High-end juice vs mom n pop shop

[JBal4]

I am curious if there is much of a difference in the quality of the vape of more expensive juices compared to smaller shops selections? I know flavor is subjective and higher end will probably have more complex flavors, but is the quality of the "hit" different?

I have dealt almost exclusively with small vape shops so far and they have done me well. I have tried some of the halo juices and the vape seems much better from what I have tried. They(Halo) seem to work better in all sorts of devices, cartos, clearos, rda/rba, where as the cheaper juices perform good in one type. One brand tastes awesome in drippers but nothing else, another in clearos only.

By better I mean consistent TH, cloud, flavor in different setups.

Am I just fooling myself into thinking this way or are they actually better/worse than each other?

 

[happydave]

there is something to be said for a nice presentation of the product.
some high end e-liquid has blown me away others have fallen short of the mark.

its kinda like other alcohol or tobacco products like cigars for example. some brands of cigars have really nice boxes and bands, but the cigar is junk. other brands of cigars have very simple boxes and bands and are amazing. or crystal head vodka? ever had it? its not the worst vodka i have ever tried but it is pretty bad. the bottle is cool however . if im going to pay for top shelf stuff, the stuff INSIDE the bottle or band better be good.

and some have fancy packaging with an even better product.

i guess as long as the product is better than the packaging its cool LOL.

 

[baseballmom]

I think it depends on the vendor and the shop-what drives them-are they just after the $$$$ or are they into developing juice based on their love of vaping, craftsmanship of product, improving their selections/business in whole or not-pg/vg ratios, quality of products used, nic levels-they're going to influence the end result too of course they do-but those who are really into putting something into the end result -you'll know who takes it seriously by customer service and community interaction, feedback, growth, quality...just my opinion-they don't have to be a large production to do so, and large producers don't mean better quality

 

[mare ze dotes]

The B&M seem to be pricy. Yet for a treat I like to by off the shelf as it is most likely pre-aged. A tasteing bar will always result in a sale from me.

 

[JBal4]

Thanks for the input yall

or crystal head vodka? ever had it? its not the worst vodka i have ever tried but it is pretty bad. the bottle is cool however . if im going to pay for top shelf stuff, the stuff INSIDE the bottle or band better be good.

and some have fancy packaging with an even better product.

i guess as long as the product is better than the packaging its cool LOL.

hahaha thanks, I have actually been wanting to try that vodka for some time but after trying a bottle of edhardy vodka I was worried it wold be the same. Ed Hardy tastes like they poured some 5o'clock in a flashy bottle...gag. Hammer+Sickle has been my go to vodka since i tried it

but back to ecig lol... any brands you would recommend to try, or maybe to stay away from.

 

[Dustmight]

Taste and quality is totally subjective, but most of the time a horse is a horse...

Quality vendors that won't disappoint:
Ahlusion (one of the best vendors IMO, and right here in Michigan!)
Heather's Heavenly Vapes
5 Pawns (Pricy, but very well made.)
Nickoticket
Mr. E Liquid (Also in Michigan, Kalamazoo area I think)

I would avoid mom & pop shops that mix liquids as you wait. There's a number of reasons why this can be not-so-good, but mainly being that they likely haven't spent much time developing their flavors. It's typically just an added selling point for their stores, and not their main focus, so disappointment is often the result. You will also find widely varying opinions on Mt. Baker Vapor, but my suggestion is to steer clear. Their prices are tempting when you're getting started, but there's a million other juices out there that are far better and reasonably priced. Spend enough time on the forum, and you'll see what I mean.

 

[supermarket]

I am curious if there is much of a difference in the quality of the vape of more expensive juices compared to smaller shops selections? I know flavor is subjective and higher end will probably have more complex flavors, but is the quality of the "hit" different?

I have dealt almost exclusively with small vape shops so far and they have done me well. I have tried some of the halo juices and the vape seems much better from what I have tried. They(Halo) seem to work better in all sorts of devices, cartos, clearos, rda/rba, where as the cheaper juices perform good in one type. One brand tastes awesome in drippers but nothing else, another in clearos only.

By better I mean consistent TH, cloud, flavor in different setups.

Am I just fooling myself into thinking this way or are they actually better/worse than each other?

The difference between various e-liquid companies is night and day. Think of the difference between McDonalds, and a Kobe Burger. Or the difference between Taco Bell, and authentic mexican cuisine.

However, you can't really tell the quality of e-liquid by the price, or presentation necessarily. Some e-liquid vendors and priced and presented to look like gourmet, high end juice companies, and they are equal to regular "Do it yourself" e-liquid recipes, at best.

Other companies are priced VERY well, and have a basic web-site, and yet have OUTSTANDING e-liquid that is unmatched by anyone else.

Some companies I recommend: Epic Juice, Space Jam, NiteLiteVapor, Mister E-Liquid, Fuzion, Roar, GoodLifeVapor, VelvetCloudVapor......all very nice juice companies.

 

[JBal4]

well sounds like I am going to have to stop at Mister Eliquids shop next time I am in GR. thanks for the pointers, it has been quite a rollercoaster ride with the juices I have tried. also going to look into Ahlusion juice, heard of it on ecf but had no idea it was an MI business. Love supporting local.

supermarket, i really liked your McD's kobe comparison lol. Even though it may not be worth it I think I am still going to give MBV a try, it's just too cheap to resist when the halo i have been buying cost 2x a bottle

either way this is still less than smoking analogs, and I can breath again

 

[SamNapolitanke]

there is a huuuge difference IMO. I don't buy from mom and pops anymore because of it. maybe i'm just unlucky but every b&m that mixes their own juice around my area makes crap. perfumy, alcoholy, harsh crap.

 

[supermarket]

well sounds like I am going to have to stop at Mister Eliquids shop next time I am in GR. thanks for the pointers, it has been quite a rollercoaster ride with the juices I have tried. also going to look into Ahlusion juice, heard of it on ecf but had no idea it was an MI business. Love supporting local.

supermarket, i really liked your McD's kobe comparison lol. Even though it may not be worth it I think I am still going to give MBV a try, it's just too cheap to resist when the halo i have been buying cost 2x a bottle

either way this is still less than smoking analogs, and I can breath again

I'd say go for it!

The whole e-cig thing is really, really subjective..... and lots of people like MBV. You just might end up loving it, and imagine that....falling in love with the cheapest e-liquid around. That wouldn't be so bad , eh

 

[lasttango]

I wouldn't delineate between mom + pops and "larger" operations... Instead, I'd go with experienced and talented versus sucky...

...and it takes some experience, research and possibly luck to to understand the difference...

newer people to the game need to appreciate that these smaller companies sprung up at a time when the only choices were chinese juices.

newer people should be aware that this market has grown fast and that it is slightly out of control...

as a 4+ year vaper, I am very very skeptical of these newer companies... that have no history or relationship to these online communities.

 

[Tinkiegrrl]

For me, it's about who gets recommended around forums like this. If a bunch of people say X vendor is great, I'll likely try them. Price is t something I use to make a determination. I've got a couple of 5 Pawns flavors I absolutely love and will buy again, and I've got some that are half the price of that. I've even had some mtbakervapor liquids that I've liked, and they're def on the cheap end. Well, I like them after a good steeping anyway. I admit though, that I haven't bought from them I'm a while, as I don't have the patience for steeping.

 

[JBal4]

haha I don't know that i would have the patience to wait two weeks either for steeping, I usually end up putting every juice I get right in a tank for better or worse. most haven't been to bad but had two that tasted awful before steeping and great after.

I know not all small vape shops are bad, I live in kalamazoo, right down the road from kvs. Their omfg tobacco is still in my top 3 flavors, but most other small shops were great or terrible without much between.

live and learn i guess

 

[leerm8680]

A great analogy for this is food. We all have our opinions on food. Our personal likes and dislikes.

Think about that greasy spoon or Mom & Pop restaurant that makes the comfort foods that make you feel at home. As for myself, I prefer McDonald’s. I can go anywhere in the world, and find some consistency at McDonalds. There might be some local flair, but I know what to expect. My favorite is the Pulp Fiction meal - Hamburger Royale with cheese, mayo on the fries, and a Coke with no ice.

For the "high end" food, my experience is mostly Food Network. I love watching that channel, it makes me so hungry. Or, watching Hell's Kitchen. It all looks so good. A couple of years ago while stationed in Germany, I took my wife to Paris. We had dinner one night in a fancy Parisian restaurant. It was a 3-star, not super impressive by foo-foo standards, but above the McD/Mom&Pop/GreasySpoon places I frequent. The food was beautiful, but it tasted rather awful.

The moral of this rambling (I wouldn't call it a story) is that every new experience can be a diamond or dud in the rough. Don't be afraid to try a sample size from a new vendor. Ask around, research, and enjoy the journey. Eventually you will find your Pulp Fiction Meal.

 

[blueGrassTubb]

At its base, all ejuice is the same. There's nicotine, the base that carries it (either pg/vg) and flavorings (either pg or vg based). What you're paying for from higher end vendors is the time they've taken to make complex flavor profiles, or to get a pure flavor just right. The ingredients that Five Pawns uses are essentially the same as Nicquid which are essentially the same as those you can buy and mix yourself.

I have also noticed that some higher end vendors specifically mix their juice for drippers (I ran in to that issue with Ragtime Vapors when I inquired as to why I was getting so many burnt hits and they told me that their first batches for sale were formulated for drippers and they are in the process of adjusting it to wick better in tank systems). Maybe they are going for a particular type of clientele with the equipment and know-how to vape their juices in the most effective way that maximizes flavor. I have read many times that some flavors don't pop until you're using a .5Ω coil with a dripper; that the same juice in a Protank2 just doesn't taste the same. I can understand that.

 

[xanderxman]

Packaging is the LAST thing on my mind when buying a liquid. I don't plan on vaping the package. I want good flavor and vapor, plain and simple. I don't care if my liquid is delivered in a velvet lined box carried by an angel on the back of a unicorn as long as it tastes good and vapes well. I have bought too many "high end" liquids with nice presentation that sucked. And I have vaped "brown bag" liquids in a plain bottle with a simple label that were fantastic.

There are high end vendors with good presentation that have quality liquid and there are mom and pop setups with simple presentation that have fantastic liquid. I look at liquid like I look at people. The wrapper is not the most important thing. It is what is inside that counts.

My local B&M has a fantastic line of liquids that they make themselves and they can't keep it on the shelf. It is simply bottled with a simple label. No fanfare, no excess packaging (which YOU pay for, BTW). They literally sell out of their own brand of liquid faster than the other liquids they carry. There is one particular flavor that lasts a day or two at most before it is gone.

You just have to experiment and see which liquids you like. Don't be lead astray by fancy packaging but also don't shy away form it. There is good and bad in the fancy and the plain.

 

[dwarfcat]

Taste and quality is totally subjective, but most of the time a horse is a horse...

Quality vendors that won't disappoint:
Ahlusion (one of the best vendors IMO, and right here in Michigan!)
Heather's Heavenly Vapes
5 Pawns (Pricy, but very well made.)
Nickoticket
Mr. E Liquid (Also in Michigan, Kalamazoo area I think)

I would avoid mom & pop shops that mix liquids as you wait. There's a number of reasons why this can be not-so-good, but mainly being that they likely haven't spent much time developing their flavors. It's typically just an added selling point for their stores, and not their main focus, so disappointment is often the result. You will also find widely varying opinions on Mt. Baker Vapor, but my suggestion is to steer clear. Their prices are tempting when you're getting started, but there's a million other juices out there that are far better and reasonably priced. Spend enough time on the forum, and you'll see what I mean.

Mr E Liquid is here in Grand Rapids. Go there at least twice a week. Its terrific juice and the customer service is amazing. Im always surprised it doesnt have a greater following on here.

 

[xanderxman]

For me, it's about who gets recommended around forums like this. If a bunch of people say X vendor is great, I'll likely try them. Price is t something I use to make a determination. I've got a couple of 5 Pawns flavors I absolutely love and will buy again, and I've got some that are half the price of that. I've even had some mtbakervapor liquids that I've liked, and they're def on the cheap end. Well, I like them after a good steeping anyway. I admit though, that I haven't bought from them I'm a while, as I don't have the patience for steeping.

This kind of thinking is the thing I find disturbing about forums. Once a vendor gets a following on a forum and people start posting about them, others follow suit and order from them. I have liquids from so many vendors that barely get a passing glance on ECF and they are all fantastic liquids. Not attacking you personally but I feel that there are so many vendors out there that don't get a fair shake because of the fact that they get no exposure on ECF. Presumably because they do not want to register as a vendor on the site. I see the same 5 or 6 names tossed around in the E-liquid subforum to the point that I don't even bother browsing here much anymore.

IF you want to try AiV, Ahlusion, Five Pawns, MBV or Nicoticket then this is the subforum for you. If you want to try something different then get out there and open your mind. Try Carnival, Roka, 4Seasonz Elixir, Adambomb, Macsauce, P.O.E.T., The Vial, One Up, Freemason's or Halcyon.

 

[deegal]

In my experience-B&M liquids are ok and often the lowest retail price (compared with the brand liquids they also sell at a pretty solid markup). I have often found that buying directly from the vendor seems to be the most cost effective, but I don't really care about being cost effective if I haven't personally tasted the flavor. Also, we could be talking about pennies to a couple dollars, and I'm not going to be up in arms over that amount of money-especially if it means supporting the local B&M scene.

Even if a friend recommends it to me, taste is so subjective that I only feel comfortable buying after physically vaping the flavor. That's generally why I like to share and try different juices with my friends (via RDA or using my drip tip on their gear), and I also like going to B&Ms and hitting up their juice bar to try out new flavors and different vendors. From that point I could then make an informed decision-if I choose to go the cost conscious route long term. Either way, I will very willingly pay the markup on brand bottles at a retail location for the convenience and also to support the B&Ms that provide the opportunity.


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[blueGrassTubb]

Once a vendor gets a following on a forum and people start posting about them, others follow suit and order from them.

My problem is that I tend to order some of these products that are recommended so highly, and then end up hating them. Boba's Bounty is highest profile juice that I drank the Koolaid on, and it's friggin' nasty.

And The Vial is very good. Island Bliss is indeed blissful. I'm lucky to have a local vape shop whose owners have decided to stock only very high quality juices and their own house line. I get to try some very good juices in their shop.

You should try and track down Ragtime Vapors. They're only available in a handful of stores, and they don't sell direct, but they are FANTASTIC. Honky Tonk is a must have (nutty tobacco with a hint of banana on the exhale), and if you like melon, Jubilee is the real deal. Uncle Junk's Genius Juice is also excellent juice. Bettie White (Pomegranate with apple) is amazing in all 3 phases of vaping: vapor produced, taste, and TH. Monica's Eyes (cantaloupe, kiwi, other fruit mix) juice is also very good.