The first time I heard the term “nic-shot”, I was a little confused, so you can imagine what happened when “nic-salts” came about! To help you understand what these terms mean we’re going to explain them one by one. Sit tight, this is going to be an interesting read…
The first time I heard the term “nic-shot”, I was a little confused, so you can imagine what happened when “nic-salts” came about! To help you understand what these terms mean we’re going to explain them one by one. Sit tight, this is going to be an interesting read……
A short fill is e-liquid with no nicotine in a bottle that has extra space for a nicotine shot/booster. Typically, short fill e-liquids are available in a 60ml bottle which has 50ml of e-liquid and enough space for you to add a 10ml nic shot.
Short-fills provide great value as you receive a lot more e-liquid for your money and the best part is, you don’t have to worry about what strength it is since you can mix your own. This way, you can carry a large bottle with your exact mixture of nicotine instead of a handful of 10mls!
Oh, and it doesn’t stop there either, the bottle sizes vary, meaning you can have a 100ml bottle with space for two nic-shots. If this sounds daunting, fear not since mixing is very easy and safe.
Nicotine shot
The term “nic-shot” or “nic booster” is commonly given to a 10ml bottle of flavorless 18mg nicotine strength PG/VG solution, which is added to a short fill or nicotine-free bottle of e-liquid to create a vaper’s preferred nicotine strength, confused? Basically, a 50ml 0mg e-liquid plus a 10ml 18mg Nicotine shot = 60ml 3mg e-liquid.
Nic Salts
Nicotine salt e-liquids can take two forms, they can be a pre-mixed ready to vape
e-liquids or they can be Nicotine Salt shots/boosters that can be added to short fills (see above).
We are all used to “freebase” or pharmaceutical grade nicotine, which is found in almost every pre-mixed bottle of e-liquid on the market. This form of nicotine is absorbed by the body at a steadier rate than nicotine salts and the more you vape, the more nicotine builds up in your system which is released over a period of time. This ‘traditional’ nicotine takes longer to be released into your system but will also keep your nic-cravings in check for a longer period of time. The purpose of nic-salts is to get higher levels of nicotine without the throat hit of the freebase.
Nic-salts are derived directly from the crystals found in tobacco leaves and are considered smoother to vape. Some salts containing 20mg of nicotine, can feel and taste as low as a 10mg mixture — so care is required in their use, remember safety first people, always keep a close eye on your nicotine levels when vaping.
Nic-salts are less efficiently absorbed into the system so some manufacturers started changing their formulas to compensate for this. This meant that the nicotine could be broken down quickly when vaporized, thus allowing it to be absorbed faster whilst retaining its smoothness. Paired with a flavor of your choice, nic-salt shots can be the key to a quick vape when the time is of the essence, allowing for an instant nicotine rush for instant satisfaction. This form of nicotine, however, will fade quicker than the conventional “freebase” nic, due to the lack of built-up nicotine in your system.
Over absorption of nicotine can lead to adverse effects, so we don’t recommend doing a lung hit with anything over 6mg on sub-ohm devices since you could lose track of how much you vape and high wattage devices could make it very harsh to vape. Giving yourself 5–8 seconds between vapes allows your body to absorb the nicotine so you don’t overdo it.
The differences between premium vs standard e-liquid, or the types of juices you get from Nai Vape versus the type of e-juices you get in supermarkets or some petrol stations. The difference is not just the price, it’s the e-juices themselves. Some manufacturers take their time when releasing a new flavor or range of flavours and that’s because they will go through painstaking research and development to bring you the best of the best, the Crème de la Crème of flavours. You know that cocktail e-juice you’ve been really enjoying lately? you know, the one that makes you go, “That tastes just like a cocktail!” Well, that juice probably took months to develop and it’s the same thing with nic-shots, careful distillation and lots of TLC.
And that’s it, pretty simple, right? Always remember to wash your hands thoroughly after being in contact with nicotine though and please keep ANY nicotine products out of the reach of under 18s. It’s something we consider to be a simple thing, but people make mistakes. Nicotine is not a toy and should always be handled with care.
that’s it for now, until next time! Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below.