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Usually considered by vapers to be complicated and advanced, newcomers to vaping have missed out on the benefits of shortfill e-liquids for a long time.
But not anymore! With the emergence of 50/50 shortfills, you’re no longer limited to pairing them with sub ohm devices, tanks and coils.
While you still need to add nic shots, and in some cases do a bit of maths, it’s really quite simple.
For those who can’t stand the thought of parting ways with their MTL (Mouth To Lung) pod vape or starter kit, 50/50 shortfill e-liquid is definitely something worth looking into.
Key Takeaways
- 50/50 shortfill e-liquids offer a balanced mix of 50% vegetable glycerin (VG) and 50% propylene glycol (PG), making them suitable for Mouth-To-Lung (MTL) vaping.
- As shortfills, these e-liquids come with a space for adding a nicotine shot, allowing users to tailor their nicotine levels to their preference. Many users add a 10ml nicotine shot to the shortfill to create their desired strength, such as 3mg/ml.
- Due to the 50/50 VG/PG blend, 50/50 shortfill e-liquids are compatible with a broad range of vape kits, from starter kits to pod systems, and work particularly well in lower wattage devices. This makes finding the right vape juice for your kit easier than ever.
What is 50/50 shortfill e-liquid?
50/50 shortfills offer an MTL-friendly alternative to standard high VG shortfills.
Just like regular shortfills, they arrive in larger underfilled bottles of nicotine-free vape juice that leave enough space to add a nic shot or two.
The difference between 50/50 and regular shortfills lies in the VG/PG ratio. The “50/50” refers to the equal mix of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin.
This means that unlike standard high VG shortfills with their thicker consistency and increased cloud production, 50/50 shortfill e-liquid is compatible with lower wattage devices, such as the majority of pod kits, starter vapes and vape pens.
The inception of shortfills came as a result of the TPD (Tobacco Products Directive) placing a 10ml capacity limit on the bottle size of nicotine-containing vape juices.
Shortfill vape juices work around this restriction by allowing vapers to get bigger bottles of e-liquid that don’t contain any nicotine. This is not only more cost-effective, but allows you to customise the nicotine level of your e-liquid.
Pros & Cons Of 50/50 Shortfills
Pros
Cost-Effective
50/50 shortfills, and shortfill e-liquids in general, feature larger bottle sizes.
It costs less to manufacter a single 100ml bottle of vape juice than it does to make ten 10ml bottles.
So it’ll be cheaper for you to buy them too.
Less Waste
Creating larger bottles of vape juice requires less plastic than making the equivlent number of 10ml bottles.
So, they’re not only a cheaper option, but also more eco-friendly.
Save both your money and the environment with 50/50 shortfills!
Compatible Vape Kits
Regular 70% VG (Vegetable Glycerin) shortfills can only be paired with sub ohm kits designed for cloud chasing.
50/50 shortfills, on the other hand, can be paired with a much wider range of devices.
This includes most starter kits, pod vapes and vape pens.
Longer-Lasting
Since they come in large bottles, shortfills last a lot longer than 10ml e-liquids.
This means that you don’t have to stock up vape juice as often.
So, opting for a 50/50 shortfill e-liquid will save you quite a bit of hassle.
Customisable Nicotine Strengths
You can increase or decrease how many nicotine shots you add to your shortfill.
So, you can fine-tune your e-liquid to the right nicotine strength to create your perfect vape juice.
Cons
Less Beginner-Friendly
As 50/50 shortfills require you to mix in your own nicotine shots, there’s a bit of more a learning curve compared to vaping standard e-liquid.
So, while they’re still fairly simple, it may take a tad longer for beginners to get the hang of them.
Lower Strengths
Since the highest nicotine strength you can add to a 50/50 shortfill is 20mg, the final nicotine concentration will always be lower than what you’d find in a premixed bottle. This might not be enough nicotine for a heavier smoker.
Additionally, the available space in a shortfill bottle typically limits you to adding one nic shot for a 40ml bottle or two nic shots for a 100ml bottle.
What are nicotine shots?
If you’re reading this, then we’d imagine that you’re well aware of what nicotine shots are.
But just in case you’re not, they’re the 10ml bottles of flavourless vape juice that are used to add nicotine to shortfills.
In the case of 50/50 shortfills, we recommend going for a nicotine shot with a 50% PG concentration, so that the VG/PG ratios match up.
You can opt for freebase nicotine shots for a more prominent throat hit or salt shots for a smoother throat hit.
Additionally, you can add nicotine shots blended with menthol or ice to give your 50/50 a cooling effect on exhale.
Adding Nicotine Shots To Your 50/50 Shortfill
50/50 shortfill e-liquids tend to come in 120ml bottles with 100ml of vape juice inside, leaving you with enough space to add two nicotine shots.
An exception is the Seriously Pod Fill Max range, which along with the 120ml bottles, also offers 60ml shortfill bottles that contain 40ml of e-liquid.
These smaller bottles are designed to accommodate a 6mg nicotine strength.
To achieve a susbstantial nicotine strength, you’ll want to add two nicotine shots to the 100ml bottles and one nic shot to the 40ml options.
When adding your nicotine shots, you’ll first want to take off the removeable nib of both your nic shot and shortfill bottle.
Once you’ve removed the nibs, you can empty the nicotine shots into your vape juice.
This will fill the bottle to the top, since it’ll have 20ml of space left for you to do so.
When you’ve added your nicotine shots, you can click the nibs back into place and leave your e-liquid to steep for a while (between five minutes and one hour).
How much nicotine should I add to my 50/50 shortfill?
| Bottle Size | Nic Shot | Total Strength |
| 40ml/60ml | 1 x 18mg | 3.3mg |
| 40ml/60ml | 1 x 20mg | 4mg |
| 40ml/60ml | 2 x 18mg | 6mg |
| 40ml/60ml | 2 x 20mg | 6.6mg |
| 100ml/120ml | 2 x 9mg | 1.5mg |
| 100ml/120ml | 2 x 18mg | 3mg |
| 100ml/120ml | 2 x 20mg | 3.3mg |
Should I add nic salts to my 50/50 shortfill?
Adding nic salt shots to a 50/50 shortfill can offer a smooth throat hit and more satisfying vaping experience.
Nic salts provide a smoother inhale and take care of your nicotine cravings faster than standard freebase e-liquid, which is known for it’s stronger throat hit.
If you add two 20mg nic salt shots to a 100ml shortfill, it’ll leave you with 120ml of 3.3mg strength vape juice.
Or, if you add one salt nicotine shot to a 40ml shortfill, you’ll get 60ml of 4mg e-liquid.
Can I vape 50/50 shortfills without nicotine shots?
If you’ve already gone nicotine-free, and simply enjoy the vast selection of mouth-watering flavours that e-liquids have to offer, then there’s no need to add nicotine shots to your 50/50 shortfill.
In fact, since nicotine shots are flavourless, vaping a shortfill without them means that you’ll actually get more flavour.
Who should buy 50/50 shortfills?
Standard shortfills are typically blended with a 70:30 VG/PG ratio. These high-VG vape juices are a lot thicker and better suited to DTL (Direct To Lung) vape kits that use low-resistance (sub ohm) coils.
High-VG e-liquids are usually favoured by vapers with a bit more experience, or who prefer more vapour production.
50/50 shortfill e-liquids, on the other hand, are designed for beginner vapers who use mouth to lung devices, such as starter vape kits or pod kits — thanks to their 50% PG concentrations.
MTL kits offer a more discreet level of vapour production.
50/50 shortfills are also a pretty good choice if you’re looking to switch from disposables to a refillable vape kit, as they’re a lot easier on both the environment and your wallet.
If you want to enjoy your favourite disposable flavours in the form of 50/50 shortfills, check out the Drifter Bar Juice range.
They’re also great if you want to reduce your nicotine intake over time, since you can customise their own nicotine strengths with nic shots.
That said, if you’ve just gone from smoking half a pack of cigarettes a day or more, a 50/50 shortfill e-liquid might not quit hit the spot, as you’ll probably need a higher nicotine strength. They’re better if you’ve already lowered your nicotine strengths.
Best Vape Kit To Use With A 50/50 Shortfill
If you’re looking for a device to pair your 50/50 shortfill with, then the OXVA Xlim Pro 2 Pod Kit is a great choice.
Its 0.6 and 0.6 Ohm coils are a perfect match for 50/50 shortfills, and it boasts a selection of nifty features, such as variable wattage and adjustable airflow — for a more customisable vape.
Plus, it keeps things simple with inhale activation, so you can just puff on the mouthpiece to vape once you’ve set it up.
Best 50/50 Shortfill Vape Juice
As mentioned earlier, the Drifter Bar Juice range is perfect if you’re after some popular disposable-inspired flavours to try in a refillable vape kit.
Drifter’s mastery of classic disposable vape flavours is a key reason why it’s attracted so many new vapers, offering familiar tastes at a more advanced vaping level.
If you fancy even fruitier flavours, the Seriously Pod Fill range is another staple in the world of 50/50 shortfill vape juice.
You’re given a choice of 100ml and 40ml shortfills, with the smaller option accommodating higher nicotine strengths, which will hit the spot nicely if you’re trying to quit smoking.
After something a bit more indulgent? The JAKD 100ml range boasts plenty of decadent dessert blends to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Plus, if you’re on a budget, you can take advantage of our Mix & Match 2 for £20 offer and stock up on more 50/50 shortfills for less!
When it comes to finding the best vape juice to tantalise your taste buds, you’ll be spoilt by the range of flavour options on our site.
How To Store 50/50 Shortfill E-Liquids
Just like any other vape juice, 50/50 shortfills should be stored away from extreme heat or cold.
When exposed to high temperatures, the ingredients can break down, resulting in an unpleasant taste.
Similarly, UV rays can heat up e-liquids, causing the molecular structure to deteriorate.
While cold temperatures are less damaging than heat, they can still affect the quality of your e-liquid.
For instance, storing a 50/50 shortfill in the fridge may cause the ingredients to separate.
Excessive airflow is another factor to consider, as oxidation can degrade the nicotine in a shortfill over time.
If you have multiple 50/50 shortfills, ensure the bottles are tightly sealed.
For best results, keep your 50/50 shortfill vape juices in a dark cupboard, away from sunlight, extreme temperatures, and excessive airflow.
Summary
50/50 shortfill e-liquids have been a fantastic, inclusive development in the vaping industry, making the concept of shortfills more accessible for beginner vapers, and those who simply prefer a more discreet vaping experience.
Their customisable mixtures offer ex-smokers a straightforward path to a smoke-free, nicotine-free lifestyle using any basic refillable starter kit.
For anyone with an MTL (Mouth To Lung) starter kit looking to explore the benefits of shortfills, a 50/50 VG to PG ratio is ideal.
If you have further questions, feel free to contact us and speak with one of our expert team members. Our dedicated team of vapers can guide you in picking up the best vape juice for your preferences.
