Please help a newbie out...

[CanineSubterranean]

Hi All,

I'm new to ECF and have yet to purchase my first e-cig. Well I ordered a starter kit from V2 Cigs from the U.S. and didn't find out that Canada doesn't allow imports of e-cigs until I got a letter from the Canadian customs that my package was rejected.

When I researched on which brand to purchase, I was looking at American brands only. V2 Cigs and EverSmoke seemed very promising from the reviews I've seen. But now that I realize I can only purchase from Canadian suppliers, I am quite confused with the many types and brands, and I really don't know which model I should get anymore (in terms of vapor production, flavour, battery life, etc).

Here are some questions that can help me sort things out:

1. It seems that the most popular American brands are all two-piece models with disposable cartomizers, but it seems that models like the eGo are more popular in Canada. I am still leaning more towards the two-piece models because they resemble an analog cigarette more and require much less hassle to begin using. Is there something wrong with my preference of a two-piece design?

2. This might be a difficult question to answer since chances are people in Canada wouldn't have tried American e-cigs, but it would really help if I knew how models in Canada compare with e-cigs like the V2. How would the eGo compare with something like the V2? How would the KR8 compare with something like the V2? Educated guesses would be appreciated.

3. What are some top brands/models I should consider if I'm looking to buy a two-piece model with disposable cartomizers? (Please PM me if it is disallowed to post models).

4. Are there any comprehensive review sites that compare the brands/models available to us Canadians? I have looked for many sites but they all include brands worldwide, so it is really difficult to determine which to invest in on brands available to Canada.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, Cheers!

 

[albertbert]

We have the same ecigs here in Canada. They all come from China, so you won't really see a difference in quality. Most of the stuff you see is the same, the vendors just brand them. A two piece system is good for beginners, cartomizers are very hassle free. The little ecigs you are interested in kind of have a crappy battery life, but they are good. If you get a few batteries, or a pcc with your kit, you will be fine.

Ego is just a style of battery, they are bigger, and have a secondary threading on them for cones, or bigger cartos/atties. They have more battery life. They use a different threading, but you can get the same cartos for them of you don't like 3 piece atomizer set ups. V2's are 808's, so any 808 style from a Canadian site would be good if that's what you want.

If i were to recommend a specific model, id get the eigate from canvape. Or if you want a Ego, a riva kit from them. Best prices in Canada for these kinds of batteries. If you are ok with the size of the Ego, you should get one, the extra battery life is nice. If not, the 808 stuff will be ok.

There is no comprehensive review sites that i know of. This thread links to a bunch of canadian reviewers http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...vendors-e-liquids-there-thread-somewhere.html If you look through their videos you will find hardware reviews. Mindfield compares a bunch of 808 stuff.

Edit: something i forgot. Ego style batteries will almost always be manual, they have push button to activate them. With smaller ecigs like the 808, you can get automatic(suction activated) or manual. Beginners wanting to replace cigs usually go for auto, but most vapers eventually move on to prefer manual.

 

[CanineSubterranean]

Thanks so much albertbert, that helps clear things up quite a bit.

 

[mwa102464]

I wouldnt waste your time with the smaller type ecigs there just not enough power,,, spend a bit more and buy a good one like this = ProVape E-Cigarettes: Buy Electronic Cigarettes & Smokeless Cigarettes the Provari

 

[HowlingBadger]

Yes, alberbert gave you pretty much the same spiel that I would have. But I would strongly suggest that, if you can do it, skip the kr808 and move straight up to an ego or better. If you stay on the vaping path you will eventually move up anyways. Save yourself a little money and start there.

 

[Hitmetwice]

Hello and welcome, you came to the right place to ask!
You will however receive as many recommendations as there are
types of e-cigs (PV's)...Here's mine....

I fully commited to vaping from the start and bought the Provari kit.(200 bucks)
Expensive yes, but I hate buying junk over and over again, wasting my money.

If you are not yet that commited to vaping and just want to try it out...

I'd recommend getting one or two ksd vari volt 900mah battery with passthrough(22 bucks each). These allow you to change voltages and tweak your vape.

It is larger than a cig. but offers lots of power, longer run times, it comes with a usb charging
cord that will allow you to vape and charge at the same time(you won't need to buy a charger).
You may want to get a usb wall or car charger for 5 bucks each.
It does have a button(manual)you have to push to activate it.(most good ones are manuals).

Also some(5pack) of LR cartomisers, I like the XL or XXL ones, they just hold more e-liquid. 6 bucks.

Maybe a couple of Stardust clearomiser tanks. One LR and one SR. to try. 5 bucks each.

You'll also need juice, I highly recommend Jugheads for juice, they're in Can., have sample sizes
(which you'll want) for 2 or 3 bucks each, have great customer service(will answer your questions)
Of the six flavours I initially ordered I liked 4 of them(good average for juice).

Many success stories here so just ask if you don't know something.
You'll get many opinions but the folks here are good to help.

Cheers!

 

[BuzzKilla]

WELCOME!

Many good suggestions here. So ill just expand on them.

Most will agree with the statement that, you will get frustrated with the battery life of a cig look-a-like... most of us have gone through that stage and moved on to bigger batteries out of convenience.

2 eGo batteries with a 5 pack of cartomizers is the best starting point i can personally suggest.

no need for all the accessories just yet. Start off simple and move on wards according to your needs.

You live in Toronto, there are quality vendors in the area that are willing to guide you with what you need. And more often than not, they are willing to meet with you for a simple explanation on how to properly use your e-cig.


as for juice, that is probably what held up your order at customs... they are still strict with nic-juice passing the border, politics and what not.
get yourself a few sample packs of flavors you are willing to try.
some sweet, some savory and even a tobacco flavor. you wont know what your taste buds like until you try something out of your comfort zone.

go small sample sizes at first (3-5ml), less guilt of tossing a flavor you don't like.


Good luck!

 

[Samyaza]

Hi and welcome to ECF!

1. It seems that the most popular American brands are all two-piece models with disposable cartomizers, but it seems that models like the eGo are more popular in Canada. I am still leaning more towards the two-piece models because they resemble an analog cigarette more and require much less hassle to begin using. Is there something wrong with my preference of a two-piece design?

The 2 piece designs that look like a cigarette would require exactly as much work as an ego with a cartomizer. They both use cartomizers and you'd have to fill them with juice. Better (in my opinion) for a beginner and even less hassle would be an ego with a Stardust (that's just to show you what they look like not an endorsement of that vendor ^^). Easier and quicker to fill than a cartomizer. If you do decide to go this route I'd suggest 2 ego batteries and at least 4 Stardusts to start off with. Stardusts are reasonably cheap (around $6 each depending where you buy them) and you can rinse them out, each one should last about 1 -2 weeks at least.

2. This might be a difficult question to answer since chances are people in Canada wouldn't have tried American e-cigs, but it would really help if I knew how models in Canada compare with e-cigs like the V2. How would the eGo compare with something like the V2? How would the KR8 compare with something like the V2? Educated guesses would be appreciated.

I can't compare the KR8, but ego vs V2 you would have a much longer battery life (2 - 3hrs vs 6- 10hrs).

3. What are some top brands/models I should consider if I'm looking to buy a two-piece model with disposable cartomizers? (Please PM me if it is disallowed to post models).

See my reply to number one about ego and stardusts

4. Are there any comprehensive review sites that compare the brands/models available to us Canadians? I have looked for many sites but they all include brands worldwide, so it is really difficult to determine which to invest in on brands available to Canada.

I don't think there are, but if you have a look at the canadian suppliers forum that should help you out a bit

Good luck and happy vaping (soon hopefully)!

 

[cactusgirl]

Hi there! Welcome to ECF! There are many folks here and many, many opinions ~ such is the nature of the beast! One of the major differences between shopping in Canada vs. the US for vape supplies is that vendors here do not offer 'pre-filled' cartomizers. What this means is that the cartomizers you see on the sites here are blank/empty and you will need to get your eliquid seperately and fill them on your own -- this is a very simple task, btw!

Two piece designs (battery + cartomizer) are quite popular with folks who are brand new to vaping and want to 'give it a try' to see if they like it without having to invest a fortune. They are relatively inexpensive, however, as already mentioned, those who go that route quickly become frustrated with the short battery life (2-4 hours between charging). I was one of those, lol!
That said, they do have their place and work wonders for transitioning to vaping from cigs due to their cig-like appearance and size.

There is a Toronto area vape meet coming up next week that usually has quite a good turnout. I would strongly encourage you to attend to give yourself the opportunity to meet with other local vapers (and vendors), ask questions and get answers, and find out what vaping is all about! Here is a link: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...6-greater-toronto-area-get-together-29-a.html

 

[Concat]

The only reason those companies are popular is because of marketing. Don't trust any of the review blogs that are out there. It's all PR b.s. Youtube is a better source for reviews, and even then, they may not be impartial.

If you want a good two piece unit, you're looking at getting a KR808, which is what V2Cigs and EverSmoke sell. They just rebrand the unit. There are some revisions to the KR808, however, and the consensus is that the Bloog, the Volt, the Halo G6 and even the cheap Kanger are the best. I believe Redds are also great.

Check out Happyvaper.com and Canvape.com. Both Canadians sellers. Canvape has the Kanger which is dirt cheap, and probably better than V2Cig anyway. (I think V2 still sells an older KR808 design.)

Smokeless image sells the Volt, and I think they get through customs regularly.

And finally, you're gonna see everyone and their mother tell you to get a mod or an Ego, but there's nothing wrong with getting a KR808 to start with. Most people move on to the bigger boys, however, hence all the recommendations.

There are two main problems with the KR808. The first is that the battery is tiny and won't last long. You will be a slave to the charger depending on your usage. The second is that they are 808 threaded, so only 808 cartos will fit without some gaudy adapter. Most ecig manufacturers are using 510 threading as a standard. If you get an Ego, for example, you have TONS of options in terms of atomizers and cartomizers. Plus the battery will last 5 times as long.

If you consider yourself a moderate to heavy smoker, my advice would be to get the Kanger from Canvape cause its cheap and will introduce you to vaping. You will probably move up to a bigger unit, so it's better to start cheap than throwing a hundy at Redds from HappyVaper.

Hell while you're at canvape, get an ego and a charger and some 510 threaded atomizers/cartomizers. Two birds, one stone I say.

Good luck.

 

[fourtytwo]

I'd recommend getting one or two ksd vari volt 900mah battery with passthrough(22 bucks each). These allow you to change voltages and tweak your vape.

It is larger than a cig. but offers lots of power, longer run times, it comes with a usb charging
cord that will allow you to vape and charge at the same time(you won't need to buy a charger).
You may want to get a usb wall or car charger for 5 bucks each.
It does have a button(manual)you have to push to activate it.(most good ones are manuals).

Also some(5pack) of LR cartomisers, I like the XL or XXL ones, they just hold more e-liquid. 6 bucks.

Maybe a couple of Stardust clearomiser tanks. One LR and one SR. to try. 5 bucks each.
...

I too am just starting out with vaping and this is more or less what I got to start with. Just got it today in fact...

Cheers and good luck...

 

[Hitmetwice]

Hey fourtytwo, congrats! Hope it all works acceptable for you.
Start a new thread and let us know how it's all going, eh!

Cheers.

Hey Caninesubterranean, forgot to mention you're gonna also
need a couple of 510 size drip tips if you get cartomisers. Sorry.

 

[albertbert]

Everything that concat said it great, except canvape is selling eigate too, which is the same as Volt, bloog.. etc. The selection isn't that great right now, only having white autos i think. But they do have that real cig look.

How much do you smoke? I kind of had a hard time with 808s at first, i almost drained them faster than i could charge the two that i started with. But i did grab a couple extra batteries and a charger, and that was a pretty good setup, being able to charge two at time. I was a really heavy smoker though, and chain vaped pretty hard.

How overloaded with information are you getting lol? It's pretty rough learning all this stuff, but take your time, vaping is worth it.

 

[SoUnique]

Well you got a lot of great advise I agree with so I'll just say welcome to the forum

 

[aggo]

Just reiterating Cactusgirl's mention about the next GTA meet. Try and make it out if you can. It will be most beneficial.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...6-greater-toronto-area-get-together-29-a.html

 

[CanineSubterranean]

I smoke about 6 cigarettes on a relaxed day and 10-15 when I have lots of work to do...

Haha yes there is indeed a lot of information, and I think all the advice I'm getting from everybody will be sufficient for me to digest for a good while.. I've basically spent the whole day reading, looking at review vids, and so on, and I think I've a much better grip now than when I posted this thread this morning...

You guys are great and thank you all for the friendly advices

Edit: What strength of nicotine would you recommend? I smoked Parliaments for the most part (before they discontinued) and would sometimes enjoy Marlboro Reds every now and then.. I am guessing Medium (12mg)?

Everything that concat said it great, except canvape is selling eigate too, which is the same as Volt, bloog.. etc. The selection isn't that great right now, only having white autos i think. But they do have that real cig look.

How much do you smoke? I kind of had a hard time with 808s at first, i almost drained them faster than i could charge the two that i started with. But i did grab a couple extra batteries and a charger, and that was a pretty good setup, being able to charge two at time. I was a really heavy smoker though, and chain vaped pretty hard.

How overloaded with information are you getting lol? It's pretty rough learning all this stuff, but take your time, vaping is worth it.

 

[CanineSubterranean]

Thanks everyone for your time and advice, it has certainly helped a lot... Cactusgirl and aggo - I will look into the event, it is certainly a good idea.. I will have to see how my schedule works as I'm currently in Waterloo..

Everyone, I think I will go with the KR808 first.. I totally believe you guys and understand that 80+% of vapers eventually get tired of the short battery life, but I feel I need to go through the transition phase myself lol..

Will definitely post again when I have more questions.. For now, all your advices will be sufficient.. Thanks for your time again you guys are awesome..

Happy vaping (well, happy researching for me for now)

 

[CanineSubterranean]

Thanks for the reminder Hitmetwice.. I have no idea what that is but will certainly find out...

 

[Toronto_Mike]

For you personally - the 808 or Ego will meet your initial needs. The 808 is much smaller & will feel like a cig. The transition will be slightly easier. I'd suggest getting the PCC with your order. PCC - Personal Charging Case - taking the case with you, gives you the flexibility of always having a spare battery that is either charging on the go or is already charged. The PCC's have an internal battery and when fully charged, can charge up to 4 x 808 batteries. A third battery is also a good idea.

Best of luck with your endeavors.

 

[IT_guy]

2 eGo batteries with a 5 pack of cartomizers is the best starting point i can personally suggest.

+1
That's the exact setup I recommended to a couple of co-workers.