Another newbie

[jseah]

Hi all. Been a pack a day smoker for just over 30 years, even though I had promised my wife that I would quit when our daughter was born (she turned 20 last year). Tried Chantix and it just didn't work for me, never lost my desire to smoke. Tried the blu cartomizers a little over two years ago and didn't like them at all, the draw was just way too high, it felt like trying to drink a thick milkshake with a straw. I always kept going back to cigarettes. About a month and a half ago, I decided to give it another try and found the blu PLUS+ system at the store. Tried it and I finally found a solution that worked for me. The vapor production and the throat hit was exactly was I needed and I was able to quit cigarettes for good (I haven't had one since I started vaping again and it was easy to fight the urge to pick up another cigarette).

The one downside was that, no longer having to go outside to smoke, I found myself vaping more often than when I was smoking. And I don't know if the capacities are overly optimistic like cell phone battery life, but my usage has been creeping up to now I am going through 2 blu PLUS+ tanks a day, which means I am now spending more than when I was smoking cigarettes.

So after researching online over the weekend, I ended up placing an order for the Halo Triton and Halo g6 (with mini tanks) systems. I plan on using the Triton when I am home and then when I am going out and want something more compact, then I can carry the g6.

 

[Wolfenstark]

Hello and Welcome jseah - The journey continues.

 

[comosc]

Welcome jseah...it also took me awhile to find the right combination for me to quit smoking but I am so happy where I'm at right now.

 

[redfire281]

Welcome. You're experiencing what seems common to those of us who are serious about transitioning to a more healthful lifestyle. Just remember you were a pack a day analog smoker so don't raise your expectations by going too low on the nic content. It may leave you unsatisfied and willing to rationalize having a "real" cig. Don't ask me how I know.

 

[GaG8tor]

Welcome. I started with the blus also and went through the same thing. I was looking at the Halo system myself and ended up getting a couple of vision spinners and some T2 clearos. I've tried various clearomizers and I believe the Aspire line to be the best. I've recently upgraded to an Mvp and a Horizon Spartan tank. I still use my spinners and aspire clearomizers as well. Nothing at all wrong with what you're doing. Welcome to the forum and good luck.

 

[Foggyroomz]

Halo is decent stuff but once the vapebug bites you you'll be looking for something more. I started with an SVD and a protank2 with 24 mg of nicotine now I have a Sigelei 150 watt box with a Kanger Sub-tank mini and all of my juice is 2 to 4 mg of nicotine. I'm not going to begin to try and count the number of devices I have bought, sold, and traded like a gypsy merchant Lol! I currently have a number of devices both regulated and mechanical and 15 different atomizers. I have traded an addictive habit for an addictive hobby and it becomes a fun and adventurous time. Welcome to the ECF family and enjoy you're journey.



PS. I too am a former 30+ year 2.5 pack dayer so stick with it and I found avoiding juices that tastes like tobacco helps the taste of a cigarette become more repulsive and lessen your chances of reverting back to cigarettes or dual user status.

 

[Larry J]

Welcome to the forum, jseah, and congratulations on getting off the cigs. I started with the Triton system and did well. I switched to a Vision Spinner and a glass tank when I realized my Cinnamon Red Hot juice was eating my tanks. I now have a big collection of ego-style batteries, lots of tanks and have added n MVP2 mod. You'll find all kinds of great information and plenty of helpful people to answer any questions you might have. Happy vaping!

 

[GrandMoff]

Oh man, I think I went through 10 different device/tank setups before I found something I would eventually stick with. I'm young and I only smoked for 6 years but quitting is quitting regardless of age. To me, it all came down to living a healthier lifestyle and the willpower to keep with it. More power to you, jseah.

 

[fishj]

Welcome to the forum and good luck on your conversion to a healthier lifestyle.

 

[djsvapour]

Welcome

Anybody who ditches Blu (tobacco company) for Halo (not tobacco) gets my vote.

Also, if those tanks were not refillable, you have made a wise, wise choice. On another thread earlier today, I was trying to make the case for refillable from a price point of view. I argued that even people too dim-witted or brainwashed by marketting tactics are soon going to work out the savings are colossal.

 

[HDMontana]

Welcome to the forum.

HD

 

[jseah]

Welcome

Anybody who ditches Blu (tobacco company) for Halo (not tobacco) gets my vote.

Also, if those tanks were not refillable, you have made a wise, wise choice. On another thread earlier today, I was trying to make the case for refillable from a price point of view. I argued that even people too dim-witted or brainwashed by marketting tactics are soon going to work out the savings are colossal.

The blu tanks aren't refillable. The reason why I chose blu in the first place is because it seems to be the most widely available. You can get it at the gas station, you can get it at the drug store. This comes in handy when you run out, granted with the size of the tanks, you will run out quickly. They charge $15 for a package of 3 tanks and the tanks are not that much bigger than their cartridges. The battery supposedly last 200 puffs and they don't say how many puffs one tank is equivalent to. But I am going through two tanks a day and four batteries. Looking at the picture of the tank, I would guess that it holds less than the g6 mini tank since the overall size seems smaller. One thing I do have to compliment blu on is the charger carrying case the starter kit comes with. It recharges one battery while it holds the other with the tank attached and then it holds another 3 spare tanks, all in a package that is smaller than a pack of cards. Very convenient to carry around with you.

I did have one tank leak on me, and one complaint I have about the tanks are that as the tank gets low, the juice comes out of the top when you draw it.

 

[jseah]

It looks like I'm going to have to pick up one more three pack of blu tanks. My shipment tracking shows that my Halo's won't be here until Thursday, and I think the tanks I have left will only last until Wednesday morning.

 

[SingedVapor]

Welcome Js! Congrats on quitting, Yes you will find most vapers vape more than they ever smoked. The nicotine in cigarettes is made in such a way that as soon as you take a drag, it hits your blood immediately giving you that rush. With ejuice however, the nicotine takes significantly longer, so you must vape longer at a time to get the full effects that you require. Also different coils, tanks, systems, and wattages increase the effeciency at which the nicotine is delivered And as for your daughter, I can say (Since I'm twenty one) that when looking at my dad, I wouldn't care if he quit when I was a kid. Or after i had become an adult. As long as he quit that's all that would matter to me, so I'm sure your daughter is more than happy to see you finally able to quit. Don't beat yourself up for failing. If it was easy we wouldn't be in such the problem that we are now. Just stay strong and find some people to support you and you can do it That's why we are here. ECF isn't just a place to get your questions answered, it's a community full of people all trying to look out for one another.

 

[nvadasz]

Welcome to ECF. I too spent more on vaping supplies in the beginning (nearly 3 months ago) searching for MY perfect set-up. I too vape more than I smoked, but I'm at 6mg of nicotine. Finding the right set-up and the right juice is crazy, but worth the effort (and cost)!! I was at 2 1/2 packs day and quit 1 week after getting my ego with a clearo, with juice I could only stand. I've since passed on my ego equipment to friends and family and use iStick 20 with a Nautilus mini. Doesn't look like or feel like a cig, but it works for me.

Juice (new paragraph): subjective, but I can tell you I've got likely a gallon of the stuff from here and there. Finally found my perfect juice. Don't give up, you'll get there.

 

[jseah]

I'm a bit confused by the nicotine strength though. I never considered myself a heavy smoker with just a pack a day. However, the original blu cartridges says that the high is at 13-16 mg of nicotine and I think that may be why I had a problem quitting by using those. The blu tanks worked much better for me and the high is at 2.4% nicotine. How does that translate to the amount of nicotine? When I placed my order with Halo, I did order several bottles of their extra high juice at 24 mg. Should I have ordered the high instead at 18 mg?

After reading a lot on this forum, it seems like the popular one is the Joyetech eGo. It's hard to tell, but do they make one that is thinner so it doesn't look like you're vaping with a sex toy? What does everyone think about the VaporFi?

 

[jseah]

So with my Halo's enroute and scheduled to arrive Thursday, and knowing that I would run out of the blu tanks by tomorrow morning, I stopped by my local vape store today. Picked up a VV battery (I think it is a 650 mAH) and a Kanger Geni mini tank. Is this what everyone means when they say that vaping can become an expensive hobby?

Took a bit getting used to as I was not getting the vapor production I expected until I figured out that I need to do a slow, easy draw rather than a quick, hard one like I do with analogs or the blu's. I also picked up a small 15 ml bottle of their menthol and I'm not very crazy about the taste. Their menthol tastes more like Vick's Vapo Rub than the menthol tobacco that I have gotten used to. I do have a menthol sampler pack coming from Halo. Hopefully, they don't all taste like the one that I got.

 

[Nanny22]

jseah -- welcome! I started out the same as you after 40+ years of smoking. I have several Halo Triton batteries that are still working 14 months later, and I still use them on occasion. Most juices will work fine in the Triton tanks -- the G6 tanks run pretty hot and will often burn a juice pretty quickly. I've moved on to the istick and Nautilus mini tanks for my delivery system now, but whatever works for YOU is the BEST system there is. The hardest part for me was finding juices I liked the flavor of enough to vape all day. I settled in on a few from Nicoticket and The Plume Room - Halo juices had a good taste but they are quite high in PG and gave me throat and mouth issues. It is hard in the beginning to not go a little crazy ordering juice and equipment, but hold off and adjust if you can. Your tastes will change and evolve with time as your senses recover from all those years of cigarettes.
Halo has its own subforum here with MANY helpful people who can walk you through your first few weeks with the equipment and juice questions. They are skilled at helping new people learn the ropes and I would have struggled greatly without them. Here is a link to that forum: Halo
Go on over and introduce yourself and they will give you tips to get the most from your Tritons and G6s. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! Don't give up, one day at a time and the next thing you know, months will go by and you will have your favorites down and be on cruise control. Good luck!