There is an ocean of products out there. How do you know who to trust or where to even start. Let's face it we are the pioneers of an undiscovered country. There seems to be two choices: research research research or take the plunge and throw money at the problem until it goes away. If you are frugal like me then the latter is not an option. That is why I am posting this; to save you money in the war against your tobacco addiction.
But where do you start? It's all so confusing. I have always been from the school of thought that believes that a smart monkey doesn't let go of one branch until his hand is firmly planted on the next. I am here to give you that branch.
A little bit of research will reveal that most people think that the EGO style e-cigarette is a good place to start. Perhaps modding is in your future but let's face it you are not likely to go out, concept unproven, and build yourself a professional vaping mod like a Scubagen (Genesis tank Atomizer).
So where to begin? There are 10,001 EGO clones. The European company, Janty, created the original EGO and that cannot be easily ignored. Some say that they hit a little better than the clones. I am here to prove that although they are the original innovator that they are not the big kid on the block any more. Through months of research, while I remained a dedicated smoker sitting on the sidelines, I noticed something. The Janty EGO, although the creator, was expensive and stagnating. I for one didn't want to pay through the teeth for something less than perfect for starting my journey into vaping. I knew all to well what the alternative was; life in hell smoking til I died or got some life-threatening disease that was worse than death. I saw my Grandfather die of COPD and Emphysema and it was a fate worse than death indeed. He smoked Camel Non-Filters. 3 packs a day, in fact, until his 40s when he was diagnosed. He spend the next 20 years hunched over a stool with calloused elbows and slept on the floor. When he rarely left the house for family events he spent his time bent over like a defensive linesman wheezing. When he was 66 he went to the hospital and never came out. I got the call one day that he had died due to fluid buildup in his lungs and it devastated me. Here was a guy who fought in the Korean Conflict for our country, a Marine through and through, laid low by a stupid addiction. I promised my family I'd never be like him. I was wrong. I started smoking at 19. It was stupid. At first it was harmless... a few here a few there. Next thing I realized is that I got extra breaks from working if I took a smoke break. This is where the trouble began. All through college I sought jobs that allowed me to smoke while I worked. It was a recipe for disaster. Next thing you know, here I was, addicted like a complete dumba$$.
For years I told myself I would quit. I tried. I failed. I tried to cut back, switched to lights, tried crappy roll your own tobacco in an effort to hate it until I quit, and I failed.
I always told myself that in my 30's I would quit before I was too old and the damage was irreversible. Well, NOW IS MY TIME!
So, long story short, where do you begin in this vast sea of knowledge yet to be discovered? How can one easily begin their new journey without expending vast amounts of time or monetary resources to find out what they want to know. The answer is: interaction.
A great place to start is the KGO Starter Kit. Why? A simple review of this unit will reveal that it is superior among the proven EGO style e-cigarette clones. An ordinary cigarette-style e-cig will not likely get you to where you want to go. Unfortunate as that is it's time to grow up and get over it. Don't judge a book by its cover. Sure smoking cigarettes is more or less an acceptable vice, and looking like you are doing exactly that is more acceptable, but it's time to shatter the mold.
The KGO system comes with 2 1100mah (milli-amp hour) batteries. These will last the average vaper as much as 11 hours (although probably less in reality). The rule of thumb is that 1 mah = 1 hour. Most EGO style e-cigarettes come with 650mah batteries. This is not enough. Even through the course of a single day you will need to recharge batteries in order to get through. Assuming that the average person sleeps 8 hours a day that leaves 16 waking hours to contend with our stupid addiction to tobacco. The 1100mah batteries can do that! 2 x 650 are not likely to be able to do that. Go big or go home, so they say.
I am a YouTube master. I moonlight as an electronic music composer there (http://www..youtube.com/user/ShogaNinja) (vape to my music!) and it's my go-to place for information in this, The Information Age. Never before has it been easier to learn firsthand that which we need to know. I watched all the popular reviewers night and day for months. I had decided on the T-Rex EGO which, although it LOOKED cool, was inferior to the KGO. After receiving expert reviews, from very experienced veterans (such as GrimmGreen and QCAssociates among others), I decided to look into the KGO. I immediately found out that they stand out for one single reason. Their batteries are stronger than most EGO-style batteries. Under load from a single coil cartomizer they are able to maintain 4 volts. Under a dual cartomizer they are able to sustain a 3.8v output. Everything you will learn suggests that EGOs are 3.7 volt maximum Personal Vaporizers (PVs). This makes the KGO a 3.8-4 volt PV. I realized, finally, that this is a good place to start. Here's proof of the output of a KGO battery vs. an 18650 (which is a battery often used in much more expensive mods. Hint: The KGO wins!) : hoosierecigsupply.com 1100mAh eGo battery whips AW 18650 IMR - YouTube
So where do you get an SLB KGO without getting hosed? Well, GrimmGreen suggested Hoosier E Cig Supply and although Brent (the owner) is a decent guy he is often found without stock. His KGO starter kits come branded (in bright red letters) the name of the company Hoosierecigsupply. I find this feature superfluous and bothersome. I see enough advertisements in the span of a day and it's not like Hoosier created the KGO. Why do I need to see this crap every time I vape? So when I decided to take the plunge to quit smoking and start vaping (being satisfied that months of research were enough and that my choice was finally made) I was saddened to find that hoosierecigsupply only had PINK KGOs in stock. I quickly called Brent (whose number is on his site) and asked him when they would have more in stock. He seemed rather undecided and responded that it would be a few days. I calculated that into my shipping time, thought about smoking for a few more days and what that would cost me, and I said literally "Screw THAT!". I did a Google search. If anyone can help me it's Google right? There's a sea out there and all I have to do is fish! I quickly found another vendor: Dark City Vapor
At first, knowing what was at stake, I approached with caution. Here was a small, relatively unknown supplier in the e-cigarette world who was not a member of the BBB (Better Business Bureau). Would he take my money and laugh? Well a little bit of Google searching later revealed that he was an avid member of ECF and had started his business through his interactions here. Could he possibly screw me over considering that most of his customers came from here? I decided NO. That would be a death sentence to his business.
DarkCityVapor.com's KGO kits come with 5 Standard Resistance XL cartomizers. That means, although not the best vapor producers in the known universe, they are big enough to hold a decent amount of e-juice. Most KGOs come with a standard atomizer and 5 cartridges (which are nigh useless) prefilled with crap e-juice of various strengths. Here the deal was the same price but I got something I was going to have to buy anyway, cartos. Sure, there is the fact that DCV doesn't offer atomizers and that they are worth around 9 bucks for a pair of them. That's a problem! Or is it? On the order screen for the KGO you can add a second set of 5 cartomizers for 4 bucks. Not so bad now, I see. I need cartos! You get your choice of Boge or Smoktech cartos. Through my research I had learned that these are very popular, and often endorsed, cartomizers. I quickly chose the lowest resistance BOGE cartomizers because I had read that they required the least amount of mothering and were the most durable of the two brands. I had heard stories of people re-using BOGEs for 6 months. Now for 48 bucks I was getting something that I would have had to have paid 54 or more for elsewhere. This is starting to be the makings of a deal!
One of the other things that I realized I would have to do on my journey if I intended to vape on a budget is to make my own e-juice. Without an atomizer to drip test my mixes I would be forced to expend a cartomizer to what could be an awful awful flavor. I decided that this was a recipe for disaster. I ended up ordering a 306 Low Resistance Cartomizer with a drip tip in order to test my DIY (Do-It-Yourself) juice before I committed cartos to them. I had heard from GrimmGreen that this was his favorite atomizer that he used most often on his main PV the Silver Bullet.
(to be continued!)
But where do you start? It's all so confusing. I have always been from the school of thought that believes that a smart monkey doesn't let go of one branch until his hand is firmly planted on the next. I am here to give you that branch.
A little bit of research will reveal that most people think that the EGO style e-cigarette is a good place to start. Perhaps modding is in your future but let's face it you are not likely to go out, concept unproven, and build yourself a professional vaping mod like a Scubagen (Genesis tank Atomizer).
So where to begin? There are 10,001 EGO clones. The European company, Janty, created the original EGO and that cannot be easily ignored. Some say that they hit a little better than the clones. I am here to prove that although they are the original innovator that they are not the big kid on the block any more. Through months of research, while I remained a dedicated smoker sitting on the sidelines, I noticed something. The Janty EGO, although the creator, was expensive and stagnating. I for one didn't want to pay through the teeth for something less than perfect for starting my journey into vaping. I knew all to well what the alternative was; life in hell smoking til I died or got some life-threatening disease that was worse than death. I saw my Grandfather die of COPD and Emphysema and it was a fate worse than death indeed. He smoked Camel Non-Filters. 3 packs a day, in fact, until his 40s when he was diagnosed. He spend the next 20 years hunched over a stool with calloused elbows and slept on the floor. When he rarely left the house for family events he spent his time bent over like a defensive linesman wheezing. When he was 66 he went to the hospital and never came out. I got the call one day that he had died due to fluid buildup in his lungs and it devastated me. Here was a guy who fought in the Korean Conflict for our country, a Marine through and through, laid low by a stupid addiction. I promised my family I'd never be like him. I was wrong. I started smoking at 19. It was stupid. At first it was harmless... a few here a few there. Next thing I realized is that I got extra breaks from working if I took a smoke break. This is where the trouble began. All through college I sought jobs that allowed me to smoke while I worked. It was a recipe for disaster. Next thing you know, here I was, addicted like a complete dumba$$.
For years I told myself I would quit. I tried. I failed. I tried to cut back, switched to lights, tried crappy roll your own tobacco in an effort to hate it until I quit, and I failed.
I always told myself that in my 30's I would quit before I was too old and the damage was irreversible. Well, NOW IS MY TIME!
So, long story short, where do you begin in this vast sea of knowledge yet to be discovered? How can one easily begin their new journey without expending vast amounts of time or monetary resources to find out what they want to know. The answer is: interaction.
A great place to start is the KGO Starter Kit. Why? A simple review of this unit will reveal that it is superior among the proven EGO style e-cigarette clones. An ordinary cigarette-style e-cig will not likely get you to where you want to go. Unfortunate as that is it's time to grow up and get over it. Don't judge a book by its cover. Sure smoking cigarettes is more or less an acceptable vice, and looking like you are doing exactly that is more acceptable, but it's time to shatter the mold.
The KGO system comes with 2 1100mah (milli-amp hour) batteries. These will last the average vaper as much as 11 hours (although probably less in reality). The rule of thumb is that 1 mah = 1 hour. Most EGO style e-cigarettes come with 650mah batteries. This is not enough. Even through the course of a single day you will need to recharge batteries in order to get through. Assuming that the average person sleeps 8 hours a day that leaves 16 waking hours to contend with our stupid addiction to tobacco. The 1100mah batteries can do that! 2 x 650 are not likely to be able to do that. Go big or go home, so they say.
I am a YouTube master. I moonlight as an electronic music composer there (http://www..youtube.com/user/ShogaNinja) (vape to my music!) and it's my go-to place for information in this, The Information Age. Never before has it been easier to learn firsthand that which we need to know. I watched all the popular reviewers night and day for months. I had decided on the T-Rex EGO which, although it LOOKED cool, was inferior to the KGO. After receiving expert reviews, from very experienced veterans (such as GrimmGreen and QCAssociates among others), I decided to look into the KGO. I immediately found out that they stand out for one single reason. Their batteries are stronger than most EGO-style batteries. Under load from a single coil cartomizer they are able to maintain 4 volts. Under a dual cartomizer they are able to sustain a 3.8v output. Everything you will learn suggests that EGOs are 3.7 volt maximum Personal Vaporizers (PVs). This makes the KGO a 3.8-4 volt PV. I realized, finally, that this is a good place to start. Here's proof of the output of a KGO battery vs. an 18650 (which is a battery often used in much more expensive mods. Hint: The KGO wins!) : hoosierecigsupply.com 1100mAh eGo battery whips AW 18650 IMR - YouTube
So where do you get an SLB KGO without getting hosed? Well, GrimmGreen suggested Hoosier E Cig Supply and although Brent (the owner) is a decent guy he is often found without stock. His KGO starter kits come branded (in bright red letters) the name of the company Hoosierecigsupply. I find this feature superfluous and bothersome. I see enough advertisements in the span of a day and it's not like Hoosier created the KGO. Why do I need to see this crap every time I vape? So when I decided to take the plunge to quit smoking and start vaping (being satisfied that months of research were enough and that my choice was finally made) I was saddened to find that hoosierecigsupply only had PINK KGOs in stock. I quickly called Brent (whose number is on his site) and asked him when they would have more in stock. He seemed rather undecided and responded that it would be a few days. I calculated that into my shipping time, thought about smoking for a few more days and what that would cost me, and I said literally "Screw THAT!". I did a Google search. If anyone can help me it's Google right? There's a sea out there and all I have to do is fish! I quickly found another vendor: Dark City Vapor
At first, knowing what was at stake, I approached with caution. Here was a small, relatively unknown supplier in the e-cigarette world who was not a member of the BBB (Better Business Bureau). Would he take my money and laugh? Well a little bit of Google searching later revealed that he was an avid member of ECF and had started his business through his interactions here. Could he possibly screw me over considering that most of his customers came from here? I decided NO. That would be a death sentence to his business.
DarkCityVapor.com's KGO kits come with 5 Standard Resistance XL cartomizers. That means, although not the best vapor producers in the known universe, they are big enough to hold a decent amount of e-juice. Most KGOs come with a standard atomizer and 5 cartridges (which are nigh useless) prefilled with crap e-juice of various strengths. Here the deal was the same price but I got something I was going to have to buy anyway, cartos. Sure, there is the fact that DCV doesn't offer atomizers and that they are worth around 9 bucks for a pair of them. That's a problem! Or is it? On the order screen for the KGO you can add a second set of 5 cartomizers for 4 bucks. Not so bad now, I see. I need cartos! You get your choice of Boge or Smoktech cartos. Through my research I had learned that these are very popular, and often endorsed, cartomizers. I quickly chose the lowest resistance BOGE cartomizers because I had read that they required the least amount of mothering and were the most durable of the two brands. I had heard stories of people re-using BOGEs for 6 months. Now for 48 bucks I was getting something that I would have had to have paid 54 or more for elsewhere. This is starting to be the makings of a deal!
One of the other things that I realized I would have to do on my journey if I intended to vape on a budget is to make my own e-juice. Without an atomizer to drip test my mixes I would be forced to expend a cartomizer to what could be an awful awful flavor. I decided that this was a recipe for disaster. I ended up ordering a 306 Low Resistance Cartomizer with a drip tip in order to test my DIY (Do-It-Yourself) juice before I committed cartos to them. I had heard from GrimmGreen that this was his favorite atomizer that he used most often on his main PV the Silver Bullet.
(to be continued!)
