Newbie

[RobbyRocket]

Hey everyone I'm totally new to vaping having just discovered it not long back through a friend of a friend. I'm a smoker, usually Marlboro Menthols or Menthol Lights, I used to smoke 1-2 packs a day, but now I am down to an occasional smoker maybe 4-8 cigarettes a day. I enjoy the act of smoking. Just not the smell. That's always been my main problem with it. So I am going to try vaping. I literally have never tried it before. None of my friends do it or know what it is. Luckily my town has several vape shops. It's pretty intimidating, since I've never done it or know how to use one, & I usually prefer shopping online to get the best prices. But I figure it's better to go in the bricks and mortar shop so I can be shown how the device I will purchase works, so I know the ins and outs, I know I may pay a bit more, but I'm willing to do that the first time so I can get started, plus the better customer service. The guy on the phone seemed really nice and helpful. He said they carry Ego Twists & Evods starting at 40.00 and up I've seen them 20.00 cheaper online but I'm afraid to buy my first device online without knowing how to use them first (I am not a gadget-savvy person). I guess I could buy one online from a good vendor and take it into the vape shop & let them show me, but I'd rather buy my initial device there so they can stand behind it face to face in case I need a new part or something. That's just me. Even though I know I'll have to pay a bit more. But 40.00 for a starter kit is a decent deal I guess. Looking forward to getting started & smelling better. I literally do not know what to expect, cigarettes have been all I have known since I was 14.

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

The prices sound really high to me, and you are correct they are less expensive online. I would recommend something like the iStick 30 watt or 40 watt mod (battery) and the Aspire Nautilus Mini (tank). Both are highly regarded and user friendly. They are so easy to use we could explain how online or with you tube. I would venture your nicotine level should be between 12 and 6 mg. (1.2% or .6%)

There are many places recommended to shop by this forum, and some great deals to be had. Check these links:
DEALS and STEALS - Deals and Steals | E-Cigarette Forum (go to last couple pages)
FORUM SUPPLIERS - ECF Forum Suppliers | E-Cigarette Forum
COUPONS - Stores - ECF E-Cigarette Coupons

I went thru many options before I was a solid vaper. The Nautilus is on the Spinner 2 (tall) in the middle and on the iStick 50watt on the right.

below is the iStick 30 watt and Nautilus.

Good luck in your journey, don't be shy about asking questions, there are many here to help.

 

[vmtorres1]

Welcome to the forum! I would defenitely go to a B&M to look. Look at their wares and ask as many questions as you like. If you want to give them your patronage, that's fine, but I would hold out a little and look at some stuff online as well.

I go to a great shop that even gave me a "loaner" one day that I left my mod at home. So these are relationships that you really want to cultivate also. All I am trying to say is to not fall for the starter (ego/evod) kits. Get yourself something a little better to have some room to grow, and not have to invest more in the long haul.

I got my start with a ego kit and it lasted all of 2 weeks. Very frustrating! and then I finally got an iStick 30W (its a great little box mod) and a Kangertech Genitank, this combo let me get comfortable with vaping.

Sorry about the longwinded answer!

 

[AXIOM_1]

Welcome Robby! Glad you are here and you are making a wise choice at investigating vaping (at least compared to smoking death sticks).
To heck with what people think. I am probably the only person in my portion of the State who vapes and I could care less what people think. The folks here will not steer you wrong in regards to vaping equipment and they will direct you in how to get started.

 

[Susan~S]

Hello and welcome to the forum @RobbyRocket. Glad to have you here!

+1 on recommendation for an iStick 30 watt (battery) & Mini Nautilus or eLeaf GS Air M (tank) . Here are some reviews.

The 30 Watt iStick
Aspire Nautilus Mini
eLeaf GS Air M

If you want to check out "typical" online pricing Sweet Vapes is a great place to go.
_____

What an e-cigarette consists of:

1. Power Source -- Battery or Mod/APV. APV = Advanced Personal Vaporizer
2. Juice Delivery Devise -- often a clearomizer (a tank that uses premade coils).
3. Heating element. Often called a coil.
4. Eliquid. Often called juice.

If you are interested in learning more about e-cigarettes (and all the parts and pieces) below are some blog posts by ECF member @Baditude that I highly recommend for someone new to vaping.

1. A Good Starter's Setup for a Beginning Vapor
2. Advancing Up the Vaping Ladder with Egos and Mods
3. Proper terminology - Is it a carto, a tank, or what? A Guide to Juice Attachments
4. Something Safe for Cinnamon and Citrus Flavors

Here are a few more links from New Members Information <= Link covers many topics. Here are two of them:
1. The Three Main Types of Ecig
2. Vaping Slang and Acronyms

Nicotine

A "general guideline" for nicotine concentration in e-liquid to the number of cigarettes smoked per day.

06 mg = 10 cigarettes or less
12 mg = 20 cigarettes
18 mg = 30 cigarettes
24 mg = 40 cigarettes

eLiquid/Juice

PG = Propylene Glycol - the "flavor carrier" of e-liquid. A secondary source of "throat hit", but not as strong as the nicotine concentration. Some people have a sensitivity or even an allergy to PG. It's very thin.

VG = Vegetable Glycerin - the "vapor maker" of e-liquid. Used as a sweeter in many food sources, and also as a skin emollient. It's very thick.

PG and VG are often used together in different ratios in e-liquid. For example, a 50/50 PG/VG ratio. Some juice vendors offer a range of different ratios as far as PG/VG.

 

[AXIOM_1]

See, I told ya..... You got wonderful folks like @Susan~S who are very awesome people to help guide you. Listen to these folks and I am quite sure you will LOVE vaping, especially compared to smoking.

 

[Baditude]

I'm a smoker, usually Marlboro Menthols or Menthol Lights

Great advice given above.

I've been vaping for over 3 years. I was a pack per day smoker for over 30 years and vaping was the only way for me to get off of the stinkies.

I was a Marlboro Menthol Light smoker, too. If you have difficulty finding a flavor for your e-cig, try one of the below menthol flavors which I used to quit and still use today:

Ice Menthol from SmokelessImage
Smooththol from NicQuid​

 

[AXIOM_1]

See Robby, there is another good person to guide you -----> @Baditude

 

[DingerCPA]

Welcome Robby!

I made my first couple of purchases in my local B&M when I really started dialing in on my vaping experience. Yes, much more spendy, but it allowed me to get my feet wet. Since then, I pretty much buy online.

I break things down into categories when considering a device:

* Stick, Tube, or Box (how do you want it to feel in your hand?)
* Internal or Replaceable batteries? (Replaceable, you need a good source for both batteries and charger. @Baditude has some good links for battery sources, and @Mooch has done some extensive testing on popular batteries to give you an idea of how they perform)
* Variable Voltage/Wattage or Temperature Control (this is relatively new...)
* Toppers - open draw or tight (cigarette-like) draw?
* Build your own coils (be educated first) or pop a blister pack?

Then...... The Flavor Chase. To me, that's probably the biggest hurdle. I was a menthol light smoker - I did not start out with tobacco flavors - I opted for fruits and desserts. Make my own now and have been expanding my repertoire (now dabbling with some tobaccos....)

I love the iStick 30. Probably my favorite mod, and it works with a variety of toppers.

Good Luck in the hunt. We're here if you have questions

 

[RobbyRocket]

Wow thanks so much everyone for the fabulous responses, much appreciated! As someone who has never vaped, or never even tried it, it's very very overwhelming. I have done some research & watched a bunch of youtube videos, but I am a person who learns by watching & doing, I am a very visual hands-on person.

As far as my preference starting out, I'd definitely prefer a stick/pen type device, something not too bulky but MOST importantly, because I am not the most gadget savvy person, something low-maintenance & easy to use & take hits off of & charge & refill without ....ing it up. And I don't want to worry about leakage either. So my preference is probably a pen or stick for my first device. I don't know much at all about coils or batteries yet, whether to go for an internal or external battery. So much to consider.

But I don't want to overthink it or spend a ton of money on my first vape device I just want to get the hang of vaping. I do know that the stick/pen devices are more appealing to me and I love stainless steel. I probably sound so green haha. It's just that this is so new to me & all I have known are my Marlboro menthos and lighter. When I go to friends' or relatives houses, they can always smell the cigarette smoke on me even if I haven't smoked in a few hours, so with vaping, is this going to be a non-issue? The vapor does not smell at all like cigarette smoke?

I still don't know whether to buy my first device online or in the b&m shop. I know I'd pay more in the b&m, one shop had the ego-twists at 27.00 and another highly rated shop in my town has them at 40.00 the guy said he'd make sure I knew everything about it when I left. So I don't want to buy one online that I don't know how to use, but I don't want to go in to a vape shop and act like a dummy & not know what I'm doing. Lol. What to do.

 

[RobbyRocket]

As far as flavor I def would go for icy menthols at first I smoked Salems for years then Marlboro Menthols I still smoke these & so would want something similar taste wise. I do like American Spirit blue labels too, good stuff for non-mentho cigs. So whenever I do vape something menthol to start.

 

[edyle]

Wow thanks so much everyone for the fabulous responses, much appreciated! As someone who has never vaped, or never even tried it, it's very very overwhelming. I have done some research & watched a bunch of youtube videos, but I am a person who learns by watching & doing, I am a very visual hands-on person.

As far as my preference starting out, I'd definitely prefer a stick/pen type device, something not too bulky but MOST importantly, because I am not the most gadget savvy person, something low-maintenance & easy to use & take hits off of & charge & refill without ....ing it up. And I don't want to worry about leakage either. So my preference is probably a pen or stick for my first device. I don't know much at all about coils or batteries yet, whether to go for an internal or external battery. So much to consider.

But I don't want to overthink it or spend a ton of money on my first vape device I just want to get the hang of vaping. I do know that the stick/pen devices are more appealing to me and I love stainless steel. I probably sound so green haha. It's just that this is so new to me & all I have known are my Marlboro menthos and lighter. When I go to friends' or relatives houses, they can always smell the cigarette smoke on me even if I haven't smoked in a few hours, so with vaping, is this going to be a non-issue? The vapor does not smell at all like cigarette smoke?

I still don't know whether to buy my first device online or in the b&m shop. I know I'd pay more in the b&m, one shop had the ego-twists at 27.00 and another highly rated shop in my town has them at 40.00 the guy said he'd make sure I knew everything about it when I left. So I don't want to buy one online that I don't know how to use, but I don't want to go in to a vape shop and act like a dummy & not know what I'm doing. Lol. What to do.

I'd start with the vape shop;

you will upgrade eventually later on, and for the longer term you'd end up buying stuff online.
but to start up, hands on availability can be usefull along with a personal touch and guidance.
usefull to know what's available at the local store. especially for accessories.

 

[Danrogers]

Congrats on quitting and welcome to ECF, you made the right decision. I think you are going about this the right way research and asking questions, none of us knew much before we started vaping. For me my son did all the maintamaintainace for the first while until I felt comfortable enough to take over, fast forward 2 yrs and I am making my own coils and ejuice as well. I can understand why you want to buy something from a B&M, I would go to both stores ask your questions and if you are comfortable pull the trigger. One piece of advise don't get their entry level stuff, most upgrade days after getting the basic kit, a waste of money.

 

[RobbyRocket]

X6 Vaporizer Special Edition Starter Kit - Vapor Puffs Here's one I kind of like it & it has a 6 month warranty. But still thinking I may start with the shop I assume they'd let me experiment a bit & try things out. If I did get one at the b&m they'd have to stand behind it & I could always take it in if I had issues. So not sure what I'll do yet. The b&m shops I called both cited the Ego Twist as their starter kit, not sure if I want to go that route though I may want to spend a bit more just so I can get a better one that won't mess up after a week. As far as my first piece, I'm looking at 20.00 to no more than about 70.00 or 80.00 price range. Preferably on the lower end (college grad student so broke lol).

 

[tyrannt_83]

Going to the shop and getting some advice and seeing the product is a good thing, holding it and understanding how it works. This doesnt mean you have an obligation to buy the product on the spot, and dont feel guilty doing this we all started somewhere. I would recommend you find the product you like and source it online.

 

[RobbyRocket]

True, very good points. I'd kind of like to get a cheap one online from a reputable vendor & play around with it & then maybe go into the shops & ask about juices & maybe look at another device if I feel it. My town has tons of vape shops I literally had no idea it was so huge here, probably because this town has a huge hipster culture & is basically tobacco capital of the world (Lexington Ky) lol.

 

[daleron]

Welcome to ECF Robby, make yourself right at home
Sounds like you will be most comfortable starting with local B&M and you may even like the camaraderie you get there.
Might I suggest you at least try some other flavors if your B&M has a sample bar? You may just surprise yourself

 

[RobbyRocket]

I'm leaning towards an eleaf istick 30w based on everything I am reading seems like a much better start & battery reliability & overall than the egos. I figure I may just try one of these from vaporauthority. I still like the non-box ones best, but I'm reading & hearing tons of great things about the isticks.

 

[AXIOM_1]

I'm leaning towards an eleaf istick 30w based on everything I am reading seems like a much better start & battery reliability & overall than the egos. I figure I may just try one of these from vaporauthority. I still like the non-box ones best, but I'm reading & hearing tons of great things about the isticks.

Yep, that's a good solid mod..nothing wrong with that. By the way I think your avatar is cool....I like it.

 

[tyrannt_83]

Good for starting off, Ive been vaping for alittle over a year and changed my device 3 times. I dont particularly like the way box mods look but you tend to get more power from them and more features. If you enjoy vaping its something that will just more than likly happen. The one thing I will say as a beginner dont go for a mechanical mod, I know of people that have in the past and it becomes more of a chore than enjoyment.