Need help in narrowing down my list of PV's for next purchase

[Renro]

What am I looking for.

I am trying to narrow so many things down, I think this is what I want. I have done a lot of reading. I have tried to compare PV features. I have been very lucky with meeting some members here who've offered continual assistance and advice. Yet I am still overwhelmed and on information overload and am asking the Vets to help narrow things down a bit.

If you are kind enough to offer your assistance and make any recommendations, please include both pros and cons in the reply.

I received a really great start from VapNfool in the New Member thread and have spent enough time with my current PV to know why I am happy with it and why i am not and am trying to build from there.

Number one Functionality. Basically I am looking for something that is as close as possible to the convenience and consistency of smoking a tobacco cigarette. You know? Pull out my PV, take a few hits and put it away without too much fuss.

I want a long lasting battery. I want to be able to go out for the day or a few days and not have to worry about it dieing after a few hours. i currently have a standard battery that needs to be recharged every 2-4 hrs (Kr8) and am looking for something much improved - real life 8+ hrs. My current unit is an automatic with an easy draw. I am not familiar with manual batteries, but not opposed to them in any way.

Reliability. By reputation, I understand that everyone has had at least one bad experiences, so I would like a reliable unit as defined by long time users. Is there somewhat of a consensus?

Portability. The less things that I have to pack and track when I leave the house, the better. The size of the actual PV isn't an issue, the number of items (especially small items) is a real issue. I would forget my own head if it wasn't attached.

Affordability. Working on a limited budget but am willing to make the initial purchase up to $100.00 as long as the day to day expense is reasonable - OK, low if that is an option.

Dependability. By reputation. Does it deliver the same drag in a range of various circumstances - extreme hot,cold or wet weather, low battery, various juice mixes, after it's been dropped a few times...Is it known for breaking down and having to tweak and fix and mickey-mod or is it good to go with regular maintenance and care.

Availability. I am way too new to mess with Beta anything. I need to be able to place an order and receive it in a reasonable amount of time from a reliable vendor/supplier. I don't need it to be available on every street corner, but I do need a few options.

Is it known for leaking - deal breaker.
Do you need syringes and/or a tool kit - absolute deal breaker.

Could you compare the advantages and disadvantages of a two piece or three piece model? I am currently using a two-piece model and like it, but I don't need a two-piece if there is good reason to change.

Would it work on a USB passthrough on a Dell Studio laptop? If not - deal breaker.

Does it use both e-liquid and pre-filled cartridges? I need both options available if possible. Not sure yet if this is a deal breaker or not.

I would prefer that it does not look like a cigarette. Other than that, looks are not overly important unless they start looking like a hand-held weapon. But looks are not a deal breaker. I am a female so "frilly" isn't a problem in the looks department.

I would prefer something other than a round mouth piece. No, don't ask why. But it's not a deal breaker.

I've been reading about LR and VV and all that, but it's still Greek to me and might have to wait until/if I purchase yet another model.

I am currently using a SmokeTip with 12-16 mg in %100 PG. It doesn't produce a ton of vapor - about the same as tobacco, and I would like more, but it doesn't have to be enormous. I need to move away from %100 PG as I find I am sensitive to it. The throat hit with the ST unit is too harsh and not pleasant after a few hours. But i need that sensation of the throat hit - just not so harsh and drying, and I need it to be consistent, especially with low levels of nicotine - if that is possible.

Taste is very important.
Ease of draw is pretty important.

The PV does not have to be backwards compatible since I am completely changing my PV, nor am I completely opposed to a proprietary unit if it is reliable, but I have some concern because there seems to be less info available for those kinds of units and less long term reports. Also vendor support would become more important in this case, which is not a problem unless there are too few or unreliable vendors. Basically any proprietary PV that has quality customer support would meet my needs.

I have compiled a short list of what i think I might like, but would like to see what the experts have to say and see if there are any matches.

I am still very much a noob. I take things slow, but I learn thoroughly. I want to find a PV that I can live with over the long haul. I would like to avoid having to purchase multiple models if possible.

Please feel free to pm me with your recommendations. If you are a dealer (Vendor?), please include that fact in the pm.

Thank you kindly ~

 

[rolygate]

Sounds like what you need is a large-format version of your KR8:

THE ELEGANT EASY- MINI KIT

Most of your stuff should fit on that. Personally I'd forget about the passthrough thing - these batteries last for a full day for most users, and days for a light user. Although it does of course depend on which is connected to what, many people have blown their laptops by connecting PTs, as some pull more current than a laptop USB port can safely supply. The best way is via a wall socket adapter, if you have to.

The KR8 is a good low-hassle system, you can buy pre-filled cartos or refill your own. Many people say at first, "I don't want the hassle of refilling", but in the end it has its attractions. Every experienced user has a bunch of batteries, cartos, liquids, and other vital widgets - the fear of running out soon fixes that. Forget about having one or two batteries, you'll need at least 3 or 4.

Many of your requirements are basically asking for the perfect ecig, but it doesn't exist. The one linked to should do the job. If it doesn't for some reason, you'll know more than you do right now, though, so it's not a fail. Although some people do manage to get their 'final' model on their second purchase, others have to try 3 or 4 before they get there. It's not that expensive to try, anyway - if you really don't get on with something, it can be sold fairly fast in the Classifieds.

$40 to try it, and at least $20 back if you don't like it, sounds reasonable. Once you get into that system, you'll no doubt find a few wrinkles that help you get more out of it.

There are loads of reviews of this model on ECF, just do a search.

 

[wv2win]

Interesting list and well thought out! I have used 15+ PV's in the last two years and just Saturday tried a new one that fits all of your requirements except the cost. I currently vape two different 5 volt PV's because the provide many of the characteristics that you described. But the one I tried Saturday and will probably be the last one I ever buy fits just about all of your requirements (except the price). It is the new variable volt Darwin from nhaler.com.

Since it has a built in microprocessor, it is able to automatically adjust the power output of the PV to the changes in the resistence of your atomizer or cartomizer as you vape over any time frame. This provide the ultimate in consistency. I vaped on it for 4-5 hours and the last inhale was just as good as the first one. I have never experienced that in two years of vaping.

Since it uses internal polymer batteries, you can use it like a pass-through and vape as you charge. The initial reports are that it will hold a near full charge for 24 hours and many have gone two full days without the need to recharge it. It is the only PV on the market with a one year warranty on the batteries and a full two years on the device. It has the most solid feel of any PV I have ever held in my hand. The maker of the device explained to me that it is put together completely by robotics. It is also smaller in your hand than what it looks like in the pictures.

It costs $229. But my guess is that it is well worth the cost and could actually save you money over time. It's sold currently only at nhaler.com.

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

I am one of those people who gave (and would still give) a very positive review of the Elegant Easy. However, I think you may want to consider the two-battery Full Kit for $60. Depending on how heavily you vape, the 750 mAh battery probably will last you a full workday ... but you would want a fully charged second battery to come home to. OR consider the new 1300 mAh XXL Elegant Easy. The $50 one-battery XXL Kit probably would last you an entire day.

Both of those use regular-size Kr8 cartomizers. [My favorite prefilled Kr8 cartos thus far are the Premium and WOW from Vapor4Life (which also sells WOW cartos filled with VG liquid). But I've been reading/viewing some glowing reviews of the new MaxX Fusion cartomizers (also prefilled) from BloogPlanet (and I hope to have my hot little hands on a MaxX Fusion kit in a day or so). All of these are pricier than most Kr8 cartos, but I think they're worth it.]

If you are intrigued by the 1300 mAh unit, there is another model you might want to consider instead: the 1300 mAh Go-Go. In fact, it is my understanding that (sometime this month) CigEasy will be replacing the XXL Elegant with the Go-Go. It uses proprietary 3-ml capacity cartomizers (not prefilled). Go-Go and Kr8 are not compatible, but CigEasy will be selling the Go-Go with adapters for using regular Kr8 cartomizers on the Go-Go batteries and for using those 3-ml capacity cartos and Kr8 batteries. NHaler already sells the Go-Go (without the adapters): two-battery kit for $60.

Those devices stay in (or near) your current world of Kr8 cartomizers. My personal favorite PV is the 800 mAh Boge Leo, which I have also reviewed. There also is an ECF Leo subforum. It is based on a proprietary penstyle-type atomizer rather than cartomizer, but 4-ml capacity cartomizers (not prefilled) will be available shortly. Most of the suppliers of the Leo are listed/linked in my review, but you can now add Vapor Junction to that list.