New here & need advice ASAP please

[InoFumo]

I joined this forum to get information from experienced e-cig users.

I have a middle aged relative that has smoked 2 packs a day everyday for most of their life. They have no intention of "quitting" but are open to replacing with e-cigarettes. Since she is not computer literate & I know nothing about e-cigs in regards to brands/flavors/etc. ....Here I am

I want to buy her one for x-mas, & need the following if at all possible:

-A brand that'll last/hold a charge (since she's a chain smoker)
-The liquid/flavor cartridge has to taste like (or at least close to) Winston lights.
and
-Since I'm buying it, preferably in the 60$ and under range (but will go higher if the e-cig brand has both of the above 2 requirements).


Thank you ahead of time for any relivant input

 

[madjack]

...the minimum I would recommend is the Riva510 lite bundle from liberty-flights.com, if you click the 20%discount button on the top left of page it will cost 30bux...but you aren't finished...goto Crystal Clear Vaping and get the bundle of LR Boge2.0 cartos, with that bundle, you will get 15cartos, 2 drip tips(make nice mouth pieces) a syringe for filling(especially good for first filling) and free shipping(always a good thing)...use the code ecf5off for a 5%discount...you will need juice, always the toughest part...liberty flights has mid level quality juices and numerous flavs...CCV has good but limited flavs...going this way, you get a good kit with total outlay of around 60-70bux.................
madjack

p.s. for some reason, I can't get Liberty Flights site to come up......................mj

 

[melloyello]

i second madjacks thoughts. a Riva is a very good unit and if shes a "chain smoker" like i was (2 packs a day) the riva lasts me half a day, then i put the other battery in and im good until i go to bed. (you get 2 batteries with the riva when you order it).
i would recommend no more than 16mg of nicotine since she is smoking lights.
there is no liquid that tastes like the real cigg, due to the fact that there is no combustion going on. however...
there are many liquids that taste for pure tobacco, which is far from what a cigg actually tastes like. i would recommend
more than 1 flavor so she can play around with them.

 

[robblundberg]

i agree with everything said except, the 16mg nic juice part. i would recommend 24 for sure.

the first couple hits will make her cough but after that she'll love it. at 2 packs a day i'd wager to guess she enjoys the th from smoking analogs and with 16mg nic juice she'll feel like she's not getting enough throat hit after a few days.

just my .02

 

[Stosh]

+1 on a nice Riva setup, with some cartos, the batteries will last long enough
for a 2 pad smoker. Cartomizers make it simpler. Flavors can be an adventure,
everyone has their own tastes, and as a smoker's taste bud recover they can change.

 

[mafig]

hi InoFumo..my advise on buying starter kit..its a jungle to sort out the model suitable for yr relative to use..so it wise to see reviews on videos..like i did be4 i purchased mine...Scott Bonner's videos can show U all the tutorial on the products..the most common thread is 510 and eGo the model(reasonable price and durable) most used by members,i think and has the pluses..i personally like the 1100 mAh eGo LCD(the 1100 mAh battery will last a full day even for a heavy vaper,with 2 in the kit and can see at a gland the status of the battery is so useful to have)..its practical and easy to use if U follow the instructions to the T ,regarding filling,refills and daily maintenance..should be after U watch the videos by Scott..good luck & hope yr relative will find vaping enjoyable to use..i do..just love to vape since i gave up on my analogs after 30+yrs..regards mafig ps Scott Bonner's link Review of the Genesis Echo electronic cigarette by E-Cig-Reviews.com

 

[Strigoi]

I also agree with getting 24mg instead of 16mg liquid. I smoked a pack a day and needed 24 to quit.

 

[dormouse]

I disagree - I always think new vapers should try a range so try 16-18 and try 24. And if she's an ultralights smoker those both may be too strong. If she chain smoked she will probably chain vape and you don't want the nic so high that she gets over-nicced symptoms like headache and rapid or irregular heartbeat.

If she won't accept a fat model like Riva 510 or Ego, then I recommend SmokelessImage Volt manuals in the 78mm size which makes 120mm ecig (320mah of charge) and a PCC and if she works, an extra charger for work. I actually like to have 3 batteries, 2 chargers at home and 1 at work. Any ecig that is depended on needs spare parts. 100mah is about 1 hour of moderate vaping, less of heavy vaping.

re liquid - she will just have to try some. Nothing tastes burning paper and leaves and 4000 chemicals. What eliquids can do is give a nice aroma of fresh tobacco.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...192-what-liquid-tastes-most-like-winston.html
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/new-members-forum/90030-anyone-smoked-winstons.html
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/vapor4life/163863-flavor-would.html

 

[Dieseler]

I started out with 18mg strength with 555 e-liquid after nearly 40 years at 2 pad that did the trick for me.
But everyone is different i suppose.

 

[GuyInAZ]

I disagree - I always think new vapers should try a range so try 16-18 and try 24. And if she's an ultralights smoker those both may be too strong. If she chain smoked she will probably chain vape and you don't want the nic so high that she gets over-nicced symptoms like headache and rapid or irregular heartbeat.

dormouse is right... I was a 1.5 to 2 pack a day smoker so I went with 24mg/ml nicotine and it gave me headaches and rapid heartbeat. To compensate for that, I am vaping less until I can thin out my juice.
You can always get a small bottle of each and experiment but if you get the 24 and it's too high they'll need to dilute it with PG or VG or dilute it with 06 of the same flavor.

re liquid - she will just have to try some. Nothing tastes burning paper and leaves and 4000 chemicals. What eliquids can do is give a nice aroma of fresh tobacco.

I never liked the taste of analogs and smoked menthols, I found that when I started vaping I preferred the non-menthol Halo Prime 15 being my favorite. Vaping is not like smoking analogs, there is a plethora of flavors to choose from. Get a sample pack and have them try 'em out.
Halo is having a 20% off sale now through 11/28

 

[minigoat]

I started out with 18mg strength with 555 e-liquid after nearly 40 years at 2 pad that did the trick for me.
But everyone is different i suppose.

Ditto, 2 PAD for 36 years. I was able to get off analogs immediately with an ego-t and 18mg nic liquid

 

[wv2win]

dormouse is right... I was a 1.5 to 2 pack a day smoker so I went with 24mg/ml nicotine and it gave me headaches and rapid heartbeat. To compensate for that, I am vaping less until I can thin out my juice.
You can always get a small bottle of each and experiment but if you get the 24 and it's too high they'll need to dilute it with PG or VG or dilute it with 06 of the same flavor...................

I disagree. The advice to get 24mg nicotine strength is on the mark. If she gets 16mg and it is not enough, then the only option is to continue to smoke. You can always lower the nicotine level of what ever eliquid you have but you CANNOT make it stronger.

Based on several polls on this and other vaping sites, 24mg nicotine strength is the most common level used. I would recommend getting at least two bottles of the same flavor eliquid in both 24mg and 11mg nicotine strength. Vape the 24mg strength for awhile and see how it goes. If it seems too high, then mix in some 11mg strength to bring it down to 18mg and experiement with that for a while.

The advice of starting with a Riva 510 with manual batteries is good advice.

Good Luck

 

[tj99959]

Ya my first bottle of e-juice was 24mg, but my second bottle damn sure wasn't.
I smoked 1.5-2 PAD for almost 60 years, and I found that 24mg gave me all the symtoms of nic OD. Dropping down to 18mg eliminated those symtoms while still providing enough nic to keep me off cigarettes.
I do agree that the eGo or Riva is the best device to start off with, along with cartomizers.

More than anything else, keep vaping as simple as possible in the beginning. Most will find that the slightest hickup will lead to smoking another cigarette.

 

[bigtiime]

Whatever you end up buying for her, you're probably saving her life. wtg! Since she isn't computer savy, it may be wise for you to spend some time with her and the two of you watch a few videos that can give her some insight into vaping techniques (it's not like puffing an analog) and also the "care and feeding" of her new best friend. There are many resources here on this forum and at the YouTube site as well that can help make her transition from analogs to e cigs much easier and more fun.

 

[hairball]

Riva or eGo kit from www.liberty-flights.com...don't forget the coupon code. It's on the website.

For a chainsmoker (I was one at 4 PAD), start off with a bottle of each of these mg strengths...36mg (I had to use this one in the beginning), 24mg (used this after 2 months of 36), and 18mg (currently can chainvape this mg). If you think 36 is too high, at least go with 24mg.

As for the flavor you seek, can't help you there. I stayed away from tobacco flavors because I was worried that it would trigger my smoking desire. I went with fruity/dessert vapes when I first started out.

 

[trailwalker]

i would go here and find a store . VaporSearchUSA
TW

 

[Eternityroad]

Before dropping bucks for a fancy mod go to a 7-11 and but an Exhale2 kit for $20.00. tThat way she can see if ecigs are for her and progress from there. If your local 7-11 doesn't carry them try the exhale site. There may be other good starter kits on the market but the exhale02 is the one I started with, therefore the only one I can truly recommend. It met all my needs until I was ready to move on.

 

[Huffelpuff]

I smoked light 100s and am pretty small size wise. Smoked 1 ppd. If I dip below 24mg I am not a happy camper. Don't quite know why I need such high mg but it's what works for me.

Guess everyone needs a different level to start. Maybe a sample pack of several flavors/strengths so you do not waste too much $$. My $.02.

 

[cyndi]

I started with the disposable cigarettes, but they didn't do it for me. Then I got sucked into one of the "Free Trials". Definitely stay away from those. I lucked onto the EgoTanks and that is what did it for me. They are simple to use. You get 2 complete sets in a kit, and that would last me the whole day, and I would pop one on the charger at night, and take one to bed with me. As for the tobacco flavored nicotine liquid. I have spent a small fortune, and given away every one that I bought. I don't even try and look for a tobacco flavor anymore. The first ones I fell in love with was cappuccino and peaches & cream from freedomsmokeusa I smoked for 35 years, and was up to 2+ packs a day. I tried the 24mg, but it gave me headaches. The 18mg hits the spot for me. Good luck. You are a good friend!

 

[robblundberg]

i'm not trying to argue semantics here, so i'll let this article do most of the talking. but basically what it boils down to is that, even with 24 or 36mg nic juice from an ecig, your'e still not getting even a fraction of the amount of nicotine you were getting from cigs (yes even if they were ultralight) the only thing nicotine amount REALLY effects in e juice is the throat hit you get.

now, about the article, the guys clearly no scientist, and there are quite a few things that he's off on, however for the most part this one will do the trick (btw this was the first article i pulled up in a google search for "nicotine absorption rate from an ecig")

E-Cigs and Nicotine Absorption « BWoz Daily

my point here is just to show, that though some of you may think your'e getting a "nicotine overdose" from a high nic mg juice, it's just really not plausible. the human body absorbs nicotine different from smoke than it does from vapor. also, there's WAAAAY less nicotine in nic juice than there is in cigs. the average pack of smokes has about 200mg of nicotine in it. that being said you only absorb about 20mg overall, about 1mg per cig.

one ml of e juice (in a 24mg juice lets say) has 24mg of nic in it. now, when you consider that theres something right around 20 drops in a ml, that leaves just a hair over 1mg of nic per drop, but just because there's one mg in ever drop DOES NOT mean you absorb that entire mg. you actually only absorb MAYBE a tenth of that or .10mg of nic when compared to 1mg per cig.

so basically
ECIG-.10mg of nic per every 10 or 15 puffs maybe?
Analog-1mg of nic per ever cig (or 10-15 puffs)

understand? absorption rates are smaller in vaping than they are in smoking, and the overall amount of nic in nic juice is MUCH smaller when compared with smokes. like i said, saying your'e having "nicotine overdose" is just really not all that plausible. unless of course you drink it. then who knows? lol. overall i'm certainly only a google scientist, but the overall consensus from most boards, or studies that have been done typically agree that you absorb FAR less than the 24mg of nic that are actually in that one ml of e juice.