What starter kit would be best?

[Charlz]

If you are a heavy smoker and smoke as much as you say, you will definitely want something more than an analog looking one. I often can reccommend slim style pvs to folks that smoke a pack or less but these recommendations are just what you need to help you kick those analogs.

Have you tried any that the people you work with have?

This is a nice kit to start with
Riva SE Carto Kit | Sweet-Vapes E-Liquid

Bigger battery kit
KGO 1100 mAh 2 battery kit

Batteries last about 1 hour per 100 mah of continous vaping. That should last you all day. Get 2 boxes of boge or smoktek 1.7 cartomizers.

More expensive but this might be good for you, Reo mini. Small, about 1 1/2" x 2 3/4", hold 3 ml of juice, and you can stick it in your pocket.

Reo Mini Review + How To - YouTube
reosmods.com

The middle one sticks out most in my mind but I have no experience with the Reo. Someday, maybe. Whatever you get you'll want to spend a good portion of your budget sampling various juices. No juice tastes like a burning cigarette and it can take trying a few to find one you want to stick with.

 

[Traver]

For your situation the KGO 1100 mAh 2 battery kit recommended by swedishfish seems to be the best choice. It is large enough to last the 12 or more hours that you want. Add a couple of five packs of 2.0 ohm or higher Boge cartomizers some juice and you are ready to go. Remember that cartomizers are disposable and you are likely to burn a few before you get the hang of when and how to fill them.
This isn't likely to be the last battery you buy and it is more important to get started then to find the perfect setup.

 

[tidegirl]

A person can go nuts trying to figure out what to get with so many people recommending so many things around here. You mentioned a trip, so I assume you have a b & m store close by. I can tell ya from experience that is a very nice luxury. We have a vape store, and that's where I bought my ego t setup. I paid a bit more for my kit, but I was able to test the actual pv and taste different juices so I knew I would like everything I was getting. That, plus supporting the local store to help them stay in business so I have a convenient place to shop, it was worth the extra money to me. As long as they're not trying to sell you an overpriced cig look alike, you should be good. Be sure to come back and tell us about your experience!

 

[Andante51]

I know the majority of folks on the boards seem to prefer cartomizers, and I am trying some recommended ones, but I still love the simplicity of the Ego-T, with the larger tank and low resistance atomizers (Type B, LR). One tank of juice lasts a long time, there is no filler taste, and you can always see at a glance how much juice is left. It is a cooler vape that we enjoy, the cartos seem too hot in comparison. We love the hard plastic whistle tips. With any cartomizer where I can't see how much juice is left, I am making myself crazy trying to make sure they are full enough, maybe once I get the hang of them that will get easier. This is from a fairly new 2 month vaper, but my hub and I easily quit a 2-pack a day 40 year habit immediately with the Ego-T's, have had no leaking problems, and just find them very user-friendly, especially for beginners.

 

[SubSplat]

I really have to disagree with all you guys recommending eGo-alikes, tank systems, mods, etc and saying "the more it's like a real cig, the worse". Those are all smart choices from the perspective of an old time vaper. But it's horrible advice to give a newbie, IMO.

Do they all perform better than KR8's or 510 minis? Sure.

They are also clunky. They look ugly or just weird, from the perspective of someone who doesn't know about vaping. Some of them just outright look like drug paraphenalia. They require maintenance and know-how. They come with a huge amount of choices and options, which take a lot of time and effort to research. And so on and so forth.

Had I started there, I would have gone back to smoking no matter how well they performed. I have an ePower and a LavaTube now, and I love them dearly, but I still take my KR8 when I'm just out and about and don't want to attract unnecessary attention. And that's what should be recommended for starting out.

For a newcomer, there should only be two choices to make:

1a. Get a KR8: If just want to try a kit that's easy and performs really well for right now.
1b. Get a 510: If you want something that will be compatible with gear you might get later, but doesn't perform quite as well.

2a. Get it in black and blue: If you want to make it clear you're using an e-cigarette to others.
2b. Get it in white and orange: If you only want other smokers to notice, and not random people where ever you go.

Point them to a good vendor that won't rip them off, and maybe suggest some tutorials for using liquids and refilling to save money. That's it. No more. Nothing kills motivation like information overflow, and that's already plenty to absorb right there.

That's my opinion, anyway.

Sorry if it comes across as a rant, but I keep seeing that kind of advice and it bugs me every time.

 

[MegaBee]

I stopped advising newbies what ecigs to buy after I was told the "only way to go" was EGO's etc. I now am more than happy after 4 months of buying .... with a volt from Smokeless Image | Only The Best Electronic Cigarette | Electronic Cigarettes | Wholesale Electronic Cigarettes | E-Cigarette | Best Electronic Cigarette | Electronic Cigarette I am also tired of hearing if it is the size of a cig it will be rubbish... again false. but anyway I got my plug in. try a Volt from Smokeless Image | Only The Best Electronic Cigarette | Electronic Cigarettes | Wholesale Electronic Cigarettes | E-Cigarette | Best Electronic Cigarette | Electronic Cigarette

 

[ambition]

Good post SubSplat.

I have to agree that tank systems, eGo-T, etc shouldn't be recommended to newbies anywhere nearly as often as they are.

For the OP, an eGo or a Riva or KGO would be well worth looking into because (s)he has clearly stated that battery life is an important selection criteria, and it does not have to look like a traditional cigarette, however with that in mind, just because that puts eGo's etc into the mix it doesn't mean that a tank is automatically the best choice, because quite often Newbie + eGo-T = Too much stuffing around and disappointment.

The OP has stated that (s)he basically has little or no time for mucking around with his/her PV as (s)he often can't even finish a real cig...so cartos anyone?

Lastly I really wish people would stop saying "The more it looks like a real cig, the worse the performance will be".

It's terribly misleading.

The only verifiable and universally agreed aspect about cig size pv's that is considered worse is the battery life.

Every other aspect of vaping including vapor production, flavour, throat hit, portability or concealability, ease of use, and most importantly...the ability to give the user a satisfying vaping experience that keeps them away from the analogs is either neatly ignored by this nasty little statement or assuming that the satisfaction level of every aspect with every user is exactly the same, and it's directly related to battery life.

So much of vaping has so little to do with battery life and more to do with usage patterns, juice and end fittings, and what's more, all this is very subjective...so maybe it's best that we stop being so misleading and start stating only the verifiable and quantifiable truth which is that "As the size approaches that of a real cig, the need to charge will become more frequent".

This is true and does not assume anything about what the user will prefer, and is not biased towards one style or another, which will enable the user to make up their own mind about what PV will ultimately suit them.

It's not about what we'd like to see them buy.

 

[wv2win]

I really have to disagree with all you guys recommending eGo-alikes, tank systems, mods, etc and saying "the more it's like a real cig, the worse". Those are all smart choices from the perspective of an old time vaper. But it's horrible advice to give a newbie, IMO.

Do they all perform better than KR8's or 510 minis? Sure.

They are also clunky. They look ugly or just weird, from the perspective of someone who doesn't know about vaping. Some of them just outright look like drug paraphenalia. They require maintenance and know-how. They come with a huge amount of choices and options, which take a lot of time and effort to research. And so on and so forth.

Had I started there, I would have gone back to smoking no matter how well they performed. I have an ePower and a LavaTube now, and I love them dearly, but I still take my KR8 when I'm just out and about and don't want to attract unnecessary attention. And that's what should be recommended for starting out.

For a newcomer, there should only be two choices to make:

1a. Get a KR8: If just want to try a kit that's easy and performs really well for right now.
1b. Get a 510: If you want something that will be compatible with gear you might get later, but doesn't perform quite as well.

2a. Get it in black and blue: If you want to make it clear you're using an e-cigarette to others.
2b. Get it in white and orange: If you only want other smokers to notice, and not random people where ever you go.

Point them to a good vendor that won't rip them off, and maybe suggest some tutorials for using liquids and refilling to save money. That's it. No more. Nothing kills motivation like information overflow, and that's already plenty to absorb right there.

That's my opinion, anyway.

Sorry if it comes across as a rant, but I keep seeing that kind of advice and it bugs me every time.

You are the BIG exception to the rule. There are many more people who go back to smoking due to the poor performance of most mini-battery models. The vast majority, based on thousands of posts on various vaping forums want performance of over appearance and find quickly that they DON'T want to look like they are "pretending" to still smoke. The slightly larger battery models do out perform the mini battery models. The more we look like we still smoke, the more negative percpetions about vaping we generate.

 

[wv2win]

Good post SubSplat.

I have to agree that tank systems, eGo-T, etc shouldn't be recommended to newbies anywhere nearly as often as they are.

For the OP, an eGo or a Riva or KGO would be well worth looking into because (s)he has clearly stated that battery life is an important selection criteria, and it does not have to look like a traditional cigarette, however with that in mind, just because that puts eGo's etc into the mix it doesn't mean that a tank is automatically the best choice, because quite often Newbie + eGo-T = Too much stuffing around and disappointment.

The OP has stated that (s)he basically has little or no time for mucking around with his/her PV as (s)he often can't even finish a real cig...so cartos anyone?

Lastly I really wish people would stop saying "The more it looks like a real cig, the worse the performance will be".

It's terribly misleading.

The only verifiable and universally agreed aspect about cig size pv's that is considered worse is the battery life.

Every other aspect of vaping including vapor production, flavour, throat hit, portability or concealability, ease of use, and most importantly...the ability to give the user a satisfying vaping experience that keeps them away from the analogs is either neatly ignored by this nasty little statement or assuming that the satisfaction level of every aspect with every user is exactly the same, and it's directly related to battery life.

So much of vaping has so little to do with battery life and more to do with usage patterns, juice and end fittings, and what's more, all this is very subjective...so maybe it's best that we stop being so misleading and start stating only the verifiable and quantifiable truth which is that "As the size approaches that of a real cig, the need to charge will become more frequent".

This is true and does not assume anything about what the user will prefer, and is not biased towards one style or another, which will enable the user to make up their own mind about what PV will ultimately suit them.

It's not about what we'd like to see them buy.

And you completely ignored the "battery drain" problem with mini batteries which also supports the point that the smaller the battery the worse the overall performance. As a battery discharges, it is not capable of maintaining a consistent power output, thus diminishing performance. This is more pronounced in small proprietary battery models. If one is lucky enough to get 1 -2 hours of power from a mini-battery, they only get half that time of peak performance. If one is a half a pack or less a day smoker, that might be fine. But it isn't for the average smoker, which forces them to waste more money by buying another model. Suggesting that the OP who smokes over a pack a day should get a mini battery model is not helping them. Maybe you have money to burn, but many don't.

 

[Stormiefury]

Hi I live in Dallas area and I go to Vaporescence to get my stuff. There is one in Denton and they are usually very helpful. I would check them out for your first time. It's always nice to be able to go in and get the information in person to help you learn what you need to do to fill and take care of your ecig. Good luck to you!!!

Stormie

 

[dearme]

I, too, think you guys are wrong. I think it's extremely important to offer suggestions/options for a larger, more powerful PV with more battery life, more options for bits and pieces, to the new vapers.

We are saving them time, money, frustration, and the high likelyhood that they will go back to analogs after a very disappointing trial of ecigs. Plus they will tell all their friends how terrible their experience was, thus discouraging more people that might want to try ecigs to quit smoking.

 

[swedishfish]

I really have to disagree with all you guys recommending eGo-alikes, tank systems, mods, etc and saying "the more it's like a real cig, the worse". Those are all smart choices from the perspective of an old time vaper. But it's horrible advice to give a newbie, IMO.

Do they all perform better than KR8's or 510 minis? Sure.

They are also clunky. They look ugly or just weird, from the perspective of someone who doesn't know about vaping. Some of them just outright look like drug paraphenalia. They require maintenance and know-how. They come with a huge amount of choices and options, which take a lot of time and effort to research. And so on and so forth.

Had I started there, I would have gone back to smoking no matter how well they performed. I have an ePower and a LavaTube now, and I love them dearly, but I still take my KR8 when I'm just out and about and don't want to attract unnecessary attention. And that's what should be recommended for starting out.

For a newcomer, there should only be two choices to make:

1a. Get a KR8: If just want to try a kit that's easy and performs really well for right now.
1b. Get a 510: If you want something that will be compatible with gear you might get later, but doesn't perform quite as well.

2a. Get it in black and blue: If you want to make it clear you're using an e-cigarette to others.
2b. Get it in white and orange: If you only want other smokers to notice, and not random people where ever you go.

Point them to a good vendor that won't rip them off, and maybe suggest some tutorials for using liquids and refilling to save money. That's it. No more. Nothing kills motivation like information overflow, and that's already plenty to absorb right there.

That's my opinion, anyway.

Sorry if it comes across as a rant, but I keep seeing that kind of advice and it bugs me every time.

My first pv was an ego and I still use it. My mother started out with a KR808 but didn't get off cigs completely until she switched ($200 later) to a bigger battery pv so she could use LR cartomizers.

From reading this board and trying to help people I've found that most people posting here are long time smokers and need more than what a mini type pv offers. Because it worked for you, it may not work for everyone.

Here are some poll results.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...hink-you-needed-pv-looked-like-cigarette.html

As far as tanks, in a thread they came in second for worst product of 2011 only after CE2's.

 

[Governa]

an eGo-C !

 

[Patrick21]

If you want something which looks exactly like a cigarette try a liberro realis

 

[swedishfish]

Alrighty then.

 

[taxman32]

As a very inexperienced newbie I've been real pleased with this:

"3VO" EVO Variable Voltage Mod - 310Vapers Store

I can't wait to get the tank!

 

[mlisnek]

If you are starting out you should def buy a kr808 starter kit which comes with cartomizers (atomizer/cartridge) It's way easier to work because you just keep buying prefilled carts and you can just stick em right on your battery. Once you get comfortable with the whole concept you can start buying blank carts and juice, and refill them yourself. (about 20 drops of e-juice should do the trick. You can find these anywhere online, just don't buy the ones from the gas station. Go to v4l.com. They have one of the best starter kits.

 

[mlisnek]

I don't think that a bigger battery is good for a beginning user. I have been vaping for 2 years on the kr808 carts and am just starting to venture into 6 volt mods. I just got my new Omega and this is really the first time I am using 510 cartos. I think kr808's are giving me a way better throat hit.

 

[mlisnek]

I have a 510 LR carto on my Omega. Does anyone know if I should be using standard cartos or not. The first couple puffs were aaaawweful

 

[mynameisrob]

I def agree with swedishfish, dont get an eGo-T or an eGo-C. They can be very finicky and leak..alot. They also dull flavor and TH.
I do agree too that you should not get a slim ecig. There are a few decent ones, but the majority of them are god awful. And even the better slim ecigs(Volt, Bloog, Halo g6, ones from V4L) still need to be recharged frequently and limit you to only using standard resistance attys and cartos. And surprisingly, their not that cheap. Most slim ecigs are actually more expensive, and some a LOT more expensive than a bigger battery PV like a kGo, Riva, E-Power which is alot better.
I think you would def really like a kGo or an E-Power. You can buy both for under $45 and their nice PVs that give a great vape and very good battery life. The main difference is that the E-Power uses non-proprietary batteries(removable). Their both 3.7V PVs and have 510 connections. The kGo comes off the charger at around 4.2V and then drops to around 3.7V shortly after and the E-Power is 3.7V regulated. I bought an E-Power bc I liked that everything is replaceable on it and the batteries cost only $4-5 compared to kGo/eGo/Riva batteries that are $14-20. I also liked that its really easy to carry a spare battery for the E-Power bc the batteries about the size of a AA but alittle longer. So its easy to throw a spare one in your pocket or bag and if needed unscrew the switch and pop in a fresh battery. The batteries are 1050mah and I get on avg at least a full day on one battery. With the proprietary battery units like the kGo, eGo, Riva, to carry a spare you basically have to carry a second PV. To me that would be a pain, but it might not be an issue for you, so its def something to consider. The kGo batteries are 1100mah so they last a long time too and you should be able to go all day on one battery.
With either one I think youd be really happy with it. Their both great PVs and are both under $50 bucks.
With either one I recommend trying the Ressurector cartos. They are awesome and work great on the kGo and E-Power. They are 1.7ohm so they give a nice warm vape and they hold about 2ml of juice so they last a pretty long time. Now I use the Ressurectors in a 3.5ml tank so I dont have to refill all day, but even by themselves the Ressurectors last a pretty long time. I work long days too and when I started I would fill 3 Ressurectors before I went to work and would just carrty them in my pocket and if needed switch to a full one. With the long battery life or the kGo or E-Power and a few Ressurectors you should def be able to vape all day through work without issues