“What strength should I get?” is the question we answer more than any other, and getting it wrong is the main reason people decide vaping isn't for them.

Too low and you'll chain-vape all day chasing satisfaction you never reach. Too high and your first pull makes you cough hard enough to put the thing down for good. Here's how to land it right the first time.

The 20mg Ceiling, Explained

Under Canada's Nicotine Concentration in Vaping Products Regulations, 20mg/mL (2%) is the legal maximum for consumer vaping products. It applies to everything: bottled e-juice, sealed pods, disposables, every format.

So if someone offers you a “50mg” product in Canada, it isn't a legal retail product. Every disposable and pod we sell sits at or below 20mg, and every bottle is labelled with its exact concentration.

Matching Strength to Your History

The honest note for ex-smokers: don't start too low. The most common relapse we see is someone picking 6mg because it sounds healthier, never feeling satisfied, and going back to cigarettes inside a fortnight. Start where it works, step down later.

Why Your Device Decides Half of This

Nicotine strength isn't a free choice — your hardware sets the range.

Salt nic is smoother at high strength, which is what lets 20mg be tolerable. It belongs in low-power pod systems: Caliburn, XROS, Nord. Browse the salt nic range.

Freebase is harsher per milligram, so it's sold at 3–6mg and used in high-power gear that vaporises far more liquid per puff. See the freebase range.

The full breakdown is in our salt nic vs freebase guide.

How to Tell You Picked Wrong

Too high: harsh throat hit, coughing, lightheaded or queasy after a few pulls, headache. Step down.

Too low: vaping constantly without feeling settled, still wanting a cigarette, going through liquid alarmingly fast. Step up.

Just right: a satisfying pull, a mild throat sensation, and you put it down between uses without thinking about it.

Stepping Down Over Time

Plenty of people start at 20mg and work down. There's no schedule you have to hit — drop one level, sit with it for a few weeks, and only move again when the lower strength genuinely feels like enough.

Rushing it is how people end up back on cigarettes. Slow is fine. Staying put is also fine.

FAQ

What is the maximum nicotine strength allowed in Canada?

20mg/mL (2%) under the Nicotine Concentration in Vaping Products Regulations. It applies to bottled e-juice, pods and disposables alike.

Is 20mg too strong for a beginner?

If you smoked a pack a day, 20mg is usually right. If you've never smoked, it will likely feel harsh — start at 12mg or lower.

How many cigarettes equal 20mg vape juice?

There's no exact conversion, because how much nicotine you absorb depends on how you puff. As a rough guide, heavy smokers tend to land at 20mg and lighter smokers around 12mg, then adjust based on how satisfied they feel.

Can I use salt nic in a sub-ohm tank?

No. Sub-ohm devices vaporise far more liquid per puff, so high-strength salt nic delivers an uncomfortable dose. Use 3–6mg freebase in sub-ohm gear.

How do I lower my nicotine strength?

Drop one level at a time and stay there for a few weeks before going lower. If you find yourself vaping constantly or craving cigarettes, you've gone down too fast.

This is general guidance, not medical advice. Futuristic Vapes sells vaping products to adults 19+ only. Vaping products contain nicotine, a highly addictive chemical.