Looking to get my Dad started on e-cigs...

[tikirific]

Hello. Please forgive this post if something similar has been asked before - I tried browsing some of the New User FAQs and have done a cursory search but am ending up with information overload! There is a lot of good information here, but it is very difficult to sift through everything as a newbie .

I'm not a smoker myself but my father has been one pretty much all his life (40+ years). Naturally I'm worried about his health, but he's been unable to quit and doesn't like patches/gums/what have you. I found out about e-cigarettes recently and consider this a decent compromise - I'm mostly concerned about the tar/additives in analog cigarettes rather than the nicotine. It'd be nice if he'd be willing to switch to vaporizers.

To this end, I'm trying to find the right e-cig for him, but didn't realize that there were so many choices involved. Basically he is a older guy who is not that into technology, but I think he might be receptive to e-cigs as it at least emulates the ritual of smoking more than other alternatives. With this in mind, I am looking for an e-cig that is similar in form factor to an analog, similar in function (flavor, throat hit), but is low maintenance. I'm pretty sure he would not be the type to refill his own carts and maintenance needs to be basically a use/dispose deal.

Looking through the forums, it seems that there are many models which may fit this criteria - premade cartridges that just fit over atomizers, PCCs to keep track of cigs (and resemble analogs aesthetically) - but I was wondering if some of the more experienced users here may have some suggestions. At first Blu appeared to fit the bill, as everything seemed to be packaged in such a way that it'd be easy for a 50~ year old man to use, but I've noticed that people complain about the customer service and in some cases the product itself. Janty seems to have a fairly user-friendly system as well, as well as many others - it's just very difficult for me to figure out what would be easiest and most convenient for him.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

 

[VapingRulz]

With this in mind, I am looking for an e-cig that is similar in form factor to an analog, similar in function (flavor, throat hit), but is low maintenance. I'm pretty sure he would not be the type to refill his own carts and maintenance needs to be basically a use/dispose deal.

Your dad sounds like a good candidate for the Vapor King from Vapor4Life. It's an 808D-1 model which is a 2-piece unit: battery and cartomizer. He would only need to screw the cartomizer onto the battery and start vaping. I was a 37+ year smoker and I stopped smoking immediately once I started vaping - it's that good.

You may find that your dad is not averse to refilling carts once he gets acclimated to vaping. It cuts the costs dramatically and it's actually very simple. But the VK is good to start with because it's not intimidating for newbies. I would recommend the Ultimate Ultimatum kit because it has everything he will need. I'd also recommend ordering extra cartos. If you're not sure of flavors and nicotine strengths, just ask the owners of V4L and they'll give you suggestions.

I'm reasonably sure that someone will try to point you in the direction of another model, probably the Joye 510, but they require more fussing and fiddling and can be a bit intimidating for a new vaper - in my opinion. If you think your dad would be ok with that, go with the 510. They are cheaper than the VK's initially, though I think they lose that advantage rather quickly once you have to start replacing parts.

In terms of the actual vaping experience, the VK is the best when it comes to taste and throat hit. The 510 has more vapor but comes up short in comparison in consistent taste and throat hit. The standard VK batteries last a lot longer than the 510's and are more powerful, and the VK doesn't have a separate atomizer to worry about.

The bottom line is that both of them - the Vapor King and the Joye 510 - work very well. You can read the testimonies here from many long-term smokers who are shocked at how effective e-cigs are.

If you want to hand your dad something that he can just pick up and vape without having to do anything else, go with the Vapor King.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[blondecrystal]

Hi tikirific
Unfortunetly most if not all of the e-cigg models i've seen require some fiddling and maintenance.
I was a smoker for 30 years i quit the same day i got my first e-cigg.
For whats it's worth i went with the Titan 501 from Totally Wicked.
The Best of Luck with helping your Dad quit.

 

[Sign-Man]

Vapor King from Vapor4Life would be a good choice. Don't be surprised if he smokes tobacco also while he gets acclimated to vaping. Lots of people take a week or three to quit tobacco.

He may not take to the vaping idea at first but leave the kit laying around and don't pressure him. Having it available in his sight may influence him to give it a try.

Good Luck from a 35+ year smoker.

 

[Lightgeoduck]

yes the kr808d cartomizer seems like the option your dad wants to try

ecigsupply.com (something like that)
puresmoker.com
nhaler.com
vapor4life.com
goodprophet(S)
cigeasy.com

to name a few are all cartomizor carriers good luck... and its nice to hear a non-smoker researching and trying to help a family out

 

[nubee]

I agree with blondecrystal, there really isn't a perfect type or model out there.

I too started out trying to completely replace the analog look and feel but have found that really isn't that important to me. I started with a Red Dragon, moved to a DSE901 and finally settled in with the Janty Stick V3 and Protege (801).

My point, get him anything to start with and don't let the first model/attempt be the last one. He may like the 2 piece or he may not mind tinkering with a 3 piece. He may move to HV or ultimately want to go to an ultra mini.

Let him know it's a process - probably a lot like his own analog habit. I started with menthol, moved to menthol lights, then marb reds to marb lights.

MapVapes has some disposable 510's for under $10 each. A Full, rechargeable 510 that he can try and see if vaping is something that will work for him.

And don't forget to help him get registered here at ECF. Once he hooks up here, he'll be hooked

 

[Lightgeoduck]

MapVapes has some disposable 510's for under $10 each. A Full, rechargeable 510 that he can try and see if vaping is something that will work for him.

Forgot about that... excellent device for a trial run

 

[keyzygirl]

Try a disposable,If he likes it,theres a charging case setup at V4L.The case kit,get an xtra battery and some sampler packs of cartomizers.He may need a usb to wall adapter if he doesnt use a computer.Try that!

 

[tarkus]

I would also recommend the kr808d-1. A lot of vendors rebrand it to their own name but it is the same product. It is very low maintenance and simple to use. The only real drawback is that if you use a cartomizer until all the "juice" is used up you can get a nasty burnt taste which could turn him off but with practice this is not an issue.

 

[MaxUT]

I would also choose the KR808.

One of the most frustrating things about ecigs is atomizer problems: vapor output declines and/or the taste degrades over time. The KR808 uses cartomizers which cost about $1.80 each so they're easily replaced. They also last quite a while; many users find that one carto lasts all day.

Refilling the cartomizers is easy to do. It reduces the cost and lets the user choose any liquid he likes. Blank (unfilled) cartos can be used but you can fill one which originally held tobacco flavor with any other tobacco liquid, or refill say a strawberry carto with cherry liquid.

Here's a video which does a good job of illustrating the refilling process:

YouTube - How-to guide to refilling KR808D-1 or Vapor King cartomizers

Good luck to you!

 

[tikirific]

Hello everyone,

Thank you very much for all your advice! I will get him a KR808 and see what he thinks. It appears very easy and low maintenance - hopefully he will like it!