cigalikes for life! my experience so far

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vogueblackheart

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Sep 13, 2013
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new to forum, must get to 5 posts to participate in kr808d-1 thread...

i've never been down with vaporizers larger than a cigarette--they can be nice in a setting where one would use a hookah, but otherwise are just too bulky for me to want as a recreational device. the batteries are somewhat modest and the cartomizers need topping off, so the method i've found is to take 2-3 batteries with full cartos out with me. by the time a short kr8 battery is drained, it's time to top off the carto again anyway. this helps to self-regulate the carto refilling process and keep them from ever getting too dry, burning & ruining them prematurely. higher nicotine levels are also useful, since absent-minded chain-vaping can drain a battery in no time.

i also really like a rubberized end cap to further enhance the hands-free operation of cigalikes, such as the smokeless image comfort tips.

if you're starting out and want to try an automatic cigalike, i cannot recommend halo batteries more highly. they have a rubberized coating which seems markedly more durable than that on the volt batteries. halo's cartos are also the best i've ever used, but not by a large enough margin to justify the high price, so now i use the cartos from litecigusa--the regular ones, NOT the more expensive ones marked 'premium', which i've had terrible luck with. (i have tried various kr8 products from halo, smokeless image, v4l, & mig cigs so far.)

i hope this might be useful useful to someone looking to get into cigalikes!
 

twgbonehead

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Apr 28, 2011
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My biggest fault with cigalikes (automatics, particularly) is that the ones I tried, if you EVER got any liquid into the battery, the whole thing was immediately toast. Either it was dead, or it fired continuously. Of course this was a long while ago (and a pair of batts was like $95).

Caused me to give up on vaping the first time. But I got better!
 

Grimwald

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Aug 12, 2012
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I used cig-a-likes in that same manner for my first 6-8 months...and continued to use them some thru my first year. It was just so easy to throw a couple into a small eyeglass case for out and about use, and they are really a great bedside device. I did, however, prefer manual instead of auto batteries.

All of my cig-sized died long ago, but I framed my very first silver Volt with a black carto attached and labeled it with my quit date. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for that battery. I have gone to Evod types for my out and about device, but I can certainly appreciate the usefulness of cig-sized devices.
 

djsvapour

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Oct 2, 2012
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808D-1 is the only cig-a-like I would use. Keep them charged up 'fresh' in a PCC and they are quite acceptable. I need to use 24mg liquid instead of 12mg, but that's about the only issue.
Since Halo charge about 50% more than what I paid, I'll recommend the technology, but not the brand.

Yes... for what they are, quite good. :)
 

smkfree

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Nov 9, 2014
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I use V2 Cig-a-likes for over 5 months now. I am very happy with them. Got me completely off smoking after 35+ years. I like the V2 EX Blank mini tanks with liquid also, they last longer. I like to change flavors often and carry 5-6 of them with me (pre-filled) when I go out. The largest thing I have, for around the house, is a CE4 battery with Kangertech t3s tank. I am very happy with the way they work. With all the flavors available I can't see me ever going back to smoking.
 

hyojah

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Dec 6, 2014
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Virginia, USA
I still cringe thinking of the ~$250 I spent on v2 cigs, and the $60 I spent on Vuse cigs from 711.
I got ripped off hard.
Not into cigalikes anymore but I understand their uses, although even cigalikes are unmistakably distinct from actual cigs anyway, so the awkwardness of pulling out an ecig is there regardless. Same with physical dimensions, when I had cigalikes, I had to bring a couple cartridges and spare batteries so at that point I might as well just bring a mechanical mod, they're honestly not that big anyway- but hey, everyone is different and everyone has their own preferences.
 

Wow1420

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Feb 17, 2013
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I'm a little surprised the Njoy recharge kit hasn't gotten more attention in this forum, it's really not too bad for a cig-a-like. I think they're better than the 808 kit I have from Bloog. It's not going to replace my istick + kayfun as an all-day setup, but for a quick shopping trip, the recharge is good enough. I've been topping up the njoy carts with my own liquid, they'd be too expensive to use very often if I'd didn't refill them. They aren't made to be refilled, but you can pop off the end cap if you try hard enough.

Njoy currently has a coupon code "freekit" for a free starter kit when you buy a pack of their "flavor chambers" cartos. Add a pack of flavor chambers to the cart then type in the code. The free kit code doesn't stack with the percent off codes they send out if you're on their email list. Shipping is free, so it's just $14 for a pack of 5 cartos and the 2 battery starter kit.
 

justincase

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They didn't work for me either.
Of course this was back in '09-early '10 and I'm sure they have changed a bit, but those cig-a-likes left me high and dry too many times when out and about. Even with extra stuff in tow.
But I am glad I found them, because that is what introduced me to e-cigs and I have never looked back. :)
 

Pat Riot

Full Member
Nov 16, 2014
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Hey, to each his or her own. The very FIRST vaping product I tried was a "cigalike." The ones I was using were called "Square", even though they looked just like an analog cig. They cost me $10 each, and would last for about 4 days; not rechargeable, not refillable. And, as I now realize, a really poor vape. But, it was a start, and the first step for me getting off of cancer sticks. There are so many great products out there to choose from, you don't have to carry around a huge box mod, or a 26650 tube mod. I have three MVP2's, which work very well, and a full charge will last for several days, or more. You might want to check out the iStick by eLeaf; very small, designed well, and I think it'll do 20watts; and it's not expensive. I'm Vapin' in So Cal (CASAA Member).
 

VapinWolf

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Cig-a-likes could not work for me when I tried them to stop smoking. But they did work for a couple hrs/and days when work required it (hauling explosives). Also, they did keep me smoke free while waiting for juice (has to be something better than this once a week paycheck)
They have there place. :)
 

Imme

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Oct 10, 2013
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Hi,
Did the Volt or any other of these other brands last very long? Not in hours of vape time but rather in how long the batteries worked before they failed all together?

I've only had bad to horrible experiences with an Evod kit knock-off and a E-Smart kit only lasting a month at best, and I kept replacing the Evod only to have the same thing happen again. The B&M where I bought the $100.00 Evod kit from was willing to replace them the first few times it happened but the forth time I didn't even bother to ask them to do that again. Same problem with 2 E-Smart kits and they were genuine products. This was only a little over a year ago so I doubt they have improved.

Anyway, I would like to buy a cig-a-like (with a refillable clearo) or e-cig (not sure what's the proper term for it) for someone but won't buy those again! And they only want a rechargeable e-cig. An MVP is not an option. Any suggestions? Did any of these fare better?

Thank you. (not meaning to derail the OP).
 

r77r7r

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  • Feb 15, 2011
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    Since this thread is popping up today- I noticed while shopping that there is a new kind by the Istick people. Ismoka?? Eleaf?? It looks a little diff and has an available charging case. I think their own type of topper also but they didn't describe it.

    I'd like to try one some day also. What's the smallest and lightest now? Halo?
     

    Imme

    Senior Member
    ECF Veteran
    Oct 10, 2013
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    110
    St. Petersburg, Fl. USA
    Since this thread is popping up today- I noticed while shopping that there is a new kind by the Istick people. Ismoka?? Eleaf?? It looks a little diff and has an available charging case. I think their own type of topper also but they didn't describe it.

    I'd like to try one some day also. What's the smallest and lightest now? Halo?

    I don't know for certain which is the smallest and lightest though the E-Roll comes to mind. Here's a link to the E-Roll.
    https://shop.vapegeek.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=283
     
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