Newcomer looking for something VERY specific

[RootWyrm]

Stop me if you've heard this one before. Wait, no, don't. You've heard this one before.

Anyhow, I'm back up to 2 packs a day. And I need something that isn't quite so painfully expensive and essentially guaranteed lethal as part of cutting back. I've tried a couple so far (Fuma and some generic thingy.) To be entirely honest, the Fuma was beyond underwhelming. The generic thingy was cheap so, yeah, it fell apart in a week. But even then, also painfully overwhelming.
My toxins of choice normally are Camel Menthol Wides. Don't be surprised if you've never heard of them - they aren't exactly the most popular of brands. They are a very thick and dark menthol best described as the polar opposite of say, Newport or Pall Mall.

So, I'm looking for something that will see fairly heavy use which has a flavor much closer to what I like. When the flavor is too light, I smoke a lot more, which yeah, eliminates all benefits right there.

What advice do you all have for this newcomer?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Magic Of Light]

My advice to you man, if you need a strong menthol flavor, is buy an eGo twist+cartomizers+menthol juice, and get some menthol flavoring to add more if you need it. Best Electronic Cigarettes and E-Liquid - MyFreedomSmokes.com these guys menthol gets great reviews, havent tried it yet myself and cant order for another 1 1/2 weeks, but it looks pretty awesome, and you can order up to 500ml at a time too. Im smoking the v2cigs and i can tell you the menthol is very underwhelming, its passable though, and has kept me down to 4 packs of cigs in the last 2 1/2 weeks. 1 eGo twist 30 bucks, 120ml of juice 50 bucks, 4 smoktech mega dual coil cartomizers 12 bucks, that should be enough to keep you smoking for a month solid.

 

[CSH65]

I would suggest a higher level of nicotine, minimum 24mg and try a peppermint flavor. You might find you like it better than the menthol. You can also buy extra menthol to add to your juice if you want, but don't expect the juice to taste like the cigs. I smoked a lot for a long time. When I started vaping, I realized that I was never going to find anything that tasted like a cig and then it was easy. Now I don't know why I wanted it to taste like cigs. The cigs really don't taste good at all, you are just used to it. For me it was the throat hit, not the flavor so much. I would also start with an eGo Twist or something variable like that because it also does not have to feel like a cig. The eGo will give you much more bang for your buck and its not that expensive. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[Magic Of Light]

They carry TFA menthol, and menthol crystals both, I havent tried any of these but good reviews on the site catch my attention. The prefilled cartridges seem to lack flavor big time, and they cost way more than just having batteries and buying cartos and juice. Here is some awesome math for you man, for 6 months after you buy 2 batteries, your looking at around 40 bucks a month to maintain your smoking habit buying the 500ml juice from mfs, 500ml for 130 compared to buying the small 30ml for 15 constantly...there is just no comparison. Even if the flavor is a little better.

 

[zuzette]

I second the ego twist option - through in a vivi nova or similar tank and you will vape happy all day. Do use a higher nic content than you think you want - you can always go back down but the higher nic will likely keep you off cigs more effectively.
There are many places to buy e juice and many of them will give you double or tripple flavor. Most of these places will customize your juice to whatever spec you make - just put your desires in the comment section.

As for flavors - try try try a whole bunch of flavors and try ones you dont think you will like. Your taste buds are wonky and cigs taste like crap. They really do.
but more importantly - vape is so different from anything else you have ever tried that you perceive the flavor in a whole new way. You will most likely find you like flavors in vape you wont even consider in food or drink. I kid you not Vaping is just a whole new world. and your tastebuds will change rapidly!

As a 2 ppd smoker I expected to want and need some strong and dark flavor but right off the bat I hated tobacco flavors, chocolate and coffee. and menthol (even though I never smoked anything but menthol ever). Then I found I did like tobacco when I tried someone elses. At some point I LOVED RY4 and then just days later thought it tasted like wet pipe. Disgusting.

After several "oh my god this is the only one I will ever vape again" favorites - I have simply realized that there are so many factors influencing our tastes and taste buds that nothing is ever going to taste great for ever or taste as we expect it to. So you might find that you love a flavor you think should hate. For me thats apple. I hate apple flavoring in anything. but in vape - its lovely and fruity and yummy!

 

[Vapoor eyes er]

Last day of sale- variable voltage 650 mah or 1000 mah Twist= $18 and $20. 100 mah= 1 hr vaping before recharge BUT realize 650 is 3" long while the 1000 is 5" long- add an extra 3" for a clearo. With the Twist you'll be able to dial up the voltage for a stronger hit when needed.
Ego-C Twist | Virgin Vapor | Electronic Cigarette Organic e-Liquid | Electronic Cigarettes
also need an atomizer, usb charger, wall adapter, Vivi Nova or cartomizers and juice.

 

[AuBadge]

Welcome, RootWyrm,
1) I've never used/owned an eGo, but it's been recommended so many times by some many here that I'd trust that it's good advice. This is a great forum full of helpful, generous people.

2) I know you think you want ejuice that will mimic your old cigarette brand; even if you found it somewhere I think you'd be disappointed. Tobacco companies go to a lot of effort to put together hundreds (if not thousands) of chemicals designed to make their products appealing and addictive at the same time. As a 'bonus', more than a few of those chemicals not only make cigarettes "tasty" but deadly as well. Go ahead and try some tobacco-flavored juices and get it out of your system. (There actually are some really good tobacco-themed juices out there, but I doubt they will taste like your favorite cigarette) The 'Buttered Rum', 'Apple Pie', 'Bahama Mama', and hundreds of other delicious flavors out there will wait for you...patiently.

3) Read the forum sections devoted to ejuice. They're a good place to get user reviews without buying blind. Don't forget that taste is subjective; what tastes like "Liquid Heaven" to one may taste like the south end of a north-bound moose to another.

4) Be prepared to spend some money on poor choices; there's a learning-curve with vaping. I think we've all bought at least one thing we regret. Don't be discouraged.

5) Please ask for opinions on devices, etc. before you actually buy them. Might save yourself a few bucks. This is fast becoming a pet peeve of mine.

6) Welcome to ECF and Vaping.

 

[SissySpike]

Get you a Lava Tube and some cartomizers then get a tank and start punching your own carts. as for Flavor I smoked camel wides but not menthol. I tried to match the flavor but you don't really need that its the nicotine you will be needing not the flavor Elixir Liquid - American Made E-liquid & Electronic Cigarettes here is a link to a vendow who has some very strong menthol liquid. Id sudjest starting with 24 or 26mg juice.
If you can afford it Vaporlife the joker is a very well made reliable Mod. IBTanked Home here is a link to some inexpensive pirex tanks look around on youtube for carto punching a drywall screw and a hammer is the cheapest option.
Once you have the process down its hassle free reliable and will get you off the smokes welcome and good luck!
Heres some more links to some other informational sights
The Vape Book
The Guide To Vaping Electronic Cigarettes and eLiquid

 

[TBinAZ]

I second the Twist as a first VV device. Get a few inexpensive clearomizers like the CE4s. Kanger makes a decent one and runs about $5 which includes a replaceable atomizer head so you can reuse.

Decent deal: Kanger Clearomizers | 510 Clearomizers | EgO Clearomizers

You can spend all the money in the world and not get a great vape if you don't try some of the better e-liquids out there. Personally, and I've never been a big menthol smoker in my life, but have smoked them, give The Plume Room Newport Type tobacco a try. I bought some for a family member recently, and it really is spot on. I was very impressed. Try some higher nic levels but in smaller quantities at first. I started at 24mg and that quickly became too much. I'm down to 12mg now and really enjoy it.

 

[Buggs5347]

Just think of it as if you are changing brands and adjusting to a new smoke. All the advice above is good. Twist, a little stronger nic and eventually step down on the nic.... You might also look at RAWR for your eliquids - those guys like to put menthol in everything - they probably understand you. Real nice guys to do business with.

 

[tnt56]

I smoked regular and also menthol analogs. I found that the Nport is really ok if you get a high enough nic level. I'm using 28mg from a local shop. Like everyone else has said You'll never find a juice that taste just like the analog. Just give yourself time and you'll do fine. I also recomend the twist. I got two of the 1000mah in a starter kit and they are not shabby at all.

 

[RootWyrm]

Holy crap, that's a lot of replies! Thanks guys. Wow! Definitely came to the right place!

I would suggest a higher level of nicotine, minimum 24mg and try a peppermint flavor. You might find you like it better than the menthol. You can also buy extra menthol to add to your juice if you want, but don't expect the juice to taste like the cigs.

That's the problem I often poorly explain. With me, the nicotene is more or less a non-issue. I've gone cold turkey several times, minimal withdrawal symptoms and gone in a day. Despite smoking for 14 years. That is, unless you count boxes of pens chewed and amount of food eaten to keep my mouth busy, along with pencils destroyed. (Then I get tired of the taste of ink and go back to smoking.) My biggest problem is purely the habit of holding it.
End result is that the biggest problems I had with the Fuma I tried was that it was nothing but menthol, so yeah, just kept pulling figuring the heating element wasn't working. And it was too heavy - way too heavy. I couldn't let it just sit in my mouth, or hold it between my fingers while typing. Without those two features, yeah, it won't work. Yeah, I know, kind of like asking for the cake and eating it too - batteries are heavy as a rule, and so on.

But you all sort of get the idea of what I'm looking for. Something well balanced that's lightweight and will stand up to a lot of jostling about. May as well be asking for the holy grail there, right? ("You forgot to turn off the grail shaped beacon, didn't you?") Lots and lots of options I've looked at, but nobody really talks about "will this setup stand up to being held between index and middle finger, swinging about wildly as you type for hours and hours on end, without turning into a pile of dust." And to put that in perspective - I average >500 keystrokes/minute at a typical speed of >150WPM. So yeah, there is a lot of motion going on there.

So factoring that bit of data in, what's the recommendations there? How do I identify a combination that's tough enough to last more than a week in my hands, but light enough that my lips won't get so tired I go for the cigarette yet again?

 

[Magic Of Light]

Wow man, well I can tell you for certain you wont find a battery that will last more than an hour or so that will accomplish what your asking of it. I use the v2cigs long battery atm, its 380mah 4.2 volts, it gives a nice amount of vapor and throat hit. Bad thing, it only hits well for like maybe 3-4 hours then i have to switch to the other one from the charger. They have a short version, and empty cartridges with filling equipment so you can buy your own juice cause theirs SUCKS.

So maybe buy a v2 mini battery with the empty carts and fill them with your own juice "so you have flavor" if not v2 batteries im sure volt, blue, or smoov have some type of mini battery, even the long version of the v2 battery i can hold in my mouth "takes quite a bit of effort though" standard sized ones are a little easier but still not the same as a cig. The mini is the only answer I can come up with here, but I dont think it will do what you want it to do.

 

[Magic Of Light]

Just looked at the v2 mini batteries, they are rated 150 mah, so your looking at like an hour hour and a half or so of actual smoke time on them. Considering that batteries only last approximately 300 charges, your looking at a very large cost in the long run, maybe you could try having your vaping device on your desk in front of you, and replacing the thing in your fingers with something else like an empty cartridge or someting, and when you want a hit just pick up the pv and hit it till you want to put it down, then pick up the empty cartridge again to hold between your fingers and in your mouth...i know its crap, but its something.

 

[SuziesMom]

Grab a passthrough if you're in front of the computer a lot. They're relatively light because they are USB powered. Also get plenty of drip tips if you are a chewer.

 

[TBinAZ]

Heheh, yep 'holy grail' alright. Ok, so entertain this, and do get something different for when away from the PC. It's worth it.

Ok, I'm going out on a limb here. How about a lightweight 510 passthrough with gooseneck extension? There are shorty cartomizers available which would help with the weight thing. The neck would allow for the weight to be straight downward which should be easier to hold than something sticking straight outward. Just throwing out thoughts here. LOL

Holy crap, that's a lot of replies! Thanks guys. Wow! Definitely came to the right place!



That's the problem I often poorly explain. With me, the nicotene is more or less a non-issue. I've gone cold turkey several times, minimal withdrawal symptoms and gone in a day. Despite smoking for 14 years. That is, unless you count boxes of pens chewed and amount of food eaten to keep my mouth busy, along with pencils destroyed. (Then I get tired of the taste of ink and go back to smoking.) My biggest problem is purely the habit of holding it.
End result is that the biggest problems I had with the Fuma I tried was that it was nothing but menthol, so yeah, just kept pulling figuring the heating element wasn't working. And it was too heavy - way too heavy. I couldn't let it just sit in my mouth, or hold it between my fingers while typing. Without those two features, yeah, it won't work. Yeah, I know, kind of like asking for the cake and eating it too - batteries are heavy as a rule, and so on.

But you all sort of get the idea of what I'm looking for. Something well balanced that's lightweight and will stand up to a lot of jostling about. May as well be asking for the holy grail there, right? ("You forgot to turn off the grail shaped beacon, didn't you?") Lots and lots of options I've looked at, but nobody really talks about "will this setup stand up to being held between index and middle finger, swinging about wildly as you type for hours and hours on end, without turning into a pile of dust." And to put that in perspective - I average >500 keystrokes/minute at a typical speed of >150WPM. So yeah, there is a lot of motion going on there.

So factoring that bit of data in, what's the recommendations there? How do I identify a combination that's tough enough to last more than a week in my hands, but light enough that my lips won't get so tired I go for the cigarette yet again?

 

[Ictinike]

Last day of sale- variable voltage 650 mah or 1000 mah Twist= $18 and $20. 100 mah= 1 hr vaping before recharge BUT realize 650 is 3" long while the 1000 is 5" long- add an extra 3" for a clearo. With the Twist you'll be able to dial up the voltage for a stronger hit when needed.
Ego-C Twist | Virgin Vapor | Electronic Cigarette Organic e-Liquid | Electronic Cigarettes
also need an atomizer, usb charger, wall adapter, Vivi Nova or cartomizers and juice.

I recommend this as well.. I just purchased 2 eGo Twist's @ 1000mah and 2 Vivi Nova tanks and while I don't go into Menthol (yet) I've happily vaping away some Strawberry Fuzz juice that is awesome.

The setup presented here, while an investment to start, is quite adequate and in the long run not much money to put out.. Once your setup the batteries last a long time and if you get 2 you can always have them in rotation so your never down to 2 charging batteries unless you vape quite a bit.

Over time I've found I vape less than I used to smoke but that may be due to the 24mg juice and habit's I'm breaking (chain smoked while on the PC)..

Best of luck and hope is on the horizon my friend!

~Ictinike

 

[JENerationX]

If you absolutely must have something cig-like, then your choices that will hold up are the Smokeless Image Volt (78mms are longer battery life than 65mms), the Smoov, or the Bloog. They are all KR808D batteries and a little longer than a 100 cig. They produce enough vapor to satisfy some... and will hold up decently over time. However, if you're a chain smoker errr... vaper... they're only going to give you a few hours between charges. You have to choose between the form factor, and the battery life you need to get through your day. I personally NEEDED something that was as close to cig size as possible when I started. I went with the 78mm smokeless image volts. I got 4 batteries, and was conscientious about making sure I always had 1 or 2 with a full charge. About a month in, charging all the time got old and I got over the form factor and got the bigger batteries. A 78mm Smokeless Image Volt is 320 mah or MAYBE 3 hours of vape time.... 2 if you're a heavy puffer. The Volt X2 (ego size batteries) are 650mah, 900mah, or 1300mah.... 6-9-13 hours of vape time (or less if you vape heavily). You have to weigh the benefit of size vs. the benefit of not having to be tied to a charger. Ask yourself what your schedule is like... are you able to charge at home and work or are you on the road or away from an outlet quite a bit... would a personal charging case with 3-4 charges get you through a day? Do you want to always have to be conscious of whether you have something charged or not? There is no answer that is right for everyone, but if you take your best shot, are willing to try a few things til you get it right, and work through any initial frustration, you WILL find what's right for you.

 

[RichardV]

I don't know of an e-cig that will come close to your criteria. The smallest battery size available for e-cigs is heavier than a cigarette.
You might try a novel approach that helped me quit cigs for a short time a few years ago. I used a golf pencil for the hand/mouth action I needed, it helped me gradually cut down on the cigs until I was able to totally quit.You could hold this in your mouth or between the fingers until you needed a real drag then grab your e-cig and vape a few times to quell the need.
This way you would not be restricted to using the small lookalike batteries and get an Ego/Kgo size that will hold a longer charge. For the flavor issue you will have to try the different ones available, don't restrict yourself to menthol. I too thought I needed a menthol to get off of cigs. After a couple of weeks the menthol started tasting nasty to me as my tastebuds started working somewhat after 45 years of smoking. I never desired tobacco flavors so I tried fruits & sweets, found a few I liked but as of now my tastebuds are still a bit iffy so I am only using a mild cotton candy flavor in a 30/70 PG/VG base.
Don't worry too much about the expense, it is only money! The real savings will be in your health. I started vaping 6+ months ago and I can now breath much better than I have in years and no longer hack & cough all day long!!