Tight Draw – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A tight draw is a restricted airflow setting on a vapetank or pod that mimics the resistance felt when puffing on a traditional cigarette. By limiting the amount of air that mixes with vapour, a tight draw produces a concentrated, warmer mouthful of vapour that is first held in the mouth (mouth-to-lung or MTL) before being inhaled to the lungs. This style is purposely designed to deliver a pronounced Hit“>throat hit, modest cloud size and efficient nicotine delivery—ideal for new vapers quitting smoking and for discreet vaping in Australia’s public spaces.

Technical Details

Physically, a tight draw is created by narrow airflow channels, smaller bore drip-tips (≤ 3 mm) and higher-resistance coils (≥ 1.0 Ω). Internal airflow is commonly measured at 1–1.5 mm per inlet, giving an overall pressure drop of 6–12 mmH₂O—enough resistance to trigger an MTL inhale reflex. Manufacturers achieve this with:

• Fixed-pin airflow ports drilled directly under the coil
• Externally adjustable rings offering 1–5 discrete micro-settings
• Coil heads with vertical cotton channels and tight chimney diameters

Variations include “classic MTL” (tightest), “restricted lung” (slightly looser) and “RDL” hybrids that sit between tight and airy draws. Some rebuildable atomisers allow users to swap 0.8 mm–1.2 mm airflow inserts for fine-tuning.

Usage & Tips

Prime a new coil with 5-7 drops of e-liquid, fill the top fill tank and let it saturate for 5 minutes. Start at the lowest Wattage Range”>wattage range printed on the coil; increase gradually to avoid burning. If the draw feels too stiff:

• Check for blocked airflow slots—condensation and pocket lint are common culprits
• Switch to a 50/50 PG/VG juice; high-VG liquid is too thick for tight wicking ports
• Use nicotine salts 20–35 mg for a satisfying hit without harshness

Never cover airflow holes with your fingers while firing; restricted cooling can overheat Wire“>titanium wire or kanthal coils and degrade cotton. If your device offers temperature control, lock the coil at 200–240 °C for consistent warmth without dry hits.

History & Context

Early cig-a-likes (2007-2010) offered only tight draws because cartomiser holes were under 1 mm. When sub-ohmcloud chasing exploded around 2014, Aussie vapers requested familiar cigarette resistance; manufacturers responded with modern MTL tanks such as the Nautilus series. Today, tight-draw devices dominate Australian nicotine-prescription market sales, reflecting both legal import limits and vaper preference for stealth and efficiency.