Very new... about to purchase

[Astronomer]

Hello all
I am a long time smoker, pack a day ( sometimes a couple less ) for more years than I want to count. I have been lurking but not posting on forums such as these for about a week. I am about to order something from someone somewhere ( still deciding that )

What I want ( or think I want )
I want to quit smoking, I am a pro, I have quit more times that I can count. Gum, Lozenges, Patches, pills and cold turkey. I can be successful for a month or two, but I will eventually fall back into my old habit. Like most smokers I am a rather compulsive person.

What I don’t want ( period )
I don’t want another unsatisfying experience that will just have me fall back into the habit that I am pretty sure is killing me.
I don’t want to buy one e-cig, then another, then another, then another till I find something satisfying and enjoyable.

What I know ( or think I know )
e-cigarettes are NOT exactly like smoking, but feels more like it than just about anything else
Many people actually prefer e-cigs over smoking in a remarkably short period of time
Many e-cigs are not satisfying for everyone, but often after spending a considerable amount of money they find one that is.
No e-cig will be exactly like smoking, but when trying to quit it is probably a good idea to get as close to it as you can for at least the first few weeks. Experiment later, quit now.

What I don’t know ( or think I don’t know )
Which e-cig is likely to give me the most satisfying experience?
Just how much of a hassle is it to fill your own cartridges?
Which company is reliable enough and supports the products they make?

What I am not concerned about ( which may be different than other newbie’s )
I don’t care if it looks like a cigarette, I don’t care if I hold it like a cigarette, I don’t care what other people think It looks like, or what I look like using it.
I don’t care if it has a red led light on the tip, it isn’t my eyes that are addicted ( chuckle )

What I am concerned about ( actually am conserned )
A system that will last a smoker of a pack a day…. For a day ( hopefully cutting down a bit in the process )
A system that will be satisfying enough to have me actually quit smoking

Long term
The plan, is to match the level of nicotine I smoke now, and then over months slowly reduce that.
If I use the E-Cigarette after that with no nicotine… then it really doesn’t matter if I ever quit that or now….. right?

Questions… suggestions, advice, warnings, any help at all would be appreciated as I plan to buy something probably in the next 24 hours.
My current leaning ( from all I have read and watched ) is probably going to be the eGo, probably from V4L ( please let me know if that is a mistake ) But I am not 100% dead certain yet.. but I will be making a decision in the next 24 hours cause I am very serious about trying something else to stop.
If I do get the eGo I will probably go with the Marlboro menthol flavor as that will most likely resemble partially what I smoke now, and would likely be the most satisfying initially ( even if it is not the best in the long run )

I don’t know what Nicotine level… I was planning on around 18 to start with.. not sure if that is right.

Thanks in advance for any comments ( and yes I will be reading all of the sticky notes up top and wathcing video's today that I have not arleady seen )

 

[emanguba]

Personally, I think the eGo tank system is a great beginner kit.

The learning curve is minimal.

When I was a noobie, I hated dealing with filling cartridges and longevity of what I had...then, there were these mods (ie blue foam, tea bags, etc)...why deal with the frustration that many of us had to endure?

As for juice and nic level, that would vary...get sample packs in different nic levels...

 

[banjo]

The eGO is a good system, but it is only the beginning of the quest for something better. I went through the whole list of PVs trying to find one that really worked. None did, until I bought my first "bottom feeding" mod. Skip all of the in-between steps and consider one or two of the following:

REO Grand
REO Mini
Integrity
Phidias
Ali'i

I own more than one of all of these except for the Ali'i & they all will provide you with a great vaping experience without any hassles.

Information on all of these can be found by doing a search here on ECF. Good Luck to you & and thanks for the post. It is much appreciated.

 

[Rosa]

Personally, I think the eGo tank system is a great beginner kit.

The learning curve is minimal.

When I was a noobie, I hated dealing with filling cartridges and longevity of what I had...then, there were these mods (ie blue foam, tea bags, etc)...why deal with the frustration that many of us had to endure?

As for juice and nic level, that would vary...get sample packs in different nic levels...

I would agree with that and I'll add:

If you get it from cignot you can upgrade the batteries for $4 each (from the 650mah to the 1000mah) that way ONE battery will truly last you all day long without having to recharge. It's more expensive, but for you it may be worth it.

As for carts/atty's: I HATE carts -- IMO, that's the major reason some folks don't make it vaping, the darn carts are so fiddly.

As for e-liquid: Most vapers are happy with 24mg, but I'd get some in a much lower mg (in the same flavor) so you can dilute it if you need to. Also, you should try a crazy flavor that you'd never think to try (like green apple or waffle) -- if nothing else, it'll help cleanse your palate if your taste buds go dead (which can happen about a week into vaping, drink water and switch flavors generally kicks them back into action).

 

[Astronomer]

Have heard nothing about the "tank" or any of those other brands mentioned.

I will go take a look... thanks

any feedback or advice at all is appreciated

 

[emanguba]

banjo is right on with the bottom feeder mods...

It all depends on what the OP is willing to do.

In the beginning, I was very intimidated of any mod...

My bottom feeders have never failed me.

The only downside I can see with the popular bottom feeder mods, is the availability (other than the Integrity)...it's hard to get one (but not without effort).

And depending on budget...bottom feeder mods range from $100-200 plus batteries and charger...other than homemade mods and OldGoat's/Missy wetbox mod ($40-50).

I think (correct me if I'm wrong) the best deals on the eGo tank kits are:
- Clouds of Vapor $60.00 + 10% off (code: bigbuyer)
- Volcano Inferno-T kit $74.00 + 10% off (code: epuffdirect)

The difference is:
- COV comes with 2 650mah batteries and 2 tank atomizers
- Volcano comes with 1 650mah usb passthrough battery and 1 1000mah battery and 1 tank atomizer and 1 bottle of juice

 

[Rosa]

re-read and added the following comments:

...I am a pro, I have quit more times that I can count. Gum, Lozenges, Patches, pills and cold turkey. I can be successful for a month or two, but I will eventually fall back into my old habit. Like most smokers I am a rather compulsive person...

most of us have, for me it's the six month mark that I can't get past.


Which company is reliable enough and supports the products they make?

We have a list of ECF approved suppliers who are tried and true. One reason that they are so great is that they know that ECF is the largest community of vapers on Earth and if they don't keep up the customer service, we will tell all our ECF friends and their business will fail. Only the best of the best make it to the suppliers list IMO. Forum Suppliers

The plan, is to match the level of nicotine I smoke now, and then over months slowly reduce that.
If I use the E-Cigarette after that with no nicotine… then it really doesn’t matter if I ever quit that or now….. right?

I don't recommend trying to cut out the nicotine too soon... nicotine isn't really the culprit anyway. It's not any worse for you than caffeine in the long run, besides, many vapers become less and less addicted to it the longer they vape. If you want to lower it after about 6 months to a year, think about it again. For now, it should be the furthest thing from your mind.



I don’t know what Nicotine level… I was planning on around 18 to start with.. not sure if that is right. I'd go with 24mg and lower, and a variety of flavors. The last thing you need is to get the whole kit and find that you are still having nic fits because you didn't get at least one bottle that's strong enough.

Also: here are a couple of tips:

* drink lots of water
* vape constantly: if you are filled up with nicotine you will be less likely to crave a ciggy
* stay on ECF and read the stories, they are inspiring everyday

 

[Scottitude]

As good as it is, an eGo is merely a gateway PV for a heavy smoker and as banjo said, "the beginning of a quest for something better".

My recommendation: a 5v GLV-2 from Electronic Cigarettes and E-Liquid - Great Lakes Vapor.

I prefer my 5v GLV over any other hardware I've ever tried, including "feeders". It's the simplest, most powerful and durable PV you'll ever find.

 

[Rosa]

Have heard nothing about the "tank" or any of those other brands mentioned.

I will go take a look... thanks

any feedback or advice at all is appreciated

I like this video, it shows what it is, how it works, how to use it etc....

YouTube - eGo-T Tank System Review

 

[keyzygirl]

I would go with the 808 XL batteries from Vapor4life with the menthol sampler packs.Then get a few small bottles of liquid to refill.You can order more once you try it and are sure it will work for you.

 

[pkj]

Hello all
I am a long time smoker, pack a day ( sometimes a couple less ) for more years than I want to count. I have been lurking but not posting on forums such as these for about a week. I am about to order something from someone somewhere ( still deciding that )

Hello to you and welcome to the forum. Congratulations on your decision to try pv's


What I don’t know ( or think I don’t know )
Which e-cig is likely to give me the most satisfying experience?
Just how much of a hassle is it to fill your own cartridges?
Which company is reliable enough and supports the products they make?

The eGo is a popular and reliable pv.

I have never met a cartridge I liked so I drip and use the eGo Tank System.
I suggest you take a serious look at the eGo Tank System. It is easy to use and gives a satisfactory experience to most users.

My equipment supplier is Liberty Flights because they have excellent prices, superb customer support, your total order ships from San Diego for just $2.99 and they give a 20% discount to all ECF Forum Members. There are many good and reliable suppliers here in this forum.


What I am not concerned about ( which may be different than other newbie’s )
I don’t care if it looks like a cigarette, I don’t care if I hold it like a cigarette, I don’t care what other people think It looks like, or what I look like using it.
I don’t care if it has a red led light on the tip, it isn’t my eyes that are addicted ( chuckle )

I fully understand this statement. When I made the decision to vape instead of smoke, I wanted something that did Not look or feel like a cigarette. I was trying to quit smoking. Why would I want something that made me feel like I was smoking? I was trying to remove myself from that habit / environment.

What I am concerned about ( actually am conserned )
A system that will last a smoker of a pack a day…. For a day ( hopefully cutting down a bit in the process )
A system that will be satisfying enough to have me actually quit smoking

The smaller the battery, the more time your battery will be spending on the charger. Please keep that in mind. I suggest a battery strong enough to keep you vaping for several hours. This would be what they consider a 'big battery' e-cig. The eGo and the Riva 510 both are large enough to keep you vaping for several hours. Both the eGo kit and the Riva 510 kit comes with two batteries

You should consider ordering some extra supplies when you order your pv. Here are a few things you should think about:
Extra Atomizers or Cartomizers
Cartridges, there are several types and models available
At least 2 (two) bottles of Juice in a couple different nicotine strengths, a stronger and a milder.
Do not order large sizes in your juice. You don't want to be stuck with a huge bottle you don't like. And be prepared for your tastes to change. Remember this: what I love, you may hate. What you love may taste like junk to me. There are many good juice suppliers here in our forums. There are hundred's of choices (probably thousands!)



Questions… suggestions, advice, warnings, any help at all would be appreciated as I plan to buy something probably in the next 24 hours.
My current leaning ( from all I have read and watched ) is probably going to be the eGo, probably from V4L ( please let me know if that is a mistake )

The eGo is a good choice. You can, and should, google review and/or complaints on any company you decide to use BeForE you place your order. You should also look at the supplier forum here in ECF to see what their customers are saying about the company. Information is readily available. You just need to let your fingers to the walking

I don’t know what Nicotine level… I was planning on around 18 to start with.. not sure if that is right.

[B]What are you smoking right now?

I knew that if I was not getting enough nicotine, I would go back to cigarettes. So I ordered 24mg nicotine tobacco juice and 12mg nicotine tobacco juice when I placed my equipment order. I figured if I got the same juice in 2 different strengths, I could play around with it to meet my immediate stop smoking needs. I mainly used the 24mg strength during the day time and the 12mg strength in the evening. But this method gave me options to meet my needs. Remember: smaller size bottles until you find your perfect juice supplier and until your sense of taste returns.[/B]



Thanks in advance for any comments ( and yes I will be reading all of the sticky notes up top and wathcing video's today that I have not arleady seen )

You are smart to read and study. I wish I had done more reading and studying before I started vaping. This forum is a fabulous resource and filled with great people who are willing and able to help and answer questions.

Welcome to the Forum. Glad you found us. Hope this helps a little,
Happy Vaping,
Paula

 

[debb]

The eGO is a good system, but it is only the beginning of the quest for something better. I went through the whole list of PVs trying to find one that really worked. None did, until I bought my first "bottom feeding" mod. Skip all of the in-between steps and consider one or two of the following:

REO Grand
REO Mini
Integrity
Phidias
Ali'i

I own more than one of all of these except for the Ali'i & they all will provide you with a great vaping experience without any hassles.

Information on all of these can be found by doing a search here on ECF. Good Luck to you & and thanks for the post. It is much appreciated.

i agree...i have 3 reos and a journeyman.....and they are great....i would have loved to have had one of those in the beginning...but i did quit with my riva the day it came in the mail...

 

[Traver]

I started with a 24mg nicotine level and believe that really made a lot easier to make the switch from tobacco to vaping. Nicotine isn't the only addictive chemical in cigarettes and the easier you make it on yourself to start the better you chances of success in the long run. A month later I switched to 12mg without any trouble.
Also don't assume you know what flavors you will like for vaping. It's not the same and your taste buds will change over the next few months without the analogs. Get some sampler packs with different flavors.
As for batteries either the Joye Ego 510 or the KR808 are good batteries. Larger is better. The best vaping experience will be with a mod and the Variable volt mods will be at the top. The best ones and the most expensive will be the ProVari and the Darwin.

 

[pupmastermp3]

I went with the Provape1 and love it. I sometimes drip but mostly fill Cartomizers. I actually enjoy sitting at the work bench in the evening with a cool drink, some good music on the stereo and my juices and cartomizers. I find it relaxing. The wife and I sit for a few hours vaping and chatting while I refill 5 or 6. Then I use them through out the next day as I like to switch flavors. A good cappuccino in the early morning, some french toast on the way to work, some cotton candy in the afternoon, and my favorite buttered popcorn for the ride home.

If you want to check out the provape go here ProVape-1 Electronic Cigarette. Buy one today!

 

[typocinnamongrl]

I think your on the right track considering the ego. I started on a regular "cig sized" 510 and the ego is WAY better as far as battery life. The "Riva" is the same thing essentially, just a bit cheaper. You can get both via E-Liquid and Electronic Cigarette Shop - Category Listings at a 20% discount. Look at the top lefthand side of the page where it says get 20% off.

As far as filling carts... it is sort of a hassle.. I would recommend NOT using the polifil carts come with.. it can burn and doesnt wick very well... you could try blue foam, cartomizers, or dripping.. you just have to find what works for you!

Menthol is a good choice as far as juice goes. I wouldn't recommend a "marlboro menthol" type tobacco flavor though. In my opinion it doesnt taste much like a menthol cig. Its more of menthol with a hint of disgusting... I cant even describe it really. http://www.vaborbomb.com has a "artic ice" which is menthol, but NON tobacco that is absolutely excellent. I would recommend a 80/20 pg/vg ratio. PG gives you more flavor while VG gives you more vapor.

Just my 2 cents Good luck to you!

 

[Astronomer]

Wow... I have learned more in the last hour than I have in the last week.

Thank you all so very much

Still leaning toward the eGo but now looking at the tank, and now I have to figure out where to buy it.... lots of options.

also checking out the other brands mentioned as well.

and considering different e-juice and perhaps getting 2 of a higher and lower concentration of Nicotine is a good idea... if I need the 24... then I can save the lower levels for when I cut down later.

A sample pack of flavors might be a good idea too!

thank you all so much... learning a lot here.

 

[DaveP]

Ego with a Mega Cylinder atomizer. This gives you a 2.5ml juice capacity and a 5-6 hours average battery life between chargers. The Monster atty produces huge clouds of vapor and great taste.

I like the looks of some of the mods such as the GLV-2. I just don't know if I would be happy with the size. The Ego slips right into a pocket and is virtually invisible when you are stealth vaping in a store.

 

[Clinton]

eGo eGo eGo! You cannot go wrong. The options are nearly endless! If you order a Tank system, you can also use the batteries for the TONS of other stuff available for eGo's and 510 connections, you can even get adapters so you can use 808 or other cartos(I only mention this because of the selection at V4L, not that they perform nearly as well as Tank's or Mega atty's)...

I also recommend cignot and the $4 1000mah upgrade. One batt will keep a chain vaper going all day. IMHO a noob doesn't need to jump into a high voltage unit, they are hard on attys/cartos and the new vaper could be perfectly satisfied with the massive vapor the 3.7v eGo unit provides.

 

[Delilah718]

Hello and Welcome Astronomer - you've received tons of great information -- just wanted to let you know that I agree that based on your wish list and stated preference for NOT dealing with refilling cartridges or cartomizers -- you may want to go with a REO as opposed to the GLV. The REO has a self feeding system, the GLV, does not. However, please note that the REO is MOD - a modification of the basic e cig - and custom made -- and therefore the cost of the unit is more expensive --

I'd like to point out though, and with 20/20 hindsight, that I have purchased about three starter kits, 4081, 901, 510 -- which cost just as much as the REO (at about $130-$140) and which I might have purchased sooner had I known better. Kudos to you for lurking around and posting before your purchase - that was brilliant!

Also, please note that the REOs are not always in stock, and you may have to wait awhile to get one! You can check the REO out at reosmods.com

If you decide to go with the ego - that's a good choice to start -- the thing is to START Vaping and QUIT smoking!

Please post an update and let us know how it goes


Good Luck and please post an update!

 

[Valentine Michael Smith]

Astronomer,

I echo alot of the sentiments folks have already posted here.

I would add for you consideration a couple things. Buy MORE juice than you think you will need. It is very likely and "normal" (if such a thing exists) to vape more than you smoke when you first are quitting tobacco. I would also say to be prepared and order a back up unit if at all possible, hardware failure sucks and I would not want to see you go back to cigs(even for a short period of time) while waiting for an order to ship.

I think it is a good idea to have multiple nic strengths on hand as well (especially during your transition period) this allows a level of control that is comforting and eliminates (or at least reduces) those horrible nic cravings. Just remember to order enough of it to sustain you.

Good luck, stay strong, and come here for support.

Cheers,
VMS