September 8, 2026

What E-Liquid Should You Use in a Pod Kit?

Pod kits require 50:50 e-liquid. High-VG shortfills are too thick to wick through the small coil ports in MTL pod kits and cause dry hits and burnt coils. This guide explains which format to use, which nicotine strength to start with and why Celtic Vapours nic salts are ideal for pod kit use.

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Quick answer: Use 50:50 PG:VG e-liquid in a standard MTL pod kit. This means either nicotine salt (nic salt) e-liquid or freebase 10ml e-liquid, both of which are sold in 50:50 format. Do not use high-VG shortfill liquid (70:30 VG or above) in an MTL pod kit as it is too thick for the coil and causes dry hits. Celtic Vapours nic salts are 50:50 and are fully compatible with all standard MTL pod kits. Start at 20mg if switching from cigarettes or disposables. Try 10mg if 20mg feels too strong after the first day.

Why the PG:VG Ratio Matters in a Pod Kit

The coil ports in MTL pod kits are small. The cotton wick needs to draw liquid through these tight channels quickly enough to keep the coil saturated between puffs. Thin 50:50 e-liquid flows through small ports without difficulty. Thick 70:30 VG liquid moves too slowly for the wick to keep up, especially at the lower wattages pod kits use. The result is a wick that runs dry before the next puff, producing a harsh burnt flavour and degrading the coil rapidly.

This is not a problem with more advanced pod mods that offer sub-ohm coils with larger wicking ports. Those devices can handle 60:40 or even 70:30 VG liquid. Standard beginner and intermediate MTL pod kits with coils above 0.6 ohm need 50:50.

Nic Salt vs Freebase: Which Should You Choose?

Factor	Nic Salt (50:50)	Freebase 10ml (50:50)
Throat hit at 20mg	Smooth. Benzoic acid in the formula lowers pH and reduces harshness	Noticeably harsher. Higher pH produces stronger throat scratch
Throat hit at 10mg	Very smooth	Mild to moderate depending on the brand
Nicotine absorption	Faster. Closer to the nicotine delivery speed of a cigarette	Slower. Takes longer to satisfy cravings
Available strengths	10mg and 20mg. Some brands offer 5mg	3mg, 6mg, 12mg, 18mg. Some at 20mg
Best for	Ex-smokers and ex-disposable users. The default choice for pod kits	Vapers reducing nicotine or who prefer a stronger throat sensation
PG:VG ratio	50:50 standard	50:50 standard
Device compatibility	All standard MTL pod kits	All standard MTL pod kits

For most pod kit users, particularly those switching from cigarettes or disposables, nic salt is the correct starting format. It delivers nicotine faster, feels smoother at 20mg and is the format used in disposable vapes so the experience feels familiar. Celtic Vapours produces all of its e-liquid in nic salt format at 50:50 PG:VG, making every flavour immediately compatible with all MTL pod kits.

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Welsh-made 50:50 nic salts in 10mg and 20mg. Compatible with all MTL pod kits and available across the full Celtic Vapours flavour range.

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Which Nicotine Strength Should You Start With?

Strength selection is the single most important decision for someone switching from cigarettes or a disposable vape. Too low and you will not satisfy your cravings and may return to cigarettes. Too high and you may vape more than you need to.

Your background	Recommended starting strength	Notes
Smoking 10 to 20 cigarettes per day	20mg nic salt	The standard starting point for most switchers. Matches the nicotine delivery of a disposable vape
Smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day	10mg nic salt	Suitable for lighter smokers. Step to 20mg if cravings are not satisfied
Using a disposable vape at 20mg	20mg nic salt	Same strength. Identical experience on an equivalent pod kit
Already vaping at 6mg freebase	10mg nic salt or 6mg freebase	Nic salt at 10mg may feel stronger than 6mg freebase due to faster absorption
Reducing nicotine gradually	Start at your current level, reduce over time	Move from 20mg to 10mg to 6mg freebase to 3mg as cravings allow
Not a smoker, occasional use	0mg or 3mg	Nicotine is addictive. Non-smokers should consider nicotine-free options

E-Liquid Formats to Avoid in a Standard Pod Kit

Format	Why to Avoid in an MTL Pod Kit
70:30 VG shortfill	Too thick to wick through MTL coil ports. Causes dry hits, burnt taste and premature coil failure
80:20 VG or Max VG shortfill	Same problem as 70:30 VG, more severe. Designed only for sub-ohm box mod setups
Nicotine shots (18mg or 20mg) undiluted	Must be mixed into a shortfill before use. Not for direct vaping
Essential oils or oil-based liquids	Not e-liquid. Can cause serious lung injury when vapourised and inhaled
Food flavourings	Formulated for eating not inhalation. May contain compounds harmful when heated

The full Celtic Vapours e-liquid range (nic salts, freebase 10ml and flavour concentrates) is available on the Pod Vape Kits page. For guidance on which Celtic Vapours nic salt flavours suit pod kits best, visit the Pod Vape Kit Guide. Call 01792 447247 to speak to the Swansea team for a flavour recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a shortfill in a pod kit? Only if the shortfill is in 50:50 PG:VG format and you have added a nic shot to bring it to your target nicotine strength. Some brands produce 50:50 shortfills specifically for MTL pod kit users. Standard 70:30 VG shortfills are not suitable for MTL pod kits and will damage the coil. Check the label for the PG:VG ratio before filling your pod.

Does it matter which brand of nic salt I use? Not in terms of device compatibility. All 50:50 nic salts are compatible with MTL pod kits regardless of brand. Flavour quality, nicotine delivery consistency and ingredient quality do vary between brands. Celtic Vapours nic salts are produced in Swansea using pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and are MHRA-registered and UK TRPR compliant. The flavour concentrates used are formulated specifically for vaping inhalation rather than general food flavourings.

What happens if I accidentally use high-VG liquid in my pod kit? You will likely get dry hits within a few puffs as the cotton cannot wick the thick liquid fast enough. If you catch this early and empty the pod immediately, the coil may survive once refilled with 50:50 liquid. If the dry hits have already produced a burnt taste, the cotton has scorched and the coil or pod needs replacing. Rinse the pod with warm water if it has a removable coil. Replace the pod entirely if the coil is integrated.

Is 20mg nic salt too strong for a first-time vaper? For someone switching from regular cigarettes or a disposable vape, 20mg nic salt is the recommended starting point and is not too strong. It matches the nicotine delivery of most disposable vapes and satisfies cravings in a way that lower concentrations often do not for recent ex-smokers. If you have never smoked and are not already vaping, you should not start with nicotine-containing e-liquid as nicotine is an addictive substance.