My guess is you'll have better luck using vaping to quit smoking than using any of the traditional stop smoking aids. I had tried the nicotine gum & patches, prescription drugs, and hypnosis on multiple occasions with no luck. I was able to put the smokes down for good after one week of dual usage (vaping and smoking) with my first starter setup.
What I did was set a quit date and kept one pack of cigarettes to use for the "really bad cravings". I vaped as much and as often as I pleased. I still got cravings, so I tried to vape more. When that didn't work, I allowed myself HALF of a cigarette, and saving the rest for the next time. Those second half cigs tasted terrible, but that actually helped me to quit. By the end of the week when the pack of cigs was nearly gone, I found that I preferred the vape over the cigs. I've been tobacco-free for over six years and don't miss the smokes at all.
If you do decide to dual use, I suggest using a different brand of cigarettes rather than your favorite. I was a very loyal Marlboro Menthol smoker, and sometimes would turn down any other brand if offered to me.
Try to find a flavor that you like. This is probably as important as the type of "gear" you end up purchasing. You won't vape it if you don't like the flavor. It's also important to realize that you won't find a flavor that "tastes like a cigarette"; not even close. Find a menthol or mint, fruit, candy, desert, or coffee flavor that you like and go with that.
Just remember, "It's not how many cigarettes that you smoke that is important. It's how many you DON'T smoke that is.
Be sure to get the correct nic concentration in your e-liquid based on your previous smoking habit.
For e-liquid, the typical nicotine recommendations are generally determined by how much you smoked, and are as follows:
1/2 pack per day or less = 6 mg nicotine
1 ppd = 12 mg
1 1/2 ppd = 18 mg
2 ppd = 24 mg
Should you choose to use a sub-ohm juice attachment (coil less than 1.0 ohm); drop the above recommendations by half.
Figure on consuming at least 3 - 5 ml of liquid daily. Bottles are usually 10 or 30 ml volume.
Good Starter Setups for a Beginner Vaper