Mouth to Lung vs Direct to Lung

You may have heard the terms “mouth to lung” and “direct to lung” thrown about here and there, but what exactly do these terms mean, and what do they mean to you? It’s important to know the difference because your choice will help shape your vaping experience. There’s no right or wrong; it’s about personal preference and what kind of vaping experience you want. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the two options and help you figure out which is right for you.

Mouth to lung

With a mouth to lung device, the way you inhale is more or less the same way you would inhale when smoking a cigarette: you pull the vapor into your mouth first and then inhale it into your throat and lungs. People that prefer this type of vaping aren’t interested in creating large, voluminous clouds of vapor. On the contrary, they may even favor discreet vaping. They may also focus on flavor and nicotine content over clouds to deliver the satisfaction they crave.

When looking for a mouth to lung device, a disposable e-cigarette, cigalikes, or pod system is your best bet. Along with an e-liquid with a 50/50 mix of PG and VG (or a higher PG than VG content) and nicotine salts, this setup will get you the best nicotine kick and smoothest throat hit. It is also the vaping experience that’s closest to smoking, an added benefit if you’re trying to replace cigarettes with e-cigs.  

Direct to lung

Unlike MTL vaping, direct to lung tanks are known for their looser vapor, which users inhale (as the name suggests) directly into the lungs. Typically, these devices have larger battery capacities and produce much higher volumes of vapor than mouth to lung devices. These qualities make DTL devices more popular among advanced vapers and hobbyists who favor large, thick clouds and more control over their vaping experience.

When you use a DTL device, you don’t draw the vapor into your mouth and then inhale it; rather, you more or less breathe through your atomizer, drawing the vapor straight into your lungs as though simply taking a deep breath. You may also hear this type of vaping referred to as “lung hitting” or “lung puffing.” It isn’t only for cloud chasers; it’s also for people who consume more e-juice per day, particularly at higher powers. Usually, DTL vapers choose vape juice with lower nicotine contents, which makes sense when you consider that they tend to consume more juice overall. This setup is ideal for someone who focuses on sensations of flavor and warmth and the visual appeal of a larger vapor cloud.

While mouth to lung vs direct lung are two broad categories in the world of vaping, they don’t tell the entire story. As you experiment and find your vaping style, you may discover that you enjoy both forms of vaping and choose one or the other depending on the setting you’re in. The bottom line is that vaping is all about playing around with some of the different devices and liquids available and finding the ones that you like the most.

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