What's up vapers! Since this is my first post in my first vape forum, I'll give you some background.
I used to smoke Newports. I had smoked cigarettes for about 12 years, then quit in 2005, then picked it back up again back in July 2017. Then in January a close friend of mine moved in with me and he's been vaping for about 5 years and he's the first guy I know personally who vapes.
Fast forward to around February of this year, and I finally decided to try and transition over to vaping because I really wanted to get off the cigarettes again, this time for good.
At first, like a lot of people, I wasn't really feeling it. I knew absolutely nothing about vaping except that my friend hit that thing all the time and I used to make fun of him. But he really seemed into it and would often try and get me to switch.
So I did a little research and decided that it was infinitely healthier than smoking, and even read some studies done by doctors who could find no ill health effects on the people they studied who vaped. I also watched that one YouTube video where a huge wad of white cotton was put into a vacuum sealed tank and they ran cigarette smoke through one cotton wad and then vape juice through another. After the cigarettes, the cotton was dark brown and full of gross crap, but after the vape, it was still white and just wet from the vapor. I then looked up the history of popcorn lung and realized that it had nothing to do with vaping, and ironically cigarettes contained over 100 times more of the chemical that caused it, diacetyl. Not to mention the 1000's of other chemicals in smokes, like arsenic, while vape juice had like 4 ingredients, and the nicotine was a pure extract.
My research also included first-hand observations. I could vape all day long in my car, windows up, and never see any residue on my windows, or have a really bad stale smell in my car.
I decided finally to at least give it a try. My friend had a spare mod and tank and gave it to me.
At first, it was like my first hit off a cigarette...burning throat, coughing, etc. I remembered that was how it usually is when inhaling anything for the first time, so I didn't give up just yet.
One issue I had was the flavor. Newport smokers are picky. I loved Newports and they have a unique flavor. But I really wanted to get off cigs, as they are so bad for my body. At the local vape shop, they had all sorts of "fruity" juice that they recommended. But I guess you can call me a purist of sorts...I wanted something that gave me a similar experience to Newports and I wasn't interesting in my vape tasting super-sweet like desserts. The closest thing they had to that was a custom menthol blend but it was way too minty and sweet for my taste.
One thing I realized and that I think is key for a lot of people considering switching is that I am simply not going to find any vape juice that tastes exactly like cigarettes. It's just an entirely different chemical process for one and the cigs contain many addictive poisons that vape juice does not, thankfully. With that in mind, I continued on my journey...
I began to search online for recommendations for the best e-juice for people coming off of Newports. Several forums had the same recommendation for an e-juice called Nport by Dekang. So I ordered some and began to use it. While again, it doesn't taste exactly like a Newport, it is the best I have found so far, for me and has a really nice subtle menthol flavoring.
Anyway, back to vaping...Initially I would take a hit now and then, but I was still smoking cigarettes. I'd say it took me about 2 months to fully transition. As I got used to it, the harshness, dry throat, and coughing went away. Finally, I decided to try and just vape, and every time I had the urge to light up a cigarette, I vaped instead.
As I got used to vaping, flavor became more important. I really liked the Nport blend, but felt that I needed to add a bit of sweetness to it, but not too much. I eventually settled on a very nice peach tea juice from my local vape shop and I use a 50/50 blend now with the Nport. The flavor is perfect for me: Not too sweet, not too minty, just sublime. I found that a nicotine level of .6 is the sweet spot for me.
Finally I bought my very first mod: An Innokin Kroma-A. I paired it with the Cleito Exo tank and Cleito .4ohm coil. I'm still using the tank and coil to this day. The open air flow of the tank is more than enough for me to blow mad clouds using the direct-to-lung method. I love the thick white vapor. I also get plenty of flavor from it as well.
I know that most vapers say mouth-to-lung is the best way for beginners coming off of cigarettes. But I went straight to direct-to-lung. Once I got used to the vape itself, it just seemed more natural. MTL on a cigarette is necessary because if you try and just inhale a puff it burns. Not so with vaping.
Now I love vaping. The best way to describe it in relation to cigarettes is...purity. I mean, that first vape hit in the morning when I wake up is awesome. The nicotine buzz from it is so much more...I don't know how to put it...cleaner, then a cigarette. I love it. I look forward to taking a sip of my morning coffee and taking that first big old hit of some good vape now!
A few days ago, I accidentally dropped my mod into the running shower and it got sprayed with water. It started acting crazy and the buttons were non-responsive. I panicked as I realized I had no backup mod for this kind of situation. So i put the mod in a bowl of rice and I headed to the vape shop. I didn't have a lot of money to spend so I really couldn't buy the one I had been eyeballing for a while, the Aegis Legend. But the vape shop guy was very helpful and I snagged the Eleaf Tessera. I've had it for 3 days now and I like it. Goes up to 125 watts, has really good battery life and a nice bright clear display and pairs up nicely with the Cleito tank and coil. Oh yeah, my Kroma-A was working again after a day in the rice so now I have a backup.
However, I'm looking to upgrade my tank and coil and I'm getting confused. It seems all the new tanks coming out are all rated as MTL...but isn't the Cleito Exo I currently use also considered MTL? If so, then does it really matter? The Exo works perfectly fine to me as a DTL.
I wanted to try the new Innokin Zenith kit. But it clearly says MTL. However it has adjustable air flow so wouldn't it work for someone like me, who loves mad clouds as well as flavor?
Does anyone have recommendations on a good tank upgrade for someone in my position? Is this the point where I start looking into custom tanks? There is so much I still don't know about vaping!
Anyway, thank you to the vaping world for helping me get off the cigarettes
Thanks for listening guys!
I used to smoke Newports. I had smoked cigarettes for about 12 years, then quit in 2005, then picked it back up again back in July 2017. Then in January a close friend of mine moved in with me and he's been vaping for about 5 years and he's the first guy I know personally who vapes.
Fast forward to around February of this year, and I finally decided to try and transition over to vaping because I really wanted to get off the cigarettes again, this time for good.
At first, like a lot of people, I wasn't really feeling it. I knew absolutely nothing about vaping except that my friend hit that thing all the time and I used to make fun of him. But he really seemed into it and would often try and get me to switch.
So I did a little research and decided that it was infinitely healthier than smoking, and even read some studies done by doctors who could find no ill health effects on the people they studied who vaped. I also watched that one YouTube video where a huge wad of white cotton was put into a vacuum sealed tank and they ran cigarette smoke through one cotton wad and then vape juice through another. After the cigarettes, the cotton was dark brown and full of gross crap, but after the vape, it was still white and just wet from the vapor. I then looked up the history of popcorn lung and realized that it had nothing to do with vaping, and ironically cigarettes contained over 100 times more of the chemical that caused it, diacetyl. Not to mention the 1000's of other chemicals in smokes, like arsenic, while vape juice had like 4 ingredients, and the nicotine was a pure extract.
My research also included first-hand observations. I could vape all day long in my car, windows up, and never see any residue on my windows, or have a really bad stale smell in my car.
I decided finally to at least give it a try. My friend had a spare mod and tank and gave it to me.
At first, it was like my first hit off a cigarette...burning throat, coughing, etc. I remembered that was how it usually is when inhaling anything for the first time, so I didn't give up just yet.
One issue I had was the flavor. Newport smokers are picky. I loved Newports and they have a unique flavor. But I really wanted to get off cigs, as they are so bad for my body. At the local vape shop, they had all sorts of "fruity" juice that they recommended. But I guess you can call me a purist of sorts...I wanted something that gave me a similar experience to Newports and I wasn't interesting in my vape tasting super-sweet like desserts. The closest thing they had to that was a custom menthol blend but it was way too minty and sweet for my taste.
One thing I realized and that I think is key for a lot of people considering switching is that I am simply not going to find any vape juice that tastes exactly like cigarettes. It's just an entirely different chemical process for one and the cigs contain many addictive poisons that vape juice does not, thankfully. With that in mind, I continued on my journey...
I began to search online for recommendations for the best e-juice for people coming off of Newports. Several forums had the same recommendation for an e-juice called Nport by Dekang. So I ordered some and began to use it. While again, it doesn't taste exactly like a Newport, it is the best I have found so far, for me and has a really nice subtle menthol flavoring.
Anyway, back to vaping...Initially I would take a hit now and then, but I was still smoking cigarettes. I'd say it took me about 2 months to fully transition. As I got used to it, the harshness, dry throat, and coughing went away. Finally, I decided to try and just vape, and every time I had the urge to light up a cigarette, I vaped instead.
As I got used to vaping, flavor became more important. I really liked the Nport blend, but felt that I needed to add a bit of sweetness to it, but not too much. I eventually settled on a very nice peach tea juice from my local vape shop and I use a 50/50 blend now with the Nport. The flavor is perfect for me: Not too sweet, not too minty, just sublime. I found that a nicotine level of .6 is the sweet spot for me.
Finally I bought my very first mod: An Innokin Kroma-A. I paired it with the Cleito Exo tank and Cleito .4ohm coil. I'm still using the tank and coil to this day. The open air flow of the tank is more than enough for me to blow mad clouds using the direct-to-lung method. I love the thick white vapor. I also get plenty of flavor from it as well.
I know that most vapers say mouth-to-lung is the best way for beginners coming off of cigarettes. But I went straight to direct-to-lung. Once I got used to the vape itself, it just seemed more natural. MTL on a cigarette is necessary because if you try and just inhale a puff it burns. Not so with vaping.
Now I love vaping. The best way to describe it in relation to cigarettes is...purity. I mean, that first vape hit in the morning when I wake up is awesome. The nicotine buzz from it is so much more...I don't know how to put it...cleaner, then a cigarette. I love it. I look forward to taking a sip of my morning coffee and taking that first big old hit of some good vape now!
A few days ago, I accidentally dropped my mod into the running shower and it got sprayed with water. It started acting crazy and the buttons were non-responsive. I panicked as I realized I had no backup mod for this kind of situation. So i put the mod in a bowl of rice and I headed to the vape shop. I didn't have a lot of money to spend so I really couldn't buy the one I had been eyeballing for a while, the Aegis Legend. But the vape shop guy was very helpful and I snagged the Eleaf Tessera. I've had it for 3 days now and I like it. Goes up to 125 watts, has really good battery life and a nice bright clear display and pairs up nicely with the Cleito tank and coil. Oh yeah, my Kroma-A was working again after a day in the rice so now I have a backup.
However, I'm looking to upgrade my tank and coil and I'm getting confused. It seems all the new tanks coming out are all rated as MTL...but isn't the Cleito Exo I currently use also considered MTL? If so, then does it really matter? The Exo works perfectly fine to me as a DTL.
I wanted to try the new Innokin Zenith kit. But it clearly says MTL. However it has adjustable air flow so wouldn't it work for someone like me, who loves mad clouds as well as flavor?
Does anyone have recommendations on a good tank upgrade for someone in my position? Is this the point where I start looking into custom tanks? There is so much I still don't know about vaping!
Anyway, thank you to the vaping world for helping me get off the cigarettes
Thanks for listening guys!
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