Ultra-Newbie with "getting started" questions

[jojobits]

Hi ya'll
I just found out about electronic cigarettes last week, & am brand new to the forum.

I smoke a pack a day, have been as bad as two packs a day.
I chain smoke while I am driving.
I am 42 and have been smoking Marlboro Ultra Lights for 7 years.

I MUST quit soon.
My brother never smoked and just recently died of lung cancer this year.
My father never smoked and is a survivor of throat cancer.
My mother caught her breast cancer early.
I have cancer in my family. With the recent death of my brother, I am getting very nervous about my smoking.

I would like to switch to electric cigarettes.
I would also like to slowly wean myself off of nicotene. I have tried the patches several times, and just wound up smoking with the patches on. I think it is through habit as much as a nicotene addiction.

Can you folks reccomend some quality made e-cigerettes that have the look and feel of a real cigerette with good battery life? I had no idea there were so many makes & models out there.

Also, is it possible to get refill cartridges with diminishing levels of nicotene?

Thank you all in advance
Jojo

 

[doots]

welcome Jojo

check out
VaporKings - e-cigarette-forum.com • The place for electronic cigarette reviews, news and chat

 

[beckah54]

Hi JoJo and welcome to the ECF forum!

I think the KR808D-1 is a very good model to start out with. Not a lot of filling, cleaning and maintenance. You can find them for sale from several suppliers on this forum.

Try Welcome to NHaler! and Vapor4Life:: Because it's your life :: Electronic Cigarettes & Alternatives to Smoking

They each have a subforum in the Supplier section here.

Good luck.

 

[Ragman]

Welcome jojo.

As well as size and feel I would have to say go with the m401. Just about the same size and width as a 100. If you want King size go with an EVOlution from Innovapor. Automatic battery so no push button needed.

Each one comes in a kit with 5 prefilled cartridges.

You can usually get them for around $40 to $50 bucks.

Good luck. This is the BEST alternative to smoking, hands down. Well next to quiting altogether.

 

[jojobits]

Thank you everyone!
I like the idea of not having to push a button to inhale with the EVOlution Intro Kit

Thanks again!
Jojo

 

[clear_blue27]

Thank you everyone!
I like the idea of not having to push a button to inhale with the EVOlution Intro Kit

Thanks again!
Jojo

I don't like the manual switch either. Welcome to the forum. I got a dse901 mini. I got mine from dietsmokes.com. It was a good price! It's been working well this weekend. The battery life is amazing. It lasts all day when it is fully charged. Now I don't know if I puff very often. But, even if I take a lot it still lasts me all day. I got the dse901 black intro starter kit. It is tiny. Fits nicely in my pocket. Good luck on your journey to a better and healthier life!

 

[Raenon]

Good news is that even if you smoke many cigarettes a day- if it's ultralights, then you're not actually getting a huge amount of nicotine at once, and will probably take to vaping well. You should seriously consider switching back and forth with low or very low nicotine liquid and NO-nicotine to replace the habit cigs (especially those car ones).
You can also do the passthrough for the very long smoking sessions so you don't burn through batteries. I use my usb-powered passthrough with a car-to-usb adapter (make sure you get one that provides at least 1000mA/1A) all the way to and from work and I love it!

I second the m401/2/3 options, the only difference between those is the length of the battery and the longest is only 108mm (401), 402 in the middle (a little under 100mm), and the 403 is almost the same as a standard length cig. I use the 402 and given the fact that I like to hold it further down than I would on a filtered analog, it doesn't really look longer in my hand than I'm used to.

 

[Brachinus]

You can get pre-filled carts with low nicotine, but it's easier (and cheaper) to buy juice and refill the carts yourself. That way you can control the nicotine level easier.

BTW, don't knock the "pushing a button to inhale" thing. I've had units with manual and automatic, and I prefer manual. If you don't push a button to inhale, you have to control the switch with your breath, and that means inhaling the way the machine wants you to inhale, which may not be the way you want to inhale.

 

[gooney0]

I agree with the manual button. Since the e-cig is too heavy to be hands free pressing the button isn't really an issue.

Pressing the button allows you to control the device better. Press early, let go early and so on.

All the models mentioned are known to be good. The "Joye 510" is also good. You can find video reviews of these if you poke around.

Good luck with it. I hope you find one you really like.

-Gooney0

P.S. Sounds like you should get checked out by the doctor on a regular basis. Catching cancer early makes a big difference on the outcome.

 

[Shortstuff116]

If there is any hesitation at all on your part, just go for it. I smoked between 1 and 2 packs for 36+ years and after taking my very first vape last Wednesday I put my analogs away in a drawer and haven't even thought about touching them.

I got my starter kit here for $59.95 free shipping and I've been told it is the KR808D-1 model. Best thing I've ever done for myself!

Good luck!

Steve

 

[Ragman]

I agree with some of the others.

I started with an automatic cause I wanted what would be most like a regular cigarette. I havent used my auto batteries in almost 3 weeks. I prefer the manuals.

To each his own tho.

 

[abaldwin360]

This is the cheapest starter kit I have seen, $40 shipped and you have a choice of manual or automatic.

Joye 510 NO BOX

 

[JamieJ]

JOJO you sound so much like me! Same smoking patterns- close age and cig brand. I am NOT a manufacterer but I must warn you that I almost gave up ecigs due to the poor battery life and little nic hits from the small ecigs that look like cigarettes. I spent a lot of money and went through a lot to finally become satified with ecigs totally! Here is what I found....
1) get a passthough and a battery pack to take with you (like a kensington) you can charge the battery pack once a day and vape all day on a small USB cable that will connect to the battery. Charging those little batteries all day and several times a day with little "power" was frustrating and didnt deliver the feeling of smoking for me. But when I got the passthough (a 510 atomizer that connects to the battery piece with a usb cord attached...power strength and reliability went up to very easy as well as less time consuming.
2) The 510 is a good choice for an overall and most usuable ecig (I use that in the car and out and about with the battery pack. I have a "big battery model" at home (protege, prodigy and screwdriver) The big battery model 801 penstyle atomizers that where a luxury addition to my vaping as the batteries on these last about 4 hours and they are give off a little different vape and taste.
3) Get a liquid of 18mg AND 24mg to 36mg strength to start with to transfer off of cigarettes. I use the 24 or 36mg juice for that first thing in the morning nic fix and for high stress nic need situations. I use the 14-18mg for relaxing watching tv or in the car when I am chain vaping. The absorption rate for ecigarettes is less than regular cigarettes. After you have been off of cigarettes completely for a few weeks, you can then lower your dosage to what you want to do or to completely zero nic. Good Luck and welcome. I havent smoked since the beginning of Sept except once when I had no other choice and I was surprized at how nasty the taste of a regular cigarette was to me!!

 

[JamieJ]

OH yes like everyone else says...buy the juice and refill your carts. Dont waste your money on purchasing those prefilled ones. You will save a lot of money as well as keep your atomizer "healthier" by keeping it wet.

I also prefer the manual. The automatic would just "go off" sometimes and my atty would get hot before I noticed it.

It is worth your while to check out the Pyramid Tea Bag cart mod videos on this site. I found this for my 510 and use it all the time. It will give you better flavor and draw and you will have to refill less often. Basically you take out the manufactor filling and replace it with a cut rolled up pyramid tea bag by lipton tea. Really is wonderful flavor and better vaping!

 

[jojobits]

Thank you everyone for the advices and help.
Good info and suggestions, so now I have a few more things to think about.

I have been almost having panic attacks about my smoking/health...after finding this forum and seeing all the positive outcomes I am excited to get vaping.
Thanks again!!!!

 

[JerryRM]

Welcome aboard JoJo, I'm a newbie too. I was a smoker for 46 years, started vaping two months ago and have been smoke free for two weeks. I would suggest you keep it simple to start off with. You might find having to deal with atomizers and e-juice a bit overwhelming right now.

I would suggest a KR808D-1, until you get used to vaping. The battery and cartomizer (combination of cartridge and atomizer) are long lasting (about a day, depending how much you use it) and when the cartomizer runs out of juice you just replace it with a new one.

Later on, if you decide to get more involved in vaping, the 808D will be a good backup e-cig.