Mesh Coil Meaning: What is a Mesh Coil?

If you’re an adult smoker who has just recently switched from cigarettes to vaping, you’ll likely have come across the concept of vape coils. However, there are a range of different kinds available. So, what’s a mesh coil? And are mesh coils better than regular coils?

A mesh coil is a type of coil found within a vape. The coil can be an important component of a vape, responsible for heating the e-liquid, which ultimately turns into vapour. Inside the vape, the coil is typically a piece of metal surrounded by wicking material. The wick is typically made of cotton, and is used to draw e-liquid closer to the coil. As e-liquid is drawn into the wick, the battery of the vape works to heat the coil, which in turn heats the e-liquid in the wick, creating vapour.

Different types of coils are used for different types of vapes. Therefore, if you’re using a vape that requires replaceable coils, it’s important to have an understanding of this vape component, and the type you’ll need for your device. Although coils generally tend to work in the same fundamental way (i.e., heating e-liquid to produce vapour), different types of coils may influence the vaping experience. This is usually because they can be made from a variety of materials, and come in different shapes and sizes.

How Do Mesh Coils Differ from Traditional Coils?

Mesh coils aren’t typically created in the same shape or style as the more traditional, round coil. You may find mesh coils that come as a small sheet of metal with holes dotted throughout, resembling a netting or mesh (as its name suggests). Alternatively, a more traditional coil may come in a classic spiral coil shape. Mesh coils often have more surface area than these spiral-shaped coils.

Are Mesh Coils Better Than Regular Coils?

Mesh coils can have certain advantages over regular coils, one of which being a potentially more consistent and efficient heating process. That said, it’s not so much about whether certain coils are better than others, but rather what purpose they serve to the vaping experience – and more importantly, which ones are suitable for your vape. Therefore, the answer to the question of ‘are mesh coils better than regular coils’ is – it depends. When asking this question, it’s important to understand the features of mesh coils and regular coils (which we explore below), and which ones fit best with your own personal vaping preferences.

What Are Mesh Coils Made Of?

Mesh coils can be made from several types of metal materials. For example, you could get mesh coils made from kanthal, stainless steel, or nichrome. Typically, both kanthal and nichrome are known to heat up quite quickly. Moreover, nichrome coils may help reduce the chance of oxidation, avoiding e-liquid discolouration and unpleasant changes to the vape’s taste that can result from this. Stainless steel mesh coils are also known for their durability, and might last longer than other types of coils. However, whether a mesh coil offers these features will depend on the exact product you’re looking at. 

What Are the Advantages of Mesh Coils?

Due to their greater surface area and even heat distribution, mesh coils may heat up faster and more consistently than standard coils. In comparison, more traditional, spiral-shaped coils may sometimes heat up inconsistently, as they don’t always make full contact with the wick. Mesh coils, on the other hand, generally cover the entire wick, allowing them to offer a more consistent experience.

As the time taken to heat the e-liquid with a mesh coil could be less than with a standard coil, this could result in less strain on the vape battery, e-liquid and possibly the coil itself. As a result, you may find yourself needing to replace mesh coils less than the standard coils. However, there are a multitude of other factors that can affect the longevity of a coil, too.

What Are the Disadvantages of Mesh Coils?

Mesh coils are known to be better at producing larger amounts of vapour compared to more traditional coils. So for those looking for a more discreet vaping experience, this could be a potential disadvantage.

Another possible disadvantage could be how rapidly these coils could heat e-liquid. Thanks to its shape and build, e-liquid could heat up faster in a mesh coil, meaning you might run out of e-liquid at a quicker rate with this type of coil. 

How Long Do Mesh Coils Last?

Do mesh coils last longer than other types of coils? Generally, coils can last for up to a couple of weeks. However, how long a mesh coil will last depends on the product in question. Exactly how long a mesh coil will last usually depends on several factors, such as how frequently you vape, what type of device you own, and (if necessary) whether you’ve properly primed your coil.

However, mesh coils may tend to last longer than traditional spiral coils. This is likely due to the more uneven heating process in a traditional spiral coil, whereby it may need to be replaced more often than mesh coils. 

Can You Clean Mesh Coils?

Cleaning a mesh coil, or any other coil for that matter, could help extend its lifespan – provided this is done correctly. So, can you clean mesh coils? Typically, the only time you’d clean your vape coil is once it became burnt. 

The following steps might help when learning more on how to clean mesh coils:

• Disassemble the relevant components of your device, separating the mesh coil from the rest of the vape.
• Soak the coil in vinegar for a couple of hours.
• Once finished soaking, take the coil out and rinse it in with clean water.
• Leave the coil to air dry before reassembling the vape back together.

While this is one way you could clean a mesh coil, it’s important to follow the manufacturer’s guidance on how to do this for your specific device. Moreover, a burnt coil typically signifies the end of its lifespan, meaning it’s usually best to just replace the coil with a new one. 

Find out more on when and how to clean mesh coils and other vape components through our guide ‘How to Clean Your Vape’. 

Coil-Free Alternatives

If you are currently an adult smoker and you’d prefer a smoke-free alternative that doesn’t deal with coils or e-liquid at all – heated tobacco could be an option. Our latest IQOS series, IQOS ILUMA, comprises three tobacco heating devices – IQOS ILUMA, IQOS ILUMA ONE and IQOS ILUMA PRIME.  IQOS ILUMA Smartcore Induction Technology heats tobacco instead of burning it to deliver the taste of real tobacco. What’s more, IQOS ILUMA is intuitive and easy to use. You can explore the ILUMA range, and learn more about these heated tobacco devices, via our IQOS ILUMA discovery page.

If you’d prefer to explore vaping devices, but don’t want to worry about coil maintenance and replacements, our disposable vape VEEV NOW may also be worth exploring. With VEEV NOW, there’s no cleaning needed, and no refilling needed either. Discover VEEV NOW and explore its range of flavour options.

Smoke-free products are not risk-free and provide nicotine, which is addictive. The best decision any adult smoker can make is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. Smoke-free products are not alternatives to quitting and are not designed as cessation aids.  

This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.