End of the line or just the beginning?

[Discordian]

So I've been doing a lot of reading on this forum, and on the FB page of the local vaper's group. I see so many people constantly buying new devices, constantly getting/making new mods, spending hundreds of dollars on the next thing. Now, I realize that people make hobbies of out of things and for some, this can become that hobby. And don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking it in any way. But I'm curious about those who got their 'perfect' set up - maybe through a few attempts until they got one that works or some who got it right on first shot and stuck with it.

I guess I'm trying to figure out if the people that have numerous devices and I mean way more than a few batteries, and a small variety of atomizers... are these people just the most active on the forums or are they on to something I haven't discovered yet? From where I sit now - I see myself doing a little more experimenting with various types of atomizers. I'm very happy with my T3S - but I want to try a top-coil clearomizer (most likley VIVI Nova Mini) and I would like to experiment with a carto tank. But basically, I don't, at the moment, see myself going more 'advanced' than my Spinners and whatever atty I attach to it to vape. Is this pretty much how it goes for most people or am I missing something?

 

[Rocketpunk]

It takes time, patience, and effort. You will most likely try many new things people rave about, only to find they don't work for you. This is still a burgeoning industry, and as such, many new products flood the market every day. Good lord, I've only been doing this a little over a year and a half and the amount of new stuff coming out boggles the mind. You already made the first right step in joining ECF. I realize the amount of info can be overwhelming at first, but I promise you if you stick to it, it's worth it in the end. It's just like anything else. Once you jump the learning curve, get descriptions of devices down, watch some videos, and hopefully find a trustworthy B&M near you who can help answer you questions in a hands-on style, you'll be A-OK. Just whatever you do, don't give up, and listen to trusted advice here, and you'll do OK.

EDIT: I forgot to mention: there are two typical types of quitters: those who are ready and those who are not. Those who are ready are willing to learn this whole "vaping" thing. It's like learning to smoke all over again! And nothing is easier than lighting up a real cig. And it can be frustrating. But if you can just stick with it, find a set-up that works for you, flavors you truly enjoy... You can beat smoking. You CAN!! I did! Look at the people here who did, too! It's a trial and error process until you get there. But the biggest piece of advice I can give you: don't give up. You'll get out of vaping what you put into it.

 

[Dzaw]

the activists and hobbyists are the people you see with all that fancy gear. They are certainly the go-to people to answer questions about the differences and nuances about gear, as theyv'e tried a lot, but they represent the minority.

Most vapers end up settling with a setup that is fairly "mid range" in the quality/price/performance/value tradeoff and vape happily with that for an extended period.

 

[Rocketpunk]

Don't let anyone here tell you you need a huge honking device with an elaborate "tank" set-up. Find what works for you and go with it. "Mid range" as Dzaw said does NOT mean lower quality. It just means more bucks in your pocket.

 

[MsComptrtchr]

After nine months, I have settled into my eVics and Protanks, with a couple of evods for good measure. I did buy a Provari recently, but it's a supplement to the routine, not a replacement. Right now I have no desire to buy different glasso/clearos, mods, or start RDAs and RBAs. I did try all of those things, but really, my Protanks and eVics work for me well on a daily basis. The consistency allows me to focus on my juice addiction (that's where all my money goes nowadays!) I do keep a few eGo kits on hand as backup. Oh and I did get an MVP V2, but it's sitting there looking at me wondering why I haven't tried it. I guess I bought it because everybody has to have an MVP, lol.

It's nice being in a comfort zone with vaping right now. I can concentrate on flavor.

 

[Stosh]

No need to go into the...Ohhh, SHINY, I got to have one camp.... A basic battery will work well, I've bought some of the mods over the years because the bigger mods / batteries will last me all day. Re-charging was driving my nuts...

You have a good plan, trying a variety of toppers, see which one you like best. The differences in models will make a difference the vapor and flavor you get out of it. That said, everyone has their own favorites, it's almost become as varied and tough to choose as finding a good e-liquid flavor. Read reviews, and threads about problems that crop up, and wait for at least version 2 of anything, then try one or two....

 

[Dzaw]

I tend to look for the outlying good value. In any product catagor, e-cig included, there's a continuum curve of price vs performance. What I'm looking for are the products that don't fall squarely on the curve, but offer better performance than their price would dictate if the curve were a hard and fast rule.

Currently, the MVP2 seems to be the best outlying value in a regulated device, with either a protank, evod, or cartotank offering the best price/performance ratio for a topper for a trouble free high capacity vape.

If you're into a different approach, the chinese mechanical clones and rebuildable tank atty clones are similarly very high performance for the price.

The Ego twist/vision spinner with an evod, mini protank 2, or small cartotank offers a great price/performance ratio too. For a long time, i found that 2 650 spinners with a pcc gave me more than an all day setup, with built in juice and atty storage and I could take it on the go with only a similar level of fuss to a pack and lighter.

Sure, you -can- get better gear than either path, but you spend lots more for only a little bit better.

 

[Johnnie Price]

I have finally found the setup(s) I'm happy with and a juice I truly enjoy. There a few things I want to experiment with, and I now have the disposable income to do so. But I am by no means a collector or hobbyist. I just want to mot smoke anymore, which I still do when at work. And I think I can get there now.

 

[Myrany]

It took me a process to find the setup that best suits my needs. On the upsides I learned something from every device and topper along the way. I also have a nice supply of devices and toppers that although not my preferred thing would work in an emergency. NEVER underestimate the value of backups for your backups. On the Downside there was alot of frustration and money spent getting to my happy place.

I know people that are perfectly happy with a $20 spinner and a $4 EVOD. More power to em. It is what works for them. I also know people that run around with a $600 setup in their hands and are NOT happy with it. I fell somewhere in between but I found what works for me and that is all that matters.

For those that want to know: I rock a REO Grand with a RM2

 

[LoveVanilla]

I believe variable wattage and a quality tank is a significant step for most vapers. It certainly has changed my experience. I now rock an MVP2 with either mini-Protanks or a YK1 RDA. And spend my time with DIY juices instead of fiddling with mod and tanks. Hmmm, time for some Brandy Alexander. Cheers!

 

[Gato del Jugo]

Part of it is there are a number of "moving" parts (PV, tanks, juice, batteries, etc.) -- and all the variables found in each of those.

This is also still a fairly young & rapidly-growing industry, with all sorts of advancements & a wide range of choices all the time.

You also have vapers at all different levels, from the people just starting out, to the people with money who've been at it for years & turned it into a never-ending hobby/quest.


Personally, I'm fairly happy with my set-up these days. Could be better, yep. But also came a long way in a short amount of time, thanks to ECF for a big part of that.

For me, I still need a little more "work" to do.. I look at it as, what's my current weakest link? Tanks & batteries, at this point, for example. Comes down to money, research.. then going ahead & making that purchase knowing with some confidence that you're making the right decision for yourself.


Of course, having some back-ups in your inventory is a good idea, too.. it's not like just buying your usual pack of butts at any ol' store & lighting up. If something suddenly happens to any of those "moving" vaping parts, perhaps like a battery dying, losing your PV, or running out of juice, then you need to be prepared for that.

A little more involved than smoking analogs -- but also a lot more worth it!

 

[Rocketpunk]

Don't listen to anyone who tells you a Spinner, Twist, and an Evod or an iClear as "toppers" or "tanks" is anything less than what you need. You can get set up with everything you'll need for two weeks for under $60, and if you can just hold tight and make it through those first three days, you're in like Flynn, and a whole new world is opened up before you.

EDIT: Gah, in hindsight, if the terms "Spinner", "Twist", "eVod" or "iClear" confuses you, please let us know! Because we've ALL been there, and there ain't no shame in asking.

 

[retrox]

The whole process of habitually "buying and trying" vape gear worked as a sort of replacement therapy to keep my mind off the fact that I was no longer habitually buying and using cigarettes. And yes, I do believe that just the act of buying cigarettes on a daily basis was a sort of bad habit that I had to wean myself off of. Going to my corner store, picking up a pack, and shooting the bull with the employees (each of whom I'm on a first-name basis with) for a few minutes a day had an almost ritualistic allure for me. Sometimes it seemed less natural letting that aspect of the habit go than the cigarettes themselves. Nowadays, I pick up a Yoo-Hoo or an energy drink or something, and that works. Wasn't so easy to begin with.

I'm two weeks short of my year anniversary with vaping, cigarette-free and never going back, and over the past couple of months I've found that I'm more or less done with my rampant experimentation and gear-hoarding. I have experienced many different ways to vape, and I've got equipment that I have pretty much custom-tailored to give me the exact vaping experience that I like. It's taken me many months to get here. First the mod wasn't quite right. Then the topper. I tried enough gear to be able to think, "Ok, this thing on that thing, with this other thing here, and... yeah, I need to try that. Time to fill up another online shopping cart!"

All my proverbial vaping ducks are now in a nice, neat row. I'm still keeping up with new stuff, but there is absolutely nothing out there that piques my interest at the moment (well, ok, the Aqua has caught my eye ). Nor do I expect there to be anytime soon.

So no, I don't expect everyone has to go through all that to get where they want to be when it comes to vaping. But for me personally, there was definitely a "holy grail" that I had to work (and spend) to find. I've got that sucker now, though. And my bank account is very pleased!

 

[Paksoy]

I took this crappy pic of my collection a few weeks ago ... I'm about 2 1/2 months into vaping ... not included in this pic is a multitude of eGo's and the 20+ or so mods and atty's that have recently arrived in the mail. I always tell myself that this one is the last purchase ... I'm so weak, and this is just the beginning, the end is not in sight.

 

[Discordian]

This does help quite a bit. As you can tell from my signature banner I'm pretty new. I started with crappy cig-alikes which did practically nothing for me - and unsuccessfully fought my addiction with them for almost a year. Finally moved to a Vision Spinner 1300 with MT3S clearo and so far haven't looked back. I have 2 spinners and I can get 2 days worth of vaping out of each of them. Battery life is not an issue for me. Rather than keeping one as a backup and constantly vaping on the other, I'm switching them daily - effectively running them about half way down and topping it off each night. There are several B&M vape stores around, so should one suddenly die I can get a replacement within the day. As for the attys - I'm very happy with the T3Ses I have, but do want to experiment with a quality top-coil to see how I like it. But beyond that, I'm pretty sure I'm going to stay where I am for quite a while. Mostly I was curious about what it is that the 'advanced' crowd knows and strives to achieve that I don't - and from the answers it looks like with few exceptions its just preferences or making it hobby rather than 'next stage of enlightenment', so to speak.

 

[Rocketpunk]

Holy moly, you are so right. You are wise, my friend!

I have a feeling you're going to be just fine.

If you're looking into "top coil" clearomizers, I suggest the iClear series. The iClear 16 produces excellent vapor and actually does good in the flavor department, but boy oh boy is it fragile. Best be aware and pamper that thing, because if it hits the ground from almost any height, it's bye-bye. Best you can get from cheaply-made Chinese clearomizers. The iClear 30 is a little sturdier with the same vapor production, but works best on a "mod" or bigger device. An iClear 30 on an ego battery will most definitely make it top-heavy, and if you're using a lanyard, it won't work. It'll hang up-side down. Bad things will then result.

EDIT: This is my own personal opinion, but if you like clearos do NOT purchase the Vision ViVi Nova. If you want to or are so inclined, go ahead. Get an iClear 16 or iClear 30 otherwise.

 

[weskeene]

This is some excellent advice being dished out here. I'm similarly confused and befuddled a lot of the time. I haven't purchased too many units, yet, but I've already learned a ton.

No, in a word, you don't need to buy a bunch of stuff. In fact, a simple starter kit from a reputable vendor will get you along the path and may well be all you ever need, except perhaps spares and replacements from that same vendor. It is possible to make a single purchase, add some liquid, and be on your way.

Don't ever give up, and for sure, don't ever be afraid to ask these fine people. Bottom line, who cares what people say? If it's giving you the satisfaction you want and it fits in your budget and lifestyle, then it's perfect for you. Stop buying things when you reach that point.

Wes

 

[GoodNews!]

Here's what I think:

It's more based on your tongue.

See, some people are really sensitive to the effects that lower end devices can bring. Some drier, wicky tastes, some metallic tastes, some wonky flavors. People with really sensitive tongues can taste these things as though it were burning plastic hitting them in the face. Some folks just can't. I've tested with enough devices, and vaped with enough people, just to know. I'll vape a device, have a nasty dry hit just hit me in the face, and another person will say "Oh, tastes fine."

Vendors seem to commonly have this "less sensitive" type of tongue...

The people who tend to really taste these things, they tend to get into rebuildable coils and atomizers so they can build their own junk, clean their own junk, and not have to worry about this any longer. Many RDA'ers claim it's a "more vapor" hobby, but I don't think anyone really moves on from a device if the flavor is just pristine. People enjoy flavor a lot more than they know or pinpoint. Usually, for someone to really move on from a device, either they have to have like a good but somewhat boring result out of it for months, or taste something nasty. People rarely just vape a device and say "Oh, I need more clouds.", especially if they've never vaped anything better.

 

[Myrany]

This does help quite a bit. As you can tell from my signature banner I'm pretty new. I started with crappy cig-alikes which did practically nothing for me - and unsuccessfully fought my addiction with them for almost a year. Finally moved to a Vision Spinner 1300 with MT3S clearo and so far haven't looked back. I have 2 spinners and I can get 2 days worth of vaping out of each of them. Battery life is not an issue for me. Rather than keeping one as a backup and constantly vaping on the other, I'm switching them daily - effectively running them about half way down and topping it off each night. There are several B&M vape stores around, so should one suddenly die I can get a replacement within the day. As for the attys - I'm very happy with the T3Ses I have, but do want to experiment with a quality top-coil to see how I like it. But beyond that, I'm pretty sure I'm going to stay where I am for quite a while. Mostly I was curious about what it is that the 'advanced' crowd knows and strives to achieve that I don't - and from the answers it looks like with few exceptions its just preferences or making it hobby rather than 'next stage of enlightenment', so to speak.

Great! I mean it you found what works for you. Spinners/Twists are decent devices and don't break the bank. I personally think find what works and at that point all you are doing is backups. 2 batterys, 2 toppers, extra heads, extra juice and 2 chargers. No one NEEDS more than that once they find what works for them. (Most new vapers do however forget 2 chargers and go into panic mode when their only charger breaks)

 

[Discordian]

One more thing - since several people have touched on this in their responses.

I'm very surprised by the vaping community. Not just on this forum, but IRL as well. Sure like any group of people you get a few jackasses here and there, but for the most part the people seem to be very down to earth, supportive and genuinely interested in helping. So far I've only come across one person who answered a question with "ditch what you're using and just get that thing that I like" kind of an answer.