Researching to buy first E-Cig...any help appreciated

[Cyprus]

I quit smoking just over 6 years ago for various & common reasons...girlfriend hated it, smelled bad, unhealthy choice, etc. I don't have an issue with saying no to cigarettes anymore as I have grown to hate the smell more than almost anything. The only thing that I can say I honestly miss about it was the nicotine "buzz", the smoke itself(act of inhaling then breathing out the "cloud"), & the social aspect of it.

Recently my brother-in-law moved here from the other side of the country & brought an Advanced mod E-Cig with him. Since they aren't really seen around here I had assumed they were a passing & failed idea when I first read about them years back. But after seeing one in action & hearing all about how big of an industry it has become, my interest had been sparked. Being the health conscious person that I am these days, I started doing hours of research into the e-juice world & every ingredient involved. I have also done quite a bit of research, some driven by my brother-in-laws opinions/experiences with the E-Cig world, into quality devices. Needless to say, I am looking at buying my first one within the next month or so. This is where I now turn to the veterans of this forum for some fine tuning if you will...

Zmax Variable Volt APV Rev2 w/ IMR 18650, LiMn 2000mAh Battery from "Madvapes"

The atomizer is where I am not 100% sure what I should get. I am looking at the Stainless Steel 510 Atomizers on "Madvapes" but I am unsure how many Ohms would be best. I realize that this is subject to personal opinion to a degree...but I just want to be sure. From what I can tell, if I set the Zmax to Variable Wattage rather than Voltage, the difference in the Atomizers is automatically adjusted by the device to deliver an almost identically consistent hit regardless of Ohm. Again...this is where I need "fine tuning" to make sure I am not confusing something here. If that is the case, a 2.0 Ohm Stainless Steel 510 Atomizer should be fine? Also, is it a good idea to have multiple Atomizers on hand?

Drip Tips...I assume I just need to pick out a couple stylish 510 tips that are visually pleasing to me.

E-Juice...After probably 8 hours of research into various aspects & brands of juices, I have settled on Virgin Vapor organic 100% VG juices. I have seen/read a lot of great things about their juices from various sources. I love that they don't use artificial flavors & that they are Vegan...plus they have some really great sounding flavors. The idea of 100% VG is something that my brother-in-law doesn't like but that is partly because he likes the harsher hit from the PG/VG blends. I may from time to time try a PG/VG blend but would prefer to avoid it when possible for my own reasons. At any rate, being a newby in this whole thing, it wouldn't hurt to have some suggestions on different flavors from them.

Any helpful advice on other things that I might consider picking up (maybe some kind of carrying case?), different prices or discounts, or just things that I am missing, would be greatly appreciated.

 

[tj99959]

With a ZMax it doesn't matter much what resistance atty you get. You just set the PV to let's say 7 watts, and it will self adjust the voltage so that you have your 7 watts.

Juice flavors is so subjective that there is no way to say what you will like.

I tend to "like" flavors that are easy to get. I see no logic in liking a flavor that they are out of all the time.

 

[Stoneface]

Hello Cyprus and welcome. I'm pretty much a noob myself, so I won't likely be much help with your gear since I chose a different one for my set up. The more experienced members will chime in with some great tips for you, I'm sure. However, if you go to Forum Suppliers <--- this is the suppliers forum. If you look for a site that you want to do business with, ie: Mad Vapes, or Virgin Vapors, you might find some discount codes listed there. You will also get an idea about customer service, etc if you read the threads. I have also searched google for "CompanyX coupon codes ECF" and sometimes get a link that way. Good Luck.

 

[estrader]

i like ec blend juices alot. also u can customize them to your liking

 

[Whodoo]

I'm no veteran but have spent a lot of time, energy & money towards creating a decent ecig vaping experience. Its hard!!

-Seems to me like the smart $ buys hardware at the top of the food chain, really any 'mod' that has a lifetime warranty. USA made vapes seem to lead this group. You will find out that the vapes at this level hold their value on the used market, and at a later date you can recoup some funds. I know I've spent about $300 the wrong way, with ego & joye products.

- Initially I wouldn't get caught up in 100% vg juice. I have some of most every blend, and though I like the idea of 100%vg, most of my Velvet Cloud Vapor 100%vg juices aren't all that tastey. they are good, but real flavor seems to need a little pg. You can buy blends with very little pg in it too, like 20/80 blends.

To date I haven't purchased a carrying case or anything like that. My joye ego-c system leaks often so i'm hesitant to buy a case just yet. You will acquire drip tips, no worries there. Buy what you think looks cool, and made out of materials that don't heat up. I like my ceramic tips for example.

The last bit of advice I can give is something you have a good drip on: consult this forum before making purchases. A good example is a few days ago I ordered a popular bottom feeder vape. After the order I went to ECF for more research & found out the mfgr had just sent out Buy 1 get 1 free coupons to customers on their mailing list. So, I cancelled my order & signed up for their mailing list.

Since you are cig free, some of this may not relate to your situation. But for most people, the hard truth is that we need 2 ecigs in case 1 craps out. You may not need this though. A good, expensive vape + extra batteries should suffice.

Please educate other newbies as you go along too. I know I'm still in the learning stage but later this week a Reo Mod VV Grand is arriving, and i'm hoping to be done with the nervosa associated with ecigs (and finding the right one).

 

[Cyprus]

Thanks for the quick replies!

-Seems to me like the smart $ buys hardware at the top of the food chain, really any 'mod' that has a lifetime warranty. USA made vapes seem to lead this group. You will find out that the vapes at this level hold their value on the used market, and at a later date you can recoup some funds. I know I've spent about $300 the wrong way, with ego & joye products.

Hmm...I didn't find any information regarding a lifetime warranty on the Zmax...any idea where I could locate it?

- Initially I wouldn't get caught up in 100% vg juice. I have some of most every blend, and though I like the idea of 100%vg, most of my Velvet Cloud Vapor 100%vg juices aren't all that tastey. they are good, but real flavor seems to need a little pg. You can buy blends with very little pg in it too, like 20/80 blends.

I have read a ton of conflicting opinions on both sides of this fence so I intend to at least sample a little with PG. My reluctance to do so comes from my lifestyle & research regarding the chemical itself. Again, I will probably just start with a couple sample packs to get a feel for what I like.



Oh ya...forgot to ask. Would it be better to pick up a Smok Tech Rebuildable Top Coil Tank rather than the above mentioned Atomizer? My brother-in-law uses one & likes it...just wondering if they are any better or worse.

 

[Cyprus]

Think I might actually end up getting a ProVari with this:
Z-Atty-Pro - Rebuildable Tank System

 

[Endor]

Oh no, Cyprus, I strongly discourage starting out with a Z-Atty Pro. Those are Genesis-style atomizers, meaning they use a stainless steel mesh wick. Granted, the flavor from these is truly amazing when you set them up right. But, getting them set up right can be extraordinarily frustrating.... the coils tend to short against the steel wick (known as a "hot spot), they are very particular about the coil setup (not too tight, not too loose)....there is a steep learning curve with these things. PBusardo really sums it up in his recent review of the DID (A PBusardo Review - The DIDs - Genesis Style Rebuildable Attys - YouTube)

To address your other questions...

1) The PG/VG blend question... considering a like-for-like nicotine level, a) 100% VG juice will have less flavor and throat hit but produce gobs of rich vapor, b) 100% PG juice will have lots of flavor and throat hit but produce a vapor similar to "seeing your breath" on a cold day, c) a juice with combination of PG/VG gets the best of both with good flavor and throat hit and typically good vapor.

1a) 100% VG is sometimes VERY thick. This can cause wicking problems.

2) Some vendors allow you to select your PG/VG blend, others consider it proprietary and either don't disclose it -or- its fixed. When vendors allow me to choose, I tend to go with either 50/50 or 60/40 PG/VG ratio.

3) For atomizers, if you're looking for a tank to hold juice while on-the-go, I like the the Vivi Nova tanks from GotVapes (and others) or just a simple cartomizer tank. I'd suggest one of these over a dripping atomizer to start out with.

4) Drip tips are very much personal preference. I have a few Cherry Vape mings that I like. What's cool about them is that you can polish them with regular toothpaste to give them a marble/glass look.

There are so many juice vendors out there now, it can be difficult to decide. At this point, my favorite juice vendor is probably Heather's Heavenly Vapes... her tobaccos and coffees are really quite good, she allows you to choose your PG/VG ratio, and her prices are outstanding. I've used to buy quite a bit from Virgin Vapors as well, but their juice is quite expensive IMHO.

Hope this helps...

 

[Cyprus]

Thanks for the info...think I will be ordering very soon. I was planning on starting out with the ViVi Nova anyway until I have the funds but upgrading later. I am very good with frustratingly tedious tasks involving electronics so I won't be too intimidated by the ZEN...I have already watched a few of the videos, including the one you posted, with tutorials to see if I was interested.

 

[Baditude]

I wouldn't normally recommend a rebuildable (RBA) for a newbie, but since you are confident with frustrating, tedious tasks involving electronics, you might be one to succeed. Before spending Z Atty Pro type money, perhaps get a cheaper Genesis like the AGA T for just $30 AGA Tiamat PLUS - Rebuildable Atomizer. It comes with everything you need for your first wick and coil. There's a good thread on this model here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/rebuildable-atomizer-systems/369429-has-anyone-tried-aga-tiamat-plus-w-glass-tank.html

Along more simpler lines, here is a crash course of the more common juice delivery devices: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/cartomizers/343294-proper-terminology-carto-tank-what-lol.html#post7562212

 

[danimal40]

if you arent smoking I would urge you to not start vaping...but if you feel you miss the sensation of smoking I would try to use no nic juice

 

[Cyprus]

That is a much cheaper starter one, I may have to give it a try when it isn't sold out. That seems to be the problem with those style tanks...so popular. Again though, the other tank will come down the road after money has been replenished since this initial purchase is going to sting a bit. Thanks again for the helpful info!!