What's up everyone? Mike here, General Manager of Atlanta Vapor. I wanted to take a moment to address the most common issue and question out there in the vape world, especially asked by those just getting started. I hope my advice and personal experience will be a great help!
How much nicotine do I need?
Well, first lets ask ourselves this question- How long have you smoked cigarettes? Studies show that when you become dependant on anything, it becomes that much harder to get away from. I smoked for 15 years myself, and also developed a habit of chewing tobacco while I was enlisted in the Armed Forces. When I first started vaping I had no clue which strength to choose. The cigarettes I smoked were the infamous "Cowboys" and were menthol. After tons of research, I found that 1 cigarette, similar to the ones i smoked contained about 0.5 to 0.8 milligrams of nicotine, equaling roughly 20 to 24 milligrams per pack. I started with 16mg, even though i was a pack-a-day smoker. I was afraid of getting too much. It did work for me however for the first few days, as i went with no cigarettes whatsoever. At the end of the first week I did purchase a bottle of 24mg and realized I should have started with it in the first place. I always recommend starting a little higher than what you are normally used to, so you can be sure it will work for you!
Another issue is one that arises when you make the choice to switch to an RDA setup (dripping). The number one rule of thumb is to always take the nicotine level you currently use and cut it in half. When you drip, you get a much purer form of your favorite e-liquid, and trying to drip a high level of nicotine can be murder on your throat and lungs! As of about 6 months ago, I made the switch to dripping and tried 12mg. That was an experience to say the least! I immediately switched to 8mg, and while better, still was a little rough. I settled in at a nice, delicious 6mg and now even drip as low as 4mg and it seems to work out great for me!
So, in conclusion:
It's perfectly alright to start at the top! The only way to go is down and it will allow you to set goals for yourself, which can be a very rewarding experience!
If you still need help making a decision as to what is right for you, I have included a chart that will help explain the similarities in the strength of cigarettes compared to e-liquid! The mg content is equal to what would be in a full pack of cigarettes.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and educate yourself! And as always, Thanks for choosing Atlanta Vapor, where we pride ourselves on being much more than just your local VapeTech, we are your friend and we've got your back! VAPE ON!