The Heart of Your Vape: What Do Coils Do?

If you have ever opened up a tank or looked closely at a pod, you’ve likely seen a small metal cylinder sitting in the center. It looks unassuming, yet it is arguably the single most critical component of your entire setup.

What exactly does a vape coil do? Why do they come in so many different shapes, sizes, and resistance numbers? And most importantly, how do you choose the right one to unlock the "high performance" experience you’ve been looking for?

In this comprehensive guide, we will strip away the jargon and dive deep into the mechanics of vape coils. Whether you are a cloud chaser looking for the next best sub-ohm build or a flavor enthusiast seeking a crisp Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) draw, understanding your coil is the key to a better vape.

The Short Answer

What is a Coil? A vape coil (often called an atomizer head) is the heating element of your electronic cigarette. It consists of a piece of resistance wire wrapped around a wicking material (usually cotton). When you press the fire button, the battery sends power through this wire, heating it up. The heat vaporizes the e-liquid saturated in the cotton, creating the vapor you inhale. Think of it as the engine of your car—without it, you aren't going anywhere.

Table of Contents

1. The Anatomy of a Vape Coil: How It Works

2. Materials Matter: Kanthal, Mesh, and Ceramics

3. The Science of Resistance: Understanding Ohms

4. Sub-Ohm vs. Plus-Ohm: What’s the Difference?

5. How Resistance Affects Your Vaping Performance

6. Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Coil for You

7. Maintenance 101: Priming and Exteding Coil Life

8. Canadian Safety Regulations & Best Practices

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. The Anatomy of a Vape Coil: How It Works

To understand performance, you must first understand the build. While there are thousands of coil variations on the market, they all share three fundamental components:

The Casing

This is the metal shell that holds everything together. It usually has small holes (wicking ports) on the sides to let e-liquid flow in from your tank.

The Wicking Material

Inside the casing, you will find white, fibrous material. In modern high-quality coils, this is almost exclusively Organic Japanese Cotton. The cotton’s job is capillary action: it soaks up e-liquid from the tank and holds it directly against the wire, ensuring the wire is never dry when it heats up.

The Heating Element (The Wire)

This is the star of the show. The wire is coiled (hence the name) into a spiral shape or, in newer technology, stamped into a mesh grid. It bridges the positive and negative terminals of your battery. When current flows through it, friction occurs, generating heat.

2. Materials Matter: Kanthal, Mesh, and Ceramics

Not all coils are created equal. The material used to make the wire changes how the coil ramps up (heats up) and tastes.

Kanthal (FeCrAl)

The industry standard. Kanthal is durable, cheap, and easy to work with. It provides a consistent wattage mode experience but does not support Temperature Control (TC) vaping.

Stainless Steel (SS316L)

A versatile favorite. Stainless steel heats up faster than Kanthal and offers a crisp, clean flavor. It is unique because it can be used in both standard Wattage mode and Temperature Control mode, making it a "hybrid" choice for advanced vapers.

Mesh Coils: The Performance Revolution

If you are looking for "high performance," you will likely end up with Mesh. Instead of a single spiraled wire, mesh coils use a metal grid (like a screen door) with holes punched in it.

• Why they are better: The grid covers a much larger surface area of the cotton.

• The Result: Faster heating (ramp-up), more even vaporization (no hot spots), and significantly better flavor and massive cloud production.

Ceramic Coils

Instead of cotton, these use a porous ceramic cylinder to wick the juice. They are incredibly heat-resistant and have a very long lifespan, but they generally produce less vapor. They are excellent for thick oils or very high-viscosity liquids.

3. The Science of Resistance: Understanding Ohms

This is where many beginners get confused, but it is the most important factor in choosing a coil.

Resistance is measured in Ohms (Ω). Resistance tells you how difficult it is for electricity to travel through the wire.

• Think of a water pipe:

  • Low Resistance (Low Ohms): A giant, wide sewer pipe. Water (electricity) flows through it effortlessly and in huge volumes.

  • High Resistance (High Ohms): A tiny drinking straw. It takes a lot of effort to push water through, so the flow is restricted and small.

The Golden Rule:

Lower Ohms = More Power, More Heat, More Vapor. Higher Ohms = Less Power, Cooler Vape, Less Vapor.

4. Sub-Ohm vs. Plus-Ohm: What’s the Difference?

Vapers generally divide coils into two main categories based on that resistance number.

Sub-Ohm Coils (< 1.0Ω)

Any coil with a resistance below 1.0 ohm (e.g., 0.15Ω, 0.3Ω, 0.6Ω).

• Style: DTL (Direct-to-Lung). You inhale the vapor straight into your lungs, like taking a deep breath from a scuba tank.

• Best For: Massive clouds, intense flavor, warm vapor.

• E-Liquid: Best used with High VG (70%+) e-liquids and low nicotine (0mg, 3mg, 6mg).

Plus-Ohm Coils (> 1.0Ω)

Any coil with a resistance above 1.0 ohm (e.g., 1.2Ω, 1.6Ω, 1.8Ω).

• Style: MTL (Mouth-to-Lung). You draw vapor into your mouth first, then inhale, mimicking the sensation of a traditional cigarette.

• Best For: Throat hit, stealth vaping, converting smokers.

• E-Liquid: Best used with 50/50 VG/PG blends or Nicotine Salts.

5. How Resistance Impacts Your Vaping Performance

When you browse Canvapeshop looking for replacements, you’ll often see the same coil listed with different ohm options (e.g., a 0.4Ω version and a 0.8Ω version). Here is exactly how that choice changes your experience:

1. Cloud Production

• Lower Resistance (e.g., 0.2Ω): The coil allows more current to flow, generating intense heat instantly. This vaporizes a huge amount of e-liquid at once, creating thick, dense clouds.

• Higher Resistance (e.g., 1.2Ω): The coil heats gently. The vapor is thin and discreet—perfect if you don't want to fog up the room.

2. Flavor Intensity

• Mesh/Sub-Ohm: Because they vaporize so much liquid, you get a "saturated" flavor profile. Sweet and dessert notes pop vividly.

• Plus-Ohm: These tend to highlight specific notes differently. They are excellent for tobacco flavors or complex menthols where you want a "crisp" rather than "heavy" taste.

3. Battery Life

This is a trade-off.

• Low Resistance drains your battery much faster because it requires higher wattage (often 50W-100W) to work.

• High Resistance sips battery power. A 1.2Ω coil running at 12 watts can last you all day on a single charge.

4. E-Liquid Consumption

• Sub-Ohm: Is a gas guzzler. You will burn through juice quickly because you are vaporizing so much per puff.

• Plus-Ohm: Is fuel-efficient. A 30ml bottle of Nic Salt can last weeks with a high-resistance pod.

6. Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Coil for You

At Canvapeshop, we often get asked: "Which coil is the best?" The answer is subjective. Use this checklist to find your perfect match.

Scenario A: The Ex-Smoker

• Goal: You want that tight, restricted draw that feels like a cigarette. You use high nicotine (12mg+) or Nic Salts (20mg).

• Pick: 1.0Ω, 1.2Ω, or 1.4Ω coils.

• Why: These provide the necessary throat hit without burning the harsh nicotine too hot.

Scenario B: The Flavor Chaser / Casual Vaper

• Goal: You want good flavor and decent clouds, but you don't want to carry a massive brick in your pocket.

• Pick: 0.6Ω or 0.8Ω Mesh coils.

• Why: This is the "Restricted Direct Lung" (RDL) sweet spot. It offers better flavor than high-ohm coils but consumes less battery than full sub-ohm setups.

Scenario C: The Cloud Beast

• Goal: You want to fill the room with vapor. You use low nicotine (3mg) High VG juice.

• Pick: 0.15Ω, 0.2Ω, or 0.3Ω Mesh coils.

• Why: These can handle high wattages (60W-100W+) and will vaporize thick VG juice efficiently without clogging.

💡 Pro Tip: Check the Wattage Rating!

Every coil has a recommended wattage range printed on the side (e.g., "Best 50-60W").

• Too Low: The coil won't heat enough, causing "spit back" (hot liquid boiling into your mouth) and gurgling.

• Too High: You will burn the cotton instantly, ruining the coil.

• Just Right: Stay in the middle of the recommended range for the best lifespan.

7. Maintenance 101: Priming and Extending Coil Life

Nothing kills "high performance" faster than a burnt coil. Here is how to make yours last.

1. Always Prime Your Coil: Before installing a new coil, drop 3-5 drops of e-liquid directly onto the exposed white cotton in the center. Install it, fill the tank, and wait 5-10 minutes. This ensures the cotton is fully saturated before heat is applied.

2. Avoid "Chain Vaping": If you take puff after puff without pausing, the cotton dries out faster than it can re-wick e-liquid. This leads to a dry hit. Give your device 10-20 seconds between hits.

3. Keep Your Tank Filled: Never let your e-liquid drop below the wicking ports (the little holes on the side of the coil). If the juice level is too low, the cotton burns.

8. Canadian Safety Regulations & Best Practices

As a Canadian vaper, it is important to be aware of how local regulations affect your hardware and safety.

Child Resistant Containers (CRC)

You may notice that many tanks and pods sold at Canvapeshop and across Canada are labeled "CRC Compliant." Under the Vaping Products Labelling and Packaging Regulations, vaping devices must be child-resistant.

• Impact on Coils: Many modern tanks now feature "press-fit" coil mechanisms or locking top-caps to meet these standards. While this adds a step to opening your tank, it ensures safety for families. Some devices have moved to sealed pods (where you can't change the coil) to easily meet CRC rules.

Nicotine Limits

Canada has a federal cap of 20mg/mL on nicotine.

• Safety Note: If you are using a Sub-Ohm coil (0.15Ω - 0.6Ω), you should strictly avoid 20mg nicotine. The high vapor production of sub-ohm coils delivers too much nicotine per puff, which can lead to nicotine sickness (dizziness, nausea).

• Rule of Thumb:

  • Sub-Ohm = 0mg to 6mg Freebase.

  • Plus-Ohm = 10mg to 20mg Nic Salts.

Battery Safety & Low Resistance

Using low-resistance coils draws significant current (Amps) from your battery.

• If you use an external battery mod, ensure your batteries have wrapped skins in perfect condition.

• Regulated Mods: Always use a "Regulated" mod (one with a screen and chip). These have safety cut-offs that prevent the device from firing if the resistance is too low or dangerous.

9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How often should I change my coil? A: On average, every 1 to 2 weeks. You will know it is time when the flavor becomes muted, you taste a "burnt" flavor, or the coil starts leaking.

Q: Can I clean my coils to make them last longer? A: Generally, no. While you can rinse them with water or vodka to remove some gunk, you can never fully clean the burnt cotton inside. The performance will never return to 100%. It is always best to replace them.

Q: Why does my new coil taste burnt immediately? A: You likely didn't "prime" it (see Section 7) or you fired it at a wattage that was too high. Once cotton is burnt, it cannot be un-burnt.

Q: Are mesh coils compatible with my old tank? A: Maybe. Many manufacturers have released mesh versions of their older coil series. Check the compatibility list on the Canvapeshop product page to be sure.

Conclusion

The coil is the unsung hero of your vaping journey. It dictates your flavor, your cloud size, and the warmth of every puff. Whether you prefer the massive, flavorful clouds of a 0.2Ω Mesh Coil or the tight, cigarette-like satisfaction of a 1.2Ω Ceramic Coil, understanding these specs allows you to tailor your device to your exact needs.

Ready to find your perfect match? Visit Canvapeshop today to browse Canada’s best selection of high-performance coils, CRC-compliant tanks, and premium e-liquids.

Remember: The right resistance is the difference between just vaping, and truly enjoying it.