Soft Hit – What is it in Vaping?

Definition

A Soft Hit is a smooth, gentle inhale from a vape device that minimises throat irritation and delivers a mellow nicotine sensation. Unlike the sharp “throat hit” many ex-smokers crave, a soft hit feels closer to breathing warm, flavoured air, making it ideal for beginners, flavour chasers, and vapers using high-strength nicotine salts. The purpose is to prioritise taste and comfort over the harsh kick associated with Sub-Ohm clouds or high-propylene-glycol (PG) liquids. Achieving a soft hit relies on low-power settings, higher-resistance coils, and balanced e-liquid ratios, ensuring an easy transition from smoking or a more relaxed vape experience.

Technical Details

Soft hits are engineered by reducing vapour temperature and nicotine throat impact. Most users set devices between 8–18 W, employ coils ≥ 1.0 Ω, and choose e-liquids with 50% VG or higher to thicken vapour and soften the draw. Airflow is opened fully to cool the coil, while nicotine salts at 20–35 mg/mL provide satisfaction without harshness. Variations include:

  • Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) pods: optimised for tight airflow and high-resistance coils.
  • Squonk mods in MTL mode: paired with restricted drip tips for cooler vapour.
  • Temperature Control (TC): caps coil heat below 200°C to eliminate “dry hit” spikes.

Modern Starter Kits often ship with two coil options: a 0.6 Ω Sub-Ohm for clouds and a 1.2 Ω for soft hits, letting users switch styles without buying new hardware.

Usage & Tips

  • Prime new coils thoroughly and steep high-VG juices 24 h to mute any alcohol-based harshness.
  • If the draw feels too airy, close the airflow ring halfway; too tight, open it gradually until the vapour is cool and flavourful.
  • Chain-vapers should stay below 14 W on cotton wicks to avoid singeing and maintain the soft profile.
  • Always check for Short Circuit Protection alerts before attaching a new pod; a fault can spike wattage and destroy the mellow effect.

History & Context

Soft hits gained popularity in 2016 when Australian nicotine salt liquids entered the grey market, coinciding with pocket-sized pod systems. As local vapers sought discreet, low-cloud options to navigate public vaping restrictions, manufacturers shifted focus from 50 W Sub-Ohm chuckers to 10 W MTL devices, cementing the soft hit as the default starting style for new converts.

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