Recommended Vaping Equipment For Beginners using Real Tobacco Extracts

January 2018

The vaping forums are dominated by those that have no experience or appreciation of real tobacco flavor profiles. Maybe everybody just gave up years ago since the synthetic food flavorings trying to mimic tobacco never really satisfied. Online, everybody is a self-professed expert and has no problem giving their opinion in spite of the fact that old smokers have different needs than younger people do. I suppose it is a generational thing. The misinformation online regarding vaping and what really works for old geezers to quit smoking after 40 years is overwhelming. It is amazing to me that any older smoker gets through all the bad advice. Some of us do not want fruit loops, ashtrays or donut substitutes. We are not into cloud blowing contests either so we don't need 200 watt devices or tiny coils or nicotine salts (freebase nicotine anyone?).

I thought I might consolidate my recommendations to simplify the multiyear result of my personal quest for the right equipment to use with Real Extracts. Real Extracts are different from other juices. They are natural flavors that are compromised by too much heat. We do not need high temperatures to vape them. Consequently, using atomizers with coil resistance below 1.0 ohm is not desirable. We do not need high wattage mods (Moderated voltage controlled power units) as 30 watts is more than enough for natural extract vaping. Most equipment being promoted today is sub-ohm. Find a single coil atomizer 1.0 ohm or higher and a mod with a maximum capacity of 30-50 watts and you will have what you need.

The other difference with Real Extracts and the others is viscosity and the current fashion of using high VG (Vegetable Glycerine) mixtures. Real Extracts are formulated at 70%PG (Propylene Glycol) and 30% VG. The reason is that PG carries the flavors while VG provides the cloud. We need lots of flavor and some cloud - not the otherway around. The higher the VG the less flavor density in the vape. VG also makes very thick sticky phlem (sorry!)

Those of us that have gone on the flavor pilgrimage with real flavorings have been through many changes in equipment over the years. We were seeking the holy grail - authentic tobacco flavor without having to smoke it. We have the extracts figured out, but the equipment needs to work well with the extracts or it is all for nothing. The wrong equipment can turn a wonderful flavor into a very negative experience.

Here is where I ended up after five years of trial and error and a box full of abandoned mods and atomizers. I should comment that I do not use ready made factory coils myself as my coils and build gives me a higher quality flavor profile than any factory made coil. I use a bigger wick (3mm), I use mineral wick exclusively (Eko-Wool) that never gives a dry toxic burn and has better capillary wick action than cotton or rayon. That being said, most people prefer the convenience of a ready-made coil/wick even if not quite as good a flavor result. Factory coils are somewhat pricey $2-$3 and need to be changed regularly or the flavor degenerates. Making your own coils/wicks is cheap but you have to spend your time getting the component parts and actually making the coils. Not everybody wants the hassle. Both options are viable.

Best beginner setups - mod+atomizer combo with a factory-made coil:

Aspire Nautilus

1. Zelos Kit with Nautilus 2 - Simple regulated box mod and decent atomizer $60 Best bang for the buck
2. K3 Quick Start Kit - slender, compact, unregulated, no controls but no brainer - fill and vape $60
   
3. Kabuki 1.5 & P3 - This is a $90 atomizer that uses the same Nautilus coil as the two above. You will need to add a regulated mod. (No longer in production)

 Zelos 3  Zelos Nano             Kabuki

I have been testing the Aspire Nautilus 3 and the  Aspire Nano Kit for a few months now. I like them both. The Nautilus Mini BVC coils do change the flavor profile a bit compared to my own coil/mineral wick (Kayfun) but the difference is OK with me as (for some strange reason) I don't mind the subtle flavor notes that the Nautilus coils produce. I have to change the coil every couple days as it darkens the juice after about 25ml. I like the air flow adjustment on the Nautilus 3, the top fill thumb slid, and the fact that I don't have to empty the tank to change the coil. The Aspire Nano starter kit is smaller (2ml) top fill screw cap but you must wait for an empty tank to change the coil. The Zelos 3 is highly recommended for everyday use - heavier, long lasting and built like a tank. The Nano is lighweight and stealthy. Both are relatively inexpensive.

Note: Do not EVER let the coil fire dry as it will burn the cotton. Always make sure that your atomizer has juice - refill before it gets bone dry or you will have to change the coil. Don't test fire before filling the atomizer. Burnt cotton fumes are toxic to inhale.

Note: The P3 Kabuki 1.5 is out of production. They have new 510 models but I can't find it - it is sold out I think.

Best flavor setups  - wrapping your own coils:

1. Kayfun v5 - Larger deck easy to build. Holds 3.5 ml juice. My favorite
2. Kayfun Prime - Smaller chamber, warmer and slightly denser flavor concentration. Small deck harder to build but good unit.
3. Kayfun v3 - Smaller diameter, a little warmer than v5, small deck a little irritating to build but a great little atomizer

I haven't tested the Gorgon RDCA.

I recommend the authentics at around $100. The clones are much cheaper but variable quality (could be ok though! - maybe...)

Put these atomizers onto a regulated mod. The best I know is the Dicodes. I use the Dani-boxes. They are expensive but worth the price in my opinion. There are many mods available out there in the $30 range that would do just fine (just consider them disposable; when they fail just replace them). Aspire has one they use in the Zelos kit above. The difference between a $30 mod and the $300 Dicodes is the quality, predictability, durability and reliability of the power output. It makes a difference in the quality of the vape having good voltage regulation.  I NEVER need more than 20 watts as I vape at 10-12 watts at 1.2- 1.6 ohms on a single coil. So a 30-50 watt mod is plenty of power.

Kayfuns are available from dicodes-usa.com/svoemesto.html in California.

July 2022

I just received these Zelos Kits today. You can now purchase the kit here on the website. Thius is a great starter kit for Real Extracts: Inexpensive, top filler, adjustible watts, uses the Nautilus coil BVC available anywhere. We brought in the grey ones (and a couple blue and pink).

Archives from the beginning (2013)

 Note: the recommendations below are getting dated as equipment is constantly changing. China is cranking out new designs every week. These suggestions are solid however and tested extensively over time. Sept. 2017

Real Extracts work best with low powered rigs - The current fashion of sub-ohm equipment is oriented towards cloud blowers - not flavor as a priorty. Single coil 1.0 - 1.8 ohm ,12 watts is all you need. Sub-ohm equipment tends to run too hot although some can be adjusted to run at lower power levels (but not most).

Vaping 101 - Keep it simple

If vaping is to be a practical alternative to smoking cigarettes, it is very important to have a device that is both easy to use and reliable.

We recommend that you consider the following recommendations as a starting point:

Some will tell you that the starter equipment recommended here is out of date but it is not - it is inexpensive and works well. The vaping equipment is quite fadish and constantly changing as it is controlled by the manufacturer's need to sell mass quantities of new equipment.

Vaping 102 - Upgrade to the next level

Most people that stick with it want long battery life, variable power levels and better performance than the beginner sticks.

We recommend that you consider the following recommendations when you are ready to upgrade:

Don't bother with temperature control mods - you don't need it for natural flavors or NET (Naturally Extracted Tobaccos i.e. Real Tobacco Extracts).

These atomizers are mine

Start with inexpensive basic hardware and then upgrade as you become more familiar with your equipment and personal preferences. It is usually easier to start with an atomizer that has an easily changed pre-made wick/coil design (RTA tank type). These natural extracts require that the wick be changed more often than the synthetic flavors so changing a pre-made coil often can be expensive. Most of us that have vaped for years make our own coils (RBA - Rebuildable). Some users prefer to not use a tank type atomizer and drip e-liquid in small amounts manually instead (RDA).

After years of vaping real extracted flavors I have migrated to fairly expensive authentic high end tank type rebuildables and moderated power supplies, mineral wicks and I make my own coils. I found the Kayfun style tanks to be the best for flavor and I prefer the European made manufacturers as opposed to the Chinese models and clones. Clones are cheaper however and may be just fine but the quality varies significantly.

Update January 2017

I switched to Provari Mods - I like the Radius. The quality of the voltage regulator, superior engineering and overall superior performance convinced me this was the best it could be. Unfortunately, I was just notified that Provape has decided to go out of business and has closed their doors due to impending FDA regs.Dicodes is the closest in quality - there is no other as well made to my knowledge. I actually like the Dani-box a little better I think. (Big bucks though).

The Kayfun V5 and the Kayfun Prime are the best rebuilable atomizers for flavor on the market today in my opinion. (RBA).

Update September 2017

Provari closed their doors so I had to find another. Here is the best:

https://dicodes-usa.com/index.php/box-mods/dani-box.html

I use Eko-Wool hollow 3mm wick exclusively.

http://www.ebay.com   It appears that Eko-wool is getting hard to find. I bought my last batch on Ebay last year. The manufacturer is in Poland. I am considering buying some wholesale but the shipping from Poland is pretty heavy. China is knocking it off but I suspect the quality is poor.

That's it!

Don't forget to buy some natural e-juice!

It took awhile but over time I have upgraded to and settled upon a Kayfun V5 Authentic, Kanthal 26ga resistance wire run at 12 watts or so on a 1.5 ohm coil. I use Eko-Wool mineral wick exclusively (2-3 mm)