Vape Guide

How to Switch from Cigarettes to Vaping: An Honest Guide for South African Smokers

By Krem Vape Studio June 01, 2026

How to switch from cigarettes to vaping — Krem Vape Studio guide

Millions of people have used vaping to reduce or eliminate their cigarette use. Done correctly, it works for most people who haven't succeeded with patches, gum, or willpower alone. This is what we've learned from helping hundreds of Cape Town smokers make the switch at Krem.

The #1 reason people fail and go back to cigarettes: wrong nicotine level. They bought a device designed for experienced vapers, filled it with low-strength e-liquid, and found it completely unsatisfying. This isn't a willpower problem — it's a setup problem. With the right device and the right nicotine level, the craving response is very similar to smoking.

Step 1: Choose the right device

For smokers switching for the first time, the ideal device is a pod system — not a large sub-ohm mod.

  1. Pod system — delivers a tight, mouth-to-lung draw identical to smoking. Compact, low-maintenance, intuitive. The Vaporesso XROS 5 Mini and Bewolk X are popular starting points at Krem.
  2. Disposable vape — zero setup. Try the Bewolk Bar 25K or Jack Parow Tjoef 10K to test whether vaping works for you before investing in a device. Higher cost per puff long-term but gets you started immediately.
  3. Avoid sub-ohm mods — they produce massive clouds but deliver nicotine differently and can feel overwhelming. Come back to these later if you want them.

Step 2: Get the nicotine strength right

This is the most important variable — and the one most first-timers get wrong. Nic salts are specifically recommended for switchers: absorbed faster, smoother at high concentrations, and closer to how a cigarette delivers nicotine.

Daily smoking habit Starting strength Format
20+ cigarettes a day 50mg nic salt Nic salt essential
10–20 cigarettes a day 20–35mg nic salt Nic salt recommended
Fewer than 10 a day 10–20mg Nic salt or freebase
If you still crave cigarettes within an hour of vaping, your nicotine level is too low. Go up, not down. You can reduce your strength gradually over weeks or months once you've stopped smoking.

Step 3: Expect an adjustment period

The first week is the hardest. Your body is used to the specific combination of nicotine and tobacco compounds in cigarette smoke — vaping delivers nicotine but not that full cocktail. Some people experience mild headaches, dry mouth, or temporary coughing in the first few days. This is normal and typically resolves within a week.

If you're coughing more at first: for many switchers this is the airways clearing, not a reaction to vapour. It settles within 1–2 weeks for most people.

Step 4: Replace the habit loop, not just the nicotine

Smoking is both a chemical addiction and a behavioural habit. Vaping replicates the physical habit closely — the hand-to-mouth action, the draw, the exhale, the break-time ritual. Use your vape at the same times you would have smoked: after meals, with coffee, during work breaks. You're replacing the loop, not fighting it.

Step 5: Don't rush to quit vaping

Some people switch from cigarettes to vaping and then gradually reduce their nicotine strength over time until they're at 0mg. Others vape long-term. Neither is inherently wrong. The primary goal is to stop smoking cigarettes — what happens with vaping afterward is a separate decision that doesn't need to be made on day one.

If you slip up

  • Having a cigarette after switching doesn't mean you've failed.
  • Most people who successfully quit smoking have multiple attempts before one sticks — this is normal, not weakness.
  • Don't use one cigarette as a reason to abandon vaping entirely. Keep going.
  • If cravings are strong, reassess your nicotine strength — it likely needs to go up, not down.
  • Come into any Krem branch — we'll help you troubleshoot the setup, not just sell you something new.

Visit us in Cape Town

If you're in Cape Town and want guidance on the right setup, come into any Krem Vape Studio branch. We'll ask the right questions and recommend something that gives you a genuine chance of success — not the most expensive thing on the shelf.

Branch Address Hours
Pinelands 29 Union Ave Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00
Kuils River 47 Church St Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00
Plumstead 3 Rorke Road Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00
Lansdowne 175 St Kilda Road Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00

Frequently asked questions

What's the best vape for someone quitting cigarettes?+
A pod system with nic salt e-liquid is the most effective setup for most switchers. The mouth-to-lung draw feels like smoking, nic salts satisfy the craving quickly, and pod systems are low-maintenance. The Vaporesso XROS 5 Mini and Bewolk X are popular starting points at Krem. If you want to test the waters first with no commitment, try a Bewolk Bar 25K disposable.
What nicotine strength should I start on?+
If you smoke a pack a day (20 cigarettes), start at 50mg nic salt. 10–20 a day: 20–35mg. Lighter smokers: 10–20mg. The most common mistake is starting too low and finding it unsatisfying — you'll crave cigarettes within the hour and likely go back. Start high and reduce over time if you want to.
Can I start with a disposable vape instead of a pod system?+
Yes, and it's often a smart way to test the waters before spending on a device. The Bewolk Bar 25K and Jack Parow Tjoef 10K are solid options. If disposable vaping works for you, switching to a pod system like the Bewolk X will save you money long-term — the pod costs less than a new disposable and delivers the same experience.
Is vaping safe?+
Vaping is not risk-free and is not recommended for non-smokers. For current smokers, the evidence consistently shows vaping is significantly less harmful than continuing to smoke. Public Health England has assessed vaping at approximately 95% less harmful than smoking. The goal is to stop smoking cigarettes — vaping is a tool to help achieve that.
How long before the cravings go away?+
For most people, strong cravings reduce significantly within the first 1–2 weeks when using a properly set-up vape at the right nicotine strength. Habitual triggers — coffee, stress, after meals — take longer to re-associate, usually 4–8 weeks. The first two weeks are when most relapses happen, which is why getting the setup right from day one matters most.
Shop pod systems → Try a disposable first

For adult use only (18+). Contains nicotine — an addictive substance. Not intended for non-smokers or persons who have not previously used tobacco or nicotine products. Not a smoking cessation device — speak to a healthcare professional for clinical stop-smoking support.

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