The coil is the component that turns e-liquid into vapour. Understanding how coils work, which types exist and when to replace them will improve your vaping experience and save you money on wasted liquid. This guide covers everything you need to know about vape coils, including the coil families compatible with devices we stock at Vapesoko.
What Is a Vape Coil?
A vape coil is a small heating element housed inside your tank or pod. It consists of a wire (or mesh strip) wrapped around or pressed against a piece of wicking material, usually organic cotton. When you press the fire button or draw on your device, the battery sends power through the wire. The wire heats up, the cotton feeds e-liquid to the hot surface, and the liquid is vaporised into the vapour you inhale.
Coils are consumable. The wire degrades, and the cotton accumulates residue from e-liquid over time, so every coil eventually needs replacing.
How Vape Coils Work
The process follows a simple cycle:
- E-liquid soaks into the cotton wick through juice ports on the coil housing.
- Power from the battery heats the coil wire or mesh.
- The saturated cotton releases vapour as the liquid reaches its boiling point.
- You inhale the vapour through the mouthpiece.
- Fresh liquid wicks into the cotton to replace what was vaporised.
If the cotton cannot wick fast enough, you get a dry hit: a harsh, burnt taste caused by the cotton itself charring. Proper priming and correct wattage settings prevent this.
Mesh Coils vs Traditional Wire Coils
Traditional coils use a wound wire (round, Clapton or twisted) wrapped into a coil shape. Mesh coils use a flat strip of perforated metal instead. The key differences:
- Surface area: Mesh coils have a larger, more even heating surface. This means more liquid is vaporised with each draw, producing fuller flavour and denser vapour.
- Heat distribution: Mesh heats more evenly across its surface. Traditional wire coils have hot spots where the wire bends, which can scorch cotton unevenly.
- Longevity: Mesh coils generally last longer because the even heating reduces localised carbon buildup.
- Ramp-up time: Mesh coils heat up faster due to thinner material and broader surface contact with the cotton.
Most modern pod systems and sub-ohm tanks now use mesh coils. Traditional wire coils remain common in rebuildable atomisers where vapers wrap their own coils.
Coil Resistance and Draw Styles
Coil resistance, measured in ohms, determines the draw style a coil supports. There are three main categories:
MTL (Mouth-to-Lung)
Coils above 1.0 ohm. The draw is tight and restricted. You pull vapour into your mouth first, then inhale it into your lungs. MTL coils use less power, produce less vapour and work best with nicotine salt e-liquids in a 50/50 VG/PG ratio. Devices like the Caliburn A3 and XROS 5 are built around this style.
RDL (Restricted Direct-Lung)
Coils between 0.6 and 1.0 ohm. The draw is looser than MTL but tighter than full DTL. RDL sits in the middle and suits vapers who want a bit more vapour production without committing to a full open-airflow setup. Many modern pod kits, including the Caliburn G4 and G5 range, offer RDL coil options alongside their MTL coils.
DTL (Direct-to-Lung)
Coils below 0.6 ohm (sub-ohm). The draw is open and airy. You inhale vapour directly into your lungs in a single motion. DTL coils require more power, produce large vapour clouds and pair with high-VG freebase e-liquids (typically 70/30 VG/PG or higher). Devices like the Drag S2, Drag S3 and Nord 5 support sub-ohm coils for DTL vaping.
How to Prime a New Coil
Priming saturates the cotton before you fire the coil for the first time. Skipping this step can burn the cotton instantly, ruining the coil.
- Apply a few drops of e-liquid directly onto the exposed cotton through the juice ports on the side of the coil.
- Install the coil in your tank or pod.
- Fill the tank with e-liquid.
- Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the cotton to fully saturate.
- Take a few gentle draws without pressing the fire button (dry pulls) to help pull liquid into the wick.
- Start at a low wattage and gradually increase to your preferred setting.
For pod systems with built-in coils, fill the pod, wait 5 to 10 minutes and take a few dry pulls before your first vape.
Signs Your Coil Needs Replacing
Coils do not last forever. Watch for these indicators:
- Burnt or off taste: The most obvious sign. If your vape tastes charred, ashy or just wrong, the cotton is burnt.
- Reduced flavour: Flavour becomes muted or dull as residue builds up on the coil.
- Less vapour production: A worn coil produces noticeably thinner clouds.
- Gurgling or leaking: A degraded coil may not vaporise liquid efficiently, causing excess liquid to flood the airflow.
- Dark or discoloured liquid in the tank: Residue from the coil can tint the remaining liquid a darker colour.
On average, a coil lasts one to three weeks depending on usage, liquid sweetness and wattage. Sweeter liquids tend to gunk up coils faster.
Compatible Coil Families We Stock
Each device family uses its own coil type. Here are the coil families that match the devices available at Vapesoko:
- Caliburn G / G2 / G3 coils: Compatible with the Caliburn G4, G4 Pro, G5 Lite SE and G5 Koko. Available in MTL and RDL resistances.
- Caliburn A series pods: For the Caliburn A3. Built-in coil pods designed for MTL.
- XROS series pods: For the XROS 5. Available in multiple resistances for MTL and RDL draws.
- Nord coils: For the Nord 5. Available in both MTL and sub-ohm mesh options, making the Nord 5 a versatile device.
Matching Your Liquid to Your Coil
Using the wrong liquid in the wrong coil leads to poor performance and faster coil wear. Follow these guidelines:
- MTL coils (above 1.0 ohm): Use 50/50 VG/PG e-liquids. Nicotine salt liquids such as ELFLIQ (KSh 800), BAR Salts (KSh 700) and Nasty Salts (KSh 2,000) are designed for these coils.
- RDL coils (0.6 to 1.0 ohm): 50/50 or 60/40 VG/PG liquids work. Both nicotine salts and lower-strength freebase can be used, depending on the coil's wattage range.
- DTL / sub-ohm coils (below 0.6 ohm): Use 70/30 VG/PG or higher freebase liquids. Options like Nasty Juice 60ml (KSh 2,000, 3mg), Ultimate Juice 120ml (KSh 2,300) and Doozy 100ml shortfill (KSh 2,300) are built for sub-ohm vaping.
Using thick, high-VG liquid in an MTL coil starves the wick and causes dry hits. Using thin, high-PG liquid in a sub-ohm coil can lead to flooding and leaking. Match your liquid's viscosity to your coil's wicking capacity.
Coil life is only half the picture. The cleaning and maintenance guide covers pod rinsing, tank soaking, battery care and a five-minute weekly routine that keeps everything performing.
Buy Replacement Coils in Kenya
Vapesoko stocks replacement coils and pods for all listed device families. We deliver across Kenya. Nairobi orders typically arrive in 15 to 90 minutes. Deliveries to Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret and Naivasha arrive by the next business day. The rest of Kenya receives orders within 1 to 2 business days. Nairobi deliveries over KSh 2,000 qualify for free delivery.
We accept M-Pesa and cash on delivery. All orders require age verification (18+). Our riders may ask for identification upon delivery.
Last updated: September 2026