Hello i'm new & confused lol

[Poke]

Hello guys & girls

Let me just say thanks for this forum and all the FAQ's and guides, it's an oasis from all the biased "use this discount code rubbish" reviews out there.

So let me give my smoking background. I've been smoking for about 13 years, started when I was 16 and started with Embassy no1's when I lived in the UK and at one point was almost up to 2 packs a day. I've cut down a lot, also moved to Ohio, USA so currently I smoke about 15 Winston Ultra lights a day. What's really pushing me to e-cigs though is that my hayfever related asthma has returned this summer for some reason, last time I had it bad was when I was about 12!

I've tried the usual pharmacy route of nicotine replacements, the gum & even the incredibly painful nasal inhaler that was like squirting wasabi up my nose lol. I've found both to give me a headache and an irratated throat and just don't give me anywhere near the sensation of having a smoke.

The myriad of products out there is confusing as hell and to be honest, after about an hour of looking at all the reviews and sources I end up needing a smoke lol. I'm really hesitant about ordering online, because it seems there's about 1000 websites all offering the same products with different costs.

Currently i'm looking at trying a starter pack offered at my local cutt rate tobaconist, they're called Fifty One or Five to 1 or something like that, they were out of the starter kit last time I was in there and I can't quite remember the name of the brand (not the online scam site brand from what I can tell) and I think they're a 3 part e-cig for about $39 for a starter kit.

From what I can tell the average winston ultra light cigarette has 0.6mg of nicotine per actual cigarette, so i'm thinking I don't want anything too strong or i'll end up with the headaches again that I got from the pharmacy junk.

My plan is to use the e-cigs like I would my winston's that is I will not vape them inside i'll still pop out onto the balcony to vape as I think that maintaining the same routine will help me a lot to adjust to them.

I know that asking for good brands is like asking what car I should buy but i've seen that some brands are clearly terrible whilst others are pretty popular is there someone out there who might have had the same smoking background that now swears by a certain product and where have you been buying them from? <---sorry if that's a faux pas


Anyway good to be here and I hope to be "analog" free in the very near future!

 

[maclean]

I'd recommend a 510 or an eGo (aka Riva/Tornado, but all pretty much the same). You can get a decent starter kit with spare battery, pre-filled cartridges, charger, etc, for a good price. Check some of the threads in this forum on 510s/eGos or look in the library here for more detailed info.

I can't help with suppliers/prices, since I'm not in the US.

mac

 

[GPAUL]

I am super happy with my Vapor King from Vapor 4 Life. Great experience so far. I am brand new, so there are opinions that carry a bunch more weight than mine. I will however say that you are making a very good decision to take up PV and huck the coffin tacks.

 

[Poke]

ah thanks for the speedy replies guys, the 510 that's the Joye510? I might just see about ordering online, something tells me that the fact that the tobaconist was out of stock and the suppliers STILL havn't delivered (gave the tobaconist a call) is a sign that perhaps I should look for more reliable online sources, my greatest fear is finding myself out of stock or with faulty parts when I first start

 

[Automaton]

I started out with a Kr808D-1 model kit (which is the same model as the Vapor King mentioned above), which you can pick up for $35. I got mine from ElectroNicStix.com and I was very pleased with their customer service.

Buy an extra 5-pack of cartomizers, 20ml of juice, and you're set for a couple weeks probably.

The nice thing about this model is that it's a 2-piece, so there's less fiddling involved. I can get 3-4 hours out of a cartomizer before it starts to get dry. They're fairly easy to refill - I do it by just dripping into the battery hole on the bottom of the cartomizer. Takes under a minute, and that's all you have to do for a while.

Eventually the cartomizers will get a little gunked up, at which point you can wash them, or buy more. I wash them. I've had hit-or-miss luck with that. But I still have a couple of the cartomizers I bought over a month and a half ago, going strong.

This model, and the 510, are the two most popular e-cigs. Which is better for you depends on what is important to you as a smoker. I'll list the SUBJECTIVE traits of these 2 e-cigs, since I've tried both.

Kr808D-1:
- Warmer vapor
- Richer taste
- More throat hit/lung fullness

510:
- More vapor
- Cleaner taste
- You don't need to take as long of a drag

I prefer the Kr808D-1, because I was a full-flavor (sometimes filterless) smoker, and warmth and throat hit are very important to me.

Honestly, I'd be apprehensive of the Fifty One. Some people like them, but a lot of people don't, and most find that they're not powerful enough for a smoker to completely give up the habit with them.

This is true of most super-mini sized e-cigs. I've tried a couple, an even the ones I liked just weren't enough for me.

As a moderate ultra-light smoker, it could be for you. But if you're going to spend the money, honestly, I'd go with something that gets consistent high marks.

The Kr808D-1 and the 510 are both slightly larger than a 100 cigarette. But still cig-shaped, and you'll get used to it fast. The small increase in size is worth the big increase in performance.

As far as nicotine levels, I would agree that you probably shouldn't jump straight to high-nic, like 24mg. But you really won't know what works for you until you try it.

Like I said, I was a heavy (30 a day), full-flavor, sometimes-filterless smoker. And 18mg is as high as I can go. 18mg is considered "medium."

So, you'll have to try it out. What nic level suits you isn't always correlated with how you smoked.

 

[Free2BMe]

My first came from a local tobacco shop. It was a 2-piece that came with 1 mini battery, charger and 5 cartomizers. It didn't take long before I realized I needed atleast a second battery...but that first little generic kit almost made me realize that I COULD get off of analogs. Do what makes you feel comfortable in getting started.

Also, I know Vapornine (one of many suppliers) just moved his business to Ohio. They have a thread here on the forum. You may want to get in touch with Ben and see if he is closeby, if that would make you feel better. I'm not sure if there are any other suppliers in Ohio or not.

Welcome and happy vaping!

 

[suddenly]

Hello and glad you found us. Don't worry we all are confused in the beginning and as soon as we think we got it figured out, we get confused again

 

[Poke]

Awesome replies

Thanks for the mini review mistress (I feel I should I be in a gimp suit when I said that) the info about the ohio supplier free2beme and the general encouragement by everyone else.

The Krd's I've seen on various youtube vids (only trusting the reviews by people who don't link websites or give you codes) and I remembered something about their batteries being a bit hit and miss from what they use to be like?

perhaps the Joye will be the first one I try, have to see if they do a winston type flavour, as i'm not too sure on the none cigarette flavour path just yet because I basically just want to simulate smoking as much as possible without the cancer causing smoke part of it, maybe later i'll try the coffee flavoured stuff, then again i'd have to hide that from my none smoking wife who worships everything coffee lol

 

[Automaton]

Awesome replies

Thanks for the mini review mistress (I feel I should I be in a gimp suit when I said that) the info about the ohio supplier free2beme and the general encouragement by everyone else.

The Krd's I've seen on various youtube vids (only trusting the reviews by people who don't link websites or give you codes) and I remembered something about their batteries being a bit hit and miss from what they use to be like?

perhaps the Joye will be the first one I try, have to see if they do a winston type flavour, as i'm not too sure on the none cigarette flavour path just yet because I basically just want to simulate smoking as much as possible without the cancer causing smoke part of it, maybe later i'll try the coffee flavoured stuff, then again i'd have to hide that from my none smoking wife who worships everything coffee lol

There used to be issues with the manual buttons and threadings on Kr8's about a year ago, from what I have read. But I believe these issues have been fixed. I've never had issues with any of my batts, and my local vaping buddy who has probably half a dozen Kr8 batteries hasn't either.

Duds do happen. I have had a couple of DOA cartos. Same with atties, any model battery, etc. It's a new market, and sometimes stuff happens.

So the most important thing you can do, no matter what model you get, is make sure you're dealing with a good company who will stand by any warranties they may have, and get you set up.

I started out with a nice big bottle of Lucky Strike imitation juice, so I'd always have something to fall back on, and branched out from there. And now... I prefer non-tobacco flavors to my tobacco flavors.

But start with whatever makes you comfortable. Here's a Winston flavor:
Winston E-Liquid - MFS Inc.

I've also bought from these guys, and was very happy with my experience.

Be aware, though, there really is no such thing as a perfect tobacco flavor. My Lucky Strike juice is good, and it has a "toasted" feel, but it's more "essence of" Lucky Strike than the real thing. Same with every other tobacco flavor I've tried.

 

[maclean]

I basically just want to simulate smoking as much as possible

I think that's the idea 99% of us started out with. I know I did. But I've since discovered that some flavors (ones I thought would make me puke) are amazing when vaped. I honestly never would have believed it if you'd told me I'd enjoy vaping coffee, chocolate and cinnamon. LOL. I'm waiting on some Watermelon coming. I see a lot of people enjoy it.

But yeah, start with what you feel comfortable with, but maybe throw in a couple of odd flavors just to try.

mac

 

[CaptJay]

This was my first kit Joye 510 NO BOX - the cart flavors it comes with though arent great but thats true of most of them lol - it's cheap and gave me an idea of what a PV was all about. I used this kit for about 4 months (although I got Joye Passthru because it helped with the short battery life of the PV and Im at my PC a lot)
The basic joye510 is the size and weight of a pen btw.
After I got comfy with it, I bought this Joye eGo - they werent around when I first started vaping or Im sure I would have been recommended this instead of the basic one. The battery life is a lot longer. The size is again, length of a pen but this one has a body thats as big as an AA battery. Not as big as I thought it would be I've never regretted either purchase.
I haven't used a KR808 style myself but they are also a popular model; lots of people like cartos (atty +cart combined) which this model uses. This model also has a PT that you can use with it, again this would be to save the battery life if you spend any amount of time at a PC.
Juices I always buy from suppliers that tend to specialise in juice (ie not hardware as well) as imo they make better tasting products. The search for 'your' special flavor might take some time and don't limit yourself to tobacco type flavors - currently my fave is pina colada! Who knew I'd like to vape that 7 months ago? lol

 

[Poke]

Thanks guys, yeh just trolling through the forums at the moment trying to find a good supplier online for the Ohio area (i.e near Ohio but not in Ohio for sales tax purposes).

Some people have suggested Rocky Mountain Vapour on other threads and he's setup in Michigan so that's dead close and he offers that JoyeEgo as a starter kit but the price is a bit harsh, i'll just keep looking around I guess until I finally feel comfortable with something.

I'll be out buying "analog's" again tonight lol but I feel like i'm making progress towards finding my first purchase and you guys are helping a shed load

 

[Free2BMe]

I'm not sure how Rocky Mountain's kit prices compare to others but remember,they have free shipping over $14.00, so that might come into play as well. I bought my first juices off of them.

 

[Poke]

Aye, still looking at various sites for cost & the security of the sites (looked at more than a few fraud posts on the main forum)

Currently looking at Cignot and their eGo starter kit with a small tobaco flavour sampler thing (looks like the main draw back of Cignot is the lack of eliquids tbh). Yet it's no tax and free shipping coming to $74, bit of splurge but I suppose the initial starter kit purchase always is. Still not going to hit the purchase button just yet, lol i'll end up like my dad who would always make up spreadsheets whenever he was going to spend on anything

 

[LowThudd]

This is the best price your going to find: Tasty Vapor

 

[Pav]

I can vote for litecig, truesmoker and Vapor4Life being reputable dealers. The KR808 2 piece is my choice.

I alos wanted to replicate smoking, but I've found that cappucino from V4L is my go to cartomizer. They have sampler packs that allow you to try different flavors and they will almost alwayd throw in some freebie cartos for you to try.

Good luck.

 

[Poke]

Thanks guys I truelly appreciate the info updates

 

[myrc60]

I just got my Joye 510 today from strictlyejuice. Ships from California via First Class Mail for free. use 10percent for coupon code to knock 10% off your total.

No drawbacks here yet.

 

[joeboy]

i have an ego...love it...but there is a learning curve....but it got me off analogs so i'm willing to embrace the learning curve.. .

 

[Silkies70]

Hello guys & girls

Let me just say thanks for this forum and all the FAQ's and guides, it's an oasis from all the biased "use this discount code rubbish" reviews out there.

So let me give my smoking background. I've been smoking for about 13 years, started when I was 16 and started with Embassy no1's when I lived in the UK and at one point was almost up to 2 packs a day. I've cut down a lot, also moved to Ohio, USA so currently I smoke about 15 Winston Ultra lights a day. What's really pushing me to e-cigs though is that my hayfever related asthma has returned this summer for some reason, last time I had it bad was when I was about 12!

I've tried the usual pharmacy route of nicotine replacements, the gum & even the incredibly painful nasal inhaler that was like squirting wasabi up my nose lol. I've found both to give me a headache and an irratated throat and just don't give me anywhere near the sensation of having a smoke.

The myriad of products out there is confusing as hell and to be honest, after about an hour of looking at all the reviews and sources I end up needing a smoke lol. I'm really hesitant about ordering online, because it seems there's about 1000 websites all offering the same products with different costs.

Currently i'm looking at trying a starter pack offered at my local cutt rate tobaconist, they're called Fifty One or Five to 1 or something like that, they were out of the starter kit last time I was in there and I can't quite remember the name of the brand (not the online scam site brand from what I can tell) and I think they're a 3 part e-cig for about $39 for a starter kit.

From what I can tell the average winston ultra light cigarette has 0.6mg of nicotine per actual cigarette, so i'm thinking I don't want anything too strong or i'll end up with the headaches again that I got from the pharmacy junk.

My plan is to use the e-cigs like I would my winston's that is I will not vape them inside i'll still pop out onto the balcony to vape as I think that maintaining the same routine will help me a lot to adjust to them.

I know that asking for good brands is like asking what car I should buy but i've seen that some brands are clearly terrible whilst others are pretty popular is there someone out there who might have had the same smoking background that now swears by a certain product and where have you been buying them from? <---sorry if that's a faux pas


Anyway good to be here and I hope to be "analog" free in the very near future!

Yeh, e-cigs are better. I've been smoke free for a month now and love it! My senses have returned. No more smelly hair and clothes! Not to mention yellow teeth!