Newb start-up advice

[mavaks]

First off, love the forum and thanks for this great resource!

I'm in the process of quitting analogs, but have been checking out e-cigs for a long time now. I've read all the stickies and about as many posts as I can stand in my nicotine-deprived state. Now, if you could, please help me satisfy my needs:

Pack-a-day smoker
Marlboro Menthol 100's was my smoke of choice, so a minty flavor and strong TH would be preferred starting out
Don't really care if it looks like a real cig, and size isn't an issue - don't plan on stealth vaping either
Low start-up cost would be nice - a carton is $45 here, so in that range would work
Don't really care about the vapor amount as much as how it feels going in
Don't really want to replace analogs, just something to help combat cravings - so maybe 5-10 hits a day rather than 20 cigs

 

[swedishfish]

I'd recommend the ego type pv to start.

I started with the Ego from Liberty Flights ($30) and menthol juice in 24 mg. Smoked for almost 30 years and I was able to quit.

juice- I vape nhalers nuport or 555 menthol

Backwoods Brew also makes a good menthol. Keep in mind that none will taste like an actual cig, you'll hit on one you like that will satisfy your cigarette urge.

 

[yngliver]

I am new myself and went with an 808 from Vapor 4 Life. Only two days with it, but I haven't had a cigarette yet either.

 

[dormouse]

Slim - KR808D-1 manual (manual to get the best hit). SmokelessImage (or Bloodplanet or Halocigs G6) is the rubberized model, a bit more charge, better sealed end on the manuals but max drag allowed is 5 seconds hiwch can be a bit short, especially with manuals where you want to press the button in 1-2 seconds early so nice vapor is ready when you start dragging. Vapor4Life allows much longer drags, not rubberized, end of manuals still has a hole but seems somewhat sealed inside, standard amount of charge. They can all use each others cartomizers as well as any 2.5 to 3 ohm KR808D-1 cartomizers. And on a manual a DSE901 standard resistance atomizer and drip tip can be used to test juices.

Fat battery - Ego or the Riva 510 kits at liberty-flights.com (their Riva 510 kits are 3.7v and I recommend the SE kit that has the 3-click enable/disable. Use a drip tip and atomizer to test juices or vape occaisonal ones, and cartomizers for your favorite juices.

I like 80PG/20Vg juices in cartomizers - good hit and flavor, the bit of VG adds some vapor without thickening the juice too much.

 

[dormouse]

Slim - KR808D-1 manual (manual to get the best hit). SmokelessImage (or Bloodplanet or Halocigs G6) is the rubberized model, a bit more charge, better sealed end on the manuals but max drag allowed is 5 seconds which can be a bit short, especially with manuals where you want to press the button in 1-2 seconds early so nice vapor is ready when you start dragging. Vapor4Life allows much longer drags, not rubberized, end of manuals still has a hole but seems somewhat sealed inside, standard amount of charge. They can all use each others cartomizers as well as any 2.5 to 3 ohm KR808D-1 cartomizers. And on a manual a DSE901 standard resistance atomizer and drip tip can be used to test juices.

Fat battery - Ego or the Riva 510 kits at liberty-flights.com (their Riva 510 kits are 3.7v and I recommend the SE kit that has the 3-click enable/disable. Use a drip tip and atomizer to test juices or vape occasional ones, and cartomizers for your favorite juices.

I like 80PG/20Vg juices in cartomizers - good hit and flavor, the bit of VG adds some vapor without thickening the juice too much.

There are other choices but those are most popular- the stronger slim ecig, and the most popular fat battery models.

 

[brianishiwa]

Welcome mavaks.

I recommend the kGo. It's a nice starting point to see if vaping will work for you, and is arguably the best "fat batt"-style battery. It has the highest average voltage of the sealed batteries (3.8v, actually >4.0v fresh off the charger), has a large capacity so you don't have to worry about recharging it often, & comes with 2 atomizers. I do not recommend using the cartridges that come with it, as I've heard that they don't taste great, and compounding that, the cartridge system itself is terrible IMO. But seeing as atomizers are $5-$10 apiece, it's nice to keep them around for sampling flavors. (By "dripping", you can read about that technique around the forums.)

Get some cartomizers and you should be set. I linked you to the 15 pack deal because it comes with drip tips, & you can interchange them with the cartomizers and the atomizers I mentioned earlier. Drip tips are easier to pull off for refills, are called "drip tips" because you can use them to drip directly on the atomizer without removal, and are more comfortable to use anyhow than the rubber plugs that come with cartomizers.

I used to smoke Marlboro Menthol Lights, and you'll come to find that while there are good tasting tobacco juices, there are no juices that taste like burning tobacco. My menthol vape of choice is USA Menthol from PinkSpotVapors. I have it in both 12mg & 18mg nicotine (for the days that I need a little more nic fix, like when imbibing, haha) and it is one of the only menthols that doesn't remind me of a dinner mint.

Quick math shows the startup cost of these at ~$80, so if you wanted to, you could pick up a Riva 510SE (almost as good as the kGo, just shorter battery life & 0.1v lower output), a 5-pack of cartomizers to try and you're looking at about ~$55.

I'm sure other awesome ECF'ers will chime in on their recommendations. Good luck and report back.

EDIT: Damn I type slow! 4 responses in the time I took to type this up. Good stuff ECF!

 

[swedishfish]

Liberty Flight is out of the carto deluxe kit. You could email them and see when the kits will be in. Hit the 20% off button

Electronic Cigarette - Starter Kits - Riva 510

Juice
Nhaler / Xhale
Backwoods Brew
Newport Beach Never tried this one but someone recommended it and said it was like a Marlboro Menthol

 

[mavaks]

Wow so much info in so little time!

I've read that it's nearly impossible to replicate that actual flavor so that's why I asked for a minty flavor, along with the throat hit...that's probably going to be the biggest thing for me because I love my menthols. I honestly can't stand the taste of non-menthols so the tobacco flavor is definitely secondary for me. Even a strong peppermint or spearmint flavor like gum would probably be a good substitute.

 

[spicyed]

I'd actually suggest trying non menthol flavors. I was able to find a bunch that were alot more appealing then the marlboro menthols I smoked, and after vaping the new flavors I can't stand the Marlboro flavor anymore. Even more incentive to quit.

 

[yngliver]

I should also mention that I use the pass-through more than the batteries. Maybe that is because I sit at a computer for work most of the day, you might not have that option available.
At first I thought it would be weird having a cord attached, now I just imagine it's like a "future" hookah or something from a science fiction film.

 

[bnrkwest]

My fav menthol is Menthol Ice from Halo, has a really good TH. I smoked menthols years & years ago (Salems), but really loved the menthol in an ecig. My fav slim ecig is the Halo G6. But lots out there to choose from if you don't go the slim ecig route. bnrk

 

[mavaks]

Based on the recommendations, I'm leaning towards the Black Riva 510 - SE Edition from Liberty-flights and some 6ml sampler bottles from nhaler.

 

[chickennoodles]

could also check out these emerging variable voltage KGOs. using one at the moment. great stuff

 

[wv2win]

Based on the recommendations, I'm leaning towards the Black Riva 510 - SE Edition from Liberty-flights and some 6ml sampler bottles from nhaler.

Riva's a good model. But a more cost effective model in the same category is the E-Power 510. The E-Power's batteries last 4 - 5 times longer than the ego/riva batteries and cost around $4 each instead of the $15 you will pay for ego/riva batteries:

e-Power

 

[mavaks]

Ordered:
Black Riva 510 - SE Edition from Liberty-flights with the 20% off
6mL Sample Liquid: 555 Menthol
6mL Sample Liquid: NUport
6mL Sample Liquid: Vanilla Coke
6mL Sample Liquid: Almond Coconut Chocolate

Can't wait for it all to show up so I can get started...broke down and got a pack this morning after being smoke-free since Friday night. The cravings weren't hurting as bad as the low energy level and almost blacking out a few times while driving. Also have a nagging "quitters cough" and some reflux going on but I can live with those.

 

[seanporto]

I'd defiantly stick with an Ego t 1000mah passthrough and a LR 1.8-1.5 OM Atty. go with 24mg juice. and a mid to high range Menthol adding.

I'd probably drip instead of using a carto or a Tank system. Empiremods.com has some great ego starter kits on there site for cheep but I'd always keep a back up.

 

[sandybeach]

I got a Kgo too. I smoked Newports. I bought some menthol juice from the same place I bought the Kgo, Hoosier E Cig Supply The menthol was too strong at first, but now I like it. Dekang 18 mg Menthol. I also tried Nuport by Wow 11 mg., but I don't like it as well.

 

[Balthezar]

I have an eGo passthrough, nice setup, you can vape while plugged in, and unplug and vape. Here's the best price I've found on it thanks to cavibird

eGo 510 650mAh USB Passthrough Battery

Cartos, drip tips, and juice are extra, but it still comes out good. They have cartos there, buy 5 pak and get free juice.

 

[RedZone]

Agreed SpicyEd!

I smoked Marb Reds for 30 years, and I can't even stand to take a whiff of the Dekang tobacco juice that comes w/ Joye Kits!
For a menthol smoker, Ms T's Red Hots gives a Cinnamon Minty nice vape w/ good TH. We DIY some of our own juice flavors, and my buddy recipied up a nice Sin-A-Mint, which combo's a Red Hotz w/ a extra shot of Mint, which is a nice alternative.

Bananas Fosters Coffee is still my "Go To" flavor for some reason. I've been vaping it for over 3 years now! Banana mixed w/ other flavors come thru real nice, not too sweet either.

 

[Tunes]

I started with V2 but wasnt happy with there shipping at all. Now that I have found Smokeless Image I havent looked back