I have a few questions.

[saviorslegacy]

First off I would like to introduce myself.
I am a United States Sailor attached to the USS John C. Stennis. I have been an avid pipe smoker for 3 years now. I like it very much but I recently decided I am smoking it to much and instead of quitting a very enjoyable experience I decided to try something new. I have known about ecigs for several years now but I never really liked the idea that much. About a week ago I saw a $20 starter kit at the mall and decided to give it a try. I must say I am enjoying it very much.
I purchased some other tips (I believe they are called atomizers) to try some different flavors and liked them all. It is smoother and you do not get tongue bite.

I am now at a cross road and driven by inexperience I have come here for some questions. I want a better ecig but there is just to much.
I tried googling to learn about ecigs and how customizable they are but there is so much stuff out there I quickly became confused.
So that is why I am here, to ask for advice.

Here is what I want out of an ecig:
I need a better battery. I however do not want one of them honken huge things like the volcano. I also do not like the idea of having to push a button to smoke, I like to draw. So something maybe around this size: Amazon.com: eGo Chrome Ecig Dual Starter Kit 650 Mah: Everything Else
(or) Spade e-cig mod reviews

I do like the LED on my ecig. It does add a sense of coolness to it.
Which brings up another topic, I want it to look cool. I like the tats on this little thing: Slim E-Cigarette V103 - China E-Cigarette,E Cigarette,E Cig in Health Care Appliance

I want my atomizer to hold more e liquid than these dinky tips. I like the transparent ones that I have seen like this:

 

[Vchick]

Welcome & congrats!

While there are alot of slim automaic batteries on the market, I don't know of any riva/ego sized that are automatic, they would all be manuals with a button, in fact both you linked are manuals with a button.

 

[Reidus]

You still draw on a manual. The difference is that with an automatic, the coil doesn't actually start heating up until you draw, whereas with a manual, the coil starts heating up when you press the button. This means that with an automatic, you have to prime the pump, as it were (take a short puff before taking a full one) to get a good vapor.

 

[dennic]

Welcome to ECF. You might find something you like here: ePipeMods

 

[saviorslegacy]

Then I will be willing to have a button.

 

[bodrell]

Buttons have a sense of coolness.

 

[Kadler]

Have you looked at any of the mini's? The Lavatube makes a mini and so does the Provari but both are kind of expensive. If you are looking for a long term investment i have heard nothing but great things about the Provari mini and that will drastically increase your battery life and give you a smaller form of the larger tube mods.

 

[dirquist]

Ok, I was like you about the button at first but trust me, you get over it quickly. ePipeMods is the place for you. Awesome pipes, all hand carved with a great artist at the helm with amazing customer service.

Now, if you want to start cheap you need to hop into this other thread. It's a pipe that uses an ego essentially and you can use those crappy automatic batteries that you indicate liking (IMO all non button batteries are on the low end). I think you might like the Kuwako for a while, but eventually I bet you move on to the Wellman pipe from ePipeMods, but maybe not.

Ask a question in here, these guys are always eager to help.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ego-type-models/273093-ego-echo-kuwako-thread.html

 

[whodat2112]

I would suggest an Echo 1300 mAh battery. Not too large, lasts all day if not more than a day. and it's automatic, no button.

 

[hairball]

I would suggest an Echo 1300 mAh battery. Not too large, lasts all day if not more than a day. and it's automatic, no button.

This is the same one I was going to recommend. If you want to stick to 510 threading, look for an Echo-E.

 

[wv2win]

Since you don't want a big battery (the ego is a big battery) maybe you should look at the Halo G6 or the Volt with the standard slim battery. Based on various new member posts on ECF, you will get fantastic battery life, upwards of 15 hours.

G6 Basic Starter Kit - G6 E-Cig

 

[Dana A]

I liked auto batts at first too until I discovered that with a manual one you can pre heat the vapor by pressing the button 2 or 3 seconds before you draw for a better hit.

 

[sailorman]

Do yourself a favor and scrap the idea of "no-button". Having an automatic battery restricts your choice to mostly the more dismally performing e-cigs. Kinda like looking for a new car, but it has to have a certain horn sound. It'll take you all of 5 seconds to get used to the button and in 10 seconds it'll be second nature.

Kind of the same thing with the light. Lights were a marketing gimmick stuck on the first e-cigs. If you notice, none of the better e-cigs have them, except around the button or to indicate the state of charge of the battery. IOW, only if they perform an actual function.

If you must have one that looks like a cigarette, there are a million choices, but only a scant handful that are worth messing with. The Volt from smokelessimage.com, the Bloog Maxx Fusion, the Halo G6 and the Smoove are 4 out of a thousand that actually work decently and have a decent battery life.

General rule of thumb is: The more it looks like a cigarette, the worse it performs. Battery technology and the laws of physics dictate it be this way and no manufacturer can get around it, regardless of their promises, their bling, their phony warranties or their marketing gimmicks. The models mentioned above are merely the best performing mini-cigs out of a dismal category of e-cigs. The best of the worst, so to speak.

Since you're a pipe smoker, definitely look into the offerings from epipemods.com. There are a couple really good e-pipe manufacturers out there. That is one, and probably the best. Unfortunately, I can't remember the other one but it's named after they guy who makes it, something like "Romanian"??. There are a couple mass produced Chinese pipes on the market. My advice is to skip them. They're pretty much junk.

 

[Warren D. Lockaby]

Then I will be willing to have a button.

It will give you a lot more control over the vaping experience, and the button only seems awkward for a few moments. For me, it quickly became an enhancement rather than an annoyance.

 

[dennic]

Thanks for the tip Dana A. I was going to buy a bigger battery for my Riva, until I order a VV device, but I may wait a while now...

 

[NancyR]

I have to agree with the others on the button, when my boyfriend first told me his had a button I didn't think I would like that. Man was I ever wrong, I found not only does it help with the vape by being able to warm the coil before hand, but after the first couple draws I just took to it, now I can't imagine going back to a auto battery

 

[mechanus]

Autos have their place - very useful when you have both of your hands occupied doing something - but, yes, to be able to balance the PV out, you will have to use a smaller device. PVs from Bloog, Smokeless Image, or V4L are all 3.7v devices and offer a decent compromise in performance, battery charge, and battery life in their category. Button or not is a personal choice - maybe I just don't have the atomizer to appreciate the difference - but I just find it easier to use an auto device than thinking about the button (I guess I get distracted and I've held down the button longer than I intended to without drawing on it - don't ask).

Smokeless Image does offer ego-class devices that are auto - similar to the Echo - but I haven't tried either of them, so I can't comment on their performance.

That being said, epipemods is probably going to be your best bet for a device that has a form factor that you enjoy. This Rhodesian is very nice: Rhodesian- Bent Shankless- Mopari - Dublin, Rhodesian, Bulldog - Shankless - Single Battery Pipes

 

[mafig]

hi saviorslegacy & welcome to ECF..last 2 days be4 the 3rd anniversary sale ends @ Healthcabin Electronic Cigarettes - Wholesale and Retail i highly recommend the variable voltage 650 mah eGo 650mAh V.V. Dual Coil (1.5ohm) Promotion Kit ..easy to use and can accomodate LR & SR cartos or atomizer..just add a few drip tips and e-liquids ..and U good to vapeeeeeeeeeeee..happy vaping regards mafig

 

[ogredog]

Trust me, u think u don't want a big clunky device but u do. Most of us here started the same way.

We wanted a cig look a like but the batteries suck. We wanted an eliquid that mimicked a real cig... there aren't any exactly like it.

We bought slim ecig and they suck, they are ok at first to see if its something that might work for you but u r charging and buying batteries all the time.

Then we found ecf and usually get an ego type 510 device which produces better vapor and the batteries last much longer that's why they are so big. Then people move up to apvs-or advanced personal vaporizers.

Before you make ur decision please search ecf, watch you tube videos and see what will work best for u and consider a bigger device.

My recommendations is to go all out now and buy something good or u will climb the same expensive ladder we did. There is A LOT of info to be gleaned here and most if not all are willing to help with any questions you have including myself.

Vape on

 

[fixmbr]

Just reinforcing what ogredog said - I've only just done the mini/analogue lookalike phase - eGo starter kit on its way as I type. Yes it has a button, and yes I'm sure it will be fine. What made me decide on an eGo type ecig?
1) This forum
2) This forum
3) I discovered someone sells them in NZ and it will be here in 2 days instead of nearly 2 weeks.

I thought automatic battery would be the way to go at first as well, but tbh now I'm looking forward to a button. I'll keep the E9 though cos the passthrough works awesomely in the car! Keep the eGo for around the house perhaps...