Since 2012
Buying your first vape? Let’s see if we can make the transition from Tobacco a little easier.
The transition from smoking tobacco to vaping electronic cigarettes (e-cigs/vapes) can be a little daunting for most. An abundance of equipment is available and deciding on what to buy can be very difficult especially if you really have no idea what you are looking at or the difference in everything available.
Where do you go to buy your first kit?
There are many places an e-cig can be purchased, online, supermarkets and even your local newsagent. But by far the best place you can purchase an e-cig is in a proper dedicated vape shop.
Why should you go to a vape shop?
The staff in a vape shop should have all the knowledge to advise on which equipment best suits you for the style you want to vape. They will also be able to give you in depth information about the products and their proper use, matching your smoking level with the right kit. Unfortunately supermarkets and the like just do not poses this kind of knowledge and understanding of the devices and associated equipment.
Here at EcigZoo we have a combined vaping experience of around 30 years between our members of staff with most staff having vaped for between 5-8 years. That experience really does help us help you find exactly the right equipment which will best suit you and the way you want to vape. We set the kit up for you, the right e-liquid and show you how it all works and needs to be maintained.
What do you need to get started?
It’s important to get a device that will be suited to your needs. As someone who is quitting traditional tobacco you will want what we consider a starter kit. These come in many shapes and forms but some we recommend due to their high success rate with our customers are, the Aspire Pockex, the Innokin T18II and the Innokin T20s for the tube style. Then you have the box types with larger batteries and more functions, like the Innokin Kroma kit, the Aspire Rover kit and the Aspire Zelos kit.
All of these kits are more than adequate for the beginner vaper and will certainly be very good to help in the transition from tobacco to vaping.
What’s the difference between tube types and box types?
Tube types in general are a lot simpler with just the basic controls and functions. The Aspire pockex for example has no airflow or power adjustment making it one of the simplest devices to use. Whereas the Innokin T18II has airflow adjustment and selectable power settings giving you the opportunity to dial in the vape to exactly how you like it.
Box types generally have much more in the way of settings and adjustments. They typically have a screen that displays information like the power being used and a battery level indicator along with some other information. They have much more adjustability for the power settings meaning the vape delivery can be truly fine-tuned to your preference. Along with the ability to adjust the airflow this makes for a truly customisable vape.
Why have power adjustability?
The simple answer to this is more power more vapor produced. 99% of coils have recommended power ratings making it easier for you to know where to start and where not to go with your power settings.
How does adjustable airflow work?
Simply put, the more your airflow is open the looser the draw will be and the more your airflow is closed the tighter the draw becomes. A good analogy for this is that it’s a bit like the difference between a loosely rolled cigarette and a tightly rolled cigarette. It’s much harder to draw on a tightly rolled cigarette than a loosely rolled one.
What’s a coil? And what do they do?
Most modern tanks have a coil that is replaceable, the coil is a heating element that turns your e-liquid into a vapour. When you press the fire button on your device it sends a surge of electricity to the coil which causes it to heat up rapidly and vaporises the liquid around it. Think of your coil as a tiny kettle element rapidly heating the water around it, this is a similar process happening inside your tank.
Is e-liquid all the same?
E-liquid is all made up of four basic components.
But and this is a big but! There are several ratios of PG VG available and getting the right one for your device is very important. PG is the thinner of the two liquids and is the one that is very good at carrying the flavour. At the same time PG also affects the throat hit, too much and it can make your liquid very harsh on the throat.
VG is the thicker of the two liquids and is the one that creates more vapor or cloud. It is also naturally sweet and in VG heavy liquids can lead to extra sweetness with the juice.
In general, most starter kits will require you to use a relatively thinner liquid due to the nature of the coils and as a result of this we would normally recommend using a liquid that has no more than 60% VG. This will give you good flavour and vapor production as well as helping to prolong the life of your coils.
VG heavy liquids are designed for bigger more advanced systems that’s something we discussed quite heavily in a previous blog. For more info on this subject why not have a read of our blog which gives some great in-depth details of the difference between MTL and DTL vaping.
I hope you all found this helpful. For any further help or advice please don’t hesitate to contact us and ask. We are always here to help in anyway we can. Remember there is no such thing as a stupid question so however trivial you think it may be, we will always listen and advise in the best way we can.
As always until next time, Vape safe readers and have an absolutely amazing rest of your day or evening.
Some Thoughts on Vaping Etiquette
Vaping is changing the way a lot of us consume our nicotine. It’s made for big variations and alterations in the lives of smokers and has created a reason to adapt and change our etiquette.
Smoking Bans
The last large change in smoking culture came with the smoking bans that filtered through Europe a decade or more ago. This movement changed what was acceptable in terms of smoking. Unlike a few decades earlier where it was okay to smoke in the centre of a restaurant or on a plane, smokers had to go outside, away from the crown for a quick fag. Smoking etiquette changed dramatically.
As alluded to above, vaping has created a similar sized change. However, what’s appropriate and not appropriate in terms of vaping is still a work in progress so to speak. So, we thought we’d look at some of the issues regarding manners.
Public Vaping
Public vaping can be a cause of notable concern among some and people tend to view it in a variety of ways. Our advice is to use common sense when thinking about vaping – it’s a must. For example, some pubs have no issue with vaping and most non-smokers tend to be happy and accepting of vaping in such a scenario.
However, unless it’s overtly clear that vaping is something that is okay, then it’s always a good idea to ask. Just entering an enclosed place and vaping without knowing whether or not it’s the done thing, is a bad idea and may antagonise people. So, always ask first if you’re not sure as it’s respectful.
Stealth Vaping
Should you secretly vape somewhere you’re not allowed? Well, what you do is up to you, but we’d say if it’s not your house, you don’t make the rules and you shouldn’t. It won’t please the person who owns the property if you’re caught and it doesn’t create a very good impression.
Smokers
Smokers enjoy a cigarette and you possibly were one too before you got onto the e-cig train – you may still be. The zeal of the convert is not something we would encourage and however being overly encouraging and pressurising smokers to stop smoking and take up vaping can put people off. Don’t overdo it.
Arguments
Vaping is a pretty hot topic at the moment and a lot of people feel strongly one way or another about it. If you end up in a heated discussion about the matter, don’t get too excitable and stay relaxed – you’re never going to win an argument when angry – so stay balanced. Taking a higher ground and using the conversation as an opportunity to calmly educate and inform other individuals is a far better idea.
Other People’s Vaping
If you’re going to use someone else’s e-cig or vape then just ask first. It might seem obvious but you’d be amazed at the number of people who pick up someone else’s e-cig and inhale.
Vaping is a new area for etiquette and as with all sorts of manners, it takes time to develop a set procedure. Following the aforementioned tip will help us as vapers do so in a way that helps keep everyone happy.
5 E-Cig Misconceptions we often hear
A lot of the misconceptions surrounding e-cigs and vaping are down to misinformation. Unsurprisingly, plenty of the negativity around the subject is in fact not based on any evidence or fact and tends to be quite skewed in its take on the truth. So, here are some common misconceptions we thought we would go about clearing.
Vaping Cause Lung Damage
An unpublished study from under a year ago was the cause of this story. Papers throughout the world reported that e-cigarettes could cause lung damage. The reality was that the paper found that the vapour could cause an increase in airway resistance. Not even close to the same thing. However, the lung damage story spread like wildfire and many believed what they read in the news.
Vaping and Smoking are the Same Thing
Another commonly peddled falsehood. When you smoke, you inhale just that – smoke. This smoke includes thousands of different chemicals and carcinogens and is a completely different experience to vaping. When you vape you inhale exactly that – vapour. Vapour is far closer to steam than it is to smoke and as such a completely different thing. So, vaping and smoking are in no way the same thing.
Malfunctions are Common
Another fallacy, we hear quite often. The idea or notion that e-cigs or vaping sticks tend to explode in the hands of users is one that we catch regularly.
It makes it seem that exploding and instantly combusting e-cigs are a daily occurrence. However, this could not be further from the truth. The chances of a vaping device exploding is very slim and in the most part these issues are caused by people not following guidance on how to use them correctly. For example, using a different charger to the one that comes with the device or performing modifications to your vaping device will cause potential issues, as they would for any electronic device. See our blog on this here.
Nobody knows what’s in Vaping Liquids
As we mentioned above, cigarettes have thousands of different ingredients. This in turn has led to a lot of suspicion over the ingredients in vaping liquids. It has also led to a lot of negative press with many decrying that nobody knows what’s in vaping liquids and vapour.
The reality is that we know exactly what’s in these liquids and in many cases the ingredients are similar to those we eat or consume. There’s often under a dozen ingredients in vaping liquids, sometimes as few as five or six. There have been some cases where people have reported allergies flaring up after smoking. This is mainly because of the vegetable glycerine used in vaping liquids. Not to worry vegetable glycerine is a common ingredient found in all sorts of items including every day shampoo and is made from coconut oil.
They Contain Nicotine and it Is Poisonous
Nicotine does not cause cancer and it is not a carcinogen. However, it is the addiction forming part of cigarettes. Most of the problems with cigarettes are due to the additives and smoke and chemicals. However, unlike cigarettes, the nicotine is a lot less addictive in vapour compared to cigarettes and vaping allows you to cut down the amount of nicotine. 6-12mg E-liquid still has some mild throat hit yet allows the flavour to come through compared to higher strengths.
So, there are some common misconceptions about vaping and e-cigs revealed. Let us know what you think below.
A Few Words on E-Cigs, Vaping and Vaping Indoors
Vaping has taken a quite stiff beating in the public arena of late. The talk of a vaping ban in public areas in Wales as well as of a tax hike on related items in the EU have done little to help the image of vaping amongst the public. Surely it must be evil if we’re legislating against and taxing it!
These two discussions as well as much misinformation on the subject have led us to write this post to clear a few things. So, here are a few things people often get wrong about vaping.
Vaping and E-Cig
Most people thing of vaping and recollect the analogue cigarettes they see in petrol stations, many of which are made by tobacco companies. These e-cigs come with prefilled cartridges and these need to be replaced, have a quite limited flavour selection, produce limited amounts of vapour and have high nicotine levels. They are also the minority choice among those who quit smoking. However, the media tends to lump all products together into a generic e-cig category.
APVs or personal vaporisers are the middle ground product. Commonly known as ‘Vape pens’ these devices contain electronics that allow a number of variables to be moderated, including the vapour level.
Vape mods are the other alternative, these are mainly made by Chinese and US companies, as well as some in the Philippines. They can produce a lot of vapour, offer a lot of control and are also the top priced of the three products.
In essence, you pay for what you get when it comes to e-cigs and vaping. Though the law doesn’t tend to differentiate between the available products, as is clear from the three items above, there is a large amount of variation. From analogue cigarettes with their high levels of nicotine and low vapour content to the most expensive vape mods with low nicotine levels and high vapour levels, there is a significant difference between products.
Vapour is Safe for Indoors
We hear time and time again that “not enough studies have been done” to show vaping is a safe for indoor use.
Fortunately, there have been plenty of studies done, it’s just they’re not touted for one reason or another. In fact, here are two major studies:
If you don’t have the time to read either, let’s just summarise in saying that the first study found that the level of toxic substances in electronic cigarettes “was 9-450 times lower than that in cigarette smoke”. While, the second study showed that e-cigarettes produce “very small exposures relative to tobacco cigarettes”.
There are plenty more studies out there too that could be used to argue against the notion that vaping indoors isn’t safe.
Additionally, it’s also worth mentioning that vaping is far less toxic than cigarettes and far more effective than pharmaceutical cessation products at encouraging people to quit smoking. However, a lot of the papers and evidence we’ve linked to here will never see the light of day in the mainstream media. Why? Well that’s another question!
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How to Take Care of E-liquid
As you become more confident with vaping, and you start to experiment with flavours, you’ll probably pick up multiple bottles of e-juice, or E-liquid. It’s this liquid that goes into the e-cigarette atomiser and provides you with the flavour and hit.
To avoid waste, and to keep children safe, e-liquid must be handled carefully and stored correctly. Our quick guide will help.
Basic Considerations
E-liquid normally contains nicotine, and this is the main factor to bear in mind when it comes to using and storing it. Nicotine is an addictive substance, and while vaping it is much safer than smoking, drinking it definitely is not. That’s what proper storage of e-juice is so important.
In a pure 100% concentration form, nicotine is a poison. If you mix your own juice the concentration is around 7.2% and therefore need to store bottles of nicotine responsibly. If you buy pre-mixed juice, the nicotine concentration is far lower, but that still means you should take care.
Storing E-Liquid
E-liquid should always be stored in its original bottle, or a bottle with a cap that fastens tightly. If you have young children, you might prefer childproof bottles just to make sure little fingers can’t open the cap. A medicine cabinet is a great storage solution.
The nicotine in your e-liquid reacts to heat, so we recommend that e-liquid is stored in a cool, dark place – a kitchen cupboard is fine. Over time your e-liquid will gradually turn yellowish-brown, a natural oxidisation process.
It’s difficult to set hard and fast rules for e-liquid, but there’s normally no need to store it in the fridge.
Disposal
To dispose of unwanted e-liquid, fill a zip-lock plastic bag with an absorbent material (such as fuller’s earth or sawdust). Pour your e-liquid into it. Seal the plastic bag and put it in your normal household waste. This will stop any nicotine getting into the local water and deters animals from tasting it.
The plastic bottles can normally be recycled, but check with your local authority. It’s safe to rinse an empty bottle as long as you flush the drain with generous amounts of clean water afterwards. We don’t recommend ever pouring juice or nic liquid down the drain, since it could cause nicotine poisoning in local wildlife.
Spills
Don’t panic if you spill e-liquid, since a quick wipe with detergent should prevent any problems. Just make sure the spill is cleaned up properly so no pets or children come across the liquid.
If the liquid touches your skin, wash your hands immediately and thoroughly.
Help and Advice
If you suspect a human or pet has ingested e-liquid, seek medical advice. For any other questions, don’t hesitate to email us when you next place an e-juice order.
Vapes on a Plane: Which Airlines Are E-Cig Friendly?
Looking to vape on your next flight? Sadly, you’re probably out of luck. The vast majority of airlines have banned vaping, although you should be able to carry your e-cigarette.
On some flights, you can buy e-cigarettes from the in-flight shop, albeit at inflated prices. But that still doesn’t mean you can use them until you’re through passport control.
E-Cig Etiquette
British e-cigarette users may remember the coach journey that was curtailed by a “bomb”, which was eventually determined to be an e-cigarette emitting vapour. The Megabus incident on the M6 ended with the bomb disposal team, troops, firefighters and the police being called in while the motorway was closed. This demonstrates just how much disruption vaping can cause if observed if people don’t realise what’s going on.
Generally, when people see smoke, they tend to be alarmed. That’s especially true on aeroplanes, where smoke is generally thought to be A Very Bad Thing. To the uninitiated, the vapour from e-cigarettes looks a bit like smoke, particularly from a distance where you wouldn’t expect to smell it. That is why airlines are wary of letting people vape in-flight.
You can vape in some, but not all, airports. Ask the customer services desk for advice. When we last checked, vaping was allowed at Prestwick, East Midlands and Manchester airports. If you do vape have consideration for those around you, especially families with children or others that may not appreciate your vapour emissions.
Generally, if you can vape in an airport, you’ll be asked to go to the smoking room.
We do not condone vaping in places where it’s prohibited, including airports and aeroplanes. You may cause genuine alarm or get landed with a fine. Blowing vape-rings over the other passengers is a sure-fire way to panic them, regardless of how the crew feels about it.
Remember, too, that vaping in the toilets on a plane could set off the smoke alarms, and the crew are not likely to be impressed by that either. The sensors in plane toilets are extremely sensitive and may use optical sensors as well.
Airplane toilets excluded if you wish to be discreet in the airport you can hold vapour in your lungs for a few seconds, you will have less to exhale, and you can therefore vape quite discreetly. Many of us have used this tactic to have a sneaky vape indoors, in a quiet spot, where it did not harm anyone else (and/or nobody else minded).
Passport Control
E-liquid is another consideration when flying. You’re not allowed to take liquids through passport control in the EU, unless they’re in a plastic bag, so any bottles of juice will need to (a) very small, or (b) stowed in your suitcase in the hold. If you carry a large bottle in hand luggage, you will be asked to dispose of it.
An e-cigarette could raise eyebrows if the security personnel don’t know what it is. The more bulky your hardware, the more likely it is that you’re going to attract attention at the x-ray scanner. It is easier to have the ecig in hand luggage and place it in a visible location on the scanner trays.
Flying
We strongly advise keeping your filled clearomiser tanks in a separate plastic bag, changes in air pressure can lead to them leaking during a flight.
Getting caught is serious and might get you a ban from flying. Our advice is simple: don’t vape on a plane, save your vaping for your destination when you can relax and enjoy it.
