Two years

[dave]

I hope you will allow me to indulge myself with this rather long ramble after hitting my two year anniversary a few days ago.

As I was approaching two years of vaping and not smoking, I’ve been reflecting on my experiences. The first thing that strikes me is the incredible growth in popularity of vaping over that time. When I started I think there were maybe a dozen or so UK vendors, I’m guessing there must now be well over 50. The first forum I joined was AAEC and there were a few less than 700 members then – now there are more than 4,800. Taking these as very rough indicators, that suggests something of the order of a six or seven fold increase in vapers over that time or a growth of 250%+ per year! I’ve seen estimates that the market is about doubling every year now, so that is probably not too far out.

I thought I’d draw up a sort of time line with comments around the significant milestones along my vaping journey.

The Riva was my starter kit. At that time most eGo’s followed the original Joye design of being regulated to about 3.3 volts which would never have worked for me, so this was a good choice. I took to it immediately and have never smoked since.

The Boge Cartomiser had only been out for a few months when I started and was a significant improvement over the atomiser/ cartridge combo that came with starter kits then. If I absolutely had to I could probably survive even now with a Riva and a LR Boge – it did manage to work as a substitute for smoking cigars in the first place! I tried many other things (early clearomisers etc.) but it was quite a while before I found anything that was consistently better. I wish things like the EVOD and the Protank had been around then!

The Lavatube came out just before Christmas in 2011 and was the first cheap VV device on the market. I had already discovered that I often wanted a bit more than 8 Watts so this was a brilliant Christmas present from my wife. The only alternative then was the Provari and at that time it still seemed to me to be an enormous amount of money to spend on a vaping device. I’ve since realised though that I spent more on “cheap” stuff when I started than buying the occasional quality item as I do now.

The Clockworks RTA and RDA had been developed following a lengthy thread on the old UKV and after reading a lot about it I decided to take the plunge and have a go at a rebuildable - there were not many to choose from then! I started with the RTA and after a few nerve wracking sessions I got it going and it was very good. I soon decided though that the RDA might be better for me so I sold the RTA and got one and absolutely loved it. Very simple to wick and a great performer – still one of the best drippers in my opinion.

The Cyclon and the Line were my introduction to Genisis rebuildables. I got the Cyclon first and eventually the Line. My experience with mesh wicks has been that when you get one going well they are brilliant, but they can also be a bit temperamental. I still use one occasionally, but I just find silica wicks so much easier and more reliable so I use them most of the time.

Mods - My first new quality mech mod was the PAPS from the original list set up on vaporwall. I’ve updated it a few times as they have developed it and it is still one of the best in my opinion and great value. After I got it I remember the Caravela appearing in a thread on the old UKV – it was ages before the first list was completed but it just didn’t appeal to me. The same is true for nearly all the many mech mods that have come out since – I just prefer the looks of the PAPS and find it works just right for me. Recently, I finally got a Nemesis and I have been very impressed with that.

When I started, the ones to aspire to were GG, Provari and Super-T. I decided to go for the GGTS first, didn’t like it and sold it almost immediately. Then I got a Provari and this I loved – still about the best VV device you can get I reckon. I recently finally got a Super-T mod (well two actually!) – fantastic bits of engineering.


The Spheroid and the Kayfun have been my mainstays since I got them. The Spheroid came first and immediately became (and still is!) just about my favourite rebuildable. I’m one of those saddos who keeps lots of records of things and can tell you I have now re-wicked this more than 25 times in the year I have had it, which I think illustrates perfectly why it is worth spending money on quality rebuildables. The Spheroid was a revelation as to how good a tank based silica rebuildable could be, so I was drawn to the Kayfun and the 2.1 and later the 3.1 proved also to be very good.

I don’t spend so much time on AAEC now (mind you I used to practically live here!) but I still have a great affection for it. Chrissie talked me through my first few attempts at vaping and Perpetua persuaded me to spend lots of money . It is still the friendliest and most supportive vaping forum and it is still helping people to get into vaping in the same way it helped me.

[Karma]

Great post dave and well done on your 2 years

[Phoenixflame (Julie)]

Congratulations on your 2 years Dave.

[Perpetua]

Congratulations Dave.


It's been my utmost pleasure spending some of your money for you, I loved every single penny.

[Chrissie]

What a fantastic post dave & congratulations on your 2 years

[Deleted]

A very informative post dave As one of the more recent converts to vaping (6 months), it was great to read your vaping history. Congratulations on your 2 year anniversary.

[padiho]

Well done Dave on your 2 year abstinence ...your post made interesting reading and will encourage a lot of doubting "newbies " that they CAN give up the stinkies with the help of this forum and the right kit for them.

[Pepperty]

fascinating froma newbie point of view, its great to hear how your early vaping days were

[Phoenix .]

Well done Dave and thanks for the history lesson, never heard of half the things you have got.

[jeffc]

dave Congratulations on reaching your 2 nd year,free from using the "stinkies"

Well Done.

[Roger]

Many congrats dave Reading that brought a few memories back. Hope to see you soon.

[Roscopecotrain]

Great post dave. Well done on 2 years.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 2

[Deleted]

Dave many congratulations on two years and posting such a great post and by reading your post, it seems you received a lot of great vaping post within that two years.

Well done

[Super-Shiny]

Fantastic post dave and well done m8

[dave]

Thanks all - it's all you lot that make this such a good forum