Advice for a Newbie Needed

[KABird]

I have been reading this forum, many hours over the past three days. The info is great and reads as honest with an intent to assist. That being said, I guess it is my turn to ask for your advice. I will start by telling you all I am nearly fifty and a two plus pack smoker of non-filter cigs for nearly 35 years. There have been multiple attemps to quit, but as of yet no long term success. The E-Cig route, from all my reading appears to be a helpful solution with a long term plan.

The unit I am considering is the V2 Traveler Kit at $130.00.

The reviews I have read here are consistant as to the quality of the product, or so I belive. I am guessing I will go with the full flavored cart at 18mg.

Here is where you all can help - If you know a better option as a package that is comperable that would be great. I also intend on filling carts, so any info on juice and blanks that will work with this system would be appreciated.

My goal is to order by weeks end, and start 2012 as a non-smoker. Your guidance is is welcome and I will report on my decissions and review and products promptly and honesty as all have done.

Thanks In Advance

Keith

 

[MikeJA]

Welcome, Keith!

I'm not going to give advice on that particular kit. Honestly, I think you've already taken the most important step to try vaping. I started by trying disposables with no real intention to quit a 15 year pack a day habit. I now have a little over a month analog-free.

This is a great community. The choices can seem overwhelming at first. There will be some wonderful advice in this thread for starter kits. Just stick with it even if you buy a dud here or there. You'll be amazed at how painless transitioning to vaping is.

 

[Off Topic]

You can get a lot more bang for your buck.

You are smoking 2 packs of non filtered..... you are going to need some serious hit.

Crystal Clear Vaping

This has 1050mah batteries. The biggest V2 has a third of this.
This has a 510 connection, it is the most common connection in the industry, giving you many atomizer/cartomizer options.

The resurrector cartos that come with it give a good solid hit.

The hard part, and everyone goes through this, is finding that "right" flavor juice that works for you.

With your smoking habbit, I'd start at 36mg nicotine juice. We will help you get the cartomizers loaded. It's not as complicated as it looks.

 

[Running Wolf]

Something that has me worried about this kit is that it doesn't have the mah of the batteries listed. Perhaps someone more in the know with this will be able to provide the information.

Someone please chime in if I am wrong.

The mah (miliamp hours) is basically how long the battery will last between recharges. General rule of thumb is that you get about an hour out of 100mah. 650mah you get about 6 hours, 900mah you get about 9 hours..... That is a rule of thumb but not set in stone (depends on your vaping style and if you are using single or dual coil carto).

From a quickie google search it looks like they are about 250mah and have a recharge time of about 2-3 hours. For a 2 pack a day smoker I don't think this would suit you.

I am also not seeing a thread setting for this unit. It might not be important now but it will if you decide to upgrade or get another unit in the future.

Price wise & compatibility wise I'd suggest a eGo. I went from a gas station e-cig to an eGo-t and haven't looked back. You can pick one up at several vendors in the $50-$60 range. It has a 510 connection so there are a ton of accessories out there for it. The 900mah or 1100mah will last you well longer than it takes to charge the battery. I can sit at the computer and puff away all day and don't have to put it on the charger till well after 8pm or 9pm.

 

[hairball]

I don't know anything about that kit but I will recommend another one to you to take a look at.

E-Liquid and Electronic Cigarette Shop - Category Listings carries the eGo and riva kits. Very nice with long lasting (between charges) batteries. A lot cheaper than what you're looking at. Along with either kit, a couple boxes of Boge 2.0ohm cartomizers, a drip tip, and a couple extra atomizers for testing flavors. As for juice, if I were you, get a couple different bottles of 24mg and 18mg since you smoked unfiltered. I was a 4 PAD smoker and needed 36mg but quickly dropped to 24mg then 2 months later, down to 18mg where I've been for almost a year. Dropping again when my 18mg is all gone.

 

[stephpd]

That's a huge price to pay for small batteries. There are certainly better deals out there, and with larger batteries. And unless you just have to have batteries that are close to the same size as cigarettes you can get some really great deals.

Realize that most small cigarette sized batteries are only 150-250mAh. For the Ego/Kgo/ Riva they can get as big as 1100mAh. That means more time using them and less time recharging.

Here's a KGo with much better equipment. 2 1100mAh batteries, 5 top shelf Cartomizers, charger etc. And far less then half the price.
SLB KGO Starter Kit

The only thing not included would be a car charger and E-liquid. But there are all sorts of them (juice) out there and fairly cheap. Just look at a few threads on this forum and see a few reviews. But juice is a personal thing and seems to be a never ending quest.

I'm not all that different then you. Started smoking regularly at 18yrs (53 now) and been smoking close to 2 packs a day up until getting something similar to the link I provided. I'll soon be smoke free, just can't seem to finish the last carton and don't want to throw them away. So I still smoke 1-3 cigs a day.

Not that I couldn't quit completely. I've got quite a stash of juice and spare parts for my e-cig. I've worked out many of the kinks associated with these devices and content with the choice I made in getting something in the 510 thread factor. Lots of different devices (carto, tanks, atty's) for it that aren't there for other types of e-cigs.

Oh, as to nicotine strength. I started with 24mg but upped it to 36mg for when I got huge cravings. Can't use that strength all day but it's good for when I'm 'Jonesing' for an analog. Hopefully I'll be able to start cutting back as the craving for a 'real' cigarette are almost gone.

 

[Off Topic]

The V2 isn't a bad system... for someone who smokes a pack of Marlboro lights/day.

In the case of the OP: It's bringing a knife to a gunfight. The biggest V2 batt is 380mah.

http://www.v2cigs.com/products/V2-Long-Cig-(140mm).html

 

[dearme]

Welcome to ECF. I grew up in North Augusta...........

Throw a Drip Tip in your shopping cart also and you should be set.

 

[Tersur]

Hairball usually says what im going to say. Take a good look through her recomendation.

I don't know anything about that kit but I will recommend another one to you to take a look at.

E-Liquid and Electronic Cigarette Shop - Category Listings carries the eGo and riva kits. Very nice with long lasting (between charges) batteries. A lot cheaper than what you're looking at. Along with either kit, a couple boxes of Boge 2.0ohm cartomizers, a drip tip, and a couple extra atomizers for testing flavors. As for juice, if I were you, get a couple different bottles of 24mg and 18mg since you smoked unfiltered. I was a 4 PAD smoker and needed 36mg but quickly dropped to 24mg then 2 months later, down to 18mg where I've been for almost a year. Dropping again when my 18mg is all gone.

 

[Psyche]

Here's my

I started with V2 back in July with that exact kit. It's what I was using when I quit analogs. It is a good kit. The flavors are decent. I did have problems with their batteries acting wonky and had to have my auto one replaced within 6 weeks. If you're set on a KR808 style kit check out Smokeless Image | Only The Best Electronic Cigarette | Volt - Premium Starter Kit. These are the auto batteries I use now. V2's autos would fire off in the wind or in my purse, SI's only respond to me taking a drag. SI has more flavor options as well as more color options for the batteries, including various colors of LED. I like the regulated batteries SI sells because they give a consistent performance throughout the charge, V2 start out high at 4.2v and then drop off. The passthough (notebook cig) at V2 is 5v, the SI passthrough is a regulated 3.6v, the 5v burns through cartos faster and can give a burnt taste on occasion expecially if you're chain vaping. SI is always (to my knowledge) offering free shipping over $55, V2's shipping cost is high compared to all the other vendors I've used. Lastly you said you planned on buying juice and refilling cartos. SI offers sealed auto batteries that are leak resistant, if juice leaks into a V2 auto it will kill it.

If I had it to do all over again I'd have started with Smokeless Image instead of V2. Like I said, just my.
Happy vaping whatever kit you choose

 

[KABird]

First I would like to thank all those whom have shared their advice and info., I have Been reading them all.

That being said, you have all changed my decission from the V-2 product to (?) The SMK EGO 900mAh - Carto Deluxe (Dual Coil) kit offered by Liberty-Flights. If some will do please- check this system out and tell me what else I will need to purchase. Cartos-Atomizers- It's still all Greek to me at this point.

Thanks

 

[swedishfish]

Someone that is a long term smoker, that's not a good kit.

I'd get the $35 Riva carto kit to start. $10 more, I'd try an epower, maybe a KGO. Actually, for $10 more I like the echo-e because it's 4.2 volts with a 1300 mah battery.

The Riva with cartomizers is your best entry into vaping. Especially someone who has smoked for as long and as much as you have. I was the same.

You can go the $200 route- with the mini and then you'll end up buying and ego type pv to get off cigs or spend $35 and just get the Riva.

 

[stephpd]

Notice that many of the recommendations are trying to steer you towards an Ego/Kgo/Riva. Those $100+ 'deals' aren't what many of us use regularly, though many did get started with something similar.

Just trying to save you a few bucks and let you know these recommended models have worked far better for most folks. (and are cheaper). They also allow you to try different carto's, atty's and tanks that the cigarette models seem to lack. Different attachments give different results, like more TH, smoke or better flavor. That's something the mall kiosk type e-cigs can't or won't provide.

And battery life (or the number of puffs per charge) is really important to those that were heavy smokers. Having one always on charge and having the one being used running out of power is no fun.

 

[stephpd]

First I would like to thank all those whom have shared their advice and info., I have Been reading them all.

That being said, you have all changed my decission from the V-2 product to (?) The SMK EGO 900mAh - Carto Deluxe (Dual Coil) kit offered by Liberty-Flights. If some will do please- check this system out and tell me what else I will need to purchase. Cartos-Atomizers- It's still all Greek to me at this point.

Thanks

Atty's (atomizers) are used with cartidges or a drip tip. The cartridges really don't hold much liquid and need far more frequent refilling. Cartos are atty's (kinda) with the cartridge combined. Many kits come with cartridges and not cartos. I tend to not even use the cartirdges anymore, and I've only been at this a few weeks.

In any case get a couple drip tips, even for the cartos since it feels better.

The Riva I started with had the atty's and cartridges but I fell in love with the cartos from CCV;
Crystal Clear Vaping

The link I provided earlier gives you the largest batteries and your choice of these type cartos in the kit. Of all the kits I've seen this is the one that comes closest to what I'm vaping on as I type.

 

[burton4550]

I would recommend a little bit higher dose of nicotine if you are a 2 pack a day smoker right now. I smoked 1 pack a day and tried the 18 MG and that wasn't enough for me, it was when I hit the 24 mg is when it became enough to stop the regular cigarettes all together. I've only tried 2 of the different smokeless cigarettes and only one out of the 2 worked. I like to get that burn in the back of my throat like a real cigarette and the 24 mg was the only one to do that. Good luck though.

 

[swedishfish]

First I would like to thank all those whom have shared their advice and info., I have Been reading them all.

That being said, you have all changed my decission from the V-2 product to (?) The SMK EGO 900mAh - Carto Deluxe (Dual Coil) kit offered by Liberty-Flights. If some will do please- check this system out and tell me what else I will need to purchase. Cartos-Atomizers- It's still all Greek to me at this point.

Thanks

What kind of cigarettes did you smoke?

 

[swedishfish]

I'd get a bottle of Tampa or Texas in high and low nicotine. You can always mix them together until you find the right nic content for you.

https://vaporstation.com/index.php/e-liquids/vs-brand/e-liquid-tampa.html

 

[swedishfish]

In addition to the kit mentioned, you'll need at least one more box of cartomizers, a couple drip tips and at least 30 ml of juice. Get the juice from juice suppliers, not where you get the kit.

That will start you off nicely. In a few weeks, I'd pick up an additional battery and another charger.

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Hi KABird and welcome to ECF. The V2 is way overpriced and lacks in many/ most areas. It's nice to see someone who is willing to spend the $$ in achieving their goal. My first PV was a Mod and I know I made the right decision....no more upgrading and superior performance. Although the suggestion here are good I would suggest you research further and consider a Mod. I have over 20 friends that bought basic starter kits (Rivas and sGos) and after anywhere from 2 weeks to 5 weeks most of them are looking to upgrade. There is nothing like vaping at 3.7 V on a Dual Coil. Myself I'm 60 and smoked for 40+ yrs Rez RYO cigs. As for Nic strength I started on 36 mg and am now down to 20 mg. In the evening I vape 10 as the higher prevented me from getting a good sleep. As swedishfish states better to get 2 different strengths because there's nothing worse than not having enough Nic or having too much.
Good luck with your choice, Vapoor.

I have been reading this forum, many hours over the past three days. The info is great and reads as honest with an intent to assist. That being said, I guess it is my turn to ask for your advice. I will start by telling you all I am nearly fifty and a two plus pack smoker of non-filter cigs for nearly 35 years. There have been multiple attemps to quit, but as of yet no long term success. The E-Cig route, from all my reading appears to be a helpful solution with a long term plan.

The unit I am considering is the V2 Traveler Kit at $130.00.

The reviews I have read here are consistant as to the quality of the product, or so I belive. I am guessing I will go with the full flavored cart at 18mg.

Here is where you all can help - If you know a better option as a package that is comperable that would be great. I also intend on filling carts, so any info on juice and blanks that will work with this system would be appreciated.

My goal is to order by weeks end, and start 2012 as a non-smoker. Your guidance is is welcome and I will report on my decissions and review and products promptly and honesty as all have done.

Thanks In Advance

Keith

 

[Freddytk421]

If you can afford to wait for the shipping you can get echo-e batteries for 9.95 each 1300mah 4.2 volt a charger or two and a whole bunch of the echo-e and boge 2.0 cartomizers at healthcabin.com and that place is a great deal . you would be set. you may need stronger than 18mg. Like someone mentioned above the kgo kit from darkcityvapors is great I just bought a couple of sets with the 2.0 boge cartomizers and it works great. lots of vapor and it arrived swiftly.