New guy here... some decisions and questions

[rcpcdude]

I'll start off by saying that this seems to be the most info filled source one the web for vaping so I applaud you all! However too much info can be intimidating and it seems you can find reviews stating pros and cons to just about any device/accessory there is.... but the problem is there is more opinions than there is different flavors of juice lol. So in a bit here I have some questions for you experts.

I have smoked "analogs" for about 17 years. I'm a pretty consistent pack a day smoker. I buy by the carton my treasured Camel lights, but it's time to take another look. I've tried several times to quit but of course with no success so I decided lets give this whole e-cig thing a try. So I've lurked for the last couple weeks before signing up, reading, studying, calculating prices, etc. I also want to express first that I really just want to give up the unhealthy and smelly factor of smoking, price is a far second and I realize initial start up costs from scratch is going to be expensive and I don't really care as long as it works.

Disclaimer: YES I READ MANY OF THE POSTS HERE
I decided to start off somewhat cheap and get a V2 starter kit that I am currently waiting for with a flavor pack. Got 2 batteries, 2 chargers, 20 cartos to start off with. Figured I will worry about a case and more stuff once I get settled. From all the reading I've done a simple to use KR808 seems to be the "gateway" to vaping for most people and has a high success rate in getting people to switch over. It also was one of the cheapest way I could get a variety of flavors to find a direction of what I will end up liking for juices later on. Yes I realize they aren't the best thing out there and don't have the best battery life being a tiny 4.2v battery but they seem to get overall satisfactory reviews (plus the coupon codes were attractive ). Believe me, I almost clicked "add to cart" on some eGo Twists with Kanger T2's and a pile of juice but I want to see if I like it first and plan on spending what it takes to be set once I get going. I also don't like too much tinkering and alot of the opinions seem to be focused on the flavor/vapor that the device produces (which is probably why opinions differ so much because to each their own on taste). It seems this is a fairly normal progression path (correct me if I'm wrong) but does 3 batteries, 3 clearos, several replacement attys, a pile of juice and 2-3 chargers with a nice case to hold some of it sound good if I end up going this route?

Kinda kicking myself for this decision, but I went with the "light" 6mg version cartomizers because I did some digging on my brand and supposedly 7mg is what a Camel light is, but worst case scenario I will just go through them faster, do people really use 24mg always? It just seems like too much to me. I know.... I'm such a noob lol

Thanks for reading and I will update more when I actually get my kit.

 

[r77r7r]

Your order sounds good for a start. Alot of folks would be good at 18mg. for a pack aday for 17yrs. Add drip tips also.

 

[atomicbetty]

do people really use 24mg always? It just seems like too much to me. I know.... I'm such a noob lol.

I am a total noob, too, but I will just say I think it's a good idea to consider lower nicotine levels because vaping is so much easier, less smelly and convenient that you tend to puff more than you would with cigarettes. I was having trouble sleeping (which is normal for me, but more trouble than usual) and so I switched from 18mg to 12mg, because nicotine is a stimulant, and in the evening right before bed I have more opportunity to vape. I use 18mg during the day, and 12mg in the evening.

 

[Thrasher]

Welcome, and yes there is way too much info at first, I too started with a v2 way back, as far as ecigs go they are ok, great cust service and lifetime warranty sure help, once you get it you will receive coupons for supplies, the 6 mil I think is def too low, so at first if it doesnt seem to be working dont give up just yet, on the plus side you can reuse the cart's that come with the kit and refill yourself with some of the wonderful juices out there.
I have had some of those carts last 3-4 weeks with refilling while down the road you will want to step up, the v2 is a decent beginning to at least show you where to step in the door.
Everyone here will be happy to help you on your new journey so ask away...

 

[Baditude]

Welcome to ECF! As you have found out, this place has a wealth of information and experience (and opinions ).
Oh, and congrats on deciding on giving up cigarettes again. This time it is going to work!

Your starting kit is fine. The important thing is you made the important first step in getting your first kit.

I suspect that you will eventually want longer battery life and tire of the flavor cartridges. I know you probably believe those cartridges will be simpler, and they may be initially. Another progress point will be when you decide to try blank cartomizers and learn to fill them with bottled e-liquid. But in the meantime you will learn what you like and don't like about your new kit, and be able to make an educated choice on what to upgrade to in the future.

Good luck.

 

[Grimwald]

IMHO you made a good choice except for the nicotine level. I believe that simple is best in the beginning. It just easier to quit smoking if you don't have a lot of other things to learn and worry about. Mt wife and I started 3 months ago on a 808 system, and we are still using it successfully. We have both begun using bigger batteries, but that can come later once you get the hang of things. On the juice issue. I was a 3 pad 40 year smoker and it took 24mg for me to quit. I'm beginning to cut back to 18mg, but I have yet to determine if that will satisfy me. My wife was at about 1 1/2 pad and she has held steady at 18mg. Just my opinion, but I doubt if 6mg will be enough as smoking and vaping are entirely different when it comes to nicotine delivery...I suspect you may need 18mg. Flavor is also kind of important as you will need to find something you like, or at least can tolerate, and that can sometimes be a bigger challenge than what equipment to use. Good luck.

 

[Renolizzie]

I think simple is best for a lot of beginners and I love my 808's. The nic level is truly variable. I like to have 12 mg for in the evenings but 24 for in the mornings and 18 for the afternoons. Goofy but it works for me. I couldn't sleep well when I was chain vaping in the evenings with a high nic.

You are well on your way to giving up the smokes

 

[RedMoxy69]

CONGRATS! Don't kick yourself, that hurts in a bad way, badump ump. Anything you're doing to quit analogs are good things. Most ecig equiptment and accessories are subjective, try a few at a time & you'll quickly narrow down rather you like cartomizers, atomizers, clearomizers, tanks, etc. Those analogs are one trick ponies & can lead you down a bad road. I smoked most of my life & from my very first vape, never touched another analog, my husband wasn't far behind, so go for it, esp. since money isn't a factor for you! Also, I used the inexpensive passthroughs 3.7 volt, 5 volt & even a variable voltage one very cheaply & quite happily, as money is a factor for us, but it only slowed us down, but we sure have been happy vapers. Being a newbie should be exciting & what this whole thing is about, your excitement is infectious! Wisely it seems, you research before buying, and yes lots of people use around 24 mg & down, some even use 36 & others use 0, & step down over time - starting low is a smart choice, to each their own. You may want a drip tip or two, some vendors even throw one in, and "dripping" using atomizers are a unique & very subjective experience - I'm a dripper, my spouse hates atomizers/dripping, he's a cartomizer guy. Remember you don't need the newest/biggest as long as you're happy w/what you're using, there should be no Jones' to keep up with in vaping. The twist type battery are a tried/true standard and K. brand are well known also, you'll have to try clearos & tanks to see if they help create your perfect vape, cause that's what it's about, keep asking questions & vape on.

 

[opal]

Another Noob here.. hubby and I got our first kits on Oct 9th.. . less than a week in we upgraded to 808s also *we went with volts.. but I digress

I got carts with 0 6 and 12 nic levels - pretty much knowing that if I didn't have to go outside for a *smoke* I was going to vape more than I smoked - and I was only half a PAD of ultra lights but I had been smoking 35 years .. various amounts and brands.

We went with automatic batteries.. buttons didn't impress us and we are doing fine with the vapor - I did go kinda bananas with the amount of juice samples I ordered.. from different vendors.

As long as you have a backup battery and a charger and don't run out of juice/carts you're good.

 

[rcpcdude]

thanks for the warm welcome! now i just have to get off of youtube otherwise money WILL be an issue haha... haven't even started yet and there is a plethora of things that i want to try out lol

 

[RedMoxy69]

rcpcdude, keep a list, it never ends but is helpful, I do esp. when I'm reading posts of the big dogs in the forum. Hey Opal, think you ordered a lot, wait until you get to the DIY liquid-that is a really long & changing list, but saves $ & priceless enjoyment factor with everything I make. I only have to impress myself & husband, full of happy accidents & endless fun tailoring, it works for us. The big dogs posts, and online Calculators made it foolproof & safe to do, we are thankful to all of them!!! Lastly, it does not matter how you Vape, the best thing is there are no wrong ways to Vape as long as you do it safely & it works for you.

 

[pjim]

Sounds like a reasonable start to me, I've not been vaping for too long myself, but quickly ordered more things when I found I liked it. Its been very easy to stop tobacco, considering i've tried everything in the past, seriously and multiple times. I would consider getting an atomiser,clearomiser, and maybe a one or two different brands/resistance of cartomisers (you can get these singely I think) to see which you like , if you decide its for you. I think these vary a bit and it can be good to try different approaches. Also I personally never got on with the cigarrette style p.v.s when I tried them. I was only convinced when I got on the ego batteries.

 

[ethebull]

I too am a very new convert (3 weeks). I started with a classic e-cig, with 12mg prefilled. It was enough to have me switch completely on my first day. But the battery life and juice capacity had me looking for something more substantial after just a couple of days. I ended up buying an eGo C kit with CE5 clearomizers and it is a big improvement. 18mg juice seems good for me after .5-1 PAD for years.

I quickly realized that the classic lookalike didn't feel like a regular cig in my hand, and I wasn't fooling anybody. The eGo's aren't too conspicuous, and performance is easily 3 fold better.

 

[JENerationX]

Good start. After a very crappy smoke shop e-cig experience I started with the Volt 808s. Nic level is trial and error. Just be aware that the 6mg you ordered isn't going to over-nic you if you're chain vaping it all day, but it may not handle your cravings either. I ordered 24 and 18 to start and due to the harsh throat hit, immediately dropped to 12. I stayed with 12mg for almost a year. I got the Volt X2s (eGo sized batteries 650mah) within about 2 months because I was tired of charging. When I got a more advanced Zenesis mini, the vapor production is much better, delivering nic faster, and I've dropped to 6mg juice unless I want something stronger at times. Be prepared to experiment. Most of us don't find our perfect set up right out of the gate. You WILL find satisfaction when you try something out, come back and tell us what you like and don't like about it, and keep an open mind.

Congratulations, you did the most important thing already..... START SOMEWHERE!!!

 

[Dickyg]

I went the same route as you and bought a starter kit with small batteries to see if I could get on with vaping. Don't be too concerned about the nicotine level you've got, as you can easily buy higher levels. I started with 12 and soon found that I was better at 18, but it's all down to personal preference. If you can survive with 6 then there's no point starting at 24 and then weening yourself down.

Oh and welcome aboard!!

 

[Baditude]

Most important decision is to decide to stop smoking. Next important decision is to jump in with some type of vaping device, try it out and learn the in's and out's of vaping, figuring out what you like and don't like so that the next better device will be more satisfying.

Finding a couple of good e-juices is just as important as finding the right devices to use.

Vaping can work where other stop-smoking nicotine-delivery systems fail. Vaping allows you to continue the hand-to-mouth ritual that is engrained into our brains and personality. Nicotine patches and gum don't do this.

Vaping can come close to replicating the smoking sensation by filling your mouth, throat, and lungs with warm vapor. Nicotine patches and gum can't do this.

ECF is the best place to find information and support on the internet. Use it.

Vaping can help you quit smoking. YOU can can do it. JUST DO IT!

 

[moishesmom]

Welcome & congrats. IMO anything you chose is better then the alternative. You'll make your own way in finding what suits you the best - GOOD LUCK!

 

[TeamBankrupt]

I would like to say I am at the same stage as you and I'm already finding this to be way more exciting than an analog ever was. I myself also ordered a V2 not to long ago. I just ordered my ego twist. Good luck and keep researching

 

[moishesmom]

I would like to say I am at the same stage as you and I'm already finding this to be way more exciting than an analog ever was. I myself also ordered a V2 not to long ago. I just ordered my ego twist. Good luck and keep researching

Rebel - Congrats & welcome to you also. It certainly is better & taste a heck of a lot better than the alternatives (fun too). I did RYO for mega years & about 6 months after I quit, it only took about 4 days, I lit one of the cigs laying around the house. 1 drag & I gagged - put that awful thing out & knew I'd never look back. Good luck on your new venture - it's great!

 

[TeamBankrupt]

Thank you moishesmom