When my friend asked me about the "cigarette equivalent" of my Geek Bar, I thought it was a good time to explain why I find the term so misleading. As a person who has smoked and vaped, I think it is helpful to look at the 'cigarette equivalent' as a somewhat misleading concept in the vaping debate.
When comparing vaping products to cigarettes, it is easy to fall into a trap of using comparisons like 'puffs per cigarette.' However, a Geek Bar is something entirely different. Therefore, I decided to break down what a Geek Bar is based upon how it is consumed rather than simply providing raw data.
The Raw Numbers: Puffs and Nicotine
To start with the basic information, a Geek Bar will give you approximately 15,000 to 20,000 puffs. Additionally, they contain approximately 22 milliliters of e-liquid with a concentration of 2.2% nicotine salt.
In order to make a rough estimate of how many cigarettes a Geek Bar is equivalent to, we can compare the amount of nicotine in a single cigarette to the total amount of nicotine in a Geek Bar. According to the American Lung Association, a single cigarette contains between 1mg and 1.2mg of nicotine.
- Since a Geek Bar contains 22 milliliters of e-liquid with a concentration of 2.2%, we can calculate the total amount of nicotine in the device. The total amount of nicotine in the device is 484mg.
- We can now divide the total amount of nicotine in the device by the amount of nicotine in a single cigarette and arrive at a total of over 400 cigarettes in a single Geek Bar.
That number seems extreme and is probably why my eyes widened as well when I read it. What I have realized through my own experiences with vaping is that this method of calculating the number of cigarettes contained within a Geek Bar is not only a bad way to determine the true nature of a Geek Bar, but also dangerous.
Why the "400 Cigarettes" Comparison is a Trap
When I first started vaping, I tried to use it as I would a pack of cigarettes. I took large, deep draws and waited a few minutes before taking another draw. Within hours, I felt dizziness, nausea and a pounding headache. All of which are symptoms of a nicotine overdose.
It was at that point that I realized that the nicotine in a Geek Bar did not act in the same manner as the nicotine in a cigarette. Here is the important thing I learned about vaping: You don’t, and cannot, vape a Geek Bar in the same way that you smoke a pack of cigarettes.
Nicotine Absorption and Delivery
You can inhale the nicotine in a cigarette and the effects will be almost immediate. Nicotine in vape products, including those that use nicotine salts (such as Geek Bars) acts slower and in a more smooth delivery. Even though the absorption rate may be faster with a vape product, it is possible that you will need to take multiple puffs to achieve the same effect as smoking a cigarette. Alternatively, you may take longer pulls of vapor and hold it in your mouth and lungs longer than you would when smoking a cigarette. These are all variables in the way in which you consume nicotine and therefore, not directly comparable.
Vapor Session vs. Cigarette Hit
Smoking a cigarette is a continuous process. Once you light a cigarette, you continue to smoke it until it is finished. Vaping is on demand. You can take a couple of puffs when you are stopped at a red light and then not touch the device again for hours. The consumption of a vape device is episodic and variable. It depends on how often you crave a hit and how often you satisfy that craving.
A More Realistic, Personal Perspective
Based on my experience and from talking with other people, the duration of a Geek Bar is approximately a week for the average user. Depending on how frequently you use the device, it may be shorter or longer.
Therefore, instead of trying to compare a Geek Bar to a specific number of cigarettes, try to compare it to a similar duration. For example, if a Geek Bar lasts you as long as 5 to 7 packs of cigarettes, that is a more realistic comparison. In this case, it is not that the device is equivalent to 100 cigarettes, but rather that the length of time that you will use the device in your hand is comparable to the length of time it takes to go through that many packs of cigarettes.
Conclusion: It Is Not About the Number of Cigarettes in the Device
After having been a smoker and having used a variety of vaping products as both a cessation tool and out of curiosity, I believe that focusing solely on the "number of cigarettes in a Geek Bar" is similar to asking how many cups of coffee are in a coffee bean bag. The potential is there, but the actual amount you consume on a regular basis is a very small percentage of the total amount of nicotine in the device.
If you are a smoker and you are considering switching to a Geek Bar, it can feel incredibly convenient and effective. The nicotine salts produce a great throat hit without being as harsh as the vapor produced by a traditional vape device and the flavors are significantly better than the taste of cigarette smoke. Just remember to be careful.
- Start Low: Do not chain vape. Try a few puffs and wait to see if your cravings subside.
- Pay Attention to Your Body: If you are feeling lightheaded or experiencing physical discomfort, you are consuming too much, too fast. Set the device aside.
- Be Aware of Your Goals: To me, vaping was a way to get away from the thousands of other chemicals that are present in cigarette smoke. While the nicotine was the handcuff that kept me tied to the habit, the tar and carbon monoxide were the true culprits that I was trying to avoid.
While the Geek Bar is not a "healthier" option - no nicotine-based product is - I believe that in order to truly understand a Geek Bar, you need to move beyond a simplistic "cigarette count" and examine how you, as an individual, use it. With the power of a Geek Bar comes a greater awareness of your consumption patterns than you have ever needed to consider with a simple pack of cigarettes.