First Purchase - Newbie needs help :)

[GGcigs]

Hi everyone! I Just found this site and I'm very happy to be here. I'm looking to make my first e-cig purchase and need some suggestions. I've been doing some research today and my simple mind is starting to get a basic grasp of all the different parts and their functions. It's certainly been information overload.

A little bit about myself to give you an idea of what I'm looking for:

I'm 29 years old and have been smoking a pack per day for the last 6 years. I'm very ready to quit. I play poker for a living. I spend over 40 hours/week in a card room and take a cigarette break every hour or so to relieve stress/refocus. This is primarily the reason I've decided to quit with the help of an e-cig. It would be very difficult for me to return to playing poker without that break every hour and take a few drags. There are also other similar daily situations where the e-cig will be helpful.

- I prefer an eGo instead of a KR808 or 510. The battery life is very important. Having to recharge the battery every hour or put a new one in sounds terrible to me. Also, I'm not really concerned with having the size of my e-cig match that of a regular cig. That being said, most of my e-cig use will be away from home so the maximum size I'm looking for is that of a regular cigar. Anything smaller than that is fine as long as it has sufficient battery life (4-6 hours?). Eventually I'll graduate to an APV for home use once I become more familiar with how everything works and what I like.

- I prefer a cartomizer over an atomizer or clearomizer. It just seems like the most simple and convenient method for me.

- I prefer a starter kit as that would be the most simple for me, but I'm open to buying the pieces individually.

- Cost is not an issue. I really don't care as long as I'm getting a good product.

- Time is sort of an issue. I'd like to order something by tonight and have it delivered by the end of next week. If not that's fine, but I'd rather get it sooner rather than later so I can get to work on quitting

- I plan on getting samples of juice flavors to see what I like along side a larger amount of a menthol flavor because that'd what I plan on starting out with.

- I have a very very basic understanding of how the power system works in these things (resistance, coils, wattage). I understand that nothing will match the hit of a cigarette, but a strong hit a vapor would be nice.

Does the strength of nicotine vary in the juice? How much nicotine would you recommend to someone who just quit smoking a pack a day?

Thanks everyone!!! Your help is appreciated. I'm sure I'll have many more questions to follow

 

[bryan3501]

Hi GGcigs,
First and foremost, congratulations on the desire to quit smoking. My dad was a life-long smoker that used an electronic cigarette to quit. I never thought I'd see the day. Here are my recommendations (not everyone may agree). I would suggest purchasing either an ego winder or a mini zmax, both of which will require a tank which uses a cartomizer. The reason I suggest a tank is because you will not have to worry about re-filling very often. I've heard it be said that for every ml of liquid equates to a pack of smokes and you can get a 6ml tank that isn't too awkward to carry with you through the card rooms. The only down side that I have found with using a tank and cartomizer is that if you want to change flavors, you'll have to replace the cartomizer and clean the tank. Not too big of a deal though in my opinion. The ego winder is a great starter battery that allows you to adjust the strength of the hit. The mini zmax has a bigger battery and an electronic screen on it that shows you at which strength you're using it, although requires you to purchase a battery charger to charge the detachable battery. It's really very nice. Both are a great way to go for a starter.

Seeing as how you smoke a pack a day, I would start with a juice that contains either 18mg or 24 mg of nicotine. There are usually 5 levels. 0mg, 6mg, 12mg, 18mg and 24mg. I would suggest starting at 18mg and begin decreasing from there. I am not sure of any real good menthol flavors, but United Vapors offers an 18mg Wintergreen flavor called 'The Patriot' that has a very cool flavor and a great throat hit. I have found this to be one of my favorite flavors right now. That, or they have one called 'The Revolver', which is more on the sweet side, but amazing.

Good luck to you! Stick to it, and this is a great place to come with any questions.

 

[Texasman2011]

Also, check around where you live. do a google search of "vape shops in ................" if you find some that are a reasonable distance from you, go in and talk with some of them and let them know what you are looking for, 99% of them will help you get started with a good eGo kit and some juice. if that doesn't work for you then you can always check out myvaperstore.com or others in the forum suppliers menu in the blue under the ECF banner. check them out and let us know how it goes for you. Congrats on wanting to quit smoking. I know how you feel, I was a pack a day smoker for 10 years, it really does help. BTW my nicotine level is 18mg and have been that way for almost 3 months now since I guit. GL

 

[Train2]

TECHNICALLY, the place I play poker has decided you shouldn't vape at the table.
In reality, I do it anyway, just keeping it "on the down low" - I don't blow big clouds (if you delay the exhale, you get a lot less vapor coming out, and don't wave it around in front of all the people who'll be ...... because they can't have a cigarette!
There's maybe one or two employees who'll say "you're not allowed to use that in here" - so you just pocket it til the next dealer comes on.

Anyway - I agree with a few previous posts:
A good "EGO" starter kit is a great idea
18 mg is a reasonable starting nicotine strength
You'll want to PLAN on experimenting with carts, clearos, and different juices til you find what you really like
Most of the Ego starter kits come with clearomizers. There are literally thousands of choices...here's one worth looking at:
EVOD clearo/EVOD Ego style battery - nice kit, low price, good vendor

 

[Train2]

Note regarding above - you'll need to buy juice for that kit!!
Look around here on ECF for recommended juice vendors...

 

[GGcigs]

Hi GGcigs,
First and foremost, congratulations on the desire to quit smoking. My dad was a life-long smoker that used an electronic cigarette to quit. I never thought I'd see the day. Here are my recommendations (not everyone may agree). I would suggest purchasing either an ego winder or a mini zmax, both of which will require a tank which uses a cartomizer. The reason I suggest a tank is because you will not have to worry about re-filling very often. I've heard it be said that for every ml of liquid equates to a pack of smokes and you can get a 6ml tank that isn't too awkward to carry with you through the card rooms. The only down side that I have found with using a tank and cartomizer is that if you want to change flavors, you'll have to replace the cartomizer and clean the tank. Not too big of a deal though in my opinion. The ego winder is a great starter battery that allows you to adjust the strength of the hit. The mini zmax has a bigger battery and an electronic screen on it that shows you at which strength you're using it, although requires you to purchase a battery charger to charge the detachable battery. It's really very nice. Both are a great way to go for a starter.

Seeing as how you smoke a pack a day, I would start with a juice that contains either 18mg or 24 mg of nicotine. There are usually 5 levels. 0mg, 6mg, 12mg, 18mg and 24mg. I would suggest starting at 18mg and begin decreasing from there. I am not sure of any real good menthol flavors, but United Vapors offers an 18mg Wintergreen flavor called 'The Patriot' that has a very cool flavor and a great throat hit. I have found this to be one of my favorite flavors right now. That, or they have one called 'The Revolver', which is more on the sweet side, but amazing.

Good luck to you! Stick to it, and this is a great place to come with any questions.

I'll look into a tank. If it holds more juice that's a plus, but if they're too bulky I will pass. That winter green flavor seems awesome. Pretty much what I'm looking for when it comes to my main juice to start. Going to experiment with other flavors as well.

Also, check around where you live. do a google search of "vape shops in ................" if you find some that are a reasonable distance from you, go in and talk with some of them and let them know what you are looking for, 99% of them will help you get started with a good eGo kit and some juice. if that doesn't work for you then you can always check out myvaperstore.com or others in the forum suppliers menu in the blue under the ECF banner. check them out and let us know how it goes for you. Congrats on wanting to quit smoking. I know how you feel, I was a pack a day smoker for 10 years, it really does help. BTW my nicotine level is 18mg and have been that way for almost 3 months now since I guit. GL

I searched "e-cigarettes" in my area before I posted this and got a bunch of smoke shops. While they prob have e-cig stuff I figured they wouldn't have much variety. Then I searched "vape shops" and found a couple in my area . Based off their descriptions they are both focused specifically on e-cigs so I can't wait to check them out. One is 10 minutes away and the other over an hour. Going to check them out tomorrow if they're open.

TECHNICALLY, the place I play poker has decided you shouldn't vape at the table.
In reality, I do it anyway, just keeping it "on the down low" - I don't blow big clouds (if you delay the exhale, you get a lot less vapor coming out, and don't wave it around in front of all the people who'll be ...... because they can't have a cigarette!
There's maybe one or two employees who'll say "you're not allowed to use that in here" - so you just pocket it til the next dealer comes on.

Anyway - I agree with a few previous posts:
A good "EGO" starter kit is a great idea
18 mg is a reasonable starting nicotine strength
You'll want to PLAN on experimenting with carts, clearos, and different juices til you find what you really like
Most of the Ego starter kits come with clearomizers. There are literally thousands of choices...here's one worth looking at:
EVOD clearo/EVOD Ego style battery - nice kit, low price, good vendor

LOL. If I could vape at the table I definitely would now and then. I would be annoyed with the questions about what it is I'm smoking and stuff. Would be too distracting. Would def vape in a shorthanded game late night when it's less crowded though. A big part of this is stepping away from the table and taking that quick break outside to chill out in peace.

Thanks a lot guys, much appreciated.

 

[CosmicladyP]

Well, I am a newbie as well. I have had 3 types so far. I asked the same question a week or so ago and every one was very helpful. I ordered the Halo as I wanted something close the size of an analogue cigarette. Well, I received the Halo today and it was fantastic. I ordered the clearomizers with the kit at an additional cost, but I didn't think I would like them but I do. I can see the e-juice and it appears to last longer. I will have a video review on YouTube tomorrow. I have reviews on the V2 and updates on it as well. Good luck. There a lot out there. If you check my thread "New vaper Lady has a few questions", you will find a lot of good reply suggestions.

P.S. I like to use the ones with the blue led tip as it looks less like a real cigarette ash. Especially in public. I simply love my Halo and can't wait to see how it continues to perform.

 

[GGcigs]

Just bumping this to see if I can get some more suggestions. Going to place an order tonight.

Also, what are the pros and cons between a cartomizer and a clearomizer. They're the same thing except the carto has a filler/sponge to hold in the juice while the clearo doesn't, and the clearo uses a wick. I've been hearing that with a clearo you have to tilt your e-cig a certain way to get a proper hit. This seems kind of annoying to me. And like Train says, most starters come with clearomizers. I'm wondering why they are the preferred choice. Thanks

 

[ElConquistador]

Check out the Kanger clearomizers and/or the Kanger Protank. The coil is on the bottom and doesn't need to be tilted to keep the wick wet. I have never tried cartomizers, but I've been very happy with all the clearos I've tried.