What to Expect the First Time You Use the IVG Pro 12
From unboxing to your first proper puff, here is exactly how your first session with the Pro 12 should go, what is normal, and what is not.
Your first few minutes with a new pod kit set the tone, so it helps to know what is normal and what is not. The IVG Pro 12 is designed to work straight out of the box, but a couple of simple steps will get you the best possible first impression and help you avoid the small frustrations that put some people off on day one.
This guide takes you from opening the box through to settling into your first session, and explains the sensations you should expect along the way. None of it is complicated, but a little patience in the first minute pays off.
Shop the IVG Pro 12 KitUnboxing and setup
Lay everything out before you start so you are not fumbling. You should have the device, the 2ml pod and the 10ml refill container, plus a setup card.
- Take the device, the pod and the refill container out of the box.
- Remove any protective stickers, seals or plugs from the pod and refill.
- Line up the pod and refill and click them firmly into the device until they sit flush. The intended action is push, click, slide and vape.
- Give it a minute. Letting the coil soak up liquid before your first puff is the single best thing you can do to avoid a harsh or burnt first hit.
Before vaping properly, take two or three gentle, short pulls without drawing hard, or simply leave the assembled device to stand for a minute. This lets the mesh coil fully saturate so your first real puffs taste clean rather than scorched.
Your first puffs
The Pro 12 is draw-activated, so you simply inhale to start it. The technique matters more than people expect. Use a slow, steady mouth-to-lung draw rather than a sharp, deep lung hit. In practice that means drawing the vapour gently into your mouth first, holding it for a moment, then inhaling. The vapour should feel smooth and the flavour should come through clearly from the very start.
If you are coming from cigarettes, this draw will feel familiar, because it mimics the way you smoked. If you are coming from a big direct-lung device, you will need to soften your technique, as the Pro 12 is not built for hard lung hits.
The nicotine hit
The Pro 12 is usually sold at 20mg nic salt. Nic salt is designed to deliver nicotine smoothly and quickly, so you should feel a gentle throat sensation and a satisfying hit without harshness. If you are a recent smoker, this strength is meant to mirror the satisfaction of a cigarette. If you find it too strong, take fewer, gentler puffs rather than chain vaping, and consider a lower strength next time if one is available.
What is normal
- A gentle throat sensation from the 20mg nic salt, especially if you are an ex-smoker. This is the device doing its job.
- A very brief pause if you take rapid puffs back to back; short gaps let the coil rewet.
- An LED indicator lighting up as you draw, confirming the device is firing.
- A faint warmth at the mouthpiece during longer sessions.
What is not normal
- A dry, burnt taste from the very first puff. Usually this means you did not let the coil prime. Leave it a minute and try again.
- No vapour at all. Check the pod is clicked fully into place and that the battery is charged. Our not hitting guide covers this in detail.
- Liquid reaching your lips or tongue. Wipe the mouthpiece and take softer draws; see our common mistakes guide.
- A persistent gurgling sound, which usually means the coil has been flooded by very hard draws.
Charging from new
Most kits arrive with enough charge to start vaping immediately, but it is worth topping the battery up over USB-C early on so you learn how the LED indicator behaves on your device. Use a normal phone-style USB-C charger; you do not need anything special. Avoid leaving it on charge unattended for long periods, and unplug it once it is full.
Settling into the first day
Over your first day, you will get a feel for the rhythm that suits you. Most people find that short, occasional draws are more satisfying and longer lasting than constant puffing. If you came from cigarettes, try reaching for the device at the moments you used to light up, rather than vaping continuously. This tends to keep the nicotine hit satisfying and makes the kit last longer too.
A flavour or strength can feel different on day one than it does after a few days, as your palate adjusts. Give a new kit a little time before deciding whether it is right for you.
Switching from cigarettes
If you are coming straight from smoking, the Pro 12 is designed to feel familiar. The mouth-to-lung draw mimics the way you inhaled a cigarette, and the 20mg nic salt is meant to deliver a comparable level of satisfaction without the harshness of older e-liquids. In the first few days, try reaching for the device at the moments you would previously have lit up, rather than vaping continuously. Many ex-smokers find that a handful of satisfying draws does the job, and that constant puffing is neither necessary nor as satisfying.
Switching from disposables
Coming from disposables, the experience will feel almost identical to use, with the same button-free draw and similar flavour and strength. The two new habits to build are charging the device over USB-C and swapping a refill pack when the kit runs dry, neither of which takes more than a moment. In return you get something that lasts far longer and wastes far less. Most people adjust within a day.
Switching from a refillable kit
If you are used to a larger refillable or direct-lung device, the main adjustment is softening your draw. The Pro 12 is built for a gentle mouth-to-lung inhale, not a hard lung hit, so easing off will give you better flavour and avoid pulling liquid into your mouth. You also give up mixing your own liquid, in exchange for a sealed, mess-free experience. Our comparison guide explains the trade-offs if you are weighing the two approaches.
Adjusting over the first week
A new flavour or strength can taste different on day one than it does after a few days, as your palate adjusts, so give a kit a fair trial before judging it. It is also normal for your taste to dull to a flavour you use constantly, which a short switch to a cleaner flavour resets. By the end of the first week you will have settled into a draw technique, a charging rhythm and a flavour preference, and the device will feel like second nature.
If you feel any lightheadedness or an unpleasantly strong hit, you are likely vaping more than you need. Slow down and take fewer, gentler draws. Nicotine is satisfying in small, spaced amounts rather than constant use.
Your first charge, explained
When it comes time to charge, use any standard USB-C cable and a normal phone-style plug or a computer port. There is nothing special to buy and no settings to change. Plug it in, watch the LED indicator behave, and unplug it once it shows a full charge. Avoid leaving it charging unattended for very long periods, and do not use a damaged cable or plug. Getting comfortable with the charging routine early means you are never caught out by a flat battery later.
Finding the right amount for you
In the first days it is easy to over-vape simply because the device is new and convenient. Let your body guide you: if you feel any lightheadedness or the hit feels too strong, you are vaping more than you need, so slow down and space your draws out. Because the 20mg nic salt delivers nicotine efficiently, most people find that a few satisfying puffs at the moments they want them works far better than constant use, and it makes your kit last longer too.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to charge it before first use?
Usually not. Most kits arrive ready to vape, though it is worth charging it early so you understand how the LED indicator behaves.
Why does my first puff taste a bit harsh?
Almost always because the coil was not primed. Leave the assembled device for a minute so the coil soaks up liquid, then take a few gentle draws.
How hard should I inhale?
Gently. It is a mouth-to-lung device, so use a slow, steady draw into the mouth rather than a sharp lung hit.
Is a slight throat sensation normal?
Yes. At 20mg nic salt a mild throat hit is expected and is part of the satisfaction, especially for ex-smokers.
How do I know it is working?
An LED lights up as you draw, and you will see and taste vapour. If nothing happens, check the pod is seated and the battery is charged.