IVG sells its flavours as both nic salts and shortfills, so choosing the wrong one for your device leads to a poor vape and it pays to understand the difference. IVG nic salts are ready to vape 10ml bottles at 10mg or 20mg for low power pod kits, while IVG shortfills are larger high VG bottles for powerful sub ohm devices. This guide compares them on device, nicotine, flavour and value so you buy the right one.

If you are still getting to know the brand, our guide on IVG flavour ranges explained covers the lineup. Our guide on IVG nic salt strengths helps with nicotine.

The quick answer

The right choice depends entirely on your device. If you use a low power pod kit or MTL starter kit, you want IVG nic salts, which come ready to vape in 10ml bottles at 10mg or 20mg in a 50/50 blend. If you use a powerful sub ohm device that makes big clouds, you want IVG shortfills, which are larger high VG bottles designed for that style. Putting a thick shortfill in a small pod or a strong salt in a sub ohm device, will give a poor and uncomfortable vape. Match the liquid to the kit and both shine.

The device difference

Device compatibility is the single most important factor. IVG nic salts use a thin 50/50 blend that wicks quickly in the small coils of pod kits and MTL starter kits, giving a tight, cigarette like draw. IVG shortfills use a thick 70/30 high VG blend that needs the large wicking ports and high power of a sub ohm tank to vaporise properly. Use a shortfill in a small pod and the thick liquid cannot soak the coil fast enough, causing dry, burnt hits. Use a strong salt in a sub ohm device and you would inhale far too much nicotine. The kit decides the liquid.

The nicotine difference

How you get your nicotine differs too. Nic salts come ready to vape at a fixed 10mg or 20mg, using the smooth salt form that suits higher strengths and gives fast craving relief, which is ideal for pod kits and ex smokers. Shortfills, by contrast, are sold at 0mg with extra space in the bottle, so you add a nicotine shot yourself to reach a lower strength, typically around 3mg of freebase nicotine for sub ohm use. This reflects the fact that sub ohm devices deliver far more vapour per puff, so they need much lower nicotine to stay comfortable.

For a pod kit setup, the IVG Nic Salts collection has the ready to vape 10ml bottles you need, with mix and match multi buy deals across the range.

Flavour and convenience

Both deliver great IVG flavour, though in different ways. Nic salts give a concentrated, clear taste through a tight MTL draw, since the 50/50 blend and small coil focus the flavour rather than spreading it across a big cloud. Shortfills spread the flavour across much larger clouds, which suits people who enjoy a softer, airier, more voluminous vape. On convenience, nic salts win for simplicity, as they are ready to vape straight from the bottle with no mixing. Shortfills need a nic shot added and a shake, which takes a moment but lets you control the final strength.

Value for money

Value works differently for each. Nic salts are cheap per bottle and sold through multi buy deals, which makes them economical for pod users, especially compared to disposables. Shortfills look more expensive up front but hold far more liquid, often 100ml in a bottle, so the cost per millilitre can be lower for heavy sub ohm vapers who get through a lot. Which is better value simply depends on your device and how much you vape. For most pod kit users, nic salts are both the right fit and the more sensible spend.

Which should you buy?

The decision is straightforward once you know your device. Buy IVG nic salts if you use a pod kit or MTL starter kit, want a ready to vape option, are an ex smoker who needs fast craving relief or prefer a tight, cigarette like draw. Buy IVG shortfills if you use a sub ohm device, enjoy big clouds, want to control your own nicotine strength or get through a lot of liquid. For the vast majority of people moving off disposables, a pod kit and IVG nic salts is the natural pairing, which our guide on best pods and kits for IVG nic salts covers.

Can you mix the two?

A common question is whether the ranges can ever overlap. The short answer is that they are best kept separate. You should not pour a high VG shortfill into a pod kit, since the thick liquid will not wick and you will get burnt, dry hits that waste both the liquid and the coil. Equally, you should not run a 10mg or 20mg salt in a sub ohm tank, because the high vapour output would deliver an uncomfortable and excessive amount of nicotine. The two formats exist precisely because pod kits and sub ohm devices are built for different liquids, so the cleanest approach is to pick the format that matches the kit in your hand rather than trying to make one bottle do both jobs.

If you own both types of device, there is nothing wrong with keeping both formats in your collection. Plenty of vapers use a pod kit with IVG nic salts for discreet, everyday vaping and a sub ohm setup with IVG shortfills for relaxed, cloud heavy sessions at home. The flavours carry across the formats well, so you can often enjoy a similar taste in either, just tuned to the style of vaping each device is designed for. Knowing which bottle belongs in which kit is really all it takes to get the best from the IVG range whichever way you like to vape.

The bottom line

IVG nic salts and shortfills are made for completely different devices. Nic salts are ready to vape 10ml bottles in a 50/50 blend at 10mg or 20mg for low power pod kits, perfect for ex smokers and disposable switchers. Shortfills are larger high VG bottles for sub ohm clouds, sold at 0mg for you to add a nic shot. Match the liquid to your kit and you get the best from either, though for pod users the answer is almost always nic salts.

For more guides across the range, visit the Brand Insights: IVG hub. When you are ready, head to the IVG Nic Salts collection.

This product contains nicotine, which is an addictive substance. IVG products are intended for use by existing adult smokers and vapers aged 18 or over. Sold in line with UK TPD regulations.

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