Vaptio coils, the Cosmo range decoded from C1 to C8
They come in boxes of five, under a name borrowed from space and a run of codes that look like cinema seat numbers. Vaptio coils from the Cosmo range powered starter kits for years, to the point of outliving the devices they were designed for. Picking the right one is still a puzzle, though, because shop listings tend to line up ohm values and little else. What do those letters really mean, and how do you avoid ordering the wrong head?
Which Vaptio coils suit your kit?
On Vaptio kits and tanks from the Cosmo and Tyro families, the standard Vaptio coils are the Cosmo heads, sold in seven versions running from C1 to C8, with no C7 on any listing. Start with the draw you want. Codes C1, C3 and C5, between 1 and 1.6 ohm, are built for mouth-to-lung vaping, with a tight draw close to that of a cigarette. The C2, C4 and C6, all rated at 0.7 ohm, are aimed at restricted direct lung or direct lung vaping. At 0.4 ohm, the C8 runs at the highest power.
Two checks remain before buying, the exact compatibility of your device and the power range it can deliver. If the difference between the two styles is still hazy, our guide to MTL vs DTL lays out the basics.
The Cosmo code, one range in a single table
Shop listings scatter the values from one page to the next. Put side by side, they form a consistent system, where each code pairs a resistance, a power range and a type of heating element.
| Code | Resistance | Suggested power | Heating element | Intended draw |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C1 | 1.6 ohm | 10 to 15 W | Kanthal wire | mouth to lung (MTL) |
| C3 | 1.2 ohm | 9 to 15 W | Kanthal wire | mouth to lung (MTL) |
| C5 | 1.0 ohm | 8 to 13 W | mesh | mouth to lung (MTL) |
| C4 | 0.7 ohm | 10 to 20 W | mesh | restricted direct lung |
| C2 | 0.7 ohm | 15 to 23 W | Kanthal wire | restricted to direct lung |
| C6 | 0.7 ohm | 15 to 25 W | mesh | restricted to direct lung |
| C8 | 0.4 ohm | 24 to 32 W | Kanthal wire (one listing only) | not stated on listings |
Mesh means a thin metal grid that takes the place of a wound wire. Its larger heating surface spreads the temperature across the cotton, whereas Kanthal, an alloy of iron, chromium and aluminium, remains the classic coil wire. For any other technical term, our UK vape glossary explains them one at a time.
Three 0.7 ohm coils that are not alike
The most misleading line in the table appears three times. Codes C2, C4 and C6 are all rated at 0.7 ohm, yet they do not work under the same conditions. As a mesh head, the C4 starts at 10 W and suits a restricted draw. The C2, wound in Kanthal, starts at 15 W. Also mesh, the C6 goes up to 25 W.
Ordering Vaptio coils as “Cosmo 0.7 ohm” without the letter is therefore a coin toss. On the box and on the retailer’s listing, the code is what counts, not the ohm value.
The C8, a coil apart
The C8 drops to 0.4 ohm and calls for 24 to 32 W, more than any other code in the range. It only appears on some listings, only one of those consulted gives its wire, Kanthal, and none names the kits that deliver enough power for it. Before ordering one, it is worth reading the maximum output stated by the maker of your device.
Devices that take Vaptio Cosmo coils
The Cosmo probably owes part of its long life to wide compatibility. Several retailers list it as fitting a whole family of the brand’s devices, with two exceptions worth knowing before you buy.
Listings agree on the Cosmo and Cosmo 2 tanks, as well as the Cosmo, Cosmo 2, Cosmo 2 Plus, Cosmo Lite, Cosmo Nebula, Cosmo A1 and Tyro kits. They describe a bottom coil, seated at the base of the tank, wicked with organic Japanese cotton. It is most often sold in packs of five.
The Cosmo A1 does not take the 0.7 ohm heads
The Cosmo A1 kit is on the list, but not for the whole range. Two retailers state that it does not accept the C2, C4 or C6. Owners of that kit should stick to the C1, C3 and C5, in other words the mouth-to-lung codes.
Aspire Nautilus, a fit worth checking
The Cosmo format echoes the coils of the Nautilus, Aspire’s well-known tank. Two shops list it as compatible with the original Nautilus. For later versions, the lists contradict each other, since the Nautilus GT is shown as compatible on one listing and incompatible on another. Without confirmation from the manufacturer, that compatibility is best treated as unconfirmed.
What Vaptio coils expect from your e-liquid
A tank coil depends as much on the liquid as on the power setting. The Cosmo listings give fairly consistent advice here, which follows from the size of the wicking holes the cotton draws through.
Retailers recommend e-liquids with no more than 50% vegetable glycerine, and a 50/50 blend is often given as the ideal. A thicker liquid moves slowly through the small ports of Vaptio coils, which leaves the cotton at risk of heating before it is soaked. On the mouth-to-lung codes, listings lean towards a liquid high in propylene glycol. In the UK, the tanks these coils sit in are capped at 2 ml, and nicotine e-liquid is limited to 20 mg/ml in bottles of no more than 10 ml.
Priming is part of fitting a new head. A new Cosmo takes a few drops of liquid on the visible cotton, then rests in the filled tank for a few minutes before the first puff. A coil fired dry is damaged straight away, and that cannot be undone. Looking after the rest of the kit is a separate job, covered in our guide on how to clean a vape.
A coil that outlived its catalogue
The Cosmo story says something about vaping culture. In a market where kits replace each other at speed, a consumable can last longer than the devices it serves.
Vaptio’s official website now puts three series forward, TELA, SERA and Sumee, and no longer presents the Cosmo range. Dozens of shops still list its coils, which suggests that kits sold several years ago remain in use. For their owners, the coil has become the thread that ties the device to the brand.
Vaptio is not alone in this. Coil formats that travel from one model to another, and sometimes from one brand to another, have created a kind of informal standard. The Cosmo is a good example, with codes to remember and compatibility notes that vapers pass on from listing to listing.
FAQ
Similar questions come up in searches about the brand and under retailers’ listings. Each answer draws on the information those retailers publish.
How do you change the coil on a Vaptio Cosmo kit?
Unscrew the tank from the battery, then pull the coil out from the base, with no tools needed. Prime the new head before fitting it, and wait a few minutes after filling before vaping.
Which Vaptio coil fits the Cosmo 2 kit?
The Cosmo 2 takes codes C1 to C6. The choice depends on the draw, tight with the C1, C3 or C5, more open with the C2, C4 or C6, within each coil’s power range.
How long does a Cosmo coil last?
There is no fixed lifespan. Very sweet e-liquids generally gunk up the cotton faster, and too much power wears it out. A persistent burnt taste means it is time for a new one, as our article on why a vape tastes burnt explains.
Do Frogman or Solo 2 coils fit a Cosmo kit?
Nothing suggests they do. The compatibility lists published for the Cosmo mention neither the Frogman nor the Solo 2. A coil from another of the brand’s ranges should be checked against the listing of the device it was made for.
Can a brand new Cosmo coil taste burnt?
Yes, if it was not primed or if the power goes beyond its range. Dry cotton heats with no liquid from the very first puff. A coil damaged that way has to be replaced, it cannot be rescued.
Vaptio coils, remember the code before the value
The Cosmo range is quick to grasp once the table is in mind. Three codes for mouth-to-lung vaping, three at 0.7 ohm for a more open draw, a C8 on its own, and two exceptions to know about, the Cosmo A1 and the later Nautilus tanks.
Before ordering Vaptio coils, the right habit is to note the letter printed on the box rather than the ohm value. That small code says more than any listing about how a device was designed to be vaped.
Further reading
Editorial content for adult readers only. Nicotine vaping products are not for sale to anyone under 18 in the UK, and nicotine is a highly addictive substance. This article is not a buying recommendation.
