Complete newbie, need advice on first purchase

[BasePredations]

I've never been particularly addicted to cigarettes, but I just quit a year-long on-and-off extra stark snus (smokeless tobacco) habit. It's going really well, though I find I get really bored now, very easily. Probably because the nicotine was sort of a boredom reliever. In the last week I've bought a pack of cigarettes to substitute (I can't get snus in the UK very easily), so I thought I'd get an e-cigarette instead.

I live in Scotland, and there are a couple of vaping shops here in Edinburgh, but I'm unsure if the gear they sell is good. I'm looking for a decent starting kit, or something along those lines. I'm not too concerned with the details, but preferably not too expensive, while still giving a decent amount of smoke, if you know what I mean. I've tried some e-cigarettes, and I found they're quite hard to draw from, which was kind of annoying.

So, as a complete newbie I'm absolutely clueless. Cartomizer? Atomizer? Cartridge? Battery? Welp. It's a bit daunting.
I'm not really interested in getting several kits at first, a jack of all trades, master of none sort of thing would do. Though I can get one shipped from the UK it'd obviously be more convenient. Still, that's not required.

I'm really sorry, you guys must terribly tired of posts like this.

 

[VaperGlock]

I've never been particularly addicted to cigarettes, but I just quit a year-long on-and-off extra stark snus (smokeless tobacco) habit. It's going really well, though I find I get really bored now, very easily. Probably because the nicotine was sort of a boredom reliever. In the last week I've bought a pack of cigarettes to substitute (I can't get snus in the UK very easily), so I thought I'd get an e-cigarette instead.

I live in Scotland, and there are a couple of vaping shops here in Edinburgh, but I'm unsure if the gear they sell is good. I'm looking for a decent starting kit, or something along those lines. I'm not too concerned with the details, but preferably not too expensive, while still giving a decent amount of smoke, if you know what I mean. I've tried some e-cigarettes, and I found they're quite hard to draw from, which was kind of annoying.

So, as a complete newbie I'm absolutely clueless. Cartomizer? Atomizer? Cartridge? Battery? Welp. It's a bit daunting.
I'm not really interested in getting several kits at first, a jack of all trades, master of none sort of thing would do. Though I can get one shipped from the UK it'd obviously be more convenient. Still, that's not required.

I'm really sorry, you guys must terribly tired of posts like this.

Just my opinion but if you can get ahold of a iTaste MVP (better battery life) with a Protank 2 or a iTaste VV3 (smaller and more convenient for going out and about) with a mini Protank 2. I have both and use them daily. Then eventually you can branch out from there.

 

[Vikaernes]

It's a complex question really that probably requires more information. What is it that hooked you to cigarettes and keeps you there? Is it the look and feel of a cigarette along with the nicotine itself? I always suggest that people who really have the oral fixation thing going on with a cigarette start with the cigalike style e-cigs (the ones that are made to look like cigarettes that you see in smoke shops, on TV, etc.) There are some very good kits you can get online from manufacturers like greensmoke and v2 that will help you to deal with that aspect of the addiction first and foremost, along with delivering the nicotine to satisfy your needs. I personally found though, that after that, I wanted more, so I graduated up to eGo style batteries and clear tanks, eventually moving to the big battery devices I enjoy now. It is a daunting, overwhelming thing to try to get into, but it really is worth it. My advice is take it slow, research the hell out of all of the different devices out there, and don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you can!

 

[Buggainok]

I've never been particularly addicted to cigarettes, but I just quit a year-long on-and-off extra stark snus (smokeless tobacco) habit. It's going really well, though I find I get really bored now, very easily. Probably because the nicotine was sort of a boredom reliever. In the last week I've bought a pack of cigarettes to substitute (I can't get snus in the UK very easily), so I thought I'd get an e-cigarette instead.

I live in Scotland, and there are a couple of vaping shops here in Edinburgh, but I'm unsure if the gear they sell is good. I'm looking for a decent starting kit, or something along those lines. I'm not too concerned with the details, but preferably not too expensive, while still giving a decent amount of smoke, if you know what I mean. I've tried some e-cigarettes, and I found they're quite hard to draw from, which was kind of annoying.

So, as a complete newbie I'm absolutely clueless. Cartomizer? Atomizer? Cartridge? Battery? Welp. It's a bit daunting.
I'm not really interested in getting several kits at first, a jack of all trades, master of none sort of thing would do. Though I can get one shipped from the UK it'd obviously be more convenient. Still, that's not required.

I'm really sorry, you guys must terribly tired of posts like this.

First, welcome to the forum. And I've found everyone here to be extremely patient with new comers, so don't worry about that.

I've seen quite a few folks from the UK who post here, and I hope they see your post and respond. I'm sure they will have some good suggestions about where you can find what you need.

 

[DavidAmonettNashville]

eGo 650mAh w/ CE4 Clearomizer Blister Pack Starter Kit - MyFreedomSmokes.com

 

[MichaelVL]

Check out this quick read for a crash course for beginners. It discusses the basics of vaping hardware.
Introduction To E - Cigs

 

[GreenDragon5]

I started with the cigarette looking e-cigs, and quickly moved up to an eGo setup. Right now I have a couple of mechanical mods, a VAMO, and rebuildable atomizers. Then again I have been vaping for about three years now, and have found that I really enjoy vaping over smoking. That and I keep finding cool new stuff that keeps me interested in continuing to vape. If you can I would start with an eGo kit. They are fairly easy to set up, decently cheap, and a great way to get started. If they have them go for the 1100 mAh (milli Amp hours) batteries as they will last you a lot longer between charges. Cartomizers are decent, although I found that I really like atomizers over cartos. I would not go with a clearomizer (especially things like the protank) to start off with. As far as e-liquid goes, that is very subjective. Not everyone likes the same stuff, and you will find that your tastes may even change over time. hope this helps!

 

[BasePredations]

It's a complex question really that probably requires more information. What is it that hooked you to cigarettes and keeps you there? Is it the look and feel of a cigarette along with the nicotine itself? I always suggest that people who really have the oral fixation thing going on with a cigarette start with the cigalike style e-cigs (the ones that are made to look like cigarettes that you see in smoke shops, on TV, etc.) There are some very good kits you can get online from manufacturers like greensmoke and v2 that will help you to deal with that aspect of the addiction first and foremost, along with delivering the nicotine to satisfy your needs. I personally found though, that after that, I wanted more, so I graduated up to eGo style batteries and clear tanks, eventually moving to the big battery devices I enjoy now. It is a daunting, overwhelming thing to try to get into, but it really is worth it. My advice is take it slow, research the hell out of all of the different devices out there, and don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you can!

It really is the nicotine more than anything. I don't really care where it comes from, and I actually prefer to get it from something like snus, the only reason I quit that is because I'm slightly concerned about the long-term health of my gums.

Although, I guess there is a bit of the oral fixation thing, particularly when I'm drinking. I go through so many of them when I drink - still, can't stand the taste the day after.

Thanks for the advice! How come you wouldn't recommend going with eGo style batteries and "clear tanks" immediately? Because it costs more, and is higher maintenance?

 

[OBDave]

I'm a big fan of the eGo batteries and the clearomizer-style tanks, particularly the bottom coil variety. After buying a bunch of the standard ones and having considerable success, I graduated to the "twist" or "spinner" style with variable voltage, and find that I'm quite partial to them,as some juice flavors and consistencies taste good with low power and somewhat burnt with too much, while others need more power to really wake up the flavor and generate a good amount of vapor.

Since it doesn't sound like you're hooked on cigarettes (or their form factor), I'd suggest starting straight away with a pair of eGo style setups, with variable voltage if you can budget it. It's always good to have a backup in case one battery dies or a delivery device breaks, and if you're not looking to walk around with your head perpetually in the clouds, so to speak, it might be a bit premature to start spending on pricier mod devices. The nicotine delivery and overall experience of the basic eGo was enough to get my wife and me to drop a 1/2-3/4 pack per day habit for a good five months, and now that we're on to the twist batteries we're both convinced we've reached a state where no further improvement is necessary. Of course, your mileage may (and likely will) vary, but I really like pushing eGos on beginners as a middle-of-the-road between buying a cigarette-sized device and deciding it's bunk and jumping straight into an advanced piece of hardware.

Edit to add: I personally feel the eGo with clearomizer setup is the lowest-maintenance option available - I had the re-usable "cig-a-like" style devices earlier and found them not only infuriatingly weak, but a nightmare maintenance-wise as well. Likewise with the more advanced devices so far as maintenance goes, unless you're a tinkerer who wants to spend time bending microscopic wires around tiny bits of fabric - I'm not much for the idea of building a model ship inside a bottle, and that's what my uneducated take on "rebuilding" seems to resemble.

 

[BasePredations]

I'm a big fan of the eGo batteries and the clearomizer-style tanks, particularly the bottom coil variety. After buying a bunch of the standard ones and having considerable success, I graduated to the "twist" or "spinner" style with variable voltage, and find that I'm quite partial to them,as some juice flavors and consistencies taste good with low power and somewhat burnt with too much, while others need more power to really wake up the flavor and generate a good amount of vapor.

Since it doesn't sound like you're hooked on cigarettes (or their form factor), I'd suggest starting straight away with a pair of eGo style setups, with variable voltage if you can budget it. It's always good to have a backup in case one battery dies or a delivery device breaks, and if you're not looking to walk around with your head perpetually in the clouds, so to speak, it might be a bit premature to start spending on pricier mod devices. The nicotine delivery and overall experience of the basic eGo was enough to get my wife and me to drop a 1/2-3/4 pack per day habit for a good five months, and now that we're on to the twist batteries we're both convinced we've reached a state where no further improvement is necessary. Of course, your mileage may (and likely will) vary, but I really like pushing eGos on beginners as a middle-of-the-road between buying a cigarette-sized device and deciding it's bunk and jumping straight into an advanced piece of hardware.

Edit to add: I personally feel the eGo with clearomizer setup is the lowest-maintenance option available - I had the re-usable "cig-a-like" style devices earlier and found them not only infuriatingly weak, but a nightmare maintenance-wise as well. Likewise with the more advanced devices so far as maintenance goes, unless you're a tinkerer who wants to spend time bending microscopic wires around tiny bits of fabric - I'm not much for the idea of building a model ship inside a bottle, and that's what my uneducated take on "rebuilding" seems to resemble.

Great reply, thanks. How about something like this?

eGo EVOD Twist Starter Kit

Seems like a "twist" version, and only marginally more expensive than the normal one.

Am I right by saying the battery (which is the main thing you're paying for, if I understand things correctly) can be combined with other clearomizers/cartomizers and so on, if that's what I'd prefer? If so, would you recommend getting another one of those, just to be sure?

I've got another general question, as well, if you don't mind.

Clearo/cartomizers are refillable, right? So, do I want a separate one for each flavour I'd like to try, or should I just clean them out between every use?

 

[matty007]

If you're going to go the Twist route I'd suggest you start with a MVP V2 instead. That is very simple to set up, and has Variable Voltage and Wattage for a much better vape. 2600mah battery so you will get a long while out of it, probably 2 days or more. Will allow you to charge your phones etc from it too. And can act as a passthrough so you can still vape when you're charging it. However you may not be a fan of a box mod as opposed to a tube style so you'll have to go on your preference.

£35.99 from myepack - iTaste MVP V2.0 Carbon Black - Mods

Failing that a Twist will serve you well. However don't get the one you listed, it's only a single unit so when your battery dies and you need to recharge you are screwed. Always get a double kit so you can alternate.

This is a good price for a dual kit - eGo C Twist Mini Vivi Nova long wick starter kit

Like others have said, the juice is highly subjective. There are some that like tobacco, while others like myself much prefer fruit flavours. The only way to find out is trial and error.

Welcome to the forum

 

[matty007]

^ Changed the twist link. Found a better one with 2 vivi nova's, 1100mah and 10ml of liquid thrown in.

 

[CreepyLady]

Great reply, thanks. How about something like this?

eGo EVOD Twist Starter Kit

Seems like a "twist" version, and only marginally more expensive than the normal one.

Am I right by saying the battery (which is the main thing you're paying for, if I understand things correctly) can be combined with other clearomizers/cartomizers and so on, if that's what I'd prefer? If so, would you recommend getting another one of those, just to be sure?

I've got another general question, as well, if you don't mind.

Clearo/cartomizers are refillable, right? So, do I want a separate one for each flavour I'd like to try, or should I just clean them out between every use?

This kit is great!

To answer your clearo question - get a few to rotate. Its easier to at least dedicate a couple to a "type" of flavor of you plan on trying a bunch. For example, 1 for fruits, 1 for coffee types, 1 for tobacco etc. Just rinse with hot water every 2-3 fills and once you pick a set up and clearo youtube "how to dryburn x" and that will give you a more detailed cleaning to prolong the life.

 

[WinJ]

grab a MVP with an Iclear30, very simple easy and the best vape i've had after trying so many products

 

[Rks_dad]

I agree with grabbing a MVP and pick up a protank aerotank and you will be set!

 

[BasePredations]

Thanks for all the replies, everybody! Great response.


The MVP does look great, but it doesn't aesthetically appeal all that much to me... might be a future purchase, though!

I'm thinking of going with the dual pack. That way, I can lend one of them to my girlfriend, haha.

Now I've only got to decide which juice to get. Any tips on choosing between the two types, or a mix of the two? I realise it's highly subjective...

 

[Heyd1127]

I was going to say something but the first person who posted already did haha, i agree with MrSolo816, an itaste MVP2 with a protank 2 is probably one of the easiest setups to work with, can produce pretty good results(taste, clouds, overall vape). I work at a shop here in WA state and i have sold plenty of MVP 1s and 2s, havent had a single complaint only happy returning customers. I myself use that exact setup as my daily everywhere mod. It also will bring you extreme peace of mind when it comes to battery life. Ive heard people complwin their protank twos leak blahblah if it leaks 99% of the times its user error. There are many ways to get better flavor, but for being a solid day in day out performer, thats easy as can be to operate and trouble shoot with, compatible and usually well performing on any mod/setup, i usually dont recommend much over it. Very user friendly very starter friendly. I hope you are able to find a decent selection of juice over there, check out grants vanilla custard if youre into dessert type flavors, hard to obtain sometimes but also born much closer to you than most vendors.

 

[Lobsterhead]

Hi, I'm in the UK and I went for this set up to start:
VISION V3 EGO BLACK KIT - 900MAH
They work well but there is a knack to using a top coil clearomiser involving tilting it every couple of puffs to make sure the long wicks are soaked. It's a nice easy kit to get started but the juice you get is pretty important, I got some REAL nasty ones!Got fed up with the dry hits from the v3 clearomisers though and went for a kanger mt3 bottom coil instead. That needed some fiddling with to get it right, lol.
I'm still trying out different vendors so I couldn't recommend any particular one, all the ones I've tried have been well priced and delivered the next day.

 

[Heyd1127]

If youre looking for a double kit, i would recommend a kanger evod kit. Usually comes with two batteries, two evod tanks, and five replacement coils. Those are very easy to operate and get familiwr with bottom coil style tanks.

 

[OBDave]

Great reply, thanks. How about something like this?

eGo EVOD Twist Starter Kit

Seems like a "twist" version, and only marginally more expensive than the normal one.

Am I right by saying the battery (which is the main thing you're paying for, if I understand things correctly) can be combined with other clearomizers/cartomizers and so on, if that's what I'd prefer? If so, would you recommend getting another one of those, just to be sure?

I've got another general question, as well, if you don't mind.

Clearo/cartomizers are refillable, right? So, do I want a separate one for each flavour I'd like to try, or should I just clean them out between every use?

That looks absolutely ideal - of course I'd say to spring for two if you can swing it - have a spare battery in case the one you're using dies out (or, I suppose, to give to your girlfriend).

Also, getting a few of the clearomizers is a good idea as well - while you can refill them, you'll want different ones for your weaker and stronger (darker) juices, as they may not rinse clean as easily as you'd like...and you may find yourself wanting to switch flavors before you've used a whole tank - no need to dump the juice you're using when you can just save it for later and pull a new tank out. If you're interested in trying "tank cracker" juices (many citrus and cinnamon flavors), you may want to try to get at least one tank with pyrex glass walls, as these juices can actually weaken and even destroy plastic tanks.I know there's a good thread on those around here, but I'm not finding it right away, so here's something on the matter from a juice supplier I use frequently:

E Juice that may break a plastic tanks | Mt Baker Vapor WikiMt Baker Vapor Wiki