Beating the smoking ban with a big (electronic) stick!

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after reading lots and lots of websites and research papers i'm still cut down the middle (and it appears some pharma companies are too)

so i thought if i'm gunna try this, i want to be monitored. so i've got an appointment with the docs on tuesday to take some vitals and measurements etc before i start using this thing ;)

i dont mind playing guinea pig, but i want someone in the know to tell me if everythings ok at regular intervals... perhaps my doc may even forward what he finds onto the relevant people. heck i'm willing to put my lungs on the line for further studies if i dont show any allergic reactions to begin with... i've been filling them with tar for 14 years (yes i'm 26... yes i started when i was 12 :shock:) so they wont be in the best of shape anyways :lol:

has anyone else found anything about these things?
 
I'm intrigued... I'm looking into it so will post if I find anything you've not covered yet :)
 
please do jonny :)

it arrived this morning.

came fully charged, and i couldn't resist having a go. sorry guys if you wanted to see me use it for the first time, but i'll try to explain as much as i can in writing. the vids on youtube give you visually everything you need to know really.

first impressions of the super-mini. it's size is spot on and really does look like a real cig... even has the subtle banding around the white battery. it's much heavier than a real one, but that was expected as it is mostly made of metal. manufacturing wise it actually seems pretty good quality. all the parts fit together nicely and snug fit.

the batteries came fully charged, so i popped in a cartridge. these carts are a little bit fiddly when you first get them.. when you pop the cap off there's no easy way to tell how you put it in. you have to use your teeth to pull the tiny cartridge out of the cap, which then revels the sponge containing the fluid... it then became obvious which way to put it in. this things are covered in the "juice" and you'll find yourself wiping your hands on your trousers hehe.

after putting the cart and mouth piece on i gave it a suck. it's a much easier draw than a rolly. perhaps a little easier than a normal cig too. it took a few puffs to get the "smoke" going... apparently this is called "priming" when you put a new cart in for the first time. with new atomisers there's a sort of break in period i've read and found with this device. i didnt get much smoke to begin with... but after about 10 mins of puffing the some hovering in my mouth was comparable to a real cig. inhaling it is EXACTLY like the real thing. the smoke is warm, and it hits the back of your throat exactly the same way. there is a BIG difference in taste and texture. it's sweeter, and lighter than a real cig... infact i'd actually say it's a "cleaner" taste. it's kinda like smoking a silk cut though but i put that down to the mg in these carts. they're "marlboro strong" which are about 20mg. to be perfectly honest, after smoking it for 30 mins i still had to smoke a rolly to get my fix. i think i'll be needing to get the 36mg XXStrong fluid to "top off" the empty carts as the rollies i smoke must be much stronger than these carts i've got.. it's cheaper doing that anyway rather than buying the carts every time.

i did notice that at first there wasn't much "smoke" on the exhale, but it's getting better. this model apparently is notorious for not much vapour. covering the holes around the atomiser gave better vapour though (and this is a trick i saw on youtube by some scottish fellow).

oh and the vapour doesn't smell at all!

after 30 mins of puffing, the cart ran out. so these mini cigs carts will NOT last long. according to users on the e-cig forum, battery life is usually about 3 carts worth... so that's just 90 mins of smoking per battery.

my conclusions:

i like it! the taste i'd say is pleasant and light. but the cart sizes are going to be an issue if i use this regularly. i'll also need to get the XXstrong 36mg to feed my addiction enough to make it worthwhile.

regarding the model though... i dont recommend this particular model as your first purchase. this one is definitely to be put in the occasional smoke band.

everyone on the e-cig forum recommend a model called the DSE901b which is about 30mm (branded just the "mini") longer than the super-mini which is 100mm ish. this is available from http://www.e-cigs.co.uk. it's battery life, cart size and vapour production apparently is great for it's size, and it's not an ugly monster like the pen styles. so i'm going to make this my next purchase instead of buying extra carts, atomizers and batteries for this one.
 
I think i'll stick to my roll ups for now. I'm an on and off smoker anyway. I hate smoking for half the week and love it for the other half. i know it's killing me but i've an addictive, obsessive personality. The wife moans a lot about my smoking-she hates it. But i find it very very hard to have a drink without having a smoke. So i'd have to give up drinking to give up smoking. I'd rather shove wasps up my arse than give up drinking.
 
i'm much like you MEB... i CANNOT have more than a pint without needing a cig.. and the more i drink, the more i smoke.

since this smoking ban i've been ok when the weather is good... but with the weather changing, i'm just not going to be able to enjoy going down the pub without a substitute.

i've tried everything... gum, patches, inhalator's the lot... but nothing seems to quite scratch that itch... gum is the worst as it taints the beer and i've got to stop chewing it/take it out to drink... patches take forever to work, and even the highest ones i'm in a gut wrenching withdrawal. inhalators, while it satisfies the breathing and holding of something.... they disagreed with my throat making it inflamed and scratchy after only a couple of drags, they also tasted nasty.

i've also tried that pill.. what's it called..... Zyban that's it. it just made me feel queer and the doc took me off it.

i've been smoking this thing for about an hour and a half now... in that time i'd have smoked 3 roll ups especially sat in my office infront of the computer. i've only had 1! i'm also not getting a sore throat or headaches so i guess i'm not allergic to PG either. if my local landlord doesnt mind me smoking this inside (when i get a blue led to make sure there's no confusion) i think i'll be attending my local much more often :D

i guess it's what floats your boat mate ;) for me, i enjoy smoking too much to fully want to give it up, but if this thing turns out to genuinely be healthier than cigs.. i think i've found my substitute!
 
I'm reading with interest. It sounds like you might be onto something here mate. Especially as SWMBO has just shut the door to my office, after waltzing in with an incense stick. :roll:
 
ok. been smoking this thing on and off now for 4 hours. i'm really taking a liking to this actually!

what i read on the e-cig forum is correct... the battery lasts for about 3 cartridges. i'm now on my 5th cart, and had to switch to the spare battery on the start of the 4th.

the good news is though, by now (1pm) i'd have smoked about 8-10 rollies if out and about, but definitely more as i've been in the office doing some 3d work all morning... i'd definitely be at about 10 or 12 by now... but i've only smoked 3 real cigs today so far... so it IS working as a nicotine substitute delivery with no noticeable side effects thus far.

unfortunately this starter pack only came with 10 carts... 1 of those are medium, 1 low and 1 NO nicotine... so i'm going to be done before the end of the day if i keep using it primarily for my nicotine intake.

i've placed an order for the bigger version called just "Mini", the DSE901 from e-cigs.co.uk along with a vial of 36mg ejuice. will let you know if this one is any better both in terms of vapour, and lifespan, aswell as nicotine fix, but from what i've read... it is.

if you guys do decide to try one, e-cigs.co.uk will give you a 5% discount if you use the coupon code "ecigreview" and if you state in the delivery instructions, that you were referred by the e-cig forum, you get a few extra carts chucked in for free too ;)
 
i'm not sure... they state UK and EU, but i'm uncertain about NZ.

pop along to http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com and look at the "e-cigarette suppliers forum" section. they only post tried, tested and trusted suppliers in that thread ;)
 
sorry here's a better link Clicky

none are listed as in NZ, but i think its a matter of just finding one that posts international. that's the approved list

edited cos i cocked up the link lol
 
well i'm all out of e-juice and up to the point of running out an hour ago, i'd only smoked 4 cigs! i've smoked 8 today which is a record for me as i'm usually way into the twenties.

result!

cant wait for the DSE901 and vial of ejuice to turn up now :)

tobacco free here i come!
 
Cheers for keeping us updated - I'm sure a few of us having been looking forward to your posts!

I don't smoke a lot - probably 3 or 4 a day in the evenings when I have a beer - maybe a few more if I go out to the pub. From that I gather the super mini might be up my street as I don't smoke heavily and generally smoke marlborough lights.

I like the idea of being able to smoke in the house without making everything smell so might invest when the e-cig website you posted has some in stock. I have looked through a bit of the forum you posted too - seems there are a few issues with the atomizers but people are starting to regard these as 'disposable' items to replace regularly.

BrewStew - Any further thoughts on the super mini? Is it just a crappy design/engineering or is it just that it's not up to the job of fulfilling your craving? ;)
 
Hi jonny.

i did make a quick vid review, albeit on my phone in portrait mode which i cant figure out how to rotate, and i've got no idea what audio codec it uses, so cant re-encode it. you're welcome to it if you PM me your email addy, hopefully you can play MP4's with obscure audio codecs. its not worth posting on youtube until i get the hang of video editing

i've got to agree with your comment RE atomizers. these most definitely have got to be regarded as disposable. infact, the whole device has to be. atomizers i've read only last a week or two if your a heavy smoker. i think i got unlucky with my super mini as it doesnt produce as much smoke as the vids i've seen online... but this could be down to a whole manner of things such as my puffing technique, the e-juice and the atomizer itself.

personally i'm relegating my super mini to backup purposes (you may have seen a couple of my posts on there about it). but that's because i smoke 20+ rollies a day. you may find it works for you, but like i said, lemmie get the 901 and i'll review them side by side ;)

i wouldn't say the super-mini is of bad design. it's definitely well made. i just think it's size is limiting for my addiction. if you are a smoker of low nic cigs, and not often, i dont see why it wouldn't satisfy your cravings... but it struggled with mine.. i definitely need the 36mg nic e-juice hehe.

the biggest thing i had a prob with was that it didn't burn down like a real cig... so i had no visible sign that i was finished... and ended up puffing on the thing nearly all the time. i put this down to two other things though, well maybe three actually. the smoke itself is really "clean" so you dont notice that sensation in your lungs as much... i still felt like i needed a cig when i'd finished a cartridge after 30 or so puffs, so put that down to the mg content. the draw/smoke on the super mini wasn't brilliant... so it felt like i was taking short puffs.. because my exhale smoke was weak. also, at rate rate i was puffing on it, i actually ran the battery out before the other one was completely charged. but again i put this down to it not satisfying my addiction. the battery lasted for 3 carts, and a cart is supposed to be about 2 cigs worth at 20 odd mg.

hold off purchasing until i get the DSE901 in stock, i ordered it yesterday so should be with me soon. then i'll give you my honest opinion/comparison of the two.

hope this helps mate
 
Top notch reply - just what I was looking for :thumb:

Look forward to review of the 901.

I think that e-cig forum needs a wiki to help explain the different model versions with pictures, specs, descriptions etc.
 
funny you say that, there is a thread there showing you the differences between the mini, super-min and pen.

lemmie find it a sec
 
there's actually a slight typo on that...

where he says "The third model to hit the market is the codename DSE-901, DSE-101, or the v9" where he says DSE901, that's not the 901... the 901 he was talking about previous is the actual 901 hehe. that's the 101 or V9 as the rest of the post says.

i've got that 101... not the 103.
 
Ta for the link :)

I'm yet to make an informed decision but will post when I do, and once I've read your next review.

Also thanks for starting the thread, I'd never have known about these ecigs otherwise!
 
yeah let me know if you find anything regarding health and safety etc.

like i said, appointment booked with the doc on tuesday so i wont start using them full-time until i've had my initial check so i can be monitored. the good news is i've not shown signs of allergy (sore throat, headaches etc) to PG for the first day i used it.

i'd never have know either if i didnt hear it on radio 1 news! :lol:
 
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