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MTL, RDL or DL: Which Draw Style Suits You?
MTL is the mouth-to-lung draw: coil from 0.8 ohm, 8 to 20 watts, tight airflow. With DL, you draw openly straight into the lungs, with a sub-ohm coil from 40 watts. RDL sits in between and is the draw of most current pod systems.
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MTL, RDL and DL compared
The draw style describes how you draw on the device: first into the mouth or straight into the lungs. Coil, power, airflow and e-liquid are matched to it.
| Value | MTL | RDL | DL |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you draw | First into the mouth, then into the lungs | Straight into the lungs, with resistance | Straight and openly into the lungs |
| Coil | From 0.8 ohm | 0.4 to 0.8 ohm | Below 0.5 ohm (sub-ohm) |
| Power | 8 to 20 watts | 15 to 40 watts | 40 to 100 watts and more |
| Airflow | Tight | Half open | Wide open |
| E-liquid (VG/PG) | 50/50 | 50/50 to 70/30 | From 70/30 |
| Nicotine | 6 to 20 mg/ml, often nicotine salt | 3 to 10 mg/ml | 0 to 6 mg/ml |
| E-liquid consumption | Low | Medium | High |
| Typical device | Pod system, MTL tank | Pod system with airflow control | Box mod with sub-ohm tank |
These are guide values, and the limits are fluid. What your coil can take is usually printed right on it: the ohm value and wattage range are printed on.
MTL: mouth-to-lung vaping with a tight draw
With MTL (mouth to lung), you draw the vapour into your mouth first and then inhale it, similar to a cigarette. The draw is tight, the airflow narrow. The coil has 0.8 ohm or more and runs at 8 to 20 watts. Thinner 50/50 e-liquid and higher nicotine suit this, often as nicotine salt. MTL uses the least e-liquid and is easy on the battery. The Geekvape Wenax Q2 comes with a 0.8-ohm cartridge for this.
DL: open lung draw with sub-ohm
With DL (direct lung, often written DTL), you draw the vapour straight into the lungs without a detour, similar to hookah. The airflow is wide open, the sub-ohm coil often has 0.1 to 0.3 ohm and needs 40 watts and more. That gives a lot of vapour and costs a lot of e-liquid. The classic setup is a box mod such as the Aegis Solo 3 with a tank such as the Uwell Valyrian IV, whose 0.18-ohm coil runs at 90 to 100 watts.
RDL: the draw of most pod systems
RDL (restricted direct lung) is a lung draw with noticeable resistance. You draw straight into the lungs, but the airflow is only half open. Typical are coils with 0.4 to 0.8 ohm and 15 to 40 watts. The e-liquid may be somewhat thicker than with MTL.
Many current pod systems are built for exactly this. The Vaporesso XROS 5 comes with pods in 0.6 and 0.8 ohm, the Uwell Caliburn G5 with 0.6 ohm for RDL and 0.9 ohm for MTL. That way you cover two draw styles with one device.
Airflow and coil: how to set your draw
Your draw style depends on two adjustments. The coil determines how much power you need. With the airflow control, you set the draw resistance: little air gives a tight, warm draw, a lot of air an open and cooler one. On pod systems, the control sits on the device or pod; on tanks, it is usually a ring at the base. On the XROS 5, you vape MTL with the 0.8-ohm pod and almost closed airflow, and RDL with 0.6 ohm and open airflow.
Which e-liquid suits which draw style?
In tight MTL coils, thin 50/50 e-liquid wicks well. E-liquid that is too thick can slow the wicking, and then the draw tastes dry or burnt. For DL you use e-liquid with a lot of VG, from 70/30. VG provides dense vapour.
With nicotine, the rule is: the more vapour per puff, the lower the strength. Nicotine salt at 10 or 20 mg/ml is intended for MTL and tight RDL, not for the sub-ohm tank. You will find e-liquids and longfills in the shop; the difference is explained in the article Ready-made e-liquid, longfill and shortfill.
Which draw style suits you?
If you know the draw of a cigarette, MTL feels the most familiar. If you want more vapour and a more direct draw without bothering with watts and tanks, take a pod system with an RDL pod. DL is worthwhile if you want big clouds and accept the higher e-liquid consumption.
Still unsure? A device with two pods leaves both routes open to you. The Vaporesso Luxe XR Max 2 has an MTL pod with 0.8 ohm and a DTL pod with 0.2 ohm; the battery delivers up to 80 watts. What distinguishes refillable from prefilled pods is explained in the article Prefilled or open pod.
MTL coil
The range is printed on it: 0.8 ohm, 12 to 20 watts.
DL coil
The Valyrian IV coil with 0.18 ohm runs at 90 to 100 watts.
Sub-ohm tank
8.5 ml tank with airflow control at the bottom of the base.
DL in pod format
With the 0.4-ohm pod, the Caliburn G4 Pro draws openly.
For choosing a device, open the vape advisor. You then compare resistance, power range and airflow on the product pages with your desired draw style.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, MTL or DL?
Neither. MTL is tight and economical, DL gives a lot of vapour and needs more e-liquid and power. RDL sits in between.
Is DTL the same as DL?
Yes. Both stand for direct to lung, the direct lung draw. In German retail you mostly read DL.
Which ohm value is MTL?
From about 0.8 ohm. MTL coils usually run at 8 to 20 watts.
Can I vape DL with a pod system?
With a suitable pod, yes; the Uwell Caliburn G4 Pro, for example, has a 0.4-ohm pod for DL. For very open draws with more than 40 watts, you need a box mod with a sub-ohm tank.
Can I vape nicotine salt in a sub-ohm tank?
Not at a high strength. With DL you take in much more vapour per puff, which is why only low strengths of up to 6 mg/ml belong there.
What does the airflow control do?
It sets the draw resistance. Little air gives a tight, warm draw, a lot of air an open and cooler one.
About the author
Philip
Vape veteran
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