...new, looking for recommendations.

[Mabzie55]

I wrote a much longer post, then the site logged me out and I lost it, great. So its gonna be short. I'm on my phone and literally took an hour writing that, unbelievably frustrated. So here we go

***Edit: it seems people are reading this post and replying without reading my second post, so I'll sum up the second one--- since the cigalikes all apparently suck I'll opt for something else but I would still like it to be on the smaller (and especially thinner) side, with no button if possible, and one which uses e-liquid***

Don't have much experience besides disposables.

Smoke 2-3 packs per day and use snus, large need for nicotine.
Not looking to quit, just to cut down to 0.5 - 1 pack per day.

What I'm looking for:
-High nicotine content, much higher than Blu and Vuse which are the only ones I've tried. Those do not satisfy. I need like, one of the highest if not the highest nicotine contents. (Which if it's liquid, can't I just put any liquid into the e-cig? Not sure how that works)

- rechargeable, preferably one with liquid and not cartridges

-high quality. Not looking for a "good beginner vape". I'm looking for just a great vape period. I have the money and I want to spend it.

-cig-a-like. Light enough to use hands free (blu is light enough to give you an idea), don't care if the tip is fuzzy or not, no button... I want it vacuum operated (hands free), lights up when you take a hit... Watching the ember is a great joy of smoking for me, I need something to light up for the full experince or i dount ill be able to cut down on ciggarettes... I know it sounds dumb but the light is a big deal to me. Doesn't look like a marker.

-Flavors, lots of flavor options. This is something that makes me think I can get into e-cigs.

- price range: between $50-$150 U.S. (without including the price of liquid)


Looking though all the e-cigs out there makes my head explode. I'm hoping someone can give me a no BS answer as to what the the best ones for my needs.

+ any other information I forgot about.

Don't know that much about vaping so I'm really hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

Hello Mabzie and welcome to the forum. I haven't had any luck with the "cig a like" styles of e cigs. The hands free and quality vape are a problem.

I'd recommend the iStick 50W ($50) battery/mod. It has a very long lasting 4400 mah battery. I would also recommend an Aspire Nautilus Mini or Nautilus full size with the BVC (bottom vertical coil) coils. ($28). a Spare 5 pack of BVC coils ($15). You will get a great vape off this setup. Because the iStick can regulate down to .2 ohms, it is good for growing into the sub ohm tanks should you desire to go there. The iStick 50 w/ Nautilus is a grab and go, very little maintenance or work involved to keep it running.

I am guessing your nicotine level is around the 24 mg. There are literally hundreds of e juice flavors or ejuice suppliers that make the product for this vape.

DEALS & Steals http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/pay-forward-pif/418767-deals-steals.html (go to last page)

Forum Suppliers Forum Suppliers

The iStick 50W with Nautilus (in black)is next to the cig lighter.

 

[Mr. Miyagi]

The problem is that cigalikes are beginner vapes.

If you want an ego, you might be able to. but most of those require a button

the only other option I can think of is a Halo g6.

Its still a begginer vape, but I used them, and they were great. I believe they have the automatic, which does not require a button. with the blank cartos or the mini tanks.

https://www.halocigs.com/e-cigarette.html

 

[jseah]

If you ABSOLUTELY need to have the cigalike form factor plus the automatic batteries, then your options are limited. If you already have the blu's, you can stick with the blu batteries and then just purchase a bunch of Kanger T4 clearomizers with the 510 connection. They are small (holds just under 1 ml of juice), will fit onto the blu's, and will function with the blu's automatic triggering.

An alternative with reusing the blu's is to go with the Halo G6 cigalike. The G6 does have clearomizers available for it (the little tanks), but you can also get cartomizers (the little cartridges) which allow you to refill it as well by removing a rubber cap and dripping juice into it until the filler material is saturated. The G6 is available both in automatic batteries (fires when you suck on it) or manual (fires when you push the button on the side of the battery) and I believe the battery is also available in slightly larger capacities.

Generally, the highest nicotine level is 24 mg and this is the same strength as the blu's. There are some juice companies that will make juice up to 36 mg. I have never seen juice higher than 36 mg. If you go with a more powerful system (the more efficient tanks and higher powered batteries) that most people on this board uses, you wouldn't need your nicotine level as high. A good example is when I quit with the blu's and started moving on to the stick batteries (the ones which look like markers), 24 mg was a good level for me that helped me kick my pack a day habit. Once I started getting into mods and then subohming, I needed to progressively reduce my nicotine content because it was delivering way more nicotine than my body needed or would tolerate. In just 6 weeks, I have gone from 24 mg to now I am using 6 mg juice. The mg means the amount (milligrams) of nicotine that is present in 1 ml (milliliters) of juice. Once you move into the world of juices where you can refill the delivery system yourself, you open up to an entire world of different flavors, enough flavors that can make your head spin by all the different variations and variety.

Honestly, like you I was reluctant to "go big" when I first started vaping just over two months ago. I was also really self conscious about holding and carrying this big honking piece of gear to my mouth when I wanted to vape. The first thing I quickly got over is dropping the need to have automatic batteries. Learning to push a little button when I want to vape while simultaneous inhaling quickly (as in minutes) became second nature. With the powerful batteries and tank systems, you can quickly replace the need for the visual aid of the "burning light" at the tip with the clear sizzle of juice being vaporized by the heat of the coil. Also, automatic batteries are simply not available except in the extremely low powered cigalikes. Secondly, I've have quickly warmed up to going bigger and bigger in size. I'm an admitted gear head, so I have a ton of different mods in different sizes, ranging from the small iStick 30 (not much bigger than a really nice lighter), eGo One, the bigger brother iStick 50, an IPV mini 2, Vapor Shark rDNA, and a Vapor Flask. Yeah, I have way more mods than I really need.

As for size, there are many powerful mods that are still fairly small and will easily be hidden in your hand when held (iSticks, eGo One, IPV, Vapor Shark, Sigelei Mini). You don't need to have a big box that is the size of a smartphone (and three times as thick). The best way to visualize the performance of the wide range of vaping gear is that using a cigalike like the blu's and the Vuse is like using a water pistol purchased at the $1 store. Sure you can use it to shoot water. But if you use one of the more powerful mods available today, with a high end tank like a Subtank, then you are using a Super Soaker.

I would suggest going to a local B&M, and just try holding one in your hand. Ask them tons of questions. If the store is decent, they will be happy to ask any questions you may have. They will most likely also have a tasting bar where you can try out a bunch of different flavors. And of course you can also do a ton of research here and looking at Youtube videos.

 

[djsvapour]

Hi..

I'm just going to come out with this, so please don't be offended.

Vype and Vuse (and other products) often use the highest strength nicotine liquid. One of them uses 45mg per milliliter which is nearly EIGHT times as powerful as the liquid I use. The reason why the products do not work and are essentially a "sticking plaster" fix for users is that they don't produce enough Vapor or Nicotine.

The small cig-a-likes are very poor, very expensive and next to useless. They WILL NOT WORK for you.

If you buy any of these products.

Vuse, Vype, Greensmoke, V2, Njoy, Whitecloud, South Beach smoke, Fin, Victory, BLU,

What you will be buying is an expensive plastic stick. Some of these will also be made by tobacco companies just keen to take your money in the same way they did when you smoked.

If Blu and Vuse did not satisfy you, then NONE of the others will.

There are over 100+ fake review sites in the US alone, try to get you to spend your $70-$100 on a "starter kit". You won't know which are fake, but they are there.

So, I'm not going to tell you what to buy (ECF members will help you with that) but please be very, very careful out there.

If you smoke 2-3 packs a day of cigarettes - what you think you WANT and what you will NEED are not going to work for you.

- - -


I tried to quit on the #1 brand in the UK. It would have cost me $4,500 a year to run these little e-cigarettes. They did not help me to fully stop smoking... other than maybe cutting back 5 cigarettes a day.

You can run a really good e-cigarette for under $1,000 a year, one that works too.

 

[Mrbr00ks]

HI and welcome , forget about cig a like they are mostly bad quality go with the istick and nautilus it will not let you down.

 

[Fir3b1rd]

I wrote a much longer post, then the site logged me out and I lost it, great. So its gonna be short. I'm on my phone and literally took an hour writing that, unbelievably frustrated. So here we go





Don't have much experience besides disposables.





Smoke 2-3 packs per day and use snus, large need for nicotine.


Not looking to quit, just to cut down to 0.5 - 1 pack per day.





What I'm looking for:


-High nicotine content, much higher than Blu and Vuse which are the only ones I've tried. Those do not satisfy. I need like, one of the highest if not the highest nicotine contents. (Which if it's liquid, can't I just put any liquid into the e-cig? Not sure how that works)





- rechargeable, preferably one with liquid and not cartridges





-high quality. Not looking for a "good beginner vape". I'm looking for just a great vape period. I have the money and I want to spend it.





-cig-a-like. Light enough to use hands free (blu is light enough to give you an idea), don't care if the tip is fuzzy or not, no button... I want it vacuum operated (hands free), lights up when you take a hit... Watching the ember is a great joy of smoking for me, I need something to light up for the full experince or i dount ill be able to cut down on ciggarettes... I know it sounds dumb but the light is a big deal to me. Doesn't look like a marker.





-Flavors, lots of flavor options. This is something that makes me think I can get into e-cigs.





- price range: between $50-$150 U.S. (without including the price of liquid)








Looking though all the e-cigs out there makes my head explode. I'm hoping someone can give me a no BS answer as to what the the best ones for my needs.





+ any other information I forgot about.





Don't know that much about vaping so I'm really hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

I switched from smoking to vaping a little over a year ago. The cigalikes quickly cast aside, then again I also became a hobbyist so maybe you'll enjoy it more.

The 'joyeyech eroll' fits all your requirements. It can be found for 45-50 dollars on-line. You may want to YouTube search for a better explanation. But the

 

[jseah]

Actually I think I came up with a better variation of my analogy. Using a cigalike to curb your smoking is like using a dollar store water pistol to put out a fire (with the fire being your cravings for nicotine). If you squirt enough water out of it over time, the fire will go out. However, using a powerful mod and a better tank will be like putting that fire out using a super soaker with a huge water tank.

 

[Fir3b1rd]

Iactually, I've seen some people quit on cigalikes.
some do enjoy them. those of us that become hobby vapors are not the huge majority. I know several vapors as a very close friend of mine owns a vape shop. he has customers with cigalikes, customers with egos and a handful like me with a little but of everything. MOST of his customers are people using nautilus style gear with egos but an equal number of people on cigalikes and high end gear. we are on one of the extreme sides.

maybe it will work for the OP I doubt it but if that's what they want to try, its his vaping journey.

I do recommend that the OP watch a few of busardos videos. he has a few on cigalikes.
do some research on the gear that strikes your fancy. on here you will have a lot of opinions.

if it were me, and I knew then what I know now, I would have started with a DNA or other 30-50 w mod mod and either a subtank or atlantis. I could keep the airflow tight and as I wanted more vapor open it up more. that way im not replacing gear every few months as my preferred style changes. or maybe even a nautiuls because they are under 20 bucks,

the problem is an autofire is hard to fins outside of cigalikes.
is there a reason for the autofire? I ask because a buddy of mine is a quadriplegic and we had to build him an autofire because he has no motor control over his hands.

 

[Bunnykiller]

unfortunately cigalikes are designed to reap profits like real ciggies...they dont last long, refill carts are expensive, the kits (Blu) are pricey... if you are looking for light weight, auto puff convienence, then stick with Blu, Vuse etc and be prepared to spend alot more than you need to ... if you want to save your funds, consider a VV/VW unit and a refillable atty. They are heavy and require using a hand to operate, but the savings will be monumental in the long run...

 

[Mabzie55]

Okay, so, basically what I'm getting is that cigalikes are not good. I just assumed with the hundreds of choices there would be some quality cigalikes.

I'm willing to compromise on the light if replaced by some sort of sound of the liquid doing its thing (sizzling or whatever).

As far as the size, well I am okay with something larger than tiny, but I really need something small.

I spend many hours each day doing activities which require the use of both of my hands 95% of the time. I also chain smoke during these activities.
I've been able to use the blu/vuse hands free so something around that size will work. I'm more concerned with the width and being able to hold it I'm my mouth than with weight or length.

The button is also an issue for this reason.

Are there ANY quality e-cigs which are vacuum operated?

I suppose I could get a really good one, and then a cigalike to supplement it for hands free use. However I probably smoke 50% of my cigarettes relatively hands free during this activity. If none of the light e-cigs are satisfying I don't know how much I'll really use it.

A few people have mentioned the istick, does this use cartridges or do you fill it with liquid?

Anything thin-ish I should be able to use hands free, but obviously the button is still an issue here.

I mean I guess I could just get a big one, but I don't think I'll be able to use it as much as I would like to.

But above all, I need something satisfying. The disposables just don't cut it. As some have said that may be due not to nicotine content but on how much is actually vaporized.

Either way I'd take something that works and is satisfying over something that is better suited to by situation and doesn't satisfy. I may not use it as much, but at least that will be some amount of cigs which I am not smoking.

That being said I'd still like something:
1. As thin
2. Vacuum operated (if even possible for a good one)
3. One in which liquid is loaded into, so I can just get a bottle of liquid instead of a bunch of cartridges.

Oh and just to clarify-- the liquid is interchangeable between different e-cigs?

Anyway thanks for replies so far.

P.S. Oh, also someone mentioned halo g6 as a good e-cig which has a vacuum operation. You say it is a beginner e-cig but also that it is great. So I'm just wondering if it uses the liquid firstly, and secondly when you say it is great do you mean it will produce enough vapor and give me enough nicotine to satisfy a heavy smoker?
Battery life is a secondary concern (as long as I don't have to charge it multiple time per day) to vapor, nicotine, and size.

 

[SmokinRabbit]

ERoll. It's really the only thing that is truly cig-a-like and gives a satisfying vape, with ability to use any flavors you want. Plus it uses tanks, not cartomizers. More than light enough to use hands free and it does light up. It's automatic (no button) and a someone tight draw like a cigarette.

There's an accessory that is pricey to hold extra tanks called the eroll tank pank. Worth price to me for convenience.

Batteries are small, but it uses a charging case to keep them going most of a full day.

The downsides are its a bit fiddly... Keeping tanks cleaned and filled daily can be a bit of a hassle. However, nothing comes close for a true cigarette-like experience. It not only got me to cut down, but to quit.

 

[Mabzie55]

ERoll. It's really the only thing that is truly cig-a-like and gives a satisfying vape, with ability to use any flavors you want. Plus it uses tanks, not cartomizers. More than light enough to use hands free and it does light up. It's automatic (no button) and a someone tight draw like a cigarette.

There's an accessory that is pricey to hold extra tanks called the eroll tank pank. Worth price to me for convenience.

Batteries are small, but it uses a charging case to keep them going most of a full day.

The downsides are its a bit fiddly... Keeping tanks cleaned and filled daily can be a bit of a hassle. However, nothing comes close for a true cigarette-like experience. It not only got me to cut down, but to quit.

How much does something like that cost?

I'm thinking maybe get two-- one bigger better one for just to use a better one, then have a second smaller one to use hands free or when I'm out of the house, driving, etc.
So maybe that for the second one.

I'm really bad with choices, so having all these different vapes is kind of overwhelming.

I definitely would want both to use the liquid if it is indeed interchangeable (that is any e-liquid will work in any e-cig which takes liquid).

 

[Rixsta]

I can't recommend any, waste of time.....
I would strongly suggest you get yourself a nautilus mini premium kit, that is just such a good choice to start out at, I loved mine but have now moved onto the Kanger Subtank mini,anyway, its a great stepping stone, great flavour and lots of vapour, you should seriously look into the nautilus

 

[kkahmann]

There is one thing you reminded me of about smoking analogs that I had forgotten.
I have never found a vaping rig that I can carry around in my mouth.
Like you I work with my hands all day long--I used to have a cig hanging out of my mouth most of the time--head tilted to one side and squinting too.
Most of my t-shirts have a pocket over the left breast and I generally wear a long sleeved wool shirt over that. I carry my rig in that pocket.

I have an Istick 20W with a Nautilis Mini for a tank (read cleromizer)--matter of fact I have several of them. I got one in the dash of my work truck and another in the console of my car. I have one sitting on the kitchen table and one sitting next to the computer--Oh Yeah--got one sittin next to the vice on the work bench too. Prolly a couple I've misplaced too.

I do this because I live in the bush along way from town and there are too many guys around me who smoke--If I run out of back ups it would be too easy to bum a smoke. Vaping is not as easy as smoking--gotta learn to live with that.

I'll give you the same advice I got when I started--get a good device and stick it in your pocket--use it when you think about it and you have the time--don't even think about quitting smoking and don't think you are going to save any money.

With no effort at all you will find yourself down to only a few a day in no time.

Good luck and welcome

 

[Mabzie55]

There is one thing you reminded me of about smoking analogs that I had forgotten.
I have never found a vaping rig that I can carry around in my mouth.
Like you I work with my hands all day long--I used to have a cig hanging out of my mouth most of the time--head tilted to one side and squinting too.
Most of my t-shirts have a pocket over the left breast and I generally wear a long sleeved wool shirt over that. I carry my rig in that pocket.

I have an Istick 20W with a Nautilis Mini for a tank (read cleromizer)--matter of fact I have several of them. I got one in the dash of my work truck and another in the console of my car. I have one sitting on the kitchen table and one sitting next to the computer--Oh Yeah--got one sittin next to the vice on the work bench too. Prolly a couple I've misplaced too.

I do this because I live in the bush along way from town and there are too many guys around me who smoke--If I run out of back ups it would be too easy to bum a smoke. Vaping is not as easy as smoking--gotta learn to live with that.

I'll give you the same advice I got when I started--get a good device and stick it in your pocket--use it when you think about it and you have the time--don't even think about quitting smoking and don't think you are going to save any money.

With no effort at all you will find yourself down to only a few a day in no time.

Good luck and welcome

A lot of people have been saying istick, so maybe I'll go with that. Are they available at stores (U.S., Michigan) or just online?

Any particular model?

Also what is an atomizer, cartomizer, tank, etc?

 

[SmokinRabbit]

How much does something like that cost?

I'm thinking maybe get two-- one bigger better one for just to use a better one, then have a second smaller one to use hands free or when I'm out of the house, driving, etc.
So maybe that for the second one.

I'm really bad with choices, so having all these different vapes is kind of overwhelming.

I definitely would want both to use the liquid if it is indeed interchangeable (that is any e-liquid will work in any e-cig which takes liquid).

About $50ish will get you the eroll starter kit. Get extra tanks, the tank pack, and you're probably closer to $80.

For a larger, lots of vapor easy vape, Ego One. Still small too. And cheap. But it's not a cig-a-like.

 

[SmokinRabbit]

Btw, if you look up any of these devices in YouTube you'll get an idea of size and how they work.

 

[jseah]

Here is an iStick 30 with a Nautilus Mini on it in my hand. It will show you just how small the complete unit is. The iStick 30 is just the battery itself. The Nautilus Mini is the tank that holds the juice. If you look at my avatar pic, it will show the iStick 30 next to the iStick 50, which has double the battery life and is also thicker and a tad bit taller. I can also hold the iStick 50 completely in my hand.



All juice will work and fit into any system (cartomizers, clearomizers, drippers) that you decided on. There are variables in the juice such as flavor and nicotine strength, but there are also variables such as the ratio of PG (propylene glycol) to VG (vegetable glycol or glycerine). Higher VG will generate more clouds of vapor when you exhale and the juice will be thicker, and higher PG will provide more of a throat hit and will carry flavors better and will make the juice thinner viscosity.

Depending on the delivery system you choose may also limit you to the ratio of PG to VG. Some smaller tanks with smaller wicking holes will work better with higher PG juices simply because the juice will be thinner and can travel through those smaller holes easier.

 

[Completely Average]

A lot of people have been saying istick, so maybe I'll go with that. Are they available at stores (U.S., Michigan) or just online?

Any particular model?

Definitely get the 30W.

If someone tries to sell you the 20W refuse it. The 20W doesn't have voltage step-down which can limit your choices on what tanks and coils you can use with it. It will burn the juice in some retail clearos because it can't reduce the voltage output from the battery.


And it's tiny. Not much larger than a Bic lighter.