Which vape/e-cigarette? 2 January 2022 at 2:51PM in Health & beauty MoneySaving 15 replies 422 views

Friday1989

After 16 years of smoking and two unsuccessful attempts at giving up, I'm thinking of trying vaping but I haven't got a clue where to start. There are so many options! I tried an e-cigarette years ago but it was cheap and I hope they've improved since then. 

Ideally I would want something that is easy to use (no taking it apart to change parts, no fiddly liquid) and comes in different strengths so I could cut down nicotine over time. Price is not that important but if two brands are similar, I'd obviously go for the cheaper one. I like the hit I feel in my chest when smoking and I found I didn't get this when I tried an e-cigarette. I'm not a heavy smoker. Usually 8 a day and 15 a day if I'm out drinking. 

Any pointers on good ones to try?

MalMonroe

Instead of using something else that isn't particularly cheap and isn't good for you either (just encourages more sucking and having foreign substances in your lungs), have you thought of trying the free NHS stop smoking service?

https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/?WT.mc_ID=JanQuitSmokingPPC&gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=Cj0KCQiAt8WOBhDbARIsANQLp96t_t3o98X_uU9ayas7L4VsEdFpAPrHGLiqmimtCEMHC0MicWbzRosaAsblEALw_wcB

I know you probably would prefer to suck on something instead but really, and I quit smoking about 25 years ago so I know how difficult it is - you'd be better off trying to break that perpetual sucking/inhaling habit. Your lungs will not recover from nicotine because you'll be replacing it with vapour, which is just as damaging. It's that 'hit you feel' in your chest that's going to kill you. I thought I was a 'moderate' smoker too, only having about 5-10 per day. But when you add it up, it's a lot. And it costs a lot too.

My mother died from smoking-related diseases and she suffered for about five years before she did. It's an awful way to die and it's horrible to see someone you love so much being so ill.

You probably will think I'm daft and that you are a different kettle of fish and that's fine but you would be far better off putting your money into a savings account and trying to save your health, while you are relatively fit and able to enjoy the rest of your life.

This is all just something for you to think about. New Years Resolutions are great but if you can kick that sucking habit altogether, you'll feel 600 percent better. I really do know because I did it myself. 

Clueless56

I didn't know where to start either and dropped into a vape store in my local town, having seen good reviews of the store online.  The staff there advised me and I've been happy with the recommendation.  I've since found I can buy the juice and coils online so don't have to visit the shop if I don't want to.

Mnoee

You can buy disposable ecigs now which may be a good place to start - they're the worst option both for cost and environment if you take up vaping longer term, but the initial outlay is very low and there's absolutely no fiddly stuff. I haven't used them personally, but the brand I hear talked about most often is elf bar. 

If you take it up longer term then I'd recommend learning to cope with coils and liquids - I can change a coil faster than I can roll a cigarette these days, and even make my own liquids at home for a fraction of the cost of shop bought ones. 

Friday1989

@MalMonroe I agree it would be better stop without using vapes but people who use vapes are more likely to quit than people who use NRT and the NHS supports the use of vapes as a stop smoking aid. They are not without risk but are around 95% less harmful than smoking. I watched my grandmother die of COPD and that's one of my motivators for quitting. I will contact my local stop smoking service because they support people quitting through vaping. Thanks for the reminder

@Clueless56 That's a great idea. I have one locally so I'll see if they are open tomorrow. 

@Mnoee I never managed to learn to roll a cigarette. I'm dyspraxic and even struggle with doing up my buttons I will have a chat with the guy in the shop and see what they suggest to start me off. Maybe I'll become more confident and able to use liquid and coils down the line. The reviews of the local shop say they don't try to do a hard sell so hopefully they'll give me some good pointers. 

Martin_the_Unjust

Gave up smoking for vaping several years ago and then I stopped vaping almost three years ago now.

Taking up vaping was what enabled me to stop smoking.

OP go for it, vaping is better for you than smoking.

Dizzy_Ditzy

I gave up smoking 8 weeks ago by switching to vaping. I went to my local vape shop and went from there. I got a starter kit which was an Aspire Pockex and 3 bottles of juice. I started out with the vape the next day, just wanting to see how long I could last without a cig and am still going. 

On their recommendation I went with 12mg and am just in the process of switching down to 6. 

On recommendation I tried onepoundeliquids but found their delivery to be a bit rubbish tbh. It is “just” a question of finding a flavour you like and vape away 😀 I do like e-cigarette.co.uk for good service

I would definitely recommend an all in one (AIO) device to start with. I’d also recommend you buy two so you’ve still got one to use when the other is charging. But go to a shop and ask for advice first, then you can buy online. It will be a bit dearer but nowhere near as expensive as smoking! 

I never thought in a million years that I’d be able to do this. I smoked for 30 years, leading up to 20+ a day but I managed it. 

I’ve just noticed that this thread is a few days old so I hope you’ve been able to get a vape and are making good progress 🙂

Friday1989

Thanks @Dizzy_Ditzy and congratulations on 8 weeks smoke free! Do you find tobacco flavour works better for you or the less like cigarette ones? I'm guessing non tobacco ones probably help break the associated but I enjoy smoking so maybe tobacco is better? I'm currently isolating but finally tested negative today (day 9) so if my LFT tomorrow (24 hours later) is negative I can go to the vape shop on my lunch break. If not, Tuesday I'll be free! 

Dizzy_Ditzy

Friday1989 said:

Thanks @Dizzy_Ditzy and congratulations on 8 weeks smoke free! Do you find tobacco flavour works better for you or the less like cigarette ones? I'm guessing non tobacco ones probably help break the associated but I enjoy smoking so maybe tobacco is better? I'm currently isolating but finally tested negative today (day 9) so if my LFT tomorrow (24 hours later) is negative I can go to the vape shop on my lunch break. If not, Tuesday I'll be free! 

I steered away from tobacco flavours, mostly because I fancied having a go at different flavours. My current fave is spearmint. I also like lemon, and a coffee one that tastes like coffee icing but I can’t do a full day on that 😂 I had a bit of a spend fit on the £1 eliquid site and most of the flavours I got are horrible. It really is a case of suck it and see 🤣 

I really enjoyed smoking. I didn’t want to give up but I had a cold and cough and the cough was evil. I tried everything to ease it and the only thing that helped in the end was not smoking. I’ve had one or two since, over the Christmas period and didn’t not enjoy them at all and put them out after a couple of goes. 

Hope you got that negative LFT! 

Friday1989

I finally got round to buying a vape and 3 juices. It's the calliburn g. I definitely could have got a better deal online but the woman was really helpful and it is a small shop so I didn't feel right walking away to buy it online. 

I tried to contact the stop smoking clinic but they have been useless. I booked an appointment at 10am on Thursday.They called the day before, when I was at work so my phone was off. On Thursday I got a text saying they were sorry I missed my appointment! They offered to reschedule so I gave them loads of days and times. I've not heard back...

Dizzy_Ditzy

Friday1989 said:

I finally got round to buying a vape and 3 juices. It's the calliburn g. I definitely could have got a better deal online but the woman was really helpful and it is a small shop so I didn't feel right walking away to buy it online. 

I tried to contact the stop smoking clinic but they have been useless. I booked an appointment at 10am on Thursday.They called the day before, when I was at work so my phone was off. On Thursday I got a text saying they were sorry I missed my appointment! They offered to reschedule so I gave them loads of days and times. I've not heard back...

How are you getting on? I swerved my stop smoking clinic. I didnt really feel like they'd be able to help me as i wasnt in a place where i wanted to give up so I just cracked on with the vape. I am 10 weeks and 3 days now and notice the difference every day. I had to fill a form in the other day and when it asked me how many i smoke a day I was able to truthfully put "0"

Well done on supporting local business! But now you can buy online! I found 88 vape - they do sell in shops like Iceland and B&M but i went on their website and they had the flavours i wanted so ordered online and they sent me a bag of sweets too lol

Now that I have cracked the smoking part, i need to work on the weight part. I havent gained much weight since stopping but i havent lost any either 

Hope you're getting on ok with it