Sub Ohm Kits
A sub ohm kit is any device paired with a coil rated below 1.0 ohm, the threshold where a vape stops being a tight cigarette style draw and becomes an open direct to lung one. This collection holds 56 sub ohm kits from Aspire, Geek Vape, Innokin, Ijoy, Sigelei and SMOK, priced from under £5 to just under £100.
The appeal is straightforward. Lower resistance means more current at a given voltage, so more surface area is heated and each puff carries more vapour and more flavour. The trade offs are equally clear. Sub ohm kits drink e-liquid, drain batteries faster than a pod kit and need a different liquid entirely.
How sub ohm vaping differs
The draw
Direct to lung, shortened to DTL, means inhaling straight into the lungs rather than holding vapour in the mouth first. The airflow on a sub ohm tank is wide open to allow that, so the draw feels more like breathing through a straw. Restricted direct to lung sits between the two and suits anyone stepping up from a pod.
The coils
Almost every modern sub ohm coil uses a mesh strip rather than wound wire. Mesh gives a larger, more even heating surface that ramps faster and tastes noticeably cleaner. Typical resistances run from 0.15 ohm to 0.8 ohm. Each coil is printed with a recommended wattage range. Staying inside it is the difference between a coil lasting a fortnight and lasting two days.
The wattage
A 0.6 ohm coil might want 20W to 25W. A 0.15 ohm mesh coil may want 70W to 90W. Kits here range from the Geek Vape Z50 at 50W to 200W and 230W devices such as the Aegis X and the SMOK Mag series. Very few people vape at 200W. The high ceiling matters because the chipset is then never straining at the 60W to 80W most tanks use.
Batteries and power
Internal battery kits such as the Innokin Coolfire Z60 and the Aspire Zelos 3 charge over USB-C and suit anyone who does not want to handle loose cells. Removable battery kits take 18650 or 21700 cells and let you carry a charged spare, which answers a device that can drain 3000mAh in an afternoon. Dual battery devices such as the Aegis Legend 2 double the runtime again at the cost of pocket size. If you use loose cells, buy a dedicated charger, carry them in a plastic case and replace any cell with a torn wrap immediately.
Features worth paying for
Adjustable airflow. A proper airflow ring lets you tighten the draw towards restricted direct to lung, which gives you two devices in one.
Durability. The Geek Vape Aegis family is built around shock, dust and water resistance, which makes it the default pick for site work.
Chipset quality. A good board holds wattage steady through a long draw. The Innokin Sidera runs an Evolv DNA chip, the enthusiast benchmark.
Coil availability. Check the coil family is widely stocked first. A discontinued coil strands an otherwise excellent kit. Note also that any tank sold with nicotine e-liquid in it is limited to 2ml in the UK.
Which e-liquid a sub ohm kit needs
Sub ohm coils need a thick high VG liquid, usually 70/30 or higher, which means a shortfill. A 100ml shortfill arrives nicotine free in a 120ml bottle and takes two 18mg nicotine shots to reach roughly 3mg per ml. Strength has to fall as vapour volume rises, so 3mg or 6mg is the working range. A 20mg nicotine salt would be extremely harsh here. Thin 50/50 liquid also leaks straight through sub ohm wicking ports.
Running costs and expectations
Be realistic about consumption. A sub ohm kit at 60W can get through 10ml to 15ml a day of steady use against perhaps 3ml on a pod kit. Coils last one to two weeks with fruit and menthol liquids, far less with sweet dessert blends because sucralose caramelises on the mesh. Prime every new coil by wetting the ports directly, then leave the filled tank standing five minutes.
Buying vape kits in the UK
Vaping products may only be sold to adults aged 18 and over. Nicotine containing products must be notified to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and meet the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations. Single use vapes have been prohibited from sale in the UK since 1 June 2025, so every kit here is rechargeable with replaceable coils.
Delivery and support
UK delivery is free on orders over £20. For help choosing between an internal battery kit and a removable cell setup, call the team on 07827 210361 between 8.30am and 4.00pm.
Sub ohm kit questions answered
What does sub ohm actually mean?
Sub ohm means the coil has an electrical resistance below 1.0 ohm. Lower resistance draws more current at a given voltage, heats a larger surface area and produces far more vapour per puff. It is also the point at which a vape becomes a direct to lung device rather than a tight mouth to lung one.
What is the difference between MTL and DTL vaping?
Mouth to lung means drawing vapour into the mouth first through a tight airflow and then inhaling, which is the closest sensation to smoking a cigarette. Direct to lung means inhaling straight into the lungs through wide open airflow. Sub ohm kits are built for direct to lung, although many tanks have an airflow ring that tightens the draw.
What e-liquid should I use in a sub ohm kit?
A high VG shortfill, typically 70/30 or thicker. A 100ml shortfill comes nicotine free in a 120ml bottle and takes two 18mg nicotine shots to reach around 3mg per ml. Do not use a 20mg nicotine salt in a sub ohm coil, because the vapour volume is far higher so the delivery would be extremely harsh.
What wattage should I run a sub ohm coil at?
Every coil is printed with a recommended range and that is the number to follow. A 0.6 ohm coil often sits around 20W to 25W while a 0.15 ohm mesh coil may want 70W to 90W. Start at the bottom and work up. Running above the printed maximum is the fastest way to burn a coil.
Do I need removable batteries or is an internal battery enough?
Internal battery kits charge over USB-C and are simpler to live with. Removable 18650 or 21700 cells let you carry a charged spare, which matters because a sub ohm kit at high wattage can flatten a battery in an afternoon. Carry loose cells in a plastic case and replace any with a damaged wrap.
How much e-liquid will a sub ohm kit use?
Considerably more than a pod kit. Steady use at around 60W can get through 10ml to 15ml a day where a mouth to lung pod might use 3ml. That is why sub ohm vapers buy 100ml shortfills and why nicotine strength stays low at 3mg or 6mg.
How long do sub ohm coils last?
One to two weeks is typical with fruit and menthol liquids. Sweet dessert and candy blends contain sucralose that caramelises onto the mesh and can halve that. Priming makes a real difference. Wet the wicking ports directly, fill the tank, then leave it standing five minutes before the first draw.
Are sub ohm kits suitable for beginners?
They are usually a second device rather than a first. Someone who has just stopped smoking normally gets on better with a mouth to lung pod kit, because the draw is familiar and the nicotine strength can be higher. Sub ohm kits make sense once you are comfortable with coils, wattage and shortfills.