How to Smoke a Vape — Beginner's Guide
Never vaped before? Here's exactly how to use a disposable vape correctly — from how to draw to what to expect your first time.
Types of Vapes at 535 Smoke Shop
We carry two main types of vapes:
- Disposable nicotine vapes (Geek Bar, RAZ, Lost Mary, Elf Bar) — pre-filled with nicotine e-liquid, no setup required
- THCA vape carts — hemp-derived THCA oil cartridges used with a 510-thread battery
This guide covers both.
How to Use a Disposable Vape (Geek Bar, RAZ, Lost Mary, etc.)
Step 1: Remove packaging
Remove the device from packaging. Remove any silicone caps covering the mouthpiece or the charging port.
Step 2: No button needed (usually)
Most modern disposables are draw-activated — you simply inhale to activate. There is no button to press. If your device has a button, press it 5 times rapidly to turn it on (this is the universal vape activation sequence), then hold the button while inhaling.
Step 3: Take a slow, gentle draw
This is the #1 mistake beginners make — pulling too hard. Draw slowly and steadily for 2–3 seconds into your mouth, like sipping through a straw. Do not inhale directly into your lungs on your first try.
Step 4: Mouth-to-lung vs direct-to-lung
- Mouth-to-lung (MTL): Draw vapor into your mouth first, then inhale into your lungs. This is how cigarette smokers smoke and how most nicotine vapes are designed. Less vapor, stronger nicotine delivery, less cough.
- Direct-to-lung (DTL): Inhale vapor straight into your lungs like a deep breath. Used with lower-nicotine, higher-airflow devices. Produces bigger clouds.
Most Geek Bars and Lost Marys are designed for mouth-to-lung inhaling.
Step 5: Exhale slowly
Exhale through your mouth. The vapor will be visible — this is normal.
Step 6: Wait between puffs
Wait 15–30 seconds between puffs to avoid overheating the coil and to gauge the nicotine effect before continuing.
How to Use a THCA Vape Cart
THCA cartridges require a 510-thread battery (we sell these too).
1. Screw the cartridge onto the battery — gently, finger-tight only
2. Press the button 5 times to turn the battery on (the LED will flash)
3. Press and hold the button while inhaling — start with 1–2 second puffs
4. For THCA: start with one small puff and wait 10–15 minutes to feel effects before continuing
5. Store carts upright, away from heat and direct sunlight
What to Expect the First Time You Vape
Nicotine vapes:
- A warm, slightly sweet vapor (depending on flavor)
- A "throat hit" — a mild tingle or sensation in the back of the throat. This is normal. High-nicotine devices have stronger throat hits.
- A slight nicotine rush — a mild head buzz and calm feeling, usually within 30–60 seconds
- Possible light-headedness if you take too many puffs too quickly (slow down if this happens)
THCA vapes:
- Effects begin 5–15 minutes after first puff
- Start with one puff and wait — THCA vapes are potent
- Indica strains: relaxation, warmth, body heaviness, calm
- Sativa strains: mental uplift, alertness, mild energy
- Full effects peak at 30–60 minutes, last 2–3 hours
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Pulling too hard (causes flooding and harsh hits)
- Not waiting between puffs (causes coil burnout)
- Taking too many THCA puffs before effects kick in
- Not charging the device before it hits empty (most disposables show low battery via an LED flash)
We carry the best disposable vapes in Orlando — Geek Bar Pulse 2 (25,000 puffs), RAZ TN9000, Lost Mary MT35000, and more. Call (407) 778-1326 (open 24/7).