Bar Series Shortfills vs Nic Salts: Which Is Right for You?

Bar Series Shortfills

Bar Series Shortfills vs Nic Salts: Which Is Right for You?

Shortfills suit sub ohm, direct to lung vaping at low strengths; nic salts suit mouth to lung pod kits at higher strengths. Pick by your device and draw.

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Bar Series shortfills and nic salts are two of the most popular ways to vape, but they suit very different setups. This guide explains the differences so you can pick the right one, alongside our guide on what nicotine salt is.

Two formats, two styles

The core difference is the kind of vaping each is built for. Bar Series shortfills are high VG and made for sub ohm, direct to lung vaping, big clouds, an airy draw and low nicotine strengths. Nic salts are smoother, higher strength e liquids in small bottles, made for mouth to lung pod kits, a tight, cigarette like draw and small clouds. They are not really rivals so much as different tools.

Shortfills versus nic salts

Bar Series shortfill	Nic salt
100ml, nicotine free plus shots	10ml, ready to vape
Low strength, about 3mg	Higher, often 10mg or 20mg
70/30 high VG	Usually 50/50
Sub ohm, direct to lung	Mouth to lung pod kits
Big clouds, airy draw	Tight, cigarette like draw

Which is right for you

It comes down to your device and how you like to vape. If you use a sub ohm tank or high powered pod kit and enjoy big clouds, Bar Series shortfills are the natural fit. If you use a small mouth to lung pod kit, or want a higher nicotine strength and a tighter draw closer to a cigarette, nic salts are the better choice. Many ex smokers start on salts in a pod kit, then some move to sub ohm shortfills later.

Bar Series shortfills suit sub ohm, direct to lung vaping at low strengths; nic salts suit mouth to lung pod kits at higher strengths. Pick by your device and the draw you prefer.

Quick decision guide

• Sub ohm tank or high powered pod kit? Choose shortfills
• Small MTL pod kit? Choose nic salts
• Want big clouds and an airy draw? Shortfills
• Want a tight, cigarette like draw? Nic salts
• Want a higher nicotine strength? Nic salts

More guides and related reading

Our Bar Series guides cover what shortfills are, how to mix and use them, choosing flavours and strengths, and how they compare on value. The pages below are a good next read, and you can always return to the user guide hub or browse our full Help and Guidance library.

• Bar Series vs Elfliq
• Choosing the right nicotine strength
• Are Bar Series shortfills suitable for sub ohm vaping?
• What is nicotine salt
• Bar Series user guide hub
• Northwest Vape Help and Guidance library

Key things to remember

• Shortfills: 100ml, high VG, sub ohm, low strength
• Nic salts: 10ml, higher strength, MTL pod kits
• Shortfills give big clouds and an airy draw
• Salts give a tight, cigarette like draw
• Choose by your device and preferred draw

Why strength differs so much

The big gap in nicotine strength, about 3mg for shortfills versus 10mg or 20mg for salts, is all about vapour volume. Sub ohm shortfill setups produce far more vapour per puff, so a low strength still delivers plenty of nicotine. Small pod kits produce little vapour, so they need a higher strength, made smooth by the salt formulation, to satisfy.

This is why putting a high strength in a sub ohm kit feels harsh, and a low strength in a tiny pod kit feels weak. Matching strength to device is the key to a comfortable vape.

Strength and vapour

Setup	Strength	Vapour
Sub ohm shortfill	About 3mg	High
MTL pod, salt	10mg or 20mg	Low
Why	Vapour volume differs	Balances nicotine
Too high in sub ohm	Harsh	Too much
Too low in pod	Weak	Not enough

A few more questions

Can I use a shortfill in a pod kit?

Only a high powered sub ohm pod kit; small MTL pod kits suit nic salts, not high VG shortfills.

Are nic salts stronger than shortfills?

By strength per ml, usually yes, but sub ohm shortfills deliver nicotine through far more vapour, so low strength still satisfies.

Do and don’t

Do

• Match your e liquid type to your device
• Use shortfills in sub ohm kits
• Use nic salts in MTL pod kits
• Pick the draw style you prefer

Try not to

• Put high VG shortfill in a tiny pod kit
• Use a high salt strength in a sub ohm kit
• Assume one type suits everyone
• Vape either if you are a non smoker

Can you use both?

There is no rule that says you must pick one forever. Plenty of vapers keep a pod kit with nic salts for discreet, on the go vaping, and a sub ohm kit with shortfills for relaxing at home with bigger clouds. The two formats can happily coexist, each doing the job it is best at.

If you are switching from smoking, starting with nic salts in a simple pod kit is often easiest, then you can add a sub ohm shortfill setup later if you fancy the bigger clouds and the value of large bottles.

Using both

Situation	Best tool
Out and about	Pod kit with salts
Relaxing at home	Sub ohm shortfill
Discreet vaping	Salts, small clouds
Cloud chasing	Shortfills, big clouds
Just starting	Salts in a pod kit

The bottom line

Bar Series shortfills and nic salts are not really competitors, they are different tools for different vaping styles. Shortfills are large, nicotine free, high VG bottles you add nic shots to, made for sub ohm, direct to lung vaping at low strengths like 3mg, with big clouds and an airy draw. Nic salts are small, higher strength 10ml bottles for mouth to lung pod kits, with a tight, cigarette like draw. Choose by your device: sub ohm setups want shortfills, pod kits want salts. Many people use both, and switching smokers often start on salts before adding a sub ohm setup later.

What about throat hit?

Throat hit is another point of difference. Nic salts feel smooth even at higher strengths, which is why a 20mg salt in a pod kit does not feel harsh, ideal for an ex smoker wanting a satisfying but gentle hit. Freebase shortfills at low strength in a sub ohm kit give a softer throat hit with much more vapour.

If you like a pronounced, cigarette like throat hit, a salt in a pod kit delivers it best. If you prefer a smoother, cloudier vape, a low strength sub ohm shortfill is the way to go.

Throat hit and feel

Setup	Feel
Salt in pod kit	Smooth but satisfying
Shortfill in sub ohm	Soft, very cloudy
Higher strength salt	Cigarette like hit
Low strength shortfill	Gentle, airy
Your call	Depends on preference

A few more questions

Which is better for quitting smoking?

Many switchers start with nic salts in a pod kit, as the draw and strength feel closest to a cigarette; sub ohm shortfills suit later on.

Do shortfills come in higher strengths?

In practice no, two 18mg shots cap a shortfill around 3mg; for higher strengths use nic salts in a pod kit.

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A quick word on safety and the law

Vaping is intended for adult smokers and existing vapers as a less harmful alternative to cigarettes. Shortfills are sold nicotine free, but adding a nicotine shot makes them a nicotine product, which is addictive, and they are not suitable for non smokers, pregnant women or anyone under 18. By law you must be 18 or over to buy vaping products and nicotine shots in the UK, and we age verify every order in line with Challenge 25. If you want to stop using nicotine altogether, your local stop smoking service offers free, tailored support.

UK public health bodies advise that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking, but it is not risk free, and if you do not smoke the advice is not to start.

This page is general product information, not personal medical or legal advice. Specifications can vary by product and batch, so always check the bottle and label.