All vape pens are not created equally. We learned that some time ago when vape pens were in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Thankfully, that’s all been handled, and the vape pens on the legal market today are safe to use. All vape pen parts and pieces are not created equally, either.
You may not realize it, but every part of the vape pen is important. Each piece of the device is responsible for an integral part of how it works. The wick or coil is part of the system responsible for heating your product to the correct temperature. Some vaping products simply won’t work if they don’t get hot enough.
Technology is continually changing, and vape pens evolve along with new technological discoveries. The parts and pieces on a vape pen that worked years ago may no longer be the most effective and efficient.
Vape Pens: How They Work
Vape pens and vaporizers function in a similar way. The idea with both devices is to heat up a product enough to turn it into vapor. You can find preloaded disposable vape pens, reusable vape pens, and handheld vaporizers with separate product cartridges.
Each device has several parts, but the coil and heating elements are some of the most essential pieces. The way the device heats up your product makes all the difference in how well it works.
Wick-based Coils for Vape Pens
Early on in the electronic cigarette and vape pen game, you would often find cotton wicks in those devices. A cotton wick is inside the base of the vape pen and gets covered with the concentrated oil. From there, the oil drips to the heating element, creating a vapor. Wicks don’t tend to work well with thicker products. That’s because thicker products don’t drip down and soak the wick every time, which can lead to something called a dry hit.
Cotton wick technology is becoming somewhat of a thing of the past for a few reasons. Cotton is inexpensive, which means cotton-based wicks won’t cost you an arm and a leg. But, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for, so to speak. Wicks tend to overheat or not allow the product to heat enough to work correctly.
If your device requires a wick-based coil, it may be time to upgrade to something newer. Wicks aren’t the best route anymore, so unless you need to use one, avoid doing so. You can move to quartz coils for your vape pen first, but there may be an even better option out there for sale.
Quartz Coils for Vape Pens
Two primary coils are replacing wick-based coils as the more modern-day technology. Quartz coils and ceramic coils are growing in popularity for several reasons. Let’s start by looking at the pros and cons of quartz coils for vape pens or vaporizers.
One thing people love about quartz coils is they provide a smooth, intense flavor when using your vape pen. While it may be intense for some people, other vape pen users enjoy the intense experience.
Even as common as quartz vape pen coils are, there are some downsides to these devices, as well. Quartz is popular, thanks to its high heating level. Many products require a high level of heat to work, and quartz does the job. It also provides an even and efficient transfer of heat. One of the cons of quartz vape pen coils is that they don’t hold heat very long. It’s also difficult to control the level of heat, so once quartz coils get hot, they’re hot for a short period of time.
Quartz coils do work; don’t get me wrong. You may want to avoid them if you vape frequently or don’t want to have to replace your vape pen parts too often.
Ceramic Coils for Vape Pens
Much like quartz coils, ceramic coils also offer a full-flavor experience and high-heat capability. Some people consider ceramic coils of higher-quality and believe they work and function much better than any other similar device. Ceramic coils actually aren’t coils at all. Vape pens using ceramic have more of a channel down the body of the pen instead of a coil device. That helps create an even heating area for the product to travel along before reaching you.
Some users note that ceramic coils take longer to heat up than other heat sources. That is true, especially with wick technology. A wick coil vape pen heats up almost instantly and with the press of a button. Vape pens with ceramic wicks may take more time to reach the ideal temperature, but that heat remains consistent longer. The heat is also easier to control with ceramic coils compared to quartz coils. Better temperature control and even heat distribution help preserve battery life, which means you won’t have to replace yours nearly as often.
Wick Vs. Quartz Vs. Ceramic: What Do They Cost
If you’re familiar with all of these coils and devices for vape pens, you probably already have an idea of what you usually pay. You likely also know that coils range drastically in price, depending on what you buy. Some coils sell for under $10, but other coils and multi-packs of vape pen coils can cost closer to $50.
You may be surprised to learn that even though ceramic is thought to be a superior choice compared to wicks or quartz coils, there’s almost no difference in cost. Of course, the cost will vary depending on the brand, quality, and power, but overall, price points are even.
Closing Thoughts
For casual vape pen users, wick coils, quartz coils, and ceramic coil technology will all work well enough. Wick coils are a fine option if you’re a casual, disposable vape pen user. Quartz coils for vape pens are better for big hits and a few at a time. Your overall best bet when it comes to finding the best vape pen technology, ceramic coils are the way to go.
