Hi! New here and mor than a little confusd!

[lorijean23]

Hi All. I am new to this forum, and if anyone can anwser a couple of questions it would be much appreciated! I have been looking around the forum (very nice BTW- so glad I found it), and am in a complete quandry as to which starter kit (brand) to buy.
A little history on myself- I am 38 yrs old and have been smoking since I have been 16 (yikes) I have quit a few times in the past- once cold turkey, once with Accupuncture (really worked well for a short time but no long term results) and once with Chantix (ugg is all I have to say about that one) I smoke Marlboro lights, about 10 to 14 ciggs a day. I am also an RN, so I cant smell like smoke when I go to work ( I also fully realize the dangers of cigg)
I really want this e-cig thing to work, but I dont know where to start. I know me, and if I get it wrong right off the bat I will be very unlikey to try anything else.
Can someone please recommend a good starter kit/ brand. I was also thinking of using the prefilled carts, but I see a lot of people on the forum prefer the liquid . Is that complicated to use?
I would really appreciate any feedback, and thanks in advance!

 

[Elphaba13]

I'd recommend the ego (not tank, just standard) to start. And get good juice. If you don't love the juice, you won't stick with it.

Head over to Freedomsmokeusa.com. The juices are amazing, and they also sell the ego. An welcome!

 

[harleybluz]

I, personally, like the joyetech 510 manual but I use a 'cartomizer' on them instead of the cartridge because they hold more juice and last quite a long time. The manual is just a button you push to turn on the battery so it last longer. I've had great luck with it and now that I've moved on to the Reo (expensive) I still use the 510 when I have a beer. I love it but others will also have their favorites. If you end up getting this, you might want to order one box of cartomizers and try the cartridges that come with it vs the cartomizers and see what you prefer. Good luck honey.

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

Hello and welcome....
You can get an eGo much cheaper at Liberty-flights.com click on 20% off link at top left on their homepage....
Or you can look at an 510 started kit......
Do you have a preference to how long you want the battery to last before re-charge? The eGo will last longer than the 510, but the 510 is more of a cig size...
Let us know.

 

[Fiore V]

Hey lori, Welcome I am sure you will get many responses. Try not to get bogged down with all the technical stuff. It will drive you crazy. Just remember you will quit smoking. Period. Invest in a good kit. You can't go wrong with an ego like device to start off. Get a few cartomizers and 2 or 3 small bottles of juice. 1 bottle being 18-24 mg of a tobacco flavor. The new Echo is a great kit to start off with. Try to keep it simple at first.
Good luck. You can succeed!

 

[Mr. P]

I would recommend kr808d-1 with a cartomizer. Since you are just starting out these look and feel more like an anolog and you need to find a good flavor that you will like and stick with. FreedomsmokeUSA has thousands of flavors and will mix anything that you could possibly want. Prefilled cartos are limited on thier flavors and I find that most people go back to analogs because they can't find a flavor that they like.
There are dozens of vendors that sell good starter kits but the stock flavors that come with them have a lot to be desired. Get a starter kit and order some sample flavors to try out and hang in there.

 

[cricket1176]

Welcome to the board

A good starting point is always the Electronic Cigarette - Starter Kits - Riva 510 I got the Lite bundle but you might want to take a look at the one that comes with the cartomizers. Be sure to click on the 20% off button that is in the top left hand corner of the screen.

That said, I do still use the regular Joye 510's on occasion but the batteries do not last that long at all.

As far as juice goes...that is all a matter of opinion and is different for everyone. My hubby who smoked Marlboro Lights had no problem making the switch while vaping the USA's Favorite Blend-24mg (we got ours from Awesomevapor.com $8 for 16ml). The only juice we got from Liberty-Flights was the Hotel & neither of us cared for it.

Good luck with your journey, try not to get too overwhelmed, lol. This forum is fantastic but it is very easy to get get lost in all the information

 

[CBB]

Welcome to ECF. All of the recommendations thus far have been good for your smoking habit. Joye 510 and KR808D-1 are both great for light smokers. They have a shorter battry life but its not that big a deal for light smokers. an eGo or eGo clone such as Riva T-rex and others have a bigger battery and longer life they can also use hotter atomizers and and should last you all day on one battery charge.

Any of these models can be found as a starter kit for less than $45, You will have a few additional expenses, most people find cartomizers (combined atomizers and cartridges) easier to use but most kits come with atomizers and cartridges. Carto's don't' last as long but they are more convenient. You will also need to buy some juices I would start with juices from at least two different sources to start. Some people have trouble with 100% PG juices a blend of pg and VG helps, at least 20% vg makes PG easier to vape. 100% VG juice can be vaped but it will not taste as good and it will "gum up" your equipment faster.

Take your time ask questions we are glad to help, make sure you are getting what is going to be best for you.

 

[ncargrl]

Welcome to the forum! You have some good questions, and you will get a lot of good answers. It IS confusing and there will be a lot of recommendations. I started vaping in Oct. last year after 35 years of smoking. I started out with a 510 kit from Liberty Flights (with the coupon code, you will save lots!). It was only a month or so before I upgraded to an Ego (once again, I ordered from Liberty Flights). I upgraded because I needed a battery that would last me most all day. That's my story.
Just remember, though; no matter what kit or what style of ecig that you decide on, the important thing to remember is that you made a decision to quit smoking-that's the most important decision of all. I love Freedomsmokes, Gourmet Vapors, and Alien Visions for their eliquids; but have fun experimenting and enjoying a new world without smelling like an ashtray or putting all those harmful chemicals into your body!

 

[lorijean23]

Thanks for all of your anwsers so quickly. I was looking at the vapor4 life kits bc they have the combined cartomizers prefilled. Does anyone have experience with this brand? I am a liitle wary of the carts that you have to fill yourself- I think you have to let them soak ? Overnight? I guess I just dont understand how/when to fill them. If anyone has any pointers on this it would be appreciated. Also- since I smoke Marlboro lights what mg Nicotine would be equal??? What is the difference between manual and automatic?
Thanks again.
Mr. P you suggested kr808d. Which one is this?

 

[CBB]

Kr808D-1 is the VaporKing model that V4L sells.

Refilling cartos is easy and as for letting them soak 10-20 minutes is more than enough time. Just fill several at a time and they will be ready when you need them.

Manual batteries are strongly recommended by most, auto batteries are nice but can be damaged to juice leaks, manual batteries will not be damaged if there is a leak.

 

[KirtBacken]

Welcome to the board, ego is a good choice for starter kit. In manual you will have to press a switch and puff but you wont have to press any switch when you will use automatic,

 

[ZeldaKitty]

Lorijean,

Welcome! You and I have a lot in common! I'm an RN too and started smoking when I was about 16 . . . I was a Marlboro Light smoker as well. I always tried NOT to smoke at work as I hated to think about my poor patients having to deal with a nurse that smelled like an ashtray. But as you know all too well, work is stressfull and sometimes that's when you need a cig the most!!! I am sooooooo thankful I found ecigs. Now if things get too bad I duck into the ladies room and stelth vape!!!!

I am a Vapor4Life girl all the way - I cannot recommend this wonderful company highly enough! I feel their prices are fairly reasonable and they have frequent sales. I bought their "Ultimate Ultimatum" starter kit and it was GREAT! As a beginner, you'll probably want to keep things simple and just use their prefilled cartomizers. As you "evolve" as a vaper, you might get more into refilling your cartomizers - it will save you some money and is NOT as complicated as it sounds. Check out the V4L section of the forum - they have great videos that show you how to clean and refill your carts. You don't have to let them soak. I use the "condom method" to refill my carts - it's simple and works for me! Of course, you will find a wealth of information here about various cart filling methods. It takes time and a bit of patience to work out what works for you. By the way, V4L sells batteries that are the kr808D type - just like Mr. P suggested to you. What makes it a bit confusing for us "newbies" is that there are only a few main types of batteries being sold by a very large number of suppliers. Lots of people like the 510 batteries, but I love my kr808D from V4L! I'm a "girly girl" and LOVE LOVE LOVE my V4L pink diamond battery!

The hardest thing about vaping is finding a flavor that works for you. Again, you'll find a gaggle of info and opinions here, but truly, taste is so very subjective that you just have to try stuff. Don't be afraid to try different stuff and don't be surprised if you find that flavors you thought you'd like taste terrible and flavors you never thought you could EVER like become your favorite!

I was a bit disheartened and discouraged at first because the cartomizers I bought from V4L tasted yucky to me (tobacco and coffee flavors). Lots of people love them - they just don't work for me. But I kept trying and found my vaping nirvana! The weird thing is that I was NEVER a menthol smoker, and V4Ls Menthol Sampler pack has become one of my faves! Who knew???????? Peppermint is also one of my favorite "all day" vapes. What's important to know as a newbie is that you will NEVER find a flavor that tastes EXACTLY like a tobacco cigarette. The good news is that once you find flavors that work for you you will very quickly come to HATE the taste of your Marlboro Lights. The smell of cigarette smoke now makes me truly nauseaous. Not so great when I have a patient that smokes like a chimmney, but at least I know I don't smell like that anymore!

Finding a nic level that works also takes some time and experimentation. When I switched to vaping I was smoking nearly a pack a day. I basically took an uneducated guess and ordered a mid level (11 mg). This worked just fine for me, but many people find that they need to go a bit higher on the nic level if vaping isn't quite knocking out their cravings.

V4L sells both auto and manual batts - the difference is that auto batts you just draw on and they work. Manual batteries have a small button that you must press before you take a puff. Newbies (like me) often think that auto batts are "easier" but once you get more into vaping, you WILL find yourself ordering a manual battery because you have more control over the amount of vapor you can get in a single puff. I have both and love both!

Just remember to have patience with yourself and the learning curve - it's so very worth it! Being free from cigarettes is the best feeling in the world! It's worth the work for sure!!!

Welcome, good luck, and happy vaping!

 

[dormouse]

If you want a slim ecig look at Joye 510 manual kits (short battery life though - 1-3 hours - can you charge batteries at work? and NoSMokeVA.com sells a nice charging case for charging on the go). I recommend using blank Boge 510 cartomizers (standard resistance) with this model

or for prefilled - see Vapor4Life.com - this is a somewhat hotter drier hit than the 510 but because it is designed as a 2-piece there are plenty of prefilled cartos. (they call them carts but they are cartomizers). Look at the manual kits. Even some of the listings that say automatic have manual as a choice in the drop downs.

I recommend an extra charger for at work.

If you smoke under 1 pack a day you don't need a fat-battery Riva or Ego unless you need much hotter hits or much longer battery charge

 

[my4jewels]

Just keep reading and you'll be surprised how quickly you'll soak up the info. Initially I ordered a slim e cig, but soon got tired of recharging batteries. The bigger the battery, the longer it will last before you need to recharge. For me, I wanted to keep it simple, so I went with a 2 piece, just cartomizer and battery, didn't want to mess with atomizers separately, they're built right into the cartomizer, so no extra piece. I soon tired of my little e cig and designed my own starter kit from http://www.vaporkings.com (not affiliated). This is what I ordered, and I couldn't be happier!

•Stainless MEGA 900mAh super high capacity manual pushbutton battery for Joye eGo e-Cigarette. Genuine Joyetech!
$23.95 each, Get 2

•Replacement stainless steel cone for JoyeTech eGo e-Cigarette
$5.95, Get 1

•USB battery charger for Joyetech eGo e-Cigarette batteries - Genuine JoyeTech!
$7.95, Get 1

•Home 110VAC to USB 5v 2000mAh wall adapter power port
$9.95

•A package of FIVE (5) Joye 510 compatible e-Cigarette 2.0 Ohm low resistance blank cartomizers (This is NOT Genuine Joyetech!)
$8.95 each pkg. Get as many as you want, they come blank, and you can refill them many times very easily.
Vaporkings has a great video on how-to fill these the 1st time.

You'll also need some e juice. I really like his Nuhport.
I got my other flavor from http://www.juicyvapors.com. They have over 600 flavors.

Feel free to ask me any further questions.

 

[turbodog]

Welcome - these peeps are great with their info.

I started vaping less than 2 weeks ago but I started with the Joye 510 and constantly was carrying my extra battery and charger with me everywhere I went. Just recently switched to the ego and am quite happy so far. Only one battery all day and I constantly vape. My original concern was I wanted something close in size to an analog the Joye510 was just not strong enough for me. Ego can keep up with me.

I also smoked Marlboro lights and I originally ordered 12mg (that's what was recommended) - that was just not enough for me. I ordered 24mg but it has a bit harsher flavor, so I mix the 2 together (18 mg) and that seems to work. Still use the 24mg in the moring with my coffee.

One piece of advice that has worked well for me was to cut the carts in half. That really changed my whole vaping experience.

And one last thing - stick with it. I did everything wrong in the beginning and was getting frustrated - like everyone says it's a learning process.

 

[phillydave]

And get good juice. If you don't love the juice, you won't stick with it.

This is so true, when I started, I bought a whole bunch of flavors and found that cherry was the only one out of the bunch that I actually enjoyed. I ran out of it quickly and didn't re-order any more figuring I would just use up the rest of the flavors that I had bought. Big mistake. Lesson learned: Stock up on your preferred flavor(s).

 

[webgeek]

I'll second or third or whatever the people who say find a juice you like. If you don't like the taste, you won't stick with it. Personally, I'd recommend buying sampler packs from several different vendors. Find two or three flavors you really like, then stock up. Seems like around $15 is pretty normal for a 30mL bottle, but there are places that are more expensive and some that are cheaper.

The PV you get depends a lot on the trade-offs you're willing to make. A small, analog-looking device won't last as long between charges. Something with a big battery isn't going to look or feel like a regular cigarette but will last for a while between charges. Also, understand that there's a good chance you're going to be buying for a while. It seems like everyone has gone through at least a couple of different PVs before they found one they liked (I've bought three kits, myself, and may soon be buying a fourth).

You can buy prefilled carts, but I suspect it's quite a bit cheaper to buy blanks, some juice and fill your own.

There's a lot of information on this forum, and some of the most helpful people you're likely to run into on the interwebs. Good luck.

 

[dormouse]

Re Vapor4Life - if you don't run the cartos dry and singe them, you can get at least several days use out of each. Choose manual batteries. If a carto leaks it will leak right at the spot where an auto battery can be more easily damaged or killed. Auto batteries can also turn on accidentally from wind or vibration. The standard Vapor4Life batteries are 280mah so about 60% more charge than standard 510. And if you want to start with prefilled then a Vapor4Life/KR808D-1 is your best choice.

Lights smoker - I would say try their 18mg and their 11mg, The 18mg can have a lot of TH (throat hit) on that model because it and similar 2-pieces do run a bit hotter than other minis. Their Cowboy or WOW Cowboy is their Marlboro-alike. I like thei WOWboy (a deep cocoa tobacco flavor, and WOWBoy is the same with some mint added - both can be tried in the WOW Tobacco sampler plack of cartos). I like their WOW Vanilla too and those are a good flavor or topping off with any fruit flavor juice.

If you buy blank cartos and fill them (18+ drops) with fairly thin eliquid (V4L non-VG liquids or other liquids with 30% or less VG in the base) and clean up the carto, I find laying it on different sides for 15-20 minutes is enough to get all fo the stuffing damp. If you use thicker juice then you may need to let a freshly filled carto settle a lot longer. but no waiting is needed when you just add juice. When I am vaping, if the vapor seems a bit light or a bit dry or the carto is getting warmer than normal, I take it off the battery, open it, add a bit of juice, clean up, and continue to vape. I often use a plastic or delrin drip tip as a mouthpiece on the carto - nice size for the lips and easy to pull out to add liquid.

Whatever you get, you will be adding liquid. It just isn't very economical if you use a carto once and throw it away. Why use up 1-2 cartos per day when you can get 4 days or more use out of each. Of course if you are rich then you certainly can buy lots of cartos and do exactly that. I find some of the Vapor4Life flavors too strong and harsh. 11mg is less harsh than 18mg. And you can top the cartos off with juices from elsewhere that have smoother hits (like juices with 20-30% VG in them).

You can also try cartos from Bloogplanet, Smoketip, VapeSafe but I don't know if any of those are as easy to refill. Some may need messier tricks like pushing the juice in with a "carto condom" (the little silicone caps that come on the ends of most cartos).

The other best choice for a slim ecig is the Joye 510 manual (Cignot.com and elsewhere). The standard size is only 180mah but if you keep the other battery charged then that is not a problem. I have chargers at work. I have the nice PCC charging case from NoSMokeVA.com for charging on the go. I use blank Boge 510 (standard resistance) cartomizers which are very nice cartos and usually give me a week or more of reuse. There is also a 1-inch longer 510, the Joye Mega XL (128mm long with a cartomizer, and 60% more battery charge, same charge as standard Vapor4Life). These are very nice, the only downside being the PCC for these is metal and not roomy at all. Another downside for you might be that there are very very few prefilled cartos for 510. Nice thing about Joye 510 manual is they are totally sealed on the threaded end so very safe with refilling cartos, very safe for dripping on an atomizer to test juices. Another nice thing is 510 is the biggest family of stuff - upgrade paths, styles of cartomizers, even little tanks some people like (but they don't hold as much as a cartomizer). Re upgrades path - I actually carry a charged Riva 510 battery with me. If I ever screw up charging the slim ecigs or are stuck away from power for many hours, I can vape my cartos on the 750mah Riva 510 battery (and I do sometimes just because it give a bit bigger warmer hit).

If you want a slim ecig, one of those two are most recommended.

 

[kittypie]

And if you're anything like me, plan on spending your water bill money on cartos/juice instead