NooB in a panic - I need to make a purchase decision QUICK!

[melloyello]

"Either way, you will need a good battery with enough longevity to go a day (or 1 packs worth) of vaping. Generally I suggest a 150mah battery (since they are real close to cig size) and an additional 250mah battery (which has the capacity to go all day, but is a slight bit longer and heavier..like smoking a 110mm cig)"

a 250mah battery will last all day? when did they come out with this new technology?

 

[Rickajho]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Mostly people just want other people's opinions based on experience, so it's all cool. But we were on the same page. I've made some bad calls because I didn't realize the op's over riding agenda in the question. I told one guy to stick with his cigarettes, based on his criteria, LOL

That's ok everybody. It might sound counter intuitive but all this input is actually helping me to figure this out and what's important in these devices. I'm just in a rush to make a decision on what to buy because of the immediacy of this no smoking policy going into effect. And these policies becoming more and more prevalent in apartment and condo buildings could be why you are seeing more traffic. Do I want to buy I device like this? Really don't have a choice. But let's not get into a discussion about that stuff.

So what's to like about the two piece system with the cartomizer? I see they come in 3 slightly different resistance values. Does that make a difference in the experience? Or do the higher value carto's just last longer.

I'm not really too concerned about any refilling issue. I already refill HP inkjet cartridges. I mean, how much worse could it be than that?

As far was what to use, I'm not sure I would consider myself a light smoker. It's a pack a day minimum on the Pall Mall Blue's. And I do inhale deeply.

Rick - the OP

 

[Credo]

I started out on KR-808D-1 from smoketip.com and used that for quite a few weeks. While I don't regret those smoketip orders (a big savings over real cigs) for a second, it didn't take me long to discover I wanted something more in battery life, and more choices in liquid flavors.

Months into it, I'll still admit that I'm glad I own a mini e-cig like the KR-808D-1, and will always keep one around, but the eGo type batteries are my central work-horses in staying smoke free and vaping several ml of liquid a day for very affordable rates.

If I could do it over again, I'd have started with a middle of the road set-up like a single eGo USB Battery/Passthrough and lots of stuff to try on that battery. I'll call it a 'vaper's explorer kit'. I do spend a lot of time close to a USB port...so it would have been ideal to put more money into various juices and atomizer platforms and less into batteries and chargers on my first purchase.

The eGo Pass-through battery is a 3.7v 650ma battery with a tiny charger built into it. It can be plugged in charging while you use it...and stays at 3.4 - 3.7v. To take the battery out on the go...just pull it off the USB cord and go. It'll last heavy vapors a good 4 hours at least, and more moderate folks a good 6 to 8 hours from a full charge.

Next, there are all kinds of ways to set up for vaping, and they are ALL really good, but they all have various pros and cons. Why not get a sample of them all to start with, so you know better what to 'stock up on' in the future (bulk rate savings)...and have a better idea of 'how much' you will need for your chosen platform?

In fact, I wish some vendor would market a kit somewhat like this out of the box, with one or two samples of everything (so you don't have to get entire boxes just to try the various cartos).

My explorer kit would something like this:
1 eGo USB Passthrough battery (from $20 to $25 dollars each)
1 Regular 510 Atomizer (from $5 to $7 each)
1 LR 510 Atomizer (from $5 to $7 each)
1 package of regular, LUCID, or smart carts w/filler (from $5 to $7 per box)
1 Drip Tip (from $2 to $5 each)
1 Ego T or Turbine atomizer with tanks (from $12 to $15 each w/5pk of tanks)
1 Box of (polyfill based) cartomizers (from $5 to $11 per box)
1 Box of CE2 or Vortex (wick based) cartomizers (from $8 to $13 per box)
A nice sampling of e-liquid strengths and flavors...possibly even some pre-filled cartomizer samples.

In shopping around and taking advantage of coupon codes and sales...it is very much possible to get all this for under $80 and be set for several weeks of exploring the many options that are out there. You can probably find kits based on that battery that include much of what I listed above, but not all...so toss in the extras that you might want to try. You soon know what best fits your preferences, budget, and lifestyle. You know if you want smaller batteries, or bigger batteries, how many, and the types of chargers to invest in....AND you'll still have that nice USB pass through battery that'll last for many many months of quality vaping. Irony...if you purchased just the cord that comes with the eGo USB battery...it could be from $9 to $15 at Walmart!

The main difference in my suggestion and most of the kits you'll find out there...is that I steer you away from two batteries and a charger setup...and divert those funds into lots of goodies to try out on your first battery. Provided you have enough juice...you can vape like a freight train off that first box for weeks before you 'must' buy anything else.

Instead of trying to convince you that one system is the end all and be all....you get a test drive of them all

If your budget is smaller than what I've suggested...skip the eGo tank and CE2 and Vortex type cartomizers at first (That'll shave off over $30 right there and you can try them later if you feel the desire), but definitely pick up some of the lower cost regular polyfilled cartomizers and plenty of juice and/or prefilled cartomizers to try out.

Hope this helps...

PS...I started vaping as a 1 to 1 1/2 pack a day lite cig smoker.
Because the PV allows me to use it indoors...anytime I want, from 0 to 24mg nic levels....
I enjoy it more! I vape more than I ever smoked, and it doesn't break the bank

 

[dormouse]

Did he say he needs all day?

Riva 510 Lite Bundle under $30 at Liberty-Flights.com if you first press the 20% off in the upper left of front page. And also buy Boge soft-cap cartos in standard and LR. Start vaping on standard so you don't cough too much. And if you really want to use the decorative cone over cartos than also get a single Riva 901 cone (fits on Riva 510 and fits over a carto leaving enough of the carto protruding). I also recommend a drip tip and one of the button protectors in the Ego batteries section. And get at least 20ml-30ml of liquid to start. Get some 18mg and some 24mg and don;t get exotic with the flavors because hardware vendors juices are usually not as good as nice PG/VG blends you can get at US juice mixers.

And a suggestion - don't flaunt the ecig on the apartment property. Somebody else did when their apartment building went no-smoking and the management promptly added "this ban includes e-cigarettes" to the rules.

 

[mohawkx]

He needs to move fast and get started. Buy an ego/riva and some cartos and a bottle of juice.

 

[Credo]

a 250mah battery will last all day? when did they come out with this new technology?

Good question...I have 350ma KR batteries that were more like half a pack of smokes when they were brand new. Now more like a couple of cigs each...and they're not but about 2 months old. Don't get me wrong, I love these little batteries...but they just don't last very long.

 

[swedishfish]

I lurked for a while before I took the plunge. Just reading up on stuff before asking questions was really helpful to me. As soon as I got my first package in the mail, I realized I didn't really know anything and started really reading and watcing videos, especially Mistress Nomads post

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-videos-newbies-particular-broke-newbies.html

It was really helpful!

Maybe she made that video before the egos were on sale for $30. Because honestly, I can't imagine why you'd order a 510 if you could get an ego with an 8 hour battery that's cheaper.

 

[Credo]

So what's to like about the two piece system with the cartomizer?

Good quality vape. Not much fuss...little mess.
No seperate atomizer, you get a fresh one with every cart. Use it and toss it in the trash.

Several places carry prefilled cartos for these. Screw them on and vape. Not the cheapest way to vape, but very easy and still cheaper than regular cigs. No worries about separate atomizers and cleaning them. You can also buy the blanks and fill them.

Note: You can still use these cartomizer types on just about any battery, but might require an inexpensive adapter.

Consider for these smaller e-cig kits there are two main types of battery:
Auto batteries are more like smoking a real cig. You drag on them and they work. Sometimes need a little primer puff to get them going.

Manual batteries have a little button to push. A little more flexible...you have more control over how it vapes. These are also sealed off at the end usually...so you don't have to worry as much about dripping juice into them and ruining it if you get into topping your own carts or dripping.

I see they come in 3 slightly different resistance values. Does that make a difference in the experience? Or do the higher value carto's just last longer.

Yes, it makes a difference. The lower the resistance, the warmer the vapor will be. Unless you get a 5v pass through or a big battery mod...anything below 3ohms should be fine. 510/808/901 batteries tend to work well with resistances from 2ohms up to 2.8ohms. Higher values are generally for 5v passthroughs, and bigger batteries from 4v and up.

I'm not really too concerned about any refilling issue. I already refill HP inkjet cartridges. I mean, how much worse could it be than that?

As far was what to use, I'm not sure I would consider myself a light smoker. It's a pack a day minimum on the Pall Mall Blue's. And I do inhale deeply.

Rick - the OP

On juice, consider a a sampler kit of tobacco flavors, and maybe a second sampler kit of 'other flavors'. These e-liquids aren't going to taste just like smoking real tobacco....but they are quite good and for most people do cure that 'urge' to light up a real smoke fairly well. You just have to try things....

 

[dormouse]

Re cartos and attys and ohms. If you get slim batteries you can only use standard resistance. If you buy a fat battery model like Ego or Riva 510 or a 3.7 volt mod then you can use standard or the hotter low resistance which eats battery charge faster but gives a stronger hit. If you buy a high voltage mod then standard becomes your low resistance, and HV becomes your standard.

Re 3-piece and 2-piece - the best models can be either. 510 comes as a 3-piece and can be a 2-piece with blank cartomizers. KR808D-1 (also Vapor4Life) comes as a 2-piece so it has lots of prefilled cartos as well as a good number of blank styles because it is the most supported 2-piece - but you can also screw a DSE901 atty on it and use a cartridge (or a drip tip if you have manual batteries which are safer for dripping). And both have a number of adapters available.

I recommend manual batteries for whatever you get.

Standard KR808D-1 is 280mah and will last 3-4.5 hours for a light to moderate vaper but about 1/2 that for a heavy vaper.

 

[Lambch3p]

Be sure to order juice in your favorite mint. I works great if you don't like the tobacco flavored juice you decide on. Love Credo's shopping list! Lots of variety to figure out what you like and what you don't for not alot of cash outlay. Small batteries dying on you all the time is annoying and fustrating.

 

[earthpig]

mn puffer.
In a KR808D-1, a 250mah, will last a pack. or easily 200 puffs, which is what the poster is needing,,, a day. If you can't get 200+ puffs out of a 250mah 808. Return it for junk.

If you vape 2 to 3 carto's it won't. No doubt.

 

[earthpig]

Sweedfish
Why not an ego?
Because many of us are not happy carrying around a cigar sized heavy unit with buttons to push, to replace what was very light and small.
I've been vaping coming up on a year, and I still don't like the 150mah 510 batteries since they are heavy and won't easily hang in my mouth. I deal with what I consider too heavy.

 

[dormouse]

Get something well-supported that you think is right for you now. It is not going to be your final ecig. Nobody buys just one.

Things you will want to start - at least 2 batteries, if a 3-piece at least 2 atomizers and carts, if a 2-piece some cartomizers including blank ones, chargers. For the AC part of chargers I like to use Rosewill 4-port 2amp USB to AC and I can stick up to 4 battery or PCC charging cables in that (one one the end can be the short no-cable stubby adapter kind) - I have a setup at home and one at work. And you need starter juice 20-30ml and don't get too exotic and you may want to split that between 2 or 3 nicotine levels.

other things you might want - a PCC for charging on the go (very handy), a passthrough for vaping without using up battery charge or if you get caught with no charged battery, and a 3rd battery and if a 3-piece a 3rd atomizer, and a drip tip for a manual 3-piece, or a compatible atomizer and drip tip for a 2-piece (KR808D-1 can use a DSE901 atty w/ no adapter)

I recommend manual batteries

 

[Rickajho]

Thanks everyone. I think I have narrowed my choices down to two: The Joye eGo stainless with 900 mAh batteries:

https://www.cignot.com/product_p/zzz-ego-stn.htm

or the Riva 510 - Carto Deluxe with the 750 mAh batterie:

Electronic Cigarette - Starter Kits - Riva 510

In both of these I am looking at the battery capacity issue. I couldn't imagine anything more frustrating for a new user of this technology than short battery run times while you are trying to figure everything out.

I guess it comes down to aesthetics and whether the 2 piece carto system has the advantage in the Riva system. One is cheaper... The other has free shipping... Price isn't a deal breaker here.

Still not sure about the nicotine level matter. Didn't cigarette manufacturer's put the nicotine level on the packs at one point in time? Or was that part of the pitch for "light" cigarettes, that their legal departments eventualy decided wasn't such a good idea to promote? Anyway, I just checked my pack and nope, none of that tar & nicotine info to be found.

One thought I have had is that if you shoot too high, can you dilute liquids down. I've seen at least one place selling unflavored PG for that purpose.

 

[Credo]

Sweedfish
Why not an ego?
Because many of us are not happy carrying around a cigar sized heavy unit with buttons to push, to replace what was very light and small.
I've been vaping coming up on a year, and I still don't like the 150mah 510 batteries since they are heavy and won't easily hang in my mouth. I deal with what I consider too heavy.

When I play golf or fish, nothing beats a KR808D-1 shorty. I can hang it from my mouth, swing my club, and take a drag all at once. But I need way more than one battery to make it through 18 holes.

On the other hand...my USB eGo Passthrough battery...
I can pull it off the computer, screw on a carto, put a couple of fresh cartos in my pocket for good faith...toke it all the way to work in the car off battery power, and be all set for a day at the office (where I also have access to a USB port). I don't have to carry around a bunch of stuff...cases...chargers...and so on to go with all that...it hangs in a small leather pouch on my belt (or around my neck).

Both are great
If you're on a budget:
Just consider what you'd rather 'try out vaping' with. Stacks of batteries and chargers...or cartos/attys and juices to try.

If money is no object...just pick one at a good price and click buy me If you enjoy vaping...you will probably end up getting both types...or more

Any of the platforms suggested here in this thread are quality vapes, none of them are rip off prices, and you should well get your money's worth.

 

[Credo]

Thanks everyone. I think I have narrowed my choices down to two: The Joye eGo stainless with 900 mAh batteries:

https://www.cignot.com/product_p/zzz-ego-stn.htm

or the Riva 510 - Carto Deluxe with the 750 mAh batterie:

Electronic Cigarette - Starter Kits - Riva 510

In both of these I am looking at the battery capacity issue. I couldn't imagine anything more frustrating for a new user of this technology than short battery run times while you are trying to figure everything out.

I guess it comes down to aesthetics and whether the 2 piece carto system has the advantage in the Riva system. One is cheaper... The other has free shipping... Price isn't a deal breaker here.

Still not sure about the nicotine level matter. Didn't cigarette manufacturer's put the nicotine level on the packs at one point in time? Or was that part of the pitch for "light" cigarettes, that their legal departments eventualy decided wasn't such a good idea to promote? Anyway, I just checked my pack and nope, none of that tar & nicotine info to be found.

One thought I have had is that if you shoot too high, can you dilute liquids down. I've seen at least one place selling unflavored PG for that purpose.

Looks good, both of those places are top notch vendors...great service.

On Nic levels....it's hard to say. I was a light cig smoker and still vape mostly from 5 to 12mg. I am able to vape all day, anytime I want....so it works very well for me.

If you can only vape during a few breaks a day...consider bumping up to a higher nic...
With stock equipment like this, In vaping, the nicotine is a little slower to absorb into your system as compared to real smokes (with all those other burning chems and carcinogens to accelerate nic absorption).

For some juices (to me), the higher nic gives more throat hit...for other flavors I've found that nic doesn't seem to effect it much at all.

Try a bit of each if you can afford it right now...you'll vape it all so none of it will be wasted

If on a tighter budget...yep, you can go for higher and dilute it, or maybe start in the middle and tough it out till you order again if it's a bit to strong for ya.

 

[Credo]

Oh...don't forget...
You can run those eGo/Riva batteries as two piece systems as well.
You can use their native 510 threaded cartomizers
and
You can pick up an inexpensive adapter to use the KR808D-1 and 901 stuff.

 

[Credo]

Ah...with either of those kits...strongly consider picking up a box of 510 cartomizers to try on the side.

These make you a two piece system that holds a good deal more juice, and doesn't require you to 'pack a cart' nearly as often. Really good for on the go vaping.

Also get a drip tip!
For dripping right on the bridge...very handy.

 

[musiceqlslife21]

Get a Riva or an eGo Kit, it was my first and I now have 4 Kits total. The best places to go in my opinion are....

E-Liquid and Electronic Cigarette Shop - Category Listings
FreedomSmokeUSA
Or
Electronic Cigarette Store | Ecigs | Electronic Cigarettes and e-juice by e-cigg!
and get the mad max eGo kit(will let you know how much battery life you have, the best alternative in my book.) possibly with some different atty's and adapters to figure out what is right with you. But make sure you get some 510 atty's for sure just incase that you find in the future you like to drip.

 

[Rickajho]

Ah...with either of those kits...strongly consider picking up a box of 510 cartomizers to try on the side.

These make you a two piece system that holds a good deal more juice, and doesn't require you to 'pack a cart' nearly as often. Really good for on the go vaping.

Also get a drip tip!
For dripping right on the bridge...very handy.

Thanks again. I was wondering if you could do that - convert to cartomizers - with the eGo. I'm going to need to order some carts of some sort to go with.

I take it the eGo atomizer comes out when a cartomizer goes in?