I think a lot of vapers go through an initial stage where we shell out $60 or $70 for a starter kit (or whatever), and soon find that we want more control, more power, longer battery life, bigger capacity, etc.....more, more, more. As we explore our options, because WE ARE REALLY STARTING TO LIKE VAPING NOW, we discover that there's a whole world out there, primarily in cyberspace. We look at the cost of the VAMO, or many other equivalents (ok bunches of them are slightly more), and then we have instant buyer's remorse, realizing that for the same money, or even less than we shelled out on the starter kit, we could have a fancy variable power mod like the VAMO, Kanger compatible too!!! Some would call this a paradigm shift (breakthroughs at lower levels after higher levels are attained.)
For a while, at least in my case, we feel like if I only knew then, what I know now, I would have made a different selection. Of course, that's always true of any JOURNEY. Hindsight is always 20/20. Look, it takes what it takes to get someone into the world of e-cigs. My wife would never consider a VAMO or similar device....it's just too much. That's a reality, not an opportunity to educate her, I assure you. After 4 months, she has a CVI V1 and loves it (better than a VAMO for her because it comes in colors). Vaping is not a one-size fits all kinda thing. I got into vaping through a kiosk operation at the mall. I assure you they didn't sell VAMO's, or even eGo's the first time around. That was in 2009. It didn't work for me as everything was underpowered, dripping consumed all my time, etc. Returning to vaping in 2011, same thing...I needed more power, stronger juices, etc. Finally, February 2013: The kiosks sell eGo's and 24 mg/ml cherry juice. Bingo. Finally, enough power and nic strength to power through my cravings. 650 mAh all the way and cone tanks and cartridges.
I was so excited to learn that the twist batteries would allow me not only substantially longer battery life, but I could vary the voltage as well, effectively allowing me to find the sweet spot in my juice. Fantastic! Now the interest level and curiosity level was way up and we discovered the internet and e-cig vendors. My goodness, the ability to change from an eGo cone setup to a CE4 clearomizer was the bee's knees. Now I had greater capacity and ease of use, cleaning, maintenance, replaceable heads, etc. Wow! But I need more power, more capacity, etc. What is variable power? Well, that was really cool, I have several now. But some don't fit my love of evods....what next?
Eventually, for me, I've come full circle. After dropping and killing two eVic's on hard surfaces (ripping the press fit tops off and breaking the leads), my Friday night "Out and about with the wife" PV is my Twist/evod setup. Love it...perfect size (some say form factor), capacity, etc. When my eVic died a horrible death on my granite counter top, having those excellent eGo twists as backups were lifesavers. It's not like I can run to the corner store and get a replacement eVic now. I've given away eGo's to relatives and friends to start them on their Journey, and am so very happy I was in a position to do so. In each case, they were unsure if they wanted to quit, didn't want to fool with something complicated, didn't need or want an education, etc....but those e-cig's WERE pretty cool, though, weren't they? And so they tried.
The point(s) of this story are: 1) It takes what it takes, 2) One size does not fit all, 3) Different strokes for different folks, 4) It's the Journey that keeps it fun, fresh, and adds just enough coolness, etc. to distract us from the horrible habit we just gave up, 5) Be patient, the eGo's do have their place (backups and "about town" vapes, loaners and gifts - even primaries), and I did come back around to them and realize that, 6) I'm vaping an AGR locking carto tank as I write this. Earlier it was an evod. First, on a Sigelei V3, then on a Provari mini. One setup doesn't even work for me, let alone everyone else, 7) I'm not made of money, but I did smoke a lot and if I save only half what I used to spend, I can get weekly packages of "new stuff" which I find to be like Christmas (and I just love it!), 8) My wife also quit and I enjoy the Journey with her on a daily basis, as we both learn together how to quit, stay quit, enjoy a fabulous new hobby (not just a nicotine replacement device) and drool over our next wish list items, 9) What worked for me, i.e., my first mod, did not work for her, at least not at first, and finally, 10) the best device is the one that keeps you away from and off of the analogs and satisfies your cravings, habit, etc. For everyone, this is different. Since finding ECF, and then only months later wanting to be a part of the community, did the idea of not being alone, keeping an open mind, and discovering that there are thousands of people like me, on their own unique Journeys, getting them here to vaping and ECF, and elsewhere, become apparent. I'm only at the beginning, but me really likee, likee....and I thank everyone here at ECF for being so kind and considerate, helpful and instructive, correcting me when I'm wrong, supporting me and guiding me on this amazing Journey that I never knew existed. I don't have buyer's remorse. I have a profound appreciation for this amazing new world, including the course corrections, zig-zags, and roundabouts. I don't mean to be dramatic, but I was a hard core smoker, and no one is more surprised than me that I made it. Thanks guys.
.
..........Worth owning a few for shear convenience. While running errands, I'd rather risk loosing an EGO than a nice Mod.
... for that reason I sport 650mAh eGo's around town and work..... now at home the iTaste MVP all the way..
