Subohming vs low wattage, got me thinking. What would you reccomend to a newbie?

[alicewonderland]

I remember when I started vaping 3 years ago, the transition was hard and I had many relapses. I started with stick style batteries which were far and different than smoking a cigarette. It was like sucking through a straw for 7+ seconds, with little vapor and throat hit/satisfaction at the end. It worked for a while then I relapsed back to cigarettes. I tried Ego-Batteries with 1.0-1.5ohm cartos/tanks, it came close but so many dry hits, and it still wasnt much like a cigarette so I relapsed again, then towards the end of last year, I picked up a vaporshark and started vaping <1.0ohm coils in tanks/RDA's and it got me hooked, it was very much like smoking a cigarette. 2-4second drags, throat hit, and nicotine delivery.

which comes to my second question, I know there is this whole thing of 'cloud chasers' and 'tootle puffers', but what kept you on vaping and didnt make you relapse? For the cloud chasers, was it the visual aspect? The hobby of vaping, the want to get more and bigger visuals out of clouds, or more throat hit and similarity to smoking with clouds just as a side effect? And for the tootle puffers, did you just get used to taking longer drags compared to smoking, have you tried subohming at high wattage and just found longer less direct throathit was more satisfying to you when compared to smoking?

it makes me wonder how people come to their desired vaping setups, if they came by them by trying to find something similar to smoking, or just fell into something completely new that they enjoy even more.

when I think of how I ended up at subohming on mechs, from starting on egos/30-40w devices. I believe it has to do with me chasing that way i used to smoke, 2-4second drags on newports. For those of you that subohm or low watt vape, what type of cigarettes did you use to smoke before you switched? this could be helpful information for people reccomending setups to those who want to make the switch to vaping.

 

[tj99959]

Haven't we always said "start low & work your way up"?

 

[alicewonderland]

Haven't we always said "start low & work your way up"?

I dont know who we is, but I know personally if I had switched to vaping with something more similar to the way i smoked, I would have quit smoking way sooner. I'm just curious as to how people have come along to their desired way of vaping currently.

 

[Oberon75]

I've always said to get a box that's capable of higher watts.

I have four mods. Two can do 40 watts, one can do 70 watts and one can do 120 watts (soon to do 150w). All four of them are capable of running an iClear at 8 watts and I would have a fifth mod had it not been something I would grow out of.

It's best to get something you can grow with so you don't have to keep upgrading. And if you are always going to be a tootle puffer, you can always forget it can go higher. I mean the speedometer in my car says 140mph. I've never had any desire to take it there though.

Sent from my HTC One M8 Harman/Kardon edition

 

[Thrasher]

I found power is/wasn't anywhere near as important as a really efficient and well designed topper.

Rebuilables gave me the ability to tune my vapor for maximum effect and enjoyability at reasonable power without having to just brute force a bunch of wire at a zillion amps for a huge cloud

I chain smoked boro reds, 2+ pad for around 35 years, so I needed plenty of TH and thick feeling vapor.


There should be a bit more distinction in the question though, med power subohm and what we do today are really two different things.

 

[DanJiblets]

Haven't we always said "start low & work your way up"?

This is exactly what I have done, very gradually went from crappy evod 18 nic, to spinner 12 nic, to box and subohm 6 nic. I still sit around 16 watts. I hope I stay here, I'm burning through a lot of juice already, but I don't trust myself lol.

 

[WillyZee]

if it was someone I don't know ... I would recommend something like an iTaste MVP V3.0 with an Aspire Nautilus.

if it was someone I do know ... I would lend them a Provari topped with a juiced up Kayfun.

if it was someone who direct lung hits their cigarettes or cigars (however, I personally have never met one) ... I would recommend they go with sub ohm lung hits right away.

Now back to the first 2 examples ... I would also point out, sub ohm is something everyone should try after they get a feel for vaping.

For my own experience ... I was easily able to quit smoking with an eVic topped with an IBTank.

 

[SissySpike]

I generally recommend a IPV 2 Mini and a kanger sub mini this set up is affordable and lets the newbie deside what he or she likes.

Its completely up to them to decide whether they like tootle or subbing. In fact it dose not inter the conversation unless they bring it up.

The main concern is getting them off of smokes.

The Tootle poofer vs sub ohm debate is a luxury for those of us who have kicked the smoking habit and have nothing better to do with our time. It means absolutely nothing in the big picture.

 

[alicewonderland]

The Tootle poofer vs sub ohm debate is a luxury for those of us who have kicked the smoking habit and have nothing better to do with our time. It means absolutely nothing in the big picture.

well, it is not really a debate. Merely me asking how people come around to finding their preferred way of vaping, to give insight to others. Maybe when we can understand eachother we can stop thinking negative of eachother.

 

[jefsview]

When I started vaping, I needed something closer to smoking a cigarette: tight draw, warm vapor. The Protank came out shortly after I began, and it was too cool and airy and I hated it. I stuck with my T2's and those did the job for me until I was introduced to rebuildables and Kayfun-style, which still work well for me today. I do enjoy a .5 ohm on a dripper with a wider airflow, but not on the go or at work.

For a newbie, sub-ohming is so much not like smoking a cigaratte, I don't think it would be an easy transition. Although it does get a lot of play on YT and the forums, in everyday life, I still see mostly ego batteries and Evods.

 

[Asbestos4004]

If I'd started vaping with what I use now, I'd still be smoking. My business partner smokes... I've givin him ego's, evods, an istick w/ a nautilus mini.....tons of stuff. He still smokes. He likes the flavors though. He tried my REO the other day and almost keeled over.

I think upgrading is part of it....

 

[SissySpike]

well, it is not really a debate. Merely me asking how people come around to finding their preferred way of vaping, to give insight to others. Maybe when we can understand eachother we can stop thinking negative of eachother.

I was not referring to your post more of my thoughts about the subject in a broader since. Sorry if it came off otherwise. You post is a good topic and worthy of bring up IMO not that my opinion matters or you need my blessing on your post urrr well you know what I mean.

 

[alicewonderland]

When I started vaping, I needed something closer to smoking a cigarette: tight draw, warm vapor. The Protank came out shortly after I began, and it was too cool and airy and I hated it. I stuck with my T2's and those did the job for me until I was introduced to rebuildables and Kayfun-style, which still work well for me today. I do enjoy a .5 ohm on a dripper with a wider airflow, but not on the go or at work.

For a newbie, sub-ohming is so much not like smoking a cigaratte, I don't think it would be an easy transition. Although it does get a lot of play on YT and the forums, in everyday life, I still see mostly ego batteries and Evods.

i think the actual closest i ever got to the throathit/heat/draw of a cigarette, was when i transitioned into ego battery+aerotank mini, with 1.0ohm coils. The only negative of it was the wicking could not keep up with how much was vaporized so got a bunch of nasty dryhits. Im actually thinking of picking up the new subox kit kangertech is coming out with to try that out for my on the go setup. I can see that kit being recommended to newbies to vaping once it comes out, imo i think kanger is gonna make a killing with that setup, i think it gives a new vaper everything they would need to get started and be satisfied.

 

[alicewonderland]

If I'd started vaping with what I use now, I'd still be smoking. My business partner smokes... I've givin him ego's, evods, an istick w/ a nautilus mini.....tons of stuff. He still smokes. He likes the flavors though. He tried my REO the other day and almost keeled over.

I think upgrading is part of it....

yeah now that I think of it, i kind of take back my comment. If I started on how I vaped today it would be so strange because right now I have gotten used to direct lung inhaling. The transition did kind of help me enjoy the way I vape nowadays. I think the perfect vape that would have gotten me off the cigs right off the bat is kind of a combination of how i started and how i ended up. I would take the small portability type ecigs, with a restricted airflow but good throat hit and warm vapor. The topper would have to be something real good with juice flow though and small because I was a chainsmoker. Perhaps a kayfun built subohm on a mech mod, which surprisingly ive never tried.

 

[DaveSignal]

I am not a cloud chaser, but make big clouds. It is a side effect, as you mentioned in the OP. I don't specifically build atomizers just to make clouds though. I build them for a powerful, warm, lung-filling vape that tastes wonderful and puts a smile on my face. I no longer have a cigarette addiction, as cigarettes are now inferior. I have a vaping addiction. And a mod collecting addiction. And a juice sampling addiction. But I like my addictions. They give me something to look forward to every day. And they are healthier than smoking tobacco.

 

[edyle]

I remember when I started vaping 3 years ago, the transition was hard and I had many relapses. I started with stick style batteries which were far and different than smoking a cigarette. It was like sucking through a straw for 7+ seconds, with little vapor and throat hit/satisfaction at the end. It worked for a while then I relapsed back to cigarettes. I tried Ego-Batteries with 1.0-1.5ohm cartos/tanks, it came close but so many dry hits, and it still wasnt much like a cigarette so I relapsed again, then towards the end of last year, I picked up a vaporshark and started vaping <1.0ohm coils in tanks/RDA's and it got me hooked, it was very much like smoking a cigarette. 2-4second drags, throat hit, and nicotine delivery.

which comes to my second question, I know there is this whole thing of 'cloud chasers' and 'tootle puffers', but what kept you on vaping and didnt make you relapse? For the cloud chasers, was it the visual aspect? The hobby of vaping, the want to get more and bigger visuals out of clouds, or more throat hit and similarity to smoking with clouds just as a side effect? And for the tootle puffers, did you just get used to taking longer drags compared to smoking, have you tried subohming at high wattage and just found longer less direct throathit was more satisfying to you when compared to smoking?

it makes me wonder how people come to their desired vaping setups, if they came by them by trying to find something similar to smoking, or just fell into something completely new that they enjoy even more.

when I think of how I ended up at subohming on mechs, from starting on egos/30-40w devices. I believe it has to do with me chasing that way i used to smoke, 2-4second drags on newports. For those of you that subohm or low watt vape, what type of cigarettes did you use to smoke before you switched? this could be helpful information for people reccomending setups to those who want to make the switch to vaping.

1: "what kept you on vaping and didnt make you relapse?"
(a) cigalikes.
There were disposable cigalikes available at pharmacies.

It was basically like changing from my usual brand to a different cleaner brand.
(b) health; I'd previously been in hospital for tuberculosis.
They always say smoking causes lung cancer; big deal, so I die of lung cancer;
but they don't mention tuberculosis; tuberculosis is contagious; if you test positive for tuberculosis, they take you in and basically quarantine you for a month; so now you can't work for a month; you lose a month's pay.

2: "cloud chasers, was it the visual aspect"
I'm not a cloud chaser, but after 30 years of smoking, the visual aspect was a very big deal.

3: "what type of cigarettes did you use to smoke before you switched"
When I lived in Canada, I used to smoke camel filter; actually kept it down to about 5 a day; too much per day and it was like you couldn't enjoy the taste as much.
When I got back home, couldn't get camels so I went back to my previous brand which was 555; pack a day; then that became unavailable and I went to a local brand: Broadway, and my smoking went up to 2pad.

 

[Underwhelmed]

Everyone is different, really.

I was able to stop smoking immediately using Blu disposables, but it was costly and depending on how long they had been at the store either really good or really bad.

Ordered my first kit, a Volt cigalike with two batteries and some cartomizers and that was better, but the battery life was horrible, so I got a couple ego twists and some clearos. The twists were great, but I ended up trying a bunch of toppers before I settled on the Kanger T3. Found out I loved bottom coil toppers.

Tried a bunch of other stuff, too much to list, really, but wasn't really happy with my topper situation until I got a Kayfun clone and a mod and learnt how to build the Kayfun way I liked it.

I've tried a bunch of stuff since, but that's still basically where my happy place is, a regulated mod and a Kayfun derivative.

But really, I was able to stop smoking completely with cigalikes, it was just not sustainable for me to use them long term, but everyone is different. Some people stop at cigalikes, others end up with boxes.

 

[VictorViper]

Just speaking personally, and bear in mind I'm back on the wagon after a year off, but what keeps me off the cigs is pretty simple:

1) Juice
2) Ritual*
3) Per the OP: Getting as far from cigarette-like actions as possible.

*Rituals like rolling coils, disassembly and cleaning of mods, re-wicking, etc.

Cigalikes totally failed to keep me off butts, but the trusty ego-c gave me a little hope. I went to mechs and rebuildable drippers within two weeks (bear in mind I have reasonable electrical common sense) and never looked back.

I can't stress enough how important the rituals are for me, though. And it's all for the juice.

[EDIT] Totally forgot to add, I like my wide open dual coils as much as my cyclone with its microscopic airhole. Neither run below 0.5 and I generally aim for 0.7-0.8 on my coils on 30A batteries. I like overhead.

 

[roxynoodle]

I let a friend try a bunch of my stuff, and she definitely preferred the single coil attys with tighter airflow. So instead of a Subtank, she decided to get an Aerotank.

She also liked my 20W istick out of all my mods so I gave it to her.

 

[Cacique]

I started smoking due to a very weird and restrictive upbringing. I started smoking late, at 18, but ever since I can remember I always had an oral fixation due to the ridiculous amount of stress and anxiety I grew up from birth. I was the kid always chewing on a lollipop stick or destroying his fingers by biting his nails. I was actually diagnosed with stress and anxiety disorders, chronic depression and social phobia in my mid teens. I never got into smoking because I was taught that basically any substance other than food, water and liquor in moderation would land me in hell. Anyways, I finally decided to start smoking artisan cigarillos when I was with a friend who was buying some for himself. I asked him how to inhale and he said just straight lung hit, and that's how I smoked my entire life, straight and full lung hits. Smoking was a big distraction for me from all those issues I was having, and allowed me to feel a bit more normal and in control of myself, most likely a placebo effect since I mostly would go off and smoke at the beach where no one could see me and just think.

I quit smoking when I met my girlfriend at 21. Her mother had recently undergone chemotherapy for breast cancer and they had both quit smoking when they found out. I started smoking less and less the more I spent time with her and eventually they tasted too bad to want to pick one up. Still, all those anxieties were always there and I would still think of having a cigarette even though I never picked one up. I think my first e-cig was some crappy little ciggalike that was quite bad. Like described above, sucking through a straw for very little vapor and no satisfaction. I eventually quit that and some time after that picked up an ego twist and some clearos, which were better but I lost interest relatively quickly as I couldn't do my full lung inhales. It wasn't until I got an Atlantis and CF mod, along with a dripper that I started feeling some satisfaction. My mind would go from anxiety more towards vaping, and once I got a mech mod and finally my 150w mod and slowly went from 0 nic to 3 nic that I found full satisfaction.

I'm automatically a cloud chaser as I have big lungs and good lung capacity, but I feel like I always was. I loved watching the smoke rise when I smoked and blowing smoke rings, all things that gave me a distraction from my screwed up brain. I no longer thing of smoking anything other than those vanilla cigarillos that I started out with, as vaping is even better at giving me those things I liked from smoking.

Sorry for the long ramble. I've read many people asking questions about why people start vaping, and how some don't see why a smoker would need to sub-ohm cloud chase, and I couldn't think of any other way to respond here without all of that lol. I can talk quite a bit as you can see.

Oh, and as to the question on the title, I'm actually going through this right now. My friend still smokes and isn't satisfied by ecigs, likes the heat and yadda yadda, so I'm trying to give him a few things to look at that I feel will give him that satisfaction. So basically, I would ask a bunch of questions about their smoking habit; how much and how you smoke and what you like about it specifically and go from there.