MY take on vaping, after more than a year

[surfatwork]

Friday afternoon and thoughts ramble. There is no real reason for this post, except that I had this irresistible urge to "share". well...it was either this, or the powerpoint presentation I have been putting off for ever.

I started with ecigs in 2012, a pack of Sky - and thought it (and consequently vaping) a pile of smelly stuff. That would have been it, but I happened to see someone with an iClear bottom coil and evod. That got me started again and I "discovered" vaping. Kangers were a great change - I hated the wicks in the iClears. After some months, I decided that Kangers/Evods were too "newbie"ish and decided that as a proper vaper, I needed a VV/VW and RBA/RDA combination. So I got myself a Vamo and over the next few months, faffed around with Taifun, Kayfun, Aqua, Fogger, Oddy, Aga and several others. I must admit to feeling a little self conscious holding a big steel mace, but hey, I was a vaper.

I have finally decided that the humble Kanger T3S + evod works best for me. Admittedly, I am crap at coiling the RBAs, and found RDAs too distracting. But I have (finally) figured out how to coil the Kanger heads properly, so running cost is very low (half an inch of wick and 4" of Kanthal every couple of weeks). I have enough wick and wire to reach the moon, so I think that I am set for life. 

On a more general note, I think vaping is good because:
- It stopped me smoking. totally got rid of the urge, never "miss" it, unlike previous attempts. The chance of a relapse seems very minimal (a few months back, I took a drag, post several pints, and just couldn't draw it in)
- Consequently, I am not pouring ~4000 carcinogens into myself on an hourly basis. which must be a good thing. unless I get hit by a bus tomorrow...
- Stamina and general health has definitely improved. I cycled from London to Paris last year for charity, in less than 3 days, which would have been unimaginable when I was a steady smoker.
- Saved a lot of money, though shinyitis keeps denting this one
- I can vape pretty much anywhere, if I keep it a bit discreet. haven't tried it in a plane toilet yet...should I?
- I also smell better, even when I don't shower
- I converted 2 chain smokers (both have stopped completely) and felt super happy (and embarrassed) when one guy's wife teared up when thanking me

Vaping is not so good because
- I am still putting in "some" stuff into myself. Just don't know "what" in enough detail, but I am pretty sure it is nothing like a cigarette's payload
- VG doesn't agree with me - I had severe bloating and IBS when I started using VG-heavy liquids. Was forced to become pretty unsocial until the penny dropped. All of it stopped when I went back to PG (but that gives me a sore throat if I overdo it)
- The "urge to smoke" hasn't gone - it seems to have been replaced by the "urge to vape". My nicotine levels are very low now (started with 18, and am now on 6 or less). But it doesn't go away.
- I had to join 6 new forums, including AAEC.....whoever said Facebook is a distraction from work didnt know what they were talking about - they should try joining AAEC.