What to buy

[brekehan]

I read over the forums for a few hours now. The reviews section seems to cluttered with "mods" and bits and pieces. Being new to all of this, it doesn't all make sense yet.

I read that a manual is better then a sensor
I read that higher voltage results in a better "throat hit"
I also know that I'd like the LED to be red and would prefer the whole thing look somewhat like a cigarette.
I read advise against super minis though and would take the advise.

I smoke about a pack a day and have for 20 years now. I'd like to substitute maybe every other cigarette with an ecigarette and see if it helps me cut down.

Can anyone advise an affordable make/model/package?
I don't want to spend 100s, as I am not sure this will do me any good yet, but would like to try it out and get started.

Also, I am a bit worried about the flavorings. The rest of what is in the juice seems pretty straight foward, but I am not sure if I am cool with inhaling unknown chemicals simply labeled as "flavor", even if they are edible. Can anyone elaborate on what is in flavors and how we know they are safe to vaporize?

 

[dale3h]

If you can spring the $50, I would recommend this Joye eGo starter kit from Liberty-Flights: Electronic Cigarette - Starter Kits - Joye eGo

It's on sale for $49.99, but it's a limited time offer! If I didn't already have hardware, I would buy that in a heartbeat. Just my 2 cents.

 

[digamus]

Hi brekehan

I'm only 1 week in, so I can relate to being somewhat overwhelmed. I'm happy to say that I haven't wanted a cigarette for 1 week, though!

I went with the ego from Liberty Flights. It's got a biggish battery so it would never pass as a cigarette. It seems that the bigger battery will give you more vapor and last longer. I'm happy that I didn't get anything smaller.

I'm interested as well in learning more about flavors and whether or not it's a good idea to inhale their vapors. If I had one wish for this forum, it's that people would stop pitting vaporizing against smoking whenever the subject of health is brought up. Yes, smoking is bad. Let's talk about vaping!

Best of luck as you go.

 

[Zen~]

Nice job Dale... You broke the record by suggesting an eGo to a guy looking for an eCig that resembles an analog... Less than 10 minutes from question to bad advice...

Brekahan... The slightly higher voltage unit with great throat hit is a kr808... That will do the trick. There are a variety of suppliers in the supplier section of this site that have it available in your price range. It's a solid unit, great batteries and known for the exact properties you seek.

 

[Jessara]

I currently use a 510 (I got the Yeti Starter Kit from AltSmoke). It's about the closest thing to "cigarette size" you can get without going into the super minis (which really aren't great). The "problem" with the 510 (although I love mine!) is battery life. IF you don't mind changing batteries every 2-4 hours, a 510 will get you there. Another great thing about the 510 is that when and if you are ever ready to "move up" to an eGo/Riva (more on these in a minute), all your 510 stuff minus the battery, will work on the eGo/Riva.

So what is an eGo/Riva? Basically a pumped up 510.

The difference between a standard 510 and the eGo/Riva is basically battery life. The eGo/Riva (Riva is just an eGo rebranded) battery will last around 6-10 hrs, depending on use.

I will say this though... I know right now you want to hold on to that idea of "If I'm gonna replace cigarettes with this thing, it needs to be like a cigarette or it won't work". Trust me, I thought the exact same thing! Once you actually start vaping, those needs may change - and rather quickly. The same may become true with the flavors you choose to vape. I *never* imagined that I would ever want some weird-shaped thing to vape out of and I SURELY never imagined I'd vape anything but menthol. I'm only one month into all this, and I'm already looking to get an eGo, and I've already tried flavors I would never have thought I would.

As for battery type (manual or automatic) - you definitely want to go with manual. It may seem weird to press a button to get your nicotine, but you'll get used to it in about 2 minutes of vaping. Auto batteries are notorious for turning on when you don't want them to, going off when you don't want them to, and getting ruined by a leaky atty/carto.

Just like you, both myself and my husband (OldSoldier here on the forums) thought the same thing when we ordered our Starter Kit. We just wanted something that would help us cut back on cigarettes because they are getting so expensive and well... killing us. We never imagined that an electronic nicotine delivery device could rip us away from over 25 years of smoking the real thing. It did. The first day. Don't get me wrong - not everyone quits analogs on Day One. It just happened that way for us. We are over a month smoke-free now and don't even have the smallest urge to light up an analog ever again.

Good luck, and please ask if you have any more questions!

 

[Jessara]

Oh sorry, I forgot to pop this link in for you to do some research on Health and Vaping. Do some reading here, the information looks pretty solid to me.

Medical/Health and Safety - Vapers Forum

 

[dormouse]

You can also get a 510 here - an authentic Joye kit with 2 batteries and two attys for $35
Joye 510 NO BOX

or if you want to start out with batteries that last more than 2 hours you could get an Ego or Riva 510 kit.

They are decent good-priced units to try to start out and flexible with the various battery option, various cartomizers are also available (like larger carts that hold more liquid but include the atomizer so they have limited lifetimes).

If you get a 510-based unit like those mentioned above, I also recommend precut blue foam pieces for 510 (75 cents for 10) from strictlyejuice.com - note: I don't really recommend their juices). When the white stuffing in carts gets used a lot, it stops wicking well or starts tasting bad, try replacing it with the blue foam.

And be sure to buy a pack of extra blank carts and some juice. The juice you find at multi-brand good price hardware vendors is likely to be Chinese Dekang 100% PG which is a bit rough on the tongue due to 100% PG and some favors are a bit bland but I started on it while I waited for my first juice orders from elsewhere. When you get juice elsewhere look for some that's 70% pg 30% vg for a bit smoother experience. Or 80/20 if you want more TH. I recommend FreedomSmokeUSA - they have a wide range of tobacco juices. You can find all of them in the Tobaccos section configurable for PG/VG and nic level. The tiny Samplers section offers some of their juices in 24mg only and fixed PG/VG so remember to look in the other sections. Usual discount code is freedomsmokeusa for 10% off. I think their Desert Ship reminds me of the smell of a freshly opened pack or non-menthols. And you might enjoy something fun too - they have lots of night stuff.

Typical Nicotine levels for various smokers if you plan to vape about as much as you smoked...
Full strength cigs - 24mg and some need 30+
Light cigs - 16-18mg and some need 24
Ultralights - 10-12mg and some need 16-18

And I recommend cleaning the atty (middle part of the ecig) at least weekly. I swish and soak the used one in a jar of vodka or grain alcohol overnight - make sure all air bubbles are out of it (you could use rubbing alcohol but just don't ingest any). Next day I scoop some of the alcohol through it to get out anything that dissolved, then shake out well and lay to dry on paper towels. meanwhile I am using my other atty, and after a week I put that one in the jar, prime the clean one with some juice on the mesh bridge, and start using that one.

And a warning - new attys often come with priming liquid in them and that stuff taste bad. So first time you use an atty, at minimum blow it out well into a tissue. Then put some juice on all sides of the mesh bridge, put a cart on and vape that a bit without inhaling. That should clean it off pretty well.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

Nice job Dale... You broke the record by suggesting an eGo to a guy looking for an eCig that resembles an analog... Less than 10 minutes from question to bad advice...

Brekahan... The slightly higher voltage unit with great throat hit is a kr808... That will do the trick. There are a variety of suppliers in the supplier section of this site that have it available in your price range. It's a solid unit, great batteries and known for the exact properties you seek.

That's a great suggestion! But did you have to be so snarky to dale about it? That was really uncalled for. You could've just made your recommendation and left it alone.

 

[brekehan]

Everything I see is black and gold or Silver. It might sound silly, but I think it might help me transition if I could find one that was cigarette colored. From what I've read and watch, I think the Kr808 is a good bet. Last time I tried to quit smoking, the missing feel of it rolling down my throat is what I craved most.

 

[WomanOfHeart]

MadVapes has them in white and they're on sale.

SLB 808-D Kit

 

[dormouse]

KR808D-1 is a cartomizer PV - cartomizers are an atty and juice cart in one piece. They hold more than a cart, are a bit harder to fill, don't have to be filled as often. You can get 4-14 refills out of a carto if you don't burn them dry. They are considered disposable but with careful use, and if you have soft-cap ones, they can be refilled.

For flexibility, with an adapter you can put a 510 atty and cart on it. Or a 901 atty and carts can be used with no adapter but that's not a big TH atty - more of a tasty vapory but a bit airy atty - tasty though.

The standard KR8 battery should last about 35% longer than a 510 battery. The xl KR8 battery should last about 2x as long as a 510 battery. Nice batteries.

Re cartos - I find some under 3ohms to be hot on the lips (like the WOW carts at Vapor4Life). I prefer their Coolcarts which are 3,x ohm cartos (3.3? not sure). My atty cleaning info above does not apply to 2-piece e-cigarettes.

 

[Zen~]

That's a great suggestion! But did you have to be so snarky to dale about it? That was really uncalled for. You could've just made your recommendation and left it alone.

Yeah, that was a bit harsh on my part. I have a short fuse when it comes to reading advice that completely misses the mark because the person giving the advice didn't pay attention to what the OP was specifically asking for, or they chose to ignore it.

I think the 808 that I suggested will fit the bill perfectly. There are others out there that will disagree, of course.

 

[DeanWings]

The advice about the Kr808 is closest so far to what you're looking for.
They are inexpensive and hit well, produce good vapor and generally satisfy the new user trying to kick the habit.
They look a lot like a slim cigarette with the red light on the end too. In hindsight, the red light just wastes precious battery charge and draws attention. Then you find yourself explaining that it's not really a cigarette, etc.

I was a HEAVY HEAVY smoker for 30+yrs and started with a Kr808 called the REVOLUTION from vaportalkstore.com and quit instantly. I switched to the EGO for better battery life using 510 cartomizers because of the simplicity. The Mega battery lasts all day and the passthrough charges while you vape then unplugs so you can take it along for another 12hrs of use.

There are some new diposables on the market that actually look identical to real cigarettes and even come in a cigarette pack.
They hit well, produce a lot of vapor, and are probably closer to the real thing than anything you would hear about on here.
I've seen them at smoke shops and was even given one as a sample to try. You would probably really like it but the cost is insane at the local smoke shop. Try the website Esmokes.com.

Whatever you decide, you're on the right track. I can confidently say that e-cigs ARE for EVERYONE who wants to quit.
It's not even like quitting - more like switching brands! Lol

As for the liquid; it is a combination of propylene glycol (approved by the FDA many years ago and used in almost everything we eat) and vegetable glycerine, with your chosen nicotine content thrown in. Unlike real cigarettes, they contain no tar, cancer causing agents, carcinogens, or second hand smoke. FOX network interviewed independent Drs. who stated there was absolutely nothing negative about them and that switching would be an incalcuable improvement to your health. Also pointed out that ppl who had long-term nicotine intake were 70% less likely to develop Alheimers or other similar degenerative brain dysfunctions in later years.

My son/friends/family tell me I don't smell like an ashtray anymore, my home & car smell nice, my blood pressure dropped 10pts, and I can breathe better than I have in 10yrs and not gurgle constantly or cough up a lung every morning.

If you make the switch you wont regret it.

 

[Mikkie]

i haven't tried the kr808s but i do have a system. i DID buy into the ego/riva hype. however, i use my riva only at home, and in my car...where i used to smoke the most. the battery takes the beating i give it, and then says "please ma'am, may i have another?". when i'm out with friends, or vaping in public anywhere, vanity gets the best of me. enter: the 510. 2 batteries, filled cartos, and a pcc just in case and i'm good to go. i get enough questions about the 510, and i'm not a particularly social person, so the attention my riva would draw is not for me. but again, it's great for in the car, and at home if you have vanity issues like i do. just my 2 shiny pennies. =)

 

[mmoss2]

I have a strange suggestion ... Go for menthol liquid even if you don't smoke menthols. There isn't any juice that actually tastes like a cigarette (3 days into vaping and you will be thankful for that). Menthol actually tastes like menthol. When you vape, it is very similar to smoking an analogue.

If you want the cigarette feel, I would also recommend the 510. I got the eGo and the 510. I've used the 510 way more just because it looks and feels more like a regular cigarette. in the short term, it just feels more natural. But the caveat is that the battery life sucks and you will constantly charging it. So get arty least two batteries. And you can't use LR attys....

The 510 is cheap and a good way to see if vaping is right for you. Keep us posted. Everyone here is here to help.

EDIT: I didn't say anything about juice. If you are concerned about what is in your juice, you might want to:

1. Buy from the USA. People seem to think it is a cleaner & safer product.
2. Review the ingredients yourself. Ask the manufacturer for the ingredients if they don't list them on their website.
3. Consider NON-tobacco flavors. For example, things like menthol only require menthol crystals for flavoring. This has only been my personal experience, but the ingredients on the tobacco flavors seem to have way, way more chemicals to get the flavor they are after. I think you can find mint, cinnamon and clove that only use plant oil extracts for flavor (IE, mint juice would basically be PG + Nicotine + Mint Oil). There are probably other food flavors that use extracts as well.
4. I don't recommend this off the bat, but if you are really concerned you could mix your own juice. That way you know exactly what is going in it and can feel good about it.

 

[Zen~]

Check it out!

 

[mlinky]

Nothing to add except welcome and good luck!

 

[ScottinSoCal]

I have a strange suggestion ... Go for menthol liquid even if you don't smoke menthols.

I'll second this. I didn't smoke menthols, but for vaping it seems to be what hits the spot for me. As always, YMMV, but it's worth trying. I'm on a search for my perfect menthol, and I'm hopeful that one of the ones I have on the way will do it. If not, there's always making my own.

 

[utak3r]

On the other hand - I've never smoked menthol and now I still can't vape it...

 

[iamgrape]

Get an eGo

I think this video appropriate in this thread as well.