Bumpy road to quitting smoking but will keep on trying

[Roman Hawksley]

Hello everyone. Both my wife and I have been smokers for a couple of decades and we recently decided to quit with the help of vaping. Our first mod was a Smok V8 which had problems from the get go. It came with bad coils that leaked but once that was sorted out we had the "aha" moment and had hope this will help us. Since then, we've added a Vaporesso mod and a couple of the AIOs (icare mini and Suorin air). I have been pleased with the performance of these devices and the biggest hurdle has been finding e-juice that we like and at the right nicotine strength. For the sub-ohm devices the 6mg works pretty good but I still don't get that nicotine hit that I crave. This is where the AIOs were supposed to help but so far I haven't been able to find the right juice. Either it is too rough or the taste is bad. We have spent quite a bit of money on juice only to be disappointed most of the time. I hope I can get some help here and also learn about other options out there such as nicotine salts.
-Roman

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Taste buds can be very damaged from smoking. They gradually heal. For me, about 4 months for complete healing. I just went simple (peppermint, etc.).

Also, you can buy straight nicotine and then do the math to change a juice to a higher Nic content. Just be careful.

Many people make their own juice...just a consideration. Vaping is a big hobby.

Good luck

 

[bombastinator]

The easiest way to find a flavor you like is to find a brick and mortar store with a tasting bar. That will let you taste a bunch of juices at once

 

[RottweilerluvNZ]

Definitely won't find anything that is close to the same effect as smoking, which sucks I was pretty sad about that when I changed over. Highly reccomend MTL first, and move up to 12 or higher nic initially. The V8 stick will come in handy later when you've fully blown to Vaping, but it's DLI and IMO it's mimicking smoking to help you guys break away from the tobacco thats the best thing first, this is where the MTL devices come in I guess. I got the V8 initially as well, but it was no good at the time for quitting.

40 Camels a day, to Vaping in 5 days once I put my mind to it, and I was a skitzo heavy smoker, can be done. But IMO try out MTL for the first month or so as this is the closest you'll get to mimicking smoking, and with the higher nic doeses the ability to feel like you're still getting that feeling on drags. You'll be able to drop the nic as time goes by.

Regarding juices, try finding some that are thick that you can feel going down, and play around with coils with your DLI devices if you're going to use those first, takes a while to get the right ones for you. Vaping from smoking is expensive initially I think, since we were smokers it's really important that something replaces that in the best closest possible way, and it's not easy to find the right stuff. Otherwise you easily can sneak back to the yellow butts for the hit which isn't good and steps you back. In the end I quit on Ice and Menthol with MTL, and it almost felt like 'smoking' menthol.

Prepare to blow some cash in the early days, don't expect a quick fix. But it will happen. Going to have to try out heaps, best if you can access a shop that let's you vape test the flavours. Bear in mind they will be a bit different when the nic is added though. Finding flavours you're comfortable and happy with is paramount when in that quitting limbo. Myself, and others I know have had great success off the menthol, or fruity flavours, before venturing out onto all the other freaky flavours that are out there. Strawberry, Apple, things that are common are quite good in those initial months of smoking to vaping.

Good luck and look forward to hearing how it's all going.

 

[SteveS45]

Welcome @Roman Hawksley and good luck on quitting. For me it took going Cold Turkey and just dealing with the withdrawals. Dual using and cutting down I just realized I was only kidding myself and when I woke up one Saturday I just said today is the day and no more buying cigarettes. Stuck to it and will be 4 years soon. Again good luck and at first I could only vape tobacco flavors even with a tasting bar! Never forget the day I finally found a Fruit I could vape. When you go to a tasting bar bring a bottle of lemon flavored water it helps cleanse the palate.

 

[stols001]

You can buy premade nic salt juices. It may allow you to get to a higher nic level without harshness, which may be what you need. Could also look at your VG/PG ratio, too much PG can produce harshness and some folks are sensitive to it (myself included) I really can't use much before the e-liquid gets harsh and bad for me (flavors only and when I can I get them in VG).

DIY is an option, but I think tasting a bunch of liquids and finding at least one or two "pre-made" juices you like would be a better first start. FYI, the Juul (it's a cigalike) has nic salts up to 50 mg/ml, and they don't seem to be harsh to users (with that said, the delivery device is not powerful and sort of sucks) but a salt juice at 24 or even 36 mg in a flavor you like without too *much* PG (maybe 70 VG/30 PG, so you don't gunk your smaller MTL tank) might be useful.

Since I am PG sensitive I just use 90% VG and 10% distilled water. Just mentioning in case that is an issue you are encountering. What types of flavors do you like? Best of luck moving forward.

Anna

 

[Oomee]

When I put down the ciggies I go for 18mg, 0.6Ohm at 30watt/150degC... unflavoured PG and water.

Has worked out well for me each time(I am a bit of a recidivist with my bad habits!).

I find that at fist I need a hit that is capable of giving me a headspin if hit too hard. Perhaps it is a bit of psychological thing that I know the nic is strong enough so I don't have worries running around my mind. Lets me relax about the quitting process.

Only on Day three here, and no cravings, chest is already better, but starting to get into that phase of sleeping a lot.

Have confidence in vaping, make the tweaks to the system that suits you and you will get there.

Here's to healthier horizons for us all.

 

[dsites]

I started with Jule and there were hardly any cravings. I have a few around if worst comes to worst. Finding your ideal vape is the key and there's great advice and encouragement here. Welcome to ECF

 

[Doctorvapes]

I agree with the couple replies that suggested DIY juice. But if you're not into that vapewild has sample packs, you can order different flavors and find your profile.

I don't have much advice on your setup because I believe the v8 has the baby beast tank and at 6 mg that satisfied me as a long time smoker but everyone is different, you can always up your nic. Just be patient and stick to it, I know it can be so frustrating at first but I do believe in the long run it can work out.

 

[tgs3]

You are right that once you have reliable devices finding a liquid(s) is the next hurdle. Personally discovering WTA liquids and N.E.T liquids was a game changer for me. I particularly recommend the tobacco like juices from these folks:

Cigarette-style e-Liquids

'Organic Spirit' and 'Analog Blend' are great and not harsh, at least to me. They are available in a huge number of different nicotine levels. If money is no object (lol), check out the fantastic liquids at:

http://www.blacknote.com

http://www.kindjuice.com

For WTA liquids:

Aroma Ejuice Manufacturer of WTA Whole Tobacco Alkaloid Eliquid


I started months ago at 24mg. Now transitioning to 18mg for daytime vaping and 12mg mixed with a bit of 18mg for my evening chain vaping.

Good luck.

 

[suprtrkr]

Hi and welcome. I agree, the search for a satisfying juice is a problem. Every time I found a good one, the vape brewer went out of business the following week, it seemed. I finally overcame it (and the cost issue) by going DIY. You may want to consider this. For some, it's a hobby; they're eternally chasing the perfect combo, or storing up a zillion tiny bottles of flavors they like and then enjoying the choice of which they'll vape today. For others-- me, for example-- I futzed with it long enough to get a list of about 8 flavors I actually like, and then went into volume production, making .5-1 liter of the stuff at a time. Nowadays I only mix juice one afternoon every quarter or so. And I have the cost down to about $0.05/mL. Just a thought. It is nice to know exactly what's in your juice, and to make it in the exact nic and flavor strength you want.

 

[zoiDman]

... This is where the AIOs were supposed to help but so far I haven't been able to find the right juice. Either it is too rough or the taste is bad. ...

This is Kinda the Inherent Flaw in AIO's where you Can't Adjust the Wattage.

You have to Match the e-Liquid Very Closely to what the Mod is Outputting. And the Coil Head that is in the AIO Tank. Whereas with a Variable Wattage (VW), you can Fine Tune the hit by moving the Wattage Up or Down.

For someone who is Trying to Quit, or has recently quit and is Struggling, and Non-Adjustable AIO kinda work Against you. And at times, can make things Harder rather than make things Easier.

 

[Roman Hawksley]

Thank you all for the welcoming and encouraging replies. I appreciate it! Very good advice and insight. While I get discouraged, I know there are options out there and realize this will take some time to sort out. Since I originally started with the Juul and was pleased with the performance, I thought I would try to recreate that experience with one of the AIOs (icare, suorin etc.) since the cost of the juul pods is a little too much. I mean it's almost the price of cigarettes! Fifteen to 20 dollars for what, .8mlx4 (est.), around 3.2ml of juice?! Pure greed.
So far the Suorin works well. I actually really like that one and I just need to find the right juice. As several of you recommended we really need to visit one of these vape shops that let you try the flavors. I'm in the S.F bay area and not sure if there are any.
I am interested in the salt nicotine but since it is fairly new, there are only a few companies that make it and I am very suspicious that they are not really similar to what Juul came up with, probably a proprietary concoction. There really is something special about the Juul juice. So far I have tried the Hi-Nic brand and it is awful. I really don't understand how they can make this stuff and think it's acceptable. I haven't had a chance to search any threads on here about nic salt options but will do so but if anyone can suggest a particular company that is known for quality, please let me know! BTW, I am not picky with flavors but so far have enjoyed Juul mango and tobacco flavors and a strawberry type of flavor made by Ruthless. Another bad one I tried was 18mg appolo brand that was pina colada flavor. Bad!

 

[Letitia]

Welcome Roman. Naked 100 juices has several juice collections that are tasty. They have also recently added a nic salts line. I enjoyed their fruit selections before starting diy. You can use vapecrawler.com to price check for most things vape related.

 

[stols001]

Have you tried the Mr. Salt-E? I haven't, I DIY with nic salts, but some have reported good things.

Most DIY nic companies will send you a sample of nic salts should you want to try to mix in small quantities before making a huge commitment to DIY.

Anna

 

[BrotherBob]

Hello everyone. Both my wife and I have been smokers for a couple of decades and we recently decided to quit with the help of vaping. Our first mod was a Smok V8 which had problems from the get go. It came with bad coils that leaked but once that was sorted out we had the "aha" moment and had hope this will help us. Since then, we've added a Vaporesso mod and a couple of the AIOs (icare mini and Suorin air). I have been pleased with the performance of these devices and the biggest hurdle has been finding e-juice that we like and at the right nicotine strength. For the sub-ohm devices the 6mg works pretty good but I still don't get that nicotine hit that I crave. This is where the AIOs were supposed to help but so far I haven't been able to find the right juice. Either it is too rough or the taste is bad. We have spent quite a bit of money on juice only to be disappointed most of the time. I hope I can get some help here and also learn about other options out there such as nicotine salts.
-Roman

Welcome and glad you joined.
A word about DIY, for the first six months of vaping, most folks are getting their vaping legs (finding the best set up for them and getting to know the type of flavors they enjoy most), might want to wait the 6 months or so until you feel you are ready.
Nic: All You Need to Know about Vaping Nicotine - Vaping360
Nicotine Strengths In Refill Liquid
Juice taste: I have broken down the some of the basic taste categories I enjoy which may help you decide where to concentrate your taste search. You may wish to create your own lists.
Bakery
Butterscotch / Butter Rum/Toffee
Caramel
Chocolate
Cinnamon
Creams/Custards/Vanilla/MM
Nut
Peanut Butter
Tobacco
MISC SINGLES/Fruit
Your not alone: We Tried the Most Disgusting E-Cig Flavors So You Don't Have To
Resistance is futile. Ohms are not king. Wattage is. • r/electronic_cigarette

 

[medleypat]

I would look into Mr. Salt-E a vape reviewer who usines the Juul said it was good. Also has t tips and tricks video on the Juul just do a youtube search for rubyroo juul tips

 

[chellie]

Thank you all for the welcoming and encouraging replies. I appreciate it! Very good advice and insight. While I get discouraged, I know there are options out there and realize this will take some time to sort out. Since I originally started with the Juul and was pleased with the performance, I thought I would try to recreate that experience with one of the AIOs (icare, suorin etc.) since the cost of the juul pods is a little too much. I mean it's almost the price of cigarettes! Fifteen to 20 dollars for what, .8mlx4 (est.), around 3.2ml of juice?! Pure greed.
So far the Suorin works well. I actually really like that one and I just need to find the right juice. As several of you recommended we really need to visit one of these vape shops that let you try the flavors. I'm in the S.F bay area and not sure if there are any.
I am interested in the salt nicotine but since it is fairly new, there are only a few companies that make it and I am very suspicious that they are not really similar to what Juul came up with, probably a proprietary concoction. There really is something special about the Juul juice. So far I have tried the Hi-Nic brand and it is awful. I really don't understand how they can make this stuff and think it's acceptable. I haven't had a chance to search any threads on here about nic salt options but will do so but if anyone can suggest a particular company that is known for quality, please let me know! BTW, I am not picky with flavors but so far have enjoyed Juul mango and tobacco flavors and a strawberry type of flavor made by Ruthless. Another bad one I tried was 18mg appolo brand that was pina colada flavor. Bad!

What were your smoking with analogs? Regular - Menthol - lights etc.. This way maybe some can give some recommendations. I smoked Marlboro red for well over 30 years. I used tobacco flavored at first - now I use mostly vanilla tobacco. I wasn't in it for the flavors at first -- still not really - I was and am in it so that I do not smoke analogs.

 

[SteveS45]

What were your smoking with analogs? Regular - Menthol - lights etc.. This way maybe some can give some recommendations. I smoked Marlboro red for well over 30 years. I used tobacco flavored at first - now I use mostly vanilla tobacco. I wasn't in it for the flavors at first -- still not really - I was and am in it so that I do not smoke analogs.

At first I was only into Tobacco and then found flavors but the most vaped e-Liquid is Tobacco and in DIY alone I have 8 different blends for EDV's. Vanilla Cream and Butterscotch Graham are heavy hitters!

 

[Fidola13]

Hello everyone. Both my wife and I have been smokers for a couple of decades and we recently decided to quit with the help of vaping. Our first mod was a Smok V8 which had problems from the get go. It came with bad coils that leaked but once that was sorted out we had the "aha" moment and had hope this will help us. Since then, we've added a Vaporesso mod and a couple of the AIOs (icare mini and Suorin air). I have been pleased with the performance of these devices and the biggest hurdle has been finding e-juice that we like and at the right nicotine strength. For the sub-ohm devices the 6mg works pretty good but I still don't get that nicotine hit that I crave. This is where the AIOs were supposed to help but so far I haven't been able to find the right juice. Either it is too rough or the taste is bad. We have spent quite a bit of money on juice only to be disappointed most of the time. I hope I can get some help here and also learn about other options out there such as nicotine salts.
-Roman

Welcome! And congrats on trying to stay/quit the stinkiest!!

How much and what kind of cigarettes are you and your wife smoking?