Recommendations for an e-cig noob?

[kingnothing48]

Hey everyone. I'm new here, so go easy on me.

I've been thinking about picking up an e-cigarette and I've been doing a little research in the last couple of days, but it can get a little overwhelming. I mean, there are so many different styles, suppliers, cartridges, flavors, etc. that it's hard to know what to buy, and who to buy it from. I'll list a few things I'm looking for in my ideal e-cig:

1: It should produce a lot of vapor, and I should really feel like I'm smoking. I may get into different flavored cartridges eventually, but to start I'll probably stick with tobacco flavors just to stay familiar, and I want to replicate the actual smoking experience as much as I can.

2: I'd like it to look and feel somewhat like a real cigarette, but if these don't produce the best vapor then I'm flexible on this.

3: I'd like one that's an automatic, preferable, unless the consensus here is that manuals are better for whatever reason.

4: I want an e-cig that gives me a lot of options in terms of cartridge strengths and flavors. I see some e-cigs take cartridges that are up tp 25 mg of nicotine, or even higher, and yet there are some that don't seem to go above 16 mg. Basically I'd like a choice from the full spectrum of potencies, if that makes any sense.

So I guess those are my main criteria. Again, any help and recommendations would be much appreciated. Hopefully I'll be making my purchase soon!

 

[Sign-Man]

Moist of your questions come down to a personal choice. The most popular ecig to get started with is the Joye510.

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ed-questions-about-electronic-cigarettes.html

 

[CMA4714]

Why do people like the Joye510? What is so special???

 

[CJsKee]

Hi king and welcome to ECF! At the top of the new members forum page the first few threads are stickies. I recommend you read through those. These is a wealth of information there that can answer most any questions you may have.

That said, I would recommend you try either the 510 model or the KR808D-1 (Kr8). The 510 is a 3-piece design (battery, atomizer and cartridge) and the Kr8 is a 2-piece (battery and atomizer/cartridge combo). I have both and like them just about equally, but the Kr8 is a tad easier to use. Both come with either automatic or manual batteries.

At the bottom of the main forum page you will find the suppliers' forums. Most suppliers carry both of these models and the choices of e-liquids or almost limitless.

I know the info here can be a bit overwhelming (to say the least LOL), so just feel free to ask anytime you have a question.

Good luck!!

 

[CJsKee]

For me, CMA, it's the atomizer. It runs a little warmer than say the 901 and produces copious vapor! But...because it runs hotter, you lose a little of the flavor. That's why I also recommend the Kr8. It's vapor is also warm and I've found the flavors to be excellent.

Why do people like the Joye510? What is so special???

 

[kingnothing48]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm leaning toward the joye510 so far, but I'll poke around the forum a little more before making a purchase.

Quick question on the cartridges: Do you buy the e-liquid and just keep refilling the same couple of cartridges, or do you buy new cartridges and throw the old ones away? I think that's still the part that confuses me most.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Read up on the Joye 510 and the KR808D-1, they are the 2 most popular models of e-cig, then see which one seems to floats your boat more.

Some people like the fiddling and maintainence that is involved with the 3-piece 510, you do get rewarded with more vapor. But then theres a lot of people who just wanna get to business and not deal with any extra care, and end up with a 2-piece KR808D-1 (You do pay a bit more for the convenience of using cartomizers but for a lot of people it's worth it)

Good Luck

 

[AlexTM]

Cartriges: You can re-use the old ones until they pretty much fall apart, although you should obviously have a few spare ones around. They are not exactly expensive.

Manual vs. auto battery: Autos are fine in theory, but less so in practice. For example, liquid can get into those and eventually break them. You also have to draw harder to get the switch going. And then there are the infamous models where the autos go of extremely easily, even when you are not vaping. I have one, its nice on a bike, but still, I very much prefer manuals. Remember, you most likely had one hand on your analog as well, so far less of a difference than it sounds at first.

KR8 vs. 510, now there's a minor war going on about that one. Like with Betamax vs. VHS. I would not pay too much attention to claims that the KR8s are so easy to refill here on the forum. Check Youtube instead and see for yourself which sort of refilling you prefer.

Look and feel of a real cigarette: One word: Don't!
First, if you buy one that is quite as small as a normal cigarette, you will get lousy battery time and usually far less vape. The better models are all somewhat bigger, no matter what one considers the best model to be. Second, no PV will ever taste and feel like an analog (a tobacco cigarette). If you get one that looks that way, you can only be disappointed – instead of excited because you have something new and better. And third, if you ever want to vape in non-smoking areas, the less the PV looks like an analog, the better.

 

[breakfastchef]

801 or 901 models are widely available and work great. Even a 401 is a super starting point. Get one, make mental note of what you think could be improved in your vaping experience and use tht mental list to determine your next device purchase.

 

[Vapor Pete]

Even a 401 is a super starting point.

Yeah. As long as you've got an IV dripping into the 401 cart . Unless I did something wrong, I spent more time dripping juice into the cart or onto the atty than I did vaping. My m40X now sits on the shelf while I vape the kr808-d or the RN4075. I really wanted to give that m40X a shot, but the amount of juice I was going through was not justifying the experience.

-VP

 

[kingnothing48]

Cartriges: You can re-use the old ones until they pretty much fall apart, although you should obviously have a few spare ones around. They are not exactly expensive.

Manual vs. auto battery: Autos are fine in theory, but less so in practice. For example, liquid can get into those and eventually break them. You also have to draw harder to get the switch going. And then there are the infamous models where the autos go of extremely easily, even when you are not vaping. I have one, its nice on a bike, but still, I very much prefer manuals. Remember, you most likely had one hand on your analog as well, so far less of a difference than it sounds at first.

KR8 vs. 510, now there's a minor war going on about that one. Like with Betamax vs. VHS. I would not pay too much attention to claims that the KR8s are so easy to refill here on the forum. Check Youtube instead and see for yourself which sort of refilling you prefer.

Look and feel of a real cigarette: One word: Don't!
First, if you buy one that is quite as small as a normal cigarette, you will get lousy battery time and usually far less vape. The better models are all somewhat bigger, no matter what one considers the best model to be. Second, no PV will ever taste and feel like an analog (a tobacco cigarette). If you get one that looks that way, you can only be disappointed – instead of excited because you have something new and better. And third, if you ever want to vape in non-smoking areas, the less the PV looks like an analog, the better.

Interesting. Initially I wanted to get one that looked like a cigarette, but the general attitude seems to be that they're inferior, so I think now I'm leaning toward more of the pen-style ones, whether it's the joye or the kr8. I guess the look of it doesn't matter so much as the feel. I know it won't replicate the smoking experience entirely, but as long as I feel like I'm smoking something I think I should be alright. So far I like that the joye seems to produce a lot of vapor.

Are the cartridges interchangeable between different e-cig models? Ideally I'd like one source for liquid, cartridges, replacement parts, etc.

 

[SurfSot]

kingnothing, When I first read through this site, in early Dec., I had the same criteria... I still wanted something like a real cig. Since my juice arrived on Dec., 18, I've not touched a real cig!
It took me over a week to break the HABITS of rolling down my truck window and going outside for no reason. But, as far as wanting it to feel like a Real Cig?... No Problem! That turned out to be not the HABIT. The oral fixation was the habit. The e-cig, whatever you choose, will take the place of that hand-to-mouth thing. Trust me on that, It's a mind game!
I still love tobacco flavors and probably always will. But, now that my taste buds are rocking again, I'm lovin' me some flavored vape!
I got the JOYE 510 and am completely satisfied. (might try others later)
I wash my carts in Very Hot water and, then Alcohol, then let them dry overnight.
(About once a week. Get an extra 10 carts and rotate)
I wash my cart filler in hot water and let them dry overnight.
You want a Manual Battery!
Best to ya!

 

[AlexTM]

Pen is usually a name for 801, because the atty looks like a pen cap; meaning the 510 or KR8 or similar are not pens. But the name game can be extremely confusing, especially at the beginning. Don't worry, it confused all of us, and we lived to tell the tale after all

I couldn't imagine mega batteries at first, because they are so much longer than analogs. These days, I find them just easier to handle. Many things about vaping (like everything else) are a matter of habit and practice.

You will also, especially in the beginning, have to remember that smoking is not that trivial, either. It's just something you have done for umpteen years. You automatically grab analogs, lighter, maybe a pocket ashtray, and you did not have to think about it. (You also may not have had to decide which of a dozen flavours you want today ) You know how to handle, hold, use your analogs, and PVs are new. You had to learn that, too, though - even if it was a long time ago. If you want to curse your PV, remember that. And you will, the first week or so. As with everything else that is new.

Interchangeability, now, unfortunately, that is a bit limited. Carts you can use between 510 and 901, for everything else you will need adapters and/or different shaped (and sized) carts. At least these days adapters are easily available and not exactly expensive.

As for vendors: I really can't help you with US vendors, but obviously, there is no lack of information about those here. While it is convenient at first to order everything from one, eventually you will find that the shop that has good, cheap hardware maybe does not carry your favourite liquid, and that only a third shop has this cool little bag for your PVs, and so on. Compare it to computers - very likely you don't get everything related to yours from one shop, either. A good shop should have everything to get you started, though.

 

[cassavetes]

I'd say 510 or 901. If you're looking for clouds of vapor and throat hit then the 510. If you want something with more flavor and a smoother hit then 901.

I've never tried the 401 series, but people really seem to like them.