Is VELO Addictive: Full Disclosure By A Full Time Nicotine Pouch User

Written by The Simon Crafts 

Published on August 22, 2025

You know, it has been a long time since I even questioned whether or not my transition from cigarettes was a smart move. One of the most common questions I have had through the years is whether or not pouches are a good thing. I have had topical debates with people in sport, journalism, and even friendships about the viability of nicotine pouches/snus. Scarily, it has been nearly 15 years using pouches in some form or another, and it the debate still rages on. So, you want to know whether VELO is addictive? Stay with me, you will learn a lot!

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How VELO First Came To My Radar

Without boring you too much with the ins and outs of nicotine pouches and snus (yes, there is a difference), I want to give you some context.

 

I played football for a long time at a decent enough standard. One of the most embarrassing things about playing professional football, was being spotted smoking a cigarette. I think, after a certain amount of time, even the Christmas stash of Lynx Africa wasn’t enough to hide the cigarette stench. Ironically, I wanted to quit smoking because my fitness level was only matched by the level of my goal-scoring. But, in reality, I was addicted to nicotine, and I needed it.

 

A few different names have known VELO through the years. EPOK and Lyft, the notable first memories of coming into the VELO fold for me. British American Tobacco, the manufacturer of VELO, had made a mess of the brand alignment, in my opinion. But, after I was introduced to EPOK, I was able to move to a nicotine consumption that, at least, didn’t make me stink. For some, nicotine pouches are frowned upon. For me, these gems saved my lungs, and potentially the latter part of my career. I have used VELO, intermittently with other brands, for nearly a decade. Football was an important segway into nicotine pouches. The unspoken cult of professional footballers has, and always will be, the use of nicotine pouches and snus. And why not? Fans and media play a significant role in chastising any act of disrepute to sycophancy by footballers - at least pouches are discreet!

 

 

Is VELO Addictive: Understanding the Difference Between Snus & Nicotine Pouches

 

I can only speak from personal experience when I raise the topic of nicotine pouches and snus. For most people who haven’t been living under a rock, nicotine pouches are referred to as “snus”. A very simple analogy I could cite is many people calling a Hoover, the Hoover. In fact, Hoover is a brand, the product itself is called a vacuum cleaner. Nicotine pouches are referred to as snus because snus has been around for decades longer than nicotine pouches. Both pouches contain nicotine, but there is one core difference - snus contains tobacco, and nicotine pouches do not. Snus disperses nicotine through tobacco, and nicotine pouches use pharmaceutical synthetic nicotine.

 

As a user of both snus and nicotine pouches, I can speak with authority about the differences in feeling, for me. I used Siberia snus for many years, until nicotine pouches began to flood our Western market. Using Siberia, which was a tobacco-based product, I struggled with mood swings, and an incessant need to have them. For some reason, I struggled badly without Siberia, like someone who smokes needs a cigarette.

 

My first nicotine pouch was a brand called Grant. I hated them; they tasted manufactured and artificial. I was used to the combination of tobacco ingredients in my pouches; the transition to nicotine pouches was rough for me. I rarely managed to subdue the nicotine cravings, despite the strength level surpassing that of Siberia.

 

 

VELO Introduction To My Online Ordering

Over time, traditional snus became more and more difficult to source, without paying huge customs fees to import. What was once a simple order and arrive, became weeks of waiting and potential customs fees before clearance. Inevitably, myself and my football pals moved more toward using nicotine pouches as an alternative.

 

I came across VELO when it was called Lyft. Maybe it was something to do with being Swedish product that made it more alluring (for those that don’t know, snus supposedly originated in Sweden). But, Lyft had a similar nicotine uptake time to traditional snus. It was slower, less aggressive, and seemed to resonate well with most of us relaxation seekers.

 

VELO became a regular order for myself and my teammates. The more I moved away from the delicacy of snus, the more I found myself being able to detach myself from my over-reliance on using pouches all together. The synthetic nicotine that I had once hated, in time, had become a part of my life, as opposed to my life.

My VELO Addiction Explained

I am an advocate of doing things in moderation, or at least I would like to think I am. Is VELO addictive? Damn sure it is. But so is coffee, the gym, sugar, and sex. Yes, I said it. Nicotine is an addictive substance. So is coffee. The difference is, Starbucks does not need to write that on their Grande cups because coffee is not frowned upon. Ironically, the overuse of caffeine could probably do about the same amount of damage.

 

Over the years, I have come to research the topic of nicotine pouches and snus, periodically looking for answers. Snus has correlations to cancers, but this has predominantly been linked with the tobacco component. I am not a doctor or scientist, but I know my behaviour was very different using tobacco-based products, compared to synthetic nicotine. I admit, that is not a statement to deter or encourage you to buy VELO, but the brand helped me to keep some sort of normalcy in my life (and relationship).

 

I have a product in VELO that allows me to enjoy nicotine consumption, regardless of how anyone else feels about it. I am not addicted to going to the pub on Friday nights, nor am I addicted to the gym. I could get granular here and speak on the number of steroid-related deaths in young men suffering from bigorexia. If VELO is addictive, so be it, because the moments of flavour and relaxation are okay - it gives me personal balance.

 

 

Is VELO Addictive: Should You Use VELO?

 

I have kids. Would I encourage them to use VELO, or nicotine pouches at all? No. Of course not. But if my child came home with a vape or a cigarette, I absolutely would. For those who have been fortunate enough not to engage in using nicotine, it makes sense to stay away. Seems counterproductive, right? A nicotine pouch retailer saying stay away? But, it is a very real reality that people are going to engage in the use of nicotine, whether we like it or not.  Currently, the safest form of using nicotine pouches is in the form of using VELO, or another nicotine pouch brand.

 

If you are a smoker, a vaper, or someone using whacky backy to chill out in the evenings, or during the day, VELO would be right up your street. British American Tobacco is one of the best manufacturers of nicotine products in the world, and they make VELO. Yes, VELO is addictive, but the world is full of temptation and different addictions. I can say for absolute certainty, you stand a greater chance of getting off VELO than you do traditional cigarettes. The world may frown, and governments sulk, and scaremonger at the use of a product they are struggling to regulate and tax. But, if you feel the need for nicotine, or are a current user of nicotine, VELO wouldn’t set you far wrong.

 

VELO, An Addictive Substance, or The Future?

 

In reality, much like the vape situation some years ago, there is not enough evidence to speak truthfully about the implications of nicotine pouches. VELO is a strong brand that, despite its marketing efforts, much of the world still asks - what is VELO? The world is full of things that can harm us. The UK has problems with broccoli in 2025, people are dying from broccoli-related sickness! It is difficult to make light of sad situations, but it is a reality.

 

VELO is addictive. Nicotine is addictive. Paradoxically, VELO could be the relaxation, rest bite, and vice that you need to bring balance, or peace. If you are over the age of 18, you have a choice: you can use nicotine pouches or not.

 

As someone who has used virtually every single brand mentionable, I have an affinity for VELO because you know what you are getting. The pouches are consistent, and rarely fail to disappoint if you know what to expect. Experience with pouches is important as the varied dot strengths are specific to the type of user who will need to use them. Once you find your sweet spot, VELO could be just the thing you need.