My Initial Foray in ECigs

[Epoch of Entropy]

I've got a longer day-by-day log I'm working on, but there's an import impression I've gotten so far.

To a novice with absolutely no knowledge of the industry, getting into this can be somewhat daunting. KR808-D1, 501, "mod", ego, greencig, atomizer, cartomizer, etc etc.... with some loose impression that some magic terms are compatible with other magic terms, but be warned that not everything is compatible. Getting sorted out with the terminology, especially with manufacturers and vendors who seem to like to poach each other's names doesn't give one confidence to just go right out and buy. This is is a huge perceptual issue and something the industry needs to work on, and I think they'll get a lot more new customers. Nobody wants to drop $60-100+ on a "starter kit" that may be complete junk from brand names they have no idea about. On top of that, older (2+ year) videos/reviews may have imprecise information that doesn't reflect the state of things today and further confuse the masses.

Now, with that said I'm quite content with my V4L starter kit (mini auto bat and small PCC) and extra battery. It gave me the jump I needed to completely drop analogs -4 days tobacco free now. I smoked 2-4 a day the first week of using the kit, immediately coming down from a pack a day.

Just got some Bloog cartomizers in today and they're blowing me away. Also got some juice from Vixen Vapors and am going to try them out for a bit.

Anyways, hello ECF! Stay classy!

 

[wv2win]

You should have been here in 2009 when there was only about 100 of us on this forum and outsiders thought we were aliens and few people knew anything. You have it made in comparison. Give it time and you will move up to a better battery model and wonder why you waited. Have fun with it and enjoy.

 

[alanselo]

Hi Epoch and welcome to ECF. There are all kinds of wonderful helpful folks here. You would be absolutely correct in your impression of the vaping world, happened to me. Thanks for posting your impressions as all experiences only add to helping other folks not feel like they are alone in this smorgasbord of information overload.

Like everything else what works for one is not quite what works for another. However I will say it is fun to try new things, within reason ($). My most important lesson was to stick with one thing until I figured out how to best use my gear, read a lot, and try to keep the costs down.

After being at it for a month or so I have hit upon what works for me and have not spend more than maybe 20 bucks in the last month. That is a great thing. The other and most important part is that I am smoking cigarettes at a rate of about a pack a week, down from a pack a day +. That folks is the great news.

Live life!

 

[Epoch of Entropy]

Give it time and you will move up to a better battery model and wonder why you waited. Have fun with it and enjoy.

I actually like the tiny form factor. I'm all about elegance. Since I wear cargo pants most days, a PCC comfortably fits in the pockets where the pack of analogs used to be. Maybe you're right, and I'll be carrying around a flashlight sized battery and cart in the future, but for now I like the stealth that a tiny auto battery cupped into my palm provides.

Like everything else what works for one is not quite what works for another. However I will say it is fun to try new things, within reason ($). My most important lesson was to stick with one thing until I figured out how to best use my gear, read a lot, and try to keep the costs down.


After being at it for a month or so I have hit upon what works for me and have not spend more than maybe 20 bucks in the last month. That is a great thing. The other and most important part is that I am smoking cigarettes at a rate of about a pack a week, down from a pack a day +. That folks is the great news.


Live life!

Congrats! I hope you keep ramping down to nil (if that's your goal) as you find the gear that fit your needs. Be warned though, the day or so after you quit you'll feel ill for days. Another thing I've found is that contrary to popular belief (from what my friends and family say) is that it's not nicotine withdrawal that gives you tons of side effects, it's the tobacco cessation that does. Either that or I got hit with the flu, strep throat and randomly wake up at night conincidentally the day after I quit analogs. Unlikely.


I learned last week that these things are refillable, and am digging that completely. Looking forward to the $20/month outlay over the nearly $10 packs here in Chicago.

 

[MikeJA]

Definite learning curve for me, but I so enjoy the current cottage-industry feel of vaping and the learning process of it all, and because of that I don't mind making some purchase mistakes along the way. The last thing I want to see happen to this industry is a corporatization of it. My fear is that the bigger it gets, the more it will head that way.

It kind of reminds me of the mountain bike industry in the 90's. There were all sorts of small shops creating awesome CNC'd parts for the bikes. Really unique stuff. Then the mountain bike industry exploded...and those little companies began disappearing. I have nostalgia for those days. I fear I'm going to have nostalgia for these days in vaping.

 

[redbucket]

I'm all about elegance. Since I wear cargo pants most days . . .

Sorry, but that made me chortle! I'm still new to vaping myself. I too (and most people) started with cigarette looking models and eventually moved up. When I purchased my eGo, I thought it would be my home device and I'd still use my mini for work and out-and-about for the very reason you describe, but I don't. It's just so much more convenient and the vape is more satisfying.

But, if it works for you, keep it up. Just don't go back to deathsticks because of the hassle, cost, or inconvenience of your device -- know there is better out there to switch to if you need it!