Electronic Cigarette Buyer’s Guide

Electronic cigarettes are fundamentally about choice – choosing to enjoy smoking but choosing to do so in way that will not damage your heath. And if you decide to make the leap into ‘vaping’, you will also need to make choices from among the many brands and models of electronic cigarette available today.

Here some of the factors to consider when making your first order:

Model

There is no need to restrict yourself to electronic cigarettes if you like e-smoking – you could also choose an electronic cigar, or even an electronic pipe!

But if e-cigarettes are for you, do you want a longer ‘pen style’ model or a ‘mini’, which are designed to look like conventional cigarettes?

Features

Each model will have a specific set of features, which may or may not suit you. Is the LED charge light red, green or blue, for example? Some users prefer the natural look of a red LED but this may not be appropriate when smoking in places where tobacco is not allowed.

How efficient is the battery in your chosen model? How many charges will it take before it needs to be replaced, and how long does each recharge require?

Cartridges

Just like conventional ‘analogue’ cigarettes, electronic cigarettes can be enjoyed in different nicotine strengths and flavours (for example, menthol). Consider your preferences when ordering cartridges for your e-smoking devices.

Atomizers

The heating element within e-cigarettes – unsurprisingly – gets quite hot during use and is therefore prone to failure. If this happens within the first year, you should be covered by a warranty. Atomizers cannot usually be replaced separately – if yours fails, you will need a whole new electronic cigarette kit.

Cost

A sensible e-smoker will consider not just the up-front cost of a kit, but how much cartridges refills, batteries, etc are likely to cost over time. The latter can only be estimated, of course, but it is an important factor in determining whether a particular model of e-cigarette really suits your budget.

See Also:

• Terminology Explained

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Electronic Cigarette Review