New to ECF and upcoming trip

[wobblebonk]

Hello everyone,

Im here...a simple Canadian who has been smoking for over 20 years (approx 1 pack per day).

Before you hate on me on the following , I have never tried any analog alternative. Thus being such a virgin to this I figured out I start with the "advertised" stuff (i.e. Smokestik, V2, or Blu Cig) which seems to be high on the charts. But of course the problem here is none of the above ship to Canada.

I am heading down to Buffalo (Walden Galleria area, yes she likes to shop) this Wed. So here I am, desperately seeking a good alternative. I'll be in Buffalo for 2 days so my time is limited. Some questions for anyone who travels to the states.

1) Can anyone recommend stores that sell kits or carts of the above i mentioned "advertised"?
2) If not, is there any stores you can highly recommend that has a vast amount of options that I should not miss?
3) Well worse case scenario I come back with a stock of disposables with nic and stock up on it while I can find a better alternative. Are the disposables a total waste?

I have so much more questions, but thats it for now before overload. Once again, I am new, still learning about juice mixes or mods and so forth.

Any input would be great. PM me if needed.

Thanks

 

[x-smok3]

Hello Wobblebonk! I am sorry I can not say where you can buy the E-cigs you are looking for in NY. I would consider skipping over the mini's and maybe consider an ego style right out of the gate. I had 3 mini kits in the first month and I really wish someone would have been there to advise me before I wasted my money. They were very frustrating to me due to the short battery life and IMO autos limit you so severely to what you can use for delivery that they are not recommended.
I use a Riva 1100Mah set up with CE2 fluxomizers and for me they are a great satisfying set up. The disposables are a good way to try them but they would be pretty expensive to use long term.

I may be mistaken but I think Gotvapes is in NY somewhere and you may be able to contact them for some information on where to buy in Buffalo.

 

[4mehealth]

From what I've read, V2 and Blu don't exactly have great reviews. There's a lot of hit and miss stories.

The one store that I know of there is Juicy Vapor. Not exactly "close" to Walden, but surely you could make your way there. Juicy Vapor, LLC > Store. If you go, wanna pick up some Ecto Plasma for me?

Oh, welcome to ECF and best of luck to ya.

That being said, have you looked at other styles of pv's? What are your requirements for it? Does it have to feel and look as close to a cig as possible?

Given that you are up to a PAD, the mini pv most likely won't suit your habit. It becomes a nuisance when the batteries die out after only a couple of hours.

If all else fails, have a look at www.happyvaper.com. He's in Toronto and has a kiosk at 427 & Albion on the weekends. Great customer service, very patient and will answer all your questions.

 

[rachelcoffe]

Welcome to the forum wobblewonk, and congratulations on making one of the best choices of your life: to quit smoking & start vaping.

OK, so first thing: avoid the Blu & SmokeStik etc etc. You don't need or want an overpriced, weak, deeply-unsatisfying e-cig. Ask any vaper around here who ever had a Blu back when, and they'll tell you. (Don't feel bad for having thought to go that way. When I was a newbie back in the olden days, lol...I didn't know any better either. The people on this forum rightly warned me to avoid a 'GreenSmoke' model for the exact same reasons as above. Glad they did!)

Secondly: you don't need to buy your first proper e-cigs in the States. I mean you're only gonna be there for two days...and Canadian Customs does not have a good enough understanding of the legality to let you count on the smooth sailing that legally, should be yours. Someone recently had their e-cig seized as they were returning here. Customs had zero right to do that...e-cigs are completely legal to own & carry & take back & forth across the border. But the idiots still seized it.

I would avoid travelling there if you can...and if you can't avoid the trip, I'd recommend taking a 510 or an eGo with you. That way if anything happens, you're only out $20 or $30. And on that note...

---​

For your first e-cig(s), there are quite a few Canadian suppliers right here at home! Quality models that will satisfy & meet your needs...at affordable prices, too. Ordering from Canadian suppliers means you never have to worry about Customs etc. There's no risk to your $$; you can relax knowing it'll arrive, and quickly. Now you are going to have some reading to do, here on ECF and all over the place really. Reviews to watch on YouTube...comparison of prices & models & sites...advice from the veteran vapers here. But it'll be time & effort well-spent.

There are also plenty of juice suppliers in Canada...and liquid suppliers, if you care to DIY. It'll take a bit of time to figure out your ideal nic level, as well. But yeah - as a newbie, you'll find everything you need right here in Canada. Don't worry right now about mods or fancy devices etc. All of that will still be there for you down the line.

---​

So...we should ask some questions. Are you already vaping? Have you quit smoking yet? What are some of the things that are important to you, when you think about your first model? Some folks really want their model to look like a cig; others could care less about that, wanting better battery life etc.

We're all here to help hon. So by all means...please don't hesitate to ask questions. Once again, welcome to the forum...and hope to make you a very happy vaper soon, if you're not already.

 

[vocr]

If no one can help you out with this, there's a pretty active Rochester, NY thread somewhere on ECF. If you contact some of them, I am sure they can help you out. If not, its only 90 minutes from the Walden area to the Rochester area (for a Canadian who doesn't need to worry about State troopers, that should be like 45 minutes ), and I did read about a couple vendors over there a couple months ago. Gotvapes seems to be in Queens, that's a pretty long trip from upstate, I am sorry to say.

Its funny, when I was in Cornell, we would take trips to Toronto for shopping, always better prices and experience than the outlets around Niagara and Buffalo. Guess times are a changing .

 

[lickwid]

I have so much more questions, but thats it for now before overload. Once again, I am new, still learning about juice mixes or mods and so forth.

I suggest you go see Jack at HappyVaper at his kiosk at the Dr. Fleas flea market, he'll walk you through what it's all about, and it's a lot easier than reading a million threads on ECF.

He's got all the hardware you'd need there, and there are lots of Canadian suppliers for liquids with nic

 

[Mindfield]

Juicy Vapor is in Tonawanda, NY, and they have a retail storefront. Tonawanda isn't too far out of the way from Buffalo -- 'bout 20 minutes north, so I'd suggest going there. They sell the Smoov E-cig, which is a KR808D-1 device and is similar to the Volt, V2 or V4L. They also have a massive selection of juices.

Their address an hours are:

Juicy Vapor, LLC
2468 Niagara Falls Boulevard
Tonawanda, NY 14150

Retail Hours of Operation:
Mon-Sat: 10a - 7pm
Sun: CLOSED

EDIT: Or, yeah, Jack would be an awesome person to deal with for local E-cigs. His juices are all no-nic though so if you want nic juices you'll have to deal with other Canadian vendors that carry it, or the above Juicy Vapor on your trip.

 

[4mehealth]

He's going shopping for 2 days. Thay means he's exempt from paying duties on purchases up to what, $100? That being said, he doesn't have to declare his pv purchase. Keep it in your pocket and you're good.

No need to scare the man into not buying down there. What's the diff if he brought one down vs buying one there?

I say you got nothing to worry about. All us cross border shoppers know te "risks" when coming back.

 

[Chinner]

I don't think people are warning him to not buy in NY, more likely just warning him against BLU or smoke stick.

If you want something that looks like a real cigarette, I would suggest either volt/bloog or even a 510 before the BLU. Or as
Many here have done, start with an ego.

Jack at happy vaper is an excellent place to start, he carries all the beginner stuff you'll need, as well as the precise and Darwin, 2 of the best in their class currently if you decide to go big.

If you'd ever want to meet up i could show you a couple styles and let you try a vape, or even better if you could make it to the next meet in richmond hill, youd be able to test almost every device available before spending your money.

Do your research and watch as many reviews as possible. Good luck!

 

[Concat]

Pack a day people might not take to the smaller ecigs like the Blu and V2 very well. I would recommend getting something like an Ego. The battery will last you much longer, and you have many different atomizer options. It might not look like a cigarette, but typically that means very little after a few weeks of vaping.

You need something that will give you plenty of hit, and will get you through the day without the batteries all dying on you. Low resistance atomizers or cartomizers (LR) paired with Ego will give you plenty of hit. The 808s and 510s (small, cig shaped ecigs) are fine to supplement your collection, but generally only light/casual smokers should rely on them as their only ecig.

I would highly recommend getting different types of atomizers. To try them all out. If money is an issue, figure out how much you spend per month on cigs....

Just my 2 cents.

And yes, disposables are lackluster and I can't see a pack a day person finding much momentum in picking up vaping with them.

One more edit: There are many online Canadian vendors out there, as well as American and Chinese vendors that DO ship to Canada. The big advertised ones aren't as good as they say they are anyways. Just please be ware that nicotine juice might get seized by customs. Luckily there are Canadian vendors for that as well, and the rate of shipments being seized is low anyways.

 

[mopar]

I suggest you go see Jack at HappyVaper at his kiosk at the Dr. Fleas flea market, he'll walk you through what it's all about, and it's a lot easier than reading a million threads on ECF.

He's got all the hardware you'd need there, and there are lots of Canadian suppliers for liquids with nic

Dr Flea's see jack from Happyvapor to get you started with an ego and you'll have a chance then order some nic juice from mapleleafvapes and away you go. Just make sure to get the strongest nic/ml when first trying to get off cig's, helps alot.

 

[DWEL]

I started out with V2 and although they work well I felt I needed a bigger draw and the ability to put my own flavors together.
So after spending $150.00 on the V2 ultimate kit I bought an IGO from here-
D&B Gold - Home

I highly recommend the IGO. It lasts forever,battery and cartridge before needing to be recharged or refilled. I got the 650 mah battery kit with an extra 1300mah battery. Great guy to deal with and he ships to Canada.

 

[Concat]

You're sort of limiting yourself with the 808 threading on that IGO though. Could always get an adapter I guess, unless you love the 808 cartos.

 

[DWEL]

Well I have alot of them due to the V2 purchase and that is why I went with the IGO for the threading. I have not bought an adapter yet but was thinking of getting one. The carts that come on the IGO are great though.

 

[wobblebonk]

So...we should ask some questions. Are you already vaping? Have you quit smoking yet? What are some of the things that are important to you, when you think about your first model?

I am completely new and have never tried vaping and still smoking analogs. The more I research the more impulsive im starting to feel, but I really want a good base to start from before I start buying anything(*must resist temptation*).

Anyways, the most important aspect I would really like is to avoid having to refill my own cartomizers. I really dont feel confident yet since im still learning and after reading all these threads with the options of juices/nic-levels/mixes/dripping; I just dont want to get to overwhelmed at this point, so simple and noob proof is best.

That being said, have you looked at other styles of pv's? What are your requirements for it?

Besides the ones i mentioned, I have now taken a look at some videos and the EGO and Bloog Max are appealing so far, I have to read up more on it. Considering I am rarely at home I need a product that I can basically take anywhere. I know that I'll have to face the fact that some battery lifes wont keep up while im on the go, but I can live with that. The throat hit is a huge requirement for me, while vapor is least priority as long as its reasonable.

Does it have to feel and look as close to a cig as possible?

A product that isnt the size of a Bazooka. For example, I saw some vids with the Revolution and it was just way to big, I really can't see myself using that unless I was at home. Aesthetics are a good bonus, the closer the size to an analog. Also, based on the Best e-cig for a new user article on ECF, I would prefer a KR808 2 piece.


Additional Stuff:
I still haven't decided on how many mg I should start with. I do smoke Dunhills and B&H Menthol. Im figuring that around 12mg would be a good place to start, I'll find out when I get a chance to try out different nic levels.


Also thanks for everyone's input so far, I'll definitely look into happyvapers at the kiosk when I get back.

 

[Chinner]

Hey Wobble!

Where are you in Toronto? I have a few varieties of ecigs including all sorts of atomizers, cartomizers, reo's, Bloogs, boxmods, tanks, and the Darwin. I also have a bunch of great menthol juice. If you're local and in a rush to buy, why don't we meet up and you could try some stuff out. I'm available most nights after 9pm and can make time on weekends. Pm me if you're interested!

Dave

 

[CityLights]

wobblebonk, if you want Nic in Canada without being dependent on ordering pre-fillled from the states and being at risk of Canada Customs stopping your mail order, then you will have to fill something.

Filling a Carto is not that difficult.
Sure you'll make a few messes the first couple of days, but you get a knack for it.
Personally when I started, I wish I stayed away from the eGo tank systems and went with Low Resistence (LR) cartos on a eGo battery. I found many of the tank system leaked over night and the juice puddle left on my desk was too toxic for my cats to step in and lick paws. Any mess while filling Cartos is easily cleaned up. It's all water soluble wash your hands before petting pets.

I also had a Battery die in my first 4 days. Mailing it back long distance wasn't going to help me quit Analogs. Warranties are easier if you buy Canadian and stay close to home. Happy Vaper is close and has great customer support

 

[Concat]

Hey Wobble,

You say aesthetics are important, and so is throat hit. I worry that you don't realize the KR808 will mean you are a slave to the charger. For someone who smokes as much as you do, charging the KR808s will become a fulltime job They also don't provide many atomizer/cartomizer options, so if you don't like the 808 carts, you're hooped.

If you at least get a 510 threaded device (510, Ego, most mods) you have tons of atomizer options. Furthermore, smaller batteries cannot handle Low Resistance atomizers and cartomizers well. So there goes your throat hit. I strongly recommend an Ego. It's about the size of a sharpie pen, and has tons more battery life. It can also handle Low Res atomizers. To supplement your Ego, I suggest the Volt from Best Vapour. It's the exact same unit as the Bloog, only cheaper. It is KR808 threaded, but a little different and the cartomizer reviews for the unit surpass that of a standard KR808.

Prefilled carts aren't readily available in Canada. If you order from the States, customs might seize shipments. Cartomizers aren't hard to refill, but it is a bit annoying. If you get a 3-piece design (Battery, atomizer, cartridge), refilling them is a breeze, and you can learn to drip as well. Heavy smokers love to drip... Drip on a low resistance atomizer on your Ego, and you'll quickly forget about how you look. Who cares anyways. This about healthy choices

Finally 12 mg is on the low side. For new users, especially pack a day people, I recommend getting at least 18 mg, which is commonly a medium type strength. Close to what a cigarette would be. You may even want to try 24 mg, to really ensure you curb those cravings.

Anyways, that's my advice in a nutshell. Far too often I see people get those small batteries, with subpar cartomizers, and sometimes even juice without nic.... those ones at the gas stations (which are KR808s, 9 times out of 10).

Everything you've described you want seems better suited to someone who smokes 1/4 a pack a day.... or even just a casual smoker. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer.... but if you want a full vaping experience, you gotta go with the bigger toys on the block. I too wanted something that looked like an analog. Blue LED - cool! Now I'm using big honking things... but I don't care about what I look like, and I don't think you will either once you feel that big hit and exhale that huge vapor hit.

 

[mopar]

If you want to quit smoking you will have trouble at 12mg with a 808 device. You will still be craving nic and even with the 650mAh ego batteries I found charging interfered with quitting cause I'd be here, there, anywhere dead battery, one charging and bumming smokes. I needed 3 650mAh batteries just so I could rotate and not be a slave to the charger. Pick up a couple 1000mAh usb passthru ego batteries(last me over a day and can charge off PC at work or outlet in car) with LR atty's and 24mg nic juice to start or atleast 18mg like concat suggested. 18mg I chain vape 24mg I can't or I get nic'd out. An ego in that config is a little bit bigger then a Sharpie marker.

 

[vertigo]

hi wobble..

well good thing you tried to join here..i just started yesterday and since then i got alot of support and help with the members here so i hope soon we can also give our stories to those new comers here anyway until now im still looking for the best e-cig for me..so sad to say im still with analogs..but im trying to quit

welcome and good luck!

cheers
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