No Sir it's never easy to take that first step, but with some trial and error you will eventually set yourself straight. Give it time but keep at it and try to experiment just don't lose hope.I'm 48 and have been smoking about 1 1/2 packs a day of (most recently) Parliament Menthol (lights) for the past 32 years. I found this board last week and read for over 2 days the various posts on e-cigs, and decided to give vaping a try, since every other effort to quit smoking has been a bust for me.
To test the waters, I ordered the Apollo disposable cigarette which received very good reviews throughout this forum. Based on my normal brand and a chart I found online, I chose the Medium strength nicotine. I was so excited to get it and say goodbye forever to analog cigarettes.
But once I got it, I was not as blown away as I thought I would be. Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I have to inhale so hard just to get anything and my nicotine cravings are not going away at all. I tried everything I read here (vape for 10 minutes, resist the urge to smoke analogs, give the vape nicotine time to get in the bloodstream), but still no luck.
After reading many more posts tonight, I see that many of you recommend not using the disposables or even the standard e-cigs that look like cigarettes, but rather a mod or something similar. Some of you also say it's better to mix your own nicotine formula. Also, some of you recommend ProVari, Volt and Ego. Honestly, I am getting confused with all the differing opinions.
So I decided to post a few questions that I hope someone can answer -
(1) Am I expecting too much from e-cigs? With so many success stories on this forum, I really had high hopes.
(2) Is it always so hard to inhale the e-cig, or did I (maybe) just get a crappy one?
(3) Should I get the "High" level of nicotine instead of the "Medium"?
(4) How do you know when it's done? I've been sucking on this thing for four days now and I still get smoke coming out. I thought it was supposed to last for only about 2 packs worth? I think I already got at least 4 packs worth.
(5) I don't mind spending $$$ to get a good e-cig, but I really don't want to have to try 5 or 6 different brands before I find one that works for me. For example, the Provari was highly recommended by some, but hated by others. At almost $200 to try it, that's a bit much for something that might not work for me. I know myself - I'll get frustrated and just go back to analogs. So I really need someone to tell me EXACTLY what to buy that would be the best for me - one that has a really high success rate, is easy to inhale, satisfies my cravings and will help me quit analogs forever. If I have to make a mod, please tell me the exact parts to buy. Also, if possible, please tell me the best place to get them (links if possible).
(6) I don't really want any sweet or fancy flavors, just regular menthol with nicotine like I smoke now. I seem to be ok with PV (no allergies), so if you could also steer me in the right direction for getting a good mix at a decent price, that would be appreciated. I don't think I'm ready to mix my own just yet, so a link to a good mix would be appreciated.
Thanks for reading this far and sorry to ramble on. But I am very disappointed so far and feel like I may never be able to quit analogs, and at my age and years of smoking, I know it will be the death of me. I am nearing the 1 year anniversary of my father's death, who died from smoking related causes after 50 years of smoking (he quit for the last 7 years, but it still did him in.) Thanks for any assistance you can give me.
I have smoked analogs and e-cigs at the same time skipping the odd one every now and then so it was on and off. At first I didn't take it seriously and so this went on for about a year. But I constantly thought about giving up I just took it slowly. Then last new years I decided to stop.
I confess since then I've had 4 packs in total at different occasions, I've smoked 1-3 analogs at random days of the week. Usually due to unsatisfactory with my starter kits, I just wasn't getting the proper hit or there was always something that drove me to it.
With each analog I smoked admittedly it tasted worse, the smell of smoke was becoming unpleasant to me.
Now I can't even stand the smell of analogs and I wouldn't touch one, where as before I would fight the urge to light one up.
That is the process that I went through. Just take your time.
First timers starting e-cigs should start off by purchasing the proper equipment and e-liquid to begin with, I will make some personal suggestions passing on what I know so far from reading through forums and watching reviews and of coarse my own experience. Hopefully this info will be some use to you and may give you an advantage. Avoid cheaper stuff that most beginners buy it will leave you disappointed. You can save money if you buy proper e-cig products first and skip all the guess work.
On the other hand some like to explore and try out different mods eventually it grows to a collection of mods. The point is to keep your self occupied/busy and away from analogs.
THE MOD:
The mod will do two things, house a battery and at a press of a button deliver power to whatever Atomizer/Cartomizer you attach it to. So choose one that supports 18650 size batteries, you can choose a shorter size but this will require a shorter battery and shorter batteries have less capacity, it could come back to haunt you when you are out of reach for a spare batt at hand, then you panic and rush to the nearest store for a pack of smokes which you should try to avoid.
Look out for; Any Custom MOD that accepts 18650 batteries with a 510 screw connection you just can't go wrong, it all comes down to price, and what design's more appealing to you and it $ma$he$ all skinny type e-cigs and eGo style and the likes.
THE VV MOD aka. VARIABLE VOLTAGE MOD:
Same as above but with a voltage adjustment circuit built in to the device that provides more than what the battery can output or maintain (3.7v). It gives you a range from 3.0 volts to 6.0 volts so you have more control over your vape. VV mod is handy when you are trying out different resistance atomizers/cartomizers as it allows you to add more power to a higher resistance coil for a greater vape production, best suited for 3.0 ohms set ups or above.
Look out for; LavaTube Chrome V2 (aka, poor man's ProVari), VMAX, ZMAX resonably priced probably the best bang for buck VV MODs.
THE BATTERY:
Buy at least 2200mAh capacity or higher from a reputable manufacturer like AW IMR, Panasonic, Orbtronic, EnerPower+, LG (or Keeppower if you can get them where you are). Avoid cheap batts as they are under powered and their advertised capacity is never accurate they don't last more that 2-3 months ether.
Look here at the charts:
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/apv-discussion/302738-aw-18650-batteries-really-not-best.html
THE CHARGER:
The best bang for buck charger that follows a CC/CV charging profile is the Soshine SC-S2 Fast Charger. Charging profiles are somewhat important if you have invested in a good brand/set of batteries. Batteries don't like to be overcharged and heat kills them, a good charger will charge your batteries according to their spec and by doing so will cause less strain which in return means less heat and longer battery life.
THE CARTOMIZER: A hybrid between atomizer and cartridge all in one.
This is where you have a choice of lengths and spec. I suggest you get yourself standard single coil 3.5 mm Boge LR (Low resistance) Cartomizer. I cant recommend Dual Coils cartomizers because if you happen to run low on juice the top coil almost always dry burns and you end up with an unpleasant taste that never goes away after.
GOOD: Easy to use, good vapor with reasonable throat hit, readily available, cheap,.
BAD: Short life cycle 1-3 days, requires a tank for a constant vape experience, can leak.
THE ATOMIZER:
Again you have a choice of spec, the traditional atomizer with a coil bridge or bridge-less that can be used ether by straight dripping through a drip tip (usually bridge-less or a 306 as they're called) or with a cartridge blank that inserts into your bridge-coil atomizer, which has a synthetic cotton-like type material inside of it that soaks up and holds your juice.
GOOD: Simple to use and very durable, good value, great throat hit.
BAD: Uneven flavor delivery, can leak, requires constant attention adding e-juice.
THE REBUILDABLE ATOMIZER:
This is where it's at, there is a wide selection of reasonably priced and expensive rebuildable Genisis Style attys, which by the way everyone ends up buying after being on the e-cig scene for some time, it's a very good investment.
The advantage of a rebuildable atomizer is it's usability and the best vape delivery experience possible due to it's versatility. Choose your set up, whether it's Stainless Steel 400 grit Mesh with a 32 AWG Kanthal wire or a Silica rope wick with again your choice of AWG resistance wire.
GOOD: Durable, excellent flavor & throat hit, wide choice of coil building material, tank system, more MPG. =)
BAD: Expensive, lack of availability chasing open orders, NONE..?
Visit YouTube for detailed review. I trust Scott and Phil great reviewers, here is their YouTube channels:
E-Cig-Reviews.com - YouTube
PBusardo's Vaping Reviews - YouTube
THE JUICE aka. E-LIQUID:
This is probably the hardest part to chose from, because everyone's taste preferences are so different and it's truly a personal preference.. And even if you find your sticking-to flavor the actual quality of the juice is then another challenge that we all face to settle.
Here's is something I came across this 10 month long e-journey on e-liquids.
There are some juices that have little to no throat hit, so you increase your nic mg level to compensate but with the increase of nicotine strength there's an increase of blood pressure and you could end up with a massive headache which in reality is nicotine poisoning an effect that wears off but still unpleasant.
There are juices that effectively give a proper throat hit and yet maintain 12mg-15mg-18mg of nicotine strength. HALO E-Liquid is one example, a very pleasant experience to vape on and they stock a great selection of flavors including two types of menthol. TotallyWicked-Eliquid is another excellent one my favorite is the Patriot Range. Ether way they are both quality products. There are tons of other great juices out there but you may need to ask around.
I can't suggest going above 18mg Nicotine strength because that is more than sufficient. You'll see suppliers advertising 36mg ,54mg ,72mg nicotine strengths but only buy them for DIY purposes where you delude it to an appropriate nic level with base and flavor liquids.
PG vs VG:
Some are the purists VG only vapers, some like the watery PG base e-liquid. Try it out get some sample bottles or find your perfect mix of PG%/VG% ration.
NOTE:
Stay away from cheap Chinese e-liquids (personal opinion that is), I have found something to always moan about especially Dekang menthol flavors which left me with a splitting headache, best avoided.
Good luck..!
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