Newbie Looking to Finally Make First Purchase

[CrowingOne]

So, I've been a heavy smoker (pack a day) for the last 10 years. I tried everything to quit: gum, patch, willpower and medication. Nothing worked. In fact, the nicotine isn't really the issue.

I think that ecigs will help me out, even if I don't replace completely, as what really has me hooked is the habit. I mark my time by cigarettes and they act as a catch-all stress-relief when I need to (frequently) just stop and unwind for 5 minutes.

I was hoping I could get some feedback on what may be best for me. I'm planning on getting the 510, as it seems to be the most reliable and simple of the bunch out there now. I know I'll need two of each of the basic components and most of the starter kits seem to have them. I know I'll want a PCC, as I smoke every hour like clockwork. I know that I'll probably want to get 50ml of fluid to start off with (right?). How long does fluid generally last for a pack a day equivalent smoker?

I suppose my question is pretty general. Will the 510 meet my pack-a-day needs? With the PCC I have to assume that I'll be fine (2-4 hours of life per seems plenty for 20-25 cigarettes worth of vaping).

Aside from that, I'm also wondering about fluids and flavors, basically what gives the "heaviest" flavor. I'm most interested in feeling the vapor go down, as that's the part the makes me relax and that I enjoy the most.

Anything else that I missed if, of course, appreciated. Thank you!

 

[francis_a]

Welcome.

I was a 1/2 pad smoker and bought the Joye 510 starter with 2 batteries, 2 atomizers and have about 40ml lilquid to begin with.
Later on, I added the SmartPCC, got another 510 battery and another spare atomizer.

The 2 batteries were ok for me during the day and I just rotate them. But adding that 3rd battery gives me that cushon just in case. With the SmartPCC, I can carry 2 batteries (1 charging and 1 stand by) while I use one. Then it can also hold 6 cartridges which is nice so I don't keep refilling while at work ...... I just switch cartridges and vape away.

However, the bug bit me and now I'm getting into the more "exploratory" mode where I want to try something else, something bigger, just because Getting myself an Ego kit + other stuff to test.

Sorry the answer was pretty vague as I'm a noob too but that has been my experience in the past month or so.

Oh and to your question about liquids, fluids, or e-juices. I find that vaping is very different compared to smoking. With smoking we get that nicotine hit very quickly. With vaping, it tends to get absorbed slowly and in lower amounts.

Maybe you'll need e-juices with higher nicotine content to satisfy the craving {this is recommended anyways}

 

[Rosa]

If you are set on having a small sized e-cig then the 510 w/ PCC is a good choice. I will also tell you that in addition to battery life, the eGo and it's knock offs also provide a stronger hitting experience IMO.

Most vapers end up using about 3ml per day.

Flavors are the hardest part because we are all so different there's no good way to recommend a flavor. I will say that the PG based liquids give more throat hit and the VG based liquids give more visible vapor output. Most vapers prefer about 80%PG and 20%VG in their liquids. Also, the higher the nicotine the more throat hit too (especially when using PG based liquids).

Good luck!

PS: YouTube - 4 Stages of Vaping

 

[CrowingOne]

Fantastic! Thank you!

I'm now wondering (I'll look at both the 510 and the EGo) if there are any particular vendors more reliable/less expensive for these products?

 

[alldayvape]

I just bought my mom the Riva 510 SE Kits sold @ Liberty Flights.. $34.99.. Plus I got her some Boge 2ohm Cartos.. Hope she'll stop smoking those damn cancer sticks!!

Flavors (juices) is all preference. I started off buying sampler packs where available. Then naturally, through ECF, you will find flavors that a lot of people talk (rave) about!

Vape On!

 

[Rosa]

Fantastic! Thank you!

I'm now wondering (I'll look at both the 510 and the EGo) if there are any particular vendors more reliable/less expensive for these products?

I think the most reliable and least expensive kit right now is the Riva510 lite bundle <LINK> for $29.99 + $2.99 shipping (when you click on the 20% discount button)

I also recommend getting a drip tip, a bunch of juice, and some Boge LR cartomizers (if Liberty Flights is out, you can get them at iVape.com or other places - just google)

 

[CrowingOne]

Let's say I wanted to be able to smoke for two weeks off my initial purchase, as a pack a day smoker, how much liquid should I be looking to pick up? That would be roughly 150 cigarettes worth?

I've seen a lot of conflicting information of consumption, so I'm wondering if I'm just reading wrong.

 

[N2rock]

I think that ecigs will help me out, even if I don't replace completely, as what really has me hooked is the habit. I mark my time by cigarettes and they act as a catch-all stress-relief when I need to (frequently) just stop and unwind for 5 minutes.

I was exactly the same way. And I started out that way with my e-cig. But since I no longer have to go outside to smoke, I find I no longer follow "the schedule". I just sit at my desk and take a puff every now and then. And I have found it to free up so much time, and have found that stress is less affect on me as I can just take a couple drags whenever I start to feel the stress. If I really do need to take a break, I'll get up and walk around a bit.

Ditto what everyone says about the ego. I bought an ego, and the wife bought a 510. Within the first week she was ordering an ego. It really is a better hit, and the battery life of the 510 can not compete to the ego's. When my wife was using the 510, she was charging both batteries up to 3 times per day. Meanwhile with my ego, 2 fully charged batteries would carry me from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to bed. Big difference.

 

[Rosa]

Let's say I wanted to be able to smoke for two weeks off my initial purchase, as a pack a day smoker, how much liquid should I be looking to pick up? That would be roughly 150 cigarettes worth?

I've seen a lot of conflicting information of consumption, so I'm wondering if I'm just reading wrong.

The average usage is about 3ml per day, so you'd need about 45-50ml to last 2 weeks.

It's always best to get small sized bottles so you can try a variety of flavors and nicotine mg's. Try mostly 18mg and 24mg (along with a few 12 and a couple 36 too -- you never know what will work for you).

Good luck!

 

[CrowingOne]

Oh man, you all are fantastic! Thanks for all the help!

I think I've been convinced to try the EGo, as it seems to be the best bet for battery life and hit.

Now, I just want to make sure I have my shopping list. I know I'll want one of the starter kits, right? plus a PCC (since I puff from waking to sleeping)? and 50ml juice? that should get me started on the right track? It seems a few vendors I've looked at don't carry the PCC for the EGo... I reckon I'll want to invest in a 3rd battery and more atomizers as soon as I'm convinced I'm going to stick with it (can't imagine why I wouldn't). Oh, and maybe 10 empty carts? Any suggestions for where to pick this up?

Am I missing anything?

 

[wv2win]

What you describe that you are looking for is the "inhaled feel" of a cigarette (analog as we call them). That is a good way for you to put what you are looking for.

At a minumum, I would get an eGo or Riva 510 and not the small analog size 510. The inhaled feel of an analog comes from mostly 2 things in the vaping experience: warmer vapor (bigger/better batteries) and nicotine strength (higher gives you more "throat hit", i.e. "inhaled feel"). The best throat hit (inhaled feel) comes from a good 5 volt or variable volt PV. They are just as easy to use as a little 510 PV (personal vaporizer), press button and vape but they deliver a much more satisfing "inhaled feel".

A good 5 volt PV is the GLV2 from: Electronic Cigarettes and E-Liquid - Great Lakes Vapor or one of Ken's 5 volt box mods: Box Mods. For variable volt, I would suggest the Darwin from nhaler.com or the ProVari.

But the eGo/Riva is a good beginner PV. I strongly suggest that you start out with 24mg nicotine strength eliquid in order to be able to make the transition to vaping.

Note: always get manual batteries NOT auto batteries.

 

[Rosa]

Oh man, you all are fantastic! Thanks for all the help!

I think I've been convinced to try the EGo, as it seems to be the best bet for battery life and hit.

Now, I just want to make sure I have my shopping list. I know I'll want one of the starter kits, right? plus a PCC (since I puff from waking to sleeping)? and 50ml juice? that should get me started on the right track? It seems a few vendors I've looked at don't carry the PCC for the EGo... I reckon I'll want to invest in a 3rd battery and more atomizers as soon as I'm convinced I'm going to stick with it (can't imagine why I wouldn't). Oh, and maybe 10 empty carts? Any suggestions for where to pick this up?

Am I missing anything?

The Riva kit mentioned above is at least equal to the eGo kit (same thing but manufactured by different companies). The batteries last long enough that you probably won't need a PCC at all so I'd wait on that and see if you want it later, each battery will last about 8 hours, so unless you are usually away from electricity for 16 hours at a time you probably won't use it.

Instead of getting more empty carts I'd invest in a $3 drip tip or/and some 510 cartomizers (you can even get them prefilled if you like).

If you think you're probably going to want to get another atomizer soon then I recommend trying one of the LR atomizers so you can see if you might like a stronger hit (LR atomizers mimic a higher voltage e-cig; warmer vapor, harder hits).

 

[MickeyRat]

It's always best to get small sized bottles so you can try a variety of flavors and nicotine mg's. Try mostly 18mg and 24mg (along with a few 12 and a couple 36 too -- you never know what will work for you).

+1 Good advice...You might find your needs get a little flighty after a while. It's good to be able to adjust the nic level to compensate.

I'll also second the advice on the eGo rather than 510 batteries. Don't obsess about the charging case with the eGos. They don't need to be charged that much. I go all day on one charge. I keep a passthrough handy but, I've never had to use it.

 

[Wrainn]

I started vaping 6 days ago with the Joye 510 mega manual and it seems to work well. The nicotene in the juices are what seem to make a difference in my vaping experience. Good Luck

 

[dormouse]

You will be refilling the carts if you are using atomizer and cartridges aka carts (the default configuration 510s including Riva and Ego come in), Carts are very reusable. When the stuffing gets old and cranky you can replace the stuffing (I recommend the precut blue foam stuffing for 510 from strictlyejuice.com - I think it's 75 cents for 10 pieces). The atomizer can burn out - you should have spares (for 3-piece ecigs I like to have 3 atomizers, 2 so I have one to use while cleaning/drying the other and a 3rd total spare).

With manual batteries and an atomizer you can also "drip" - I mostly only drip to try new flavor samples but some people like to drip most of the time. A drip tip is good to have, not just for dripping, but also to use as a a cool and easy-to-remove mouthpiece on stuffing-type cartomizers.

Many people prefer using cartomizers on 510 models. A cartomizer (aka carto) is a disposable combined cart and atomizer that holds 2x as much juice as a cart or more. It screws right on the battery. The standard type has stuffing inside and you buy the ones with soft-caps so you can pop out the mouth-end cap and add juice. You fill one completely to start (and let it sit so the juice soaks into every bit of stuffing). You can vape longer on a carto without needing to add juice. You just want to add juice while it's still damp to avoid singeing it and ruining the taste. You should be able to get 4-7 days use out of a carto, sometimes even twice as much use. After that some are successful with cleaning them and some toss them. Good ones to try are the Boge 510 soft-cap cartomizers. A 510 can use the standard resistance ones. A Riva or Ego can use those as well as the hotter harder-hitting LR (low resistance) Boge soft-caps. I get mine at LiteCigUSA.net

Juice - whatever the hardware vendor sells may be eh if it's 100% PG Chinese juice. Some people like it but medium to high nicotine can be harsh on the tongue and throat in 100% PG because PG buffers it the least. VG buffers it the most. Most people like blends of PG and VG from 80pg/20vg to 50pg/50vg - PG lets through TH and flavor the best and VG smooths the vape, dulls flavor somewhat and makes more visible and persistent vapor. I like 70pg/30vg. So buy 30-40ml or so and don't get too exotic with the flavors on that first purchase. You might want to make that mostly in the nicotine level you think you will need, and a small amount higher and a small amount lower. If you end up not needing higher or lower you could mix those to make a middle level. When you start vaping, as soon as you feel right about the nicotine level, order more juice elsewhere. There are lots of great US juice mixers.

 

[CrowingOne]

Awesome, awesome. Probably amongst the last of the questions, but I understand that PG is pretty much artificial while VG is more, uh, "organic"? I'm sure that's a simplification, but is there any reason to choose one over the other?

Edit, Dormouse, you must have ESP!

 

[Rosa]

For the record, PG vs VG is just a preference thing neither is more or less "safe" than the other.

 

[CrowingOne]

Well, looks like I'm set. I got the Riva Lite bundle and about 60ml of liquid to get started!

Thanks for all your help! It's about time to kick the analog habit!

 

[GMoney]

Well, looks like I'm set. I got the Riva Lite bundle and about 60ml of liquid to get started!

Thanks for all your help! It's about time to kick the analog habit!

Welcome and good luck!

Once you get into it you might want to stock up and get ready to fight for your rights before Deval bans them!

 

[CrowingOne]

Welcome and good luck!

Once you get into it you might want to stock up and get ready to fight for your rights before Deval bans them!

Thankfully there's always a short drive to NH and a few friends more than willing to receive packages for me!