The clearomiser, sometimes referred to as a 'tank', is the electronic cigarette part that holds the e-liquid tank and the coil. It may seem complicated to choose the right one for your e-cigarette, but they all work in a very similar way.
The coil is made up of a wick of fibre that soaks up the e-liquid inside the tank, and is in contact with a resistive wire that's heated by your battery. The liquid is then vapourised and rises through the chimney so you can inhale it, by placing your lips around the clearomiser's mouthpiece, also called drip-tip.
Of course, there are several types of clearomisers to suit everybody's needs. However, some models stand out more than others and have become international bestsellers, thanks to their effectiveness in helping people quitting smoking.
At Arômes et Liquides, we pay great attention to which devices we select and sale. That's why you're sure to find the right clearomiser for you on our webshop!
How does your clearomiser work?
A clearomiser is an atomiser with a transparent tank, hence why it's called a 'clear'-omizer. Simply put, it's a device that transforms the e-liquid into vapour.
A clearomiser is comprised of:
- a base for screwing the clearomiser onto the battery
- a rotating ring for adjusting the air flow
- a tank that contains the e-liquid
- a coil, the only consumable of your electronic cigarette, used to vapourise the e-liquid
- a mouthpiece for inhaling the vapour, commonly called drip tip
Thanks to its capillary action, the coil's fibre soaks up the e-liquid inside the tank, bringing it into contact with the resistive wire. Then, when pressing the battery switch, this wire is heated and enables the e-liquid to be vapourised. The vapour produced rises through the chimney, all you have to do is inhale it by placing your lips around the mouthpiece.
Of course, if the overall operation of a clearomiser remains the same regardless of the specific model, some characteristics can vary in order to change the vapour's rendition.
Which is the best clearomiser?
Your clearomiser plays an important role when you vape, so it's important that you find a good quality device to enjoy the best vaping experience possible.
The main things you have to take into account when choosing your clearomiser are:
- The manufacturing quality
- The ease of use
- How much e-liquid it can hold
- The type of coil it uses
A well-finished clearomiser is often of an excellent manufacturing quality.
In the same way, It's important to take into account the clearomiser's practicality, rather than focusing on aesthetics only. A good e-liquid autonomy is to be preferred when choosing your kit. You must check the tank's capacity in milliliters (mL) and pick the one suited to your daily consumption. Most clearomisers have a 2 to 8mL tank.
In addition, being able to adjust your clearomiser's air flow with ease allows for more versatility, and a more customised vape. Today, most clearomisers offer an airflow adjustment ring, located on the clearomiser's base. You can modify the draw by simply rotating this ring, from open to closed.
Finally, pay attention to the type of coil the clearomiser has, it says a lot about how it's used (sub-ohm, indirect inhale, etc.). Depending on their size and functioning, coils can produce varying amounts of vapour, render the flavours differently, and even influence the vapour's temperature.
By customising these parameters, you're guaranteed to achieve an excellent vape. A few major brands stand out as absolute references, for beginners and experienced users alike:
Eleaf and their Melo and GS Air series, Aspire and their famous Nautilus, Innokin's Zenith, Joyetech's Cubis, and Kangertech's Toptank are all excellent choices for the vast majority of vapers.
Choice of the team
Choice of the team
Choice of the team
Aspire Nautilus 3 Clearomizer
Choice of the team
Direct or indirect inhale clearomisers
There are two ways of inhaling the clearomiser's vapour, which determines which device you choose for your electronic cigarette:
- Direct inhaling, known as Direct-to-Lung (DTL) vaping, is where you inhale the vapour directly into your lungs, without keeping it in your mouth beforehand.
- Indirect inhaling, known as Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) vaping, is where you inhale the vapour but keep it in your mouth before making it go into your lungs. This kind of vaping is very similar to the feeling you get with a tobacco cigarette.
Therefore, we recommend indirect inhaling when you want to quit smoking. So, picking an MTL clearomiser is highly recommended if you're new to electronic cigarettes, especially if you want to get rid of tobacco once and for all. Indeed, indirect inhaling's two-step vaping replicates the feeling a tobacco cigarette causes, ie. the muscular contraction in your throat, known as the 'hit'. An MTL clearomiser enables ex-smokers to carry on enjoying this natural reflex.
These devices are also recommended if you use e-liquids that contain nicotine salts or CBD.
Conversely, the more experienced vapers may prefer sub-ohm clearomisers with a DL inhale. These tanks, whose resistive value is lower than 1 ohm, produce a lot more vapour.
Choose the clearomiser that's right for you, depending on whether you prefer a cooler and tastier vapour with an indirect inhale, or a hotter and more plentiful vapour with a direct inhale.
How to choose your clearomiser’s coil
The coil is the component at the heart of your clearomiser. It's thanks to it that the e-liquid is vapourised. A clearomiser can be compatible with several types of coil, offering you various uses and renditions.
It is often the coil's build and its type of resistive wire that differs from model to model. They can be made from Kanthal, Nichrome or stainless steel, among others. Each alloy offers a different rendition.
All you have to do is make sure that the coil is compatible with your battery, then you can pick the one you prefer.
How to fill up your clearomiser
All of the market's clearomisers have a tank that holds the e-liquid needed to feed the coil, generally made from Pyrex. Depending on the model, the tank's size can vary between 2 and 10mL.
As you can imagine, you'll have to fill up your clearomiser tank in order to vape.
In most cases, your clearomiser is filled from above, by using various systems that can vary depending on the manufacturer. In some more infrequent cases, the clearomiser is filled from below. Thus, there are several ways of filling up your clearomiser, both quickly and without any leaks!
How do I clean my clearomiser?
If you want to keep your tank going for as long as possible, you’ll have to clean and maintain it. This can be done in several ways.
Unlike the old cartomizers, clearomisers can be dismantled entirely. Whether it's the base, air intakes, coil, drip tip, top cap, or even the tank, they can all be cleaned!
Do I have to change a clearomiser?
Some clearomisers don't use removable coils. In this case, you'll have to replace the whole clearomiser. However, most clearomisers today use an interchangeable wick system. A regular maintenance keeps this type of clearomiser working for a long time. It can still happen that the vaping feeling you're getting with your current clearomiser isn't quite as pleasant as it used to be. It may lack vapour or flavour, or have a weak hit for example. This can mean that you need to change your kit!