Our Guide to Smokeless Tobacco Alternatives
If you’re looking to replace the snus, snuff/dip or chewing tobacco in your life with a tobacco leaf-free product, or just want to learn more about what options are out there, then you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, we’ll attempt to answer all your questions about how the two categories compare and draw on real customer data to point you in the direction of a few tobacco leaf-free alternatives that might suit you.
With our recent announcement that Northerner has stopped selling tobacco to focus solely on nicotine pouches, we’re hoping that this list will become a helpful aid in inspiring your next purchase and giving tobacco-free a try!
Top 10 Nicotine Pouches Among Tobacco Users
At Northerner, we like to serve up the most relevant recommendations we can for you. We recognize there’s a lot to choose from in this growing category and it can be hard to navigate the world of nicotine pouches if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for.
That’s why we set out to find a specific set of customers: Ones who typically order tobacco from us but have recently started to dabble in more tobacco leaf-free products. We wanted to see what they’re enjoying and coming back to buy more of, week after week.
From digging through 10+ months worth of orders, we were able to group their preferences and refine them into this list of Top 10 Smokeless Tobacco Alternatives. Scroll through them here (in order of popularity).
Customer Reviews: Tobacco-Free Tobacco & Unflavored Pouches
Did you know that some brands even offer nicotine pouches that taste like tobacco, without containing any? Or, if all this talk of flavor is getting a bit much, then maybe you’re interested in a more neutral product? We’ve got you covered there too.
Once again, we let our customers do the talking!*
Good Product ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“If you like the flavor of sweet chewing tobacco like Redman or Beech Nut then you should try these.”
– Ndie01
Familiar flavor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Just got a can this morning to try out. Flavor is very similar to Copenhagen or Skoal Classic. I like this flavor. Tastes more like a ‘real’ chew.”
– EE
Rogue Original 6mg ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is my third bulk order. You can’t find better prices and it was here in just a few days. The Rogue Original is perfect if you’re looking for an all-day user. Drier than the flavored pouches and gets the job done.”
– Nic
*If you try any of the products in these lists, take a moment to leave a review on the specific product page so we can learn from your experience! This really is our most valuable form of feedback.
Strength as a Factor When Making the Switch
It’s fair to say that tobacco customers are typically used to strong products and might seek a similar experience from their nicotine pouch – it's not just about the milligrams though! We urge you to keep these 3 factors in mind when you're considering what level of intensity to go for.
Milligrams Per Pouch
If strength is most important to you, then the obvious answer is to go for nicotine pouches with more milligrams of nicotine.
Interestingly, in our Top 10 list we see people opting for either 6mg, 9mg or 12mg, while the strongest pouches currently stocked on Northerner belong to FRE’s 15mg range. This goes to show that strength is not the only factor at play.
Type of Flavor
Stepping into the world of tobacco leaf-free you have more choice at your fingertips in terms of experimenting with flavor, but did you know certain flavors can also enhance the perceived strength of a pouch?
If you go for one that’s particularly minty or acidic, it can feel stronger than it is, which explains some of the 6mg choices in this Top 10 list – such as Rogue Spearmint and Citrus.
Moisture Level
What’s inside counts! The moisture level of your nicotine pouch can also impact its strength.
If it’s dry, you’re more likely to have a steady and gradual nicotine release since you’re not producing as much saliva. On the other hand, the combination of soft pouch materials and moist contents make for quicker absorption and the feeling of a stronger pouch (at least in the beginning).
Key Selling Points for Northerner's Tobacco-Free Brands
It’s up to you to figure out the combination of strength, flavor and pouch format that meets your nicotine needs best, but this high-level summary of each brand stocked on Northerner might make it easier to narrow down what you do/don’t like.
- Rogue: Proudly American made; containing 3-6mg of nicotine in every dry pouch; 8 flavors currently in stock including 1 Tabac and 1 Original (unflavored).
- Juice Head: Extra Strong, semi-dry pouches (up to 12mg) with 5 fruit-forward flavors that all have a touch of mint.
- FRE: Our strongest pouches on-site (up to 15mg); semi-moist for quick nicotine release; available in 3 flavors (Mint, Wintergreen and Lush) plus 1 unflavored.
- On!: A wider range of flavors including 2 that are not-so-common (Coffee and Cinnamon) plus 1 unflavored; up to 8mg per pouch.
- VELO: Similar flavors to On! with the addition of more exotic fruits (Dragonfruit and Black Cherry); Regular dry pouches containing 4-7mg of nicotine.
- zone: Extra soft pouches containing 6-9mg of premium synthetic nicotine; popular mints as well as a standout Tobacco flavor.
- Lucy: Extra Strong, moist pouches for a quick nicotine release (up to 12mg); available in an assortment of 8 fruit and mint flavors.
- Sesh: Strong, moist pouches for a quicker nicotine release (up to 8mg); slim flavor assortment of Mint, Wintergreen or Mango to choose from.
- Grizzly: An easy transition if you love Grizzly tobacco products! Same pouches, now tobacco-free in 3 minty flavors and a 7mg (Regular) strength.
Overall Benefits: Smokeless Tobacco vs Nicotine Pouches
As a long-time smokeless tobacco user, you may have gotten used to certain things – like the odor or expense – that you don’t realise it’s possible to live without while still enjoying nicotine!
Here’s a handful of ways the best tobacco-free dip and chewing tobacco alternatives can improve on the products you’re currently using.
- Reduced Exposure to Certain Chemicals: Nicotine pouches contain fewer nitrosamines and other tobacco-specific toxicants compared to smokeless tobacco.
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Convenience: Nicotine pouches are not just tobacco leaf-free, they’re also hassle-free and mess-free! They come in a compact, pocket-friendly can so it’s easy to carry around and dispose of used pouches on-the-go (no more spittoons or extra equipment needed). You have the added bonus of being able to use them in a lot of places where tobacco products may be prohibited.
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Savings Over Time: With rising taxes on tobacco products, switching to nicotine pouches can lead to a few more dollars in your pocket at the end of every month (depending on your usage, of course). Nicotine pouches are generally cheaper than traditional smokeless tobacco and you’ll find online retailers, like us, also offer various discounts when you buy in bulk, making it a more economical choice in the long run.
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Less Staining: Nicotine pouches don’t contain the same ingredients that can lead to teeth browning and discoloration, so can preserve a whiter smile than if you choose to stick with snus or snuff.
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Variety: The amount of choice you get with nicotine pouches allows for a more personalized experience too that can meet your nicotine needs as they change throughout the day. From flavor to no flavor, or more milligrams of nicotine to less – you’re in control of your consumption.
The Evolution of Tobacco & Nicotine Products
We can trace the roots of tobacco use as far back as 6,000 B.C. – from chewing and smoking the leaves as part of religious ceremonies, to cultivating it for medicinal purposes, and even trading it as a form of currency, tobacco has proven itself to be a versatile and very popular crop.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the ways we consume tobacco today, and how they’ve changed over the years.
Then
Snuff was popularised in the 14- and 1500s as a form of finely ground, powdered tobacco that was snorted.
Now
This evolved to become the product we now know, that involves taking a pinch or “dip” of snuff and placing it under your lip to gradually absorb.
Then
Chewing tobacco has Native American origins and is really entwined with US history. Its popularity spread with colonialism, and chewing/spitting was common practice in the 19th century – especially among all the farmers and agricultural workers as more people started moving West.
Now
Brands like Starr, Stoker’s and Levi Garrett have stood the test of time but, these days, there’s been a sharp decline in chewing tobacco due to health concerns. Most tobacco companies have chosen to deviate into more modern categories.
Then
Pipe-smoking was considered a ceremonial practice back in the day before it became more widespread and recreational. The first “modern” cigarette machine was invented by James Bonsack in 1881. From there, the popularity of cigarettes, cigarillos and cigars skyrocketed – peaking in the 20th century due to the addictive nature of nicotine and false health claims that were circulating, not to mention the glamorization of smoking in Hollywood.
Now
The US Surgeon General first presented evidence of the link between smoking and lung cancer in 1967. As the science has gotten more definitive and we’ve been made more aware of the dangers of combustible tobacco, smoking rates have plummeted. Roughly 1 in 5 Americans still smoke according to the latest figures we can find in the CDC’s National Health Survey for 2022. Vapes or e-cigarettes and Heat-Not-Burn devices are now gaining momentum as tobacco-free alternatives that mimic the puffing action of a cigarette.
Then
Inspired by snuff but developed in Scandinavia, snus was brought to the US by the mass migration of Swedes in the mid-1800s and was considered more of a niche product at the time. It was originally loose tobacco but, from the 1970s onwards, you’d find it in a pouch or “portion” for a cleaner experience and less drip.
Now
Snus is rapidly being replaced by nicotine pouches, which are widely accepted as the latest innovation in this space. They copy the format of snus (by tucking a pouch under your lip) but bypass the harmful tobacco. Nicotine in these products is either extracted from the tobacco leaf or created synthetically in a lab.
