Ex smokers, I have a question...

[NealBJr]

In another thread, we were talking about addiction. It ran across my mind the people who have multitudes of mods, and the bright and shiny's. Something sparked a curiosity in me...

When you were a smoker, how much smoking "accessories" did you have? For example, to smoke, all you need is a pack of cigarettes and a Bic Lighter. Did you have a Zippo lighter? did you roll your own cigarettes? did you have fancy cigarette cases? Did you buy the "premium cigarettes" like Dunhill?

...and now that you're vaping.... do you have many mods with many toppers? do you match your atomizers with the batteries for style? have you bought a mod/atomizer for it's looks more than it's functionality? do you vape premium E-liquid?

I'll begin as an example.

When I smoked, I smoked the cheapest cigarettes. in my mind, I didn't want to pay extra for an addiction. I did, however, have a few zippo lighters, and I carried a portable ashtray so I wouldn't litter.

Now that I vape, I have a few mods. I am more concerned about how they vape rather than how they look. my mods tend to follow the functionality over form, and my atomizers are the same. I probably have five mech mods, two VV/VW mods (broken) that was replaced with one VV/VW mod. I drip occasionally, but it's not a big part of my vaping. I vape fairly inexpensive juice, with cost being a major factor in deciding what I get, followed by taste within my budget.


So, in short, my vaping habits parallel my smoking habbits... function over form with a few shineys. Price being a major factor in my decision making process.

 

[Spidey2011]

I had one zippo and my camels. That was it. Now I have 3 mods, a cigalike, a bunch of juices, and getting more stuff all the time.

 

[sgilners]

good question. I smoked the premium smokes, I think I figured the more I pay the healthier they would be. haha so stupid looking back at the reasoning I would convince myself of. however compared to the cheap indian smokes they did make me hack less. but other than the premium smokes I just had a cheap lighter and nothing fancy at all. im still new to vaping but I am constantly upgrading. not because of looks or anything, but just to keep vaping interesting and make sure I never go back to spending 11 or 12 bucks a pack on killing myself.

 

[jambi]

Cheapest cigs, cheapest lighter, cheapest ashtray, and nothing else.

 

[Codechopper]

Cheap cigs, just a bic, a soda can as an ashtray.

When I started vaping, I just ran with a ego 650 for a while, then got caught up in watching reviews on youtube and just wanted everything. I nipped that in the bud though and settled on three...my ego 650 (for flavors and sampling), ego 1500 spinner (for work) and Tesla mod with a Nautilus (for everyday and out on the town). I realized that buying new stuff was as addicting as tobacco!

I had considered going to a mechanical and starting to do the rebuildables, but for the time being I've stopped with what I have for now, I'm happy and I'm not "smoking" anymore.

-E

 

[Big Me]

Then - RYO, Zippo (with a clipper refillable, just in case) and a portable Zippo ashtray.

Now - DIY juice, istick (with 650mAh ego, just in case) and a mini nautilus.

As long as I can get my fix, I'm happy.

 

[beh97]

I smoked moderately priced cigs. No accessories, no zippos, nothing like that. Smoking cigs was strictly an addiction.
I own tons of mods, tons of rda's, I prob have anywhere from 50-300ml of juice at a time, tons of accessories, wire, ohm meters, etc etc and on and on.
The difference is vaping is not just an addiction. It's a hobby, it's a community, it's part of my life. It's constructive. Big difference in my opinion. But everyone doesn't take it that far.

 

[SpinDr480]

I certainly don't smoke like I vape, and I think most people here don't...After all, I don't think many of us use to frequent the analog cigarette forums to discuss the latest greatest BIC lighter that just came out. I think a lot of people that quit smoking by vaping, engulf themselves with it for many reasons. For me, the hobby of getting new gear provides me with a distraction so I don't give in to smoking...Vape shops or forums like this also provide an informal support group to keep people motivated to stay off the analogs. I also think that your preferred cigs always tasted the same, always consistent.Vaping isn't that way. I love a juice one minute, hate it the next...It's all about chasing that perfect vape.

 

[Silence]

I smoked el-cheapos
I have 2 Zippos at last count have had many though the years.
no case.
Zippos were my thing. I had one with an air force logo (got stolen), one with a jack daniel's logo (again stolen), one with an ace of spades (no idea what happened to this one), a plain bronze colored one (stolen), one from the NSA complex in Baltimore (still have), and a mini one that my wife got me as a wedding gift engraved with wedding date and personal message, (still have this one also).

Edit to add what I currently have...

eGo style 650 mah
Kamry X6
eLeaf iStick
Nemesis Clone
Kanger TS3 tank
Vivi Nova tank 2ml
Aspire Nautilus 5ml
Caterpillar RDA
Lanyard
Homemade wooden stand for my cylindrical batts
Charger
2 efest 18650's
2 - compartmentalized plastic storage containers to hold all juice wire cotton and tools

So I have WAYYYYY more stuff now than I EVER had for my smoking habit.
I'm prolly gonna add a Mutation X and something like a magma before I am done.

 

[trouble1000]

I was spending about £55 a week on smokes, had a few fancy lighters including one that if you turned it upside down the lady on it lost her bikini

Now I've got enough mods and toppers to fill a large vape shop. I try and match my drip tips and tanks to my mods. I used to have a vape box, now it's a vape cupboard

Even so, I'm still spending half of what I did on stinkies. I'm happier, healthier and have a serious vape hobby. To me that's all that matters, or at least that's what I've convinced myself

 

[DrMA]

Smoking - RYO (fancy tobacco mixes), shiny windproof butane lighters, and shiny carrying case. I do miss the shiny lighters
Vaping - 4 DIY VV/VW mods, DIY juice, RTA toppers. Nothing is too shiny or overly good looking but they work quite well.

Looks like I've pursued performance and customization in both smoking and vaping...

 

[twgbonehead]

When I smoked, it was the most basic and cheapest I could find. Did RYO (but eventually splurged on an electronic roller).

Getting into vaping, however, did show some promise that I could actually quit smoking, something I had thoroughly convinced myself I was never going to be able to do. But smoking is not just an addiction, it's also a compulsion. Realize that for quite a while cigarettes have been known to cause cancer and other major health problems, are socially stigmatized, and smokers are put through lots of hoops (financially, socially, etc). Due to this, a lot of people have quit smoking (and a lot have never started). Good for them!

But, as a result, you're left with a very selected population (Those who still smoke, despite all the extreme reasons not to). Any "rational" person would have quit smoking a long time ago. What's left are the "irrational" ones, who just can't seem to quit (or at the very least, have a much harder time doing so). For many people, the compulsive nature is the one that trips us up.

Hanging out on ECF, shopping for the latest shiny, winding coils, experimenting with wicks, etc. are also compulsive behaviors. And when trying to go from cigs to vapes, one part of the equation is replacing one compulsive behavior for another (i.e. replacing having a cigarette with answering posts on ECF, or scouring the web for the latest new gizmo to buy). I think you will find a lot of people who got totally into everything about vaping, but for whom cigarettes were "bic lighter, pack of butts, flick it out the window".

It's not about how much went into smoking cigarettes, I think it's more about augmenting the raw substitute (swapping cigs for the e-version) with other things that help fill in the gaps and help distract you from the "gotta have a smoke".

 

[rgerber]

OYE! As a former pipe and cigar smoker I must admit to spending $$$$$$$$$$$$ on good pipes, cheap pipes, good cigars and cheap cigars, leather tobacco pouches, pipe and cigar lighters, cigar humidors, pipe stands and more. Not to mention the ceremonial holes burned into every shirt, trousers jacket and sweater and piece of furniture I owned. I had a bad habit of lighting up my pipe, taking a few puffs and then sticking it in my front pocket. Yep, same place where the matches lived. I am told the show I put on every time the whole book of matches went up was spectacular.

So, now that I vape, sure...I have a few ( 8 or 10) toys but the overall cost is nothing compared to what it cost me to smoke those cigars and pipes. Yes, I have four electronic pipes but so far, have not burned one hole in anything.

 

[Ricky Spanish]

I always smoked Camel Non-Filters, I would say the last ten years though I switched to rolling Bugler which was considerably cheaper.

I have a few Zippo's that I used to use, but I was mostly using disposables for the last 5 or 6 years.

My Vaping habit just started a couple months ago, started with a blu that was quickly replaced with my current Volcano Inferno gifted by a friend who wanted to see me stay off the analogs.

I have a couple of them now, I'm researching better hardware all the time but can't part with the funds to upgrade at the moment.

 

[Vicman]

Smoking: Marlboro Reds and a bic.

Vaping: MVP2 and a few RDA's and Nautilus tanks.

Basically still going for performance over flash. However, have recently found the joys NET's and higher end tobacco blends. I find it funny that I cared nothing for the type of tobacco back when I smoked (except my brand); now that I vape I tend to enjoy many different fine cigar and pipe blends.

 

[Alien Traveler]

Bic and cigarettes.

I see my vaping as a way to quit smoking. A rather pleasant and less harmful nicotine delivery system. Nothing more. Because if it I do not feel urge to spend on vaping more than actually needed. I chose equipment on a basis of its functionality-price-quality (with priorities in the same order). So, I have Vamo and a few toppers with protank coils that I can rebuild.

I do have RDA and RBA but find them unsatisfactory to my taste, so I do not use them. I like vaping as a background activity, nice complement to reading, writing, browsing, thinking, drinking… just as smoking was) So I quickly discarded dripping as it require too much attention. I like convenience; so my fogger is collecting dust (too much hassles with filling, occasional leaking, especially if it was left for a day or two in horizontal position).

I do not want to pay incoming hyper taxes so I stocked up and can survive if needed (it means I have enough of nicotine for 6-10 years).
I do not see vaping industry as a friend, just a supplier, so I do not tend to spent more than I have to (and I do not see food industry, or pharmaceutical industry, or any other industry, as friends also).

I will buy some more of the stuff, but do not know what and when.

 

[bullet08]

vaping to me is first and foremost way to quit smoking. i started smoking when i was 12. my choice of brand has always been marlboro. back then, it wasn't any different in price from other brands, and i didn't see any discount smokes. occasionally, i would smoke imported cigarettes. dunhill, export a, gitane,.. also smoked cigar when there were occasions. have had number of lighters and so on. but smoking wasn't exactly hobby. it was more of "need".

with vaping, that sort of changed. i have number of mod on the way, have more atties.. start looking into different build.. looking into e-liquids. i think it's part of the charm of vaping. it helps to take my mind off cigarettes. and i'm actually enjoying it whole lot more. and i haven't heard my wife telling me that i stink in last 8 days.

 

[the usual suspect]

In my smoking days I smoked only Marlboro reds no flashy lighters just functional, now well into my vaping days I buy the newest and the shiny things not so much for the flash but because vaping is more of an experience with multiple variables, I suppose I have already found where the cloud and the flavor intersect with the throat hit that I find suits me but that's not going to stop me from getting next newest shiny thing either. Because I diy my juice I have afforded myself that ability to continue to explore the newest mods and rdas it seams as though I am chasing the dragon a bit with all the purchases I make, but it boils down to this, I enjoy vaping far more than I did smoking and as long as my new hobby does not exceed my prior smoking habits expense I'm good.

 

[Davey59]

As far as the cigarettes, I was firstly a Camel guy but also used to add Winston and Marlboro to the mix. I would also have a pack of Nat Sherman Browns around for the occasional reward and of course a few cigars.

For paraphernalia I have countless lighters from cheapies to antiques worth several hundred dollars. I have a collection of various sterling cases and early 20th century hand painted cases, holders, tubs and ash trays.

I collect all kinds of things, I am just one of those guys.

As vape gear goes I have a hell of lot more than some and far fewer than many others out there.

 

[BrushyHillGuide]

I smoked name brand cigarettes with a Bic lighter but I'm totally drawn to bright shiny authentics, when it comes to vaping. However I think most of the "premium" juices are a rip-off; since I've been able to find less expensive flavors that are very close - too close to justify blowing $25 on a 30ml bottle of juice.


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