Have you decided to make the switch to e-cigarettes? Congratulations! You’ve taken the first step to an enjoyable experience that doesn’t include all the dangerous chemicals.
Now that you’ve made up your mind, here comes the hard part. Searching online is probably more confusing than it is helpful.
There are what seem to be hundreds of brands.
Maybe you were searching for purchasing guidance and ended up on this site. I’m not going to tell you what to buy. You’re a smarter consumer than that.
You’ll have to do your own homework on the e-cigaratte brands. You’ll want to make sure you’ve found a reputable merchant. Here are some tips for what to buy when you finally have settled on a brand you like.
Type
I want to mention one more thing before we begin. Most people opt for small e-cigarettes that look like the real thing. There are, however, larger devices. These devices boast much better battery life and more features. Some alternatives like this one may also be good choices for your first kit..
The other thing you might want to look at is a manual instead of automztic battery. Automatics turn on the electronic cigarette whenever you take a puff. Manual batteries require you to push a button to activate the device. The reward for having to push the button is better performance.
Whatever choice you make, you’ll be buying the same type of equipment. Therefore, the rest of this article applies universally.
The Battery
The battery is obviously a critical component of your electronic cigarette. If you don’t have a battery, this isn’t going to work out. Therefore, I suggest making sure you buy a kit with at least two batteries.
There is logic behind having dual batteries. Your battery will run low. If you only have one, you don’t have a lot of options. Having a second battery on hand will allow you to keep vaping (smoking the electronic cigarette) while the other charges.
If you can afford it, I’d actually recommend a spare battery. These devices are basically consumer electronics. Electronics sometimes fail. Having a spare on hand will make sure you always have a battery at the ready.
Cartomizers
Cartomizers are the part that screws on to the battery. The cartomizer is made up of a heating element and liquid storage. The element heats up the liquid forming the vapor that you inhale.
Many companies claim that one cartomizer equals a pack of cigarettes. In a lot of cases, that’s simply not true. One cartomizer may be the same as a half a pack of cigarettes.
Knowing that the ratings are a little high, you’ll want to plan accordingly. Your first purchase should include at least 10 to as many as 20 cartomizers to be safe. Some companies sell refillable cartomizers and refill e-liquid. In that case, 5 cartomizers and a couple 10ml bottles of e-liquid should get you going.
Note that some vendors still use the old atomizer and cartridge system instead of cartomizers. If you’re getting atomizers, get two. Also get the same amount of pre-filled cartridges or e-liquid as you would with cartomizers.
Power Connectors
Unless you buy your electronic cigarette gear ala carte, your starter kit will come with one of these. Most modern chargers have a USB connector to charge them via your computer’s USB port.
Some people opt for a second charger. A second charger is handy should one break on you. The other reason is it’s handy to have more than one charger in different locations.
This might not apply to all e-cigarettes. The Johson Creek kit I mentioned earlier has a built-in USB port. You just need a standard cable and no charger at all.
USB Adapters
Very few electronic cigarette chargers plug directly into the wall these days. Many of the higher end kits include a wall adapter too.
If your kit doesn’t include one, you should consider how much you are around your computer. Even if your kit includes one, like everything else on the list, perhaps you would like an extra one for a different room.
Accessories
Finally, there are a few different optional items you can pick up. A lot of these things are just personalization items. You can buy things like carrying cases or other holders.
One slightly more interesting option is a vehicle charger. These plug into your power accessory port (cigarette lighter for those of you old enough to remember) and give you a USB connection to plug in your electronic cigarette charger.
None of these things are critical, but may be nice to have.
Whichever kit you go with, if you make sure you buy the right things to go with it, you’ll find your transition to vaping a very pleasurable experience.