Sometimes, vaping isn’t for everyone and even if you love it, there are times when you simply can’t, like during a long-haul flight or while typing away in the office. That’s where vaping alternatives come in, and brands like IQOS, IVG, Lost Mary, and Doozy Vape (just to name a few) are stepping up to the plate with some seriously creative options.
Over the past year, spurred on by tech innovation and whispers of vape bans, manufacturers have been hard at work developing alternatives that let you consume nicotine, vape-free.
Vaping alternatives can be broken down into a few categories:
Heated Tobacco or Heat Not Burn as it is also known is for those who want to quit cigarettes but vaping just doesn’t quite cut it. These products pair an electronic device with tobacco sticks to provide a cigarette-like experience but instead of burning the tobacco, they heat it into an aromatic cloud, producing way fewer toxins and providing a far less harmful alternative to smoking.
IQOS, the backbone of Heat Not Burn, have also added a few “Pearl” options to their TEREA Tobacco Sticks which feature a small ball in the filter that releases a flavour when clicked. This lets you enjoy the raw tobacco flavour and if/when you fancy something different, you can just click the pearl and enjoy a new sensation.
Pros and Cons of Heated Tobacco
- Much less harmful than smoking
- Provides a closer feel to smoking than vaping can
- Cheaper in the long run compared to cigarettes
- Not always usable as it still produces smoke
Newest Heat Tobacco Products
- Flavour: Tobacco with a hint of tea (minty berry on click)
- Pack Size: 20 Sticks
- Compatible Kit: IQOS Iluma & IQOS Iluma One
- Flavour: Roasted tobacco with a malty hint (minty garden fruits on click)
- Pack Size: 20 Sticks
- Compatible Kit: IQOS Iluma & IQOS Iluma One
- Flavour: Smooth tobacco with a hint of mint
- Pack Size: 20 Sticks
- Compatible Kit: Ploom X Advanced Kit
Nicotine Pouches are small white pillow-shaped pouches which you place between your lip and gum, slowly releasing nicotine and flavouring. They usually last for around 30 minutes per pouch and can be found in a huge variety of strengths and flavours to match your needs. Unlike snus, they contain zero tobacco making them a way better option.
Nicotine pouches are often mistakenly compared to snus. However, whilst similar in appearance, snus contains ground tobacco leaves, whereas nicotine pouches do not contain any tobacco. Snus have been banned for sale in the UK since 1992, and are in fact banned for sale in most of Europe, apart from Sweden where they originated.
Pros and Cons of Nicotine Pouches
- Usable anywhere - smoke-free
- Cheap
- Fast and effective nicotine delivery
- Pouches have to be discarded
Newest Nicotine Pouches
- Flavours: Cola, Ice Mint, Mango, Spearmint, Strawberry
- Nicotine Strengths: 15mg, 20mg
- Pack Size: 20 Pouches
- Usage Duration: 45 Minutes
- Flavours: Blueberry, Citrus, Freeze, Ice Spearmint, Mango, Spearmint
- Nicotine Strengths: 6mg, 16mg, 25mg
- Pack Size: 20 Pouches
- Usage Duration: 30 Minutes
- Flavours: Banana, Fresh Mint, Frosted Mint, Sweet Melon, Watermelon Ice
- Nicotine Strengths: 10mg, 14mg, 17mg
- Pack Size: 20 Pouches
- Usage Duration: 60 Minutes
3. Nicotine Gum
Nicotine Gum works the same way as most of you would imagine… You place a piece in your mouth and chew it to release the nicotine and flavouring. Many people see more success with nicotine gum than other vaping alternatives as the chewing motion helps occupy the mind.
Pros and Cons of Nicotine Gum
- Usable anywhere - smoke-free
- Cheap
- Chewing motion helps substitute the motion of smoking/vaping
- Only available in low nicotine strengths
Newest Nicotine Gum
1. Doozy Chewz
- Flavours: Apple Ice, Cool Mint, Watermelon Ice
- Nicotine Strengths: 2mg
- Pack Size: 40 Pieces of Gum
- Usage Duration: 30 Minutes
Nicotine Strips or Nicotine Film as some brands refer to them are the newest invention for vape and smoke-free nicotine use. Similarly to nicotine pouches, these are placed between the lip and gum, slowly dissolving and releasing nicotine and flavour. The one-up nicotine strips have over pouches is that they fully dissolve so no need to worry about having to discard a used pouch.
Pros and Cons of Nicotine Strips
- Usable anywhere - smoke-free
- Cheap
- Nothing to discard
- Only available in low nicotine strengths
Newest Nicotine Film/Strips
- Flavours: Bubblegum, Cola, Cool Mint, Cotton Candy, Raspberry, Spearmint, Strawberry, Watermelon
- Nicotine Strengths: 2mg, 4mg
- Pack Size: 20 Strips
- Usage Duration: 20 Minutes
- Flavours: Banana, Orange, Peppermint, Raspberry, Spearmint, Strawberry, Vanilla
- Nicotine Strengths: 2mg
- Pack Size: 20 Strips
- Usage Duration: 20 Minutes
- Flavours: Mango, Mint, Mix Berries, Strawberry
- Nicotine Strengths: 2mg
- Pack Size: 20 Strips
- Usage Duration: 20 Minutes