Moving on from a "Starter Kit"?

[MsShona]

Hello! Your username caught my eye I must admit . When it comes to upgrading, it can be tough to make a suggestion. I saw that your budget is under $100 (I'm just mentally doing the currency conversion in my head....I'm not sure what the exact exchange rates are currently...I feel like the US Dollar is worth about 1/3 of the Pound...). You seem frustrated with performance. I think when it comes to a suggestion, it would depend if you are looking for flexibility and the ability to further modify or upgrade what you have; or the convenience of getting a full kit and one go to vendor through which you can get ongoing customer service and support. Some people also go this route because they have a sense of brand loyalty.

From what I've seen and heard (someone correct me if I'm totally wrong here), a lot of the Apollo hardware is actually re-branded Kangertech stuff (with the exception of the V-Tube, which is a rebranded L-Rider Lambo). Kangertech's full lineup is actually quite a bit more robust than what Apollo offers. They make some excellent clearomizers (tanks) such as the Protank, Aerotank and Genitank that perform well when paired with a variable voltage battery. A popular VV battery is the Vision Spinner 2. And those are under $25. Paired with an upgraded clearomizer, you are still way under your budget. I use the Kangertech EMOW....which is their variable voltage battery with a MOW clearomizer (looks like the entry-level EVOD tank, but has the bottom dual coils and adjustable airflow just like the more expensive Aerotank). I have no complaints. I did seriously consider the Vision Spinner 2 with an Aerotank or an Aspire Nautilus or (Vision) Vivi Nova tank. But I really liked how the EMOW looked...very "put together" aesthetically.

If you would rather go with a vendor's kit, two options come to mind to upgrade from what you currently have. The first is Halo with their Triton kit. All the reviews I've seen on the Triton have been positive. The standard Triton kit is going for $64.99. However if I were in your shoes, I would talk to customer service to see how much it would be to upgrade to the Triton VV battery. This will give your setup more longevity in that it will handle different types of e-liquid better (VV helps out it getting the best taste out of various e-liquid in various consistencies). Just keep in mind that Halo's Triton does "play well" with non-Halo hardware. A 3rd party's hardware may work with it...it may not.

The second option that comes to mind is Volcano's Lavatube. This is more advanced than Halo's Triton, and more expensive ($91.98 for just the unit and a battery...doesn't include the tank). The Lavatube has a computerized chipset to adjust voltage. It has a built in ohm meter so that you can measure the resistance of your tank's coils (while the coils are labeled, in reality, the resistance can vary a bit). The battery is removable so it can be upgraded and you don't have to toss the entire thing when the battery goes belly up...so you have years of potential future use.

When it comes to vaping and e-cigarettes, you'll find there are tons of options and directions to go. Everyone has their favorites. I guess the ultimate question is if you're willing to spend and experiment in order to find yours. Or if you are more comfortable with going with more tried and true options like kits from well known vendors like Volcano, VaporFi (I personally don't suggest them...because their prices are crazy, but check them out if you wish), Halo, 777, etc. The nice thing with those companies is that at least they have customer service to guide and help you. Sometimes that is worth the extra price as opposed to just buying your own stuff online.

Of course, if you have a local vape shop, I cannot recommend strongly enough taking a visit, and testing out some hardware first hand before you buy!

Oh, and I have about 4 bottles of Apollo e-liquid right now. I'm really not impressed with it at all. It reminds me of what you can pick up in gas stations. Good e-liquid can make all the difference as well. My personal favorite is Mr. E-Liquid. Great tasting stuff, performs well, and the prices aren't bad at all. Of course there are hundreds of e-liquid vendors out there. And probably 90% of them are going to be offering better quality e-liquid than what Apollo does!

 

[Mishona]

Hi there MsShona - Very similar names! Haha

Thanks for that information - I've had a lot of people recommend me the MVP 20w with a Nautilus Mini Tank, so I think I'll get that. But I do like the look of that Lavatube; especially with the battery being replaceable - That would be fantastic, so I definitely think I'll end up getting hold of one of those too

As for the bit about Apollo - That's a shame. Or maybe a blessing in disguise - I've been using the Apollo stuff for a couple years, so it might blow me away the difference in quality when I do get the MVP or Lavatube! I might end up picking up a couple of those inexpensive Kangertech stuff that you linked - Would be very useful to have as spares if I'm ever without my "main" E-Cig


There IS a Vape-Shop that very recently opened up a couple of minutes away from me - I've passed it a few times and it looks very barren and bare inside, but I think it'll be worth a look in to see what they have.

Haha really - is the Apollo Liquid really that poor? Boy am I in for a treat when I have everything ready and "upgraded"!
Edit: https://www.elegantvapour.co.uk/e-liquid/mr-e-liquid

Are these the brand you recommend? They've got some very interesting flavours that's for sure. According to a converter, the Apollo Juice that I usually buy is a 5 x 10ml pack for $28.72. Does the price of a standard 10ml bottle vary greatly between vendors and quality and whathaveyou?


Edit 2:

Sorry for having so many ?s, but how do you usually maintain and clean your E-Cigs? Since these are going to be sort of intermediate level - and fairly expensive compared to what I've bought in the past! - I don't want to end up ruining them or making them deteriorate MUCH faster than they normally would with good TLC.
Am I right in saying that I want to soak in Vodka/Rubbing Alcohol to remove residue, grime etc then dry burning them after letting them sit and dry for a few hours/over night?

 

[Caprilli]

Please ask somebody else about coil cleaning as I do not bother and simply exchange them when they are gone but the rest of the tanks I just take apart and put in a glass with boiling water (slightly cooled) and dry thoroughly.

I have also moved through the starter kits and I am just replacing my Kanger Emow Mega kit (like mentioned above) with the Nautilus Mini BVC and the MVP 20! I am sure it will not be my last upgrade but found the Nautilus to be much nicer than the Aerotank Mow Mega!

 

[Fattlestar]

Dry burning isn't very useful, you're better off just putting a new coil in the tank instead if the current one is so far gone that it would need to be dry burned.

The Nautilus can be cleaned with warm water, and the glass you can clean with some soapy water (like you would the dishes). Some people go so far as to soak in cheap vodka (rubbing alcohol is a bit much, but some do that).

The MVP you can just wipe down if it gets dirty - microfiber cloth works well. It's durable though, and if you use it as long as many people use their MVP's (a year or more) it will get scratches and dings like anything else.

As for MsShona's suggestions...

Everyone has a different opinion, and mine are based on value judgements. Price for quality. The MVP 20 watt and Nautilus are a great choice.

Kanger EMOW's are pretty great, and are a viable option for a backup for you if you are so inclined. MOW tanks are just aerotanks that look different, they perform great. Vision spinner batteries are just fine too, function the same as ego twist batteries in that you can twist the bottom to dial in the power for your vape, to put it simply.

I disagree with the Halo recommendation - the Triton kit is just like the Apollo ego kits. They cost a lot for what you get.

I also disagree with the Lavatube recommendation. You're better off getting an Innokin SVD (original version) for half the price and just as much quality, or the SVD version 2 for the same price but with more functionality.

 

[Mishona]

Hi guys.

Alright, fair enough. The replacement coils aren't exactly expensive, so I'll just make sure I have some to hand in-case I ever need to replace them. Cleaning the MVP/Nautilus sounds easy enough - and I've made sure that I don't forget to prime the Nautilus - Drip some juice onto the coil and let it soak in for an hour or so, am I right?

I recently washed a pretty cheap Apollo clearomizer - Just warm water and a good shake blow and wipe down with a tissue - but it seems to have broke the thing. There's no vapour (or very little to bother with). Is this caused by not leaving it to dry properly? I'd hate to make the same mistake twice.


Thanks for the all the help guys, everyone who's posted here has been very helpful - Certainly will help me make some good purchasing decisions!


Edit:

I like the look and sound of those Kangers - The adjustable battery sounds lovely. So I think in the next couple months my set-up would be something like;
MVP2 20w Battery
Nautilus Mini BVC Tank
Several spare BVC Coils
Kanger EMOW as a secondary/Spare go-to
/Maybe/ something expensive, like the Lavatube/SVD - or something similar

 

[Shirtbloke]

Hi Mishona.
Don't know if you've noticed but there's a UK only subforum, which is probably the best place to ask about buying in the UK.
UK Forum

 

[Caprilli]

I dry the tanks with some kitchen paper towel but leave the coil out! I clean my tanks daily in hot water and it cannot break them as mine are all made of Pyrex glass and stainless steel - like the Nautilus.

 

[HecticEnergy]

personally I don't like regulated tube mods (Lavatube style). They look nice, and that was my first "advanced" device, but box mods dont fall over and roll off the table. They also dont hang out of your pocket, which could cause your tank to slam up against something, or get caught and break.

I second the MVP 20w. Many claim the eleaf iStick is better, but the MVP has stood the test of time for many. It will also power most of the clearomizers on the market (just not the sub ohm coils). It will also be a night and day difference for your older tanks. When I got my first 'high end' device, my little ProTank 2 minis performed so much better!
Dont go nuts with your first purchase and buy a ton of gear. Start with the MVP 20w and the nautilus if the funds allow for it. maybe not that specific setup, but the idea is get 1 setup at a time so you dont end up with a ton of gear that you dont really like! Once you figure out what you do and dont like about that setup, you will beable to make a more informed choice about your next setup. There is also new gear coming out all the time - a 30w version of the MVP (MVP v3) is due out soon, if it hasn't come out already. The Nautilus was top dog a month ago it seems like, but now all the "sub ohm" tanks are out, which seem to have it beat (the Joyetech Delta 2 seems to be better than the Kanger Sub Ohm or the Aspire Atlantis based on youtube reviews). I think the MVP 20w is a nice introductory device that will help you get an idea of what you like and dont like. The Nautilus is the same - figure out what kind of draw you prefer.

One thing about stepping up to these more advanced devices that I dont see people mentioning is you may want to drop your nicotine level a bit as they do seem to preform better, and thus vaporize more nicotine - your current level may be too potent. The best thing I've seen is buying some pure VG or PG and cutting your nic level that way until you find what level is suitable in your new tanks. VG and PG are the bases that are used in juice - Vegetable Glycerin and Propylene Glycol. VG is thicker, mutes flavor, but gives a smoother hit and more vapor. PG carries flavor better, but gives more of a throat hit. mixing 50/50 with a base and a 12mg juice will drop you to 6mg. I dont think I'd cut it that much as it will cut the flavor down quite a bit, but it will give you an idea of what level you should by the juice at for your next purchase.

hth

 

[djsvapour]

Hi Mischona.

It looks as if you have already been helped enormously by the good people here on ECF.

I just wanted to say that if you still need any help or trustworthy ideas about e-cig kit, I am here most days in the evenings (UK time).

Somewhat embarrassingly, am have to admit to being a bit obsessed with prices. Also, I know (with good evidence of people's experience) which companies are reliable and also what sort of value they are for us UK buyers.

2+ years on 3 forums and you get to know these things like falling off a log. There are too many companies out there selling rubbish for high prices. It would be a pleasure to help you avoid these shysters.

Now... I am off to discover what a "smok Xpro" Box Mod is, as I've just put one in my shopping basket.

 

[Mishona]

Hi guys, thanks for even more replies! Even more help haha

@Hectic: Yeah, I reckon the difference between the two tanks will be immense. I remember when I first got this eGO kit, having upgraded slighty from the cheap(er) crappy Petrol Station brand stuff, I didn't even think about a cigarette for a good couple of months - Until it deteriorated and I just got frustrated and started back on the normal tufflers. I bet the MVP and the Nautilus will do even more for me; can't wait. As for the whole shopping list - I won't go crazy don't worry I just wanted to type down what I will eventually get after a few months. Certainly gonna get the MVP and Nautilus though - Nearly every single person recommends it, and you can't beat that sort of praise haha.


Hi there DJ - Nice to see someone else from the UK . You say you know prices; how much do you usually pay for decent quality liquid? MsShona recommended Mr. Eliquid and those are £4.90 per 10ml bottle which I think is pretty reasonable.

Good tip about changing the nicotine!

 

[doofy666]

My last purchase of eliquid was 5 x 100ml bottles for under £80 from Mist eliquid.

The one before was 4 x 30ml bottles from LT ecigs for about £6 per bottle.

I wouldn't spend £4.90 for 10ml - I get through too much liquid.

 

[HecticEnergy]

Hi guys, thanks for even more replies! Even more help haha

@Hectic: Yeah, I reckon the difference between the two tanks will be immense. I remember when I first got this eGO kit, having upgraded slighty from the cheap(er) crappy Petrol Station brand stuff, I didn't even think about a cigarette for a good couple of months - Until it deteriorated and I just got frustrated and started back on the normal tufflers. I bet the MVP and the Nautilus will do even more for me; can't wait. As for the whole shopping list - I won't go crazy don't worry I just wanted to type down what I will eventually get after a few months. Certainly gonna get the MVP and Nautilus though - Nearly every single person recommends it, and you can't beat that sort of praise haha.


Hi there DJ - Nice to see someone else from the UK . You say you know prices; how much do you usually pay for decent quality liquid? MsShona recommended Mr. Eliquid and those are £4.90 per 10ml bottle which I think is pretty reasonable.

Good tip about changing the nicotine!

Yes, there is quite a bit of difference between those to classes of tanks. I was also trying to say the the battery (MVP vs Ego) will also make a big difference with your current tanks - provided they are 510, which if they are just re-branded kanger tanks, they likely are, if not you can always pick up an adapter for pretty cheap.

Definitely give us a little review on the setup you decide on!

 

[Jovey]

I did quite a bit of research before i began vaping (not even a week yet) and recently purchased my first Ecig, which was the Innokin iTaste MVP 2.0 Shine edition. I couldn't of made a better choice personally, only because i wanted one that would stay charged all day, if not longer...which this does! Not to mention, you have variable wattage and voltage and can adjust it to your liking, not to mention adjusting with different flavors of ejuice!

So yeah, i figured i would rather invest my $ into a good one that would give me the best chance of quitting analogs, rather than investing in a starter kit which may not give me the best "first vaping experience" i would have hoped for!

But there ya go....my 2 cents worth! Happy vaping!


P.s. I also purchased a glass tank for my cinnamon flavor by Aspire and i would highly recommend this particular tank for any kind of ejuice just because it's easy to change the coil and also easy to fill up with ejuice as well as clean!

 

[MsShona]

I disagree with the Halo recommendation - the Triton kit is just like the Apollo ego kits. They cost a lot for what you get.

I also disagree with the Lavatube recommendation. You're better off getting an Innokin SVD (original version) for half the price and just as much quality, or the SVD version 2 for the same price but with more functionality.

I hear you. My recommendation of both of these is based not on value, but on the fact that there are some consumers who put a higher priority on name-brand, having the convenience of just having one hardware supplier, and having some sense of consistency. Yes, you can go to eBay and get a Vision Spinner for a fraction of the price. But then you have to worry about whether or not you purchased authentic hardware or not. You can also order from Fasttech for a fraction of the price. Then you have to worry about long shipping times and an iffy return policy. There are plenty of 3rd party vendors, like MadVapes and MistHub who provide a good compromise. However since the OP is in the UK, I really couldn't offer up any names in that area.

(if that makes any sense )

 

[djsvapour]

Hi there DJ - Nice to see someone else from the UK . You say you know prices; how much do you usually pay for decent quality liquid? MsShona recommended Mr. Eliquid and those are £4.90 per 10ml bottle which I think is pretty reasonable.

Good tip about changing the nicotine!

Hi again!

Do I think £4.99 is reasonable? No, not always.
£4.99 is fine for really good liquid and even £5.99 or £6.99 for exceptional liquid.

I have some £1 liquids, over 20 bottles of £2.40 liquids (what's left of them) always a few Dekang tobacco at £2.49 and plenty of Vampire Vape at £11.99 for 4.

So - No.


..it depends on what you grow to like, but the big companies that just charge £4.99 because they can are too expensive. On a few bottles it doesn't matter. Over a year or two... a big difference. Enjoyment is important, so I don't recommend all the cheap names.

 

[Keeferton]

Without knowing what your immediate needs are I would recommend an eleaf istick and nautilus mini. The eleaf is an awesome little battery that is very popular and at a good price (i think i got mine for around $26) and it goes up to 20w. The nautilus mini is another very popular and high quality tank that is well supported online and in brick and mortar shops.

 

[fishj]

Buy one istick and one MVP and you will always have power.

 

[Mishona]

Hi again!

Do I think £4.99 is reasonable? No, not always.
£4.99 is fine for really good liquid and even £5.99 or £6.99 for exceptional liquid.

I have some £1 liquids, over 20 bottles of £2.40 liquids (what's left of them) always a few Dekang tobacco at £2.49 and plenty of Vampire Vape at £11.99 for 4.

Fair enough. I've had a look at that Vampire Vape site - I like the sound of some of the flavours, and I can't argue with £12 for 4. The Dekang stuff sounds like it's quite good as well, I might pick up 4 from Vampire Vape and a couple from Dekang - I found them on VikingEcigs.

I might end up getting an eLeaf instead of a Kanger as a 2nd solid E-Cig. If I don't hear people recommending the MVP, then they usually seem to recommend the eLeaf! I like the look of it too.

Hi again Hectic - Okay I will Watch this space haha.

@Ky Girl - I've purchased the Nautilus Mini, which I think is glass - I can't quite remember. It will be nice to be able to clean them properly! These shoddy tanks I'm using at the moment are plastic and never seem to clean just right.

Thanks guys, hope you're having a good evening

 

[HecticEnergy]

Fair enough. I've had a look at that Vampire Vape site - I like the sound of some of the flavours, and I can't argue with £12 for 4. The Dekang stuff sounds like it's quite good as well, I might pick up 4 from Vampire Vape and a couple from Dekang - I found them on VikingEcigs.

I might end up getting an eLeaf instead of a Kanger as a 2nd solid E-Cig. If I don't hear people recommending the MVP, then they usually seem to recommend the eLeaf! I like the look of it too.

Hi again Hectic - Okay I will Watch this space haha.

@Ky Girl - I've purchased the Nautilus Mini, which I think is glass - I can't quite remember. It will be nice to be able to clean them properly! These shoddy tanks I'm using at the moment are plastic and never seem to clean just right.

Thanks guys, hope you're having a good evening

Yup, nautilus is glass. They have tank covers (metal) if you have a tendency to break or drop things.

 

[Mishona]

That's good to know. I'd hate to end up breaking the thing because of a slip or accident.

I confess to being pretty clumsy that's for sure - Especially getting out of the car and forgetting I have the thing in my lap....