This is the easiest device to maintain that I own, and the tiny cotton wick pads are quite inexpensive. Using Vapor Tech Organic Cotton Pads, I cut them to measure 0.5" X 0.6", set the wick under the coil, prime it, and reassemble the atomizer. Using these Pads there is no spitback, the device produces a thick full vapor, and works with a single 18650 battery.