How Do You Hit a Vape Pen for Beginners?

To hit a vape pen, make sure it is charged and turned on, then hold the button (or just inhale on a draw-activated pen) and take a slow, steady pull for 3 to 5 seconds. Let go of the button, take the vapor into your lungs with a short breath of fresh air, and exhale. Start on the lowest voltage or heat setting and take small puffs until you know how the pen hits.

What type of vape pen do you have?

Before you take your first hit, figure out which kind of pen you are holding. The steps are similar, but the details change with each style.

Pen type	What it holds	How it fires	Best for
510 cartridge battery	Pre-filled or refillable 510 cartridges	Button or draw activated	Oil cartridges
Wax pen	Concentrates loaded into a coil or ceramic chamber	Button	Wax, shatter and other concentrates
Dry herb pen	Ground herb in a heating chamber	Button with preheat	Herb
Box style cartridge mod	510 cartridges with adjustable height and width	Button	People who want more voltage control

How do you hit a cartridge vape pen?

A cartridge pen is the most common starter setup. It is a 510 thread battery paired with a cartridge that screws or magnetically connects on top.

1. Charge the battery fully with the included cable before your first use.
2. Screw the cartridge onto the 510 threads until it is snug. Do not overtighten it.
3. Click the button 5 times quickly to turn the battery on. A light usually flashes to confirm.
4. Pick the lowest voltage setting. On most batteries you click the button 3 times to cycle through settings.
5. Hold the button and inhale slowly through the mouthpiece for 3 to 5 seconds.
6. Release the button, take a small breath of fresh air to pull the vapor into your lungs, then exhale.
7. Wait a few seconds between puffs so the coil can recover and the oil can resaturate the wick.

If your battery has a preheat function, use it when the cartridge has been sitting in a cold car or the oil looks thick. Preheat warms the oil gently so it flows to the coil without burning.

How do you hit a wax pen?

A wax pen heats concentrates directly, so it takes a little more care than a cartridge pen.

1. Charge the pen and turn it on with 5 quick clicks.
2. Remove the mouthpiece and load a small amount of concentrate onto the coil or into the chamber with a dab tool.
3. Replace the mouthpiece.
4. Tap the button once or twice to warm the coil before you inhale.
5. Hold the button and inhale slowly. Many wax pens work best with short holds of a few seconds.
6. Release, exhale and repeat until the vapor gets thin, then reload.

Keep loads small, about the size of a grain of rice. Overloading is the most common reason wax pens leak, spit or clog.

How do you hit a dry herb pen?

Dry herb pens heat ground herb without burning it. Grind your herb medium fine, pack the chamber loosely, close the lid and turn the pen on. Choose a temperature, wait for the preheat signal, then take slow, long draws. Dry herb vapor is lighter and less visible than smoke, so do not judge the hit by the cloud alone.

Should you mouth hit or lung hit?

There are two ways to inhale. A mouth-to-lung hit means you draw the vapor into your mouth first, hold it for a second, then breathe it in. It is gentler and is the best way for beginners to start. A direct-to-lung hit means you breathe the vapor straight into your lungs in one motion, like taking a deep breath. It gives a bigger hit and is easier to overdo, so try it only once you are comfortable with your pen.

Common beginner mistakes

• Pulling too hard: a hard pull floods the coil and can clog the airway. Breathe in slowly, like sipping through a straw.
• Starting on high voltage: high heat burns oil and gives a harsh, burnt taste. Start low.
• Chain hitting: taking hit after hit without a break overheats the coil. Wait a few seconds between puffs.
• Leaving the pen on: turn it off with 5 clicks when you are done so it does not fire in your pocket.
• Storing carts sideways in the heat: keep cartridges upright and out of hot cars to prevent leaks and clogs.

If your cartridge stops hitting, our guide on how to fix a clogged vape cartridge walks through the fixes step by step.

Beginner friendly pens we carry

If you are buying your first pen, choose a simple, well made battery from a known brand. A few options from our shop:

• Yocan UNI Pro 2: a box style battery with a 650mAh battery, USB-C charging and adjustable height and width so almost any 510 cartridge fits, according to Yocan.
• Lookah Snail 2.0: a compact, pocket friendly 510 battery with a simple button layout.
• Yocan Zen: an easy wax pen for people trying concentrates for the first time.

How do you take care of a vape pen?

A little care keeps your pen hitting the same way it did on day one. Wipe the 510 threads and the top of the battery with a dry cotton swab every week or so, because sticky residue on the connection is a common reason a battery stops reading a cartridge. Charge the battery before it is completely dead, and unplug it once it is full. Keep cartridges upright when you are not using them, and store your pen away from heat and direct sun.

If you use a wax pen, clean the coil or chamber after every few sessions while it is still slightly warm. A cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol works well. Let everything dry fully before you reassemble the pen and turn it back on.

Shop 510 batteries we carry

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Frequently asked questions

Take it slow

Charge it, start low, pull slow and wait between puffs. Follow those four rules and your first sessions will be smooth. When you are ready for a new setup, browse every vaporizer we carry.