Howdy from SC

[dirt]

I'm another new user and vaper from SC. I used to smoke analogs and dip, then went to solely dipping, and am currently only using Swedish Suns. I have also tried a couple different cigalikes from tobacco stores. Can't seem to get anything I like, like I used to with the Marlboros.

I plan on picking up a starter kit soon, possibly today from a brick & mortar store. Looking to make my first purchase in person just to get a closer look at some different options and sample different flavors.

I have 1 store in mind closest to me, in Sumter, but also know that there are several in Columbia and Florence mostly less than 1 hour drive away.

Lots of info here so I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed.

 

[DingerCPA]

Welcome dirt! (Sorry, that just sounds weird!)

If you get a moment, go look up the user Baditude and read through his blogs. He has a lot of GREAT information regarding starting up and things to consider. Good tutorials on the "lingo" so you may not feel as overwhelmed when you walk into a B&M. It took me over 3 years to finally find something that I liked and was willing to stick with. Tried cigalikes back in 2010 and 2011. Just never cut it. Found the Spinner 1300 and EVOD toppers and tons of different juice flavors. Now I'm a pretty happy camper and haven't touched a smoke in almost 6 months!

If you're sampling, most B&Ms do 0 nic in their juices. Ask if they have samples of higher nic, just so you'll get the right throat hit you're looking for. Buy small amounts of different flavors and/or nic levels to start until you find more what you're looking for. Also consider getting two batteries - one to vape and one to charge - so you're never "without".

There's a lot of info on the forums here - but don't hesitate to ask if you have questions.

Good Luck and enjoy the

 

[Susan~S]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Glad to have you here!

Do you have some idea of what you are looking for in a new setup?

Here are some of Baditudes blogs that DingerCPA referred to:

1. A Good Starter's Setup for a Beginning Vapor
2. Advancing Up the Vaping Ladder with Egos and Mods
3. Proper terminology - Is it a carto, a tank, or what? A Guide to Juice Attachments.
4. Something Safe for Cinnamon and Citrus Flavors

 

[peraspera]

Welcome to ECF!

If you can manage the travel time I would very much suggest attending VapeMania 14 in Winston-Salem, NC this weekend. There will be lots of vendors there where you can check out tons of gear and sample all kinds of juice. Fellow vapers are a friendly, helpful group so you will probably even make some vaping friends.

If you can't make VapeMania I would suggest the Innokin MVP2 as the best bang for the buck to start with. It has variable power so you can adjust the temperature of your vape to your liking and has very long battery life. The MVP2 is popular both with beginners and more experienced vapers.

Pair the MVP2 with a Nautilus or Kanger AeroTank to hold your juice. They both have adjustable air flow that will allow you to adjust flavor and amount of vaper.

If you want something smaller with less battery and juice capacity you can get the MVP2's little brother, the VV 3.0 and pair it with the mini Nautilus or Kanger AeroTank.

 

[DingerCPA]

(Thanks Susan!)

 

[dirt]

Thanks for the replies. Definitely need to do lots more reading. I did find that the starter kit prices at the closest b&m I know of with positive customer reviews are higher than other places I have checked. I'll be in Columbia tomorrow, so along with my other research, I'm looking for some others shops to check out.

 

[jacob vining]

where from sc are ya? i grew up in sumter but live in charelston now..

 

[eratikmind]

Welcome to the ECF boards, dirt. I trust that your Vape search proves to be an excellent one, tomorrow.

 

[Kimmothy]

Howdy, fellow South Carolinian! I'm in Columbia and have had the chance to use two different stores. The first one was very basic with very little merchandise but the owners were nice and helpful. They seem to have since closed down without a word to their customers on Facebook or by email. The 2nd is located in Five Points near where I work so it's been really convenient for me (in fact too convenient - I walk in and they greet me by name already). With all the great online choices, I still find it comforting to know I can walk in somewhere and talk to a person, ask my hundreds of dumb questions and physically see and hold the merchandise. I hope you find success locally as well!

 

[Warpigs]

Welcome to ECF!

 

[dirt]

I'm in Dalzell, right by Shaw. We're in usually in Columbia once a month or so for my appointments at the VA Hospital. We also head to Florence fairly often, too.

 

[EBates]

Welcome aboard

 

[peraspera]

I'm in Dalzell, right by Shaw. We're in usually in Columbia once a month or so for my appointments at the VA Hospital. We also head to Florence fairly often, too.

Since you are a vet you would qualify for a free starter kit from Vape-A-Vet Project. They will also have a booth at VapeMania 14.

Thank you for your service.

 

[dirt]

Since you are a vet you would qualify for a free starter kit from Vape-A-Vet Project. They will also have a booth at VapeMania 14.

Thank you for your service.

Thanks for letting me know. Looking at their page, it appears to me that they only send to active duty deployed members. I am not serving anymore. The VA has me listed as Totally and Permanently disabled due to my service connected issues that I battle daily.

I can't make it to VapeMania since I haven't planned for it and live on a very tight budget.

All this being said, if I could go back in time, I would enlist and do it all over again. Some days are just plain awful for me and my wife and kids, but it is only making us stronger, I hope.

 

[peraspera]

So sorry to hear that Vape-A-Vet is only doing active duty rather than disabled vets as well. If you can manage the time to get to VapeMania you can probably score enough free samples of juice to pay for gas money. Also, large events will have some specials on beginner gear as well. The admission is free.

If that won't work you can pretty much always get gear cheaper online than at a B&M. 101 Vapes is reliable and always has low prices on popular gear.
Innokin iTaste MVP V2.0
Genuine ASPIRE Nautilus

If you want something smaller along the lines of cigar-sized you can get the smaller versions of the same things.
Innokin iTaste VV (V3) Express kit
Genuine ASPIRE Nautilus Mini

B&M's are higher for juice than online but you can usually sample juices so you don't waste money something you don't like. If you want to try online, Mount Baker sells juice at very reasonable prices and is very popular. They have very good customer service as well.

These devices aren't the cheapest you can get but they will provide you with a good quality, fully adjustable vape that will make quitting easier. Also, none are junk drawer candidates if you move on to more powerful gear. Many experienced vapers use this gear in addition to their more advanced stuff. You will want to budget for backups for both your battery and juice delivery device as soon as you can manage.

Hope that whatever is causing you to be disabled will improve for you. Again, thanks to you and your family for your service.

 

[dirt]

Thanks again. There is no way for me to swing the money to go to Vapemania. I'm gonna try to hit up a b&m today while I'm in the Columbia area if I can. A friend referred me one in Lexington with good prices. I believe she said it only cost her about $35 or so for an ego style starter kit with 2 attys, 2 bottles of juice, and a hard carrying case.

 

[peraspera]

That's a reasonable price for a B&M. Many people have successfully quit using much less satisfactory gear. However, don't give up on vaping if it produces a vape that is just a wee bit short of the mark for fully satisfying you. You can upgrade your gear as budget allows.

Wishing you much success in your vaping journey.

 

[kamello]

Many thanks for your help

 

[jacob vining]

cool man yeah a grew up in sumter ten mins from dazell lot of field parties haha went to sumter hand but graduated from crestwood