Please allow me to introduce myself

[Baditude]

I don't buy from vape shops anymore, and I used to work in one. Most mark up prices 50 - 80 %, and most will try to sell you what they carry in stock regardless of whether it is a good setup for you as an individual. I only shop and buy online from reputable online stores.

The smartest shopper is an educated one who has done some research before entering the store.

 

[AXIOM_1]

I started it less to keep me off cigarettes than to reintroduce nicotine into my life, since I had read a number of articles saying it might be helpful in warding off some of the damage caused by multiple sclerosis. .

Sorry to hear about your MS, that can be a nasty disorder for sure..... Like others have said here, I would stick with 12MG of nicotine to start off with and then slowly reduce it if you need to..... You will definitely know if you get too much nicotine as you will get nicotine headaches which are not too much fun. I have experienced them when I first started vaping as I had my nic levels way too high.....

Let me know what you think of the Zenith tank/Mod .... I am betting you will enjoy it

 

[rmhale]

Glad to see you here and hope you've found the device you've been looking for...

 

[Zazie]

The reason I'd like to be able to poke around in a good brick-and-mortar vape store is that I'd be able to handle the mods. I have no idea if the Kroma-A will feel comfortable in my hand; I have no idea how well I'll be able to see the screen. Internet shopping is great but has its drawbacks. In a vape shop, I could be one of those annoying people who slowly walks around a store, touching everything, maybe asking whether it was possible to sample any wares, and then leaves without buying a thing.

 

[Baditude]

The reason I'd like to be able to poke around in a good brick-and-mortar vape store is that I'd be able to handle the mods. I have no idea if the Kroma-A will feel comfortable in my hand; I have no idea how well I'll be able to see the screen. Internet shopping is great but has its drawbacks. In a vape shop, I could be one of those annoying people who slowly walks around a store, touching everything, maybe asking whether it was possible to sample any wares, and then leaves without buying a thing.

Watching You Tube videos of the mod you're interested in can help. You can get an idea of how large it is and a better idea how it fits in the reviewer's hand. Some are more comfortable to use your index finger to use the fire button, and others are more comfortable to use your thumb.

But I agree, seeing and feeling the mod "in the flesh" can't be beat.

 

[AXIOM_1]

The reason I'd like to be able to poke around in a good brick-and-mortar vape store is that I'd be able to handle the mods. I have no idea if the Kroma-A will feel comfortable in my hand; I have no idea how well I'll be able to see the screen. Internet shopping is great but has its drawbacks. In a vape shop, I could be one of those annoying people who slowly walks around a store, touching everything, maybe asking whether it was possible to sample any wares, and then leaves without buying a thing.

You have a point .... But if you see and study as many mods/tanks as most people on this forum do then you can tell just by looking at review videos about what the device will feel like and perform like..... Look at this review by the renowned PBusardo and it will give you a real good idea of how the device works.

 

[Cooperant]

The reason I'd like to be able to poke around in a good brick-and-mortar vape store is that I'd be able to handle the mods. I have no idea if the Kroma-A will feel comfortable in my hand; I have no idea how well I'll be able to see the screen. Internet shopping is great but has its drawbacks. In a vape shop, I could be one of those annoying people who slowly walks around a store, touching everything, maybe asking whether it was possible to sample any wares, and then leaves without buying a thing.

Hey Zazie, vape shops are places to try out things and also to talk and connect over your likes and dislikes in vaping. After you get in the door, it's up to the shop owner to make a sale. However, as a customer, I like to spend a modest amount when I try out different things and take some time with one of the clerks. I feel it's fair, you are provided with a service that can save you a lot of money on buying the wrong thing. It will also make your vape shop personnel more intent on presenting the other wares, and on treating you well on return. I buy one or two ten ml bottles, or some different cotton, a drip tip or a vape band. These small items have good margins for the owners and won't break the bank. But then I worked in retail, so I'm invested in the matter
Hope you get a chance to go to a great shop some time.

 

[Zazie]

Oh, I know. I was being a bit of a blowhard; I'd almost certainly buy something small out of courtesy, especially if the staff was helpful. But I will likely never get the chance to trot out my IRL shopping manners because the odds that I'll ever get to a vape store are very long.

 

[Cooperant]

Thats great * By the way, what you said about nicotine in relationship to MS really resonated with my partner. Thanks for putting that out there. Right now he doesn't have access to vaping supplies so he's on the smokes and that choice is not always understood.

*Edit: Sorry, I mean great to hear. I'm not always good with understanding figures of speech. It's led to some pretty funny situations in the past

 

[BrotherBob]

because the odds that I'll ever get to a vape store are very long.

Could fill in your location, it may help you in obtaining location specific information to your question(s).
On the top right hand corner of this post you will find --"your name" next to "Inbox and Alerts"
Place the mouse pointer on your name. You will get a drop down and on the left hand side of this drop down you will find "Personal Details". Click Personal Details.
In Personal Details, in middle of screen in gray, you will find "Location" Could fill that box line in.
re: New users - Put your location in your Profile...

 

[Zazie]

Thats great * By the way, what you said about nicotine in relationship to MS really resonated with my partner. Thanks for putting that out there. Right now he doesn't have access to vaping supplies so he's on the smokes and that choice is not always understood.

*Edit: Sorry, I mean great to hear. I'm not always good with understanding figures of speech. It's led to some pretty funny situations in the past

It's my understanding that cigarettes are terrible for MS but nicotine may be good for it. It's all the other chemicals in cigarettes that do the harm, apparently. They're addictive in their own way, too, and are one of the reasons some smokers don't take to vaping. Some don't like American Spirit cigarettes, either, because they're free of all the extras.

For me, vaping is what I always wished smoking could be. Gone are the headaches, sore throats and scorched tongue (except when there's too much PG in the juice--that stuff kills my mouth and throat), smoking-induced heartburn, coughing. Plus no more reek of smoke. I do wonder sometimes what inhaling vaporized glycerine and propylene glycol will do to my lungs long term, though. Guess I'll find out!

 

[Zazie]

Another question: I keep reading/hearing that Zenith's 1.6 ohm coils take a really long time to break in. Anyone know why this is so?

 

[Zazie]

Me, again. After a lot of reading and thinking, I'm leaning toward getting a replaceable battery mod as well, because I hate the idea of being unable to vape while the Kroma-A is charging and am a little worried about pass-through vaping. I'm leaning toward the Pico 25. For batteries, I'm considering either the Sony 18650 VTC5a High Drain 35a continuous battery (2600mah) or the Samsung High Drain INR18650-25R 20A (2500mah). For charger, the Xtar VP2. With another Zenith tank and extra coils, this is going to bring my total expenditure up to almost $150 for the two setups. I wish I hadn't jumped the gun on the Kroma-A and just gone for the Pico to begin with.

Rats.

 

[Baditude]

Me, again. After a lot of reading and thinking, I'm leaning toward getting a replaceable battery mod as well, because I hate the idea of being unable to vape while the Kroma-A is charging and am a little worried about pass-through vaping. I'm leaning toward the Pico 25. For batteries, I'm considering either the Sony 18650 VTC5a High Drain 35a continuous battery (2600mah) or the Samsung High Drain INR18650-25R 20A (2500mah). For charger, the Xtar VP2. With another Zenith tank and extra coils, this is going to bring my total expenditure up to almost $150 for the two setups. I wish I hadn't jumped the gun on the Kroma-A and just gone for the Pico to begin with.

I'm not sure the Pico 25 is a wise choice for the Zenith tank. There's not much room for the tank because of the battery knob taking up so much space. It may work, but it will probably be a tight fit. The Ello tank is allegedly 25mm and it fits. I've seen the Zenith described as a 23, 24, and 25mm depending upon the vendor.

The Xtar VP charger is a great choice. I have the VP4 and love it.

Batteries you've chosen are good, however for future reference you might get longer use with a lower amp battery with more mAh, depending upon what wattage setting you end up using.

WATTAGE PER SINGLE BATTERY on REGULATED MOD:
(Total wattage doubles using 2 batteries; Triples using 3 batteries.)

Up to 45W:

Samsung 18650 30Q, 3000 mah 15 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC6 3000mAh 15 amp CDR

​

Up to 60W:

LG 18650HG2 3000mah 20 amp CDR

LG 18650HE4 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-25R, 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Sanyo UR18650NSX, 2500 mah 20 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC5, 2600 mah 20 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC4, 2100 mah 23 amp CDR

Up to 75W:

LG 18650 HD4 2100 mah 25 amp CDR

LG 18650 HD2 2000 mah 25 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-24S, 2500 mah 25 amp CDR

Sony 18650VTC5A, 2500 mah 25 amp CDR

​

Up to 90W:

LG18650HB6 1500mah 30 amp CDR

LG18650HB2 1500mAh 30 amp CDR

LG18650HB4 1500mAh 30 amp CDR

Samsung 18650-20S 2000mah 30 amp CDR

 

[Zazie]

Isn't the Pico 25 supposed to be able to handle 25mm tanks? That Ello tank does look a bit cramped in the picture, that's for sure.

The Pico 25 specs say it requires a battery with a continuous discharge current of 25 amps, but maybe that's only to support the maximum wattage it's capable of handling, so I could go lower since I am undoubtedly going to be vaping no more than 25, probably?

 

[Baditude]

The Pico 25 specs say it requires a battery with a continuous discharge current of 25 amps, but maybe that's only to support the maximum wattage it's capable of handling, so I could go lower since I am undoubtedly going to be vaping no more than 25, probably?

That would be correct. You dont need a 25 or 30 amp battery if you only vape under 75 watts, as my chart above shows.

I vape under 30 watts on a 75 watt mod. A Samsung 30Q 3000mah 15A battery (good for up to 45 watts) works great and allows me nearly a full days use with one battery. A 30 amp battery with only 1500 mah would last about half that time.

 

[B2L]

I'm a sixty-one-year-old woman

I feel so stupid, all this time I’ve thought you were a man of wealth and taste

Welcome

 

[Zazie]

Ah! I just took the specs to mean YOU MUST GET THIS!!! Didn't realize there was leeway. I'll definitely go for that Samsung, then.

I wish I could spring for the Jac Vapour you like. Too rich for my blood, sadly.

 

[Zazie]

I feel so stupid, all this time I’ve thought you were a man of wealth and taste

Welcome

I'm the devil. I can be anything. This model is for comparison purposes only (got to say, "man of wealth and taste" wins, hands down).

 

[Baditude]

I wish I could spring for the Jac Vapour you like. Too rich for my blood, sadly.

With all the money you'll be saving from vaping and not smoking, maybe you can save up for one.

I remember saving up for my first $200 Provari for several months and rewarded myself on my 1 year smoke free anniversary. No regrets.