Comprehensive Guide to Vaping Accessories

The difference between a good vape and a great one often lies in the accessories you choose. Vaping is an experience you can personalise and optimise. Understanding vape accessories lets you customise your setup for better flavour, vapour, and device longevity. It helps avoid common issues and keeps your device running smoothly for a more satisfying vape every time.

In this guide, we’ll explain why accessories matter, what accessories are out there, and how to make the most of your vaping. Think of it as a toolkit tour: by the end, you’ll see how the right accessories keep you safe and enjoying every puff.

Let’s start with the basics.

July 03, 2025 — By Thomas Meredith

What Are Vape Accessories?

Vape accessories cover a variety of items that support the function of your vaping device. This ranges from replaceable components like coils, pods, and tanks to must-have tools such as battery chargers, cases, and cleaning supplies. These pieces allow you to adjust and personalise your setup, shaping how you vape day to day.

What_Are_Vape_Accessories

The Importance of Vape Accessories

Accessories are the key components that let you tailor your vape setup. A good accessory can improve flavour and cloud production or make maintenance easier, and often both. For example, a high-quality tank or coil can significantly improve vapour output and taste. Meanwhile, carrying cases and custom drip tips let you express personal style. But it’s not just about looks - many accessories exist for safety and longevity. Batteries, chargers, and measurement tools ensure your device runs reliably.

Imagine you have the perfect e-liquid. If your coil is old or mismatched to your device, you’ll get a burnt taste or weak vapour. On the other hand, using the right coil and airflow can improve the flavour. So understanding which accessories to use – and how to use them – directly affects performance and peace of mind.

Main Accessories of Vaping Devices

1. Batteries and Power

Vape devices are composed of many components. Here’s a breakdown of the essentials:
The battery’s capacity (mAh) determines how long it can be between charges, and its Continuous Discharge Rating (CDR) tells you how much current it can safely deliver. Higher mAh usually means longer life, but often a lower CDR (amps). In practice, you want a balance:

  • A battery with enough mAh for decent run-time. 
  • And, a high enough CDR to handle your wattage.

Whether your device uses internal cells or replaceable 18650/21700 batteries, safety is paramount. Always buy batteries from reputable suppliers to avoid counterfeits. Look for well-known brands sold in proper packaging. And never toss loose cells in a pocket or bag with keys because a stray coin touching the terminals can short-circuit the cell. And to ensure your batteries

Make sure to choose a good-quality charger with built-in protections (timer shutoff, reverse polarity guard). Charge on a flat, non-flammable surface. Try to avoid using phone/tablet chargers (they can exceed 1A) and charge with the provided cable or one rated for the device. Never leave a charging battery unattended or overnight. 

Batteries_and_Power

2. Coils and Heating Elements

Coils are the heart of your vaporiser because they heat the e-liquid. You’ll see prebuilt coil heads (the ones that screw into tanks/pods) and rebuildable atomisers (where you build your own coil with wire and wick). The coil wraps around cotton (or mesh), and when power flows through the wire, it heats and vaporises the juice.

Types of Vape Coils

  • Standard Coils: These are traditional round wire coils that offer moderate vapour and flavour.
  • Mesh Coils: Flat, mesh-like design has a larger surface area. They offer more flavour and faster ramp-up.
  • Ceramic Coils: They are known for a longer lifespan and smoother flavour.
  • Clapton Coils: These feature complex wire builds and are great for flavour and cloud production.
  • Sub-Ohm Coils (<1.0Ω): This type offers higher vapour (especially used for direct-to-lung (DTL) vaping).
  • Above-Ohm Coils (>1.0Ω): They offer less vapour and are ideal for mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping.

Popular Coil Materials

Coils are often made of the following materials:

  • Kanthal: Easy to use, durable, good for wattage mode.
  • Stainless Steel (SS): Versatile, supports both wattage and temperature control modes.
  • Nickel (Ni200): Used for temperature control only.
  • Titanium: Also used for temperature control only; less common.
  • Nichrome: Faster heat-up time than Kanthal.

Note: Resistance (ohms) is another key factor. High-resistance coils (above ~1Ω) are used for MTL vaping (restrained vapour, stronger throat hit) and work fine on simple pens or starter kits. Low-resistance (sub-ohm, e.g. 0.2 – 0.8Ω) coils heat much hotter and faster, ideal for direct-to-lung (DTL) cloud chasing. As a rule of thumb, coils below 1 ohm are sub-ohm and meant for lung hits, yielding large clouds and intense flavour; above 1 ohm is more of a cigarette-like draw.

Prebuilt vs Rebuildable:
Most vapers start with prebuilt replaceable coils (just swap them out when they burn out). They’re convenient and consistent. Rebuildable setups (RBA/RDA/RTA) let you customise coils with your choice of wire, number of wraps, and wicking style. That can save money (buy wire and cotton in bulk) and let you fine-tune flavour or clouds, but it takes effort. In fact, making your own coils does save cash, but building does require time, practice, and a solid understanding of battery safety. If you’re not keen on the learning curve, sticking to prebuilt coil heads is perfectly fine.

3. Pods and Tanks

This is where e-liquid and coil meet. The tank or pod holds your juice and delivers it to the coil and wick. There are many styles:

  • Pods: Small devices that use disposable or refillable pods (cartridges). Pods can have fixed coils inside (you replace the whole pod) or use small replaceable pods. Pods are usually simpler, with fixed airflow, and are excellent for MTL-style vaping or beginner kits.
  • Pods can be inserted here.

  • Sub-ohm Tanks: Larger tanks (2ml max in UK by law) with glass or acrylic sections and bottom coils. They usually have adjustable airflow (lots of air for DTL). These use replaceable coil heads and are popular for cloud chasing. They often feature bubble glass for extra capacity – if it cracks, replacement glass is inexpensive and easy to swap in.
  • Rebuildable Tanks (RTA/RDTA): These are hybrids of RDA (Rebuildable Tank Atomiser) and tank. An RTA is a rebuildable tank with a coil deck and a chimney to a liquid chamber (improved flavour with some convenience). An RDTA (Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomiser) is basically an RDA deck over a small tank reservoir. Both let you build your own coils but still have a reservoir of juice.

No matter the type, airflow is adjustable on many tanks. Narrow the airflow for a tight, cigarette-like draw; open it wide for airy cloud-blasts. Pod vapes often have a fixed or two-position airflow, while sub-ohm tanks usually have a dial or slider.

Note: In the UK, the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) limits tanks/pods to 2ml capacity and e-liquid bottles to 10ml. Always ensure your device’s tank is within this limit or uses TPD-compliant pods. Also, tanks have proprietary coil systems – you must use the coil heads designed for that model.

4. Drip Tips (Mouthpieces)

The drip tip is the mouthpiece on your electronic cigarette. It might seem minor, but it affects the feel and even heat of your vape. Drip tips come in standard sizes (most commonly 510 or wider 810), and in many materials: plastic/PEI, Delrin, resin, metal (stainless steel, aluminium, brass, titanium), wood, ceramic, etc. Each material has a slightly different heat conductivity – plastic won’t get hot much, whereas metal can feel cooler initially. Some vapers like metal tips for durability, others choose resin or Delrin to avoid heat transfer.

Customisation and Convenience Accessories

Now for the fun stuff: style and convenience add-ons. These don’t affect performance (much) but feel and practicality.

Skins and Wraps

Mod skins are essentially vinyl stickers or rubber sleeves that wrap around your device. They add grip and protect against scratches. You can find them in solid colours, patterns, or textured finishes. In addition, you can find thousands of designs (carbon fibre, wood grain, glitter, etc.) that are built to fit the popular vapes available on the market. A skin won’t improve your device’s performance, but it can make a slightly ugly mod stand out and resist everyday scuffs.

Carrying Cases and Bags

If you travel or commute, a carrying case is worth its weight in cotton. These range from simple zip pouches to hard-shell suitcases. A good case will have compartments for your mod, spare batteries, e-liquids, and even a coil tin or multi-tool. Many cases are padded on the inside to prevent scratching. Especially if you carry multiple mods or large bottles, an organised case saves fumbling. For UK vapers, “travelling with e-liquid” means following airline rules, so a carry case helps keep liquid bottles upright and under the 100ml limit.

Lanyards

For on-the-go vapers, a lanyard (neck strap) or wrist strap can be handy. Many pod devices have a small attachment point for a keyring or lanyard. Lanyards come in various styles – simple black webbing, braided paracord, or even novelty designs. They attach via the 510 thread or a built-in loop. This keeps your device around your neck or wrist so you won’t drop it while walking or lose it in a bag.

Advanced Vaping Accessories

Advanced_Vaping_Accessories

For the hobbyists who want the latest and greatest, here are some specialised tools and gadgets:

Squonk Mods and Bottles

Squonking is a way to enjoy an RDA’s flavour without constantly dripping. A squonk mod has a squeezable reservoir (usually silicone or plastic) built into the mod body. The rebuildable atomiser on top has a hollow 510 pin. When you squeeze the bottle, e-liquid is pushed up into the RDA’s deck, wetting the wick from the bottom.

Temperature Control (TC) Devices

Temperature control is a feature on many advanced mods. It requires using specific coil wires (Nickel, Titanium, or Stainless Steel) that change resistance predictably as they heat. You set a maximum temperature (e.g. 200°C), and the mod modulates power to keep the coil from going above that.

High-Wattage Mods

Then there are the powerhouses: 200w+ box mods. These often use 2–4 external batteries and feature robust construction. Their accessories are similar to lower-watt mods, but often heavier-duty: sturdier charging ports (often USB-C, or even wired charging straps on high-end), extra ventilation, and more advanced displays. Some high-watt mods include spoolable wires for rewiring or resettable fuses inside.

E-Liquids and Related Accessories

E-liquids are mostly not considered an accessory, but several accessories relate to e-liquids, such as different kinds of nicotine, containers, mixers, etc. Let’s have a look at them.

What are E-Liquids Made Of?

E-liquids generally have four main ingredients:

  • Vegetable Glycerin (VG)
  • Propylene Glycol (PG)
  • Flavourings
  • Nicotine (optionally)

VG is a thick, sweet liquid that generates big clouds, while PG is thinner and excels at carrying flavour and giving that throat “hit” similar to smoking. A high-VG mix (e.g. 70/30 VG/PG) will look and feel dense, great for sub-ohm tanks and cloud production. A higher PG mix (e.g. 60/40) will be thinner and give more throat hit, often preferred by MTL vapers or flavour chasers because PG carries the essences more strongly.

What are the Types of E-Liquids?

Nicotine in e-liquid comes mainly in the following forms:

  • Freebase nicotine: Freebase is the traditional form, giving a sharper throat hit at higher strengths.
  • Nicotine salts (nic salts): Nic salts use a slightly different chemical form (often found naturally in tobacco) that lets you vape higher nicotine concentrations with less harshness. Nicotine salts enter the bloodstream faster and feel closer to smoking a cigarette.
  • Shortfills: Shortfills are larger bottles of nicotine-free vape juices.

How to Store E-liquids?

E-liquids should be stored carefully, both for safety and quality. Use the original bottles (they should be dark or opaque) or transfer into dark glass bottles if possible. Dark glass (amber or cobalt) blocks UV light , protecting nicotine and flavour from degrading. In fact, amber bottles provide a fortress against UV light and prevent UV-induced chemical changes in your juice. If you only have plastic bottles, keep them in a shaded place (UV from sunlight can degrade the juice). Store all bottles in a cool, dark cupboard (ideally around 20–25°C).

Steeping and Mixing Tools

“Steeping” means letting e-liquid age, much like ageing wine. Over time (days or weeks), the ingredients marry and harsh alcohol traces evaporate, often improving smoothness and flavour depth. Most commercial e-liquids come well-steeped by the time you buy them, but if you mix your own (DIY e-liquid), you can let the bottle sit for a few days to help the flavours blend more smoothly.

To steep at home: store your closed bottles in a cool, dark place and occasionally give them a gentle shake. That's basically it. Some people do “hot water steeps” (placing bottles in warm water) or “breathing” (opening caps briefly to vent alcohol), but these are optional and risk contamination if not done carefully.

Maintenance and Safety Tools

Like any device, your vape works best when maintained. Regular care keeps your kit performing best and safely. Here are the main accessories for maintenance:

Cleaning Supplies

Residue can easily build up in tanks, drip tips, and on coils if not cleaned regularly. Further, a splash of e-liquid or dust left for too long will turn greasy or funky over time. To avoid this, you need the right tools to clean your accessories. For cleaning purposes, you may need the following:

  • Small bottle brushes (for tanks)
  • Cotton swabs or pipe cleaners (for tight spaces and threads)
  • Microfiber cloths

For stubborn gunk, isopropyl alcohol (90 %+) or grain alcohol can dissolve residue on metal parts. (Important: never use alcohol on any part with plastic or acrylic unless you’re sure it won’t crack.) Most vapers dismantle their tank occasionally, rinse all pieces in warm water, and let them dry.

Specialised Accessories for Building Your Own Coils

For those who’ve moved beyond pre-built coils, building your own becomes more than just a cost-saving choice - it’s part of the hobby. That’s where specialised tools come in.

Coil Building Kit

Once you’ve measured your resistance and checked your cells, it’s time to actually build. That’s where dedicated coil-building kits come in handy. These usually include:

  • Ceramic-tipped tweezers (safe on hot coils)
  • Coil jigs/drill bits (for wrapping wire loops evenly)
  • Wire cutters or nail clippers (for snipping coil legs)
  • Small pliers
  • Precision screwdrivers

Measurement Tools

For rebuilders, especially, an ohm-meter is vital. It measures coil resistance before you fire it, confirming your build is within safe range. Many people use a modest tester or their regulated mod’s resistance checker. But having a standalone ohm-meter (sometimes just a little box with 510 battery ports) is extra insurance. For battery packs or DIY battery cases, a multimeter can check cell voltage and even pulse shots to test CDR. These are nice tools, but good for tech-minded vapers.

These tools aren’t strictly required, but if you plan to build RDAs or RTAs regularly, a well-stocked kit speeds things up.

Final Words

Vaping accessories turn a simple e-cigarette into a fully personalised experience. From safety gear to style touches, the right add-ons enhance performance and make each session more enjoyable. Good accessories improve both flavour and vapour, help you maintain your gear, and keep you safe. And of course, accessories let you stamp your personality on your device – whether that’s a flashy skin, a funky drip tip, or a decked-out mod.

In summary, accessories aren’t just extras; they’re essential pieces of the vaping puzzle. They ensure your device works its best and feels right in your hand. With the right gear chosen for your needs, you’ll vape more safely, more pleasurably, and with a setup that feels uniquely you.

Thomas Meredith

Sales Assistant – Liverpool

Thomas is a sales assistant and a writing expert at GreetVape Liverpool. He specialises in helping new vapers understand products like coils, pods, and e-liquids with his vast experience in the vaping industry. Thomas also writes clear, beginner-friendly guides and FAQs for the GreetVape blog, sharing knowledge based on real customer interactions to ensure accurate and helpful information.