Need help in choosing a new e-cig brand (my story included)

[jaspry]

Here's my story in shortened form.

My girlfriend and I looked into e-cigs to lower smoking. We both smoked about 5-10 a day. The first ones we find online are "smoke51" and "blu cigs". After some touch choices we went with Blu because it resembled a cigarette the most.

We receive it and are immediately pleased. However throughout the week we realize some problems. The cartridges don't last the "whole pack of cigarettes" it promotes. AND the strength of each cartridge wears off as you smoke it until it's completely taste and vaporless. We're both becoming more and more dissatisfied. My personal complaint is that, yes I've cut my smoking down to 0-1 a day, the nicotine in the Blu isn't satisfying cravings. I purchased "Full Flavor" which advertises about 14mg nicotine. When I smoke tobacco Lights I get more of a rush and satisfaction than with full flavored e-cig.

Oh, not to mention, in cartridges ALONE we spent 135% more money on e-cigs than tobacco's. (not counting the $40 we shelled out on the cig itself)

Fortunately we're still within 30 days trial period and can return it if there's something better out there.

I tried browsing these forums for answers to my question, but it seems like I've stumbled upon a new language. Lots of terms and model numbers that I have no idea what they mean.

So... here's my question:

Are there any other e-cigs out there that resemble a traditional cigarette that maybe are: more reliable, stronger (in taste and nicotine),better in cost?

Please help, thanks so much!

 

[Lightgeoduck]

I am new to vaping ( a little over a week) I was approx 1.5 pack a day smoker. The Vapor King from vapor4life(dot)com is the ecig I tried and LOVE.
I don't touch tobacco any more. I think the cart lasts around 1.5pack (judgment based off of my 14-15puff tobacco cig and when I feel a new cart needs to be replaced) you can refill too if you would like.

Bonus vapor4life customer service is GREAT steve SMILIN will take care of you. There is a forum here for them as well, and he monitors it. Tell him your concerns and he will hook you up with the proper nic amount (11mg-18mg is my personal range min I need and max I can comfortably handle)

You shouldn't be disappointed.

 

[jaspry]

I am new to vaping ( a little over a week) I was approx 1.5 pack a day smoker. The Vapor King from vapor4life(dot)com is the ecig I tried and LOVE.
I don't touch tobacco any more. I think the cart lasts around 1.5pack (judgment based off of my 14-15puff tobacco cig and when I feel a new cart needs to be replaced) you can refill too if you would like.

Bonus vapor4life customer service is GREAT steve SMILIN will take care of you. There is a forum here for them as well, and he monitors it. Tell him your concerns and he will hook you up with the proper nic amount (11mg-18mg is my personal range min I need and max I can comfortably handle)

You shouldn't be disappointed.

Hello, thanks for your response!
Yes, I actually checked out V4L a few minutes before you responded. I've gotta say, I am very fascinated by all the flavors and colors!

1.5 packs of ciarettes per cartidge? That seems like a lot. It's the same amount Blu cigarettes advertised but really I'm probably only getting 5-8 cigs per cart.

Also, the starter pack for V4L says it comes with "5 carts"... does that mean 5 'cartomizers' or 5 PACKS of cartomizers (which should be about 5 cartridges, right?)

Thanks!

I was also checking out Puresmoker's 401 and "pen" online. Good reviews but I can't seem to find them on their website.

 

[Lightgeoduck]

Well its hard to gauge exactly how many tobacco cigs one cart equates to.
I simulated on the ecig what I did with a real cig i.e. puff length and puff amount. I also monitored cart till empty and concluded that it lasted the equivalent of approx 30 cigs.

You do have to be aware with any ecig that you could easily suck down alot of vapor, unlike a tobacco cig is done when you get to the filter.

If you want an alternative/simulation to tobacco smoking then Vapor King is an excellent choice. If you want to be a vaping hobbyist like alot of people on this forum seem to be then maybe you would like one of the bigger models.

Like I stated before I had only used the Vapor King, and I know how the tobacco monkey was on my back. So my conclusion is that the VK keeps me from smoking which means I am sold and feel my search is over. I feel so much better now because of it.

5 carts means 1` pack of 5 cartomizers which based of my habits lasts me almost a carton of smokes.

I hope I have been helpful, should you decide to purchase the Vapor King I really hope it works for you as it did me. If you don't I hope you find the right ecig with out building an arsenal of ecigs and gadgets.(unless you want that)

Good Luck Vapin

 

[hittman]

I have been vaping for about a month now and would definitely recommend the joye 510. It has good throat hit and vapor. It also looks quite a bit like a real cig. As far as the cart life, you really need to refill your own carts to save money. This is also good because you can pick your nicotine strength. I started with 18mg and have moved up to 24mg since I wasn't getting my fix. No cart out there will last as long as a pack of analogs. The biggest cart I know of is on the janty stick and the stick does not look anything like a real cig. However, I am thinking about purchasing a stick because of the longer battery life. There are also some mods you can do to your carts to get them to hold more liquid. The 510 goes by a few different names but the parts are all the same. I have had good luck ordering from nhaler.com and rockymountainvapor.com. Both have good customer service and I get my orders within 2-3 days. I also looked at blu cigs before I ordered the 510 but after reading the reviews on this forum( mostly bad), I asked for advice from the people here and decided to buy the 510. If there are any questions that I can help with, feel free to ask.

 

[JustJulie]

I'm not really very familiar with the Vapor King, although I know Leaford likes it, and that's a pretty good indication of a nice product. Check out this thread: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/video-reviews/30440-leafords-new-est-five-favorites.html . (For those new to vaping, Leaford is one of the gurus out there, and he's quite knowledgeable.)

My personal favorite pick for new e-smokers is the 510 with the manual battery. That is also discussed in Leaford's video.

 

[wv2win]

There was a thread on here about the Vapor King type devices burning the poly fill material in the cart. There was even pictures. I have no personal experience with them but I would check that out first. Plus they are not made to be refilled although some people do refill them.

Most of us would advize that you get a manual switch device as well as remember:

Rule of Thumb: the more it looks like the real thing, the worse the performance and reliabilty.

I would suggest you look at the Joye 510, the DSE901 - manual battery option only or one of the 7 premiere devices such as the Screwdriver, Prodigy, Janty Stick, etc.

And BTW, the Blu along with the Njoy and SmokeEverywhere are the worst reviewed devices made.

 

[SLDS181]

I would suggest you look at the Joye 510

I'd second that, with a manual battery as well.

 

[Elapid]

An 801 with the Prodigy will defiantly keep you off analogs, but it doesn't look anything like a cigarette.

 

[GregH]

I'd second that, with a manual battery as well.

I third the nod for the 510 w/manual switch.

 

[emus]

For auto batt I like M401/M402/M403
For man batt I like 510

 

[Jim Davis]

Although Blu is not a highly recommended unit, your particular problem is with the cartridges. No matter what you buy, a cartridge won't last for more than a couple of cigs worth.

Look into juice to refill your carts, and worry about the e-cig models after you learn to vape.

 

[DC2]

Although Blu is not a highly recommended unit, your particular problem is with the cartridges. No matter what you buy, a cartridge won't last for more than a couple of cigs worth.

Look into juice to refill your carts, and worry about the e-cig models after you learn to vape.

What he said.

 

[paulspikey]

Joye 510's are great e-cigs....great for beginners.. I have a gg now, but still go to the 510 when the gg starts getting real harsh.

 

[AmplexorJ]

I too first went with the Blu. I was happy the first day but then I became very frustrated with the product. For me the hits were very inconsistent ( I would have a fresh battery and a new cart and it would hit the first 2 times then miss the next 5 then maybe a hit here and there.) So I decided to try refilling my own.

After receiving my 36mg (<< nic strength) E liquid, I filled a cart and still was experiencing the same inconsistencies. i figured out that the Blu is just a rebranded L88 mini cig which rated poorly... But not to bash Blu their customer service was excellent(to me)

So I boxed up my Blu, went back to analogs(cigarettes) and after much research (and help from the people here in the forum) I ordered a 510 kit with two manual batteries.

Ive been vaping on this 510 with 18, 24, and 36 mg nic juice for 6 days now and I LOVE IT !!!! I have had no problems as of yet.

Note: I stopped smoking analogs the day I got my 510 completely ( 1 1/2 packs EVERYDAY for 11 years) and have had no withdrawals, so i tried an analog today to see any change and wow .... those things really do stink and taste terrible.
Im amazed that I smoked them for so long and didnt realize how gross they were


So yeah my advice would be to return the blu ( i sent mine back on a Thursday priority mail and received a full refund the next Tuesday) and buy a 510 with some e liquid. I reccomend the manual batteries and the 24-36mg nic juice.


oh and as far as money savings go..... I paid $22 for 38ml of liquid and after 6 days of heavy vaping ive used maybe 12ml ....so like $7-8 bucks !!!! Versus Analogs there's no contest.


Good Luck


Edit: By the way.... I found it difficult to choose were to order my 510 from ( prices and store ratings) so I did alot of digging and eventually went with AwesomeVapor.com... its run by a guy named Arno and he provides very good customer service and fast shipping. I'm not affiliated with the place in any way and encourage you to do your own research and figure out whats best for you.

 

[JustJulie]

Although Blu is not a highly recommended unit, your particular problem is with the cartridges. No matter what you buy, a cartridge won't last for more than a couple of cigs worth.

Look into juice to refill your carts, and worry about the e-cig models after you learn to vape.

Ordinarily, I would agree. However, OP is still within the return period, so I figure why not return, get the money back, and try something that has a better rating.

 

[jaspry]

First of all, I am very fascinated by the sound of 510/501 (are they the same thing?)

Also I am quite intrigued with the Vapor4life. Mostly it's the design and colors that intrigues me.

I would immediately go for the 901 and prodigy, but I'm in this with my girlfriend and she likes the analog-looking models. But as time goes on, she'll probably take on toward something of more sturdy dominant appearance. That Screwdriver looks like a tank! (my girlfriend laughed when she saw it, says it looks manly)

Questions:

Are the E-Liquids cross compatible? Can you use one brand of e-liquid with another brand in, for example, a puresmoker?

What are some good e-liquid sellers? I've checked out Johnson Creek so far and love the idea of their flavors. Any more out there?

 

[jboze]

The model number is 510, sometimes people make mistakes or typos and type 501. You can use any e-liquid in any e-cigarette.

If you're not too worried about analog appearances I'd highly reccomend the 801. It's considered a "pen-style" as it looks like a pen and is quite a bit longer than an analog cig. The battery life and cartridge size are way better than the 510 & 901 models. It produces more vapor and has the best taste (some argue 901 does). It's also the best atomizer to use in mods like the Prodigy and GG!

 

[AmplexorJ]

yeah im an idiot sometimes lol


I meant to say the 510

 

[jaspry]

I hear the term "Throat Kick." I have an idea what this means - that's the 'coughing' sensation you get when the vapor hits the throat, right? Similar to a tingle? Yea, I quite like it when my current e-cig does that.

However, does the Throat Kick mean you are getting more of the nicotine>? After all, Nico is what keeps me off analogs..

Also, on Vapor Production, does that also mean it is producing more quality vapor, or does that just mean it looks cooler. I know a lot worry about appearances, and I don't care about the amount of vapor as much as I do being able to stay away from analog cigarettes.