VAPING VS HEATED TOBACCO: WHICH IS BETTER?

 
Switching from smoking to a reduced-risk alternative like vaping is a smart move for your health but what are the differences between vaping and heat not burn tobacco? We’ve compiled all the need-to-know information so you can make an easy choice.

Vapes and heated tobacco products are both potentially less harmful alternatives* to smoking traditional cigarettes that work by creating vapour – instead of smoke – for inhalation. Technically they are both vaping devices as they both deliver a vapour that mimics the act of smoking, but without the combustion, smoke, ash and toxic chemicals.

Vaping is the act of inhaling vapour produced by e-liquid, which contains nicotine and flavourings by way of a battery powered vape pen. When the user draws on the vape pen, the e-cigarette vaporises the e-liquid in it to create vapour.

Some vape systems – called open systems – require users to refill the e-liquid themselves. Vuse** vape pens, on the other hand, are closed systems that require little to no maintenance. They contain a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and work with prefilled e-juice pods (called ePods) that are available in a wide range of flavours and nicotine strengths, as well as nicotine-free options.

Heated tobacco products consist of a pen with an onboard rechargeable battery and ceramic heating blade that is used to heat up specially designed tobacco sticks, producing vapour for inhalation in the process.

Heated tobacco products consist of a pen with an onboard rechargeable battery and ceramic heating blade that is used to heat up specially designed tobacco sticks, producing vapour for inhalation in the process.

Choosing vaping versus smoking is a no brainer. Breathing in tobacco smoke is harmful for smokers and those around them. (We all know the dangers of second-hand smoke). Because neither vapes nor heated tobacco products involve combustion, no smoke is produced when using them.

Both vapes and heat-not-burn solutions offer a potentially safer nicotine consumption mechanism than smoking, and are intended for use by adult nicotine users looking for an alternative to cigarettes.

Unlike heated tobacco, which is available in a limited range of flavours, Vuse’s top-quality ePods come in a broad range of nicotine strengths and flavours – ranging from fruity and mint, to rich tobacco flavours. In addition, because Vuse is powered by interchangeable flavour pods you can switch them up at will if you fancy a varied vaping flavour sensation.

E-liquids come in different nicotine strengths you can get your fix without smoking. You can also control the amount of nicotine you use without suffering withdrawal symptoms and, should you wish, you can gradually reduce the amount of nicotine you consume.

The manufacturers of heated tobacco products claim that while their products are not risk-free, they are a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes.

Heat-not-burn devices use real tobacco heated to a specific temperature range to provide a smoke-free inhalation experience without combustion. The limited range of flavours available include varying tobacco flavours, as well as mint and menthol variants.

The experience of using heated tobacco products is not dissimilar to vaping, although some users complain about the lingering smell when using heated tobacco, as well as the inconvenience of having to dispose of smelly used tobacco sticks.

There is no combustion involved in vaping or using heated tobacco systems, so there’s no ash or smoke. But while both vapes and heat-not-burn products deliver vapour for inhalation, there are key differences to bear in mind.

• Vaping involves inhaling flavoured, nicotine-infused vapour produced when e-liquid is heated up and vaporised.
• Heated tobacco products work by heating up tobacco sticks to create a vapour that is inhaled.

The use of vapes and heated tobacco is legal in South Africa and both heated tobacco products and vapes like Vuse are intended for use by adult nicotine users and smokers wanting to switch to a potentially less harmful nicotine delivery mechanism.

Vuse is a member of the Vapour Products Association of South Africa (VPASA) and is committed to ensuring that all products are only marketed to adult nicotine users looking for a less harmful alternative to traditional cigarettes.

Heated tobacco devices and heat sticks are more expensive and less accessible than vapes like Vuse. You can’t buy the devices, or the heat sticks, online and a box of 20 sticks costs about the same as some brands of cigarettes.

Vuse devices and ePods, on the other hand, are available for sale online, at Vuse Inspiration stores and kiosks near you, and from third party retailers like large grocery stores.

Ultimately, deciding which is the best vape for you comes down to personal preference.

Where ease of use and convenience are concerned both vapes and heated tobacco are attractive options. Vuse vapes and ePods are competitively priced, widely available and offer so many flavour choices that it’s easy to understand why the brand is a global category leader.

Tobacco smoke contains more than 7 000 chemicals, including hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide and ammonia. Some 69 of these harmful chemicals are said to cause cancer. These numbers alone should be reason enough to ditch the ciggies and switch to a non-combustible, potentially safer alternative.

Vuse has brought technological innovation, flavour and science to the world of vaping since its launch in the UK in 2013. Now available in 25 countries worldwide, the brand is a main player in the South African vaping space, too.

To date there are 78 Vuse Inspiration stores scattered across the country where you can engage with a customer service specialist to select the device and ePod flavours that suit you best. Or you can go online where the full range of Vuse products is featured and take advantage of one of the online-exclusive deals. Plus, when you spend more than R450 and delivery is free.

There really is no good reason not to make the switch today. Go on treat yourself and let us know which product and flavour is your favourite.

* Compared to a conventional cigarette when smoked. This product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, an addictive substance.
 
**This product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, an addictive substance.