Hi new member that' still smoking.

[Eternityroad]

Before investing a lot of money in one mod or another first get a starter kit to get the feel of ecigs. I recommend the Xhale02, available at most 7-11s or online. I started this way. It is simple and looks like a cig. Then I moved up to a Riva 510, various knock-off of riva and now am pleasantly fitted with a VMOD bottom feeder. I will eventually try other mods but for right now the VMOD suits.

 

[Warren D. Lockaby]

Hi, not to hijack Katz'z thread, but just wondering if the EGOmaniacs (I say it with Love people ), typically have more than the 2 batts that come with their kits? Those that haven't bought one of every thing out there that is. Do you carry both? I just ask because if you only have 2 batteries, or only one on you, and it stops working, or you drop it in the ocean or whatever, aren't you kinda hooped?

Hi Slim (an' with love back atcha ) I'm not exactly into the eGo or clones but like my somewhat fat batt E-Power and no, I always carry a spare charged battery (non-proprietary 14650 ni-ion 1050mha), though I don't think I've ever needed one away from my cave. I have 4 which I rotate (mine cost $4 each, last about 8 hrs heavy vaping per charge), but as you say, ya just never know when one might tank on ya. I would presume the eGotists would do the same, but can't vouch for 'em.

Whatever Works, and Happy Vaping!

 

[Warren D. Lockaby]

Before investing a lot of money in one mod or another first get a starter kit to get the feel of ecigs. I recommend the Xhale02, available at most 7-11s or online. I started this way. It is simple and looks like a cig. Then I moved up to a Riva 510, various knock-off of riva and now am pleasantly fitted with a VMOD bottom feeder. I will eventually try other mods but for right now the VMOD suits.

I'm not trying to start anything here but I wouldn't take the Xhale02 on a bet, based upon a quick Google search. Much better off going with a Volt starter kit from Smokeless Image I believe, because though I've never owned either, the Volt & SI have solid reputations (and I am sure intend to keep them).

 

[Ladypixel]

I'm still new to vaping, too (all of a couple weeks' more experience), but what a difference a couple of weeks makes.

Firstly, I will HIGHLY recommend picking up a starter kit that has expansion or adjustment options, like a Joye 510 (or the other 510 clones), or one of the many eGo types. (I'm a huge fan of the eGo-T at the moment, although I also have a 510 and cartridges/atomizer.) This gives you the option to test alternatives to see what you like. For instance, my husband's a big cartomizer fan. I'm more of an atomizer fan. Don't ask me why, but it tastes different... go figure. However, both the eGo and the 510 have similar threading, which means I can experiment by putting my 510 atomizer/cartridge onto the eGo's battery, or vice versa. It's easy to find cartomizers for both types as well as tanks/cartridges for both types, and there's lots of variations out there. The 510 is a cigarette-sized gadget, the eGo a bit larger (like a thick pen).

You'll discover that you won't know what you like until you try it and go 'hey, that's it'... and from there, you can experiment more. For instance, if I'd had to stay with prefilled cartridges, this never would've worked, because prefilleds don't come in amaretto flavor, coffee flavor, caramel apple flavor, etcetera (not to mention RY3 tobacco flavor, which I love)... and for me, it's the variety of flavors that're out there that have totally caught my interest and pulled me away from the burning deathsticks.

I've gone in the space of a couple weeks from being a 1-1.5 pack a day smoker down to having all of 3 cigarettes today, and to be honest, I could've likely skipped those three. I've also experimented heavily with nicotine levels (I've been acting on the cautious side by going low, but discovered I'd get pretty nasty headaches if I went too low for too long), and have determined that somewhere around a 16 is a good all-day level, possibly with some spikes of 24 if I need a bit more here and there. I've also discovered that I need one "tasty" flavor (usually at a lower nicotine level) to keep me occupied for most of the day, and one harder-hitting flavor that gives me the feeling of having just smoked. That balances me out and helps me to keep off the analogs.

It's all experimentation, though. For me, I've found I adore my eGo-T's for the majority of my vaping, and my 510s are great for flavor-testing and for smaller transportable batches of flavors for variety's sake. For me, I'm only a few minutes away from a USB port at most hours of the day, so it's not hard to stay charged up.... but I plan on picking up an extra battery or two in time for when I'm doing road trips or the like.

Hope that helps. Good luck with quitting... I know the e-cigs have seriously put me on that path.

 

[Newwell]

Congrat Katz, Glad to hear you want to make the best move of your life.
My DH & I smoked for more than 40 yrs ending at 1 1/2 packs a day each. We were paying BIG bucks to prematurely kill ourselves. How ironic is that.

Anyway, I ordered an e-cig 808d-1 couples kit & from day one we were done with cigarettes. KR808d-1's are slim, cigarette-sized (weighs more though). We are still happily using them. We started with 4 batteries & I have bought 2 more because they were pretty (red & blue-yeah, I'm weird).

One reason I like the slim ones is they are easy to use & the same size as a cigarette. Charge them up, screw on a 1 piece cartomizer, & vape away. (Be sure your give them a full charge as prescribed as batt performance depends on that.) Personally, I vape A LOT & I like the size of them because I seem to always have them in my hand or very close by. I have a "hand-to-mouth" addiction along with the nicotine addiction.

OK, V4L has nice kits starting at $49.95. Vapor King E-Cigarette Starter Kits I know they have good customer service, good e-juice for refilling, & fairly reasonable prices. Don't throw pre-filled cartos away because they can be refilled many times if you take care of them. (Don't vape them dry. When you think they may be running out, get another one & top off the "dry" one with more juice.

I would strongly suggest that if you decide on "cartomizer style" that your first order includes 5-10 pre-filled cartos to get started, 5-10 blank/empty cartos for filling, & some ejuice(s). Don't believe what they say about cartos lasting as long as a pack of cigs. NOPE! And don't let the initial cost at checkout scare you because we have already saved hundreds of $$$.

Nic strength depends solely upon how much you smoked before switching (you can always decrease the strength as you go). My DH & I vape 18 mg & we were 1 1/2 pad smokers.

Anyway, congrats again & go get'em!

 

[Warren D. Lockaby]

I'm still new to vaping, too (all of a couple weeks' more experience), but what a difference a couple of weeks makes.

Firstly, I will HIGHLY recommend picking up a starter kit that has expansion or adjustment options, like a Joye 510 (or the other 510 clones), or one of the many eGo types. (I'm a huge fan of the eGo-T at the moment, although I also have a 510 and cartridges/atomizer.) This gives you the option to test alternatives to see what you like. For instance, my husband's a big cartomizer fan. I'm more of an atomizer fan. Don't ask me why, but it tastes different... go figure. However, both the eGo and the 510 have similar threading, which means I can experiment by putting my 510 atomizer/cartridge onto the eGo's battery, or vice versa. It's easy to find cartomizers for both types as well as tanks/cartridges for both types, and there's lots of variations out there. The 510 is a cigarette-sized gadget, the eGo a bit larger (like a thick pen).

You'll discover that you won't know what you like until you try it and go 'hey, that's it'... and from there, you can experiment more. For instance, if I'd had to stay with prefilled cartridges, this never would've worked, because prefilleds don't come in amaretto flavor, coffee flavor, caramel apple flavor, etcetera (not to mention RY3 tobacco flavor, which I love)... and for me, it's the variety of flavors that're out there that have totally caught my interest and pulled me away from the burning deathsticks.

I've gone in the space of a couple weeks from being a 1-1.5 pack a day smoker down to having all of 3 cigarettes today, and to be honest, I could've likely skipped those three. I've also experimented heavily with nicotine levels (I've been acting on the cautious side by going low, but discovered I'd get pretty nasty headaches if I went too low for too long), and have determined that somewhere around a 16 is a good all-day level, possibly with some spikes of 24 if I need a bit more here and there. I've also discovered that I need one "tasty" flavor (usually at a lower nicotine level) to keep me occupied for most of the day, and one harder-hitting flavor that gives me the feeling of having just smoked. That balances me out and helps me to keep off the analogs.

It's all experimentation, though. For me, I've found I adore my eGo-T's for the majority of my vaping, and my 510s are great for flavor-testing and for smaller transportable batches of flavors for variety's sake. For me, I'm only a few minutes away from a USB port at most hours of the day, so it's not hard to stay charged up.... but I plan on picking up an extra battery or two in time for when I'm doing road trips or the like.

Hope that helps. Good luck with quitting... I know the e-cigs have seriously put me on that path.

Congrats Ladypixel, looks like you're on the right path! One caveat, which you probably already know: don't use LR attys/cartos on your slim batteries or you're liable to fry the batts. They should run standard resistance stuff only. Only other thing I'd add (and this is based on what I've read, not on personal experience) is the KR808 stuff seems to offer a good variety of flavors in pre-filled cartos from a number of different vendors. This is not true with 510 stuff ("510" and "DR808" refer to the threading between battery & carto or atty; the eGo is in fact a 510).

Happy Vaping!

 

[ambition]

Maybe it's just me but I've inferred from a lot of posts on the forum that the high likelihood of moving onto a riva or eGo or whatever is a good reason to choose a joye 510 if for now you're after the slim ecig look.

The upgrade path from 510 to eGo etc is virtually non existent.

Not many ecigs could be more disappointing (except blu) than the 510 when compared to the 808's superior battery life, warmth of vapor, availability of prefilled cartos and easy of use.

Almost all of the bits and pieces that you'd screw onto your eGo can't be used on a 510, and the bits that can be used (eg SR attys and cartos) are likely a reason for wanting to upgrade from the 510 in the first place. The cold vape from these things is not brilliant is it?

The point is only that even though standard 510 gear can be used, and not forgetting that most of it is disposable anyway, most of the gear won't be used, which is the reason why I view the 510 as having no upgrade path just like every other slim ecig.

You're all $0.02 richer. Spend it wisely.

 

[hairball]

Skip the proprietary ecigs all together Kat....get yourself an inexpensive mod. The batteries are inexpensive to purchase and last a long time before needing to be replaced. I recommend The Bolt with extension from crystalclearvaping.com. The extension allows the user to use a wide variety of batteries. It can handle anything you put on it.

 

[Warren D. Lockaby]

Maybe it's just me but I've inferred from a lot of posts on the forum that the high likelihood of moving onto a riva or eGo or whatever is a good reason to choose a joye 510 if for now you're after the slim ecig look.

The upgrade path from 510 to eGo etc is virtually non existent.

Not many ecigs could be more disappointing (except blu) than the 510 when compared to the 808's superior battery life, warmth of vapor, availability of prefilled cartos and easy of use.

Almost all of the bits and pieces that you'd screw onto your eGo can't be used on a 510, and the bits that can be used (eg SR attys and cartos) are likely a reason for wanting to upgrade from the 510 in the first place. The cold vape from these things is not brilliant is it?

The point is only that even though standard 510 gear can be used, and not forgetting that most of it is disposable anyway, most of the gear won't be used, which is the reason why I view the 510 as having no upgrade path just like every other slim ecig.

You're all $0.02 richer. Spend it wisely.

Ambition that's an interesting take on things, and a month ago I'd have totally disagreed. Today though I think you've got a good point. For one thing there's that magic word, "adapter". If you started with KR808 setups, then upgraded to a big battery rig with 510 threading, an inexpensive adapter would allow you to use all your 808 cartos on it if you wished. Of course unless it was a VV mod you probably wouldn't care to do that, but at least you'd have the option. And though I've never had an 808, from all I've read they're about as good as a cig-sized PV is gonna get. And again, whatever works!

 

[PaulB]

I'm not trying to start anything here but I wouldn't take the Xhale02 on a bet, based upon a quick Google search. Much better off going with a Volt starter kit from Smokeless Image I believe, because though I've never owned either, the Volt & SI have solid reputations (and I am sure intend to keep them).

I'm inclined to agree about the Volt. I have not used their batteries or tried their juices or pre-filled cartos. But their blank cartos are my staple for my own chosen battery setup (eGo and box mod) and liquid. It's the best 808 carto I've used. Their basic kit is very affordable and their customer service is very good. The handful of people I've talked to who start with the various "cig-alike" looking, proprietary (often high-priced) products like Blu seem to lose interest in them quickly and throw them in a drawer in favor of a better product--or, more likely, cigarettes again. The Volt is close enough to cigarette sized to provide the element of familiarity that many want from their first e-cig, but they work much better.

I started (that is... after my own initial fling with one of the not-so-great cig-alike models) with a 510--atomizer & cartridge setup--but would not recommend that to anybody. But I'm surprised anybody's still fooling with the mess and hassle of cartridges. Cartomizers, on the other hand, seem to me a good starting mode.

 

[Angi2299]

katzilla - I started with a disposable type slim battery from a gas station. I had to try one to see if it would even work for me. I didn't know anyone who had any e-cigs and I am the only person in my circle who vapes (so no mentor except all the helpful ECFers). These are available at Wally World, truck stops and other places. Good luck and if you want a slim battery so you are not uncomfortable at work, I completely understand. That comfort factor is very important in the first weeks of quitting. As a previous poster suggested an Elite is a good step up and is only a little larger than the slim 808s (I have an Elite 808 and a KGo and use both daily for different reasons). The Elite is black with blue lights and will never be mistaken for an analog. Many of the "GO" devices are good. Have heard good things about the Riva, E-Power and KGo. Get something that you like, that you can afford and go from there. Welcome to ECF!