Switching From Smoking to Vaping: A Practical Guide for Irish Smokers

Every week we speak to smokers who want to try vaping but do not know where to start. Some have tried a cheap device years ago and hated it. Others have been put off by all the different kits, liquids and strengths. Most simply want someone to explain it in plain language.

This guide is written for adult smokers in Ireland who are thinking about switching from cigarettes to vaping. It covers what to expect, which device to start with, how to choose a nicotine strength and the common mistakes that make people give up in the first week. It also explains where to get free support if you want to stop using nicotine altogether.

First, the honest bit

Vaping is not risk free and it is not for people who do not already smoke. E-liquids contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Health bodies also take different positions. The NHS in the UK describes vaping as far less harmful than smoking and an option for people trying to quit. In Ireland, the HSE does not currently recommend e-cigarettes as a stop smoking aid and points smokers toward its free QUIT service and licensed nicotine replacement products.

What most experts agree on is that the biggest harm from cigarettes comes from burning tobacco, which produces tar and carbon monoxide. Vapes do not burn tobacco. If you are an adult smoker who has decided to switch, the rest of this guide will help you do it properly.

Why so many first attempts fail

People who try vaping and go back to cigarettes usually run into one of these problems:

• The nicotine strength was too low, so cravings never really went away.
• The device was wrong for them, often a big cloud producing kit that feels nothing like a cigarette.
• They inhaled like a smoker, taking short hard drags instead of slow, steady puffs.
• The device kept leaking, burning or dying, because of cheap hardware or poor setup.

Get those four things right and your chances of sticking with it improve a lot.

Step 1: Choose the right type of device

For a smoker, the best starting point is a small mouth to lung (MTL) device. MTL means you draw vapour into your mouth first and then inhale, just like a cigarette. You have three good options.

Prefilled pod kits

The easiest option of all. You charge the battery and click in a sealed pod of liquid. Nothing to fill and nothing to adjust. The prefilled pod kit range, including the IVG Pro 10K and Lost Mary Nera, is where we point most new switchers.

4 in 1 kits

A rechargeable device with four prefilled pods in the box. Great if you want to try a few flavours before committing. See the 4 in 1 vape range.

Refillable pod kits

Slightly more hands on, but the cheapest to run. You fill a small pod from a bottle of e-liquid. The Aspire Gotek X is a great first refillable kit. Our pod kit buying guide explains the options in detail.

With the disposable vape ban on the way, we no longer suggest starting with a disposable. A pod kit gives you the same simplicity with far less waste.

Step 2: Get the nicotine strength right

This is the single most important decision. Most smokers switching to a pod kit do best with a nic salt e-liquid, which is smooth even at higher strengths.

• More than 15 cigarettes a day: start with 20mg nic salt.
• Around 10 to 15 a day: 20mg or 10mg, depending on how strong your cigarettes were.
• Fewer than 10 a day: start with 10mg.

20mg is the legal maximum in Ireland. If you are unsure, start at 20mg. It is much easier to drop down later than to fight cravings with a liquid that is too weak. Read more in our guide to nic salt vs freebase and nicotine strength.

Step 3: Learn how to vape

Vaping is not quite the same as smoking, and a few small changes make a big difference.

• Take a slower, longer draw. Around two to three seconds is right for most pod kits.
• Do not expect a cigarette's harshness. Nic salt is smooth by design. Smooth does not mean weak.
• Vape little and often at first. Unlike a cigarette, you do not need to finish anything. Take a few puffs when you feel a craving and put it down.
• Give it a week. Your body and your habits need time to adjust. The first few days are always the strangest.

Step 4: Plan for the tricky moments

Most smokers have trigger moments: the first coffee, the drive to work, the pint after work, the break at 11. Think about yours in advance and make sure your vape is charged and with you. A few customers tell us that keeping a spare pod in the car or at work was the thing that finally made it stick.

It is also worth telling the people around you. Friends and family are usually supportive, and it is easier to resist a cigarette when people know you are switching.

Step 5: Look after your device

A kit that tastes burnt or dies at lunchtime is the fastest way back to cigarettes. Charge your device each evening (not overnight, and never on a soft surface), prime new pods before using them and change pods when the flavour fades. Our battery safety page and our vape troubleshooting guide cover the basics.

What about the cost?

After Budget 2026, a pack of 20 of the most popular cigarette brands in Ireland costs close to 19 euro. For a 20 a day smoker that is well over 500 euro a month. Even with the e-liquid tax that came in during 2025, a pod kit and a steady supply of pods or e-liquid usually costs a fraction of that over a month. Refillable kits are the cheapest of all.

Want to stop nicotine completely?

Many people use vaping as a step away from cigarettes and then want to reduce or stop nicotine altogether. You can lower your strength gradually over time, for example from 20mg to 10mg. For structured help, the HSE QUIT service offers free one to one support by phone, online and in person, and you can talk to your GP or pharmacist about licensed nicotine replacement therapy. Visit quit.ie or call the free QUIT line for more information.

Frequently asked questions

Will I cough when I start vaping?

A small cough in the first day or two is common, especially with a strong draw. Slower puffs and a nic salt liquid usually solve it.

Can I smoke and vape at the same time?

Many people do both for a short time while they adjust. The aim for most switchers is to move fully away from cigarettes as soon as they feel ready.

Which flavour should I start with?

Some smokers like a tobacco flavour at first because it feels familiar. Others prefer fruit or menthol because it feels like a clean break. There is no wrong answer.

We are here to help you switch

If you would like a personal recommendation, contact our team and tell us roughly how much you smoke. We will suggest a starter kit and a strength, and orders placed before 2pm leave our Dublin base the same day.

Vaping products contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. They are intended for adult smokers aged 18 and over and are not recommended for non smokers. This article is general information, not medical advice.