Confused and overwhelmed

[juliebooleee]

My doctor recommended an e-cig rather than any meds to help me quit smoking. I have smoked since I was fifteen but did have a 10 year period in which I had quit smoking...cold turkey. I can't do it now. I keep telling myself that as soon as all of the stressful crap in my life settles down I will truly try but after multiple deaths in my family, a lawsuit, a mother in law moving in, a kid in jail and then some I have come to realize that there is always going to be crap that I "need" a cigarette for. I have been looking online at e cigs/vaporizers and I am completely overwhelmed by the choices. To put it simply I want my fake cig to taste like tobacco, not bacon or bananas...I currently smoke American Spirit's and smoke at least a half a pack/day and sometimes three quarters of a pack/day, I love the flavor of these cigarettes and would like something as close to this flavor as I can get. I don't know what to choose. I don't want to get suckered into buying stuff I don't need and want to make sure I get what I need. I googled local retailers and they are mostly gas stations...I would love to talk to a PERSON who actually knows how to help me narrow down my choices and get what I need...HELP!
Thanks!
Julie

 

[olie]

I would shop around online, i recently got recommended - Smokeless Image | Only The Best Electronic Cigarette | Smokeless Image Electronic Cigarettes - The Future is in your hands i cant find a bad review for them where ever i look. I ordered one yesterday and am waiting on delivery. There are tons of flavors to try, you will eventually find one that satisfies. I'll leave the pros to give a more detailed answer

 

[sleepysarahzzz]

i can't say that i have tried a lot of electronic cigarettes but my boyfriend and i are doing this together. he wasn't interested in the fruity flavors (we both got so he got a KR8081D from myvaporstore.com) and he got the "555" flavored cartomizers. he says it tastes sweeter than we would have preferred but even after his 15 years of smoking he is starting to prefer the taste of his e-cig.

i did try a disposable "blu" electronic cigarette with the "traditional tobacco" and it did taste a lot like a regular cigarette to me (more like an american spirit than a camel light, for sure)

 

[cags]

My doctor recommended an e-cig rather than any meds to help me quit smoking. I have smoked since I was fifteen but did have a 10 year period in which I had quit smoking...cold turkey. I can't do it now. I keep telling myself that as soon as all of the stressful crap in my life settles down I will truly try but after multiple deaths in my family, a lawsuit, a mother in law moving in, a kid in jail and then some I have come to realize that there is always going to be crap that I "need" a cigarette for. I have been looking online at e cigs/vaporizers and I am completely overwhelmed by the choices. To put it simply I want my fake cig to taste like tobacco, not bacon or bananas...I currently smoke American Spirit's and smoke at least a half a pack/day and sometimes three quarters of a pack/day, I love the flavor of these cigarettes and would like something as close to this flavor as I can get. I don't know what to choose. I don't want to get suckered into buying stuff I don't need and want to make sure I get what I need. I googled local retailers and they are mostly gas stations...I would love to talk to a PERSON who actually knows how to help me narrow down my choices and get what I need...HELP!
Thanks!
Julie

you can check out this forum and see if there is a group in your area. maybe you'll get lucky and find a meet or a store, you can't post there til you get your minimum new person posts, but you can read.

Location Specific

 

[badchevy]

I would be willing to bet that the flavor you think you want will not be what you end up liking. At first I thought I would only like tobacco and quickly found, especially after my taste starting coming back, that I really enjoy a lot of flavors and tobacco flavors aren't all that grand anymore. As for quitting analogs... vaping is not magic, you do have to have a want to quit.

 

[unIGIon]

The NJoy Kings are very much like a real cigarette. Theyre disposables and they sell them at all the gas stations. If u end up liking those, I would go with the above post, Smokeless Image because disposables are too expensive to keep using

 

[Kanj.nguyen]

Most vapers grow to dislike taste of cigarettes, so will you. Your tastebuds are quite dead right now because of the smoke so you cant see that yet. They will heal with time, given you stop smoking.

NJOY King is the closest taste to cigs, from what i have gathered.

Remember that the appeal of smoking is both chemical, physical and psychological. Thus, merely stimulating the act of smoking is half the battle.

You can start off slow with the NJOYs, they have a promotional sale right now in which you only have to pay for shipping and get the device for free, it works out to be around $3 a pop. Give that a try.

 

[Baditude]

Hi, Julie. We'd like to help you sort things out for you. Have you done enough research yet to know what you would like in a starter e-cig setup?

I understand most beginners feel like they would be most comfortable getting a battery setup that is the size of a real cigarette. If that is an absolute must for you, then the most popular choice will be a kit from Smokeless Image.
Smokeless Image | The Best Electronic Cigarette

I can vouch for that company as that is what got me off of cigarettes. However, most people who quit smoking with an e-cig make the choice to continue on vaping for a long time with no plan to ever stop. The majority of these people quickly advance up to the mid-tier eGo class of batteries.

What I want you to strongly consider is to completely skip that first stage of the cigarette-sized batteries and save yourself a lot of potential frustration and money in the long run. The cigarette-size batteries have many limitations because of their small size and can not give the overall satisfaction that a larger device can. The larger batteries will be closer to mimic what you are used to from cigarettes from a performance standpoint. So if you believe you can make the transition from smoking to vaping without using the small batteries, your overall chance of quitting will be higher and more satisfyig.

E-cig size comparison

Above is a side-by-side size comparison of two cigarette sized batteries and three of the eGo size batteries along with a cigarette.

My overall recommendation would be for you to begin with a starting setup such as in this blog article. Being a brand new member you likely can't view it (forum restrictions), but once you have 5 posts completed and the forum system resets (every hour), you will be able to view it. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3706-4-good-starters-setup-beginning-vapor.html

Going with the mid-level ego batteries will open up the options for juice delivery devices to put on your batteries. These are the devices that heat the liquid and make the vapor. I created a picture dictionary that gives descriptions, has photos, and video demonstrations on how to fill and use them in this blog article:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/3230-1-proper-terminology-carto-tank-what-primer-juice-delivery-attachments.html

Ego battery with a mini vivi nova tank.

Ego battery with a cartotank.

 

[Ojen924]

I would skip the ecigs and go straight to a ego style personal vaporizer. YouTube cartomizer and how to prime and vape them. In my experience you will never find a juice that tastes just like a analog. I got some tobacco flavored juice a week later I was vaping fruity stuff. 7 months later I can't even be around cigarette smoke it bothers me. And I was a smoker for 10 years

 

[thejeff]

First, what Baditude said. The PV Master title means he knows what he's about- PV standing for Personal Vaporizer. Second, I'm sorry to tell you, you're simply not going to find that dirty, charred taste; it's not a bad thing. Vet your juice vendor, get quality juice, et cetera... I was blown away by how much I enjoy vaping the juices I do. Good luck!

 

[Ryedan]

What I want you to strongly consider is to completely skip that first stage of the cigarette-sized batteries and save yourself a lot of potential frustration and money in the long run. The cigarette-size batteries have many limitations because of their small size and can not give the overall satisfaction that a larger device can. The larger batteries will be closer to mimic what you are used to from cigarettes from a performance standpoint. So if you believe you can make the transition from smoking to vaping without using the small batteries, your overall chance of quitting will be higher and more satisfying.

Welcome to ECF and the world of vaping Julie! I totally agree with Baditude, specially the quote above. I started with a mid level eGo kit which got me off cigarettes in a couple of weeks after smoking a pack a day for 37 years. I've been smoke free for almost 10 months now. A lot of people who start with cigarette look-a-likes don't fare as well.

I was also looking for a tobacco vape to replace my smokes, but that is really hard to come by. Because we are vaporizing (boiling liquid), not burning anything, it's never going to be exactly the same. My first juice order was one tobacco liquid which I liked and a couple of others just to see what they would be like. I think they were candy cane and strawberry daquiry. After a few weeks I was mostly vaping the other two. This is not an uncommon experience for new vapers.

 

[n19htmare]

I myself did a bit of reading before I got my VAMO and a AGA-2T atomizer. Now usually it's not recommended to get a rebuildable atty for first time, but I was confident and honestly, I went through about 10 coils before I finally figured it all out.

I also would advise stepping up to Mods or even a Ego kit would be a good start.

I've had my VAMO a week an I picked up a Lambo v4, a drip type atomizer and have a decent order coming in for some DIY E-Liquids.

Just by doing some reading I discovered the following. Higher quality and economical.

1) Get a Mod. Even a VAMO for $37 (for a kit!) is a BARGAIN! (Vaporbreak.com)
2) Get a rebuildable atomizer, the disposable atomizers add but they they're still a good start.
3) DIY E-liquid, fractions of the cost compared buying pre-made in my opinion. Nic, Flavors and raw materials are very cheap.

That's route I've taken.

 

[chellemmm]

I thought I would LOVE tobacco flavors, now cannot stand them! I thought I would hate anything that smacked of menthol, now I love it. I thought I would hate fruity flavors and adore coffee flavors; the exact opposite is now true. My taste buds have changed in the last month, so experimentation is key. The only thing I really KNOW as a newbie, is that I will not order any more equipment from China. It is taking WAAAY too long to arrive. I wish I had known this before I ordered my Ego set up from a chinese vendor.

Anyway, long story longer, this person who smoked for 38 years (most of them Red Cowboy Killers, none of that light stuff) LOVES TO VAPE! I love not smelling like an ashtray and being able to breathe.

I quit tobacco cigs the second day of vaping and have not looked back. No cravings, nada. I vape 24 mg at the present time and have stopped wheezing. I am loving this journey.

 

[Rocketpunk]

I agree with everything Baditude said, as well. I first started out on an eGo battery. Everyone's first experiences with vaping will be different, but I switched almost immediately. I, too, wanted something that tasted like tobacco, and quickly learned NOTHING will ever taste quite like a real cigarette. I used to smoke Camel Lights, so when I switched I wanted something that tasted like a Camel. The guy who got me into vaping explained that it won't taste like a real cigarette, but more like what a fresh pack of cigarettes smell like when you first open and smell them. Still, this was enough for me. Within 24 hours of receiving the device, I was cigarette-free. Not only that, I discovered a new hobby that I can enjoy, and a wonderful community here at the ECF.

You made a VERY wise decision in coming here. High-five for using your noggin and your curiosity to bring you here!

 

[jaydub1228]

If i was you, I would search for a local vape shop and they usually allow you to test out many diffrent flavors. I also thought I wanted tobacco flavored juice but now vaping mostly fruit flavors

 

[Mckay110]

Baditude is right on. I wish someone had informed me the way he/she did. I am on the same note. I have been vaping for little over a year and still tend to lean towards the tobacco more than anything else. Taste is preference, but if you smoke American Spirit. You might want to try Goodejuice's Patriot. Nothing is going to be absolutely exact, but this will help you to switch. Goodejuice's tobacco flavors are actually extracted from real tobacco. Their Wild Turkey is dry, taste like hay, but found myself going back and started to appreciate the complexity? of it. Nite lite vapor's Twilight is my all day vape. It's really like a fresh tobacco. But, they only offer 30ml at $15 a bottle + shipping. Try Goodejuice, they sell smaller portion 6ml, where it's not much of a commitment. I heard some good things about Mount Baker Vapor's East Coast Tobacco. They are really reasonably priced. I have not tried it myself. I have placed an order and is waiting. I hope everything works out for you in your life and in your efforts to quit smoking. God bless.

 

[Tombotronic]

Hi Julie, I was a 2 1/2 pack a day smoker and I started off with the 7s brand tobacco flavor. It may not have been exactly like a cigarette taste but it was close enough, along with the vapor and throat hit and what not, to cause me to quit tobacco cigarettes on day one. I, like most people here, have already graduated from tobacco flavors to some of the many others out there. Once your taste comes back, the tobacco kind of goes by the wayside to a degree. I think as important as tobacco flavor might be, the more important thing is to make sure you start out at a nicotine level that will satisfy your cravings. And if the first thing you get doesn't fully do the trick, keep trying and researching. It is the best thing I ever did for myself.

Tommie