Monthly Archives: February 2012

RY4 eLiquid Review

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Dekang RY4 (Ruyan 4) has been a favourite since the early days of vaping. I had vaped it and liked it some months back, but with so many other eLiquids out there, I had been vaping a variety of other juices for the past while. However in the past few days I have taken out some more and I have to say, that this really is a most satisfactory vape. I have used in 510 Atomizer, Dual Coil Cartomizer, and as I write am using it in a CE3 Smokymizer

Flavour: Maybe a mix of cigar, tobacco & nut, but again with a very slight sweet after taste. Rating: 9/10

Throat Hit: 24 mg it gives significant, yet not harsh, throat hit. Rating: 9/10

Vapour Production:  Lots. Rating: 9/10

See more at http://www.ezsmoke.ie/30ml-dekang-ruyan-p-102.html

E-Cigarette Consumer Association of the UK

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EZ Smoke are proud to announce that we have today joined the E-Cigarette Consumer Association of the UK (ECCA)

(from http://www.eccauk.org/ )
ECCA UK, the Electronic Cigarette Consumer Association of the United Kingdom, is a non-profit association that exists to protect consumers’ rights, to provide correct information about electronic cigarettes, and to represent consumers’ interests to the industry.

ECCA will work together with other consumer groups in Europe and elsewhere to protect and promote the interests of the growing number of smokers worldwide who have found a better alternative and who demand that their rights are respected.

ECCA will promote consumers’ interests at local, national and European level; provide research resources; provide media resources; support the electronic cigarette industry in initiatives that benefit the community; and work for consumers to ensure that industry standards are maintained and improved.

ECCA is a consumer advocacy group and has no affiliation with any vendor or trade association.

ECCA is the most important stakeholder in Tobacco Harm Reduction in the UK, since we represent the largest group of harm reduction users.

Who does ECCA represent?
ECCA UK is a new organisation with a small but fast-growing membership. It is our duty to represent the approximately 300,000 e-cigarette users in the UK. We do that by listening to what they tell us on the ECCA forum and on the several other UK e-cigarette community forums, and by using that information to form our policies.

Electronic cigarette users have clearly told us these things:
– As far as they are aware, and as far as the medical experts are concerned, e-cigarettes are highly unlikely to cause harm. There is absolutely no evidence anywhere that there is any potential for harm.

– By using e-cigarettes they will most likely assume the risk of a non-smoker. This is certainly proven for Snus in Sweden, which now has the lowest smoking-related death rate in the developed world and the lowest male cancer rate in Europe – purely as a result of their use of Snus – and according to several Professors of Medicine, e-cigarettes are likely to have the same or less risk.

– If e-cigarettes were to become unavailable, almost all would return to smoking, with its associated risk of death.

– There is no reason whatsoever to prohibit the use of e-cigarettes, or restrict their availability and use by unfair and unrealistic licensing, except to protect the income of the pharmaceutical industry by allowing quit-smoking drugs to be sold without competition.

– It is widely known that the pharmaceuticals don’t work very well and sometimes kill patients. There is absolutely no evidence anywhere that pharmaceuticals have a higher success rate than 10%, and some research shows it is more like 2%. Contrast this with an anecdotal success rate for conversion to e-cigarettes of 75% in a fully-mentored setting.

– Some of our members tried repeatedly to quit by using pharmaceuticals, always failing – until they successfully switched to an e-cigarette. As far as they are concerned, electronic cigarettes are a life-saver. Instead of quitting they switched to a reduced-harm alternative.

– Government departments have tried to ban e-cigarettes in order to protect the pharmaceutical industry’s income. The result would obviously be loss of life. When is the government going to do something about the clear and obvious regulatory capture of elements within the UK Department of Health?

This is what the community have told us, and this is what we will act upon.

Smokymizer CE3 Product Review

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For past couple of weeks, I had been vaping Dual Coil Clearomizers, but yesterday have started on the Smokeymizer CE3. I have used these previously, and they do give a very nice “airy and warm” vape. I intend using these exclusively over the next while using different eLiquids.

I am currently vaping Marlboro 24mg, and both flavour and throat hit are very good. One the big advantages of the Smokeymizer, is that they are “fill & forget”. Once filled you can forget about them and vape away for hours on end. I am currently using with an Ego battery, and although they do work with a 510 battery, I wouldn’t expect the standard 510 battery to last too long with these.

The one down side to the Smokeymizer, is that they are a little tricky to fill. You do need a syringe / needle to fill. The pack come with a needle that fits most eliquid bottles, but I find it easier to use a syringe / needle that you can get from your local chemist. It does make you feel a little bit like a junkie! The important part to remember when filling these, is to place a rubber cap on the bottom or otherwise your juice will leak all over the place. This important part of the filling instructions is omitted in the instruction sheet.

But once you get over the slightly tricky nature of filling these, the end result is excellent, a very satisfying vape.

Will report back on the longevity of the Smokeymizer, but from previous experience I used to get at least one week out of each.

There are many reports on the web of these Smokeymizers leaking, and other such problems. I can report that I have not experienced any of these issues.

Edit – February 5, 2012
6 days is the verdict in this mini evaluation, i.e  the Smokeymizer lasted 6 days before performance dropped, and I felt I needed to replace it. Overall satisfaction level is very good. One leak tough, when I didn’t replace the small rubber bung properly, but lesson learned. If you do not mind a little bit of fiddling about when filling these, then I woud highly recommend them. The quality of the vapour remains top notch, until the Smokeymizer is empty, in fact I would go as far to say that the flavour actually improves as the quantity of juice remiaining decreases. Have decided to stay vaping Smokeymizer with my Ego for another week, but to vary the flavours.

Edit – February 14, 2012
9 days into the second of the Smokymizers in this “test”, the Smokymizer is still going strong, no hint of a drop in performance. I have vaped, Old Holborn flavour, Raspberry, Tobacco and Gold & Silver (B&H), and although I may have my favourites when it comes to flavour, all of these have vaped equally well in the Smokeymizer. 10 out of 10!

Edit – February 16, 2012
11 days and the ole smokey is still going strong. In fact I’m beginning to think that the one I dumped after 6 days may have been OK, but that it was the battery that was getting low which in turn led to reduced performance.

Edit – February 17, 2012
OK, 12 days was the final result. In the end the pull was just getting a little too hard to get adequate flavour. But 12 days more or less constant vaping is really good in my opinion, and at €1.70 per Smokeymiser is very good value. I know elsewhere on the net that there are cleaning instructions for the smokymizer, but at that price I simply wouldn’t bother,but then again if you like to fiddle about with things, I’d be delighted to hear how you get on.

What is the Best Electronic Cigarette?

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Edited – 25/2/2012

I would love to be able to answer this question with a simple choice of electronic cigarette model or kit, but unfortunately there is no simple answer. Although electronic cigarettes have only been around for a couple of years there are today, many many different types of ecigs available, with even more opinion as to what is the best.

What you need to do is to prioritise what is important to you, and to then select model on that basis, and in doing so you will find the best electronic cigarette for YOU. Thus the four questions you need to ask yourself are:

  1. Is appearance important? Would you feel comfortable holding a “cigar” sized e-cigarette or would you prefer a standard size?
  2. Where do you normally vape / smoke? At home, work, in the car, socially, on-the-go etc?  Are you normally near to a charging point, computer, electrical socket or 12 volt socket in car etc?
  3. How important is taste / flavour?
  4. Do you like to “fiddle about with things?

The four questions above are not exhaustive, but by giving these questions some thought, this will help you choose the best electronic cigarette for you.

1. Appearance / Aesthetics / Feel
To many this might seem like a minor matter. But consider this – if you have been smoking for 5, 10, 20 or 40 years or more, you have become so comfortable with the type of cigarette that you smoke, that at first, when you try an electronic cigarette, it will feel very alien to you. It will be hard, cold and comparitively heavy. This is why I recommend that if people make the decision to try vaping that they should go with a standard sized e-cigarette to start. These can be the rechargeable type or disposable. The 510 Electronic Cigarette is a very popular model as is the Jasper & Jasper range of Electronic Cigarettes.

There are larger model electronic cigarettes, but for many who are new to vaping, standard cigarette size models make the transition from smoking to vaping much easier. Additionally, for those who are maybe self conscious, and don’t want to “stand out from the crowd”, if you are out and about, most people will not even notice that you are using an electronic cigarette.

These cigarette sized electronic cigarettes can perform very well, but for those who are not concerned about using a larger device, then upgrading to larger and longer performing model makes sense. In fact most users who start with the smaller models end up buying a larger device. Once you get comfortable with vaping and all the advantages it brings over smoking, you will be happy to try other alternative and bigger models. The bigger models at their most basic, simply have bigger rechargable batteries, although there are also many other possible setups.

2. Where Do You Normally Vape / Smoke?
Again, this might seem like a silly question, but the answer you give can  have a big implication on the type of personal vaporiser (PV) that is best suited to you. Do you vape at home, socially, at work etc. If you choose disposable type electronic cigarettes,  then this is not an issue, but given that most vapers use rechargebale batteries then where and when you vape is important. Rechargable electronic cigarettes need to have their batteries recharged, and so the user will either need to be close to a power point (house 220 volt or car 12 volt supply). I work from a home office so therefore charging batteries is not a problem. Your standard 510 type battery last for approximately 2-3 hours (or longer depending on how heavy you vape) with the larger Ego type batteries lasting up to a day or more. Charging times vary between 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on model.

If you are not in a position to charge your e-cig at your place of work, or for example you are heading out for the night, you probably do not want to head out with a pocket or handbag full of batteries. In this scenario, choose a larger batter such as the Ego LCD 900mah Battery which will last the average user a full day before it requires recharging. You will obviously need more than one battery while the other is recharging.

There also available pass through chargers / batteries which connect directly between your computer or cigarette car charger thus ensuring that your battery is always full. Personally, I do not really see the advantage of these, given the advent of new high capacity batteries.

The other aspect of vaping and choice of electronic cigarette that is best suited to you is how often you need to top up with eliquid and / or change cartridge / cartomizer etc. This whole separate area will have its own dedicated post in the blog. But in short, if you are in a position to regularly top up your cartridge / cartomizer that is fine, but many users prefer to have a cartridge / cartomizer /tank system that does not require regular topping up, such as the Smokeymizer which once filled will last the user for hours. There are many new large tank type systems coming on stream which claim to be low hassle and great tasting, but many people find that the tank systems are lacking in flavour. Personally, if I’m “going out” I will use the Smokeymizer or Dual Coil Cartomizers both of which are low maintenance.

3. How Important is Taste / Flavour to You?
Whether you are an ex-smoker who has converted to vaping or still smoking, in all likelihood you have “your brand” and have smoked that brand for many years. This is one area where vaping is completely different to smoking. There are literally thousands of variations available, and most vapers vape a number of different flavours and are always looking for new ones. Exotic flavours like Raspberry, Ruyan 4, Coffee along with flavours trying to immitate existing cigarette and roll your own brands are all available in different nicotine strengths. But here’s the BUT! All these flavours taste differently depending on what device they are being vaped on.

Most veteran vapers will say that the best flavour is achieved by dripping your eLiquid directly onto a 510 Atomiser using a Drip Tip or by using a Blank Cartridge. I would concur with this. The downside to vaping this way, is that it requires regular topping off with eLiquid.

I must also state that the whole area of taste / flavour is highly subjective, and opinions differ widely. I have found that the Tank Systems such as the Ego Tank give very poor flavour. I have not given up on the tank systems yet and will try more, but as of now, there are none that I can personally recommend.The Smokeymizers and Dual Coil Cartomizers mentioned above do mute the eLiquid flavour a little, but given their other advantages, they are a very good compromise between flavour and handiness.

4. Do you like to “Fiddle About with Things?
This might seem like a very strange question, but quite possibly should have been No. 1. Although the electronic cigarette industry is quite new, there are today lots of different choices available to the e-smoker. One train of thought is that the manufacturers have not yet come up with the perfect electronic cigarette, but when they do that’s what we will all use. I am of a different mind, and I predict that there will be more and more choices in the future, thus the question of finding the best electronic cigarette will become even more confusing!

With all this new technology and equipment, much of it in its infancy there are bound to be some issues. For example, your standard 510 atomizer needs to be cleaned regularly, the dual coil cartomizers require perform best when kept wet, the Smokeymizers are tricky to fill, different chargers for 510 & Ego batteries, burnt taste from tank systems are all examples. None of this is insurmountable, but it does mean that the average smoker considering switching to vaping may well have to fiddle about with their equipment in order to achieve optimal performance. Some people enjoy this messing / fiddling about whereas other would run a mile. This is one reason why many who are new to vaping will go for disposable / low hassle ecigs and possibly compromise on flavour and probably pay more for the privilege whilst at the other extreme others will go for a highly technical and modified systems. Each to their own is what I say.

So to conclude – what is the best electronic cigarette? You choose………………….


 

Smoke, don’t choke

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Came across another positve article / research posted in Daily Mirror.by by Miriam Stoppard, Daily Mirror 16/01/2012

http://www.mirror.co.uk/advice/miriam/2012/01/16/smoke-don-t-choke-115875-23701311/#ixzz1jeihJipO

If you’re a smoker who’s broken many ­a new year resolution to quit, you might want to increase your chances this year by trying ­an e-cigarette.

This is a new approach, pioneered by researchers at the University of Catania in Italy, to help those struggling to kick the habit.

For their tests they recruited 40 hardened smokers who weren’t even interested in quitting. ­The smokers were given ­a simple gadget already available in stores to help them stop.

The electronic cigarette holds a small reservoir of liquid nicotine solution that can be vapourised into an aerosol mist. Two of the most addictive features of smoking can be achieved with the device.

Firstly, the user can take a drag on the vapour to get a hit of nicotine. And secondly, when a puff is taken, it gives you the gratifying feeling of putting a cigarette between your lips – the sensation adored by all smokers.

In this respect the e-ciggie has an advantage over nicotine patches and gum. And what the device avoids are the thousands of toxic chemicals found in cigarette smoke.

In the Italian study more than half of the smokers quit smoking, a figure much higher than any other I’ve come across.

Years ago I presented a TV series on how to give up smoking. Our subjects were followed weekly in a programme of counselling, nicotine replacement and celebrity support. At the end of the eight programmes one in four of our smokers had given up. Not bad, we thought, and better than most smoking cessation programmes at ­the time.

But on a follow-up six months later only one in 10 smokers had still managed to stay off the cigarettes, the rest had relapsed.

Stopping smoking has, for years, relied on “abstinence only” approaches.

In other words nothing but giving up completely will do, ­or can work.

A more modern approach encompasses “harm reduction” and it’s the approach I advocate because it’s more humane and has a place in the real world.

Pharmacologically speaking, nicotine itself isn’t especially harmful, and if it could be available in a form that is acceptable and effective as a cigarette substitute, millions of lives could be saved.

Researchers think that e-cigarettes could replace a lot of cigarette consumption in the next 10 years.

William T Godshall, the prominent executive director of Smokefree Pennsylvania, US, believes that e-cigarettes are close to being harmless. He says on a harmfulness scale of one to 100 – with gum, lozenges and patches at one and cigarettes at 100 – e-cigarettes are no higher than two.

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/advice/miriam/2012/01/16/smoke-don-t-choke-115875-23701311/#ixzz1lGYyKAC8