Browse any vape shop's website and you'll run into the terms mouth-to-lung (MTL) and direct-to-lung (DTL) within the first few clicks. They describe two different ways of drawing vapour into your lungs, and getting the right one for you makes a real difference to how satisfying your vape feels day to day.

There's also a third style that's grown in popularity more recently: restricted direct-to-lung (RDTL), which sits somewhere between the two.

Below, we cover what each style actually means, how to inhale each one properly, which nicotine strength and e-liquid to pair with them, the hardware that suits each style, and how to work out which is the right fit for you.

What is mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping?

With mouth-to-lung (MTL or M2L) vaping, you draw the vapour into your mouth first, hold it there briefly, then breathe it into your lungs. It's a two-step process, and it's the technique most smokers are already familiar with, since it mirrors how you'd draw smoke from a cigarette before inhaling it.

Early e-cigarettes were built around MTL vaping almost by default, largely because they were designed to imitate the tobacco cigarettes they replaced. Vaping technology has moved on a long way since then, and plenty of vapers now choose MTL for the experience it offers rather than out of necessity.

If you're MTL vaping, an e-liquid with a higher PG (propylene glycol) ratio will usually give you the best flavour and throat hit, and you can pick a nicotine level that suits you, which matters a lot for how satisfying your vape feels. Our Mouth To Lung vape gear is a good place to browse kit built for this style.

What is direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping?

Direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping, sometimes called straight-to-lung vaping, works differently. Instead of holding the vapour in your mouth, you pull it straight into your lungs in one motion, similar to taking a normal deep breath. Because of this, DTL vaping tends to feel a lot more intense than MTL.

Most vapers don't start out DTL vaping. It's grown in popularity over the last few years, largely thanks to hobby vaping and cloud chasing, and it depends on your kit being built to support it. Some devices are designed purely for MTL to preserve that cigarette-like feel, so it's worth checking your kit is DTL-compatible before you switch.

Moving to DTL vaping usually means dropping to a lower nicotine strength, or even a nicotine-free e-liquid (3mg or 0mg). Because DTL vaping delivers so much more vapour with every draw, a high nicotine strength at that volume can leave you coughing or feeling unwell.

You'll also want an e-liquid with a higher VG (vegetable glycerine) content. Less PG means a lighter lung hit, but you get a lot more vapour and bigger clouds in return. Pair this with a kit that has adjustable airflow and you can fine-tune the draw to suit you. Our Direct To Lung vape gear collection is a good place to start if you're kitting out for this style.

What is restricted direct-to-lung (RDTL) vaping?

Since MTL and DTL became the standard vaping terms, a third style has carved out its own space: restricted direct-to-lung (RDTL), sometimes shortened to RDL.

RDTL vaping still sends vapour straight to your lungs, just like DTL, but with the airflow partially closed off. That gives you a tighter, more controlled draw than a fully open DTL device, while still producing noticeably more vapour and a warmer, more flavourful hit than MTL.

It's proven popular with vapers who find MTL too restrictive, but don't want the full intensity or cloud output of DTL. RDTL tends to suit mid-range nicotine strengths, roughly 6mg to 12mg, often as nic salts, and works well with a 60/40 or 70/30 VG/PG e-liquid, making it a genuinely flexible middle ground if you're not sure which camp you fall into.

You don't usually need a dedicated RDTL device either. Plenty of MTL kits with adjustable airflow can be opened up for an RDTL-style draw, and some DTL kits can be closed down to achieve the same result.

How do you inhale each style?

• MTL: take a slow, steady draw into your mouth first, similar to sipping through a straw, but for longer than you'd draw on a cigarette. Hold the vapour briefly, then inhale it into your lungs before breathing out.
• DTL: open your airflow up fully, then take one long, smooth breath straight into your lungs, much like a normal deep breath in. There's no need to hold anything in your mouth first.
• RDTL: partially close your airflow, then take a steady, direct draw straight into your lungs. It should feel tighter than a full DTL pull, but noticeably more open than MTL.

MTL vs DTL vaping: the key differences

These are general starting points rather than fixed rules. Plenty of devices, especially adjustable-airflow tanks, can be tuned across more than one style.

MTL vaping gives you a stronger throat hit than DTL, helping replicate the sensation smokers are used to. Your e-liquid also lasts longer, since each draw uses less of it, and the compact, low-power devices built for MTL tend to be simpler and more discreet to use day to day. Because of this, and because the technique is close to cigarette smoking, MTL is usually the best place to start if you're switching over from tobacco.

DTL vaping produces far bigger clouds, using sub-ohm kits with lower-resistance coils and wide-open airflow. That makes it the natural choice for cloud chasers and vapers who enjoy a more intense flavour and vapour experience, typically after they've already moved down to lower nicotine strengths.

RDTL sits between the two, and it's well worth trying if neither MTL nor DTL feels quite right on its own.

Which nicotine strength and e-liquid should you use?

Your nicotine strength and e-liquid should match your vaping style, not the other way round.

For MTL vaping: reach for a 50/50 VG/PG e-liquid or nic salts, generally at a higher nicotine strength. The NHS advises matching your nicotine level to how much and how frequently you used to smoke, so if you smoked around 10 to 20 cigarettes a day, a 10mg to 20mg e-liquid is a sensible range to start from. Nic salts in particular give a smoother throat hit at higher strengths, which many smokers switching over find easier to adjust to.

For DTL vaping: go for a higher VG e-liquid, typically 70/30 or 80/20 VG/PG, paired with a much lower nicotine strength, generally 3mg or 0mg, and occasionally 6mg. Because DTL vaping produces so much more vapour per draw, a high nicotine strength at that volume can feel overwhelming.

For RDTL vaping: a 60/40 or 70/30 VG/PG blend with a mid-range nicotine strength, around 6mg to 12mg, often as nic salts, usually strikes the right balance.

If you're vaping to move away from smoking, it's worth knowing you can gradually lower your nicotine strength over time as your cravings ease, rather than sticking with your starting strength indefinitely.

Choosing the right hardware for your style

Your tank and coil need to match your vaping style just as closely as your nicotine strength and e-liquid do. Using the wrong combination won't just feel wrong, it can also cause the coil to clog and wear out faster than it should.

• MTL: look for a tank built around higher-resistance coils and a tight, restricted airflow. Most pod kits and compact starter devices are designed this way by default, which is part of why they suit smokers switching over.
• DTL: you'll need a sub-ohm tank paired with a low-resistance coil rated for high-VG e-liquid, with a wide-open airflow dial at the base of the tank. Turning the dial to open the air slots fully gives you warmer, denser vapour and the biggest clouds.
• RDTL: the same sub-ohm or adjustable-airflow tank works, just with the dial closed down slightly to tighten and cool the draw.

If you're not sure which camp you'll end up in, some tanks are built to handle both MTL and DTL by swapping coils or adjusting the airflow dial across its full range, so you don't need to commit to a whole new setup while you're still finding your style.

If you want to explore the flavour side of high-VG vaping, our Double Drip range is formulated specifically for sub-ohm use, with a higher VG content across fruit, tobacco, menthol, sweet and dessert flavours, so there's plenty of scope to find something that suits big, flavourful clouds.

Which vaping style should you start with?

There's no single right answer here. It comes down to your previous smoking habits, what you want from your vape, and the kit you're using.

If you've recently switched from smoking, MTL is usually the easiest starting point. The draw and throat hit feel familiar, and a higher nicotine strength helps take the edge off cravings while you adjust.

If you're a few months into vaping and finding MTL a bit flat, RDTL is a natural next step, giving you more flavour and vapour without a big jump in kit or a steep drop in nicotine strength.

If you've been vaping for a while, have already brought your nicotine strength down, and want bigger clouds and a more intense flavour hit, DTL is worth exploring, provided your kit supports it.

It's worth remembering that vaping is intended as a route away from smoking for people who already smoke, rather than something to take up if you've never smoked or vaped before. And if you're using vaping to quit cigarettes, the healthiest long-term outcome is to eventually come off nicotine altogether too, once you're confident you won't go back to smoking.