New to the concept of vaping instead of smoking

[Porkchops]

Hello everyone. I've been around for a week or so trying to research into what kind of vaporizer to get (I really had NO idea how many different products there are out there!!). I've finally decided that I have no idea what I'm even looking for, and am hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction. I smoked as a teen for about 7 years, managed to quit (or so I thought) and started smoking pipe-tobacco cigars (Captain Black) about 3 years ago for some reason I wish I could remember. Anyhow, my wife (and I, to a lesser extent) wants me to quit. We've decided that vaping would be a good compromise for now, as I can slowly reduce the amount of nicotine.

Anyways, my question I'm stuck with is where to start. I really enjoy the flavour of the Captain Blacks, and initially was looking towards an e-cigar type device but after some consideration, I'm starting to feel that they are more so geared toward people who smoke real cigars, not pipe-tobacco cigars. I'm wondering if anyone used to smoke something similar, and what they've found to be a good replacement for them, or if anyone would have any recommendations on where to start looking to compare different products?

It seems that there are so many products, and so few places (At least that I've found, I'm sure they exist) to cross-shop different brands for easy comparisons in one place that I've had a hard time trying to determine where to even begin comparing and researching different products.

Thanks in advance for any help, I (and my wife) really appreciate it!

 

[yiddleboge6]

Hello and welcome to ECF

I don't use any of the tobacco flavored juice, so can't help you there.

If you post what you want as to possible size of device, how long you need batteries to last between charges, and any other questions you may have, you'll find a ton of people jumping in to help.

Good luck

 

[bodrell]

I've never smoked a pipe, but did smoke hand-rolled Euro tobacco (Drum, Jester, Bali Shag, Old Holborn, etc) for 37 years. Which IMHO tastes nothing at all like "tailor-made" cigarettes, which I've never cared for. Also taste nothing like the US rolling tobacco you can buy everywhere these days, which is (IMHO) absolutely revolting.

I also smoked about 50, sometimes 60, a day, which is pretty hardcore.

What I've found since vaping: No tobacco-flavoured juice tastes like a cigarette. At least none I've tried, many just taste like stale tobacco to me, although a couple have been acceptable if blended with a little honey or caramel or something. But - and you'll hear this over and over here - taste is utterly subjective. I haven't tried but a fraction of the vendors yet, but really, really like these folks for complex, really good, juice:
Backwoods Brew

As far as a PV - what yiddle asked...it can be overwhelming at first with information overload here but check other posts asking similar questions, and you'll find people here really helpful!

 

[Dana A]

First off welcome to the ECF I don't know about the flavor but just wanted to chime in to tell you if you don't already know that there are E Pipes available if that would be of interest to you. Good luck.

 

[Renzuli]

Welcome , and you could start out with some sort of Ego clone , or one that's called an E-Power . The kits are very reasonably priced . And as for the tobacco flavor . As was stated earlier , there are no flavors exactly like real tobacco , because your not burning the leaf and paper , etc. That being said , there are lots of vendors out there selling some very tasty alternatives . Look at some RY4 types , Halo has several tobacco flavored juices .I personally like their Torque 56 , the Tribeca is pretty good too . I could go on but the best thing for you to do , is order some small sample bottles , from several vendors , until you get an idea of what you like . A lot of ex-smokers don't even vape tobacco type flavors anymore , there are fruit , dessert , coffee , and lots more flavors out there to try . But good luck in your search .

 

[kookycole]

Since you are used to smoking cigars, I assume that a slightly bigger battery won't bother you as much as it does some people who are first converting from cigarettes. I think that a KGO or something similar is something that is easy to use for someone just starting out, it is similar to a cigar size, and the kits are in the $50 to $60 range. The battery usually lasts me all day before needing to be charged, and I use it pretty heavily. You can find them at hoosier, sweet vapes, and dark city vapors (among others).
As far as finding a juice that tastes like a cigar, I can't really offer any advice. The only thing that I've read about on here that raves about a product that tastes like cigars is from Blaze e-cigarettes, but they're disposables and as far as I know, don't sell the juice.

 

[Porkchops]

For me, battery life isn't a huge deal, as I could just charge it while I'm at work and at home. I don't smoke a whole lot, currently I smoke on average 4 cigars per day, so if the battery only lasted an hour or two that wouldn't really bother me. As for size, the cigars I smoke are about 100mm long and about the thickness of a cigarette, although I wouldn't mind something a little bigger too much.

One thing I'm curious about is I've read alot about cartridges, and am curious as to what you'd recommend. Is there a standard size cartridge, how do you know what cartridges are compatible with different vaporizers (or is it a case where the company that makes the vaporizer is the only company that makes compatible cartridges for it)?

Would the atomizer/cartridge combo be better than just cartridge, and are all cartridges refillable (I recall reading a few times that there were some that weren't refillable, so I assume not all are)?

As for the flavoured juice, generally when you get something like say vanilla, are they pretty close to just that flavour (I guess I'm more so thinking in terms of flavoured tobacco like cigarellos and the like. I assume that they are just that flavour, and not a hint of the flavour with a lot of tabacco flavour..)?

 

[Mroutlaw]

Take a look at the volt x2 battery


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[kookycole]

The cartridge type depends on the battery threading used, 510 and kr808 being the most common. The standard size holds about 1ml of liquid. No, atomizer and cartridges aren't usually preferable, you'll probably want a cartomizer. Most cartomizers are refillable (the exception would be from companies that you probably won't want to buy from anyway). If battery life isn't that important to you, the Volt from smokeless image is a nice product. Tobacco flavoring isn't included unless it is specified, and vanilla would just be vanilla. Look around and check out some companies and products, and when you find some that you like, ask any questions that you have.

 

[sailorman]

For me, battery life isn't a huge deal, as I could just charge it while I'm at work and at home. I don't smoke a whole lot, currently I smoke on average 4 cigars per day, so if the battery only lasted an hour or two that wouldn't really bother me. As for size, the cigars I smoke are about 100mm long and about the thickness of a cigarette, although I wouldn't mind something a little bigger too much.

I would second the recommendations of the kGo, or a Riva might be easier to find in Canada. They are about the size of a Sharpie marker pen. About the size of a small cigar. Not only do they have longer life between charger, they are longer lived overall than a mini-cigarette style. They are also 3.7 volts, which makes a bigger difference than you might think when compared to the 3.4V eGos that some people use. I shouldn't think their size would bother you at all.

Here is a kGo: KGO

One thing I'm curious about is I've read alot about cartridges, and am curious as to what you'd recommend. Is there a standard size cartridge, how do you know what cartridges are compatible with different vaporizers (or is it a case where the company that makes the vaporizer is the only company that makes compatible cartridges for it)?

Compatibility is determined and designated by thread style. If you get a device with a 510 style thread, it will be compatible with the widest variety of juice delivery systems.
Cartridges and atomizers? No No No..A thousand times no. Do not go near any device that uses a 3 piece cartridge/atomizer system or the glorified version that calls the cartridge a "tank". A turd by any other name smells as rank.
If you stick with 510 devices, you won't have to worry about the proprietary systems that lock you into buying their parts, including cartomizers (a one-piece) combination of atomizer and juice resevoir), or cartridges.

Would the atomizer/cartridge combo be better than just cartridge, and are all cartridges refillable (I recall reading a few times that there were some that weren't refillable, so I assume not all are)?

What you are referring to is a "cartomizer". It is a one-piece unit consisting of an atomizer (heating coil) and a cartridge, hence the name CARTridge atOMIZER. Small e-cigs call their cartomizers "cartridges" because it's a familiar word. A real cartridge is a hollow mouthpiece that plugs into a separate atomizer. An atomizer is a one piece tube containing only a heating element (coil). Avoid systems that use a separate cartridge and atomizer. Stick with cartomizers. Almost all cartoizers are re-fillable. There is no need to buy non-refillable cartomizers. If you get an e-cig like a kGo, you will be buying blank cartomizers that you fill yourself, and they are re-fillable by "topping off" before they are empty enough to burn the material inside of them that holds and absorbs the juice. Once burned, a cartomizer is ruined forever.

As for the flavoured juice, generally when you get something like say vanilla, are they pretty close to just that flavour (I guess I'm more so thinking in terms of flavoured tobacco like cigarellos and the like. I assume that they are just that flavour, and not a hint of the flavour with a lot of tabacco flavour..)?

Some tobacco based flavors have components of other flavors. RY4, for example, is predominately tobacco with caramel and vanilla elements. Many tobacco flavors are mixed this way. If you get watermelon flavor, that's all it will be.

If you like pipe tobacco flavors, there is a company that specializes in what they call "Pipe Sauce". Epipemods.com makes high end e-pipes, but they also have a line of flavors modeled closely on popular pipe tobacco flavors. You can buy these separately an use them in your cartomizer with your kgo or other e-cig.

 

[OrbvsTerrarvm]

For something similar to Captain Blacks, you might want to try Blac'Jacque Sh'lak Tobak from Jugheads.

Flavour Crafters has some juices that somewhat remind me of Captain Blacks as well, such as Coumarin Pipe and Sweet Honey Cigar.

Taste is subjective. I'd suggest ordering small samples of lots of juices to discover which flavours you like.

 

[Pappy]

Dark City Vapors has a juice called Turkish Hills that, to me, taste sort of like pipe tobacco. In fact, that's the way I vape it - like a pipe without inhaling it. But everyone's tastes vary so much, it's impossible to say whether you would like it or not.

 

[OnnaB]

I know I've seen Captain Black e-liquid somewhere else, but try this: E-Juice Captain Black
Maybe try Highbrow Vapor....

 

[Denise D]

My opinion is
a. get a EGO or Riva starter kit with 1100 mAh battery. It will come with atomizers (where liquids go in).
b. Get a drip tip; I like the celluloid ones, they are inexpensive and washable.
c. I would suggest flavors other than tobacco, things you like the smell of. (I use coffee & wintergreen - nothing I would smoke, eat or drink, so it is unique to the vaping). Buy small bottles of various nicotine strengths (mg) and flavor at first to try them.

Put a few drops in the atomizer, put the drip tip on, and puff away.
2-3 drops will probably last about what a big cigar would.
[PS this is called dripping.]
If you are in the habit of smoking only a few times a day you do not need cartomizers and all that stuff.
(Disclaimer - I vape all day and don't use cartomizers, I prefer to drip).
One benefit of dripping is you can vary your mg to your need / desire. Strong craving = high nic, pleasure vaping = low nic or none. Each drop can be different mg.

 

[Porkchops]

Wow! I can't thank you guys enough! I learned more in the last 8 hours than I have in the last 2 weeks, wish I had posted sooner!

I was kind of leaning towards the Volt or the Envy Ego Tank, but now I'm sitting here kind of trying to determine if maybe the kGo and the Riva.. To be honest, I'm starting to think the Volt is the best way for me to go, as it's pretty much the same size as the Captain Black cigars I've been smoking (only about 18mm longer). What would be the difference between a higher and lower voltage? Just the amount of vapor or faster at producing the vapor, is it more for battery life?

Again, I can't thank you guys enough, you took me from being overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices out there for the last 2 weeks to having it down to 4 choices in less than a day!

 

[dragonbone]

Welcome to the ECF!
Just get one of those that you mentioned and start vaping already lol. They are all good devices. It's very unlikely that it will be the last PV you ever buy, so you may as well start somewhere! Get some sample juices from different places and order your kit .

 

[sailorman]

Wow! I can't thank you guys enough! I learned more in the last 8 hours than I have in the last 2 weeks, wish I had posted sooner!

I was kind of leaning towards the Volt or the Envy Ego Tank, but now I'm sitting here kind of trying to determine if maybe the kGo and the Riva.. To be honest, I'm starting to think the Volt is the best way for me to go, as it's pretty much the same size as the Captain Black cigars I've been smoking (only about 18mm longer). What would be the difference between a higher and lower voltage? Just the amount of vapor or faster at producing the vapor, is it more for battery life?

Again, I can't thank you guys enough, you took me from being overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices out there for the last 2 weeks to having it down to 4 choices in less than a day!

If you get the kGo or Riva, you will be using a 510 connector. This gives you more options. You can use cartomizers like with a Volt, but you can also drip like a poster mentioned above, which might suit your style very well. 510 atomizers and cartomizers are cheaper and more available than the 808 style, although you could use an adapter. Larger batteries not only last longer between charges, they have longer lifespans. Their voltage stays higher for longer, resulting in better vapor production. For example, by the time the kGo battery drains down to 3.7V, your Volt will need to be recharged. The kGo and Riva have manual batteries. You get more control with manual batteries and can "preheat" your vapor.

There are a lot of advantages to a larger battery. There are also separate advantages to a 510 connector and to a manual battery. If you decide on a Volt, I'd highly suggest choosing the manual battery and the 78mm length.

Again, if you are going to just periodically take 5 or 6 puffs, dripping might be right up your alley. The flavor of dripping is unsurpassed and there are special atomizers specifically designed for it. It can be done with a mini-cig, but those are not really very good for it, especially ones with automatic batteries which could be damaged by leaking juice.

 

[bnrkwest]

Also i have heard that Pipe Juice is really good, I think e-pipes sells it??? I was always wanting to try some. bnrk

 

[bnrkwest]

Also i have heard that Pipe Juice is really good, I think e-pipes sells it??? I was always wanting to try some. bnrk

Here is their webpage- Hand-Crafted ePipes, custom made personal vaping devices from ePipeMods.com ...more than just an eCig They call it Pipe Sauce, it sounds sooooo good. bnrk

 

[Warren D. Lockaby]

Here's something I've run across but haven't tried (yet): want2vape Vapenstein Blend Sounds pretty interesting to me; I've smoked pipes, cigars, cigarettes, rabbit tobacco, etc. for many years & would love to try these flavors when I get a chance.

Best of luck in your search, & Happy Vaping!