Looking for a starter kit - Beginner

[Promentory]

Hello everyone. Glad to finally be here. I have been tossing around this idea for ages but cigarettes are very dear to me. I have been a smoker for close to a decade. I am still young, in my late 20s, but I can already feel my smoking catch up with me.

At the risk of sounding lazy, can anyone recommend me a one buy starter kit? I am exceptionally busy at the moment. I usually love researching technology and new things I want to start, but I just do not have the time right now.

All I want is a reliable e cig that I can completely replace my pack a day habit. As long as it functions, is somewhat discreet (I don't like the look of those huge mammoths), and has a battery that lasts all day. The eleaf pico 25 is a kit that was recommended on another post, safe bet? Also, there are like 4-5 shops in my city. Best to go in person? Or just order online? I am not sure if I am allowed to post my location, but I live in Canada. I saw a vendors list somewhere, I will look there to find a decent Canadian source.

In your experience, what are the withdrawals like for the first week or two? I've tried cold turkey, and I can never make it past the second day. I turn into a complete a**hole.

Sorry for the wall of text. If it sticks, and I enjoy using it, I could see myself getting passionate about it and learning all about them. At this point, I just want to stop smoking though. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

EDIT: Found a Canadian vendor that has the pico on sale. They also sell a 5 pack of coils, how long do coils typically last? The site doesnt sell the 18650 battery though.

 

[untar]

The pico kit isn't bad and allows you to upgrade/change your atty if you so desire, you'll have to find out what type of vaper you are anyways. If you plan on really quitting I'd advise to get a 2nd device asap.

I myself didn't notice any major withdrawal symptoms apart from sweating a lot at night.
Cold turkey is best the day after thanksgiving with a big slab of dijon mustard on it

 

[Promentory]

The pico kit isn't bad and allows you to upgrade/change your atty if you so desire, you'll have to find out what type of vaper you are anyways. If you plan on really quitting I'd advise to get a 2nd device asap.

I myself didn't notice any major withdrawal symptoms apart from sweating a lot at night.
Cold turkey is best the day after thanksgiving with a big slab of dijon mustard on it

The pico seems to be pretty inexpensive. I would rather purchase a cheap starter kit and see if it sticks rather then spending tons of money for it to sit and collect dust. I was looking around at Canadian vendors, lots of juice packs with multiple flavors. Seems like a good idea? My intentions are to quit, but at this point I would just like to dip in the water first before I dive in.

 

[Edward Denison]

There are lots of options for the pen vapes, just do't go cheap you get what you pay for. As for withdrawal it did not happen for me. I smoked 32 years and ended it in December on 2 packs a day. Nicotine level is your choice. I would also say go to a store look, handle what you like and ask questions! Any shop that won't let you touch or answer questions is a no go.
Last these are what my wife and I have, the Smok Stick X8 was a gift from my son and the V8 I bought after seeing and handling it in store. If you don't mind changing coils every 14 days (for me anyway) and refilling the tank with juice these and many other brands are great in my one month opinion.

 

[Edward Denison]

P.S. The battery on the Smok Stick lasts all day for me.

 

[PJReid]

Locations are encouraged, especially when you are asking for recommendations. You can add it to your profile. It is much easier to make recommendations when we know where you live.

Welcome to ECF. I am glad you joined and wish you luck. There are so many options out there now for those who are looking to quit. I have no idea what is best but can see where the pod systems would be attractive, esp. those that use nic salts.

The pen systems are a good option too and probably less expensive to use since you refill them with the liquid of your choice. The two that @Edward Denison posted look like good choices for a beginner. Also, the battery life is going to be better than those on the pod systems, as I understand it. One of the complaints is short battery life for the pod systems - that might not be true of all of them. It is a complaint I have heard.

Go to the largest vape shop near you, talk to the people there, hold the devices in your hand, and decide what you think you will work for you.

Best of luck. I promise you, it will be the best decision you ever make.

 

[MJCSD]

Hello and welcome to ecf

 

[PJReid]

After thinking about the pen style vapes a bit, I remembered that many, many people love the Innokin Endura line. There are several models, with the t20 being quite popular. I would recommend that over the Smok. If your vape shop has the Endura line, take a look. Good quality, inexpensive, reliable.

 

[BoogaWu]

I say go with the Pico, it's a little more more $ to start but it's expandable where the sticks aren't.

 

[Promentory]

Thank you so much for all of the responses. I am definitely vacillating between the Pico and the Endura. I love the form factor of the Endura. If two devices is advisable, maybe I will start with the Endura, and eventually graduate to a beefier device like the Pico for at home use.

I suffer from insomnia, I was up all night reading about e cigs lol. I read multiple threads from here about the health benefits of quitting smoking. I have never actually done much research on the recovery from smoking because I never thought I would go through with it. Reading how many people have had success is giving me some hope. Last month I had acute bronchitis for around 5-6 weeks straight, that is what has persuaded me towards this. I can not even fathom laying down to go to sleep at night and not hearing my lungs crackling and heaving. Or to be able to climb a set of stairs without being winded. I am also curious about smells and tastes that are completely dull to me now.

I am actually ecstatic right now. I am so excited. I am on a fixed income, so I am also looking forward to saving $$$ if I shop accordingly within budget. I also suffer from a form of mental illness, so I am curious if quitting may affect that as well. I won't be able to purchase until the start of next month, so I will continue doing ample research.

For a half a pack - pack a day habit, what quantity of nicotine mg would you recommend starting with? I was guessing 12 mg might suffice, but I am not entirely sure. Also, with regards to the PG/VG blend, I have read some people find the 70/30 much more tolerable then the 50/50. Any experiences with this? Thank you so much again for being so helpful everyone! I sincerely appreciate this.

 

[stols001]

Either would be a good place to start. If vaping is successful for you, you will want a backup vape/tanks as well. The Innoken series of pen-style vapes are beloved by many a MTL vaper. The only downside I see is that at fixed wattage, it does limit your vaping style to that wattage, although the tanks are really designed to go with the pen, so most folks find them excellent to vape, and the tanks are well liked.

A pico setup is more flexible due to the ability to adjust wattage and change tanks on your setup if the first tank you get is not to your liking. Another popular option for new vapers is the Aspire Zelos kit, it comes with a Nautilus 2 which is one of the more popular MTL tanks for beginners.

Best of luck on your quitting journey, and remember, if your first setup isn't "perfect" for you, many vapers have more than one setup, to have a backup in case something happens, or simply not "alighting" on the best mod for them their very first try. I didn't like my first (sub0hm) vape when quitting smoking this time, but was able to quickly move on and find gear I liked. So, it's usually not catastrophic if you don't find the "perfect" setup.

If your nearest vape store carries a decent set of equipment, it certainly never hurts to go hold and inspect some in person, to see what appeals to you in the hand. Also a good time to taste test some different juices, having a juice that you like and works well for you is equally as important as the right setup, I have found. If going MTL, you will want higher nicotine and possibly more PG as the smaller tanks can gunk up with too high of a VG level.

Best of luck,

Anna

 

[Eskie]

Sounds like you're making a solid decision. Both starter kits listed will work, but I'm partial to recommending the Pico kit as it's more flexible. 12 mg nic should be a decent start point. Both that and any potential withdrawal are so varied by individual that is tough to predict. I'll admit I had no withdrawal symptoms after going from a pack and a half a day, but YMMV.

As to any medications your take, or whether you may affect any underlying physical or mental health issues is best addressed worth your doctor. As a general statement switching to vaping should improve your overall health, not worsen it.

 

[stols001]

One thing to watch out for is thyroid changes if switching to vaping. Smoking can affect the thyroid profoundly while vaping does not. I had an underlying thyroid condition in any case, and had to adjust my medications (ironically, caused by a different medication I take, which can kill off your thyroid. My mom and sis both have thyroid issues anyway, so I was kind of expecting it.

Also, many medications are metabolized via the same pathways as tobacco generally, not just nicotine. Any medications should be reviewed by your doctor, and hopefully your doctor is skilled enough to know what pathways are affected and those that aren't. My doctor was super helpful in that area, but he is an MD/PhD, and that type likes research and knows how to read it. It's actually one of the reasons I chose him as my doc. He had fun my first appointment googling and muttering to himself about dosage changes. Some of my medications were drastically reduced, always a good thing. If not, you can do the research yourself but it can be a laborious endeavor and you'd have to understand methodology of a well-researched study. I did do my research after the thyroid thing.

Finally, tobacco itself contains potent alkaloids, and even tar has been found to be psychoactive in the brain. I did NOT have fun quitting and it was pretty difficult initially as my brain tends to reach homeostasis a bit down the road, thanks to my underlying health condition. But, it is doable.

If you are having a very hard time quitting, I'd definitely see your doc about any sx you may or may not be experiencing.... It could be quitting, and underlying vulnerability that tobacco was "treating" (mostly with anxiety and depression).

WTA (Whole tobacco alkaloid juice) does provide some of the alkaloids missing from a "traditional" freebase nicotine E-liquid. It isn't cheap, but in my opinion probably safer than trying to treat any underlying condition with other medications, although some folks prefer to do the reverse/wait it out. WTA is expensive, but I did find it helped me quit, and once I was over the hump I was able to slowly taper it, although some folks use it more long term. Umbavape and Aroma e-liquid are two WTA makers that do a good job. I still keep a tankful around for any stressful situations....

Best of luck,

Anna

 

[dom qp]

www.bargainejuice.ca

$15 120ml bottles - great quality and flavour. The juice darling of Canada.

 

[untar]

12mg should be good to start, if you get dizzy reduce the amount, if you feel craving then 12mg isn't enough. Your body will tell you if you need more or less nicotine. It's near impossible to give perfect advice regarding nicotine levels for newbies, a Farsalinos study showed that nicotine in blood plasma is strongly related to the vaping technique so it may vary wildly.

A quick heads up on some unpleasant effects that can come from quitting smoking and taking up vaping
-your lung will start to clean itself more effectively and you will cough
-you may get an episode of acne (quit zits)
-you may temporarily (few days to a few weeks) not taste anything from your juice, this is due to a smoke stop related change in your tastebuds

 

[Letitia]

+1 for Pico 25/Ello kit. If you don't like the vape from the Endura you can do nothing to adjust it to your liking. Flavor on the Ello tank is good and they offer good coil options. The Endura line are reliable products so no worries if you choose that route.

 

[Skunk!]

One little device which I personally like that gets little mention here is the Sigelei J80. It has an internal battery and can be found for about $35-40 online. I am not a big fan of internal battery mods but this has been a solid device and never had any issues with it.

 

[dennism]

Joyetech is about to release joyetech ego aio eco, might be worth checking out.

 

[tgs3]

I concur about the innokin devices. Getting the T22 on the recommendation of another ecf member was one of the game changers for me. I have since acquired and been given other more sophisticated devices but the T22 is still in my rotation.

In the 6 months I have been vaping, I don't recall any physical withdrawal symptoms (psychological withdrawal is a different matter). I started at 24mg and have only recently begun to reduce my nic level. Twenty years ago I tried to quit cold turkey. Within a week, I was a raving lunatic. After ten days, I felt like I had dropped acid. Finally, people who had wanted me to quit were begging me to smoke again. And so I did.

Currently, I still dual use - I smoke 3 or 4 cigarettes per week. I haven't had a cigarette for four days. Down from 25/30 per day for close to 50 years.

Good luck and keep vaping whatever happens with the cigs.

 

[PJReid]

I am so happy to read that you are getting excited about vaping. Research is important but you aren't going to know what works for you until you try it out. I recommended the Endura because you seemed to be on the fence about vaping. I got off cigarettes with a Joyetech eCab and moved on to Ego-C rechargeable batteries and small, refillable cartridges. It was two years before I was ready to move up to a more robust device. Everyone is different and devices have changed since my journey began.

I never dual used, as vaping, even on the primitive (compared to now) devices, satisfied me. I was very motivated as smoking was negatively affecting my health with bouts of bronchitis, coughing and wheezing, etc. I knew that smoking was killing me and saw vaping as a safer alternative. Like you, I knew nothing so just got something that I hoped would work and almost 5 years later, I am still smoke-free.

Do the research, read the reviews, and get a device that you feel will be best for you as a beginner. If you are vacillating between the Endura and the Pico, get the Pico. You might not appreciate the flexibility initially, but it will keep you more satisfied with the device over time.

Keep us posted on your progress. I haven't had bronchitis for over 4 years, I don't cough, I don't wheeze, I don't stink of smoke. It is wonderful!