Well, as I waited patiently for several packages from DX, I knew that the projected time for my e-cigar to arrive was later this week, though I secretly wished it would arrive before the portable hdd enclosure that was ordered 2 weeks earlier but still hadn't arrived.
I stopped by and checked the mail today, low and behold, I had 3 packages from DX sitting in there all rubber banded together.
I opened the packages to discover the hdd enclosure, the e-cigar, and a flashlight as well. With so many new toys, I was one happy camper!
I pulled the e-cigar out of the package, and found it to be complete, and undamaged, but unfortunately had a euro plug on the charger, with no adapter Luckily I had an adapter I'd picked up years ago for a stereo I'd gotten in Peru, so I could still make it work.
I checked the cartridge to see if it had been punctured, since there was a lot of gunk on the and of it when I pulled it out, but it was still intact, I guess the stuff was from the "factory prime" that folks talk about.
The physical appearance of the thing was alright, but the paper around the mouthpiece could definitely use some improvement, and the "band" that comes on the thing is atrocious. I'll have to do something about that.
As tempted as I was to try it out right away, I went ahead and plugged the charger in using my aforementioned adapter, and let the cigar charge up.
A little while later the light was green, so I unplugged the cigar, and pushed the cartridge and mouthpiece down to pierce the foil. Then it was the acid test... to the lips, and my first puff.
The draw was harder than I was expecting, but the volume of vapor was good, about the same as I might expect from a similar ring gauge cigar, though the draw wasn't on par. As I took a few more puffs, the draw did improve slightly, and now I would say it draws about like a slightly too tightly wrapped cigar of about 42 ring gauge.
The flavor of the vapor on this cigar does, um, resemble a cigar, but I'm afraid it's not a good cigar it resembles. it kind of reminds me of the taste of a cigar that's been sitting in someone's fridge, next to stale bread. (Refrigerators BTW, don't make good humidors since the invention of the frost free variety)
I'm afraid I can't speak to the throat hit of the cigar, as I don't inhale anything I smoke. (aside from the occasional hookah) I can say however that my throat was feeling a little rough after about 10 puffs on the e-cigar though, so it might be decent.
That brings me to another point: Most e-smokers are inhaling the vapor from the devices, and find that there's little residual vapor or smell, as I'm only puffing the vapor into my mouth, I discovered that the vapor lingers about the same way that a cigar's smoke would, and carries considerable residual odor/smell. Knowing that the mucus membranes in my nose and throat are only about 35% efficient at absorbing the nicotine in this vapor (if the vapor is at the ideal PH level) that means that about 65% of the nicotine is then carried back out through the vapor and then dissipates into the air as the vapor dissipates.
I put the cigar band from a CAO America on the thing, and it greatly improved the appearance, when my second unit arrives later this week, I plan to put the band from either an Opus X or a Cohiba on it... you know, for variety...
So far, I'm impressed, for about the cost of 2 decent cigars I've got a rechargeable, refillable one... now to find some juice that tastes decent, and we'll be in business
I'll be taking the e-cigar with me out to cigar dinner this week, and I'll report back how everyone there feels about it.
I stopped by and checked the mail today, low and behold, I had 3 packages from DX sitting in there all rubber banded together.
I opened the packages to discover the hdd enclosure, the e-cigar, and a flashlight as well. With so many new toys, I was one happy camper!
I pulled the e-cigar out of the package, and found it to be complete, and undamaged, but unfortunately had a euro plug on the charger, with no adapter Luckily I had an adapter I'd picked up years ago for a stereo I'd gotten in Peru, so I could still make it work.
I checked the cartridge to see if it had been punctured, since there was a lot of gunk on the and of it when I pulled it out, but it was still intact, I guess the stuff was from the "factory prime" that folks talk about.
The physical appearance of the thing was alright, but the paper around the mouthpiece could definitely use some improvement, and the "band" that comes on the thing is atrocious. I'll have to do something about that.
As tempted as I was to try it out right away, I went ahead and plugged the charger in using my aforementioned adapter, and let the cigar charge up.
A little while later the light was green, so I unplugged the cigar, and pushed the cartridge and mouthpiece down to pierce the foil. Then it was the acid test... to the lips, and my first puff.
The draw was harder than I was expecting, but the volume of vapor was good, about the same as I might expect from a similar ring gauge cigar, though the draw wasn't on par. As I took a few more puffs, the draw did improve slightly, and now I would say it draws about like a slightly too tightly wrapped cigar of about 42 ring gauge.
The flavor of the vapor on this cigar does, um, resemble a cigar, but I'm afraid it's not a good cigar it resembles. it kind of reminds me of the taste of a cigar that's been sitting in someone's fridge, next to stale bread. (Refrigerators BTW, don't make good humidors since the invention of the frost free variety)
I'm afraid I can't speak to the throat hit of the cigar, as I don't inhale anything I smoke. (aside from the occasional hookah) I can say however that my throat was feeling a little rough after about 10 puffs on the e-cigar though, so it might be decent.
That brings me to another point: Most e-smokers are inhaling the vapor from the devices, and find that there's little residual vapor or smell, as I'm only puffing the vapor into my mouth, I discovered that the vapor lingers about the same way that a cigar's smoke would, and carries considerable residual odor/smell. Knowing that the mucus membranes in my nose and throat are only about 35% efficient at absorbing the nicotine in this vapor (if the vapor is at the ideal PH level) that means that about 65% of the nicotine is then carried back out through the vapor and then dissipates into the air as the vapor dissipates.
I put the cigar band from a CAO America on the thing, and it greatly improved the appearance, when my second unit arrives later this week, I plan to put the band from either an Opus X or a Cohiba on it... you know, for variety...
So far, I'm impressed, for about the cost of 2 decent cigars I've got a rechargeable, refillable one... now to find some juice that tastes decent, and we'll be in business
I'll be taking the e-cigar with me out to cigar dinner this week, and I'll report back how everyone there feels about it.