Newbie Here. Setup?

Status
Not open for further replies.

petrillo621

Full Member
Feb 19, 2012
13
1
Springfield
Hello all. I have tried the cheesy and cheap e-cig that are sold at most convience stores, but it does not quite hit the spot. I smoke an average of 1/2 pack a day sometimes more. I am looking for a great atomizer that will hit like a camel filter but taste great as well. I know the benefits to smoking an e-cig because of this, I am very committed. I would no longer like only think about when I get my next smoke in. I want it to be a pleasurable experience to smoke and relax. Not a painful, mucus filled morning. So, here is the scoop...set me up with some sweet deals that you know of, help me make my green go farther, and help me commit to my decision to quit cigarettes!

Petrillo
 

petrillo621

Full Member
Feb 19, 2012
13
1
Springfield
I am heavily committed and I think about $200 with a tank and some juice. I figured if I spend the money I will be more inclined to use it rather than buy a pack! Whats the hype about an ego? Seemed really pushy on the forums but it is just that good? Here is the thing I want a excellent buy that I know I will be happy with. I do not need to go $500 gun hoe. But at the same time I don't want to buy my first one and be here about how awesome this one that I should have bought was. I would rather make the right purchase the fist time....thank you so much for taking the time to help me!
 

Strigoi

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jul 12, 2010
1,333
522
Martinez, CA
If you're looking for something cheap that works well, I'd recommend a box mod. Welcome to MadVapes LLC sells them (as well as many other sites) and they're not bad for the price. I've got their variable voltage one and have been very happy with it. It runs off 2 14500 batteries which are relatively cheap as well. Run that at 5v-6v with some 3ohm Boge cartos and it will hit great. I vape quite a bit and a box mod with 2 14500 batteries will last me all day. I also had the 3.7v box mod from them for several months, but the switch finally crapped out. I paid less than $20 for it so I got plenty of usage out of it for the price. Madvapes is out of stock on most of their box mods right now though. I've also got a 5v box mod from Welcome to Maximum Vapors - E Cig Supplier and it's been solid as well. He had a bunch of scratched ones on sale for $15 shipped, but it looks like those are gone. Even at their current price of $25 I wouldn't have a problem buying one. I do consider the cheap box mods to be a bit of a throw away PV and a good step into finding out what you like. For the price, if I get a few months of vaping out of one I'm happy.

The Maxi Roughstack V2 from Mad Vapes (which they have in stock) is a good PV. I also have one of those and it's rock solid. You can run it at 3.7v, 6v or 7.4v depending on which batteries you use. You can also buy replaceable switches for about $12 for them as well. The top button will be an issue if you want to run a tank on one though. It is a larger tube mod, but isn't nearly as big as something like the Lava Tube or Silver Bullet.

Before dropping a lot of coin on a Provari, I'd recommend trying out the Lava Tube ($50 shipped from Liberty Flights) and decide if that's the route you want to go. You should be able to sell it for close to your purchase price in the classified section if you decide it's not for you or you want to upgrade.

Cartos...

I love the 3ohm Boge cartos for vaping at higher voltage and the 1.7ohm Resurrector cartos (from Crystal Clear Vaping) when I'm staying around 3.7v. I recently tried some Kanger cartos that a friend gave me and would shy away from those if you see them. One that I tried was clogged within half a day of usage with a light colored, PG heavy liquid (no issues in all my other cartos).

Liquid...

I've stuck with Blue Mist Vaping and Mad Vapes for my last several orders now. Both of them are awesome vendors.

There's some semi-drunken late night rambling for you that ended up being way longer than I originally thought it would. Take it for what it's worth and do your research before buying.
 

Ladypixel

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 3, 2012
518
364
La Verne, CA
The reason people tend to push eGos to start out with is because they're 510-threaded, which means that their larger, better-battery-life batteries (over the cheapie convenience store models, anyhow) can be used with cartomizers, atomizers/cartridges, or tanks. This allows you the option to experiment a bit with different things and to find out what tastes good/works well for you.

For me, personally, I like tanks. I have an eGo battery with a Riva-T tankomizer on it at the moment. Would I like to play with one of the higher-priced mods? You betcha. However, my start-up cost me about $50 for the eGo-T starter kit, about $70 in extra batteries/tankomizers/cartomizers/different tank variants/atomizers/drip tips, and about $80 in juice from a few different vendors to sample. That comes out to about $200 total to start out with, rather than just $200 for the starter unit itself and nothing to use with it.

This is not to knock the Provari that was mentioned. They are great units. So are Darwins. So are a lot of the mods out there. They're fantastic. They give you options, too.

... but as someone who's just getting familiarized with all of this stuff, I'll be honest, the ability to test out stuff for relatively cheap, while experimenting with nicotine levels/flavors, and still maintaining a budget is a far better option.

There's a couple box mods out there that are also really inexpensive, about the same price (or less) as an eGo starter kit, and they also would work well for you in terms of having experimentation capabilities (just make sure you take note of whether it's 510-adaptable or another system). They do not allow the same kind of tanks, though, so you'd have to look into what's available in that regard.

No matter what you do, welcome to vaping. It's fantastic. It's wonderful. And it's kept me from wanting to smoke for almost a week now. :)
 

MrGiggly

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 14, 2012
160
74
UK
Its pretty much a given that you will go through the 'stages of vaping' Its like a right of passage.

As LadyP has mentioned, ego style manual batteries allow you to experiment quite a bit to find a setup that suits your needs. Its all down to personal preference and situation on what will work best for you. Kgo's are held in high regard as a starter option by many people. They are usually cheaper than ego's and deliver a slightly higher regulated voltage (true 3.7 as opposed to 3.4).

You may also decide to jump straight to a variable voltage device such as the lavatube which gives you much more flexibility by allowing you to adjust your voltage which will affect how your juice tastes and the warmth and throat hit (TH) of the vapour.

On top of whatever battery option you decide to go for... Cartomisers or good for out and about. Atomisers can be direct dripped and usually give the best flavours but need to be dripped on every few vapes. I can recommend boge or kanger cartomisers (510 connections) and 306LR atomisers for direct dripping.

Personally I like to try lots of different combinations depending on my mood and what else I'm doing at the time.

Good luck on finding the kit that works best for you, and keep asking the questions as there are so many helpful people on the forums to help you along the way
 

Blue_Lobster

Full Member
Sep 22, 2011
29
6
Oakland
The eGo is a standard ecig that has tons of options for parts and accessories. Personally, I've been using eGo-T batteries which are 1000 mAh. I carry 2 around with me, but 1 usually gets me through the workday. Here's my setup:

2x eGo-T batteries

eGo cone

Resurrector 1.7 ohm cartomizers from Crystal Clear Vaping (they hold about 1.5 ml of juice - I keep 2 of them loaded and usually have to switch to the second one in the afternoon).

Ego Mega Dual Coil Cartomizers (these hold more juice @2.5 ml - I use them at home on weekends)

usb charger (plugged into an iphone plug at night - works great)

syringe for filling

favorite e-liquid currently - Applewood from Backwoods Brew


Getting a mod might be kind of alot to figure out in the beginning, and expensive. It took me a while to figure out what e-liquids I like and what cartomizers I like to use and ended up with this setup. Like the Riva (which would probably work out well - I've never used one so can't say) you can find starter kits for about $50 at many websites and then purchase additional cartomizers and e-liquids from other websites. So really, $50 is just a starting point.

Even though the setup I describe is not a mod, it works well, and it got me to quit smoking instantly (it's MUCH better than the run of the mill ecigs you will find in malls and gas stations). I have been using this setup for about 4.5 months, and I have just recently ordered a more expensive mod.

The reason why I recommend going this way is because I finally feel like I just now understand the basic ins and outs of using ecigs and now I'm ready for the next step. There's so much to learn initially that it is staggering. I remember when I first got into it I must have spent at least 2 weeks straight at night reading through these forums.

Plus, the expensive mod I just ordered will be compatible with the cartomizers that I already have (resurrectors, emdccs, and boge 2.0s). I can't wait to see how they all perform with the higher end model (just ordered a Provari), even if I end up using different gear with it eventually. But that's all part of the fun for me. Heh, I haven't gotten the Provari yet, already thinking about how cool a wood mod or a pipe mod would be to have.
 
Last edited:

iKN0WaGH0ST

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 5, 2012
1,924
4,401
34
Northern Virginia
I am heavily committed and I think about $200 with a tank and some juice. I figured if I spend the money I will be more inclined to use it rather than buy a pack! Whats the hype about an ego? Seemed really pushy on the forums but it is just that good? Here is the thing I want a excellent buy that I know I will be happy with. I do not need to go $500 gun hoe. But at the same time I don't want to buy my first one and be here about how awesome this one that I should have bought was. I would rather make the right purchase the fist time....thank you so much for taking the time to help me!
What Springfield do you live in? If you live in the one in Virgina I can show you my setup if you'd like?
 

Doomed!

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 20, 2011
221
97
41
Denver
OK. There are lots of options out there. If you want variable voltage, that is adjustable from 3 volts to 6 volts, the provari is tried and true. It is a bit spendy though. Another option is the Buzz Pro from notcigs.com. It gets great reviews and gives you a lot of the same features as the provari at a lower cost. Its not as pretty as the provari, but if that's not a concern for you then it's definitely worth considering. They even have some blemished models on the site now that will save you $20. The reason I say to get one of these models versus a lavatube, is because you'll probably end up trading the lavatube in for one of these other models eventually. Yes, the lavatube is cheap, but you get what you pay for. The other mods are more expensive, but you're going to be happier with them for longer. As for the tank, madvapes.com carries a dual coil tank for $12. You really can't beat that. For juice, I would recommend bluemistvaping.com for someone starting out. Why? It's cheap, but good. I wouldn't say it's the best juice out there, but it's good and it will allow you to try a lot of flavors until you find one you love. They have a sample pack of 5, 10ml bottles for $20. That's 50ml for $20! So if you go with the stuff I suggest, that will run you $194 including batteries and charger. Add in $10 for cartomizers for the tank, that brings you to $204. If you want something that will hit like a freight train, I would also suggest an HH .357 atomizer from avidvaper.com. The best atomizer there is for dripping. Huge clouds of warm vapor, huge TH and the best flavor you can get out of an atomizer. And it's the longest lasting atomizer in my collection. It's been 6 months and it's still going strong. $20 is a lot to spend on an atty, but it's the best out there.
 

drewbalicious

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Apr 22, 2011
4,009
3,466
42
San Antonio, Tx
In my 1 year of vaping I've spent more on other setups then I did on my Provari. Now that I've got the provari I see no other mod giving me the same satisfaction. But it's definitely not for the newbie (no offense). Ya kinda have to learn what your style is before I would recommend dropping $200 on a Provari. But if you do decide to get a Provari make sure it's the V2. Good luck and welcome to The ECF. Tons of helpful people here, and great deal over in the classifieds too. :)
 

Paulette

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 22, 2012
447
197
Florida
You have gotten a lot of great replies here. I've only been vapin for about 4 months. I started with the Tornado-T and recently got the eGo-C. If you're going for simple with great flavor -- I would get an eGo-C from Joyetec, which costs about $80.00 for the kit, which includes 2 atomizers, 2 batteries, a little juice, and the charger.
 

jadajazz

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Feb 5, 2012
79
108
Chicago area
OK, here's another opinion. Though I haven't had one, I've read frequently here about problems with both the eGo-T and the eGo-C. Many say that the eGo-T has leaking issues (same with the C, though it's a different system). If you're looking at an eGo, go with the plain one. Also, I bought a REO mod, bottom feeder, which I'm extremely happy with. All manual, and built like a tank. Check out the Reo Mods sub-forum under the suppliers list on the e-cig forum. Good luck with whatever you decide to purchase.
 

mynameisrob

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Oct 7, 2011
1,696
477
PH-Illadelph-IA, PA
I def wouldnt get an eGo-T or eGo-C. The tanks can be very finicky and leak and even when they are working okay they still dull flavor and TH.

Check out the E-Power, kGo, and Riva. They are all very affordable 3.7V PVs that give a great vape.
Personally I like the E-Power and kGo the most. I have a E-power and love it. The major difference between the two is that the E-power uses non-proprietary batteries, which are removable. E-Power batteries cost $4-6 compared to eGo/kGo/Riva batteries that cost $14-20. E-Power batteries are 1050mah and I get on avg a day to a day and a half on one battery. Also everything is replaceable on the E-power which makes it cheaper to maintain. With proprietary battery PVs like the eGo/kGo/Riva, everything is one unit so if you need to replace a battery or a switch fails, etc, you have no choice but to replace the entire unit every time. With the E-Power everything is seperate and can be bought individually.
The kGo is also a good PV, even though it uses proprietary batteries. The batteries are 1100mah so they last a long time too and most people get at least a full day on one battery.
I would def consider getting an E-Power or kGo bc I think youd really like either one
 

petrillo621

Full Member
Feb 19, 2012
13
1
Springfield
No, springfield mo. Sorry that would have been sweet. But thanks for the invite for sure. Thanks to everyone who took the time to hold my hand here.lol. I have been spending hours researching the types and mods. I think I want a variable voltage because I have the convience to choose what kind of hit I want but also not worry about the battery dying and now I'm jonesing. I do want a tank for ease of daily smoking since I am rarely home. Now I was looking at the silver bullet. About 200 start up total but its not variable voltage. So I guess my question is what do u guys think of the bullet and is there a variable voltage at the same price?
 

Island Vapor

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
You might want to try a Hybrid.A lot less to figget with,do not have to clean cartos or mess with tanks,No dripping,great throat hit,very convenient.for me I tryied a lot of different setups.I do not like to stop and fidget with things to much.You can get pre rolled wicks and you only have to change the coil around one time a week.Fill tank,change batts and vape.Check out http://www.houseofhybrids.com/ Everyone likes different things.The Zen works very well for me
 
Last edited:

dearme

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Dec 2, 2011
2,493
2,294
Colorado
My 2 cents......the most cost effective way to get into vaping.

Buy an ePower with extended cap for 18650 batteries, cartomizers, ( Boge single coil 2.0 recommended to start with) and a couple of Drip Tips. After a week or two, buy a carto tank to go on the ePower.

Once you are comfortable with vaping, buy the Provari with the extended cap for 18650 batteries, which you will already have from the ePower. Your ePower now becomes your backup. You always need a backup for unforeseen circumstances.

You only have one battery size and charger to keep track of, both are 510 connections so all your bits and pieces will work, and you can put the carto tank on the Provari as well as the ePower.
 

Ladypixel

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 3, 2012
518
364
La Verne, CA
Re: leaking tanks on eGos:

Yeah, the eGo-T tanks leak a little on about the third or fourth refill. If you order some new silicone caps from one of the many vendors out there (they run a couple bucks for like 10 caps), you can slow/stop the leakage when your tank-cap starts to go, and they're easier to put on and take off than the hard caps that come with the Joye tanks. But that leakage issue is going to happen on occasion if it's not a new tank cap.

I don't presently have an eGo-W tank, so I don't know if those leak, but I do have a couple Riva-T tankomizers which I adore. Holds a couple ml of juice, fits perfectly on the eGo battery, looks sharp, gives me a good idea of how much juice I have left. I get them from a guy who sells 'em for about $5 each (including whistle-style tip), and about $2 more gets you a screw-on cap that looks like a pen cap and keeps them from any potential of pocket leakage. But really, the only way I've gotten these to leak at all has been to hold 'em upside-down for a couple minutes, and then the whistle tip gets filled with juice. :D For me, that's been a godsend - no futzing with cleaning an atomizer, holds my all-day juice just fine, and while it requires a syringe to refill, it's actually really easy to fill up.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread