Nicotine Pouches vs Vaping

Once, people relied solely on cigarettes to get their nicotine hit. But nowadays, there’s a whole array of nicotine products to choose from. 

One nicotine product that’s become really popular in recent years is the vape. Take a walk down the street, and you’re likely to pass more people vaping than smoking. More recently, the trend for snus, or nicotine pouches, has exploded in popularity. But which one should you choose?

When it comes to snus vs vaping, which product is the winner? Here, we’ll explain what you need to know about snus and vaping and compare the two. 

What are Nicotine Pouches?

Nicotine pouches are a pretty recent addition to the UK nicotine market. In Sweden and Norway, snus and nicotine pouches have long been really popular. But since 2019, the trend for nicotine pouches has grown in the UK.

Nicotine pouches are small packages that are placed between the lip and the gum. Nicotine is then absorbed into the bloodstream through the gum. Nicotine pouches work in a similar way to Swedish snus, which has been around since the 18th century.

Comparing Nicotine Pouches vs Vapes

Check out this comparison table for a quick guide to the main differences and similarities between nicotine pouches and vapes:

	Nicotine Pouches	Vapes
Contains nicotine?	Yes	Yes
Contains tobacco?	No	No
Available in different flavours?	Yes - many different flavours available	Yes - many different flavours available
Available in different strengths?	Yes - different nicotine strengths are available from 0.5 mg/g up to 43 mg/g	Yes - different nicotine strengths are available from 0 mg/g up to 36 mg/g
Produces smoke or smoke-free?	Smoke-free	Produces smoke/vapour

How to Use: Is Snus Better Than Vaping?

One of the biggest differences between these two nicotine products is the way they’re used. 

How to Use Nicotine Pouches

• Nicotine pouches are positioned in the mouth between the upper lip and gum. 

• The nicotine is then absorbed through the gum and into the bloodstream.

• It will take 20 - 30 minutes for the nicotine to travel to the brain and activate the effects of the nicotine.

• After 30 minutes to an hour, the nicotine pouch is usually removed from the mouth and thrown away.

How to Use Vapes

• Place the vape into your mouth and then take a draw by inhaling the vapour into your mouth. Hold the vapour in your mouth for a couple of seconds. Then, breathe the vapour into your lungs before exhaling.

• Vaping delivers nicotine to the brain far faster than nicotine pouches. This can happen in a matter of seconds rather than minutes.

Nicotine Pouches Vs Vaping: Which is More Popular?

Nicotine pouches are now growing more popular. But they’re still a pretty recent addition to the nicotine market. As they’re better established, vapes remain more popular right now.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that as of 2023, 4.5 million people in Great Britain vape. 

Research shows that one in every 400 adults in Great Britain uses nicotine pouches.

Are Nicotine Pouches Better Than Vaping?

Deciding whether nicotine pouches are better than vaping is a truly personal decision. While they both contain nicotine, the way they’re used is completely different.

Some people choose to use nicotine pouches and vapes as an alternative to smoking. In this situation, a vape might be the preferred option. This is because the vape requires you to draw on it and inhale, like a cigarette. 

Nicotine Pouches and Vapes: Key Differences

They’re both nicotine products, but there are some huge differences between nicotine pouches and vapes:

Method of Use

The way you use a vape and how you use nicotine pouches is very different. 

Nicotine pouches are simply placed inside the mouth, between the gum and upper lip. While vapes are used like a cigarette.

A single nicotine pouch is thrown away when you’re done with it. So, you may use it for around 30 minutes to an hour before getting rid of it.

In contrast, a vape can last a lot longer. Some vapes offer up to 600 puffs. As long as it’s not disposable, you’ll also be able to refill your vape with more liquid.

Where You Can Use Them

Just as smoking in many public places is not permitted, vaping can also be frowned upon. While vaping may not be specifically banned in shops or restaurants, using your vape in these settings could create a problem. As a vape produces a scent and smoke, it’s pretty tough to disguise the fact you’re vaping in public.

One thing that makes nicotine pouches stand out from other nicotine products is the ability to use them discreetly in public. As nicotine pouches don’t give off the same strong scent or smoke, you can use them in public without anyone realising. They’ll only notice that you’re using a nicotine pouch if you remove it from your mouth in front of them.

Product Choice

Vapes are available in a vast amount of flavours and styles. You can choose from disposable vapes, vape kits, and tonnes of different designs. 

Nicotine pouches are available in a choice of flavours, strengths, and pack sizes. With the popularity of nicotine pouches increasing all the time, more choices are sure to become available to meet the demand.

Nicotine Pouches Vs Vapes: Which One is Right For You?

As we’ve seen, there’s a lot of difference between nicotine pouches and vapes. Both of these nicotine products have their own distinctive features and benefits. So, which one you choose is down to personal preference. 

Why not try both nicotine pouches and vapes to see which you prefer? Just be sure that you don’t try them at the same time. 

We have a huge selection of nicotine pouches and vapes from top brands such as Nordic Spirit and Lost Mary ready for you to browse - all you need to do is decide which you want to try first.