How much Nicotine?

[Louie the Rat]

I know this must have been asked so many times that your sick of it, but what level of nicotine would you recommend for me to start with. I smoke 1.5 to 2 PAD of Newports. I waiting to get a Maxx Fussion mini and the carts come in 24, 16, and 6. I saw in one of the sticky posts a fellow recommended starting low, but I'm really afraid I'm going to need all the nicotine I can get if I want to stay away from analogs. What do you folks recommend? Do you think the menthol would be the best choice flavor wise?

 

[El Jefe]

Hey Louie...

From what I've read...you'll probably want to start out at 24mg. I was a 1/2-1 PAD smoker (Camel Lights) and I started at 12mg which seemed about perfect for me. I'd also recommend menthol to start especially since you smoked menthols. I know a number who were never menthol smokers that now like vaping some form of menthol. You'll probably realize a few weeks in that flavors are better. Good luck!

 

[SlotJo]

I personally started at 16 - 18. I smoked .5 - 1 PAD of Reds. I am now using 24mg and I think I am going to stick with that after about 8 months. I already vape a lot and if I lower the amount of Nic I am getting I fear that I will become a chain vaper. It is all personal preference, but I wouldn’t personally suggest starting low and having to constantly fight cravings.

 

[joeperson]

I'd be safe and start off at the higher end of the spectrum, then on subsequent purchases/refills, drop a level down. You can probably remove the nicotine aspect of it all and go nic-free at some point, but I'd want to see just how much nicotine itself plays in the addiction and take it slow. It's not like the big scare in cigarettes is the nicotine level, so start at higher levels to ensure you don't undershoot and needs analogs again right from the start.

 

[jlarsen]

I can't speak about Maxx Fussion mini carts because I've never used them, but... 24 seems high, maybe in liquid form for DIY mixing. I vape 18mg/ml ejuice from Halo, and I find myself getting too much nicotine. Then again I was never more than a .75 PAD smoker, and that was some time ago. Prior to switching to vaping I was only smoking occasionally, mostly when drinking, down from about 2 cigs a day a couple years ago and a previous 1/2 PAD habit that lasted about 10 years. I don't think starting low is necessary, at least not real low like 10 or 6. I'm planning on dropping down to 12 the next time I order ejuice, and may end up at 6 eventually. I like to vape a lot, but don't need as much nic. as I'm currently getting. I do think 24 would make me puke.

Newports have 1.2 mg of nicotine. So at 30 a day you'd be getting 36 mg. 24 mg carts would give you 36m a day if you vaped 1.5 ml (assuming my calculations are correct) - that's roughly 30 drops (or TWO CARTRIDGES) a day. It just depends on how much you vape, and assuming the prefilled carts last as long as they should. You could get 36mg of nicotine a day with the 6 mg/ml cartridges, if you vape often enough - but you'll go through more cartridges that way.

Of course I'd recommend direct dripping or using re-fillable blank cartridges, rather than pre-filled carts - but that is just my preference.

I think menthol is best, but that's also just preference. I also like to try other flavors, which is why I recommend direct dripping and/or refillable carts. That way you can also experiment with different nicotine levels.

It is a bit less convenient than prefilled carts, but not so much as to make it a hobby. If you fill your own carts, you can always top them off. I've found that prefilled carts and cartomizers don't always last as long as they should and you end up tossing them out early, but they do make for the most convenient and most analog like experience.

 

[hippiebrian]

I smoked 1 to 1.5 packs of Winstons or American Spirit blues for 35 years and 16-18mg is working fine for me. It's all relative, some people need more, some less. Get a little of both (I don't reccomend under 16mg) and see what makes you comfy.

 

[wv2win]

Whoever said "start low" has no clue what he is talking about, IMO. Most new vapers need a higher nic level to make the transition. You can also lower the nic strength but you can't make it higher. Most common level vaped is 24mg. Quite a few people vape 36mg. I would suggest you start at 24mg and move up or down depending on your own needs.

 

[JupiterV]

Seems the general consensus around here is the flavor and TH of prefilled is never quite the same as buying liquids and filling them yourself. More choices of flavor also. Definitely go for 24. I was the same 1 1/2 PAD and I just started now with supplementing the 24 with 18mg occasionally.
I too started out with the menthol flavor. That lasted about 2 days. It's been a wild ride ever since!

 

[chimney55]

Definitely the 24mg. You might want to go lower or higher later, but at 1 1/2 - 2 packs a day, don't set yourself up for failure by going too low too quickly.

 

[banjo]

I started at 36mg & worked my way down to 24mg. I was a heavy smoker for 56 years. I also tried dropping down to 18mg, but quickly moved back up to 24mg, which is the lowest I would recommend using for a 1 to 2 PAD smoker. Thanks for the post. Much appreciated.

 

[Rosa]

I'd get both the 24 and the 16. You'll probably like the 24 better, but it'll be nice to hit the 16 when you are just vaping for fun (filled with nic but don't want to stop) or before bedtime because nicotine can keep some people up at night.

 

[dormouse]

Full strength Newports? I would recommend you buy both 24 and 18 and see what you are comfortable with. 24mg is normally recommended for people who smoked full-strength cigs. If you get some 18 too it will come in handy if you find the 24 is too high for you at times when you are vaping a lot.

And you will be adding juice to those cartos so get some eliquid too. You can get the eliquid at any eliquid seller. I recommend you try juices within 10% of 70pg/30vg. I don't recommend the 100% PG or 100% VG Chinese juice but if you are curious you could try some.

You might also want to try some of the carto samplers from Vapor4Life.com - they have several tobacco samplers, some fruit and berry samplers, some cocktail samplers. Each sampler has 1 each of 5 flavors.

 

[thatsmeinthecorner]

I like the menthol as well- and I didn't smoke menthols. But it taste just like the ones I used to bum from friends, so it seems more like a cigarette at first. Smoked a PAD for 33 years, and started at 24 mg., I don't chain vape because I don't care for the hoarseness and the dehydration (hard to drink that much water), though I might get used to it eventually. I would take 3 or 4 pulls an hour of the menthol, and be very satisfied. I am now working on a cappucino in 18 mg., and I do draw on that a little more. Am looking to get a really low concentration for evenings, as I tend to be an insomniac, and for some reason this stuff seems to get you a little more wired than cigarettes.

 

[keelalagirl55]

I personally would try both....I was a pak-1.5 pad....little filtered cigars (packed and wrapped like cigs... filter and all)...anyway...there are some flavs that 24 was too harsh for me....most of the time I am at 18....softer flavs..err smoother flavs I can easily handle the 24, but I have found in the evening I need much lower...or my body is ancey come bedtime.

As you can see from all the posts, everyone is different....I would not go with 1 level to start cause you never know what will work for you till you try it. I have quite a few juices I am having to dilute the nic level by getting the same flavor in 0mg .......

Good luck to you and welcome to the wonderful, flavorful world of vaping

 

[mostlyclassics]

I was a three pack per day smoker of Marlboro ultra light 100's and have found that 16-18 mg. is a bit on the stiff side. Very often I'll cut it with some VG (vegetable glycerine). I started with 24 mg. and gave myself a case of whirly-brain from too much Vitamin N.

Also, if you find the throat hit is too much from the standard PG (propylene glycol) liquids -- my experience -- you may want to cut those liquids with some VG or use liquids whose base is all-VG.

Many online vendors carry USP-grade VG in a manageable 100 ml. size. I got mine at CVS: a full pint (475 ml.), which looks like it'll last me forever.

 

[Katatonik]

5 handrolled American Spirit (no filter) a day for about a year.
I always get the highest nic available at a supplier (36 if possible).
But I have a unique response to Nicotine. I only get a bad buzz if I get too much too fast (by too fast I mean within 5-15 seconds). Otherwise, once my craving is down, I can get a ton of nicotine with no ill effect. This is why I usually start with light vaping first thing in the morning (2 or 3 half draws), and then quickly progress to heavy (full on, fill my lungs heavy draws).

Psychologically, if I'm vaping less than 24, I feel like I'm doing nothing at all in terms of nicotine. I might be enjoying the flavor, but I don't psychologically believe that I'm doing anything in regards to nicotine.

 

[swedishfish]

Better to start a little higher. You can always lower it. I vape 24. I have a couple that are 30.

 

[Rosco]

I started at 36mg & worked my way down to 24mg. I was a heavy smoker for 56 years. I also tried dropping down to 18mg, but quickly moved back up to 24mg, which is the lowest I would recommend using for a 1 to 2 PAD smoker. Thanks for the post. Much appreciated.

Same here, but I only smoked 44 years You'll know if it's too high for you.
Good luck to ya.

 

[cookiebun]

Whoever said "start low" has no clue what he is talking about, IMO. Most new vapers need a higher nic level to make the transition. You can also lower the nic strength but you can't make it higher. Most common level vaped is 24mg. Quite a few people vape 36mg. I would suggest you start at 24mg and move up or down depending on your own needs.

What if you've been smoking ultra light cigs?
I think the strongest I ordered was 16mg.
I ran out of smokes today at work. Got home 3 hours later smoked one cig and got a big head rush.
I've been smoking 1 pad for 35 years.

 

[grandmato5]

I'd get both the 24 and the 16. You'll probably like the 24 better, but it'll be nice to hit the 16 when you are just vaping for fun (filled with nic but don't want to stop) or before bedtime because nicotine can keep some people up at night.

+1 on what Rosa said. Purchase a couple 24 and 16 and you will have what you need to start. After you've given them a try you'll have a much better idea what you need to purchase in the future. Good Luck!