How to choose a starter kit?

 Nowadays, with the industry growing the way it is & vapor technology progressing, there are tons of different options to consider. When visiting a vape shop to look into starter kits, there are a few things that you should keep in mind:

1. Nicotine consumption & dependence
2. Battery life & reliability
3. Size & comfort
4. Personal preference
   

Nicotine Consumption: The ideal starter kit is going to be different depending on the user. Someone who would only consider themselves a "social smoker" (ie., I only smoke when I drink, I only smoke with my friends, etc.) is not going to be looking for the same equipment or experience that someone who goes through a carton every other day would. Remember, just because you see other people with a certain device that looks cool, doesn't mean that it's going to be right for you. In general, the more you smoke, the larger of a tank you will probably want, so as to reduce the number of times you have to refill the tank each day. Also, for those chain-smokers out there, you're probably going to be happier with a device that doesn't require as much maintenance or upkeep.

A typical rule-of-thumb that we use in my shop is that if you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day or more, you're probably going to want at least 12mg nicotine concentration in your eliquid, barring the usage of D2L Sub-ohm devices, which I don't recommend for first-time vapers. If you only smoke on the weekends, you're probably going to be fine with 6mg or even 3mg nic concentration. Again, spend some time talking with the staff of a vape shop to see what would work best for you.

Battery Life: Going hand-in-hand with nicotine is your battery life. If you're recharging your battery every 4 hours, then you're using the wrong device. Again, the more you smoke, the more battery power you're probably going to want. When I started vaping some 3 years ago, I was smoking almost 2 packs a day. As such, the standard 650mah or 900mah battery option just wouldn't cut it.

One way to minimize battery life issues is to pick up a device that offers "passthrough charging," or the ability to use and charge the device at the same time. There are plenty of different models with this feature, and they definitely can come in handy for those who find themselves smoking more than every few hours.

Size & Comfort: After you've determined the nicotine content & battery life that you're likely to want, you might also consider the overall size, shape, & bulk of the device. Many people don't want to feel like they're carrying around a brick with them everywhere they go, and a great number of devices on the market today can be quite large. If discretion is a concern, make sure to mention this to the sales staff of the vape shop, so as not to spend unnecessary time looking at over-sized devices. For some, however, size & heft equates to durability, and they feel more comfortable with something that seems a little more "solid." Again, consider your options, and decide what works best for you.