If you’re new to vaping, you may have come across terms like MTL, RDL, and DTL. These describe different inhalation styles, and choosing the right one can dramatically affect your experience—from flavor and vapor production to nicotine satisfaction.
This guide breaks down each style in simple terms to help you find what suits you best.
1. MTL – Mouth to Lung
MTL (Mouth to Lung) closely mimics the way traditional cigarettes are smoked.
How It Works
When you inhale, vapor is first drawn into your mouth, held briefly, and then inhaled into your lungs—just like smoking a cigarette.
Experience
Tight draw: Noticeable resistance, similar to smoking or sipping through a straw
Low vapor production: Small, concentrated clouds
Strong flavor clarity: Excellent for tasting layered flavors like tobacco, fruit, or menthol
Pronounced throat hit
Typical Device Settings
Power: Low (around 7–15W)
Coil resistance: High resistance (usually above 1.0Ω)
Airflow: Small or restricted
E-liquid: Higher nicotine strength, often nicotine salts (20mg/ml or higher)
Best For
Beginners switching from cigarettes
Users who prioritize flavor and nicotine satisfaction
Those who prefer a cigarette-like draw
2. DTL – Direct to Lung
DTL (Direct to Lung) is the opposite of MTL and resembles taking a deep breath.
How It Works
Vapor is inhaled directly into the lungs in one smooth motion, without stopping in the mouth.
Experience
Very open airflow: Almost no resistance
Large vapor clouds: Dense and dramatic
Bold, intense flavor delivery
Smooth inhale with minimal throat hit
Typical Device Settings
Power: High (40W and above, sometimes over 100W)
Coil resistance: Low resistance (usually below 0.5Ω)
Airflow: Large, wide-open airflow
E-liquid: Low nicotine (0–6mg/ml), high VG (70% VG or more)
Best For
Experienced vapers
Cloud chasers and hobbyists
Users with low nicotine dependence who enjoy vapor production
3. RDL – Restricted Direct Lung
RDL (Restricted Direct Lung) is the balanced middle ground between MTL and DTL—and one of the most popular styles today.
How It Works
Vapor is mostly inhaled directly into the lungs, but with slightly restricted airflow, sometimes with a brief pause in the mouth.
Experience
Moderate resistance: Smoother than MTL, tighter than DTL
Medium vapor production: Noticeably more than MTL, less than DTL
Excellent balance of flavor and vapor
Full, satisfying draw
Typical Device Settings
Power: Medium range (15–40W)
Coil resistance: Mid-range (commonly 0.4Ω–0.8Ω)
Airflow: Adjustable, partially open
E-liquid: Flexible—nicotine salts or freebase, usually 3–12mg/ml
Best For
Users who find MTL too weak and DTL too intense
Intermediate vapers
Those seeking flavor and vapor balance
At Bangma, we provide customizable MTL, RDL, and DTL options designed for every vaping style.
