How long before you "upgraded"?

[cryfreedom66]

"kir fanis prive tank" - haven't heard of that before... will consult Google - TY

It's a phenominal tank and was made specifically for the provari (design wise). I don't think they are available anymore, the site I bought from no longer ships to the US and other sites I've seen it on they have no stock...let me know if you find it though i'd like to order a backup!

 

[Aceman12]

My first pv was a reo grand. I always look to support American made whenever I can. In the world of bottom feeders...there is nothing else to compare it to. My second pv was a provari. Again, American made and vv. Makes a huge difference Imo as it relates to flavor. So to answer your question...I suppose I never did upgrade. I went straight to the top from the get go and have no regrets.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk 2

That's weird because I'm doing the same exact thing. Haven't bought the provari yet but went straight to the reo.
I went back to analogs after 6 months of dripping on the little cig-alikes. I skipped egos. I know they are 10x better then the little sticks but I really didn't want to have to replace them every 6 months or so. When I came back 2 months ago I went straight to the reo. In my opinion the upgrade is absolutely worth the extra money. It is night and day difference. The battery life is probably the same as a 1100 mah ego which is about 10 hours I guess. The two biggest benefits to the reo is durability and flavor. Flavor is significantly better then on tanks. It's durability is unquestionable. It's a metal box. As far as ease of use, it takes a day or to to get used to how much juice to feed but then it's second nature.
I know this sounds stupid but I also bought it because I knew if I spent $150 on an ecig I would be more motivated not to revert back to smoking.

 

[grandmato5]

Took me two months to upgrade from Joye 510s which I quit smoking with to Egos for improved battery life between charges. Soon after added a 5 VT direct PT to eliminate having to deal with recharging when I was vaping at home by my computer.

After that it was about trying different APV's to see what fit my needs best. Some of them fit my needs better then others but I couldn't know that until I had actually tried them My best choices turned out to be: My first vv APV, a Notcigs Infinity and that one I would describe as being as upgrade at the time. I fell in love with vv vaping I wouldn't describe adding my bottom feeder Hogmod as an upgrade but it fit a niche I needed for an APV in my collection that I could truly grab and go out the door in a seconds notice and know that its 18650 battery and 6 ml juice bottle would last me until I could return home even if that was a full day later. My Buzz pro gave me the same great vv vape as my Infinity but felt much more comfortable in my hand and made my Infinity become my backup vv device. My Omega was added to my collect to have a fully mechanical APV that would last for many years without having any electronics to break. My Zenesis Mini was added to have both an APV and a genesis atty that would likely last a lifetime giving me a great vape. My Ego Twist is a great small vv device that I find myself using often when I have the need for a smaller vv device. My last addition of a Precise Plus 18350 was made to have another device that would likely last a lifetime and fill the occasional need for a smaller APV then my Omega or my Zenesis mini gave me.

As you can see, variety makes me vaping happy I like having devices that fit different needs better then others. I'd like to think I would have stayed off cigarettes if I'd continued all this time to only used my Egos and my 5 VT direct passthrough but honestly I am sure it would have been a lot harder then it has been. I read so much about people having a lot of frustrations with vaping and I honestly can say I've had very few times of feeling frustrated since the day I started because of my vaping toys.

I'm sure I'll try something new once in a while just because its fun But right now I have everything I need to vape for all my different needs and for me there isnt anything out there that I would consider an upgrade beyond what I have.

 

[n3oNLit3]

I started with a cigalike from a smoke shop, thought Id give vaping a try. Then I moved on to a mall kiosk cigalike that didnt last long. Next I went to two 650mah ego's then to a 1000mah ego-twist when they came out. Just recently I bought a lavatube which died on me within 3 days (luckily my local shop has a 90 day warranty on all batteries). When I went in to exchange it for a new one they gave me its cost in credit towards a Provari. Thank god that lavatube died on me, cause I love the Provari and honestly couldnt ever go back to anything else.

 

[ethebull]

Mid October 2012, I bought a cig-a-like kit and quit analogs that day. Ordered a 900mah eGo-C kit with in a week to get better battery life and power, yes, happy with the upgrade. Then I got on ECF and decided a Lava tube would offer even more. It worked better by far, but the CE5's and VN tanks couldn't keep up.

I tried VVV sidewinder tanks from Valley Vapes in TX, and they were a major improvement over wicking tanks. I still use them regularly. Rebuildable Attie tanks with SS wicks were getting all the buzz, so I ordered a few. The Chinese knock-off's vary in quality, but I've latched on to two that are solid (the AGA-T and Cobra clones). I now own several, enough to keep me in clouds for a good few years and more.

I love my LT, but it is bulky and conspicuous out and about, so my next buy will be a stealthy and smartly designed mechanical mod called the AFPV, currently being developed for an ECF CoOp.

Going thru upgrade'itis has been expensive, but I have learned a lot along the journey. I know what I like now, and feel my buying spree has pretty much run its course.

 

[onry]

i started my true vaping path with a lava tube and a couple of riva 650's for backups
got an itaste express cause it was a nice looking piece.
i am now sitting here waiting on a couple of grippers i ordered off the classifieds.
i also have some ego batts for stealth/backups.
i know i will be buying more when i can afford to do so.
so i guess i started out upgrading lol and dont plan to quit any time soon

 

[Robino1]

I researched here on ECF when Hubby suggested e-cigs to me for when we travel. He thought I would be able to use them on planes. Well that started my research mission. So I read for days/weeks. I decided to go with the twists as a reliable middle of the road start. I wasn't going to spend a ton of money on something that might not work. Nothing else had up to that point, why should I trust that vaping would.

My first upgrade was going from cartridges and atty's to the vision Nova's. I was totally happy with the twist + nova combo. I would still be using the twists until they died. In fact my plan was to use them until one died then, and only then, I would spend the money on a Provari.

Hubby is a sweetheart. I got it for Christmas.

Some friends were trying to talk me into CE3's but I'm happy with the Nova's. If it ain't broke, I don't need to fix it. My twists are there for backups in case I need to send my main system in for any reason.

There are two things that I really love about the Provari compared to the twist. 1) I won't need a multi meter when I start to rebuild heads. 2) I just swap out the battery instead of having a twist out of commission while it is charging. Other than those two things, basically they do the same thing. They give power to whatever the heats the juice to turn it into vapor.

 

[cactus71]

grandmato5... yeah I'd say you've got all your bases covered - quite a variety you've amassed
ethebull: I'll have to look into the AFPV (not even sure what the F is for) - I'll search ECF - thanks.
onry... still waiting on response for my app to the classified - urrgh.
Robino1... nice gift... so when he get's you another one for Valentine's day can I have your Christmas one?

Based on what I do, self-employed programmer from home office and part-time hiker it sounds like a Provari Mini for outdoors would be ideal (I'm gathering they really are bulletproof)... but two Provaris at once isn't in the cards... so what's a good mid-priced home unit - sounds like LavaTubes are generally well appreciated?

 

[ethebull]

ethebull: I'll have to look into the AFPV (not even sure what the F is for) - I'll search ECF - thanks.

If you haven't found it yet - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...pv-pre-made-ceramic-wick-interest-thread.html

I have read comments by others about early problems with Lava Tubes. I own two. I bought them from a China vendor, so dirt cheap, though shipping can offset that... Anyway, I bought two both to "save" on shipping, and in case I had any problems. I'm glad I did. They both work very well, but I have managed to damage the 510 connector threads on the first one by carrying it in my front pants pocket. This can put a great deal of stress on the threads, and they barely hold onto a tank now. I plan to more or less permanently epoxy one of my Cobra clones to it and just have it for around the house. It still works great otherwise. This could have happened with any long PV, so I don't blame LV. It's all on me.

 

[FantWriter]

I had the unique opportunity to try a variety before buying anything -- a group with which I'm loosely associated bought several of nearly every variety available at the time. I had my pick of them after members used them for a while and decided they're weren't right for them.

I have to use an automatic (nerve damage in my hands turns using a manual into a juggling act), it has to be shaped like a regular cigarette to meet my other needs, and it has to be no more than 4 volts (I get mouth sores when vaping at 5).

So I started with an 808D-1 and still use them. My only upgrades have been adding PTs and CE2s and mixing some of my own juice.

 

[mikejm]

I'm spending time and money making a mod that I don't need. So I guess there is a hobbyist mentality.

 

[H.R.PuffinSteph]

I started with the little V2 cig kit, and it worked! I've not smoked a cigarette since I got that little kit, but pretty soon I got curious about mods and variable voltage. I loved the look of the big battery mods, and wanted a device that could deliver a little more vapor and throat hit.

So, about 6 weeks after I got the V2 kit Apollo was having a sale on it's VTube and I got one. I've been happy with it, and I love variable voltage, big batteries, and carto tanks.

A couple of weeks ago I got the Version 2 Lava Tube from Volcano. It's a fantastic device!

 

[yzer]

I've been using my stainless steel E-Power 14650 for 14 months now and have no need to upgrade. I have become picky about the cartos and batteries I use and have changed to DIY juice but no, I don't have any need or desire to purchase a fancier APV at this time.

 

[Thompson]

I started with an SD keyring kit to see if I liked vaping. But the lack of battery life and its auto switch left me desiring something more.

Within a week I ordered a JT eGo-T PT. Major step up in available battery power, but not much different.

Roughly a month went by and I ordered my first eGo-C Twist.

6 months went by and I bought another Twist. Probably could've skipped this...

6 days after ordering the Twist I placed my order on Provape for a V2 Blem.

near future CVI V1

December-ish (possibly earlier if I'm lucky) Caravela

I really have no necessity to add any more batteries to my collection. But I seriously can't resist the call of the Caravela. That and the reasonably priced CVI V1. Two "must haves" for me. But after that, I have no intention of buying any more unless something insanely beautiful or game changing comes out. Not that interested in attaching my PV to my computer, so those developments, while they intrigue me, don't do much else.

 

[cactus71]

I looked/searched for the Caravela and found several sites (including this one) and it sure is a thing of beauty... never could find the "lists" to get on, or a site to order from... or cost.

 

[Atlexus]

I bought my first vv mod a week after I got my ego starter kit lol

-Atlexus

 

[Seebs]

I looked/searched for the Caravela and found several sites (including this one) and it sure is a thing of beauty... never could find the "lists" to get on, or a site to order from... or cost.

As much of a noob as I am; this I do know...

You need to go to the makers website.... Search for caravelamods and you'll find it.
Then join the forum there and find the latest list and fill in the google form. After that; you just sit and wait a few months and hope that you make it into the production run.

From what I read; the original caravelas production stops at 999 units (Pedro serializes each unit and he started on a three digit sequence so 999 is the end).

There are talks of other runs after the original...

He's making a zodiac special edition of only 12 units (one for each sign of the zodiac), but those are all spoken for by now.

He also talked about making another series out of Damascus Steel... Let's just say that numbers like 400 Euros per unit are being thrown around in there.

There is also talk of sterling silver runs.

In short; all I know is that you CAN get on a list, but getting on the list does not necessarily mean you'll get a unit as there are tons of people ahead of you.

 

[Ray D]

I started out with Blu back in late August. I tried to make it work for me. I truly did. But all it really did was replace maybe 10 out of 30 cigarettes a day. It just didn't cut it. I eventually put it away and just went back to smoking until I found something else that worked.

I bought a Johnson Creek Vea in October. Yeah, it's an eGo clone without eGo threading. But I didn't even know what an eGo was at the time. And truth be told, I STILL love my Vea. I quit smoking - for good - the very day I started using it. 10/14/12

A couple weeks later, I won a giveaway for a simple eGo/clearo kit. I wouldn't call it a step up. More like a "broadening" step. It gave me more flexibility. I used both depending on my mood or which one had what juice at the time.

I gave in and bought a single Spinner battery right before Christmas. I wanted to try VV, and planned on using it mostly for dripping.

Then Christmas rolled around, and my wife gave me the green light to get a Provari.

I won't have the need to upgrade any time soon, or for the foreseeable future. Oh, attachment upgrades will be ongoing I'm sure. I still haven't dipped my foot into the RBA pool for example. But device wise? I'm set for years as far as I'm concerned...

... but that doesn't mean I won't get other things out of curiosity, variety, or just because I have to feed my hobby.

 

[Pandemoniac]

I started vaping only with no analogs about a year ago with a ce-4 china kit then replaced the attys with vivi novas was a big improvement - now just this week have got my first vv, an lrider lambo 4 and am absolutely loving it

 

[mmikee]

It took ma a couple of months of vaping to upgrade. I almost went back to smoking because of being constantly aggravated at the batteries and cheap cartos I was getting from a local vendor. Now, vaping is so satifying that I dont even consider smoking any more. It is finally a thing of the past for me.