I've only been vaping for about a week now and I've just been reading posts on the forum without registering but I have to offer another voice of thanks for all of the info I've received. I've smoked for the past 13 or 14 years. The number of cigarettes always fluctuated from as few as three or four a day up to about a pack a day. On the day I received my first e-cig shipment, I also went out and got a pack of cigarettes as basically a security blanket since I didn't know if I would like vaping. Since then, I've gone through quite a few pre-filled carts but only half of a single cigarette. The reason it was only half is because I couldn't stand the burnt taste after becoming used to vaping. For me, vaping is a great alternative to smoking. (I think I phrased that properly to appease the FDA.) I've already placed an order for a second PV and I just thought I'd share my experience and hope that somehow it might help someone else in their decision-making process.
I purchased a starter kit from Volcano for their standard-sized Volcano model and it's been great for me, although not perfect. It did take me a few days to fully get the hang of drawing off of an ecig instead of a regular cigarette - long, slow draws that are just hard enough to light up the LED. Now I think that I'm really getting the hang of it and the experience keeps getting better. I studied a lot about the different places to order from and realized that there are a few sites that I would be very comfortable buying from but Volcano seemed to get really good marks for customer service, reviews showed that they ship very quickly, they had their own very helpful forum, and it came with a year warranty. (I'm not pushing the brand at all but for me the easier part of starting to vape was deciding on the type of ecig I wanted and figuring out where to order from was the hardest part that took up the most time. I went with Volcano but after reading the recommendations here I wouldn't hesitate to order from any of the recommended suppliers.) I know several members say you are paying too much for the brand at Volcano so anyone considering where to purchase their first kit from may want to read some of their posts about this. The company fit with what I was looking for so it worked for me and I've been very happy.
However, over the previous week, I've realized that the standard Volcano isn't exactly the best model for my general vaping needs because I've been vaping A LOT. That means that I've been running through a lot of batteries and the prefilled carts aren't going to be the most economical or enjoyable solution for me. Also, the standard size ecig I have doesn't produce nearly as many long draws of thick vapor as I would like.
Therefore, after reading tons of posts on this forum and the Volcano forum, I put in an order today for one of their Inferno kits along with a couple bottles of juice and some mega cartomizers. I stuck with the same brand because I have dealth with their customer service over the past week and they live up to their reputation. Also, I recognize that they aren't necessarily the cheapest brand out there but the fact that they offer rewards points was another positive for me.
I chose the Inferno because I read several posts on the ECF where experienced vapors commented that the kit was a good value for a quality PV. Now, I can't wait for my newest toy to arrive and I'll be sure to come back and report whether or not the Inferno solved the issues I was having.
The standard Volcano I have now will not go to waste. I intentionally ordered it in white so it wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb when I'm out in public. I have started preaching the joys of vaping as an "alternative delivery system for nicotine." (I should work for the FDA.) However, at the same time, I really don't like drawing attention. (Another benefit of the Volcano I ordered - it's LED is red so it doesn't automatically draw the stares of everyone within a mile radius.) Therefore, the standard Volcano will get plenty of use outside the house when I feel like vaping below the radar without having to explain how it works between every puff.
From my whole experience, my advise for people looking to make their first order is that if you are concerned about thick, consistent vapor clouds, look for PV's such as the 501. If you are more concerned with something that allows you to vape without a lot of attention, go with the standard sizes like the regular Volcano (sorry, I'm still learning the lingo so I don't recall the generic term for that size PV). However, if you go the smaller route, be aware that you will go through a battery charge every 45 minutes to an hour or so along with quite a few carts if you plan on vaping pretty heavily. You'll also want to get the supplies to refill your own carts if you'll be a heavy vaper.
I hope somewhere in the novel I wrote there's some helpful nugget. I've found that this forum is an invaluable resource for any questions a vaping novice has. Sorry for such a long post, I'll keep it shorter from now on. If you made it this far though, thanks for sticking it out.
