Initial assumptions based on research here! (Input needed)

[bluedove3]

First of all, I'm so glad to have found this forum. What a wealth of information! I'm slowly but surely working my way through the Library and have found DonDaBoomVape's Wonderful World of vaping series to be immensely helpful. I have some initial thoughts about what we might need and I was hoping to bounce some of these off the community here and get an idea if I am on the right track or not.

Just so you know, I am not the smoker/potential vaper. I am the (very motivated) fiancee of a 48yo LOOOOONG time smoker who is considering switching to vaping. This is the first stop-smoking solution he has considered in 3 years since we discovered that Chantix was not for him.

We have ordered an E9 starter kit from ecig.com. (before I discovered their less than glowing reputation on these forums) It's a very basic setup with 2 batteries, a USB charger, 4 prefilled cartomizer at a 36mg nic density. No juice yet.

Which leads me to my first assumption:
Refilling carts with juice or dripping/dipping seems to be the most popular (not to mention cheapest) methods. General opinion seems to be that this also produces better taste/experience. My concern is that it does not seem very conducive to vaping on the go and also that it seems to be a fairly high precision operation (especially dripping). Tim is very far-sighted. He needs glasses or a magnifying glass to read directions on just about anything... and he hates wearing his glasses.
He currently rolls his own analogs with filtered tubes once every day or two... could he similarly prefill a days supply (or more) worth of carts? Or is it really better to drip/dip immediately prior to vaping? Would the bigger capacity carts be better for him?

The Flavor/Vapor/Throat Hit formula:
I know it's really hard to guess at what is more important to one's own vaping experience until one has tried some different variations, but as we are low on disposable cash for experimentation I really need to make the most educated guess I can.
When it comes to flavor in general, I do not judge Tim to have a very discriminating palate, so to speak. For instance, he is a chocolate lover but does not find much difference between a Lindt Lindor Truffle and a Hershy bar. Also he currently smokes the cheapest tobacco he can find, (it's actually classified as pipe tobacco) which I expect has a pretty strong, harsh flavor... but probably not very tasty. I am an ex-smoker myself (10 years smoke-free ) and when I did smoke I was just as picky about my "analogs" as I was my chocolate. Based on this, I would assume that flavor is not a priority for Tim. Of course, I could be completely off base... what do you think?

According to Leaford on his Video Blog 8-4: My New 5 Favorites, the E9 (he is talking about the same one we ordered from ecig.com, right?) is big on vapor, not so big on flavor or throat hit. Now, from my smoking days, I think I know what is meant by "throat hit", but Tim describes the feeling that he likes about smoking to be the "fullness" in his lungs. So does that sound more like it would be satisfied by more vapor or stronger throat hit, or is this to do with something completely different like nic density?

That's all I have on my mind atm. I will probably be back with more once I do some more reading. Thanks in advance for any and all input!

 

[SimpleSins]

As you know if you've read, everybody's experience will be different. I can't address your specific e-cig, as I'm an eGo/RiVa user. While there are a lot of drip fans here, so far I just haven't found that to work for me. I like my carts and cartomizers. You can indeed fill these ahead of time and carry extra. I've got a basket full of different cartomizers with different flavors that I screw onto my battery when I've got a hankerin' for that flavor. As you noted, driving and dripping don't always go well together, even at slow speeds.

As to the chest hit, as a former ultra-light smoker, I get a nice one from my 3-something volt eGo/RiVa. However, I really really get one when the voltage is turned up either via a 5V passthrough or with a LR atomizer/cartomizer. It was that combination that pushed me over the edge and enabled me to finally get off the last two cigarettes a day I couldn't quite let go of. However, it did end up being a little too much for me and after four days of using them exclusively, my chest felt the same way it had after a bout of two pack chain-smoking, so I had to drop back to regular atties and cartos. At the time, I wasn't using an outrageously high nic level- 18.

My personal feeling is it's the warmth and vapor that will produce that chest hit that he's looking for. I don't know how the E9 is for those.

Good luck to him!!

 

[humarock]

Bluedove3, WELCOME! this is a great start, I've been a smoker of marlboro reds for 40 years and had 3 LAME attempts of quitting....THIS has been a life changer for me...TODAY celebrates my 7 days analog free! I got my Ecig from modernvapor.com which is a 902 and I love it, as my 1st experience, as I've NEVER hear of these things prior to over a week ago, thiss is a great device for me....we had a friend that used Chantix and it was a lethal result for him, which is very sad, and I was about to use it, so I felt hopeless until now.....and I am not 'jonesing' for an analog, just the opposite, I smell other smokers, hubby being one, and can't believe i EVER smelled like that...my car I had to do a thourough 6 hour cleaning, and this is such an awesome switch, I LOVE smoking, I just didn't like the cost at 8.06 per pack nor the smell or the looks, etc....THIS is like having my morning coffee, not to mention all the flavors out there.

This will be a personal preference thing for your fiancee, considering flavors of ejuice, to drip or not to drip, to refill (which I do and have fun with it) or use prefilled. Everyone is different, so THIS place is a great place for him and yourself to read up on different suppliers etc...thank GOD I found this place before I ordered...I learned so much and was on here researching for a WOPPING 13 hours....LOL....

He'll keep a pack just in case at 1st and that's not a bad thing....make sure you do have more than one atomizer, battery and lots of carts and ejuices for your 1st order....you'll fumble through but that is okay, it is a learning curve, sooo much to learn and it's really fun though!

Much success and hop on here anytime, there is always someone on line! LOL....and if you choose to check out ModernVapor.com, Tony is great, they have a live chat and if he's not on, it will send him a message and he'll get back to you, he is very patient with us 'newbies' and has a great line, not huge, just right....I used Madvapes.com for my 1st order of e-juices and really liked their juices and will try Ms. T's Bakery as well, they are sinful w/no calories...hee hee.... So have fun and MUCH MUCH MUCH success to your fiancee! Enjoy the ride....

Benefits: NO SMELL.....He'll get more hugs and kisses from you....no opening car windows in rain, no running outside to smoke and waste time....breathing is amazing even after the first couple days....no hucking up a lung coughing to clean out....

Just a few.....

 

[Hoosier]

Welcome.

Yes, I pre-fill a few days worth of carts when I fill my carts. (I keep them in Altoid mini tins in my pocket.)

Don't be so sure about his taste or lack of it. Juice is the key to all this, at least making the switch, and there is more to juice than just the taste. There is fullness, TH, nicotine strength, and satisfaction. TH and nicotine usually go hand in hand. Satisfaction comes from the flavor and a combination of the rest.

Not familiar with the hardware you have coming, so I cannot speak to that.

 

[Richie G]

Hi Blue. =)

I did some research on the e9 that you ordered and it looks like a typical *Shopping Mall* electronic cigarette. (the "9" refers to 9mm) It is what is referred to as a 'mini', as I'm sure you've read in Don DaBoom's guide. There's no real polite way to say this -- it's just not the best of purchases. As others have pointed out, your fiance could pre-fill his own cartridges and that would resolve one problem but I fear that his overall experience may be a poor one given the performance of the e9. So, his first experience with vaping may turn out to be less than satisfying, if not downright frustrating.

Almost a year and half into this, the advances that have been made are astounding. That e9 is similar to what I started with, which I *did* manage to stop smoking with but only because I was vigilant and determined. As new products came out it became very much apparent that the whole process could have been way easier. Today it truly is and much less expensive.

I think you have more research to do. I would suggest an eGo or eGo-like device which are going on sale all over this weekend, if the budget allows. Perhaps the novelty of e9 will be enough for the fiance to stay interested until the time comes that you can afford something that will offer a REAL vaping experience. I think it's important that your fiance understands that there are MUCH better devices and that there have been major technological advances since the [older] e9 that offer a much more satisfying experience.

A quick Google search turns up a lot of unsatisfied customers with ecig.com as well.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Vanisle]

First things first Bluedove, Welcome to the ECF Forums.

I can not reply on the reputation of ecig.com as I have not dealt with them so I will leave that to those who have.

I am new to vaping like your fiancee and, like youself I have done a lot of reading here. I have not yet evolved to dripping as of yet but have watched lots of informative youtube videos on almost every potential subject matter in regards to vaping. Some of the best videos are the ones made by "bornagainst" a well established and trusted member of these forums. I suggest you and your fiancee check him out on youtube.

I can however talk about refilling carts and as at least this I have done numerous times. You can easily take extra carts with you when you are out and about. The case for my 510 is actually smaller than a pack of regular smokes and I keep 3 carts and and a spare battery and atomizer in it. If you were to pickup the larger non filled carts you would not have to refill near as often. I prep my next days at night while watching TV in less than 5 minutes.

The kit you purchased comes with 4 prefilled cartomizers. Because of your fiancee's eyesight you may want to consider only using catomizers thought this is more cosly that buying juice but would be cheaper than real cigs. I go between carts and cartomizers myself depending on if I am going out etc.

Flavors:
As for flavors I believe that comes down to the user themselves. Here are some of the flavors I have tried and I love them all. Bluberry, Strawberry, Cherry, Grape, Vanilla, Marlboro, Mint and a few more. I prefer a light throat hit and my understanding is that the higher the Nic content the harsher the throat (someone please correct me if I am wrong). I am currently vaping 11 and 18 mg Nic and for me the 11mg is smoother than the 18mg.

I hope this helps you and your Fiancee out and good luck.

 

[humarock]

Welcome.

Yes, I pre-fill a few days worth of carts when I fill my carts. (I keep them in Altoid mini tins in my pocket.)

Don't be so sure about his taste or lack of it. Juice is the key to all this, at least making the switch, and there is more to juice than just the taste. There is fullness, TH, nicotine strength, and satisfaction. TH and nicotine usually go hand in hand. Satisfaction comes from the flavor and a combination of the rest.

Not familiar with the hardware you have coming, so I cannot speak to that.

Good point, yeah, I find that to be the trick, is finding my 'sweet spot', I notice in the am, after I've charged my batt up good, I get a GREAT TH and vapor and that satisfies me, but when I'm on the computer, like now, lol, I vape alot and at one point I find that I'm sucking on the thing like a new born and get up and drop a couple of drops onto the atty and in my cart and I'm good for another hour...LOL...BUT, I'm just learning, haven't gotten into the whole drip thing just figuring it all out too...but THAT is another fun part to it as well....I got different mg's of nic, 18, 12 and 24 and sometimes I notice the 24 is just right, but the 18's leave me 'wanting more'....so that is the one lesson I learned...I had to get different variations...and go from there!

 

[Poppa D]

Its all part of learning to vape. I think all the learning and messing around make vaping a bit more interesting than "taking a pill".

 

[HwyJ]

There is definitely a lot of options when starting out, and it will be easy to find people that have spent hundreds on different models before finding what works from them.

On the other hand as long as the E9 starter kit gets him interested and open to vaping and it provides an outlet to move away from the rollies, then it was a perfect starter PV and he can try to find what he enjoys most.

 

[RedForeman]

Don't sweat the details. He didn't start smoking in a day so don't stress trying to quit in a day. When you get what you ordered, get him to try it out and come back for more focused advice.

If I had to start all over, I might have gone here to find a local supplier to go visit for some personal direction and selection help. Cross check what you find there with this forum to pick a reputable one close enough to visit.

Also you'll see lots of opinions about flavors. Be prepared for some trial and error. You'll find that your assumptions are probably wrong. Just get small amounts to start until you figure out what's best.

With a whopping week of experience so far, I can say vaping is a bit more fiddley than I expected but that's getting better with my own trial and error.

Good luck and welcome!

 

[bluedove3]

As to the chest hit, as a former ultra-light smoker, I get a nice one from my 3-something volt eGo/RiVa. However, I really really get one when the voltage is turned up either via a 5V passthrough or with a LR atomizer/cartomizer. It was that combination that pushed me over the edge and enabled me to finally get off the last two cigarettes a day I couldn't quite let go of. However, it did end up being a little too much for me and after four days of using them exclusively, my chest felt the same way it had after a bout of two pack chain-smoking, so I had to drop back to regular atties and cartos. At the time, I wasn't using an outrageously high nic level- 18.

My personal feeling is it's the warmth and vapor that will produce that chest hit that he's looking for. I don't know how the E9 is for those.

Good luck to him!!

Ahh... I had been looking at the passthrough's, at first in amusement. I can't help but think that sucking on something attached to the computer looks like you're smoking data. Tim joked that it would be like "streaming nicotine"! LOL!
Ok, warmth and vapor for the "chest hit". Noted and filed, thanks for the input!
Do you know how to tell the difference between a passthrough that uses a battery and one that provides the full 5v from the USB?

Bluedove3, WELCOME! this is a great start, I've been a smoker of marlboro reds for 40 years and had 3 LAME attempts of quitting....THIS has been a life changer for me...TODAY celebrates my 7 days analog free! I got my Ecig from modernvapor.com which is a 902 and I love it, as my 1st experience, as I've NEVER hear of these things prior to over a week ago, thiss is a great device for me....we had a friend that used Chantix and it was a lethal result for him, which is very sad, and I was about to use it, so I felt hopeless until now.....and I am not 'jonesing' for an analog, just the opposite, I smell other smokers, hubby being one, and can't believe i EVER smelled like that...my car I had to do a thourough 6 hour cleaning, and this is such an awesome switch, I LOVE smoking, I just didn't like the cost at 8.06 per pack nor the smell or the looks, etc....THIS is like having my morning coffee, not to mention all the flavors out there.

This will be a personal preference thing for your fiancee, considering flavors of ejuice, to drip or not to drip, to refill (which I do and have fun with it) or use prefilled. Everyone is different, so THIS place is a great place for him and yourself to read up on different suppliers etc...thank GOD I found this place before I ordered...I learned so much and was on here researching for a WOPPING 13 hours....LOL....

He'll keep a pack just in case at 1st and that's not a bad thing....make sure you do have more than one atomizer, battery and lots of carts and ejuices for your 1st order....you'll fumble through but that is okay, it is a learning curve, sooo much to learn and it's really fun though!

Much success and hop on here anytime, there is always someone on line! LOL....and if you choose to check out ModernVapor.com, Tony is great, they have a live chat and if he's not on, it will send him a message and he'll get back to you, he is very patient with us 'newbies' and has a great line, not huge, just right....I used Madvapes.com for my 1st order of e-juices and really liked their juices and will try Ms. T's Bakery as well, they are sinful w/no calories...hee hee.... So have fun and MUCH MUCH MUCH success to your fiancee! Enjoy the ride....

Benefits: NO SMELL.....He'll get more hugs and kisses from you....no opening car windows in rain, no running outside to smoke and waste time....breathing is amazing even after the first couple days....no hucking up a lung coughing to clean out....

Just a few.....

Thanks for the warm welcome! It's so reassuring to hear of long-time smokers finally kicking the "analog" habit. I sure hope Tim has a similar experience, his sister and brother-in-law have gotten their shipment in and so far, they love it! Tim would have tried his by now if we weren't all sick with colds. But as soon as he's feeling better, we'll be testing this puppy out!
I'm sorry to hear you lost a friend to Chantix, we know someone who made a suicide attempt while taking it. Fortunately, he is off it and doing better now. I know some people have had success on it, but I just think the side-effects are too dangerous. It needs to be recalled.
I remember how shocking the sense of smell change was when I quit smoking. I never had any clue how bad I must have smelled! Tim has had to wash up if he wanted more than a passing hug or quick smootch from the beginning. So I hope more spontaneous affection will be a big pro for making the switch.
Thanks for the input and the site recommendation. I'll be sure to check it out.

Hi Blue. =)

I did some research on the e9 that you ordered and it looks like a typical *Shopping Mall* electronic cigarette. (the "9" refers to 9mm) It is what is referred to as a 'mini', as I'm sure you've read in Don DaBoom's guide. There's no real polite way to say this -- it's just not the best of purchases. As others have pointed out, your fiance could pre-fill his own cartridges and that would resolve one problem but I fear that his overall experience may be a poor one given the performance of the e9. So, his first experience with vaping may turn out to be less than satisfying, if not downright frustrating.

Almost a year and half into this, the advances that have been made are astounding. That e9 is similar to what I started with, which I *did* manage to stop smoking with but only because I was vigilant and determined. As new products came out it became very much apparent that the whole process could have been way easier. Today it truly is and much less expensive.

I think you have more research to do. I would suggest an eGo or eGo-like device which are going on sale all over this weekend, if the budget allows. Perhaps the novelty of e9 will be enough for the fiance to stay interested until the time comes that you can afford something that will offer a REAL vaping experience. I think it's important that your fiance understands that there are MUCH better devices and that there have been major technological advances since the [older] e9 that offer a much more satisfying experience.

A quick Google search turns up a lot of unsatisfied customers with ecig.com as well.

Best of luck to you.

Yeah, I've been worried about that since I found the negative comments about e-cig.com. Originally my research was limited to the most inexpensive way to go. Our next purchase will be more thought out.
I know about the battery-life being an issue for the E9 in general. But the E9 cartomizers seem to have a pretty strong following... what are folks vaping them with? Are all of these 9mm batteries and carts compatible?

Don't sweat the details. He didn't start smoking in a day so don't stress trying to quit in a day. When you get what you ordered, get him to try it out and come back for more focused advice.

If I had to start all over, I might have gone here to find a local supplier to go visit for some personal direction and selection help. Cross check what you find there with this forum to pick a reputable one close enough to visit.

Also you'll see lots of opinions about flavors. Be prepared for some trial and error. You'll find that your assumptions are probably wrong. Just get small amounts to start until you figure out what's best.

With a whopping week of experience so far, I can say vaping is a bit more fiddley than I expected but that's getting better with my own trial and error.

Good luck and welcome!

Well, thanks for the link. Unfortunately, the nearest retailer listed there is 100+ miles away! There is a tobacco store nearby that is carrying at least the cheapo kinds. We'll check out his stock anyway, he might at least carry juice or be willing to order some.

Thanks to all of you for your input and kind words. I'm so anxious about Tim possibly going analog-free I'm chomping at the bit to buy more stuff. But we really have to be conservative with the buying and go slow. His b-day is coming up in October, so as long as his initial reaction is not horrible, he'll be getting E-ciggy supplies for presents. I just need a good solid idea of items I really can't go wrong with.

So far, I'm planning to get:
A direct current USB Passthrough (need to know how to identify these)
Some sampler bottles of juice
USB charger device like this (he needs one for his phone if nothing else, lol!)
Maybe another style of e-cig, many have recommended the 510 or the ego, still looking.

 

[petem]

IF you get a direct passthru may want to consider a 2A wall power source. I have heard that the computer port may not provide enought amps and is a very slight chance of frying the motherboad. Should be able to find one where they sell the direct PT just make sure its rated at 2A.

 

[cskent]

You can recognize the battery type passthrough (PT) because it has an inline black box for the battery. The 5v just has a cord until it hits the body of the PT. Order a few samples of juice, enough to last at least a week, you don't want to run out right away. Get juice in different flavors and strengths too. If he's wanting more life out of the battery go with the ego right off, it'll save some $$ on upgrades later. If you don't mind being a slave to the charger or just vape lightly, the 510 is a good little unit. If you are considering the Ego, you might want to look at the Ego Mega. It's got a 30% larger battery and only costs a few dollars more.

 

[jrmithdobbs]

I'm going to give you a little bit of bad news. My favorite part of smoking is the "chest hit," as you've coined it, as well and you're just not going to find anything that gives anything comparable to it from vaping. Especially if he's currently rolling class b or c pipe tobacco into cigs.

On the upside, once you get any hardware issues worked out you'll be saving enough money that buying a pack of good smokes every now and then and spreading them out will be an option if that is really an issue. (or even better, the occasional good cigar)

 

[OldDragon]

OMG - $70 for that usb setup, most likely could get 5 or 6 of them for that price. Go to MadVaps and get their usb charger and passthru. Their usb passthru has a 5 ft cord(most are only 3ft) which move a little ways away from charger. Their charger is a 5volt and 2 amp, which will be good for anything that needs charging. 36 for the nic sounds a little high to me, may want some juice in the 18 to 24 mg range. Look at some of the juice sites, quite a few sell small sampler packages.

 

[gice]

Welcome!!

Initial impression/assumptions of mine: Some people are way to into this, vaping like crack heads. Reminds me of myself chain smoking analogs...

 

[bluedove3]

IF you get a direct passthru may want to consider a 2A wall power source. I have heard that the computer port may not provide enought amps and is a very slight chance of frying the motherboad. Should be able to find one where they sell the direct PT just make sure its rated at 2A.

I think we already have something like that. It came with Tim's phone to be able to adapt a wall outlet to a USB to charge his phone. Looks like it's only 5.1V = 0.7A tho... I guess that's not up to par, eh?

You can recognize the battery type passthrough (PT) because it has an inline black box for the battery. The 5v just has a cord until it hits the body of the PT. Order a few samples of juice, enough to last at least a week, you don't want to run out right away. Get juice in different flavors and strengths too. If he's wanting more life out of the battery go with the ego right off, it'll save some $$ on upgrades later. If you don't mind being a slave to the charger or just vape lightly, the 510 is a good little unit. If you are considering the Ego, you might want to look at the Ego Mega. It's got a 30% larger battery and only costs a few dollars more.

Thanks for the info, that's good to know! Sometimes the PT's don't even have a detailed description. I'm guessing the Ego uses cartridges and atomizer rather than the cartomizer?

I'm going to give you a little bit of bad news. My favorite part of smoking is the "chest hit," as you've coined it, as well and you're just not going to find anything that gives anything comparable to it from vaping. Especially if he's currently rolling class b or c pipe tobacco into cigs.

On the upside, once you get any hardware issues worked out you'll be saving enough money that buying a pack of good smokes every now and then and spreading them out will be an option if that is really an issue. (or even better, the occasional good cigar)

I've had some concerns about that, but even if it helps him cut back it will be worth it. What kinds of devices have you tried and been disappointed in the lack of "chest hit"? It might help us decide what to skip when we start looking.

OMG - $70 for that usb setup, most likely could get 5 or 6 of them for that price. Go to MadVaps and get their usb charger and passthru. Their usb passthru has a 5 ft cord(most are only 3ft) which move a little ways away from charger. Their charger is a 5volt and 2 amp, which will be good for anything that needs charging. 36 for the nic sounds a little high to me, may want some juice in the 18 to 24 mg range. Look at some of the juice sites, quite a few sell small sampler packages.

I think maybe you misunderstood what that link was. It's a portable power supply that you could use to charge batteries or even stick it in your pocket and plug a passthrough into it and use it like you would any other usb port without being tethered to anything. At least, that's my understanding.
What are some good juice sites to look at? There are so many it's confusing!

Welcome!!

Initial impression/assumptions of mine: Some people are way to into this, vaping like crack heads. Reminds me of myself chain smoking analogs...

I've noticed that too! Many people talk about vaping much more than they ever smoked. Personally, I hope that speaks to how enjoyable vaping can be and maybe it will be something he can really get into and quit the analogs totally.

 

[cskent]

Thanks for the info, that's good to know! Sometimes the PT's don't even have a detailed description. I'm guessing the Ego uses cartridges and atomizer rather than the cartomizer?

I've had some concerns about that, but even if it helps him cut back it will be worth it. What kinds of devices have you tried and been disappointed in the lack of "chest hit"? It might help us decide what to skip when we start looking.

I've noticed that too! Many people talk about vaping much more than they ever smoked. Personally, I hope that speaks to how enjoyable vaping can be and maybe it will be something he can really get into and quit the analogs totally.

The PT's without an inline battery are sometimes labeled as HV or 5V.
Yes, the Ego can be used with cartomizers as well as atomizers/cartridges. It'll use the standard 510 stuff, but there's also some specifically for the Ego.
Personally, I find that if you get your setup right there's plenty of throat hit, I'm guessing that's what you mean by chest hit. I've got a 510 with a low resistance (LR) atomizer that's really good. If you decide to order, get at least one LR atty.
I think most people vape more than they smoked because it's a lot more convenient and you have to if you want to ingest the same amount of nicotine. You have to find the right juice strength to be satisfied. Order juices in various strengths and flavors on your first attempt so you have a better chance of finding the sweet spot.

 

[jrmithdobbs]

Personally, I find that if you get your setup right there's plenty of throat hit, I'm guessing that's what you mean by chest hit.

If she's talking about what I think she is, it's not. That warm cuddly "burn" feeling in the top of the lungs.

LR attys don't give me that, and I don't think anything not involving smoke will, from my experimentation.