New to all this

[Merlin7]

Hi All
I just wanted to introduce myself, I'm a 2 pack a day smoker and have been for too many years to remember.
I desperately need to quit and I've tried hypnotism, patches, champix from the doc but my will power is shot!
I'm thinking that going the e cig route may be the best option as everything I've read says that this is the best way to kick real cigarettes out of my life.
Any tips or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

Hi @Merlin7 and welcome to the forum. It's easier than you think. I recommend to smokers to start with a 30 watt mod like the Eleaf iStick 30 watt ($30) and the Aspire Nautilus Mini ($22) tank. A 5 pack of coils ($10) and juice is all you would need after that. This is about as user friendly as it comes in upper beginning gear with a high quality vape.

I was a 2 pack a day smoker of light 100's and started at 12 mg nic juice. The nic level in juice is dependent on what type as well as how many you smoke a day.

But you don't need to buy all this gear to find out if you will enjoy vape or if it will work for you. I started on a cheap (far left below) blister pack vape ($20) and knew I was going to enjoy vaping. I'd recommend going to a local vape shop to sample flavors to see if there is one you will enjoy. They will also try and sell you gear but you will have the opportunity to actually see and hold some of the recommendations you will get on the forum. In 99% of most cases the gear will be less expensive to purchase online, and the forum is great to research any vape device you might be considering (all you have to do is ask). This was my beginning -

The Nautilus Mini is the tank in the center and on the iStick 50 watt on right.

Do you have a vape budget in mind? What strength were your cigs? (Reds? Lights?) I started vape on a whim and now it's a year later and I haven't had a cig. Every aspect of my life has improved. It can work for you too.

Don't be shy about asking any questions as there are many here who have been there.

Good luck.

 

[Merlin7]

Hi
Thanks for your response, and to be honest I'm smoking 2 1/2 packs a day of 'mod' cigarettes, and my Wife also smokes. I'm in my 60's and if I'm gonna make 70 I've got to stop, as the coughing, wheezing and lack of energy is really getting me down.
My Budget is really, a case of whatever it takes, as it has to be cheaper than buying cigarettes locally, and health is priceless.

 

[B2L]

Welcome to the forum Merlin

I had tried everything as well to quit a 27 year habit and had pretty much resigned myself to the idea that I would die a smoker. I reall loved the smoking, I just hated what it was doing to me.

Ecigarettes were a last ditch attempt to quit. That was almost 5 1/2 years ago, it's working pretty well so far

I would agree with Sir2 and add to that having eliquid in varying strengths so that when those inevitable cravings hit you can bump your nic level up to get through it.

Don't ever forget the first rule of vaping, have a back up. Things happen and you don't want to be cornered into lighting up when they do. Once you figure out for yourself that this vaping thing is going to work, get a back up for your back up.

If you find it difficult to put down the cigarettes all together consider WTA liquid (whole tobacco alkaloids) as some have needed the little bit extra they get from that. I've never used it but @AndriaD im sure could shed a little light on that for you.

@Susan~S will probably be along soon and has some great links for most anything you will need to know.

You've joined one of the best stop smoking support groups out there (IMHO), use it to your full advantage.

Most of all, remember that it is a journey, just enjoy the ride.

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

Hi
Thanks for your response, and to be honest I'm smoking 2 1/2 packs a day of 'mod' cigarettes, and my Wife also smokes. I'm in my 60's and if I'm gonna make 70 I've got to stop, as the coughing, wheezing and lack of energy is really getting me down.
My Budget is really, a case of whatever it takes, as it has to be cheaper than buying cigarettes locally, and health is priceless.

Every aspect of your life will improve with vape.

There is an initial cost to get good to great gear, but it is worth it in the long run. I'm 56 and wish I had more info when I started.

There are two main choices in picking out a mod (the battery part).
One is to get a mod with an internal battery where you recharge with a usb cable plugged into a wall plug or pc (like the iStick). On most of these you can vape while it charges (but you are tethered to a cable while it does).
The other choice is to get a mod with replaceable batteries (usually 18650 size @$7 a piece online). When it needs recharged you just swap out the battery and put the old/used one in a separate battery charger (like the Nitecore Intellicharger $15). The plus side is you aren't tethered by a cable, BUT you'll have to spend more money to begin for extra batteries (around $8 each online plus a charger).

Regardless of which direction you go, the odds are this next purchase will be a backup to what you will normally use down the road. I have different mods for different actions, for the desk, for going out running errands, etc..

I've used these U.S. vendors with no issues:
www.myvaporstore.com
www.originvape.com
www.vapesupersaver.com
www.sweetvapes.com
www.mtbakervapor.com
www.myfreedomsmokes.com
www.madvapes.com
www.gotvapes.com
www.vapeNW.com

Another place to check out is :
DEALS and STEALS - Deals and Steals (go to last couple pages)
FORUM SUPPLIERS - ECF Forum Suppliers
COUPONS - Stores - ECF E-Cigarette Coupons

And if you go the replaceable battery route (which is where I have grown into) you'll want to read these links:
18650 Safety Grades -- Picking a Safe Battery to Vape With | E-Cigarette Forum
All 30A-Capable Batteries Shootout -- Bench Test Results -- Which battery is best?
Baditude's blog | E-Cigarette Forum
Mooch's blog | E-Cigarette Forum

Or just go to the these sites (with a rep of real authentic batteries and not rewraps of seconds) and look to buy LG HG2's (3000 mah), Samsung 25r's (2500 mah), or Sony VCT4's (2100 mah). Mah is the length of time the battery can be used before recharge/replace. You will find mods with internal batteries (which cant be replaced) will have a mah rating as well. (iStick 30 watt is 2200 mah, the iStick 50 watt is 4400 mah for example)

Where to buy in USA
Illumn.com - Flashlights, Batteries, Carry Gear, Intelligent LED Lighting, and More!
Authentic AW Batteries - RTD Vapor
Liion Wholesale Batteries | Li-ion battery distributor
18650 Batteries | Rechargeable Li-ion | Battery Chargers
Earth's #1 source for IMR 18650 Batteries, Chargers, Cases & Wraps | IMRbatteries.com

 

[Frenchfry1942]

Welcome @Merlin7 . @Sir2fyablyNutz has a good suggestion.

If for me, and it was at one time since I smoked like you, I would get a juice with 24mg nic and a juice with 18mg nic. If the nic is a little strong, your urges will be a little farther apart. 18mg, maybe closer together. Follow your body's urges for needing a nic fix. I was happy with 3-4 draws an hour.

Oh, it happens, get a back-up system. I kept mine in the car. Often something will just go wrong. Let there be no reason to buy a pack of cigs.

It works, if you work it. Good luck!!

 

[Susan~S]

Hello and welcome to the forum @Merlin7. Glad to have you here!
For an internal battery mod you can't go wrong with the iStick 30 watt and Mini Nautilus. Video reviews below.

• eLeaf iStick 30 Watt
• Aspire Nautilus Mini

@Susan~S will probably be along soon and has some great links for most anything you will need to know.

If you are interested in learning more about e-cigarettes (and all the parts and pieces) below are some blog posts by ECF member @Baditude that I highly recommend for someone new to vaping.

• A Good Starter's Setup for a Beginning Vapor
• Advancing Up the Vaping Ladder with Egos and Mods
• Proper Terminology - Is it a carto, a tank, or what? A Guide to Juice Attachments
• Beginner Video Playlist from Abby Vapes

Here are a few more links from New Members Information <= Link covers many topics. Here are two of them:

• The Three Main Types of Ecig
• Vaping Slang and Acronym

Nicotine

A "general guideline" for nicotine concentration in e-liquid to the number of cigarettes smoked per day. If you are subohming (resistance under 1.0Ω) cut these nicotine levels by at least 50%.

06 mg = 10 cigarettes or less
12 mg = 20 cigarettes
18 mg = 30 cigarettes
24 mg = 40 cigarettes

eLiquid/Juice

PG = Propylene Glycol - the "flavor carrier" of e-liquid. A secondary source of "throat hit", but not as strong as the nicotine concentration. Some people have a sensitivity or even an allergy to PG. It's very thin.

VG = Vegetable Glycerin - the "vapor maker" of e-liquid. Used as a sweeter in many food sources, and also as a skin emollient. It's very thick. Often labeled just "Glycerine"

PG and VG are often used together in different ratios in e-liquid. For example, a 50/50 PG/VG ratio. Many juice vendors offer a range of different ratios as far as PG/VG.

 

[Starset]

Exactly what @Sir2fyablyNutz said. The Nautilus Mini with a good pass-through battery(Eleaf Istick 20-30 watt, MVP 20 watt, MVP Pro 3.0). You cannot go wrong with this combo. I started on the Nautilus Mini with an Istick 20 watt and it was perfect for keeping me off analogs(16 year smoker). I have since moved on to bigger mods but if it weren't for that combo I would've never been able to quit smoking. Give it a shot. Its relatively cheap(Nautilus Mini $22.99 , Istick 30 watt $39.99 at discount vapers). After the initial purchase of the tank and battery, all you would need to maintain are juice and coils. Good luck with quiting and if you have any questions feel free to ask.

 

[r77r7r]

The hardest part is going to be cleaning years of smoke residue off the interior of your home and car.
Welcome to freedom, you're done.

 

[Merlin7]

Wow, thanks for all the welcomes and advice, I've not touched a real cig for 8 days, but it's getting harder not easier, seems kind of backward to me. I suppose the fact that my Wife keeps popping outside for a smoke isn't helping, but at least she is not smoking in the house anymore.

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

The hardest part is going to be cleaning years of smoke residue off the interior of your home and car.
Welcome to freedom, you're done.

I laughed at this. I remember waking one day and my sense of smell had started to return...couldn't stand the smell of the old smoke and had to spend the next few days cleaning everything, carpet, linens, towels, all clothes, etc. (had to do some whisky drinking after that to get my man card back).

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

Wow, thanks for all the welcomes and advice, I've not touched a real cig for 8 days, but it's getting harder not easier, seems kind of backward to me. I suppose the fact that my Wife keeps popping outside for a smoke isn't helping, but at least she is not smoking in the house anymore.

I kept a cheap clearomizer (tank) with the next highest nic level juice in it. When it got to where the itch wasn't getting scratched (or so I felt) I would hit it once or twice and go back to the regular vape. It usually only took a few days to adjust then the regular nic vape was plenty.

I also dual used for the first 8 days, though my cigs were cut back 90% in this time. Once I found the proper nic level the cravings disappeared.