What even counts as a “safe vape”?

Wondering which vape is safest? Let’s start with the basics—first, we need to wrap our heads around what a “safe vape” even means, right? A vape (people also call ’em e-cigs or ENDS, but let’s keep it simple) is a battery-powered thing that heats up liquid—e-liquid, obviously—to make an aerosol you inhale. Unlike regular cigs that burn tobacco, vapes don’t burn anything at all. That’s why they’re often pushed as a “less harmful” option, but here’s the catch: “safe” here is relative, not some absolute thing. Scientists haven’t proven any vaping product is 100% risk-free, not by a long shot.

The safety of a vape is determined by multiple interrelated factors, which form the basis for evaluating “which is safest.” Firstly, the composition of e-liquid is a core factor. Typical e-liquids consist of propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), flavorings, and optional nicotine . The safety of these ingredients varies—while PG and VG are commonly used as food additives, their long-term effects when inhaled remain unclear, and heating them can generate toxic carbonyl compounds such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde . Secondly, the quality and design of the vaping device matter. Low-quality devices may have faulty heating elements that release heavy metals (e.g., nickel, chromium) from their coils, or poor sealing that leads to e-liquid leakage . Additionally, usage behavior, such as device temperature settings (overheating increases harmful substance production) and frequency of use, also impacts safety outcomes .

Also, super important to tell the difference between “less risky” and “totally safe” here. Public health folks—like Public Health England—say vaping is less harmful than smoking regular cigs, since you don’t get tar or carbon monoxide from burning tobacco. But that’s not the same as being “safe.” The WHO’s pretty clear: e-cigs aren’t safe, and we still don’t fully get their long-term health impacts. So when we ask “which is safest,” we’re really just looking for the least risky option out there—not something that’s totally risk-free.

Two Big Questions About Vape Safety (And Straight Answers)

1. Is there any vape that’s truly “safe”? Or are all vapes just risky?

Short and sweet: No such thing as a truly “safe” vape. All vaping products have some health risks—science backs that up. Even the ones labeled “nicotine-free” aren’t off the hook. Their base ingredients (PG and VG) break down when heated, making cancer-causing chemicals called aldehydes. And those fruity, dessert, or candy flavors? A lot of ’em have diacetyl. Ever heard of “popcorn lung”? That’s bronchiolitis obliterans, a serious, permanent lung disease caused by that chemical. Not fun.

Now, high-quality vapes from trusted brands can lower the risks a bit—they use pure ingredients, follow stricter production rules, and have temperature control. But let’s be real: they can’t get rid of all risks. A Johns Hopkins study found that even expensive vapes have thousands of unknown chemicals in ’em—some of which are probably toxic. So instead of chasing a “safe” vape, you’re better off looking for the one with the least risks.

Honestly, if you’re on the hunt for that lower-risk option we talked about, check out our brand’s vapes. We stick to food-grade PG/VG in our e-liquids, with totally transparent ingredient lists—no weird unlabeled additives. Our refillable devices come with easy-to-use temperature control, so you won’t accidentally overheat the liquid, and the coils are made with high-quality materials to keep heavy metal leaks at bay. Plus, we’ve got a solid anti-leak design that takes the hassle out of using it. It’s all about making the safer choice feel simple, not complicated.