If you’ve ever wondered when did the first vape come out, the answer may surprise you. While vaping feels like a modern trend, its roots stretch back more than 60 years. The journey from early experiments to today’s sleek devices is full of innovation, setbacks, and breakthroughs.
Understanding when did the first vape come out helps explain why vaping looks the way it does today—and why it became so popular so quickly.
Vaping is the act of inhaling vapor created by heating a liquid rather than burning tobacco. This key difference removes combustion, which is the source of many harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke.
The core idea behind vaping has always been simple:
But achieving that idea took decades.
Long before vaping became mainstream, inventors were already trying to create safer smoking alternatives.
The earliest known vape-like device dates back to 1963.
Herbert A. Gilbert patented a “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette.” His invention used heated air to produce flavored vapor—no tobacco, no smoke.
📌 Key facts about this early vape:
So technically speaking, when did the first vape come out?
👉 1963 marks the first documented vape concept.
However, the technology of the time wasn’t ready. Batteries were weak, manufacturing costs were high, and smoking was still socially accepted. As a result, Gilbert’s invention never reached mass production.
While the first idea appeared in the 1960s, the modern vape didn’t arrive until decades later.
The modern electronic cigarette was invented in 2003 by Hon Lik, a Chinese pharmacist.
Hon Lik was a heavy smoker whose father died from lung cancer. Determined to find a safer alternative, he developed a device that used:
This design closely resembles today’s vapes.
So, when did the first vape come out in a form we’d recognize today?
👉 2003 is the key year.
This version was:
Unlike earlier attempts, it was commercially viable.
By 2004, the first modern vapes were sold in China. Soon after, they spread worldwide.
Between 2006 and 2007, vaping products entered:
Early devices looked like cigarettes and were often called “cigalikes.”
Once vaping gained traction, innovation exploded.
Over the years, devices evolved into:
Each generation improved:
This rapid evolution helped vaping become a global industry.
Vaping reshaped how people viewed smoking:
For many users, vaping became a smoking alternative rather than a hobby.
As vaping grew, so did controversy. Governments began regulating:
Health organizations continue to study long-term effects, making vaping one of the most debated public health topics today.
The first vape concept appeared in 1963, but the modern vape came out in 2003.
Herbert A. Gilbert created the earliest design, while Hon Lik invented the modern e-cigarette.
Technology limitations and social acceptance of smoking held it back.
Vaping gained popularity between 2010 and 2015.
Some early designs did not include nicotine, but modern vapes usually do.
Most experts agree vaping exposes users to fewer toxins than smoking, but it is not risk-free.
So, when did the first vape come out?
From a forgotten patent to a worldwide phenomenon, vaping’s history shows how long innovation can take to find its moment. Understanding this timeline helps put today’s vaping debate into perspective.
