Hello from Ohio!
First off, I'd like to thank the forum creators for setting up and maintaining this place, as well as all of the folks posting so much useful information and opinion in the threads within. I've been viewing threads and posts here for over a year, probably closer to two years, even though I've only just now gotten registered. I'd also like to thank CASAA (which I just joined) and folks like Mr. Godshall for fighting the good fight out there. So, thanks everyone!
I started smoking about 18 years ago. The greater part of the last 10 years has been spent wanting to quit and, until now, unsuccessfully doing so. The S.O. (also a smoker) and I have been trying out ecigs over the course of the last two years, but for various reasons it just wasn't catching on completely.
We started with ... as many could probably guess... Blu. At first I was quite impressed. The flavor and feel of it was very, very satisfying for someone just getting started. Plus the "new toy" novelty of it all was kind of exciting. Unfortunately, I quickly ran into the issue of battery life. Additionally, I didn't like the notion of having to buy the carts that didn't last as long as they claimed. I was at the time a fairly heavy smoker, at least a PAD. While my gf loved it (she's a lighter smoker than I was), I figured there had to be a better solution.
In retrospect I really should have kept it for her sake, but being tight on funds then, I sent the Blu back for a refund and ordered an ego knock off. Semi bad move. It's the next logical step up, but the batteries petered out quicker than I'd expected, as in: they worked for a good long time at first (I believe they were 900mAh), but then wouldn't charge up as much on subsequent charges. Perhaps this is really normal; it still seemed to me like a waste to have to replace that whole thing every so often. I was also kind of miffed about the tank/mouthpiece with atty system that came with it and cartomizers on it were off and on;sometimes the battery just didn't want to get them going. Nevermind other issues I've had, and am sure everyone has, with carts leaking, burning out... chalk it up to the learning process.
So for a while, vaping sort of fell off the map. I more or less gave up. Plus we were still smoking analogs this whole time anyway, even though we both cut down by a significant amount simply by making indoor smoking off limits. I would experiment with the stuff I had every once in a while, like using a cheapo little usb passthrough with cartomizers, which still works like a champ, it just keeps me locked to the computer if I want to vape.
This summer though, I was determined to get it right. After doing more investigation here and with the additional help of videos by grimmgreen and pbusardo on YT, among others, I finally settled on a Silver Bullet with a Kanger Protank. For whatever reason, replaceable batteries are psychologically more "right" for my brain and I don't have to screw around with cartomizers anymore.
My stuff arrived last Wednesday as I was outside having my LAST(!!) smoke. I set it all up and started vaping full time; I haven't had a cigarette since. I can still hardly believe it. The transition was instantaneous... well, if you don't count the year or more of not having the right set up. I can guess that a lot of you can appreciate how weirdly amazing it feels right now. This is by far the longest I've gone without an analog since I started. I'm merely a toot or two on my SB away from not wanting one of those Newports in the freezer at any given time. Couldn't be happier.
Now I can contemplate dabbling with DIY juice and tackle the issue of a PV solution that suits the SO. She's not interested in my kind of set up in the slightest, or even an ego-type really, at least not yet, but she is really really excited to join me in a smoke free future. I'm still convinced that Blu is not the way to go, so we're currently investigating Volt, Bloog, Smoov, and eRoll type options.
Anyway, that's my story. Fantastic community y'all have here.
First off, I'd like to thank the forum creators for setting up and maintaining this place, as well as all of the folks posting so much useful information and opinion in the threads within. I've been viewing threads and posts here for over a year, probably closer to two years, even though I've only just now gotten registered. I'd also like to thank CASAA (which I just joined) and folks like Mr. Godshall for fighting the good fight out there. So, thanks everyone!
I started smoking about 18 years ago. The greater part of the last 10 years has been spent wanting to quit and, until now, unsuccessfully doing so. The S.O. (also a smoker) and I have been trying out ecigs over the course of the last two years, but for various reasons it just wasn't catching on completely.
We started with ... as many could probably guess... Blu. At first I was quite impressed. The flavor and feel of it was very, very satisfying for someone just getting started. Plus the "new toy" novelty of it all was kind of exciting. Unfortunately, I quickly ran into the issue of battery life. Additionally, I didn't like the notion of having to buy the carts that didn't last as long as they claimed. I was at the time a fairly heavy smoker, at least a PAD. While my gf loved it (she's a lighter smoker than I was), I figured there had to be a better solution.
In retrospect I really should have kept it for her sake, but being tight on funds then, I sent the Blu back for a refund and ordered an ego knock off. Semi bad move. It's the next logical step up, but the batteries petered out quicker than I'd expected, as in: they worked for a good long time at first (I believe they were 900mAh), but then wouldn't charge up as much on subsequent charges. Perhaps this is really normal; it still seemed to me like a waste to have to replace that whole thing every so often. I was also kind of miffed about the tank/mouthpiece with atty system that came with it and cartomizers on it were off and on;sometimes the battery just didn't want to get them going. Nevermind other issues I've had, and am sure everyone has, with carts leaking, burning out... chalk it up to the learning process.
So for a while, vaping sort of fell off the map. I more or less gave up. Plus we were still smoking analogs this whole time anyway, even though we both cut down by a significant amount simply by making indoor smoking off limits. I would experiment with the stuff I had every once in a while, like using a cheapo little usb passthrough with cartomizers, which still works like a champ, it just keeps me locked to the computer if I want to vape.
This summer though, I was determined to get it right. After doing more investigation here and with the additional help of videos by grimmgreen and pbusardo on YT, among others, I finally settled on a Silver Bullet with a Kanger Protank. For whatever reason, replaceable batteries are psychologically more "right" for my brain and I don't have to screw around with cartomizers anymore.
My stuff arrived last Wednesday as I was outside having my LAST(!!) smoke. I set it all up and started vaping full time; I haven't had a cigarette since. I can still hardly believe it. The transition was instantaneous... well, if you don't count the year or more of not having the right set up. I can guess that a lot of you can appreciate how weirdly amazing it feels right now. This is by far the longest I've gone without an analog since I started. I'm merely a toot or two on my SB away from not wanting one of those Newports in the freezer at any given time. Couldn't be happier.
Now I can contemplate dabbling with DIY juice and tackle the issue of a PV solution that suits the SO. She's not interested in my kind of set up in the slightest, or even an ego-type really, at least not yet, but she is really really excited to join me in a smoke free future. I'm still convinced that Blu is not the way to go, so we're currently investigating Volt, Bloog, Smoov, and eRoll type options.
Anyway, that's my story. Fantastic community y'all have here.
Where abouts do you live?
