May 26, 2013

Electronic Cigarette Reviews

Electronic Cigarette Battery ReviewsMost websites that talk about electronic cigarettes do a good job of evaluating brands based on their experiences using the products and dealing with customer service.  The core of the electronic cigarette is the battery.  We perform our electronic cigarette reviews from the inside out by starting with the electronic cigarette battery.

The electronic cigarette came onto the scene in the USA in 2005 in many mall kiosks, but it wasn’t until 2008 when they really picked up steam and started becoming a mainstream product.  Green Smoke is owed a lot of the credit for helping the USA expand and increasingly accept the e-cigarette in public.  They were one of the first brands to advertise heavily online and in the process were able to establish their brand as one of the leaders.

In subsequent years, brands like V2 Cigs, Bull Smoke, South Beach Smoke, and Ever Smoke followed suit.  When this happened, the demand exploded.  In larger cities on any average night you can find people “vaping” on electronic cigarettes in shopping malls, bars, and restaurants.  Ex-smokers are finding the ease of using vapor cigarettes that use refillable nicotine cartridges much more pleasant due to the non-existence of second hand foul odors and waste.  Gone are the days of disposing of cigarette butts in trash receptacles.  Gone are the days of making unnecessary waste when people throw away their cigarette butts into the environment.  Electronic cigarettes save people a trip to the gas station to buy lighters, ash trays, and more carcinogen-laced tobacco products.  While the FDA monitors manufacturing and has yet to release an official position on long-term ramifications of this product, we feel the e-cigarette is here to stay, and we look forward to educating consumers of e-cigarettes with the latest news, reviews, and industry announcements.

Every top e-cigarette brand is listed at the top of the website.  For information on each brand, simply click the brand and all associated content will be listed on the right column.  For example if you click “Ever Smoke,” and end up on this page, you will see every update that has to do with the brand on the right column.  Use this to grab the latest information about sales, coupon codes, and new product launches.

Enjoy your stay and please ask questions whenever applicable!

Electronic Cigarette Battery Types

Electronic cigarettes have gained a huge fan following over the past few years. The device has become so popular that several manufacturers have jumped into the market to offer more options to the users. Today, there are hundreds of different kinds of electronic cigarettes available in a wide variety of styles and designs. So what do you do if you are new to the electronic cigarette market as a consumer? How do you know which brand is the perfect brand for you?

In order to understand the capacity of an electronic cigarette, there are certain factors that you must gain knowledge before you buy an electronic cigarette from any brand. There are brands who are selling high quality, well built and reliable e-cigarette models, and then there are manufacturers who simply put everything in the presentation and eliminate high end stuff from the device.

Bull Smoke Battery

Bull Smoke uses the popular K808 battery type.

A lot of people believe that getting the right electronic cigarette is a matter of trial and error. But believe me, it isn’t has hard as people put it. There are some choices to make when fishing for the right brand, and this guide is just the thing you need to understand how electronic cigarettes work and which is the best electronic cigarette out there.

I order to get the best performing electronic cigarette, first you must understand how the device work. The current most popular electronic cigarette is based on the two part design. This design consists of a battery and a cartomizer. The cartomizer is basically a combination of cartridge and atomizer, formed together as a single piece. There are many benefits of this design, which of most is that it effectively eliminates e-liquid leakage.So the question is how do you know a certain brand is offering the solid thing? Contrary to popular belief, a good brand isn’t a brand that offers a lot of flavors or excels in presentation. The answer lies within the technology used to create the battery of the electronic cigarette. So the most important part that will help you decide which the best thing to go for, is none other than the battery itself.

The Different Types of Electronic Cigarette Batteries

Now before we begin discussing the different types of batteries manufacturers use for their electronic cigarettes, it is important to know which of the basic forms are available. For now, the current industry is revolving around three basic models which are KR808, eGo and 510. The KR808 and 510 models are currently in high demand from new users because this battery not only looks like a paper cigarette, but also has the same shape and size. These batteries are also collectively known as the ‘Minis’.

After the KR808 and 510, the popularity votes go to eGo, KGo and Riva. These batteries are slightly larger than the KR808 and 510 models. These are popular amongst people who are regular smokers because being large in size also gives them the features to produce better vapor and longer lasting charge.  Two brands we highly recommend, V2 Cigs and Bull Smoke, both use the KR808.

So that’s one factor of the battery out of the way. Now you know that these standard batteries are popular amongst the users because of their unique feature set. Using this information, now you can decide if a certain electronic cigarette that you were keeping an eye on, is worth it or not. Keep in mind that each battery has its own benefits and they directly affect your experience with the device.

V2 Cigs Battery

V2 Cigs uses a wide variety of electronic cigarette battery lengths and types.

The 510 and KR808 Models

So being a new consumer in this industry, what is your idea of an electronic cigarette? Do you have certain expectations with the device? Maybe you want something that can help you with your oral fixation. Or maybe you just need an alternative to paper cigarettes in a form of something else that doesn’t hurt you as much as the traditional thing does.

If you are new and unaware of the business in the world of electronic cigarette, I highly advise trying your first electronic cigarette built on the KR808 and 510 models. This is because this battery type is the closest you will ever get to smoking a traditional cigarette. These are about the same size as paper cigarettes and even produce vapor equal to a single puff of a paper cigarette.

The KR808 is normally liked by the consumers simply because of the ease of use it provides. This battery only works with the two part design we discussed earlier. Using a two part design eliminates the hassle of filling your electronic cigarette with liquid refill before you can start. Having a liquid refill model has many risks such as nicotine leakage and over dosage. So this is one of the reasons why KR808 is so popular.

The 510 is quite similar to the KR808, hence these belong to the same group of batteries. The only major difference between the two is that this battery can be fixed to cartomizers that are otherwise made for the eGo or larger batteries. This means that if you have an electronic cigarette that uses the eGo battery, but you would like to use the smaller battery with the same cartomizer, you can do so with the 510 model. The 510 is also a great model for those who want to upgrade to a more powerful battery in the future. So you can start with the 510 and can easily upgrade to the bigger, stronger versions of the battery.

The eGo Group of Batteries

The collective electronic cigarette community has agreed that the best way to get the best out of an electronic cigarette is to go for a cigarette made with the KR808 / 510 battery model. It most resembles a traditional cigarette and is very slim and fits into society.

Advice for Heavy Cigarette Smokers

If you consider yourself a heavy smoker, then you should consider getting the medium sized battery. The eGo model is your best choice because it has more charge life and produces a stronger vapor that in return ensures full flavor. The only problem with such a battery is that it is quite expensive compared to the KR808 model. With the eGo battery, you can always use a 510 model because both of these are interchangeable.

The Difference Between Manual and Automatic E-Cig Batteries

Now that you know the different kinds of battery models available, you should also know the difference between an automatic and manual battery. Nearly all manufacturers that I am aware of offer both manual and automatic batteries. So being a new user, which battery type is best for you?

First ask yourself how does an electronic cigarette operate? The electronic cigarette operates in a very simple manner; a user puffs the cigarette and vapor is produced which is then inhaled.

Automatic batteries are identical to the paper cigarette. You simply puff on the e-cig and vapor enters your mouth and lungs. This is a popular choice amongst new users because its hassle free and does not require any effort on your side, plus it is as close to the real thing as possible.

A manual battery on the other hand comes with a switch located on the middle or bottom tip of the battery. This button allows you to control when the cigarette should produce vapor. Using manual battery, you get more control over your electronic cigarette. For example, if you like a hard throat hit, you can switch on the battery and wait for it to produce vapor, then you can inhale it when you know enough vapor has been produced. This is why manual battery is quite popular amongst experienced users. But being a new user, it is advised that you go for automatic battery because the constant turning the cigarette on and off can easily become a nuisance for some.

Do not worry too much about taking a decision when it comes to automatic or manual batteries. Just go for the automatic battery if you are new and manual battery if you think your automatic battery is not producing the optimal results. Most manufacturers allow you to pick two batteries in a starter kit; that means you can buy one manual and one automatic battery.

The Premium E-Cigarette EGo Type Battery

This is an example of the eGo type battery. A much wider electronic cigarette battery that pumps out incredible amount of vapor.

The Reason You Need a Starter Kit

If you search around the web for electronic cigarettes, you will come across many websites made by manufacturers to sell their product. Most electronic cigarettes are sold through a starter kit that is designed by the manufacturer to offer everything a user needs. But most of the times, an electronic cigarette may contain a bit more than you need.

So in order to save money, here is what you can do; simply buy a battery (comes with cartomizer), your choice of flavor and a charger. That is all you need to start puffing on an electronic cigarette. This is a great way to test a brand that you have wanted to test out.

City Slicker Kit by BullSmoke.com

This is an example of an electronic cigarette starter kit. Pictured is the “City Slicker” kit by BullSmoke.com

Starter kits are great for those people who do not know anything about electronic cigarettes. These kits come with manuals and everything you need to start vaping. A lot of starter kits pack at least 2 batteries and at least 5 pack of cartomizers/cartridges. It is best you avoid starter kits that pack more than the basics if you are in just to check how the brand is. Extras like carrying case, additional chargers, lanyards and more can exist inside a starter kit. As a beginner, it is a good idea to go for a starter kit rather than buying individual stuff.

As far as the batteries are concerned, the best deal for starters is none other than the KR808 model. As mentioned earlier, it is about the same size as a paper cigarette and produces the same sensations. It is also quite popular because there is absolutely no ‘Do Your Self’ with the battery. You simply get the starter kit, screw the cartomizer behind the battery and start puffing. If however, you intend to upgrade your electronic cigarette in the future, consider getting the 510 because of its interchangeable features.

Keep in mind that the 510 model is not based on the two part design. This battery model uses the first generation three part design which includes liquid refill bottles. All of these parts can be purchased separately too from a manufacturer, but again it is advised to buy a starter kit.

In a nutshell, the KR808 and 510 models are the perfect starting point for everyone. I’d suggest getting the KR808 because of its two part design features. With the 510, you will have to fill the cartridge first when the box or the part arrives at your place. So there is definitely the factor of DIY with it, which some people do not like. If however, you are a heavy smoker, than as discussed earlier, opt for the eGo model which has better charge life and produces better vapor and taste overall.

Advanced Personal Vaporizers

When you have finally discovered the world of electronic cigarettes, something bigger awaits you. Advanced Personal Vaporizers are the third generation battery designs that are bigger and far better than any of the models we discussed here. These are generally for advanced electronic cigarette users because they use terms that a layman will not understand. For example, these batteries allow users to customize their experience from A to Z by altering voltage, vapor control, digital readout, integral liquid and more.

I’d advise new users to not buy such a battery until and unless they know what they really want. If you want maximum control and the best possible performance, APVs are the best of the best. They perform outrageously good but are quite expensive compared to other models. So unless and until you are familiar with how an electronic cigarette works, do not go for an APV unit.