Hi, I just signed up today and said Hi in the New User thread but now I want to ask, What are your favorite, reliable, honest websites to buy vape gear? I'm in the Chicago area and would ask locals what are your favorite bricks-and-mortar shops as well. I was a smoker of Camel and Bugler roll-ups for 49 years and have been off cigarettes since March 13th. I tried to quit a million times but nothing worked until I started vaping e-cigs like Jak and MyBlue. Then I bought a Smok Nord, and started refilling my empty Blue pods with juice as well. Now I want to try my luck with a nice RTA and modest box mod. I'm not into big clouds so I don't think I need to go sub-ohm. Haven't decided on mesh or Clapton, but I am seriously looking into the Wotofo Chieftain. I don't think I'll need more than 80 Watts but I do want a great, regulated, TC and Power control mod, and the Chieftain seems to get some great reviews on youtube. Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!
- Status
Nearly all my hardware comes from Fastech.com. The vast selection of accessory items is a big part of the reason. You have to pay attention to what's in stock, pre orders, etc. If you are in a hurry for something FT may not be the best choice.
Hello @Red Beard, Wotofo Chieftain? There's a lot more out there to choose than that.
Could we ask where you're based please? As we may be able to provide suggestions of various different places to get gear from.
Also, what are you looking for with a mod and atomiser and what is your budget please?
Could we ask where you're based please? As we may be able to provide suggestions of various different places to get gear from.
Also, what are you looking for with a mod and atomiser and what is your budget please?
Thanks for the reply. They look pretty big with good return and doa policy. I'll be looking more!
Don't forget if there's any issues with gear, you have to send it back to the retailer or seller.
Fasttech is great for atomizers and other bits and pieces though, and the elusive cheap mod or two.
Fasttech is great for atomizers and other bits and pieces though, and the elusive cheap mod or two.
The hardest thing to reliably find is removable batteries. Fakes abound. Standard behavior here is to buy from someone on @Mooch ‘s preferred vendor list to increase your chances of getting authentic batteries.
Yeah, I had a problem with a Wotofo RDA and they (Wotofo) wouldn't do anything for me once I told then I bought it from Fast Tech (or 3fvape?). Anyway, the manufacturer may not help with a defective part from a non-authorized seller.
Having said that, I have bought a lot of stuff from Fast Tech and 3fvape and only had one issue over the years. Just make sure you don't need your stuff in a hurry.
That Wotofo Chieftan is ancient and not a very good mod. Try something else. They are dirt cheap at this point but not worth it in my opinion. I had one a long time ago and didn't like well enough to use it.
Not as cheap but not very expensive. Look at the Geekvape aegis legend or the Aegis Legend 200 watt. Built like tanks and work well. Both are big and heavy
Here is the Aegis Legend 200 kit for $59 but if you look around you might get it lower.
Geek Vape Aegis Legend 200W Starter Kit | Limited Edition - Vape Kits
Not as cheap but not very expensive. Look at the Geekvape aegis legend or the Aegis Legend 200 watt. Built like tanks and work well. Both are big and heavy
Here is the Aegis Legend 200 kit for $59 but if you look around you might get it lower.
Geek Vape Aegis Legend 200W Starter Kit | Limited Edition - Vape Kits
This is the limited edition. It’s got magnesium internals. Big but not heavy. The thing actually floats. Also not too long ago they were $100 apiece. I suspect that’s actually a great deal.That Wotofo Chieftan is ancient and not a very good mod. Try something else. They are dirt cheap at this point but not worth it in my opinion. I had one a long time ago and didn't like well enough to use it.
Not as cheap but not very expensive. Look at the Geekvape aegis legend or the Aegis Legend 200 watt. Built like tanks and work well. Both are big and heavy
Here is the Aegis Legend 200 kit for $59 but if you look around you might get it lower.
Geek Vape Aegis Legend 200W Starter Kit | Limited Edition - Vape Kits
I agree w/ the 'hurry' thing, but FastTech is where I get all my hardware too. Two of the mods that I still use I won in contests here, and I won a pod here too. I bought the other mod I use in a classified listing here, and two others from FT. I have to agree again with the 'hurry' thing, but their prices are very reasonable and shipping is free, with 'upgraded' shipping in the low dollar range.
I have to agree, wholeheartedly, with this too. Lately I've been getting batteries from LIION Wholesale, which is on that list.
I get my software (nic base and flavors) online from MyFreedomSmokes. Li-Ion Wholesale is one state above me, and MFS is two states below me, so I have gotten my online orders from them in 4-5 days. When I started, I got both hardware and software from TastyPuff. They're in New Mexico and offer free shipping on orders over $20. I never waited more than a week from them.
Last edited:
Based in the Chicago area. Looking for a modest mod; doesn't need all the bells and whistles. I'm not chasing clouds, don't need sub-ohm. I do find that I am developing a propensity for direct lung hits but that may be because my Nord is not really satisfying my "jones". I don't know. Really, I think what I want is consistent flavor production and coil life. I'm not getting that with the Nord. It's a cute little pod and I can see keeping it for a second goto device, but I want something for my rocking chair rig I spose. I don't think I'm going to mind swapping cotton from time to time, but I don't want to keep paying for proprietary coil setup's; like the Falcon King looks like a great tank, but I don't want to be stuck buying their coils all the time. Same with the Smok TF. I'm sure it's a great tank but then you're stuck buying their coils, or you go out and buy another tank. I want something I can wick with a coil that, if I don't abuse it, will last. When I was a youngster I took a degree in electronics. I get the basics. I don't think a Clapton coil is just going to fail every so often, if used within it's tolerance I "think" it should last for a good while. On the other hand a mesh coil will transfer heat more efficiently, but, I believe, not as "stout". They look so thin, and fragile. I can say this, if I go with the Clapton I won't be building my own coils right off the bat. I'll buy from a reputable dealer. I'll try different cottons, flavors, power settings, resistances, etc until I find what trips my trigger. My budget, considering what I've seen over the last month or so would be average; you know what's out there. I'm not going premium. No need to. Just a good regulated mod with variable power output and a 510 top end.
Thank you so much for the link. I just watched a vid last night where someone was reviewing a mod and spoke of the inconsistency in the length of the 26650 batteries. Yikes. I'm a newbie, but I'm an old guy. I'm hip to being careful. Thanks again!
You said you don't expect to need more than 80W and don't plan to do the sub ohm thing. At 80W you have a lot of choices. Don't go over 12W myself.
If small size sounds good to you get an 18650 mod, if you want better run time get a slightly bigger mod that uses larger batteries.
Run time isn't important to me at 12W. I got an Asmodus Colossal recently, it seems like a first rate mod. I also got an Aegis Mini. I really love that one but it has a small internal battery which doesn't run very long even for me. I've ordered an Aegis Solo which is a larger version of the Mini that uses a replaceable 18650 battery. They are all around the $30+ mark if you look around a bit. If your budget goes higher than that the choices are endless.
I can only recommend them because that's all I've bought recently. I use low power and like smaller mods. If you expect to use higher power, closer to 80W, you might want to look at a mod using a larger battery or 2 batteries just for the run time. Both Asmodus and Aegis have models like that. They are both good manufacturers IMO.
If small size sounds good to you get an 18650 mod, if you want better run time get a slightly bigger mod that uses larger batteries.
Run time isn't important to me at 12W. I got an Asmodus Colossal recently, it seems like a first rate mod. I also got an Aegis Mini. I really love that one but it has a small internal battery which doesn't run very long even for me. I've ordered an Aegis Solo which is a larger version of the Mini that uses a replaceable 18650 battery. They are all around the $30+ mark if you look around a bit. If your budget goes higher than that the choices are endless.
I can only recommend them because that's all I've bought recently. I use low power and like smaller mods. If you expect to use higher power, closer to 80W, you might want to look at a mod using a larger battery or 2 batteries just for the run time. Both Asmodus and Aegis have models like that. They are both good manufacturers IMO.
A moment ago I placed a fastech order. There were 7 items in the cart, placed there over a month or two looking around the FT site. 4 of the items were marked, ships next day. 3 items were marked ships in 7 days. I ordered only the next day items. For the three 7 days items I'll add an item or two and ship them separately. I have everything required for vaping so there's no hurry. Be fair to FT and make decent sized orders. The do free shipping.
Same as someone else who posted above I get 100mg nic concentrate from myfreedomsmokes. If you learn to mix and rebuild vaping can be pretty much free, not including stuff you buy that you don't need. If you mix don't worry about fancy recipes. You can start by diluting pre mix that you know you like. Later you'll probably find some all-in-one flavoring that you like. The lower the % of flavoring the less flavor fatique there will be. I use 1% and only need one flavor to keep me happy.
Take your time buying stuff. Keep your money in your pocket while you get a better eye for gear and figure out what you are going to prefer but consider having a stock pile incase the FDA interferes with access to products and eliquid.
As @englishmick mentioned, Asmodus Colossal. Decent single battery mod that will take upto 21700 size batteries.
Another is Vaporesso Armour Pro, yet another single battery mod that will take upto a 21700 battery.
And, Vandy Vape Jackaroo. Single battery, upto 21700 battery. Also is ruggedised and waterproof, so will withstand punishment somewhat.
And have you ever heard about Dripping with an RDA (Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser)? It's where you drip liquid directly upon the coil or coils and wicking, it's something worth considering due to RDA's being somewhat easier to work with and somewhat more forgiving than RTA's (Rebuildable Tank Atomisers) and they can be sought cheap.
Another is Vaporesso Armour Pro, yet another single battery mod that will take upto a 21700 battery.
And, Vandy Vape Jackaroo. Single battery, upto 21700 battery. Also is ruggedised and waterproof, so will withstand punishment somewhat.
And have you ever heard about Dripping with an RDA (Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser)? It's where you drip liquid directly upon the coil or coils and wicking, it's something worth considering due to RDA's being somewhat easier to work with and somewhat more forgiving than RTA's (Rebuildable Tank Atomisers) and they can be sought cheap.
Yes, this ^^^
Over in Random DIY mixing and More @JCinFLA posted a link to the Council of Vapor Royal Hunter RDA | 22mm Rebuildable Atomizer where they are priced from 0.55 (cents US). I bought 5 specifically for DIY single flavor + recipe testing ($2.81 + shipping).
Council of Vapor Royal Hunter RDA | 22mm Rebuildable Atomizer (Clearance)
Nice review here: Royal Hunter RDA by Council of Vapor Review
I have indeed heard about RDA's and have read a bit about them. Thinking a squonk mod maybe in my future one day. Thank you for your reply and links.
Around 1.2 to 1.4 ohms. I have tanks that work well in that range and give me the kind of vape I like. I've tried going a bit lower, around 0.7 was the lowest I went I think. It didn't improve the flavor for me and I don't get any pleasure out of the larger amount of vapor. Plus it gets through the juice much faster. It's good to try different styles and see what you enjoy the most. A decent mod will give you enough power to experiment. Tanks aren't that expensive. It's a lot of fun to play around with different equipment. Sooner or later you will find what works best for you. Good luck with it.
- Status
Similar threads
