Today, we're going to be talking about
Velo Nicotine Pouches, a new product from
RJ Vapor, an RJ Reynolds company. Velo is the latest release in the growing nicotine pouch category, and joins other nicotine pouch products for sale in the US such as
Zyn and
Dryft. If you're not familiar with nicotine pouches, these are products that are similar to snus; Velo Nicotine Pouches are smoke free, spitless pouches that do not contain tobacco. This is a growing category for people who may want to quit tobacco, but not nicotine. These products have been available in Sweden and the US for years now, so it appears RJ Reynolds wants a piece of the action. They are launching in 70,000 retail stores in the US, first with 4mg. 2mg strength with follow in the Fall of 2019.
According to Reynolds, Velo contains "
no tobacco leaf or other tobacco plant matter apart from the nicotine extracted from the tobacco plant". I've cut open a pouch so you can see what's actually inside the pouch. It's a very fine material. Their website says Velo Pouches consist of nicotine derived from the tobacco plant, microcrystalline cellulose, water, salt, sucralose, citric acid, and artificial flavor. As far as how it's made, I don't know. Reynolds has never been very transparent about how they make their products. I've tried for 10 years to get information about how their "snus" is made and have yet to hear a reply. So I imagine this will be much like that, a mystery about how it's made.
Velo Citrus 4mg
Flavor: “
A crisp and flavorful citrus taste experience”.
Contents: 6.5 gram can, 15 pouches, 0.43mg/pouch.
Nicotine: 4mg (not sure if that is in mg/g, or mg/portion)
When you open the can, the aroma is very citrusy and comes through as a sweet mix of lemon and orange. It may sound weird, but the smell reminds me of
Pine-Sol. The pouches are the slim type, so they have a better fit in the lip. The material inside these pouches is very firm, and isolated to one side of the pouch, so I suggest breaking it up and fluffing the pouch to move it around a bit more. The flavor itself is a really sweet citrus taste, which seems to be mostly orange-y, but with a little lemon in it, too. As far as the nicotine strength goes, I don't really notice much in these. I have to use two to feel about the same nicotine strength I notice with one regular strength Swedish Snus portion. I find the flavor, on average, lasts about 25-30 minutes.
Velo Mint 4mg
Flavor: “
A refreshing and cooling mint flavor experience”.
Contents: 6.5 gram can, 15 pouches, 0.43mg/pouch.
Nicotine: 4mg (not sure if that is in mg/g, or mg/portion)
When I first opened a can of this one, the smell was very familiar. It smelled just like
Camel "SNUS" Frost. It has that really, really sweet mint smell. The Velo Mint pouches are slim, but unlike the citrus ones I find the material inside the pouch to be more evenly distributed; I didn't really have to fluff these much. Usually with mint products, I notice a cooling presence in the lip. I didn't really notice one with these. I did notice a light tingle, but that was about it. The taste of this is like a milder Camel Frost. It's a very, very sweet mint flavor. I find the flavor on these lasts up to about 25-30 minutes, like the citrus ones. I don't notice much nicotine with these, but when I put in two it feels about as strong as one regular strength Swedish Snus portion.
Final Thoughts
In the end, I wasn't really a big fan of these. And no, it's not because they're RJR products. As a harm reduction advocate, I love when safer products are introduced in the US that help people quit smoking. I'm not a big fan of Velo because there are much better products out there. When it comes to the
Citrus flavor, I enjoyed the
Dryft Citrus (which you can get in the US) much more than the Velo Citrus. Or, if you want to order online,
Lyft Lime is a great tasting citrus nicotine pouch. When it comes to the
Mint flavor, I think
Zyn's Spearmint has a much better flavor and nicotine delivery. Or, if you want to order online,
Lyft Mint is a great one, as well.
Velo Nicotine Pouches are available at Prilla.com!
Problem is you get the shitty Sinus pouches that fall apart after 10 mins. They weren't like that when the originally came out.
ReplyDeleteCamel Snus pouches suck now cuz they fall apart after 10 mins. They used to be more durable. Prob the same for these I'm guessing. Does anyone make a pouch that's filled with mint leaves/herbs + nic? Like Elicit chew but in a pouch?
ReplyDeleteI've been using camel snus for almost ten years. And never had that issue. Like today I had one in for 3 to 4 hours and it did not break open. Trying velo now for the first time. The camel representative just happen to be at the store and sold me a can for a dollar
DeleteGeneral Snus Mint pouches (Blue can).
DeleteThey're a bit wider than the Camel's but definitely not bulky like the Cope's. I tend to prefer Generals because they're also not so sweet as Camel, even the Velo are a bit too sweet, but have better quality because they're imported from Sweden.
The "Mint Minis" are about half the size of the large white portions supposedly do the same job in a smaller and thinner package, but for me just don't have enough size as I tend to keep my pouches in a lot longer up to 2-hours at a time (depending) and use about 6 to 8 pouches a day.
The only issue I have is finding these - and I forget to stock up before traveling. Example: I was just in Victorville, CA and five stores later I found the only two cans in town; same deal south of Tuscon AZ since they are only sold by select convenience stores, ie Circle K all over Arizona and Maverick in Utah/Nevada. Loves, Flying J, Shell, most Cheverons don't sell them. General snus even have a store finder, but is a real pain to use; the site is NOT mobile friendly - at all - and is probably why you've never come across this brand.
Honestly the Large Camel Snus pouches fall apart in 10 minutes, quicker if you like to flip it around n whatnot. BUT, try the Camel Snus regulars.. I can keep one of those in for 6 hours + (usually swap out for flavor but done it many times *I know gross*) and they don't tear at all. Large is a joke of durability though.
DeleteCamel lost me when they revised the fucking tins and it requires me to jam my key or a coin in to pop the fucker open, both impossible to do while driving. It's really problematic in the Winter months when I leave the tin in my car and it's below freezing the fucking piece of shit wont pop open. The old Snus tins from Camel weren't like that when it launched in 2007.
ReplyDeleteCamel snus has always sucked, even if the pouches didnt fall apart. They are dry, dry, dry tobacco and overly sweetened, but their worst sin is the very weak nicotine delivery. Those pouches are meant as something to use when you can't smoke, not as a replacement for smoking. They're also expensive for how many you get (15), considering I can get a 24 ct. can of General around the same price at the same store. I can't ever remember a time they were decent - they're as large and uncomfortable as skoal snus and that was even before that came out with the 'large' versions.
ReplyDeleteHands down Zyn pouches are the best nicotine pouches out there on the market. Durable and last for almost an hr. Great review
ReplyDeleteI continually have the same problem with camel snus frost. I’ve been using for years and it’s ALWAYS hit or miss whether they fall apart or not. It always just seems to depends on how the Snus are closer on the ends. I’ve had to throw full cans away because of this problem.
ReplyDeleteSolid review. I do not like the sucralose in the Velo, but otherwise found it to be a good performer. I picked up some Zyn today and found it much more to my taste.
ReplyDeleteI've literally had a Snus mellow pouch in my mouth for 10 years. I even sleep with one in my lip (sometimes two). I love the flavor, which lasts 60-90 minutes for me. Yes, occasionally one will break open. I bought my first can of Velo today and I like the citrus flavor, however, it only lasts 20-30 minutes. I haven't had access to any other brands of pouches (except the nasty Marlboro attempt several years ago). I think I'll stick with Snus for now.
ReplyDeleteDoes this product recede your gumline? Considering there's no tobacco present
ReplyDeleteDoes this product recede the gumline? Considering no tobacco present
ReplyDeleteThe only thing it Recedes is your Pocket Book
DeleteHow many 6 mg pouches can be safely used in a day? I feel bit swelling after using like 5 or 6.
ReplyDeleteSmoked cigs for 46 years and tried and failed many ways of quitting (Patches, Vapes, Gum, Cold Turkey, Hypnotherapy) but using Velo I am now on day 36 of zero tobacco......maybe not a big deal for many of you, but a Major record for me (30+ a day smoker) so of course I highly promote these Velo's to anyone trying to quit tobacco, good luck and thumbs up to all you trying to ditch the smokes!
ReplyDeleteVelo citrus 4 mg taste like shit
ReplyDelete