A drip tip is a vape accessory used as the mouthpiece on atomizers and vape tanks. They were originally called drip tips because vape juice was dripped through them and onto the coils and wicks. The name “drip tip” stayed despite being used on non-dripper vape tanks. While these tips seem like small and inconsequential things, they can greatly affect the quality of your vape while also adding a bit of customization to your kit. Here are five of the best drip tips you’ll love to use.
Vandy Vape Resin 810
The Vandy Vape Resin 810 drip tip is a low-profile press-fit tip that’s 12 mm tall. Equipped with a 10 mm wide bore and made using colorful resin, the Vandy Vape tip is an ideal option for use with both RDL and DL atomizers. It is available in four colors, but its resin construction guarantees that each of these tips is unique in design.
Aleader 510 Drip Tip Pack
If you want variety with your 510-compatible atomizers, the Aleader 8-pack is what you’ve been looking for. Coming in a variety of colors, designs, and materials ranging from resin to snakeskin and everything in between, this pack is a cost-effective way to customize your vapes. The pack includes MTL and wider bore options, covering all styles of vaping.
Vandy Vape PC 810
Vandy Vape’s PC (Polycarbonate) 810 tips are press-fit and come with a 13 mm wide bore, great for cloud chucking vape tanks. These tips are made using environmentally friendly processes and come with a low profile and a frosted look, guaranteed to look good on whatever you choose to pair it with. Available in three color options.
Blitz Diamond Resin
The Blitz Diamond Resin tips come in both 510 and 810 sizes, with the 810 being of the O-ring-fitted variety. Made from high-quality resin, they are extremely durable, heat-resistant, and each come with a unique colorway and patterning. Each size is available in a whopping nine color options.
SMOK Cobra V2 Snakeskin 810
The SMOK Cobra V2 Snakeskin 810 tips are mixing a resin construction with a metallic-styled snakeskin pattern. Sized to fit on most 810 atomizers available on the market, these tips are great for RDL atomizers. Equipped with two thick O-rings for a more secure connection with your vape tank.
Two types of drip tips: 510 vs. 810
The two most common size drip tip sizes are called 510 and 810. A simple rule of thumb is 510 tips are narrow and 810s are wide. Each type of tip works in tandem with how a vape is inhaled, either by mouth-to-lung or direct lung inhales.
The original standard for many years was the 510. Today they are used mostly for mouth-to-lung and restricted lung vaping. Some 510 drip tips may have a wider bore (center channel) than others, but most are around 8.5 mm in outer diameter at the base.
The 810 drip tip was originally popularized by RDAs like the Goon and Kennedy. Becoming the standard for cloud making devices, 810 drip tips typically have a significantly wider bore than 510 drip tips and are around 12.5 mm in outer diameter at the base. The 810 drip tips are now common in most popular sub ohm tanks and drippers.
Plastic drip tips
For people that tend to lose small accessories, inexpensive plastic drip tips are the way to go. They’re affordable and easy to replace. There are, however, more expensive plastics aimed at vapers that enjoy sub-ohm builds because they’re better at displacing heat. Using these plastics allow vapers to enjoy warm or hot vapes without making their lips uncomfortable. Here are some of the more expensive plastics used in vaping.
- Delrin: This is the most common brand name for the thermoplastic polyoxymethylene (POM). It’s highly heat resistant and comes in a variety of colors.
- Teflon: This is the most common brand name for the thermoplastic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Many people are familiar with Teflon from its use on non-stick cookware. Another heat-resistant material, vapers also enjoy Teflon’s silky mouthfeel and resistance to lip gunk (a scientific term).
- Ultem: This is the most common brand name for the thermoplastic polyetherimide (PEI). Ultem drip tips have been gaining popularity in the last year. They’re highly heat resistant, solvent, and flame resistant. Most Ultem products are an opaque dark yellow, but some manufacturers are offering black Ultem products.
- Resin: This is one of the most popular drip tip materials you can get right now. They have the durability of a plastic but with a softer touch and greater variety of colors and designs contained within the resin itself. Heat resistant, colorful, and available in virtually every style of tip.
Metal drip tips
Following plastic, metal is the most common drip tip material. Drip tips made out of aluminum or stainless steel are affordable and durable. Vapers looking for a bit of luxury can opt for titanium or gold drip tips. While many metal drip tips look great, they also retain heat. This can be an issue for sub-ohm vapers, as drip tips can get very hot during chain vaping sessions.
Glass drip tips
Glass drip tips can be a unique and artistic accessory for your vape kit, but they’re impractical for obvious reasons: they are fragile and can be expensive. But glass drip tips are heat resistant, provide a comfortable vaping experience and some would even argue that glass makes their vape taste better.
Stone drip tips
There are many artisan drip tips made from stone composites and stone resins. These tips have a unique look that helps almost any vaping setup stand out. Depending on material and manufacturer, stone tips can be incredibly durable or even fragile. But they’re almost all great at resisting heat. Stone drip tips tend to be more expensive than metal and plastic models, but some believe that their unique looks are well worth the price.
Wood drip tips
The least common material for drip tips is wood. Drip tips made out of wood can look beautiful and are very good at resisting heat, but special attention must be paid to the finish. A low-quality finish will lead to the wood being exposed to heat and moisture, and since you can’t vape without heat or moisture, these remain novelty items. Exposed wood can warp and lose shape. If not cared for properly, would can also splinter. A splinter of wood stuck on your lips is…not the best.
Hybrid material drip tips
In addition to the materials mentioned above, some companies mix and match materials in order to provide characteristics of both. Like the Trinity Copa Drip Tip featured in the above-image that uses glass and metal. This offers the smooth lip-feel and heat resistance of glass, combined with the looks and durability of metal.
