After following ECF for many months for information, reviews, expertise and experience (big thanks to ECF for this, BTW), I have decided to share my personal experience to inform and possibly inspire others who might be on the edge themselves.
Smoking and I: The typical peer pressure, I suppose. Grew up with both parents smoking, hated it, vocalized it, but dealt with it. Changed schools early in high school, on the same day as another guy with the same name, birthday, and we were both "ginger kids". He was a smoker, thus I started smoking @ 14. Continued to smoke until 28, was able to quit with my best friend in UK who had to make a complete lifestyle change due to a large blood clot from a sports injury (oh, and we both went on Zyban/Wellbutrin/Buproprin). Was good for 6 years until my dad died and I still have no idea why I started again, but it stuck until 4 months ago. I have been analog free for over 3 months, and l haven't once had a desire to resume since vaping full time.
vaping and I: My first experience was from one of the unnamed "mall vendors" shortly after my dad died. I knew I didn't really want to smoke still, but I was hooked and looking for alternatives. Needless to say, e-cigs failed miserably for me at this time, probably due to cheap product, poor taste, poor vapor, throat hit, etc. Trying to switch lasted ~1 month, analogs mixed in.
Success? and I: While in Afghanistan, a good friend of mine was quite intent on quitting once she turned 30 (which happened to be over there). Incredibly hard to do while deployed - packs are ~ $1. I googled extensively, would up here for most of my information, and bit the bullet on some APVs for my friend and I. I stated using it with her from her birthday onward, analogs from time to time, then quit before we left 'Stan.
My progression of ecigs/APVs:
Juice and I: Every ECF person will say the same thing - taste is subjective to every person. However, good is still good. Recommendations are key to helping people find what they like without breaking the bank. Again, these are my opinions at the time of using, and will summarize my favorites based on my preferences at the end.
Separated by vendor:
VapeHut (the ones I tried were all Dekang)
Mister E-Liquid (USA made) Note: I really like the rechecking of my shipping invoice by hand and the handwritten notes. This vendor has customer service/satisfaction in mind. Thank you, Mr E! Note 2: all my mixes are Mr E blend (33% VG)
Fuzion Vapor: My new fave juice supplier, hands down. Why? Personal emails from Shane if I have questions (customer courtesy is paramount in today's society, where so few places seem to have it anymore) and because he is an e-liquid WIZARD (I truly believe this).Note: my mixes are Shane's normal ratio, all with extra flavor shots.
So - my FAVES: in order Root Beer Barrel, Purple Pieman, Unicorn Blood, Dekang RY4 (someone help me on this, I would rather replace this with a great USA RY4 that is always/usually in stock, I hear great things about Backwoods Brew, but when?!?!?!). Dying to get my hands on some Gorilla Juice and the (in)famous Boba's Bounty.
APVs:
Tanks:
Well, that about sums it up, hope to post more frequently in the future.
Thank you again, ECF and Pbusardo- it was your knowledge and support which has helped inform and enable me to quit smoking analogs, make informed decisions, and become a vape hobbyist/enthusiast!
Smoking and I: The typical peer pressure, I suppose. Grew up with both parents smoking, hated it, vocalized it, but dealt with it. Changed schools early in high school, on the same day as another guy with the same name, birthday, and we were both "ginger kids". He was a smoker, thus I started smoking @ 14. Continued to smoke until 28, was able to quit with my best friend in UK who had to make a complete lifestyle change due to a large blood clot from a sports injury (oh, and we both went on Zyban/Wellbutrin/Buproprin). Was good for 6 years until my dad died and I still have no idea why I started again, but it stuck until 4 months ago. I have been analog free for over 3 months, and l haven't once had a desire to resume since vaping full time.
vaping and I: My first experience was from one of the unnamed "mall vendors" shortly after my dad died. I knew I didn't really want to smoke still, but I was hooked and looking for alternatives. Needless to say, e-cigs failed miserably for me at this time, probably due to cheap product, poor taste, poor vapor, throat hit, etc. Trying to switch lasted ~1 month, analogs mixed in.
Success? and I: While in Afghanistan, a good friend of mine was quite intent on quitting once she turned 30 (which happened to be over there). Incredibly hard to do while deployed - packs are ~ $1. I googled extensively, would up here for most of my information, and bit the bullet on some APVs for my friend and I. I stated using it with her from her birthday onward, analogs from time to time, then quit before we left 'Stan.
My progression of ecigs/APVs:
- Mall Vendor junk
- eGo-C for my friend and I, along with an eVic (the Geek in me said ooh - shiny and features!), Vivi Novas and some liquid from the best site I had been to (at that time) - Vapehut
- Tesla (black) and Sigelei Zmax V3 Telescope (wanted to see what all the fuss about dual batt mods was and well, the Tesla looks... AWESOME) - VaporAlley
Juice and I: Every ECF person will say the same thing - taste is subjective to every person. However, good is still good. Recommendations are key to helping people find what they like without breaking the bank. Again, these are my opinions at the time of using, and will summarize my favorites based on my preferences at the end.
Separated by vendor:
VapeHut (the ones I tried were all Dekang)
- Desert Ship: (I was a Camel Light smoker, seemed like the best fit): decent, but I found that I do not like "straight-up" cigarette flavored e-liquid. I was quitting to get rid of that smell (and the health benefits, sense of taste, better sleep, and all the other reasons, of course). I vaped this during the middle of the day (when I mostly got the hey man, wanna come smoke?)
- Lote Green Arrow: I like mint gum, so I said hey, why not? Good minty flavor, did get a little funny after a tank or two. This was my morning vape - seemed to go great after brushing teeth, with my first coffee, up until breakfast.
- RY4: Mild tobacco with vanilla and caramel. Flavors that I detected from most to least were vanilla, caramel, then tobacco. I actually really preferred this flavor more than the other two. This began as my after dinner vape, then became my All Day Vape once I had fully quit analogs.
Mister E-Liquid (USA made) Note: I really like the rechecking of my shipping invoice by hand and the handwritten notes. This vendor has customer service/satisfaction in mind. Thank you, Mr E! Note 2: all my mixes are Mr E blend (33% VG)
- Root Beer Barrel: I love root beer, especially small batch (Virgil's shout out) and brewery brewed (yeast carbonated, not soda water) so I jumped all over this. Loved it from day 1. Tasted more like the root beer barrel candy, but spot on. FAVE
- G.T.F.O.: Vanilla, Caramel, Chocolate, Espresso, and Raspberry as described. Good, but maybe too much flavors? I like mine a little less complex.
- Grey Matter: I got Vanilla and Tobacco from this one. Very subtle, easily an ADV.
- Ch Ch Chai Tea: Good morning vape. Lots of ginger in this one, smooths out with steeping.
- Sweet Smarts: Great dessert vape, really does taste just like Sweet Tarts.
- Peppermint Espresso: espresso coffee taste with hint of mint. Not a fan, personally. Tasted like burnt coffee/dirt? Will try again later after steeping more.
- Bubblegum: Bazooka Joe all the way! Good dessert vape.
- Jamocha Haze: Tastes like the ice cream from Baskin Robbins, just less sweet (a good thing). Nice morning vape, even an ADV.
- Throwback Cola: The only fail of the bunch for me. Only way I can describe the taste is old Coca-Cola (early 80s) or Soda Shop. Problem is the soapy undertones.
- Mr E's RY4: Way too sweet for me. I need to try another RY4 or find a way to cut this down? Anyone have suggestions on how to do this??
Fuzion Vapor: My new fave juice supplier, hands down. Why? Personal emails from Shane if I have questions (customer courtesy is paramount in today's society, where so few places seem to have it anymore) and because he is an e-liquid WIZARD (I truly believe this).Note: my mixes are Shane's normal ratio, all with extra flavor shots.
- Unicorn Blood: The site says it tastes like rainbows, and I concur, but want to throw in some extra happiness for good measure. The only way I can describe is like the best tasting Hawiian Punch, evar! It is sweet, but not overpoweringly so, YMMV.
- Purple Pieman: Bananas and Blueberries. De lish e oso. Would be an ADV if I got more, only got a sampler of this one.
So - my FAVES: in order Root Beer Barrel, Purple Pieman, Unicorn Blood, Dekang RY4 (someone help me on this, I would rather replace this with a great USA RY4 that is always/usually in stock, I hear great things about Backwoods Brew, but when?!?!?!). Dying to get my hands on some Gorilla Juice and the (in)famous Boba's Bounty.
APVs:
- eVic - first APV I used, great for beginners IMO. The puff count was a really big help. Easy to read, long battery life, USB charging (no extra charger was a plus!), VV and VW. Not much more to say.
- Tesla - OMG I love this APV. I can understand the nitpicks about the screen/button placement, but I use VW mostly. Set and forget, so I have no need to stare at my screen. Looks amazing, fits nicely in my hand, no-slippy grip. Just built solid, while looking like it is made of awesome.
- Sigelei Zmax V3 - I love the telescoping feature. I can go low profile with an 18350, longer life with an 18650, and moar powa with double stack 18350. Win in my book. I do not like the single button menu clickfest. Still, seems well built and I like the versatility.
Tanks:
- Vivi Nova V2/3: Personally, I think these tanks are great. Easy fill, easy clean, cheap replacement atty heads in numerous resistances. My only negative thing to say is one of my tanks now leaks around the threads. Probably my fault for not letting cool enough after cleaning with hot water and then screwing base back on, but thought I should point this out nonetheless.
- SmokTek DCT: I want so bad to like these, as they are easy to use and are like a smash bang fusion of a cartomizer and a tank. I just don't get good flavor from them. If one of the experts here can set me straight, I would appreciate some advice to get more love from these.
- Kanger Protank: Until I start doing rebuildables, this is my go-to tank. Elegant looking, great flavor continuity, solid build quality, presentation (the box made me say YES!), oh and they vape really, really easy. I almost feel like they push vapor into my mouth as opposed to dragging if that makes sense.
Well, that about sums it up, hope to post more frequently in the future.
Thank you again, ECF and Pbusardo- it was your knowledge and support which has helped inform and enable me to quit smoking analogs, make informed decisions, and become a vape hobbyist/enthusiast!
). It's nice to give up something and find something to replace it that is so much better for us. Vape on
