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 )
Since you're in Modesto, I'd recommend Liberty-Flights.com, they are in San Diego and have great prices as well as very good customer support. I had a faulty charger that killed two of my batteries, after talking with them on the phone, they sent me replacements and a postage paid return envelope for the faulty equipment. They sent out replacements BEFORE I sent in the dead batteries and charger, for a nicotine addict that might get tempted to return to regular cig's, time is everything.For that specific reason, I recommend you pick-up spare equipment as well (at least enough for one full e-cig and a spare charger.)
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.
I started 3 weeks ago yesterday, I have not smoked a single cigarette since I got my first e-cig (joye 510 kit, now using an eGo kit). I quit cigarettes the same day I got my 510, it takes a while to get used to the transition though, but it worked well for me. Hardest part for me was determining when to stop using it. With a real cigarette you get a certain amount of tobacco and know when it's done, you're done. With an e-cig, you don't get the same "burn" in your throat and lungs, so you end up puffing away wondering if you are getting your nicotine fix or not... then you end up having to lay down for a while because you're head is spinning.
What I dont want ( period )
I dont want another unsatisfying experience that will just have me fall back into the habit that I am pretty sure is killing me.
I dont want to buy one e-cig, then another, then another, then another till I find something satisfying and enjoyable.
From my experience, I'd highly recommend the eGo batteries/kits. One will last you all day, while you have the other charging. Lots of different carts, cartomizers, tanks, etc... that you can attach to it so you can trying out different methods of smoking an e-cig.
What I dont know ( or think I dont 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?
Cartridges are a pain in the ..... They leak, need to be refilled often, and you get a nasty burning taste if they run out of juice. For the most part, the blue foam mod works really well with them, but I'd recommend you skip carts all together and go straight to a cartomizer or tank set up. Joye brands (510, eGo) tend to be the "premiere" devices, but they are made in China, and quality of the device itself is good but quality control seems to be hit or miss. When I ordered my first two tanks, one worked, one didn't. Expect dead on arrival equipment. For product support, I think it's more important to have a solid vendor that will offer replacements with little hassle.
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
I was a pack a day smoker of Camel Lights for about 12 years, and quit the first day with a Joye 510. The little 510 was easier to carry (and lose
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 doesnt matter if I ever quit that or now .. right?
That was my plan as well, haven't been using my e-cig very long though so I can't tell yet. I really like the fact that you can purchase certain nicotine levels in the juice, I plan to cut back on the nicotine levels as time goes on to wean myself from the addiction. I'm using 18mg solution now and am satisfied with it, but I do tend to puff away a lot more now than I did with a regular cig.
I knew that I'd have to experiment to find the ideal set-up for me, just like I'm still searching for the best juice as well. Any eGo kit is an ideal starting point, if you have the cash, I'd recommend you try out all of the options to find out what you like best. Carts, cartomizers and tanks. When you consider how much you spend per month on packs of cigarettes, you'll still end up saving money if you quit regular cigarettes. Again, I recommend Liberty-Flights for purchases, they are in San Diego and their customer support made me a loyal customer.
What I've used:
Joye 510, compact and easy to carry, but you'll have to carry lots of cartridges and even a bottle of juice with you. Batteries don't last long enough (an hour or two).
Joye ego, nice thick battery (think a mini-cigar, but still very compact) that will last 5 or 6 hours. The eGo fast charger charges these batteries in about 2 hours, the same amount of time to charge a 510 battery.
Quick note, the 510 and eGo batteries have the exact same connection, the only difference between the two is the size of the battery.
Accessories, that work with both the 510 and eGo:
Standard cartridges: These little things suck, really they do, even with the blue foam mod which makes them 100% better. You can puff away for about 5-10 minutes before they go empty, but you'll have to wait about a minute after every three puffs so the juice can drip down. I ended up taking them out every few minutes to drop juice straight into them to top them off. Then you have to clean them afterwards, I'd use several a day, and have to waste a lot of time cleaning/refilling/wiping up the leaks. Not fun.
Boge 510 cartomizer: snap, crackle, pop! These things are a nice step up from standard cartridges but they sure make a lot of noise when you use them. Easier to clean and fill since they have a soft rubber top that pops off. The vapor they make is much warmer as well. Considered a disposable device.
Joye eGo cartomizer: You need a syringe to fill these but they sure hold a lot, and taste really good and are easy to inhale through. Problem is, it was only the first use that they worked really well, after refilling they just didn't perform as well, and they are almost impossible to clean. Considered a disposable device. Also, they are as fat as the eGo battery with a nice wide tip, so it really looks like a mini-cigar.
eGo T-atomizer (tank): This is really an easy to use device. No plastic fiber filler like the three devices I listed above, no leaking, no burning taste. Problem is, they don't seem to produce as much flavor as the carts/cartomizers. The convience and ease of cleaning/filling has me sold though, I'm probably going to use these from now on. The see-through plastic tip is nice too, you can easily see how much juice is left in them, which you can't do with any of the above carts or cartomizers. You don't need a syringe to use the tanks, but I'd recommend one.
Final notes:
pre-filled generic "tobacco" carts taste horrible.
Atomizers need to be cleaned before first use (hot water works for me).
Try out lots of different juices from various vendors, you need to experiment with what tastes good for you, and what works best with the equipment you are using.
E-cigs become a mini-hobby of there own, lots of research and toys to play with.
Smoking an e-cig is different than using a regular cigarette, you don't do a straight to lung type inhale. With an e-cig, you draw into your mouth like a cigar, THEN you inhale.
I am new to the e-cig scene, so my advice is just my personal opinion based on my own experience, so take it as such.
Three weeks and one day since I quit smoking, good luck to you!
