Hey vape fam! BOB here from VAPORESSO—let’s keep it 100: Walk into any modding meetup, and you’ll hear two camps yelling: “Nic salts only!” vs. “Freebase for life!” 
. It’s like arguing pizza toppings, but way more about chemistry (and less about pineapple). Today, we’re breaking down the science behind the chaos, why modders care so much, and how these two nicotine types shaped devices like our ARMOUR ULTRA. Spoiler: Using the wrong one in your mod is like putting diesel in a sports car—messy, harsh, and a total vibe killer 
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First: The “Chemistry Lite” Breakdown (No Lab Coat Needed!) 
Let’s start with the basics—both deliver nicotine, but they’re built differently. Think of freebase as a solo artist, and nic salts as a duet:
- Freebase Nicotine: The OG of vaping. It’s pure, unfiltered nicotine (chemically tweaked with ammonia way back when) with a high pH level—think alkaline, like baking soda
. This makes it vaporize easily at high temps but gives a sharp throat hit, especially at strong concentrations. - Nicotine Salts: The “smooth operator” newer kid. It’s freebase paired with a weak acid (usually benzoic acid, like what’s in cranberries
) that lowers the pH. This chemical duet makes high nicotine feel mellow and hits your bloodstream faster—more like a cigarette’s instant satisfaction 
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I once saw a newbie pour 50mg nic salt into a 200W mod. Their eyes watered so bad, we thought they were watching a sad movie. Lesson: These two play by different rules.
The Big 5 Differences (Modders Swear By This!) 
Modders don’t just pick nicotine for fun—they’re chasing specific vibes. Here’s how salts and freebase stack up:
| Factor | Nicotine Salts | Freebase Nicotine |
|---|---|---|
| Throat Hit | Smooth as butter (even at 50mg!)  |
Sharp, punchy (harsh above 12mg)  |
| Absorption Speed | Fast (2-3 mins!)—cigarette-like fix  |
Slower (5-7 mins)—chill, steady buzz |
| Nic Strength | High (10-50mg common) | Low (3-12mg typical) |
| Vapor Output | Discreet, small clouds (MTL-friendly) | Thick, dense clouds (DTL/cloud chaser)  |
| Best For | Pods, low-wattage mods, ex-smokers | High-wattage mods, sub-ohm tanks, flavor chasers |
Source: Vaping 101 studies confirm this—freebase is for showing off clouds, salts are for quiet satisfaction .
Modding Culture & Nicotine: Why It’s a Love-Hate Relationship 
Modders are all about control—tweaking coils, airflow, and wattage to get that perfect hit. Nicotine type dictates every tweak:
- Freebase Modders: These are the cloud chasers and flavor fanatics. They build sub-ohm coils (0.15-0.5Ω) and crank wattage (80W+) because freebase needs heat to vaporize into big clouds
. Back in the day, they’d wrap “Clapton coils” (fancy twisted wire) to smooth out freebase’s harshness—now our GTI Dual Mesh Coils do the work for them (30% longer life, richer flavor 
). - Nic Salt Modders: They’re all about portability and stealth. Mods here are tiny (think XROS 5-sized) with higher-resistance coils (1.0-1.2Ω) and low wattage (10-25W). No need for giant batteries—salts deliver nicotine fast, so you puff less. A modder friend calls his salt setup “my pocket lifesaver” for work meetings
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The cardinal sin? Slapping high-nic salt into a high-wattage mod. It’s like overcooking steak—dry, bitter, and guaranteed to make you cough. Trust me, I’ve seen it.
How Nicotine Types Shaped Vape Device Design 
Here’s the juicy part: Nic salts and freebase didn’t just change how we vape—they forced brands like VAPORESSO to reinvent devices. Let’s use our gear as examples:
1. Nic Salts = The Rise of “Pod Mods” (XROS 5 FTW!)
Before salts, ex-smokers struggled with freebase’s harshness at high nicotine. Salts fixed that, so we built the XROS 5:
- Low-Wattage Power: Tops out at 25W—perfect for salts’ low vaporization temp .
- 1.2Ω Coils: High resistance = less heat, so salts stay smooth (no burnt hits!).
- Leak-Proof Pods: Salts are thicker than freebase, so we added side-fill tanks to avoid mess
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Salts turned “bulky mods only” into “pocket-sized perfection”—and modders went crazy for it. No more carrying a brick to get your nicotine fix!
2. Freebase = The Age of “Beast Mods” (ARMOUR ULTRA Unleashed!)
Freebase craves power, so we built the ARMOUR ULTRA for cloud chasers and flavor nerds:
- 220W Max Wattage: Blasts heat to turn freebase into dense vapor .
- GTI Dual Mesh Coils: 0.2Ω resistance = more surface area to vaporize freebase evenly (no weak puffs!).
- 5500mAh Battery: Powers all-day cloud sessions—no mid-meetup charging panics
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It’s also IP68 waterproof and military-drop proof—because freebase modders take their gear hiking, to concerts, anywhere. Salts? They’re for coffee shops. Freebase? For adventures.
Myth Busting: “Salts Can’t Be Modded!” (False!) 
A common lie: “Nic salts are only for basic pods.” Nope! Modders tweak salt setups too—they just focus on smoothness, not clouds. For example, they’ll swap XROS 5 coils for 0.8Ω to get a little more vapor, or adjust airflow for tighter MTL hits. The key? Keep wattage low. Freebase modders? They’re over here adding “airflow restrictors” to their sub-ohm tanks to mimic MTL (fancy, right?).
Final Verdict: Pick Your Nic, Pick Your Mod
- Team Salts: Grab the XROS 5. Compact, adjustable wattage, and built for smooth, fast hits. Great for newbies or anyone who vapes on the go.
- Team Freebase: Go ARMOUR ULTRA. Power, durability, and coils that make freebase flavor pop—modder-approved, no soldering required.
At the end of the day, it’s not about “better”—it’s about what fits your vibe. Salts are for “get in, get satisfied, get out.” Freebase is for “let’s make clouds that block the sun.”
Ready to mod (or just vape) like a pro? Grab your perfect match and join the debate. Just don’t mix salts and high wattage. Your throat will thank you.
Happy vaping—may your nicotine be smooth and your coils never burn! 