Light-smoking newbie - what do I need to vape?

[Jazztoon]

I smoke about 10 cigarettes a day. I want to switch to vaping (feel cool using the term already LOL). Been reading all over and see that a few products are recommended around the forum, however, it's my impression that those might work best for ex-heavy smokers (1-2 packs per day).

As a complete newbie I'm over-whelmed by the language (atomizers, cartridges, etc) ... don't know what that stuff means and the sites that sell them aren't explaining. I want to avoid nicotine liquid as a start because, well, I don't know what I'm doing! But I also want to give myself a high possibility of success.

So ... what's easy for a beginner? What's appropriate for a light smoker? Who's reliable to buy from? What do I order when I buy?

Thank you and looking forward to it.

PS - I'm in NY so off to read what the deal is with NY legislature ... great! as I go to get on the bandwagon, they start dismantling it for parts

 

[Jazztoon]

Oh, I should add that those 10 cigarettes per day are lights (American Spirit yellow box). Not sure if it matters.

 

[Warped3k]

I would definitely start with a low nicotine cartridge. There are choices and some places will state it as 0, low, med, high. I usually ranges from about 8mg 16mg, 24mg, 36mg. I would suggest going with the 8 or so mg and if that doesn't do it for you work your way up.

I just started vaping a few days ago, and it seems as though 24mg is working for me now. I used to be a pack to a pack and a half smoker.

You can buy prefilled carts or your can buy the liquid and fill the carts yourself. I would suggest getting the carts first, if you buy a kit it should come with some "sample" carts to try out. If you later decide you want to save some money, you can buy the liquid and fill the carts yourself.

As far as a good ecig, I went with a Tornado/Ego, for the reason of having a 510 atty (which I heard great things about), as well as much better battery life than a standard 510.

 

[CaptJay]

I was on 20 malb ultra lights per day (average) and I use 12mg quite happily - the problem is that every single person deals with nic in their bodies differently. For me 12mg is fine, although I have a couple of 18mg that I use very rarely (too much = headache), but other people who smoked the same amount, same brand, find 24mg is their sweet spot. It varies so much that 'recommending' a level for YOU is almost impossible; we normally suggest new user get small sizes of juices (our list of vendors is pretty good Forum Suppliers - E-Cigarette Forum ) in varying strengths of nic (I wouldnt get anything over 24mg though) so you can work out your good level. Anything thats too high you can dilute and anything too low, well you can use that if you chain vape

 

[ms421]

I smoked Camel Light 100's and am very satisfied with 11 or 12mg's . . . Happy Vaping!

 

[Jazztoon]

Would the amount of nicotine be assessed based on the cigarette amount (or even the nicotine gum amount, since I've chewed way too many of those in an attempt to quit)? Because the American Spirit cig says 1.90mg nicotine and the gum I've chewed says 2mg (which is often too much for me and I just chew half a piece)?

Or is calculating what I would need that way totally off-based?

I'm seeing the 510, Ego and Vapor-For-Life mentioned quite a bit and have been looking through their sites. In the Vapor-For-Life website they have a kit, you choose nicotine strength ... but what is a "cartomizer"? Is that different from doing the "liquid" or do they go together? The Cignot (306, 510, Ego) kits mention "Pre-filled Carts (Marlboro High)" which I'm assuming will be too much nicotine for me, but no option for lower nicotine than that.

And, what do these things look like in hand? Bigger than an actual cigarette? I would almost prefer different looking a bit so as to not call attention to myself in public.

 

[Jazztoon]

I smoked Camel Light 100's and am very satisfied with 11 or 12mg's

Oops, posted before you did. Interesting! Maybe I'm doing my calculations wrong then. So confused - but I supposed as a newbie, it's expected.

 

[Jazztoon]

we normally suggest new user get small sizes of juices (our list of vendors is pretty good Forum Suppliers - E-Cigarette Forum ) in varying strengths of nic

Good tip and I will take it! Would it work the same way if I went the non-juice route (still figuring out the language!) or would those be pre-set to specific nicotine amount? Seemed that way at Vapor King with the lowest being 4mg and highest being 24).

And ... mmmm, that "coffee" flavor's already calling my name LOL. I don't even like coffee, but only drink it because it enhances my smoke. You mean to tell me I can have my coffee flavor AND nicotine in one device? It all sounds too good to be true.

 

[poytim]

I was at about 10 marlb ultra lights a day, and found I needed 24mg to get the throat hit I craved. I vape like I smoked - here and there, every few hours.

I found the prefilled carts useless. I currently use cartomizers that I fill with a 510. I placed an order for a 510 starter kit with cignot.com, and ordered some juice in both 0mg and 24mg strength so I could experiment with nicotine levels. I think that if you start with 0mg (no nic) juice, you'll be very disappointed.

 

[opyrus]

i had smoked about 2-4 cigs a day an been with out for 2-3 months befor starting to vape an i dident even bother with getting any nicotine at all. 0 nic dos the trick for me personaly just an suggestion.

 

[DonnitaMae]

Many years ago I took a stop smoking class. We were told that at 4 mg a day or more of nicotine there was an nicotine addiction but below that it was a psychological addiction. It was actually a good class and spanned a few weeks for an hour or so a day.

We were also taught that menthol was addicting. The first thing they had us do on day one was switch to non-menthol. That put me in a state of shock! I had to chew gum or have a lifesaver in my mouth when I smoked. I experienced headaches for the first few days coming off of menthol.

As we went through the class they broke associations like having to wait a period of time after a meal for the first cigarette instead of right after. Every class a behavior was modified. It was actually quite a good class.

But I digressed far beyond what the question was here. I think you should start at a 10-14 mg level initially to get you through the initial switch and then drop to 8 once you are completely enthralled with vaping!! I was a pack a day smoker of lights who is/was extremely psychologically addicted. I started 4 weeks ago. I am now at 8-11 and am doing just fine.

 

[chelleam]

I just began to vape today!!! I am no longer a vape virgin!!! YAY!! I had tried to quick smoking 8 x. The last time was 2 weeks ago yesterday, I got on Chantix but still missed the ritual of smoking with my coffee and after dinner. I almost went back to smoking until ZIGCIGS.com saved me from making that mistake! I just had to tell someone!!!

 

[chelleam]

why is my photo not showing under my name? I uploaded and it shows in profile but not on comments posted?????

 

[ApacheChief]

I smoked about the same as you,Natural American Spirit - Perique. Some days I wouldn't even smoke a single cig at all so I decided to go with 4mg. It wasn't nearly enough v.v I could vape it all day and feel like I haven't even got in the equivalent of 1 real cig. Currently on 11mg. While these are much better I think I would prefer a little more.


Originally I thought starting off low and adding was a good idea, In Hine site I think starting big and backing off would have been a better choice. I'm now debating to go 18 or 24 mg. Hopefully the 18s will be what i'm looking for

I would start at 18ish and see how you feel.

 

[Rosa]

*everyone's different: some folks who smoked more than a pack a day only need 8-12mg to quit while others who smoked less than half a pack a day end up needing 24mg to quit. The best bet is to order some 18-24mg and also order some 0mg so you can customize the mg to what you end up needing. I noticed that you said you wanted to start with 0mg nicotine so you could quit. This would absolutely be a bad idea - you must have the nicotine if you expect to quit - but remember; while nicotine IS very addictive it is not bad for you by itself, in cigarettes it's all the other stuff that ends up killing you, not the nicotine. Nicotine is your friend (for now)

*For the easiest e-cig with the least tinkering, get the vapor king (aka KR808D) from vapor4life: it's a two piece model so you need only put on a fresh cartomizer and go.

*If you like to tinker and you're the type to change your own oil because it saves a few bucks, get the 510 model: it's a three piece model with the atomizer and cart of nicotine separate so you'll need to be prepared to be re-filling the cart quite often and perhaps tinkering with it a bit.

*either model will work for you depending on your needs.

Good Luck!

 

[Rosa]

I guess I forgot the questions, so just to fill in....

As a complete newbie I'm over-whelmed by the language (atomizers, cartridges, etc) ... ATOMIZER: the part that heats up the juice. CART: the tip that you suck on and holds the juice within using a spongy filler. CARTOMIZER: an atomizer/cart all in one. BATTERY: I'm sure you know what a battery is, but in a PV you either connect an atomizer to it and then add a cart of juice on the end, or a cartomizer to it (which functions as both an atomizer and a cart in one)
So ... what's easy for a beginner? What's appropriate for a light smoker? Who's reliable to buy from? What do I order when I buy?
*KR808D (vapor king) is probably easiest to start with but many start with the 510 because there are more "mods" (modifications) available. Buy from vapor4life. Vapor4Life-Because it's your life - E-Cigarettes/Smoking Alternatives
*510, probably the more popular unit but takes a bit more tinkering to get it right. Buy it from cignot. Cignot your Midwest Electronic Cigarette store.

*your order should include AT LEAST 2 batteries and two atomizers (if a 510) or five cartomizers (if KR808). You MUST get extra juice too (maybe 50mL of varying flavors and strengths) as you WILL want to refill your own and NOT continue to buy carts or cartos that are pre-filled. It's really easy - trust me. If you stay home a lot around your computer you will also want a PT to connect your PV to your computer's energy supply so you don't waste your battery.

Thank you and looking forward to it.

PS - I'm in NY so off to read what the deal is with NY legislature ... great! as I go to get on the bandwagon, they start dismantling it for parts
Yeah, good luck with that!