Greetings! Intro and request for advice/recommendations for first order!!!

[vitaminj7]

Hello everyone! I've been poking around in the forums A LOT, doing research and getting informed on many topics, so BIG thanks to everybody sharing reviews, experiences, tutorials, and explaining the basics for newbies like me.
I've been a smoker for about 15 years off and on. Probably been at about a pack a day for the last 10 years. I've quit numerous times but it usually only lasts about six weeks. I want to quit for health reasons but also do NOT want to quit because I LOVE it and feel like I need it. A close friend's boyfriend told me about his e-cig experience last month (I had previously known little about them and wasn't really interested) and let me try it and I instantly knew that I wanted to go for it. After wasting a heck of a lot of time looking at the big scam company's products I finally started looking on YouTube and forums for real people's feedback and information. So based on the tons of data I've taken in and tried to process, I think I'm ready to take the leap and buy my gear. I would greatly appreciate ANY help/advice/input on what I plan to buy.
A little background on my smoking habits and taste and lifestyle: I smoke around a pack to a pack and a half a day of light menthol cigarettes. I do NOT like the taste of cigarettes/tobacco (I know, crazy right?) so I always get menthols. I think I just like/need the nicotine and the oral fixation and/or keeping my hands busy (I think that's why other quitting/cutting down methods haven't worked for me). I'm a student and am at home in front of the computer a lot and don't spend a ton of time away from home. I work part time, so no 8 hour work days, just a few hours a couple days a week and classes twice a week. I do not need/want my device to look like an analog cigarette, but I'm pretty sure I want it to have the same weight/feel. I'm looking to get a 510 set up for now and may move to the big boys sooner or later. I also think I want to do cartomizers primarily. I don't think I'd be into dripping (yet). I think I want to go with an automatic battery, but may get a manual battery now (or soon) as well. For any flavor recommendations - I don't think I want anything too fruity, but I am interested in coffee/creamy/minty/dessert like flavors.
I REALLY want to succeed at doing this switchover and have everything I need and want from the get go. So here is my planned order from Mad Vapes:

A 510 Boge Auto Battery Kit
Some Boge 2.0 ohm cartomizers (Is that the right resistance? How many should I order as a first timer?)
A 510 smart PCC
A pass-through and a 2 amp adaptor
A spare small USB charger (or two)
A bunch of 5 ml e-liquid flavors at 11 mg
A 10 ml bottle of unflavored e-liquid at 18 mg

Some question I have: How many ml of e-liquid should I have to get me started and supplied for 2-4 weeks? As a pack(ish) a day smoker of light menthols is 11 mg a good strength to go for? I think I should get an unflavored bottle of a higher strength in case I NEED more nicotine and want to add some here and there - is that a good idea? I know Mad Vapes has mixed reviews for its e-liquids but I thought at $2 a pop it would be a good way to try out some flavors while I'm ordering gear from them. I REALLY want to try some Kick Bass stuff ASAP!
I also want to try a manual battery and perhaps a different brand (Joye, etc) but don't want/need to order a full kit since I'll have 510 chargers/supplies (they would be compatible, correct?), so any recommendations where I should order just a Joye battery and some carts, attys, cartomizers?
I think that's all the questions I can think of at the moment. Oh, except - does anyone know of any shops in Michigan (besides Kalamazoo Vapor Shop)? Many thanks in advance for ANY help, questions, answers, advice, recommendations you guys might have for me.
I'm so excited to get started!!!

THANKS! ~Jessica

 

[WomanOfHeart]

I'd skip the auto batteries and get manuals. You'll have better control over your vaping and you won't have to do the primer puffs to get your carto going. You'll probably need around 60mls of juice to last you a little more than a week. I would also suggest getting some juice with a higher nicotine level, maybe 18mg. There isn't really a direct correlation between the nicotine levels you get from smoking and what you get when you vape. I would also skip the unflavored liquid unless you plan on doing some DIY. Get some standard resistance cartomizers instead of the 2.0. The 2.0 is considered low resistance and isn't recommended for use with the regular 510 batteries. If you want to go with the 2.0 cartos, then I would suggest going with either a Riva or an eGo starter kit instead. The battery life will be longer with those and the 2.0 attys and cartos work fine with them.

You can check out VaporBomb for more flavors. I really like their Cafe Mocha and Kahlua flavors. Others will pop in with their recommendations, but you'll have to figure out what you like by experimenting.

Good luck on your vaping journey and welcome to ECF!

 

[webbcm127]

im gunna say about the same thing, normal cartos, start with a higher mg id do the flavors at 18 but your big bottle at 24mg. you might like the auto bats but to start i would at least get 1 manual. KBV juices are awsome, i like the tootsi rolly and other candy flavors. i think 60ml should last you about 2 weeks the average person from what ive gathered uses 2-3ml a day...upto about 5ml. so if youve got the money to spend id get more just to be safe...it seams that when u first start vaping youll use it more then u did smoking. welcome to ECF and hope you have a wonderful day!-)

 

[dormouse]

I think go with manual batteries even if you think they will be unnatural. You will be a natural after about 1/2 hour. Manuals give more control over your drag, they are less work than an auto, they won't turn themselves on accidentally from wind or vibration, and will allow you to be able to use drip tip if you want (the autos are open at the end for the drag sensor so not recommended for dripping or even cartomizers which can also drip). And your finger hides the button - it won't look weird. I also like that the button sometimes keeps my PV from rolling off a slightly tilted surface. When you drag a manual, shift your press and release a bit earlier in time than your drag. Press, 1/2-1 second later start dragging, when almost done dragging release the button, and finish dragging out any remaining vapor.

And your nicotine - you didn't say what you smoked a pack a day of. If full strength cigs then 11mg is probably not enough (not unless you plan to vape a whole lot more than a pack's work of drags per day).

What kind of cigarettes did you smoke? Full strength, lights or ultralights?

If full strength aim somewhere around 24mg, if lights you could try 16-18mg, if ultralights maybe 11mg. And you may want to order a bottle on either side of that (one higher, one lower). Some people need higher to start. And some need lower because they end up vaping more than they expected.


And the atomizers - no I don't think so. I think for a standard 510 with its small battery you need something around 2.8-3.2 ohms. 2.0 is LR (low resistance) and I think should only be used on a fat battery 510 like EGo or Riva 510. The fat batteries can support the power-hungry LR attys.

 

[wv2win]

I agree with WomanofHeart - ditch the auto batteries and just use manuals for better performance and much less frustration.

Based on how much you smoked, I would STRONGLY suggest starting out with 24mg nicotine strength. Regardless of what brand you smoked, vaping is far less efficient in getting nicotine into your system. You just can't make an equation of I smoked this analog with this nicotine strength so I will get the same in e-liquid. There is a reason, from all the polls on the various vaping sites, that 24mg is the most common level used. There are many that vape 36mg liquid. Plus most new vapers need a little extra nicotine to make the transition. You can always reduce the nic. strength of your liquid but you can't make it stronger.

After you have vaped for a while, you will know whether to increase or decrease your nicotine strength. Another issue is that nicotine strength is one of the two elements that constitute good throat hit when you vape. The lower the nic. strength, the less the throat hit and the less it feels like the real thing.

And if you are going to get a 510, you would be better served to get the eGo or Riva better battery models. The small 510 will have you changing batteries every hour to an hour and a half and maybe even more often considering your current level of smoking.

Good Luck

 

[Rosa]

ditto what vw2win said.

plus, you don't need the flavorless liquid unless you are going to DIY.

 

[vitaminj7]

Wowza! Thanks for the quick and helpful feedback guys!

WomanOfHeart, thanks for the info on manual vs. auto. I'm a little back and forth on that one and wanted to try both, and I'll keep your primer puff 'con' in mind. Good to know I need I higher nic level too. I had a feeling the 2.0 wasn't the right resistance - must have put it down wrong in my notes. Thanks for the flavor/liquid info too.

webbcm127, thanks for all your carto/juice advice. Good to know about daily usage amounts and yummy KBV flavors

dormouse, thanks for another manual viewpoint to consider. I *was* worried about maybe feeling unnatural so it's good to know that that wouldn't last long. I guess I was concerned that I'd have to hold them the same certain way to make sure I pressed the button and kind of wanted to hold it more casually and in different positions if I wanted to. But I'm definitely keeping all your manual 'pro' points in mind. It says that this Boge 510 doesn't turn from wind and/or vibration though - which is why I wanted to at least maybe give that brand a try. Thanks for the nic and carto info too.

wv2win, thanks for another manual vote. I am beginning to rethink things there. And great help on what nic levels I will need and what to get. I was considering the eGo and/or Riva, but I think that might be my next step up in a couple months maybe. I plan on getting three batteries, a pass-through, and a PCC and I'm usually not far from a power source so I'm think I'm gonna stay with the smaller size (I know - probably a common newbie mistake, but I'm stuck on wanting that similar analog size...)

Rosa, thanks for the flavorless reminder - newbie mistake/misunderstanding.

Back to my ordering wish list - Mad Vapes is out of stock on the Boge 3.2 ohm cartos. Bummer

Thanks again for the advice and welcoming, warm wishes! You guys ROCK!!!

 

[DC2]

Back to my ordering wish list - Mad Vapes is out of stock on the Boge 3.2 ohm cartos.

Actually, you're in luck!!


3.2 ohms is way too high for a 510 battery, which runs at lower voltages than many others.
You aren't going to get much of a hit out of that kind of setup.

Standard 510 atomizers are 2.2 ohms, and that is what works for most people.
To get a good vape with a 510 battery you should be looking for cartomizers in the 2.2 to 2.5 ohm range I would think.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

Usually if there isn't any mention of the Ohms, low resistance or high resistance in the description then it's a standard resistance and should be fine to use on your set-up. If a resistance is specified, then you'll want what DC2 said.

 

[dormouse]

Standard 510 attys are 2.2 ohms? Sorry I led you wrong on that.

 

[JDubya71]

I just started vaping last week after talking to a buddy at work and picking his brain. He has vaped for over a year and he recommended vapor4life. I got the manual kit and a bunch of carts to try different flavors. I have a few I like and done more reading here on ECF about juice vendors.
I got the KR808 and enjoy the trouble free approach of not having to mess with attys, just a cart and a battery. I like the manual better than the auto that he let me try so I went with that. I love the pass-thru though, great for home use.

 

[Rosa]

I just started vaping last week after talking to a buddy at work and picking his brain. He has vaped for over a year and he recommended vapor4life. I got the manual kit and a bunch of carts to try different flavors. I have a few I like and done more reading here on ECF about juice vendors.
I got the KR808 and enjoy the trouble free approach of not having to mess with attys, just a cart and a battery. I like the manual better than the auto that he let me try so I went with that. I love the pass-thru though, great for home use.

A lot of people love the kr808d-1, the only problem that I have with them is that you can't choose to use them any other way (dripping, cart/atty combo) if you just want to try it someday in the future. I mean, of course, you can get a 808-510 adapter but why close doors. At least with the 510 you can still choose to get cartomizers if you want to, but you can try dripping too if you want.

 

[vitaminj7]

Aaaggghhh, the cartomizer resistance issue is confusing the heck out of me! I sent an email to Mad Vapes to ask about it and will report their answer here. My journey/research continues...
Thanks, guys!

 

[Rosa]

I never paid much attention to resistance. If I'm using a 510, I get standard 510 attys or cartos. If it doesn't say anything about resistance in the info blurb but it just says "510" then I know it's the right one.