recommendations? opinions?

[mle]

So I've been considering giving the vaping thing a try and have been lurking around ECF for a week or so and reading up on it a bit. It looks like there's an awsome little community of sorts here.
I was considering purchasing a SmokeTip starter kit just as a jumping-off point, but a friend told me he bought a Xhale o2 at a 7-11 for $20. I figured I might as well give it a shot and use the Xhale for now rather then spend a lot of money on something I'm not sure of. Picked one up tonight and am enjoying it so far - battery was partially charged, nice hit (although I have nothing to compare it to), and it satisfies the nicotine craving.
From what I can tell, a lot of people are big fans of the 510. Does anyone have any other recommendations (possibly anything that uses the cartomizers)? I'd also be interested in any positive or negative experiences anyone has had with the SmokeTip, or just any advice for a newbie in general.
Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[Goldenkobold]

I have a smoketip...they use a kr808 battery, I have really enjoyed it and it is great for slipping in your pocket and going (you can get a kr808 charging case which will charge your battery on the go for 19.99 online) it is automatic but unlike 510 automatics which are generally sound activated it is pressure activated...which means it doesn't go off when you don't want it to.

That being said I just got a 510, it is different but not necessarily "better", I wanted it for the juices I have started to buy and I wanted a big wonking battery for home that never needs changing.

My particular 510 is a manual and has an easier draw and isn't as warm ... my wife likes the cooler vape, I prefer the warmer vape of the kr808, the 510 makes more vapor but they both make enough to satisfy.

If you end up with a smoketip and sometime down the road go to a 510 or mod or whatever, you may still find yourself grabbing the smoketip for quick trips out...I normally do

 

[deback]

Get a Joye (Joyetech) eGo kit (either 650mah, 750mah, 900mah, or 1000mah -- the higher the mah, the longer the battery will last before needing to be recharged) -- or a Riva or Tornado kit (which are generic eGos).

The battery life will be your first concern (at some point in your vaping experience, if not already). After a few days of charging batteries all day long, you won't care what the PV (personal vaporizer) looks like.

The eGo battery is the most popular and has the longest life of any of the standard e-cigs available currently.

Check out the following sites for prices and availability. Look for a starter kit that's priced around $30 to $65. Ask here if you have more questions. Read more threads in the Newbie Section here. A lot of people have given advice to a lot of newbies with the same questions.

liberty-flights.com
goodprophets.com
madvapes.com
litecigusanet.com
cignot.com

 

[vivictus]

I got the Xhaleo2 from 7-11 as well and it is crap. I would use it every day but it did not get me off analogs. It did however cut my analogs by about half. My Riva 510 arrived today and from 3pm until now (midnight) I have had 1.5 analogs. the Xhale PALES in comparison to this Riva in every way possible. If you think the Xhale does good for you, then listen to what these fine folks have to say. The Xhaleo2 cost me $20, and I even bought a second one because of the battery life, and even then it didn't get me off analogs. The cost wound up being not too much less than just smoking to be honest. then I ordered my Riva ($29.99 from liberty flights with the coupon code "october20") and it arrived today and it's like night and day. My Pall Mall's actually seem like ultra-light smokes suddenly because of the powerful hits I get off my Riva, which is weird because Pall Malls are one of the stronger mainstream cigarettes out there. Then again, it's not just the kit you have to buy. You have to get carts (or cartomizers) and juice. I spent about $100 for my initial startup, and should be set for a few weeks, assuming I like all the juice. AVOID beer flavored juice. Just saying.

I am not telling you to buy a Riva. Others here are WAY more knowledgable than me. I am just telling you how my first day was with my Riva based on also using those crappy Xhaleo2's. It's light and day brother... Light and day.

 

[Rhapsodies Fire]

I'm with deback....I recommend the eGo as well. With that you can use cartos or attys. It is really versatile while you figure out what method you prefer. The battery life is excellent and the power gives you plenty of hit power and vapor.

 

[Howard84]

I use the Volcano from volcanoecigs.com I love it, their product is amazing and I love the "V-Pack" (little device about the size of a pack of cigarettes that holds my e-cig and cartridges, and also charges them for me all day). The only problem I have with them is that they are based in Hawaii, so when I need parts I have to wait on shipping.

 

[deback]

I use the Volcano from volcanoecigs.com I love it, their product is amazing and I love the "V-Pack" (little device about the size of a pack of cigarettes that holds my e-cig and cartridges, and also charges them for me all day). The only problem I have with them is that they are based in Hawaii, so when I need parts I have to wait on shipping.

I have a Volcano starter kit, with a PCC, Howard84. I bought it only to stay off from cigarettes while waiting for a second battery to arrive for my first starter kit from Smokeless Delite. The local smoke shop owner charged me $79.99 for a kit with one battery, one PCC, one box of five cartridges, one AC adapter, and one atomizer. When I got home, I went to volcanoecigs.com and found that they sell this simple little kit for $40, so I went back to the local smoke shop, told him about the price discrepancy, and he gave me another battery (which has never worked very well and blinks 20 times often, even though it will continue to work some) and four more packages of cartridges (but no USB charger that normally comes with the $69.99 kit). Anyway, he charged me $10 more than the Volcano web site charges, without the USB charger. I doubted that he would let me return the parts, so I just chalked it up to my idiocy, thankful that the Volcano kit helped me to stay away from cigarettes, and ordered some eGos. Have been happy with my setup ever since.

After about two weeks, the Volcano battery only lasted about 10 minutes before needing to be recharged, and I was not using it very often...just for a backup while waiting for the Smokeless Delite battery to recharge. I think the local store owner sold me his store display batteries, but in general, Volcano starter kits are a piece of crap. I only used it a few times in the first two weeks. I've since returned all of the Smokeless Delite products (my first starter kit...also a cheap, overpriced piece of crap) and now have all eGos and 5 volt passthroughs. I haven't had to recharge batteries all day long in the last month.

When your Volcano battery starts lasting for a less time before needing to be recharged, you might consider purchasing an eGo kit or just an eGo battery (I prefer to use cartomizers and avoid the hassles of using an atomizer and cartridge, so I bought only individual eGo batteries and not a kit, except for my recent order for a 1300mAh eGo kit). See my message above.

 

[Bozzlite]

The Ego kit or the Riva kit is the way to go from the start. They are very similar in design and both work very well with satisfying TH and ample vapor, but TH and vapor output are also variables dependent on what e-liquid you choose.

Battery life is in the 6-8 hour range depending on usage. Recharge time is 2 hours or less on a completely depleted battery.

 

[KILLERkpd]

I got the smoketip and it was great, I smoked about a pack of analogs a day, I got the smoketip and stopped analogs immediately. The Smoketip had excellent customer service and the batteries lasted a good while. If you chain vape, then the battery life becomes an issue. They do take the KR808 carts which I liked alot as well. The batteries charged pretty quickly too. I started off with 16 with a menthol flavor.

All that said, I spent around 70 dollars all in and I got 10 extra cartomizers so I could refill them. For the same 70 dollars, you can get an eGo style ecig but that is entirely up to you. But the smoketip was a quality PV that I still have as a back up or if I want something smaller to carry when I am out.

 

[deback]

"For the same 70 dollars, you can get an eGo style ecig but that is entirely up to you."

You could buy three eGo batteries for $70. They are about $22 each at goodprophets.com and $24 each at cignot.com -- and about the same at other sites.

 

[Willriker]

"For the same 70 dollars, you can get an eGo style ecig but that is entirely up to you."

You could buy three eGo batteries for $70. They are about $22 each at goodprophets.com and $24 each at cignot.com -- and about the same at other sites.

can get ego batteries for 14.99 dollars at puresmoker.com. Can get atomizer for 5-9 dollars (depends on quantity and comes with cartridge). A cone for 4 dollars.

But, its best to just get a starter kit. Its cheaper getting the starter kit, because it comes with the charger. If you dont need a charger, you might as wel go alla cart.

 

[deback]

I bought the batteries without the starter kit (and two eGo chargers), because I wanted the 1000mAh longer lasting eGos, and it's really hard to find those in a kit, plus I didn't want the atomizers and cartridges. I've also ordered this week two 900mAh batteries and a 1300mAh starter kit (so I'll have two atomizers and two cartridges for when I want to test out juice samples and mixture experiments).

 

[TrippH]

Another vote for the ego.. I recommend dripping with backwoods brew juices. I started with a kr808 and I assure you the ego is much more satisfying. If you really want an 808... I would recommend the vapor king from vapor4life. They have a really nice package for the money. Basically everything u need for &0-90 bucks. Money well spent. Plus they throw in freebies everytime you order. That's who I started with and I really can't say enough good things about them.. BUT !! I would bet money you buy an ego within a few months. Especially if you read much on this forum.. Might as well get it now....

 

[TrippH]

Where can u get attys for $5?? Are they "Joye"?

 

[Willriker]

puresmoker.com

If you order 20+ you get 50% off.

What was a 10 dollar genuine Joye 510 atty, is now a 5 dollar genuine joye 510 atty.

 

[I'minheaven]

I just started with e-cigs myself. I'm fortunate that I found this forum and was able to try a few models before finding my favorite: Joye Ego on usb battery. If I could do it all over that is the only one I'd buy.
Quick review of what I own:

Volcano e-cig kit w/ passthrough: Very subtle and nice tasting cartridges, limited vapor production and cartridges run out FAST! Not my favorite, although good as a back-up. Forums note that some mods can provide increased vapor and taste. 3 piece unit.

Kr808 from vapor4life: Reasonably good tasting prefilled cartomizers. 2 piece unit which is a bonus. Best taste and vapor production on USB passthrough with blank cartomizers filled w/ e-liquid of choice. Nice array of e-liquid flavors. Well established company with good customer service and quick shipping. I like it a lot, but like my eGO better.

Joye Ego "USB battery" purchased from VaporKings. Use with low-resistance blank cartomizers purchased at same site. The USB battery charges from USB port and can be used as a passthrough while plugged in, then unplug while you're on the go. Great vapor production and when using the cartomizers is a 2 piece unit. I've no information on how long battery life is unplugged (I stay plugged in even in the car, I've got a belkin USB charger in my car). I also purchased a generic 510 starter kit from TastyVapor for 29.99, the cheapest I saw. That kit is not here yet, but does NOT include the Ego battery, just regular 510's. The 510 I'm using is a manual battery, and while I thought that I would prefer automatic I very quickly found that vapor production becomes very important, so pushing the button doesn't bother me at all.

I don't think you'll be happy with a kit from 7-11, every single thing I've read says the vapor production and taste is poor compared with what you can get online. I bought the volcano from a local store, and I wish I hadn't, it just doesn't compare.

Note, keep in mind my review is from someone very new to this, but I've been completely analog free for 7 days now, & couldn't be happier! Hope all this helps. Good luck!

 

[I'minheaven]

Oops, generic 510 kit from TastyVapor was 25.00. Sorry

 

[BiancaMontgomery]

This: Joye EGO USB Manual 650mah Battery You can vape this 510 eGo plugged into your computer or a wall adapter, it charges as you vape, it also can be removed from the charging cord and carried as a regular battery. Win!!! (also, standard eGo chargers are pieces of poo, this thing totally rocks!)

With these: 510 LOW RESISTANCE BOGE SOFT CAP Blank Cartomizers Easy to remove cap, cartomizer can hold 30 or more drops of your favorite e-liquid = vaping for a LONG time between refills. Lower resistance makes for a nicer draw and more vapor.

 

[KissMint]

I was going to order a USB passthru for the eGo. But so far 1 batt has lasted me almost 2 days. I have use this current batt since yesterday morning around 8am, it's 6:37pm the following day and still going! I vape all day too.

 

[mle]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the input! At this point I'm leaning towards a 510 or a kr808. There are aspects of both that I like and this forum has helped a lot.