Pack a day for 20+ years

[skullblade789]

Something that most vapers will tell you is go to your local vape store (not a tobacco store) and have them fit you with something to try. It will take time and you will evolve, but it will get you on the right path. Shinitis will get the better of you at times. I would start with a Kanger Sub tank and a 30w eleaf stick. It is a great setup and if you have any issues pm me and I can help you. As a starter set it really is great to start there and work your way up. I even use my 30w eleaf from time to time. Still a great device. I wish you luck in your endeavors and do not let them sell you the baddest and latest and greatest. Get what you are comfortable with and progress from there.

Everyone will have the story that worked for them. It is now your journey to take to get off of cigs. Will it be right a way. No. Will it be difficult, assuredly. Will you probably smoke a few and cheat. Yes. Do not get on yourself. Just pick up the old boot straps and try what works for you. What worked for us might not work for you. All we can do is point you in the right direction to what might be comfortable.

I however do not recommend the ego's or the blu cigalikes. I recommend the setup listed above because when you are looking for the 2-3 pack a day draw from the vape it is comparable and satisfied the lung hits. You will eventually go with that setup when you evolve in the vaping process. Most of us did. So why not start with a really good starter.

Welcome to ECF and good luck on your journey.

 

[90VG]

I started by visiting a vape shop. They hooked me up with a Sigelei mini 30 and an Atlantis/Aspire. It worked for me. Then I got the subtank mini and kbox. I still vape the subtank, but on temp control usually. I have a lot of new subtank minis in the box, just in case. The only thing I ever threw away was the Smok R200 and the Kanger KBox. The rest I still have, and sometimes I vape my original mod for sentimental reasons.

 

[zoiDman]

Wow, great advice here!
I'm curious how you know when 24mg is too much? My naïve thinking would be the stronger the better.

Using the Hardware that was around in late 2009, I had to go Higher than 24mg/ml to get over the 1st Two Week Hump.

I wouldn't get too Hung Up on Numbers though. Todays Hardware is MUCH Better than what people were using when I switched. So 24mg/ml might be Too Much using Modern Atomizers.

For Cig-a-like type e-Cigarettes, I would start at 18mg/ml or so. For more Modern "Tank" styled atomizers, I would start at 12mg/ml or maybe even Less.

The main thing I would just concentrate on Right Now is getting a Flavor or 2 that you like. Something that you can use all day.

 

[DingerCPA]

Welcome @Yaker

Each of us is different in our journeys. What works for one may not work for another. There are some who still have a couple of cigarettes a day.

I tried, back in 2010, a cigalike kit (a client showed me what he was using, and I thought it "looked cool") So I ordered one. Instantly frustrated by the "lack of battery life" (and really not knowing what I was doing) I fizzled.

Came back to my kit about a year later, but the fiddly cartridges and lame battery burst my bubble again.

Two years later, I watched my Uncle die from lung cancer. Knew I needed to, but didn't have the MIND SET to allow myself to succeed. About six months later, I finally made one more foray (after I STUMBLED across ECF and the fact there was a vape shop RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM ME). Bought another (slightly more advanced) kit - pen-style batteries, a real "tank" and my own assortment of juices. Grabbed a couple of Spinners and Evod tanks. Got myself to the point that I was "guilty" for spending money on BOTH cigarettes and vape gear.

Bought my last pack of cigarettes on Friday, March 7, 2014. Smoked the last three of that pack on Monday, March 10, 2014. Haven't bought another pack or smoked another cigarette since. (I was easily PAD, and upwards of 2PAD if I was out drinking with my friends.)

The majority of my motivation was financial, but once I stopped wheezing and hacking up a lung every morning, I knew I was going to make it.

My journey has been mostly "mental". Once I acknowledged THAT, I was on my way to success. I'm almost 30 months smoke-free, and grateful. I've expanded my gear horizons and learned as much as possible about being "self-sufficient" when it comes to equipment and juice. I took a LOT of baby-steps, and I'm now walking. I may never "run", but I'll be o.k.

Read as much as you can, and ask questions. There are so many folks here willing to lend a hand.

 

[Jstcriusen]

The problem for die hard smokers is it is getting harder to find good Mouth to lung (MTL)devices anymore.
I have a stash of Penelope's and Ithakas.
They both use silica.There fairly hard to build for a beginner. There basically extinct now as that type of vaping is practically out of style. Seems in most silica MTL Devices 24 MG nic 50/50 Pg-Vg juices gave me the most Cig. type hit.
A atomizer with a cotton type filler core I would go at least 18 mg .If its a good MTL atomizer. Meaning it has a nice tight draw,just like a smoke.

The airier devices that fill your mouth easily or some you can actually breathe through I never liked. I tried them off of buddies and a few of my own. There way different then smoking in my opinion. Not saying it cant work for you. You need lower nic or it will most likely gag you but its not like smoking so the conversion may be harder.

I tried quite a few of the modern tanks. I would say for a starter tank try the Joy ego one. The airflow can be cut to a minimal amount, Even at the closed postion You can still get a cig like drag off it . Easy to get out of a flooded condition if needed. Also its fairly cheap. Go with the 1 ohm replacement heads. I dont know about there entire kit but any 18650 battery type mod that will adjust down to lower wattage like the I Stick 30 like others have mentioned would do fine.

I smoked for over 30 years. 1 to 2 packs of Newport 100,s a day. I'm still vaping 18 to 24mg nic MTL style (for like 5 years now). I dont think its The nic I need Its the punch in the throat on inhale I like.

On a side note: You prob. cant find a juice that tastes like a smoke. Menthol yes.......Taste no...
I went down that road. In the end I'm a Vanilla Vaper. Pick some flavors you think you might like and try them. There's Lots...... Even if they say they mimic cig type flavors. Just dont expect them to be the same as any you cig you ever tried.



Good luck!!!!

 

[Ipster]

Welcome Yaker,
Congrats!
you've hit the right site. Because you're new here..my 2 cents..the "baditude" and others that happened upon your
post are the grand masters here...where you'll find help, support, education, and advice,
I can certainly vouch for the blogs and library here.
One day at a time, once you find the right substitute, you'll probably know immediately.
Bad's blogs are great!
(10) Advancing Up the Vaping Ladder with Egos and Mods | E-Cigarette Forum
CHeers, well done.

 

[Mowgli]

copied from my submitted story to the FDA 2 years ago:

"I regularly smoked at least 25-30 cigarettes/day I tried to quit using hypnosis twice, the patch and/or nicotine gum countless times and cold turkey enough times to know that wouldn't work for me. All were unsuccessful for more than a few hours (usually) to a few days (at most). The few times that I managed to last more than a few hours I was cranky and miserable. I had a heart attack 4 years ago and only managed 17 days smoke-free just on fear alone. Fear for my life wasn't even enough to make me stay quit. I tried a few smokes and didn't drop dead so I got back up to 25-30/day within a week.

In 2013 I saw someone vaping and asked him about his e-cigarette. He told me he'd been smoke-free for 3 months using it. I tried an Njoy from the gas station and thought it was ok but it only lasted a few hours and I knew there would be something better available. I Googled and found a mall kiosk a few miles away. I tried and bought a rechargeable kit with assorted flavors and cut down to a few cigs per day immediately. I read continuously about vaping at ECF and other online forums and found a local vape shop offering more advanced systems and a countless variety of flavors. I visited and asked him to load a tank of his most popular flavor for me to try. I puffed an atomic fireball. I exclaimed "expletive deleted! That's an atomic fireball!" I bought all of his Fireball juice, a variety of fruit & candy flavors and a decent, variable voltage rechargeable ego battery kit. That was 3/28/2013. That was the day I completely switched from smoking to vaping. I haven't had a puff of smoke in over a year directly due to vaping candy, desert and fruit/berry flavored nicotine. I get the hand/mouth activity with the nicotine hit without the deadly smoke and associated mess.

I started at 24mg/ml for a few weeks, dropped to 18mg because I like the activity so I vape a lot and maintained that level for about a year. I lowered again to 12mg a few months ago so I can taste my flavors better. My latest blood work is better than my cardiologist's (he's 10 years younger and he jogs). I hike farther with less rest stops than before. When I smoked I couldn't take a deep breath without coughing. I can feel how much healthier I am and my blood work and stress test convinced my cardiologist. He's not a vaper but totally supports my switch."

 

[Iron Molly]

Can't add much more than what has already been said. Just going to say that it does sometimes take some work and trial and error to find what will work for you specifically. For me, I think one of the keys was not pushing myself to stop smoking. Use both for as long as you need to. Eventually, you won't want the smokes anymore. Congratulations on making the switch!

 

[BrotherBob]

Welcome and glad you joined.
Might like to read:
Beginner | Guide To Vaping
ECigarette Academy: Essential Need to Know for New Vapers
One Stop Reference Shop For New and Experienced Vapers
Learn About Vaping Here - Everything Ecigs - From Beginner To Advanced
Ch. 4 E Cig Battery Basics: Cig-a-Likes, Egos, and Mods – Vapex
Please start off with beginner equipment as defined above (red refs). Lots of folks skip the important steps to learning and end up wondering why vaping is not for them.

 

[Mowgli]

Can't add much more than what has already been said. Just going to say that it does sometimes take some work and trial and error to find what will work for you specifically. For me, I think one of the keys was not pushing myself to stop smoking. Use both for as long as you need to. Eventually, you won't want the smokes anymore. Congratulations on making the switch!

I tried vaping with that attitude and I think it made all the difference.
I shamed myself all the times I tried other methods and failed.

This time I promised myself before I even bought that first Njoy that I'm just trying it to see if it can work and I'll smoke if I want to. I kept that attitude until I finished my last cigarette.
I finished the pack that I had when I started and felt I wasn't ready to completely quit yet so I bought another pack. By that time I was down to about 3 smokes a day and felt foolish every time I went out for one. I'd vape for a few hours and "reward" myself with a smoke. It didn't feel like a reward anymore by that point. My last pack lasted over a week and I knew I was quit the day that I smoked that last one. I finished that last one just so I could crush the pack.
I knew when I was done and haven't had a puff of smoke since that last nasty ashtray tasting 'Boro
Attitude makes a huge difference. Be kind to yourself @Yaker

 

[Opinionated]

Simple question, maybe.
To anyone who has successfully made the switch after smoking a pack a day for 20+ years, how did you do it? I tried several years ago without success, but I know things have come a long way. So what model, juice, etc... got you off the cigs?
Thanks,
Yaker

Stopped with:

Joye eGo ONE Starter Kit 2.5ml 2200mAh - Stainless

Using kanger tanks, and premium e juice. 18 mg Nicotine, chain vaped. My favorite juices are sweet desert flavors, cheesecake, hazelnut, butter pecan, tiramisu etc.

Stopped a two pack a day over 30 year habit of Marlboro reds, full flavor.

You have to want to because you will still go through some withdrawal, or at least I did,but all you have to do is get through the first two weeks without a cigarette, and you will stop wanting one after that, even if people smoke around you.

My sister quit with a Kanger subbox mini.Kangertech SUBOX Kit with KBOX Mini and Subtank Mini - Black

Links are not recommendations for stores, just showing you so you can see, if you like either one, shop around for prices.