Nicotine pouches are an ideal product for those who want to experience the advantages of nicotine without having to deal with the downside of tobacco or smoking. LOON, a new brand in the market, has gone a step further—their pouches provide you with a comparable buzz to other nicotine pouches without using regular nicotine.
In this LOON nicotine pouches review, we’ll explore this new and exciting product to see whether it lives up to the claims. We’ll also take a look at the available flavors and strengths and see how these pouches compare to other popular brands.
LOON Nicotine Pouches—General Information
LOON nicotine pouches are a U.S. brand developed by Maduro Distributors Inc., a Minnesota-based manufacturer. While the company has been producing vaping products since 2013, it entered the nicotine pouch market in 2024.
LOON pouches come in two can sizes—standard and mega—with the main difference being the number of pouches in each. The standard cans are small enough to fit comfortably into your pocket or hand and contain 20 pouches each. Mega cans, on the other hand, are significantly larger and contain 60 pouches each.
Source: LOON
What Are LOON Pouches Made From?
LOON nicotine pouches use Nyxxodine™, a tobacco-free alkaloid similar to nicotine, as their primary ingredient, alongside other food-grade components often found in commercially available products.
Although Nyxxodine™ is a synthetic nicotine replacement, it has identical properties to its plant-derived counterpart, meaning it will still provide the same benefits. Because tobacco isn’t used in any part of the manufacturing process, LOON pouches don’t contain tobacco-specific nitrosamines, which are related to an increased risk of cancer.
The rest of the ingredient list isn’t specified, but as with all pouches, they can be separated into five different categories:
- Flavorings: Combinations of flavorings that give LOON pouches their distinctive aroma
- pH adjusters: These keep a stable pH level, enhancing the flavor of pouches and Nyxxodine™ absorption
- Fillers: Plant-based ingredients that add bulk to the pouches
- Stabilizers: Maintain the consistency of the pouches and stop their contents from clumping
- Sweeteners: Provide the pouches with sweetness without harming teeth or affecting blood sugar levels
How Do LOON Pouches Work?
Once you place them in your mouth, LOON pouches deliver Nyxxodine™ straight into your bloodstream through the mucous membrane on your gums. A pouch is activated by absorbing saliva until it gets moist enough, after which it provides a steady release of Nyxxodine™ and flavor.
You may experience a tingling sensation for the first few minutes. This is normal and means the pouch is releasing Nyxxodine™, which mildly irritates your gums. Usually, this sensation fades as your gums adjust.
How long you keep the pouch in comes down to your preference and tolerance. It’s best to leave it in for at least 5–10 minutes since that’s how long it takes for the Nyxxodine™ to kick in. After about 30 minutes, the effects start to wear off, so that’s a good time to take it out. But if you’re enjoying the flavor, you can leave it in for up to an hour.
Can LOON Pouches Make You Sick?
The absence of tobacco in LOON pouches eliminates many of the health risks associated with nicotine products. However, even though it’s not nicotine, Nyxxodine™ is similar enough that it will carry the same health implications, particularly in high doses.
Most of the issues you can encounter when using LOON pouches stem from misuse or using a pouch that’s too strong for you. If you absorb too much Nyxxodine™ too quickly, you can expect these side effects:
- Nausea: When used, a LOON pouch activates your vagus nerve, stimulating stomach acid production. In high enough amounts, stomach acid irritates the stomach lining, leading to cramps and nausea. If this happens, remove the pouch and drink water to help soothe your stomach.
- Acid reflux: Nyxxodine™ can cause the muscles separating your stomach and esophagus to relax, leading to stomach acid backflow. When this happens, you will feel a burning in your chest or throat or a sour taste in your mouth. If you feel the signs of acid reflux, remove the pouch and drink an antacid.
- Headache: As it increases your heart rate, Nyxxodine™ also narrows your blood vessels, causing your blood pressure to increase. If the increase is sudden, it can lead to a headache. You should remove the pouch and lie down until the headache fades.
If you use the pouches as directed, side effects are unlikely. That said, everyone reacts differently, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye on how you’re feeling. If you start to feel dizzy or nauseous, remove the pouch.
Source: LOON
What Strengths Do Loon Nicotine Pouches Come In?
Nicotine pouch strength refers to the amount of nicotine it contains, expressed in milligrams (mg) per pouch. In LOON’s case, it’s Nyxxodine™ instead of nicotine, but the measurements are still the same.
LOON pouches are available in four strengths:
- 3 mg: Each of these pouches is about as strong as a single cigarette, making them a good choice for users who smoke about 10 cigarettes daily or use vapes with up to 6 mg of nicotine.
- 7 mg: About twice as strong as a cigarette, these pouches will provide a much more intense buzz. They’re intended for users who smoke about 15 cigarettes daily or use vape with a 12–18 mg liquid.
- 14 mg: These pouches are significantly stronger, each providing a hit as strong as nearly five cigarettes. If you smoke more than a pack daily and have built up a high nicotine tolerance, these pouches will provide you with a strong, satisfying buzz.
- 28 mg: By far the most potent pouches offered by LOON, these are intended for users who have built up a massive tolerance and prefer a powerful, long-lasting buzz.
Comparing pouches to cigarettes can give you a rough idea of their strength, but it’s not a one-to-one match. Since the nicotine, or in this case, Nyxxodine™, is absorbed differently, you’ll likely absorb more from a pouch than from a cigarette—so it’s worth keeping that in mind.
How Much Nyxxodine™ Do You Absorb From LOON Pouches?
Nicotine bioavailability measures how much nicotine enters your bloodstream when you use a nicotine product. At 50% bioavailability, nicotine pouches are the most effective nicotine product.
As a comparison, out of the 10–12 mg of nicotine in a cigarette, only 1.1–1.8 mg is successfully absorbed, which is about 10%. Vapes are harder to evaluate since factors like vape model, e-liquid strength, amount of vapor, and length of each puff all affect efficiency.
Although LOON pouches contain Nyxxodine™ instead of nicotine, the compounds are similar enough that it’s safe to assume their bioavailability is nearly the same.
Source: LOON
What Flavors Do Loon Pouches Come In?
Besides the great variety of strengths, LOON pouches provide their users with an array of different flavors. Currently, you can choose from 11 options:
- Wintergreen
- Arctic Mint
- Spearmint
- Gum Mint
- Arctic Grape
- Arctic Lemon
- Arctic Strawberry
- Arctic Mango
- Green Mango
- Bad Bull
- Cinnamon OG
All of the flavors can be found in several strength options, meaning you can easily find the right one for you regardless of your nicotine tolerance.
How Do LOON Pouches Compare to Other Brands?
Although LOON pouches are high-quality products, they’re still new to the market, so comparing them to already established brands, like Velo, can show you what sets them apart.
Velo is a well-known pouch brand whose primary ingredient is synthetic nicotine. Although it’s different from LOON’s Nyxxodine™, it offers a useful point of comparison.
This is what the two brands have to offer when put side by side:
| Criterion | Velo | LOON |
| Strength | 4 mg 6 mg 10 mg 11 mg 14 mg 17 mg | 3 mg 7 mg 14 mg 28 mg |
| Flavors | Polar Mint Berry Frost Winter Chill Arctic Frost Mighty Peppermint Crispy Peppermint Breezy Mango Urban Vibe Groovy Grape Wild Lavender Creamy Coffee Royal Tea | Wintergreen Arctic Mint Spearmint Gum mint Arctic Grape Arctic Lemon Arctic Strawberry Arctic Mango Green Mango Bad Bull Cinnamon OG |
| Nicotine | Yes, synthetic | No |
| Pouch Size | Slim and mini | Slim |
| Moisture | Moist | Dry |
Velo’s six strengths are all relatively close, making them great for users who prefer variety when it comes to their nicotine buzz. However, they top at 17 mg, which, although intense, is not as potent as LOON’s 28 mg pouches, making LOON the better brand for thrill seekers.
One more notable difference is the place of origin. While LOON is an American brand, Velo pouches are made in Europe.
Source: Lara Jameson
European vs. U.S. Pouches—How Are They Different?
In 2016, the FDA expanded the scope of its Tobacco Control Act to include non-tobacco nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches. This significantly slowed down development for U.S. brands since they had to deal with rigorous evaluations before entering the market.
LOON did not have to deal with the same restrictions. As Nyxxodine™ is not classified as nicotine by the FDA, the brand had more room to develop and innovate with its product.
The same is true for European brands. FDA regulations don’t apply to manufacturers based in Europe, which has given them more room to refine and optimize their recipes for the most pleasurable experience. Over time, the freedom given to European manufacturers gave them a significant advantage when it came to flavor, buzz intensity, and duration.
Where To Get European Nicotine Pouches?
SnusBoss is your go-to source for fresh, high-quality nicotine pouches imported from Europe. The industry veterans behind SnusBoss carefully select pouches to ensure that each option offered on the website provides the best flavor and the longest, most intense buzz.
The pouches come at reasonable prices, and you can find all sorts of nicopods there—from the mildest to some of the strongest options. So, if you’re in the mood to explore another brand alongside LOON, you can check out the following:
| ZYN | Velo | Dope | GOAT | Denssi |
| Glitch | Hit | Oryx | Pik | Snatch |
| Pablo | Kozmo | Jäger | Kurwa | White Fox |
| Thor | Roger | Killa | Klint | Thunder |
| Siberia | Chapo | Paz | Kick | Skruf |
Ordering your pouches from SnusBoss is simple:
- Go to the online store
- Select the brand, strength, and flavor of your pouches
- Enter your payment and shipping information
You can also get these perks when you shop from the website:
- Free shipping on orders of $249 and above
- An express shipping option, ensuring you receive your pouches within 2–3 business days
- Regular promotions and discounts
Nicotine pouches are a controlled product, meaning you have to be 21 or older to buy and use nicotine pouches.
Featured image source: LOON
