I started e-cigs a couple years ago, with some rebranded, over-priced cig-alike that tasted like an ashtray. I then found Vapor-4-Life and discovered FLAVORS and longer lasting, different colored batteries. While using V4L, I learned about refilling the "disposable" cartos and started buying their juice (which was, of course, overpriced as well). It ended up becoming too cumbersome to have to carry spare cartos and batteries, plus I never knew when a cart was going to burn out, a battery was going to die, why sometimes my juice would burn, and inconsistent vapor hits, and it was just SO much easier to go to the store, buy a pack of marbs, a bic, and light-up. So after about 6months of using e-cigs, I went back to full-fledged smoker for about a year and half.
While working at a job I, noticed a man using a larger e-cig that was providing constant clouds of vapor. I talked to him a little bit about his set-up(s). When I approached him I acted like I had been there and done that, was convinced that I had already tried the best e-cigs could offer me (I know that all of you have dealt with the 'know-it-all' type that I'm referring to, if you weren't the type at one time yourself) and whatever this guy was trying just wasn't going to work for me.... Long story short, he convinced me to try an ego-twist with a nova tank or cart-tank. I tried the smoktech nova tank, the stardust clearo, kanger T3, and carto-tanks all within the next month or so on the EgoC-twist, but still using V4L juice (I didn't know just how much they were ripping me off, and was afraid to try another vendor in case their juice tasted like garbage).
The nova kept giving me burnt or dry hits
The stardust gurgled a bit and muted everything
the kanger would have been my favorite if it hadn't kept flooding somehow
In the end, I was right back where I started (one could almost say), with cartomozers, but now I had a tank and a vastly superior battery. Carto-tanks on ego-twists = months of happy usage (for the most part). I keep reading about all these other highly recommended items, and many of them are things that I have tried and tried again, because I think "I must be doing something wrong if I'm not able to get as good a vape from my wick-style as I am with my cartos.". However, there were also things that I hadn't tried (many I STILL haven't), because I got confused, it started to get complicated, people had too many warnings about certain products, or it was all just greek to me (even broken down barney-style).
As far as juices go, while I was pretty much content with cart-tanks, I decided, I was far less content with V4L juice flavors and their inconsistency in flavor, TH (usually too HARSH, felt like a tire-fire in my throat), and vapor, while never stellar, would go down randomly on a bottle to bottle basis. So I started looking around, but then the choices became overwhelming! I ended up at MtBaker after trying a couple different brands and reading reviews, relatively happy with them and since taste is a personal preference, I don't expect much guidance in terms of e-juice vendors.
I then tarted trying to find better tanks (the chrome ones started to peel), and have tried the AGR, and smok pyrex (using one right now on my ego-twist). I still use the stupid chrome ones because I can't seem to find a reasonable plain-jain tank in stainless or aluminum.
I then STARTED looking into "mods" and purchased a Vamo. I really like it, so I wonder why it's so dang cheap next to something like a provari. I could buy a few more vamos for the price of one. Then there are bottom feeders, boxes, and a whole slew of devices that either are really complicated, or just people making them SEEM complicated by giving really wordy descriptions to make them sound more technical, while still somehow being kind-of vague... ?
While I was looking into mods, I also started (again) trying to understand the more advanced delivery systems (or less as the case may be). So far the only "more advanced" thing I have been brave enough to try is the octopus-RBA for dripping, and that's only because it's simple, and I can buy pre-made coils that are easy to change out. However, I still find myself going back to the carto-tanks for their ease of use. I really do like my vamo, but it's not built for a rough and tumble lifestyle (in all fairness, nothing e-cig seems to be though). Is there REALLY something better?
This whole post is basically to give y'all a run-down on what I have used and what I currently use to help you gauge where I'm at right now. I feel like I have plateaued at the ego-twist/carto-tanks in terms of ease of use, consistent vapor, good flavors, travel-size, and economical functionality, and was wonderign if there is a "better place" to be. I feel like a novice still because my most advanced combination is a Vamo/octo-RBA, and the RBA isn't even doing anything better than the cart-tanks besides maybe allowing me to try new juices, but then I have to rinse the wicks before each new juice. I am looking for something that might be a little more reliable and less of a pain than my nightly refill, recharge, and PRAY that my cart doesn't kick, flood, or burn out right after I refilled the tank, ritual I have been performing each night, and it would be nice if there was something like an "otter-box defender" for e-cigs.
Where can I/Should I go from here? Is there a "better"? Something bomb-proof, consistent, hassle-free/minimal hassle, and long lasting between refills/charging?
I am also looking for ways to just get the most out of my juices when I'm home (VP and flavor are most important to me).
I just don't feel like where I'm at is the best I can get. Any help would be appreciated!
TIA for any feedback.
While working at a job I, noticed a man using a larger e-cig that was providing constant clouds of vapor. I talked to him a little bit about his set-up(s). When I approached him I acted like I had been there and done that, was convinced that I had already tried the best e-cigs could offer me (I know that all of you have dealt with the 'know-it-all' type that I'm referring to, if you weren't the type at one time yourself) and whatever this guy was trying just wasn't going to work for me.... Long story short, he convinced me to try an ego-twist with a nova tank or cart-tank. I tried the smoktech nova tank, the stardust clearo, kanger T3, and carto-tanks all within the next month or so on the EgoC-twist, but still using V4L juice (I didn't know just how much they were ripping me off, and was afraid to try another vendor in case their juice tasted like garbage).
The nova kept giving me burnt or dry hits
The stardust gurgled a bit and muted everything
the kanger would have been my favorite if it hadn't kept flooding somehow
In the end, I was right back where I started (one could almost say), with cartomozers, but now I had a tank and a vastly superior battery. Carto-tanks on ego-twists = months of happy usage (for the most part). I keep reading about all these other highly recommended items, and many of them are things that I have tried and tried again, because I think "I must be doing something wrong if I'm not able to get as good a vape from my wick-style as I am with my cartos.". However, there were also things that I hadn't tried (many I STILL haven't), because I got confused, it started to get complicated, people had too many warnings about certain products, or it was all just greek to me (even broken down barney-style).
As far as juices go, while I was pretty much content with cart-tanks, I decided, I was far less content with V4L juice flavors and their inconsistency in flavor, TH (usually too HARSH, felt like a tire-fire in my throat), and vapor, while never stellar, would go down randomly on a bottle to bottle basis. So I started looking around, but then the choices became overwhelming! I ended up at MtBaker after trying a couple different brands and reading reviews, relatively happy with them and since taste is a personal preference, I don't expect much guidance in terms of e-juice vendors.
I then tarted trying to find better tanks (the chrome ones started to peel), and have tried the AGR, and smok pyrex (using one right now on my ego-twist). I still use the stupid chrome ones because I can't seem to find a reasonable plain-jain tank in stainless or aluminum.
I then STARTED looking into "mods" and purchased a Vamo. I really like it, so I wonder why it's so dang cheap next to something like a provari. I could buy a few more vamos for the price of one. Then there are bottom feeders, boxes, and a whole slew of devices that either are really complicated, or just people making them SEEM complicated by giving really wordy descriptions to make them sound more technical, while still somehow being kind-of vague... ?
While I was looking into mods, I also started (again) trying to understand the more advanced delivery systems (or less as the case may be). So far the only "more advanced" thing I have been brave enough to try is the octopus-RBA for dripping, and that's only because it's simple, and I can buy pre-made coils that are easy to change out. However, I still find myself going back to the carto-tanks for their ease of use. I really do like my vamo, but it's not built for a rough and tumble lifestyle (in all fairness, nothing e-cig seems to be though). Is there REALLY something better?
This whole post is basically to give y'all a run-down on what I have used and what I currently use to help you gauge where I'm at right now. I feel like I have plateaued at the ego-twist/carto-tanks in terms of ease of use, consistent vapor, good flavors, travel-size, and economical functionality, and was wonderign if there is a "better place" to be. I feel like a novice still because my most advanced combination is a Vamo/octo-RBA, and the RBA isn't even doing anything better than the cart-tanks besides maybe allowing me to try new juices, but then I have to rinse the wicks before each new juice. I am looking for something that might be a little more reliable and less of a pain than my nightly refill, recharge, and PRAY that my cart doesn't kick, flood, or burn out right after I refilled the tank, ritual I have been performing each night, and it would be nice if there was something like an "otter-box defender" for e-cigs.
Where can I/Should I go from here? Is there a "better"? Something bomb-proof, consistent, hassle-free/minimal hassle, and long lasting between refills/charging?
I am also looking for ways to just get the most out of my juices when I'm home (VP and flavor are most important to me).
I just don't feel like where I'm at is the best I can get. Any help would be appreciated!
TIA for any feedback.