Hi. I'm a little confused about what to get, would like some advice?

**SyntheticMemory** · 07-22-2012, 06:44 AM

Hello. I'm 23 years old, but I've been smoking since I was fourteen or so. I'm an incredibly heavy smoker, and I work as a computer programmer smoking pack upon pack at my desk. When I met my wife in college I made a promise that I'd quit smoking for my health, and it's been two years and I have not made good on my promise. I smoke two to four packs a day, depending on my stress level and workload. I also apologize in advance for how long-winded my post will probably be, lol.

My wife suggested that I try switching to e-cigarettes more than once, and I've toyed with the idea. I'm tired of burning away half a paycheck per month sucking down cancer. I'd love to get out and lose some weight, too, but the smoking has detrimentally affected my health and lung capacity to the point where I get winded and discouraged so quickly. I think switching to e-cigs could probably help with both of those issues. I've been looking, but there's so many different models to chose from and vendors that I have no clue where to start.

That, and I'm unsure about the quality of a lot of the devices, and concerned that some of the vendors might be running scam operations. It turns me off from buying a product if your website looks like it was from 1995. Computer programmer I may be, but that doesn't necessarily mean I have money to burn.

My mother-in-law owns a Blu e-cig, and I tried it. I didn't like it very much, I couldn't even tell if there was any nicotine in it. I like the e-Go cigarette, and the look of it, as well as the fact that I can buy liquid instead of more expensive Cartridges. Is that one a good choice? What vendor should I get it from (I am in the United States). Is there any place that sells stronger liquid re-fills for it? I don't think 18mg liquid will satisfy me much. I think the cartridges my mother-in-law uses are 18mg.

I don't mind having to tinker with it. I've noticed some of the e-cigs have more interchangeable parts than other ones do. The blu e-cigs look very simple.

I guess, the question I'm asking is, what would be a good choice for my needs? I'm a very heavy smoker, but I'd love to quit smoking 'analog' cigarettes entirely for my health and to fulfill a promise I made my wife. What should I be looking for?

**ShogaNinja** · 07-22-2012, 06:56 AM

Go to youtube and type in "ego twist review" and watch some vids on it. Perhaps I could also recommend Estarra's channel. You can do a youtube search for that as well. He's a really smart guy. Trust him. He's also an ECF veteran. He has an awesome review on the EGO Twist that tells you like it is. Famous YouTube e-cig reviewers: GrimmGreen, PBusardo, Igetcha69, Estarra, CloudsofVapor to name a few.

Once you get yourself some EGO Twist "replacement batteries" and a charger you're going to need an atomizer of some type to put atop it. For that I can recommend the Vision Vivi Nova. It's 15 bucks per tank and each one comes with three different resistance atomizer posts but the reason I am suggesting one of these is because although they aren't as pretty and streamlined as other tanks on the market, they are designed to be disassembled and they do sell replacement atomizer posts but with a 20 dollar-ish investment and a little time you can learn to make your own atomizer wick and coil replacements and rebuild them for literally years for pennies on the dollar once you have made the initial investment. Everything I have told you is basically all the rage with where vapers are at the current moment in time. Some people talk about Lavatubes and Provaris, but they are expensive and to be honest not entirely worth it. Most people vape at just over 4 volts and the ego twist goes from 3.2 to 4.8 volts which is basically the prime area of vaping. What's the point in pay 200 dollars for something that goes 6 volts when you end up staying at 4.5v? Plus they require annoying button pushes while the ego twist is literally you twisting a knob to find your sweet spot. So much faster, easier, cheaper, and more convenient.

**RickMc** · 07-22-2012, 07:04 AM

I agree with all of the above, except the "not worth it", which is a very subjective call. Might be, might not be for you. I'd add a couple of things:

At your level of smoking, figure your juice should be 24 mg and I would even suggest you get some 36mg (which I've never vaped, and wouldn't normally even suggest). Also, don't try to "stop smoking". "Start vaping" and let the cigarette cravings dwindle on their own naturally. In the meantime, if you're dying for a cigarette have one. My guess is you'll almost immediately cut your smoking in half, and taper down gradually from there. Reach for the PV instead of the smokes first. reach for the smokes if you must, and don't beat yourself up over it.

Last but not least, new vapers are usually told they should get 2. Dude...you need at least 3 Twists, and 2 complete chargers. 4 might be better. You are probably going to drain batteries like crazy, at least for a while.

Keep asking questions, lots of helpful folks on here. You'll end up a non-smoker.

**rtrain99** · 07-22-2012, 07:10 AM

On the cheap, You could do and ego twist. It ranges from 3.2v- 4.8v. Use that with a carto tank and you are ready to go. They have several vendors that have them. You can also do the Provari, for a newb, it will be kinda pricey, but easy to use. The cheaper alter ego of the Provari would be the Lava tube, Apollo, Knight Rider, Cylon (all of which are the same thing just different name). If you're going to be on the computer all day then you can also use a usb pass thru. For juice of the high nicotine level, Puresmoker has 32mg juice. The minthia juice will kick you in the face if you're not used to it. Then there are alot of vendors that do 24mg nitelite vapor, alien vision e juice, mom n pop, copper creek and the list goes on.

**SyntheticMemory** · 07-22-2012, 07:24 AM

Thank you both! You guys are incredibly helpful.

@ShogaNinja: Those parts look almost exactly like what I've been looking for. I have to ask, though, what the purpose of different resistance atomizers are? Also, what reputable vendors sell these things?

@RickMC: Oh, I never assumed I'd even be able to quit smoking on day one. As much as I'm smoking, I figured I'd be gradually weening myself off of analog cigarettes and gradually using the e-cigarette more until I drop the smoking entirely over the course of a few weeks/months. It's said that you have to be crazy to be a programmer, but I'm not quite suffering from delusions yet.

Where do you get that juice from? My google-fu seems to need some additional training. Also, you're saying that I should probably get at least three batteries and two chargers? I'll keep that in mind. I see the logic in that, since I'll always have at least one battery.

**SyntheticMemory** · 07-22-2012, 07:45 AM

@rtrain99 I'm actually liking that Ego Twist. They seem like decent devices and they're on the cheap, too! Thanks for that puresmoker site, they have a nice selection of juice.

**Plentyobass** · 07-22-2012, 08:01 AM

I'm pretty much in the same boat you're in. I have two regular 1000 mah eGos, one twist, and one pass through, purchased in that order. The twist seems to run down faster than the others, but that figures, since I'm running it at a higher voltage.

I'd suggest getting one pass through (since you're already at a computer anyway and can charge it conveniently) and one twist to play around with slightly higher voltages. I also recommend getting a eGo lanyard and a tank, both of which have made everything more hassle free for me while sitting at my computer.

**mol** · 07-22-2012, 08:09 AM

Just DO NOT buy any mall ecig. There first gen. expensive and junk. Mall ecigs turn off people to the point that they give up on ecigs altogether.
Do your research online like your doing and try to find a store front in your area and they love to help. I see your from Texas.I know its a big state but my first experience with a good ecig was from DFWvapors.com and they have a store front.
Vapeing is not a direct replacement for smoking but its a close second I don't miss smoking at all but opinions are different.
smoke free over a year here.
welcome to vaping

**SyntheticMemory** · 07-22-2012, 08:20 AM

@mol: I've noticed that the things they cell in malls and gas stations seem to be poor quality. I figured buying an e-cig and all of the things I need to get started would be around a ~$120 investment, I wasn't going to buy a thing without trying to figure out what to get to be happy with it. dfwvapors.com no longer exists, it's now one of those "what you need, when you need it" cybersquatter domains. And, I realize changing over to an ecig will not be a direct replacement to smoking, but the health benefits of quitting and keeping a promise to my wife outweigh my want to continue smoking regular cigarettes.

@Plentyobass: What kind of tank? Just a standard eGo tank? I'm getting a lot of recommendations for the eGo's, and since I was considering those before I think I might end up getting those.