Are hobby vapers more successful at quitting?
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Good question. I think it depends on how serious the person is about quitting smoking. Until they have a strong commitment either through self or other (i.e. medically) dictated, it is a lot easier to just light 'em up. I started not because I had any desire to quit smoking, but I was about to embark on a long plane trip and was staying at smoking restrictive environments when I arrived at my destination. So I started with the 510 XL, which is reasonably user friendly, and immediately cut down by half (from 20 to 10). That alone inspired me to continue. Now I'm at about 5 per day and I think I nearly have the lock on which juice/juices could be the final smokebuster for me where I prefer to vape "this" vs. smoke "that". I think that the eGo batteries whether they be twists or not, the "fill and go" 510 excalibur clearos or kangers or stardusts and a sample selection from HHV, a Bounty Hunter and Gold from NLV, and some other samples from other highly recommended vendors is a great place to start. For me, the development of more fuss free equipment over filling and stuffing carts, the better flavor from the battery power and the juices is much more inspiring today than it ever has been. After the habit has been snuffed out then I can definitely see the hobbyist part being a lot more fun. Of course with the constant sword of damocles hovering over the industry from paid off criminals...excuse me...I meant to say politicians, pharma and tobacco CEO's, as well as the 0 cents worth opinions of ignorant big mouths, DIY is I think another angle that some of us don't necessarily want, but need to explore because of the benefits of vaping over smoking if worst same to worst. Just my 2 denariis worth
My first three months of vaping weren't as a hobby. I used minis, and they were my cig replacements. I was fine with them, except for the price I was paying for that particular brand. Then I found something better and cheaper, and started experimenting with different juices, a bigger batt, etc. Its a small hobby for me - I don't have any mods. I have gotten a couple of people into vaping. They also just want a replacement and don't want to deal with anything too complicated.
I think it's fantastic that some people seem to quit cigs by accident - they vape and then realise they like it better. For others, it is about really being committed to quitting. It was for me. I had been quit 4 days before I started vaping. I do know that I needed something easy to use and carry around. A batt and a carto. When I was going through acute cig withdrawal I was fidgety if I couldn't get my nic straight away. Attys and clearos would have frustrated me at that point.
There doesn't seem to be one path with successfully staying off cigs by vaping.
I think it's fantastic that some people seem to quit cigs by accident - they vape and then realise they like it better. For others, it is about really being committed to quitting. It was for me. I had been quit 4 days before I started vaping. I do know that I needed something easy to use and carry around. A batt and a carto. When I was going through acute cig withdrawal I was fidgety if I couldn't get my nic straight away. Attys and clearos would have frustrated me at that point.
There doesn't seem to be one path with successfully staying off cigs by vaping.
I would guess that making it a hobby would keep your mind off cigarettes and on vaping poducts.
Personally I never made it a hobby. I found one specific device I liked and one specific juice (TV waffles) and stuck with it. I have been vaping the same flavor juice for over a year now without trying anything else. I don't want to spend good money on something I might not like and end up trowing it into my junk drawer.
Personally I never made it a hobby. I found one specific device I liked and one specific juice (TV waffles) and stuck with it. I have been vaping the same flavor juice for over a year now without trying anything else. I don't want to spend good money on something I might not like and end up trowing it into my junk drawer.
I would suggest: YES. My wife doesnt "vape" as a hobby she does it for the nic. I do it for the nic, flavors, devices etc. She has problems sometimes and smokes while she drinks. I sometimes smoke one .. But have no where near the issues she has lol.
Boy- it's probably true that most hobby vapers stay quit.
It just dawned on me a couple of days ago that a little tiny jones for tobacco had stuck around for almost two years. Then, I didn't even notice when it slipped away. And I don't socialize or consider myself close to any smokers these days. Everything is different because of vaping.
The hobby might have given me a focus while my relationship with tobacco was changing.
Hate to predict the future. But I don't think I could go back to smoking. My health, the smell, the cost, the stigma, .... blech. Too many negatives.
You've brought up a really good point.
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I think those that stay close to ECF are the most successful. They always have a support group to lean on and a technical department to handle hardware issues. That, and they hear about all the issues and the workarounds that bypass lone vapers.
The first week I vaped, I went from about 40 to 50 cigs a day down to about 6 or 7. I continued to vape and smoked a couple with coffee and one after meals and another before bed. That continued for a couple of years.
One day I decided that it was silly to hold on to those last few. I promised myself a Provari if I quit them. I ordered the Provari and made myself follow through. What I found out was that after smoking only a handful a day, my addiction was so weak that I had no desire for them when I dropped them (and still don't). It was what I call a non-event. I can be around people smoking and sometimes it smells good and other times it stinks. Never does it make me want one.
I had already compared cigarettes side by side with my PV. I started carrying my eGo when I'd go for a smoke. I'd take a couple of hits from the cigarette and then vape a couple. The PV won hands down on taste and the cigarette started tasting nasty. I really think that taking a drag from a cigarette and them one from my eGo is what made me a believer. Once I did that for a while, it became apparent that my tobacco habit was purely mental, not a physical addiction. I was convinced that vaping was my destiny.
If you quit and find yourself craving tobacco, hit the PV hard for a while and sit back and feel the urge fade. You don't have to get green and giddy from it, but use it a little harder to get over the hump. It works.
The first week I vaped, I went from about 40 to 50 cigs a day down to about 6 or 7. I continued to vape and smoked a couple with coffee and one after meals and another before bed. That continued for a couple of years.
One day I decided that it was silly to hold on to those last few. I promised myself a Provari if I quit them. I ordered the Provari and made myself follow through. What I found out was that after smoking only a handful a day, my addiction was so weak that I had no desire for them when I dropped them (and still don't). It was what I call a non-event. I can be around people smoking and sometimes it smells good and other times it stinks. Never does it make me want one.
I had already compared cigarettes side by side with my PV. I started carrying my eGo when I'd go for a smoke. I'd take a couple of hits from the cigarette and then vape a couple. The PV won hands down on taste and the cigarette started tasting nasty. I really think that taking a drag from a cigarette and them one from my eGo is what made me a believer. Once I did that for a while, it became apparent that my tobacco habit was purely mental, not a physical addiction. I was convinced that vaping was my destiny.
If you quit and find yourself craving tobacco, hit the PV hard for a while and sit back and feel the urge fade. You don't have to get green and giddy from it, but use it a little harder to get over the hump. It works.
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I'm not really a vaping hobbyist, but have been going strong for 3 months with no end in sight. I think you simply have to like it for it to work for you, and I obviously do.
I had to look to make sure I hadn't written that LOL exactly why I wanted to quit smoking.
I think the hobbyists have the highest success rate, followed by those that have a hobbyist close at hand. I'm one who quit smoking by accident. Seeing the disposables at the counter every week when I bought cigs finally got the best of my curiosity. Once I got one I realized I could have my wake up nic and coffee without dragging myself and laptop outside to be at the mercy of the bugs and the weather. As soon as the light bulb was lit I was off and running. I carried a pack of cigs around in my pocket for the first month or so, it seemed to take any pressure off knowing they were there if I wanted them. I later replaced them with a box mod in that pocket. I felt naked with that pocket in my shirt empty. I've went through all the upgrades of cartons, attys, tanks, rebuildables, battery mods, bottom feeders, vv.....not mention all the different bottles of juice. My wife would just shake her head when the mailman would come. After I'd been smokeless for about six months she started trying my things out a bit. She got setup on an eGo, dual carto and some DK Tab. She didn't like it when I'd try get her on better stuff. Now I have her on PinkSpot USA Blend or Halo Prime 15, the DK smell almost made me gag. Also got her on a Vision clearomizer because it's easier for me to fill for her. She's been smokeless for six plus months now. A few people at work had me help them order kits but they only did things half way. They would order new supplies after they'd run out and stuff like that. They've all kept smoking but at least they know there is an option.
Good thread. I'll let you know in a few more months. Only been off analogs 81 days, but boy did I jump into the mixing, moding etc. It's been a lot of fun and a learning experience.
vaping isnt a hobby for me but i made a commitment to "make it work" - and discovered that it was no work at all.
that was my commitment - to learn to like vaping again. Not to quit smoking right away - but to make vaping work as a cigarette replacement. Is that splitting hairs for "quitting smoking"? I dont know.
Motivations are rather vague for most people. If you can figure out what the actual motivation is - and not just the mumbled "to quit smoking" then you have a way to make anything work for you.
i have quit smoking many times in the past and always stuck with it for at least a year - but even that was not enough to keep me off the thing I really wanted, and that is a romantic ideal where I can smoke after dinner, be sophisticated and look like 40s movie star when I drink a martini.
So there you go - the truth is smoking is full of imagination for me. The act, the nature of it, the appearance and the made up experience I created about smoking in my head.
Reading all of that you might get the idea that I smoked just a few each week - but I was 2 packs a day for almost 30 years. (except for my 4 quits).
I got sick recently and found I could not stand vaping, I tollerated smoking just a little better.
but I had only been smoke free a couple of days....I went back up to 7 or so for a couple of days, but I am well again and back on vape.
The point being....motivation is unique and individual. Hobbiests might have an easier time of it - but more likely its the person who made a commitment to their motivation that is the success.
that was my commitment - to learn to like vaping again. Not to quit smoking right away - but to make vaping work as a cigarette replacement. Is that splitting hairs for "quitting smoking"? I dont know.
Motivations are rather vague for most people. If you can figure out what the actual motivation is - and not just the mumbled "to quit smoking" then you have a way to make anything work for you.
i have quit smoking many times in the past and always stuck with it for at least a year - but even that was not enough to keep me off the thing I really wanted, and that is a romantic ideal where I can smoke after dinner, be sophisticated and look like 40s movie star when I drink a martini.
So there you go - the truth is smoking is full of imagination for me. The act, the nature of it, the appearance and the made up experience I created about smoking in my head.
Reading all of that you might get the idea that I smoked just a few each week - but I was 2 packs a day for almost 30 years. (except for my 4 quits).
I got sick recently and found I could not stand vaping, I tollerated smoking just a little better.
but I had only been smoke free a couple of days....I went back up to 7 or so for a couple of days, but I am well again and back on vape.
The point being....motivation is unique and individual. Hobbiests might have an easier time of it - but more likely its the person who made a commitment to their motivation that is the success.
when I first joined the forum and started vaping I saw people talking about the hobby. I thought, it's NOT going to be a hobby! I just want to cut back on cigs.
after about a month I started going crazy buying stuff, liquids, backups and more backups and I couldn't stay off the forum and I started to admit, well, ok maybe it's a little hobby LOL
after about a month I started going crazy buying stuff, liquids, backups and more backups and I couldn't stay off the forum and I started to admit, well, ok maybe it's a little hobby LOL
Lol. More successful at quiting smoking, I'd say yes. More successful at saving money compared to cigarettes? NO. After I started on the provari and got a few tanks and some Phoenix RA's I'm all set. No interest in cigarettes at all anymore.
I think thats a really,really interesting question. Because I think for me personally that's a huge part of it. I love the "hobby" aspect of it. My wife who I really believe will switch over completely eventually is struggling a lot more. But I also think a major factor for her is how hung up she is on the concept of quitting. She is quitting smoking and starting vaping, to her she hasn't "really quit" so she seems stuck in some kind of tween place with her smoking vs vaping. I on the other hand dont think I was ever going to "quit smoking". I don't really consider myself as having "quit" anything, I'm just doing this instead. In the meantime I don't smoke any cigarettes, so the net is a huge win for me. It's all how you think about it, and how the way you think about it works for you personally. I feel like m getting everything out of vaping that I "got" from smoking plus the fun of a new hobby and the personal satisfaction of not using tobacco. The joy of the hobby, and new toys and gadgets definately keeps me very connected to my decision to vape instead of smoke. I think I would do it anyway, but that adds that meaningful something extra for me. Ehh it's late , and I'm rambling I'll stop there 
I started vaping with one of those analog look-alikes out of desperation because I really wanted to quit smoking due to health reasons and financial reasons. I didn't know anyone that smoked and I didn't even know how to fill the cartomizer once I got the kit. I then went online to google to find out how to fill the cartomizer. That is when the world of vaping hit me. I didn't know it was called vaping then. lol. I started watching Youtubes to figure out this new way of smoking. I really was lucky that I fell in love with vaping almost immediately and it was not hard for me to quit the analogs. I ended up posting on someone's Youtube review that I thought they were doing a great job. He sent me a msg and said he had a live video show every night if I had any questions or needed help in the future. I ended up ckg out that live video show online and came across a group of people of all ages that were so helpful and supportive. I think that is why I was so successful. Also, when I saw how these people loved vaping so much and had all different mods and things, I guess they were the influence on me to make it a hobby as well. lol. I considered them my support group for a long time. I didn't really come to this forum until after I sort of got tired of the live video rooms. I have turned one friend onto vaping that has become very successful with it and she loves trying new things so that's probably why she's been so successful. But she doesn't really watch anything online or research anything. It's mostly what I've shown her. I have a few other friends that vape for a little while and then quit because they ran out of juice or their cartomizer/clearo is no good, and they don't have the patience to order ahead of time or search for a better flavor they might like, etc. I guess everyone is different and I think you have to really be sick and tired of cigarettes to be more successful with vaping. I had tried everything and was sick and tired of cigs, but then again, I loved to smoke and wasn't ready to give up the inhale/exhale experience or the nic.
I think the crux of it is vaping does take more work effort as opposed to going to the corner store and buying a pack of cigarettes. If you are a hobby vaper, then you are past the worrying about the extra effort part because you love buying everything and having vape mail every week. lol. But if you don't want to take the time to search and try things, you won't be successful probably. I personally feel very sad when I don't have vape mail coming. lol. I have an addictive personality. I used to say I would love to be locked in a Best Buy all night. Now I say I would love to be locked in a very cool brick and mortar vape shop with lots of flavors all night. hehe...
Lmao. Know the feeling. It's like Christmas 3 or 4 times a week. I've always got vapemail coming whether it be juice or accessories. I like the above comment about vaping instead of smoking rather than quiting. That's what happened to me. I had no intentions on quiting smoking. But I just got so tied up in all this stuff that it didn't take long to go oh forget it I'm not smoking those anymore, this tastes better. Lol. When I decided to give up cigarettes I still had 4 pounds of tobacco and 10 boxes of tubes. (I rolled my own). Sold that stuff and bought more accessories.
I am a new vaper and started 3 weeks ago and quit analogs at the same time. I discovered this forum a day after I started vaping and have shared the link with my colleagues who are currently vaping or interested in taking up vaping. I don't think any of them are members but I am hoping that they are reading the forums to educate themselves
I am a bit of a gadget freak so naturally I took an interest in all the available hardware and accessories available. I have also been trying different flavours to find the right vape for me. I recently started dripping and am enjoying the experience too. I went from a regular Ego battery with a clearomizer to an Ego-C Twist with a Mini Nova. I am already considering a Provari or a bigger mod. So for me, it's a bit of a hobby as well as experience.
This is enough for me to quit analogs completely. I used to smoke nearly a pack a day and I don't have any desire to go back to smoking. Sure, I think about it every once in a while but can you believe that I now find cigarette smoke to be irritating? I am actually surprised by the positive changes that I'm starting to see and feel in such a short space of time.
I think folks who research and take a keen interest in vaping will have a higher success on staying on and not fall back to analogs. And always be prepared! Have spares, a charger, extra liquids, whatever you can think of so you won't have a reason to run out to get a pack of smokes.
Anyhoo, I'll keep on vaping!
I am a bit of a gadget freak so naturally I took an interest in all the available hardware and accessories available. I have also been trying different flavours to find the right vape for me. I recently started dripping and am enjoying the experience too. I went from a regular Ego battery with a clearomizer to an Ego-C Twist with a Mini Nova. I am already considering a Provari or a bigger mod. So for me, it's a bit of a hobby as well as experience.
This is enough for me to quit analogs completely. I used to smoke nearly a pack a day and I don't have any desire to go back to smoking. Sure, I think about it every once in a while but can you believe that I now find cigarette smoke to be irritating? I am actually surprised by the positive changes that I'm starting to see and feel in such a short space of time.
I think folks who research and take a keen interest in vaping will have a higher success on staying on and not fall back to analogs. And always be prepared! Have spares, a charger, extra liquids, whatever you can think of so you won't have a reason to run out to get a pack of smokes.
Anyhoo, I'll keep on vaping!
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I never intended for this to be a hobby. If it can be currently classified as such now, it would still be a minor hobby in light of my day to day living.
I wanted to quit smoking. I found this site and learned me the how-to, and I did it. Day one of vaping I quit and never had one single sniggy puff since. I have procured hundreds of flavors and a mod or two in my day, but, after settling on a sturdy device and an all day juice, I didn't feel the need to continue to 'play', so to speak.
Though, this could be labeled as false at this time simply because, now, I am playing New tank, new juice, maybe even a new device Oh my, I guess I am sorta like a passive-aggressive hobby vaper. lolz
I wanted to quit smoking. I found this site and learned me the how-to, and I did it. Day one of vaping I quit and never had one single sniggy puff since. I have procured hundreds of flavors and a mod or two in my day, but, after settling on a sturdy device and an all day juice, I didn't feel the need to continue to 'play', so to speak.
Though, this could be labeled as false at this time simply because, now, I am playing
New tank, new juice, maybe even a new device Oh my, I guess I am sorta like a passive-aggressive hobby vaper. lolz- Status
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