 (PG/VG).
  • Why: Nicotine salts are usually vaped at lower wattages in MTL devices, and a higher PG ratio helps deliver a satisfying throat hit and enhances the nicotine delivery without being too harsh.

Summary:

  • For flavor and throat hit: Go with a 50/50 or 60/40 PG/VG ratio.
  • For vapor production and smoother hits: Opt for 70/30 or Max VG (80/20) for larger clouds and smoother inhales.
  • For MTL vaping and pod systems: Choose 50/50 or 60/40 to ensure proper wicking and avoid leaking.
  • For sub-ohm and DTL vaping: Use 70/30 or higher VG ratios for thicker clouds and smoother throat hits.

Experimenting with different ratios will help you find the right balance for your device and vaping style!