Vaping in cold weather? How to keep your vape happy this winter.
The clocks go back, the mornings get frosty and suddenly your vape isn't quite itself. The battery drops faster, the flavour feels flat and there's a strange bit of moisture around the mouthpiece.
None of that means your kit is broken. Cold air changes how batteries and e-liquid behave, and a few simple habits keep everything running smoothly until spring. Here's what we tell customers in store every winter.
Short version? Here you go.
What cold weather actually does to your vape.
Your vape is two things working together: a lithium-ion battery and a coil heating e-liquid. Both are fussy about temperature.
Batteries rely on a chemical reaction to deliver power, and that reaction slows down when it's cold. E-liquid is made from PG (propylene glycol) and VG (vegetable glycerin), and both get thicker as the temperature drops. Put the two together on a frosty bus stop and you get a vape that feels sluggish.
The good news is that a typical British winter won't do lasting damage on its own. Most problems are temporary, and they disappear once the kit warms back up. The two things to really avoid are charging while it's cold and leaving it somewhere freezing for hours.
The battery drains faster than usual.
This is the one we hear about most. You leave the house on a full charge and by lunchtime the battery light is already warning you. In the cold, a lithium-ion battery can't deliver its full capacity, so it hits "low" sooner, and some kits will cut out under load even when there's charge left.
Most of that lost capacity isn't gone for good. Once the battery warms up, it usually recovers a good chunk of its charge.
Keep your vape in an inside coat pocket or trouser pocket, close to your body, rather than an outer pocket, handbag or rucksack. If it's been out in the cold and seems flat, give it ten minutes somewhere warm before you assume it needs charging.
Using a kit with a small battery? A compact pod kit like the XROS 6 Mini is easy to keep tucked in an inside pocket all day.
Charging a cold vape battery.
This is the important one. Battery experts are clear that standard lithium-ion cells shouldn't be charged below freezing. Charging a very cold cell can cause lasting damage inside the battery, even if it looks like it's charging normally. Battery University recommends charging lithium-ion batteries at a moderate temperature, ideally somewhere around 10–30°C.
In real life that means don't plug your vape in the second you get in from a freezing walk, and don't charge it in a cold car, shed, garage or conservatory.
Bring your vape inside and let it sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes before charging. Make sure the charging port is completely dry first (see condensation, below), use the cable that came with your kit, and never leave it charging unattended overnight.
If you vape with removable 18650 or 21700 batteries, the same rule applies to your external charger. Charge indoors, at room temperature, and check the wraps for any splits or damage before they go back in.
Thick e-liquid and weak, dry hits.
Cold e-liquid flows more slowly, especially high-VG liquids like 70/30 shortfills. The coil's wick can't soak it up as quickly, so you might notice weaker vapour, a muted flavour, or a dry, harsh hit if you puff too quickly. In a very cold snap you might even see the liquid looking slightly cloudy or syrupy.
It doesn't usually freeze solid in normal UK winter weather. It just thickens, and it goes back to normal once it warms up.
Warm the pod in your hand or pocket for a minute before vaping, and take a couple of slow, gentle puffs to get the liquid moving. Leave a little longer between puffs so the wick can keep up. If you vape a pod kit outdoors a lot, a 50/50 or nic salt e-liquid flows more easily in the cold than thick high-VG juice. Read What is PG & VG in e-liquid? for more.
Getting a burnt taste that doesn't go away when the kit warms up? That's more likely a worn coil than the weather. Our guide on when to change the coil on a vape will help you tell the difference.
Cold won't usually break your vape. Charging it while it’s freezing can.
Condensation, moisture and that wet mouthpiece.
Walk from a freezing street into a warm shop, pub or living room and a cold vape will mist up, just like a pair of glasses. Warm vapour also cools faster in cold air, so more of it turns back into liquid inside the mouthpiece and around the pod contacts.
A bit of moisture is normal and isn't the same as a leak. It only becomes a problem if it gets into the charging port or the pod connection.
Give the mouthpiece and pod contacts a quick wipe with a tissue when you come in from the cold. If the device looks damp, let it dry completely before you charge it. If you're seeing actual pools of e-liquid, have a look at our guide to why your vape is leaking.
Leaving your vape in the car.
A car on a frosty night can get much colder than the air outside your front door, and a car in summer can get dangerously hot. Neither is good for a lithium-ion battery, and big temperature swings also push e-liquid around inside the pod, which can cause leaks.
Take your vape inside with you when you park up for the night. If it has been left in a cold car, let it warm up slowly indoors (not on a radiator) and dry off before you vape or charge it.
Small enough for an inside pocket.
Compact pod kits are the easiest to keep warm on the go, and a few spare pods mean a tired coil never leaves you stuck on a cold day.
Cold-weather problems, sorted in seconds.
Match what you're noticing to the most likely cause, then try the quick fix.
| What you notice | Most likely cause | Quick fix |
|---|---|---|
| Battery dies faster than usual | Cold battery can't deliver full capacity | Keep it in an inside pocket; warm it before assuming it's flat |
| Kit cuts out or won't fire outdoors | Cold battery struggling under load | Warm it in your hand or pocket for a few minutes |
| Weak vapour, muted flavour | Thick, cold e-liquid | Warm the pod and take slower puffs |
| Dry or harsh hit in the cold | Wick can't soak up thick liquid fast enough | Leave longer gaps between puffs; try 50/50 or nic salts |
| Moisture around the mouthpiece | Condensation from cold to warm | Wipe it and let it dry before charging |
| Kit left in a cold car overnight | Very low temperature | Warm up slowly indoors before vaping or charging |
Off on a winter getaway? Air pressure changes can cause leaks too, so check our guide to flying with a vape before you pack. And if you're ducking inside to keep warm, our guide to where you can vape in the UK covers the rules.
Pop in. We'll check it over.
Bring your vape into your local I Love Vapour store and our team will take a look at the battery, pod and e-liquid you're using.
Or stock up on spare pods and coils online, with free UK delivery on orders over £20.
Shop pod kits →Vaping in the cold: your questions answered.
Why does my vape battery die faster in the cold?
Lithium-ion batteries can't deliver their full capacity when they're cold, so they hit 'low' sooner. Most of that charge comes back once the battery warms up. Keeping your vape in an inside pocket makes a big difference.
Can I charge my vape straight after being out in the cold?
It's best not to. Standard lithium-ion batteries shouldn't be charged when they're below freezing. Let your vape sit at room temperature for 20–30 minutes and make sure it's completely dry before you plug it in.
Can vape juice freeze?
Not in normal UK winter weather. E-liquid has a much lower freezing point than water, so instead of freezing it gets thicker and flows more slowly. It goes back to normal once it warms up.
Is it OK to leave my vape in the car in winter?
We'd avoid it. Cars get very cold overnight in winter and very hot in summer, and both are bad for lithium-ion batteries. Take your vape inside with you.
Why is my vape wet around the mouthpiece in winter?
That's usually condensation. Vapour cools faster in cold air and turns back into liquid, and a cold device mists up when you bring it into a warm room. Wipe it with a tissue and let it dry before charging.
Why does my vape taste burnt when it's cold?
Cold, thick e-liquid can't soak into the wick fast enough, which can cause a dry hit. Warm the pod up and take slower puffs. If it still tastes burnt once it's warm, the coil or pod probably needs replacing.
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