I went back to the store this evening and they lowered my nicotine level and that seems to have helped. Also, I got a flavor called Cotton Candy...wow what's a difference.
Yeah, I was about to say. High nic levels (which for me starts about 24) can give me a "tingle" kind of thing though mostly in my nasal passages. Which I kind of liked a bit but it turned mean fast.
Also, I found that too high a nic level can knock your taste buds for a loop and cause "vaper's tongue" where you can't taste your vape at all (though, weirdly, most folks, myself included, report they can still taste food).
Nobody can really tell you how much is "best". You have to experiment and find your level. I ran into another vaper here on ECF who described a smoking habit very much like mine but went in a completely different direction as a vaper. I went lower on the nic level, he went higher. I have no clue what that's about. You'd
think since we had similar smoking habits, we would have similar vaping habits. But we don't.
Go figure?
But, so...
Also, how many puffs from the tank would equal a normal cigarette?
Nobody knows.
This whole "vaping" thing really is new. I read that the first patent for a viable device was taken out only about 2003. Which would mean the entire history of vaping is ten years long and that's all. Still a lot about it that hasn't been "nailed down". Basically, it comes down to, "whatever works for you".
Like finding a nicotine level that keeps you from having "nicotine fits" but doesn't scorch your tongue or something crazy. Finding the flavors you really like (and that's seriously subjective stuff that). And the whole thing about the two main base liquids: PG and VG. You can get 100% of one or the other. Or a blend of the two. And a lot of that also comes down to personal taste.
Generally, folks say PG carries flavors better (for me, too much so it seems, 80/20 mixes taste bad to me) and gives better "throat hit". VG is known for producing more vapor. What mix or mixes you'll prefer, nobody can tell you. It's also very subjective and a matter of taste. I lean more toward VG myself. Though most times vape 50/50 (half PG, half VG). My guess is it has to do with even as a smoker, I preferred "smooth" over "throat hit". Like if I bummed a Marlboro Red from somebody, they could irritate my throat. Even make me cough. And since I liked the whole "act" of smoking, the vapor is important to me.
(Funny thing, I exhale more vapor as a vaper than I did smoke as a smoker. I like making big, billowy clouds of vapor. Dunno why, just do.

But I never exhaled so much smoke. Come to think, I did such a deep inhale as a smoker like trying to grab every bit of nicotine or something, I barely exhaled any smoke at all... oof... don't wanna think what my lungs look like now.)
I think, my opinion (but a strong one), is you shouldn't worry about "equivalences" or "puffs" or "how much is too much" or anything like that. Explore the liquids and all and find what you
enjoy. I think that's important. Seems to me, the more people enjoy their vape, the less they care about smoking.
Part of the fun is that there is so much variety out there. The variations in liquids is mind boggling. The little vape shop I go to sometimes around here has a "menu" with over 200 (!) different flavors. And that's just one shop. Cigarettes were... regular and menthol. And that was about that.
Seems so boring now.
