(TL;DR Don't expect these to be exactly like smokes. They're not. But in short order you find them to be BETTER.)
I've had a number of people I know who still smoke and were curious about my vape setup talk to me about it, and other people who don't smoke but have been encouraging loved ones who do to give it a try and do the same. Here's a few of the questions and things holding people back, and responses which, I completely admit, are my own opinion and what I encountered. I'm not expert on this stuff, far from it. I just wanted to offer a read to any other newbies, maybe people who came here for the first time and haven't posted yet, and are giving this some thought.
"They don't FEEL like cigarettes."
Reply: Nope. They don't. Even the slim, cig shaped ones like the type I started off with (Halo G6) aren't exactly like cigarettes, but they're very close. When I smoked analog, I tended to hold the cig between my left hand index and middle finger, but the manual button didn't make that easy. I opted for one of the batteries that fires on mouth draw, and that started me off. There are a lot of mannerisms and habits associated with analog that took me some getting over as well, such as "flicking", which I did almost compulsively with analogs. However, it only took me perhaps 3 days to completely get over that urge.
"I still have a nic-fit feeling after vaping."
If you smoked a pack a day as I did, it might be tempting to get the lower level nicotine, like 12MG, determined to cut the nic habit. DON'T (IMO). Go with higher, say 24MG, at least a small bottle of it, until vaping becomes your norm. The particulates inhaled while smoking are smaller and enter the lungs and transmits nicotine to your blood and body faster than vaping. You may need to take a draw on your vape slowly, let it sit, then take another several times before you feel that nic-fit sensation go away. Remember, your body is used to a certain level of nicotine. Don't or at least try not to reduce your chances of success. Give yourself a fighting chance, and start off with higher levels of nicotine then go down to 18MG or 12MG, once vaping becomes your "normal". Nicotine leaves your body after only a week, but the emotional addiction lasts a LOT longer. It can take two weeks to replace or remove a habitual action, so take that into account.
"The taste just isn't the same."
Reply: There are some really good tobacco flavors out there to try. The one I started out with had a sweet tobacco taste with a nutty undertone, called Tribeca on the Halo site. Compared to newer juices I tried, it was a very mild flavor, but after only an hour I found I preferred it to the taste of analog. Oh, and I learned quick it's not a bad idea, if you start off with the slimmer e-cigs that come with a small cartomizer, to pick up the longer ones. Ditto battery. For the first week, I would keep this rotation of like 6 of the small cartos so that once I began to notice one tasted "flat", I could replace it and add some drops to the one getting spent. That started to get real tired real quick! After that, even though yes they're bigger, I snagged an eGo-C Twist with a tank and it was like night and day. HUGE vapor, great taste, and they last for hours and hours. Yes, they're bigger, yes you need to find a reliable way to carry them and not spill or leak, but well worth it.
"They don't smell the same. I LIKE the smell of cigarettes!"
Reply: The night I bought my kit, I had a regular cig shortly before bed, and several times I looked down at it, had a puff, then took a drag on my e-cig. I found I really liked the taste of the e much more. The real kicker was when I got up the next day and had another analog. I came back inside and just smelled it on me. It came as a shock. At that point it wasn't unpleasant like it is now. It was more like "Holy hades, is this what I've been smelling like?!" Now I wouldn't say that the smell is entirely unpleasant, but it's sure not as good as my vape! I walk into my office and it's like "Ooooh, it smells NICE in here!" And my GF loves the smell. Frankly, any change in habit which increases the odds of my getting hugged/smooched/jumped is certainly a "win".
"It's so expensive."
Reply: Your first setup is going to cost more than cigarettes. Yes. My first kit with additional juice ran me about $75. However, I STILL have much of the hardware from that, and still use it. But lets just look at that $75. Analogs here in Boston run $8.65 a pack, and I was a pack a day. 7 days works out to just over $60. What I had effectively done was buy a little over a week's worth of cigarettes. That first setup I bought lasted me well over 3 weeks. If I hadn't migrated up to an eGo-C Twist (what, $24 and another few beans for the tank) the savings certainly would have been higher. If you don't go overboard like some might (ahem... Like I did) your savings will be quite a bit higher. Longer term, however, your savings will be a lot higher! For me, smokes were running $265/mo, and I would often pick up a little something extra when I stopped in to get cigs. A drink, maybe some snacks, maybe a six of beer. Even if you're living someplace where cigs are cheaper, say $6.50 a pack, that can be $200/mo, while you can get a single eGo and a few tanks to keep on hand for what, $40, then plenty of good juice for another $20 and those eGo batteries will last MONTHS. Replacement cartos are dirt cheap.
If memory serves, in the UK a pack is up around what, £7 or so? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
"I really miss my morning smoke with a coffee/tea."
Stop reading this. Go to Mount Baker Vapor. Buy "Cinnamon Roll". Don't even need to let it steep long. Load that puppy up. Seriously. Go. YOU GO NOW. <---------this is entirely based on opinion and in no way reflects the opinions of any person, historical or fictional, and no Bothans died in bringing you this information, no puppies were injured. However, every time you ignore this God kills a kitten.
It was very hard to give up a morning smoke, I admit. However, since I couldn't smoke in my apartment or office, and it was generally 20°/f outside, I got over that pretty quick.
So there you have it. I've been analog free for just over a month at this point, and I'm really not looking back. I have two eGo at my desk, a tank of Apple, a tank of Cinnamon Roll, and a tank of Black Tea with French Vanilla added, and I not only enjoy this MORE than analog, I don't MISS analog. Not one bit. You CAN get over cigs. I smoked for over 30 years, and I'm a horrible creature of habit. If a mook like me can manage it, anyone can
If anyone would care to add their own "Question / Answer" or whatever, please do
I've had a number of people I know who still smoke and were curious about my vape setup talk to me about it, and other people who don't smoke but have been encouraging loved ones who do to give it a try and do the same. Here's a few of the questions and things holding people back, and responses which, I completely admit, are my own opinion and what I encountered. I'm not expert on this stuff, far from it. I just wanted to offer a read to any other newbies, maybe people who came here for the first time and haven't posted yet, and are giving this some thought.
"They don't FEEL like cigarettes."
Reply: Nope. They don't. Even the slim, cig shaped ones like the type I started off with (Halo G6) aren't exactly like cigarettes, but they're very close. When I smoked analog, I tended to hold the cig between my left hand index and middle finger, but the manual button didn't make that easy. I opted for one of the batteries that fires on mouth draw, and that started me off. There are a lot of mannerisms and habits associated with analog that took me some getting over as well, such as "flicking", which I did almost compulsively with analogs. However, it only took me perhaps 3 days to completely get over that urge.
"I still have a nic-fit feeling after vaping."
If you smoked a pack a day as I did, it might be tempting to get the lower level nicotine, like 12MG, determined to cut the nic habit. DON'T (IMO). Go with higher, say 24MG, at least a small bottle of it, until vaping becomes your norm. The particulates inhaled while smoking are smaller and enter the lungs and transmits nicotine to your blood and body faster than vaping. You may need to take a draw on your vape slowly, let it sit, then take another several times before you feel that nic-fit sensation go away. Remember, your body is used to a certain level of nicotine. Don't or at least try not to reduce your chances of success. Give yourself a fighting chance, and start off with higher levels of nicotine then go down to 18MG or 12MG, once vaping becomes your "normal". Nicotine leaves your body after only a week, but the emotional addiction lasts a LOT longer. It can take two weeks to replace or remove a habitual action, so take that into account.
"The taste just isn't the same."
Reply: There are some really good tobacco flavors out there to try. The one I started out with had a sweet tobacco taste with a nutty undertone, called Tribeca on the Halo site. Compared to newer juices I tried, it was a very mild flavor, but after only an hour I found I preferred it to the taste of analog. Oh, and I learned quick it's not a bad idea, if you start off with the slimmer e-cigs that come with a small cartomizer, to pick up the longer ones. Ditto battery. For the first week, I would keep this rotation of like 6 of the small cartos so that once I began to notice one tasted "flat", I could replace it and add some drops to the one getting spent. That started to get real tired real quick! After that, even though yes they're bigger, I snagged an eGo-C Twist with a tank and it was like night and day. HUGE vapor, great taste, and they last for hours and hours. Yes, they're bigger, yes you need to find a reliable way to carry them and not spill or leak, but well worth it.
"They don't smell the same. I LIKE the smell of cigarettes!"
Reply: The night I bought my kit, I had a regular cig shortly before bed, and several times I looked down at it, had a puff, then took a drag on my e-cig. I found I really liked the taste of the e much more. The real kicker was when I got up the next day and had another analog. I came back inside and just smelled it on me. It came as a shock. At that point it wasn't unpleasant like it is now. It was more like "Holy hades, is this what I've been smelling like?!" Now I wouldn't say that the smell is entirely unpleasant, but it's sure not as good as my vape! I walk into my office and it's like "Ooooh, it smells NICE in here!" And my GF loves the smell. Frankly, any change in habit which increases the odds of my getting hugged/smooched/jumped is certainly a "win".
"It's so expensive."
Reply: Your first setup is going to cost more than cigarettes. Yes. My first kit with additional juice ran me about $75. However, I STILL have much of the hardware from that, and still use it. But lets just look at that $75. Analogs here in Boston run $8.65 a pack, and I was a pack a day. 7 days works out to just over $60. What I had effectively done was buy a little over a week's worth of cigarettes. That first setup I bought lasted me well over 3 weeks. If I hadn't migrated up to an eGo-C Twist (what, $24 and another few beans for the tank) the savings certainly would have been higher. If you don't go overboard like some might (ahem... Like I did) your savings will be quite a bit higher. Longer term, however, your savings will be a lot higher! For me, smokes were running $265/mo, and I would often pick up a little something extra when I stopped in to get cigs. A drink, maybe some snacks, maybe a six of beer. Even if you're living someplace where cigs are cheaper, say $6.50 a pack, that can be $200/mo, while you can get a single eGo and a few tanks to keep on hand for what, $40, then plenty of good juice for another $20 and those eGo batteries will last MONTHS. Replacement cartos are dirt cheap.
If memory serves, in the UK a pack is up around what, £7 or so? Please correct me if I'm wrong.
"I really miss my morning smoke with a coffee/tea."
Stop reading this. Go to Mount Baker Vapor. Buy "Cinnamon Roll". Don't even need to let it steep long. Load that puppy up. Seriously. Go. YOU GO NOW. <---------this is entirely based on opinion and in no way reflects the opinions of any person, historical or fictional, and no Bothans died in bringing you this information, no puppies were injured. However, every time you ignore this God kills a kitten.
It was very hard to give up a morning smoke, I admit. However, since I couldn't smoke in my apartment or office, and it was generally 20°/f outside, I got over that pretty quick.
So there you have it. I've been analog free for just over a month at this point, and I'm really not looking back. I have two eGo at my desk, a tank of Apple, a tank of Cinnamon Roll, and a tank of Black Tea with French Vanilla added, and I not only enjoy this MORE than analog, I don't MISS analog. Not one bit. You CAN get over cigs. I smoked for over 30 years, and I'm a horrible creature of habit. If a mook like me can manage it, anyone can
If anyone would care to add their own "Question / Answer" or whatever, please do
