VELO vs Nordic Spirit: Two Heavyweight Nicotine Pouches

Written by The Snus King 

Published on June 30, 2025

 

The world of nicotine pouches has grown over the course of the 2020s. The number of brands has grown exponentially, but also the reach of pouches to consumer has manifested several Segways to market. There was a time when you could walk into a retail store and, at best, you could find Nordic Spirit on a shelf. Now, Nordic Spirit seems to be losing shelf space to an ever-youthful looking VELO. As someone that has used pouches beyond the amount a normal human being should, I just had to do a comparison for you. Its been a long time coming, the two retail heavyweights go head to head, welcome to VELO vs Nordic Spirit.

 

 

VELO vs Nordic Spirit: A Bit of Background

 

I came across pouches in 2009, back when tobacco pouches (known as snus) were the only options for consumers. Fast forward to the mid 2010’s, and there were several brands in the market. There was combination of nicotine pouches (or all white snus) and traditional snus, available in the market. At the time, it made it quite difficult to choose pouches, especially when you were ordering online. Europe had always had a head start when it came to knowledge, given that pouches were more readily available there. Terms like all white, chew bag, snus, and brownie didn’t mean much to us newbies at the time. Now, everything is colloquially known as snus, even though 95% of pouches are the all white versions using synthetic nicotine, not tobacco.

 

Key Takeaways: VELO vs Nordic Spirit

  • Both brands are retail leaders with wide availability across convenience stores and online retailers.
  • VELO offers a broader flavour range with adventurous names and more refined flavour experiences.
  • Nordic Spirit delivers surprising strength performance at lower levels but has limited flavour accuracy.
  • VELO pouches have better construction, offering more comfort, freshness, and consistent ingredient distribution.
  • Price and availability favour VELO slightly, with more consistent stock online and a clearer product ecosystem.

The Nordic Spirit Push to Market

 

In the back end of 2020’s Nordic Spirit made more ground in the nicotine pouch market than most. I saw the brand popping up on most websites I used to order from in Europe. As a Swedish brand, I thought Nordic Spirit would go far, due to the routes of traditional snus coming out of Sweden. Within what seemed months, Nordic Spirit was on shelves at small convenience stores. I didn’t know at the time, but the brand had made entry to what was formulating into a retail war between huge brands.

 

VELO, LYFT & EPOK

 

VELO seemed to arrive at a similar time to Nordic Spirit. At the time, there was confusion among consumers as to what products we would be receiving. Sometimes you would order VELO online, and Lyft would turn up. The three were actually one and all. British American Tobacco, the manufacturers of VELO, had made a hash of marketing in the early stages, in my opinion. Later, the three would merge under one united banner, VELO, formerly only available in the US. Even then, the brand was plagued with mediocrity. Understandably much of the snus community resented the movement from Lyft to VELO. But it was in the packaging, that looked like something you would see in a 1990s chemist, that BAT had made huge errors. Nonetheless, BAT made huge waves in 2024 when they rebranded, and launched new flavours. That rebrand was the moment that VELO embarked on a inexorable journey of sales. The marketing aggression that is BAT brought VELO, very quickly, into alignment with one of the biggest brands - Nordic Spirit.

 

VELO vs Nordic Spirit: Flavours in Review

 

I have read many comparisons for nicotine pouch brands and it annoys me every time. As someone running a search to understand more about brands, I want to know truths. The universal, objective, information as to how many flavours a brand has doesn’t serve as informational for me. I want to know exactly what the brand is about, so if I ask about flavours, tell me how it is!

 

VELO has a myriad of different flavours, and that list seems to be growing, the current number is around seventeen flavours. These flavours are available in a few different strength levels, and some flavours are exclusive to a singular strength. Nordic Spirit, conversely, has around ten different flavours across three strength levels.

 

Between the two, VELO has a more adventurous flavour combination. The names, like Breezy Mango, or Cinnamon Flame, inspire more desirability for purchasing, in my opinion. Nordic Spirit opts for a more measured approach in naming, like Raspberry, or Mint. There could be arguments for both approaches to naming but, for me, VELO tips the scales on desirability.

 

 

What Do They Taste Like

 

I have been a harsh critic of some brands in recent times. The standard of pouches has improved through the years, and independent brands have come a long way. VELO, are backed by a huge corporate business, and therefore, I believe, should have exceptional products. As it happens, VELO flavours are all pretty good. The flavours taste well presented, if not a little nuanced. Some brands have an artificial aftertaste, or load taste, but VELO tastes refreshingly accurate. The mint flavours have more of a punch than the fruit or herbal flavours. I think the imaging of the mint flavours do better, and for longer. Despite what the cans look like, the marketing does not match the actual taste. If you buy VELO thinking you are going to have a rich, deep flavour experience, you will be sorely disappointed.

 

Nordic Spirit, oh Nordic Spirit. Honestly, I am looking for something positive to say, but it is very difficult. The mint flavours go some way to flavour reproduction that you would expect using pouches. The mint flavours are okay. Outside of mints, you will be hard pushed to find anything resembling the flavour stated on the front of the can. Tropical Mix, for example, tastes more like a watered down Robinsons Orange Squash. Remember the days when you couldn’t afford to use too much or Mum would know you had been drinking all the juice. Yes, like that, basically water with a slap of fruit. The Nordic Spirit fruit flavours lack any punch whatsoever, and the imaging is horrible. Throughout the load, you will be left confused as to whether or not you are using a flavoured pouch, or a piece of paper in the gum.

 

Winner: VELO

The Strength Compared: Nordic Spirit vs VELO

 

To make these comparisons I have had to create my own super scientific methodology to be objective in my results. Well. Kind of. I basically use the lighter pouches first thing in the morning when I open my eyes, then take notes. It would be unfair to compare the two throughout the day, when I am using stronger pouches anyway. My go to pouch would be somewhere around the 20mg level. So, to properly quantify the strengths in some sort of equilibrium, I needed to ensure my tolerance was at its lowest - and for me, that is the morning.

 

I have actually been quite surprised with the Nordic Spirit pouches. They come in three strength variants that I found, being 6mg Regular, 9mg Strong, and 11mg Extra Strong. It seems laughable to call 11mg Extra Strong, but fair enough. Taking the terrible flavour out of the equation, and quantifying the effects of the the strengths, they were pretty good. The 6mg, was definitely the one that surprised me the most. At 6mg, especially in the mint variants, NS performed well. The uptake time was slow, as was expected, but the mild effects lasted longer than I thought they would. Both the 9mg, and 11mg were very similar, with not much to call between the two. Had I been a cynic, I would have said they were both the same thing. I can say that the effects of both the 9mg, and 11mg, were identical, regardless of the time of day I tried them. The uptake time of nicotine was slow, and only slightly more intense than the 6mg. I would probably choose the 6mg over the other two, the effects are a little lighter, but it means you can keep your nicotine intake lower in the long run.

 

VELO was disappointing at every strength level outside of the 17mg. I expected so much more from VELO. Perhaps the brand carries the weight of being backed by BAT as a manufacturer, you naturally expect something great. But, all of the lower strength lines lack any real conviction in nicotine uptake time, and longevity. The effects are mild, at best, regardless of the strength. The 10mg is comparable to Nordic Spirit’s 6mg, and the 14mg is comparable to the 9mg.

 

The 17mg is where VELO does offer something, but I had to push to the strongest VELO. I personally think that it hits more like a competitive 10mg, but it offers some continuity for nicotine pouch users at higher levels. Even the mint flavours, which typically hit harder due to perceived strength, struggle to really commit to the acclaimed 17mg. Maybe it is something to do with the way in which BAT have created these pouches to perform. But, the expectation of a faster nicotine hit, and somewhat more of an aggressive ride, was stopped in its tracks.

 

 

Winner: Nordic Spirit

 

VELO vs Nordic Spirit: Pouch Composition in Review

 

One of the most overlooked factors to nicotine pouches is the pouch composition. This can make or break a user’s experience. Some brands opt for pouches that are rough, smooth, grainy, thick, or thin. There is a lot to be considered, and in my opinion, does have effects on how the pouches perform in both strength and flavour.

 

VELO has one of the best pouch compositions for new users. The pouches are slightly thicker than most brands, but always fluffy ingredients inside. They seem to retain an internal moisture that many brands don’t. You will know when you come across a dry ingredient pouch because it will feel rocky inside, like small grains of sand separated in a pouch. But, VELO always seems to be moist inside, fluffy on the outside, and therefore maintains good composition. Against the gum, the pouches feel good, if not a little big on the first load. But, for new users, I can imagine that these protect them from the dreaded pouch burn. The thicker lining, I think, is part of the reason for the slow nicotine uptake time. The pouches feel good though, and definitely should be looked at as one of the best pouch compositions out there. Whether or not it affects the flavour and strength is beyond my knowledge, but, for new users trying pouches I can see why VELO would be appealing.

 

Nordic Spirit have made a critical error in the selection of pouch composition. The composition is grainy on the outside, and the ingredients inside - they seem nonexistent. Typically a pouch should be used for anywhere between 30-40 minutes to fully extract the nicotine and reduce the number of pouches necessary for a day. If you put a NS in for 30-40 minutes, you are likely to lose the whole pouch into your gum. The ingredients seem to dissipate after 15 minutes or so. You end up with a grainy pouch, with no ingredient lining, just a flat piece of paper. Honestly, I would go as far as to say, Nordic Spirit has the worst composition of any pouch I have ever used.

 

Winner: VELO (by far)

 

Price and Where to Buy

 

The time of seeing Nordic Spirit dominate the shelves of convenience stores seems to be coming to an end. Understandably so, given the terrible pouch composition and nonexistent flavours. But, it seems a sad end to a product that had a head start to most. Prices now vary between £4 ($5) and £7 ($8) in store against VELO’s £6 ($7) and £8 ($9). These two brands pushed for shelf space by offering free stock and refillable stands to convenience stores. It helped to shape a narrative for pouches, but online is where you will find the best prices. Reputable sites like ours will stock most VELO variants, but unfortunately, you will struggle to find many stocking Nordic Spirit.

 

One of the only considerations to have when buying VELO is understanding the strengths. VELO uses a strength dot system, that, although simple, is complex. Why BAT couldn’t just do what every other brand does and publish the mg of nicotine is beyond me. But, for people shopping in store, you should be aware that the same flavours are available at different strengths. As the pouch market matures, no doubt there will be better transparency and hopefully some uniform presentation of strength. But for now, you could end up with a 4mg when looking for a 17mg - so be aware!

 

As value for money goes, I again, need to side with VELO as the winner for price. You may pay a little more, but you will have a better experience, and need to use less pouches which saves in the long run.

 

Winner: VELO

 

Final Verdict: VELO or Nordic Spirit?

 

When comparing VELO and Nordic Spirit, it is clear that both brands bring different strengths to the table. Nordic Spirit surprises with solid performance in the strength category, especially at lower levels. The uptake is steady, and the effects, although modest, last longer than expected. But that is where the positives end. The flavours are underwhelming, and the pouch composition is simply not good enough for regular use. Nordic Spirit feels like a brand that had momentum but failed to innovate.

 

VELO, on the other hand, delivers a more complete experience. The flavours are more refined, the pouch composition is excellent, and the variety on offer shows a real understanding of user needs. While the lower strength options may lack impact for experienced users, the 17mg pouches offer enough to satisfy a stronger craving. Most importantly, VELO is consistent. From flavour delivery to pouch comfort and product quality, VELO provides a user experience that is reliable and easy to recommend.

 

If you are new to nicotine pouches or looking for a product that balances presentation, taste, and comfort, VELO stands out as the stronger choice. Nordic Spirit might have been first to shelf, but VELO is the brand that has earned its place.

 

If you enjoyed this then you should read our comparison of VELO vs Killa

 

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