MTL vs RDTL vs DTL Vaping: The Complete 2025 Guide & Kit Recommendations

November 20, 2025

Discover the differences between MTL, RDTL, and DTL vaping. Learn inhalation styles, coil types, e-liquid ratios, and the best vape kits to choose in 2025.

MTL vs RDTL vs DTL Vaping: The Complete 2025 Guide + Kit Recommendations

Vaping isn't a singular activity, and the inhale you choose influences everything from the intensity on the palate to the intensity of the hit to the throat, vapour density, and which device is best for you. In this guide, we break down the three main styles of vaping, MTL, RDTL, and DTL, explain the differences, and provide support on which method and device would suit you best. Each style has some kit recommendations from VapeSuite that you can explore.

What Is Meant by These Vaping Terms?

MTL (Mouth-to-Lung)

MTL imitates the conventional smoking of cigarettes. You inhale vapour in your mouth and wait a little and then swallow it into your lungs. This makes it the most intuitive among those who are new and former smokers.

Key characteristics:

Airflow Tight and restricted.
Coil resistance: Greater (typically 0.8 ohm or greater)
Vapour: Low and discreet
Nicotine: Exerts greater efficacy in increased levels (also nic salts)
Best in: Novices, former smokers, heavy smokers of the throat hit.

MTL provides better throat satisfaction, controlled vapour production, and familiarity to the smokers who switch to vaping.

DTL (Direct-to-Lung)

DTL is a deep-breath inhale whereby the vapour enters directly into your lungs just like inhaling deeply using your mouth.

Key characteristics:

Breathing: Breathing is open to allow the maximum amount of air in.
Coil resistance: Low (sub-ohm, typically less than 0.8 ohm).
Vapour: Dense clouds
Nicotine: Low (3-6mg)
Best: Experienced vapers, cloud chasers, strong flavour.

DTL provides enormous clouds and natural breathing, yet it cannot be managed properly without excellent control and usually more powerful equipment.

RDTL (Restricted Direct-to-lung)

The RDTL is the superior of both worlds, a closer kind of DTL that strikes the compromising medium of flavour, vapour and smoothness.

Key points:

Airflow: Semi-open and with apparent restriction.
Coil resistance: Average (0.5 ohm -0.8ohm)
Vapour: Medium clouds, strong flavour.
Ideal use: in MTL users who are changing to DTL, flavour chasers.

This is the most suitable method to use by the user seeking more vapour than MTL, less intensity than that of full DTL but with less e-juice.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	MTL	RDTL	DTL
Airflow	Tight	Semi-restricted	Wide open
Coil Resistance	High (?0.8 ohm)	Medium (0.5-0.8 ohm)	Low (less than 0.5 ohm)
Vapour Amount	Low	Medium	High
Throat Hit	Strong	Medium	Soft
Nicotine Strength	High / nic salts	Medium	Low
Learning Curve	Easiest	Moderate	More advanced

How to Choose the Right Vaping Style

Use these simple questions to figure out which inhale style matches your needs:

1. Are you switching from smoking?

Choose MTL, it feels the most familiar and satisfies cravings better with higher-nicotine options.

2. Do you prefer clouds or flavour?

Clouds: DTL
Balanced flavour + mild clouds: RDTL
Flavour clarity + throat hit: MTL

3. What nicotine strength do you want?

High nic / nic salts: MTL
Medium nicotine: RDTL
Low nicotine: DTL

4. Are you looking for some flexibility?

You will want a pod or device that can take multiple coil resistances and even allow you to adjust the airflow. Most kits today allow users to change between MTL, RDTL, and DTL, without having to try a different device.

Techniques of Inhaling (for better flavour and less coughing)

MTL Technique

Slow, steady draw into the mouth
Hold briefly, then inhale into the lungs
Exhale calmly.

RDTL Technique

Inhale direct, but this pull should be lighter
Adjust airflow until the draw feels like a comfortable restriction.

DTL Technique

Take a long, deep draw straight to the lungs
Start slow to help stave off coughing
Best suited for devices with more airiness, and many sub ohm coils.

As always, ensure you vape with a primed coil, with the correct VG/PG ratio, and match your airflow to the power of your coil, these three will make the biggest difference in smoothness and flavour.

Best E-Liquid Types for Each Style

MTL

50/50 PG/VG
Nic salts
Coils 0.8 ohm or higher

RDTL

Best with 60-70% VG blends
0.5-0.8 ohm coils

DTL

High-VG liquids (70/30 or 80/20 VG/PG)
Sub-ohm coils below 0.5 ohm

Recommended Kits for Each Vaping Style

Best MTL Kits

Perfect for ex-smokers and flavour-focused vapers.

OXVA Xlim Pro 2 - ultra-versatile, superb flavour
Vaporesso XROS 5 - consistent MTL performance
Uwell Caliburn G3 - clean flavour, reliable coils
Voopoo Argus G3 or G2 Mini - adjustable modes + great pod lifespan
SMOK Nord series - simple, beginner-friendly

Best RDTL Kits

Look for adjustable airflow and mid-range coils.

Many devices that support 0.5-0.8 ohm coils

Pod mods with airflow sliders and 20-30W output

Kits marketed as “MTL/DTL hybrid” often do RDTL extremely well

Examples:

OXVA Xlim series
Vaporesso Luxe/Q Pod Mods
Voopoo Drag/Argus pod mods

Best DTL / Sub-Ohm Kits

For cloud chasers and advanced users.

Box mods with adjustable wattage

Pod mods supporting 0.15-0.3 ohm coils

Large airflow windows

Bigger batteries (?2000mAh recommended)

Watch for:

Coil life
E-liquid consumption
Battery performance

Sub-ohm kits include the Voopoo Drag series, Vaporesso GTX/GEN kits, and SMOK RPM/NRG systems.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using the wrong e-liquid thickness for your coil (too thick = dry hits in MTL)
Not priming coils before first use
Setting airflow incorrectly, making the vape too harsh or too airy
Running coils too long, which ruins flavour
Using too much nicotine in DTL, causing a harsh, unpleasant hit
Ignoring device cleaning, which affects airflow and taste
Start low, experiment gradually, and let your preference evolve naturally.

Conclusion

A knowledge of the distinction between MTL, RDTL and DTL will provide you with complete ability to control how you vape.

MTL is the best in terms of beginners and former smokers.

RDTL provides an ideal balanced vapour and flavour.

DTL is the final option of large clouds and high performance.

Browsing VapeSuite, seek out kits which have an adjustable airflow, different coil types and definitive style compatibility. The more versatile your device, the more likely you can adjust it to the changing vaping style.

0 comments For MTL vs RDTL vs DTL Vaping: The Complete 2025 Guide & Kit Recommendations

Comment “MTL vs RDTL vs DTL Vaping: The Complete 2025 Guide & Kit Recommendations”

Your Response *

Your Name *

Your Email *

What Are Shortfill E-Liquids?

Shortfill e-liquids are 50ml or 100ml e-juices tha

What Is A Vape Mod And How Doe

How To Properly Prime Your Vap

Proper vape coil priming prevents burnt taste, ext

Best Big Puff Vape Kits in the

Discover the best big puff vape kits in the UK for

Vape Battery Safety Tips: How

Learn how to charge, store and use vape batteries

Best Vape Liquid Flavours in 2

Discover the best Smoknic vape liquid flavours in

MTL vs RDTL vs DTL Vaping: The Complete 2025 Guide & Kit Recommendations