It has been almost a year since I last updated my e cigarette reviews so I thought it was about time I got my hands on some new starter kits to see how the leading brands on the market have progressed over that time.

If you’ve been on the site over the last couple of months you will have noticed that I’ve been posting some in depth reviews of many of the most popular e cigarette products. I’ve been using all of them for a prolonged period of time to enable me to give you the best idea about what e cigs are worth buying. The only problem is that if you are looking to make a quick purchasing decision you might not be too interested in reading my 3000 word opus on the pros and cons of every device you could possibly buy. For that reason I’ll do a quick run down of the best e cigarettes I’ve been lucky enough to use, and list the important points you will want to consider before you buy.

With that out of the way let’s take a look at my top 4 electronic cigarettes at the moment.

The Best E Cigarette I’ve Reviewed Is The Green Smoke

For the third year in a row Green Smoke E cigarettes are my top pick for anyone looking for a high quality e cig at a reasonable price. Until I got my new starter kit from this company a few weeks ago I was considering giving the top spot to a different brand for a change, but the company’s new Flavormax cartridges and reduced pricing have ensured they stay ahead of the pack once again.

Why Buy Green Smoke?

• A very high quality product which is obviously manufactured with the aim of being the best on the market.
• Fantastic new range of cartridges called Flavormax which provide great taste, massive vapor, and the most realistic “smoking” experience from any electronic cigarette I’ve tried so far.
• Cartridges are created using a proprietary wicking technology which ensures you get the best taste, and no chance of inhaling any nasties from heated plastics.
• Starter kit now includes a free USB e cigarette and $10 has been knocked off the retail price.
• No need to take primer puffs to get a great smoking experience when using their automatic batteries (unlike most other brands).
• Batteries have a long cut-off which means you can take a really satisfying drag for maximum taste and vapor.
• Their new Flavormax cartridges last a really long time and provide good vapor ’til the end.
• Cartridges are now triple sealed which means the user gets a super consistent product.

Any Downsides To Green Smoke?

There is not a lot that I would want to see changed with this product. If pushed I’d ask them to make the stickers on the carts with paper that was a little bit thinner as they are currently tempting to peel off. Other than that this is just about the perfect device, and better than anything else available at the moment.

Click here to read my full Green Smoke E Cigarette Review.

Number 2 – V2

V2 e cigs are a newer brand on the market so when I got my starter kit a couple of months ago it was the first time I had tried them. I was impressed with this device as soon as I got it out of the package and had been using it a fair bit until my new Green Smoke Kit arrived.

What’s Good About The V2?

• Their nicotine liquids taste good and have a very nice amount of vapor.
• Their prices compare very well with most other products on the market.
• They offer a cool portable charger pack which will allow you to charge your batteries when you are out of the house without having to find a power point.
• This company now sells an attachment allowing you to use your V2 battery with nicotine cartridges from other e-cig companies. I haven’t tried this yet so can’t comment on how well it works, but it sounds promising for those who like a bit of variety in their lives.

Downsides to the V2?

• The “smoking” experience isn’t quite as realistic as you get with Green Smoke.
• I’ve heard complaints from a few people saying that they have had problems with their carts from V2 ie. Carts not lasting as long as they should or having a burnt taste. I haven’t encountered this myself and have been very happy with my V2′s performance.
• This company has been known to be a bit slow in shipping out orders at times, probably due to not always having everything in stock. If you order from them let me know how long your shipments take to arrive.

Note: Remember to use coupon code ecigaretteshop to get an extra 10% off your order with V2.

Read my full V2 E Cigarette Review.

Number 3 – Vapor King by Electronic Cigarettes Inc.

Electronic Cigarettes Inc have really expanded their range since the last time I tried them and they have a couple of products that you might like to try out. I’ve tested both the Vapor King ETank and the regular Vapor King both of which are top e cigarettes. I personally prefer the regular version as the ETank didn’t have enough of a throat hit for my liking, although I did produce a massive amount of vapor.

The Vapor King starter kit is a quality product which has a really nice feel to it with very good vapor production and a satisfying throat hit. The difference between this product and the others in this list is that it doesn’t use the cartomizer system, but rather has a small tank which you fill with your nicotine liquid, and a separate atomizer which will have to be replaced at regular intervals. This makes for a rather unique vaping experience for those of us used to simply screwing in a new cart when the old one runs dry. It’s one which I quite enjoy, although for everyday use I prefer the ease of use associated with the likes of the Green Smoke.

The only negatives for me with this electronic cigarette were:

• It has a tendency to leak nicotine liquid when carried in my pocket.
• The taste of the nicotine liquid supplied by the company wasn’t as good as some of the others I’ve tried, although I have only tried this tobacco flavor. This problem could be remedied by purchasing your liquids from a third party supplier.

If you are tempted to try something a little bit different then this device could be right up your alley.

Read my full Vapor King E Cigarette Review.

Number 4 – White Cloud Cirrus E Cigarettes

White Cloud have a reputation for being ridiculously expensive and it’s one that’s deserved. You will have to shell out almost $300 dollars to get you hands on their top of the range Cirrus III, and that’s the reason you will find very few people using these. Having said that, it is an e cigarette that you might want to consider if you have plenty of cash to spend.

Why Buy White Cloud Cigarettes?

• There are a few things that set the White Cloud apart from the other e cigarettes I have reviewed.
• They are the smallest e cigarette.
• The nicotine liquid in their carts tastes awesome.
• They offer a real easy draw, unlike some brands which feel like you are trying to suck a golf ball through a straw.

What I Don’t Like So Much About White Could E Cigs

• The price..obviously You’re going to have to have deep pockets to feel good about putting down $300 for an e cigarette you can’t try before you buy.
• Doesn’t produce as much vapor as the Green Smoke or V2 – This won’t be a big deal for some, but for others it will be a deal breaker.
• They don’t sell as many cool accessories for their products as many other brands.

Is White Cloud Worth The Money?

In all honesty I would prefer the Green Smoke to the White Cloud even if they were available for the same price. It’s true that the Cirrus has great tasting cartomizers, but that doesn’t make up for the lower vapor production and slightly less satisfying “vaping” experience.

If the thing that really matters to you is getting the smallest e cig possible or being the only person using a particular product then you might want to take a closer look at these.

Read my full White Cloud E Cigarette Review.

Since I started this web site way back in the summer of 2009 I’ve been singing the praises of Green Smoke e cigarettes as the best you can buy. Of course, in those days your choice when buying one of these devices was much narrower and it wasn’t too difficult to see that Green Smoke were a long way ahead of the majority of the competition. After all, back then you were hard pushed to find a 2 piece device, with most retailers only offering very cheap generic 3 piece products which were essentially the same electronic cigarette re branded with a sticker of a particular company’s brand.

Things have changed rapidly in market though and you can now get your hands on any number of quality products, many of which are cheaper than those from the Green Smoke shop. The fact of the matter is when I was buying new starter kits from the most popular retailers over the last couple of months I was beginning to contemplate taking Green Smoke off the top position on my web site. Luckily for Greensmoke and for us they have decided to improve their product at precisely the right time, and it might just be enough to allow them to keep their number one spot. Let’s take a look to see if this is still the best option for someone who wants to make the switch from smoker to vaper.

How has Green Smoke Improved?

There are a couple of areas in which this company has upped it’s game in the last month. The first, and probably most important, is that they have completely overhauled their nicotine cartridges to a product which is far better than anything they have offered before. These new FlavorMax™ carts have been developed exclusively by greensmoke and are not available from any other supplier. They work with the company’s old batteries and completely interchangeable with the older style carts so if you are a current customer you don’t have to worry about purchasing a complete new kit to take advantage of them.

I’ve been sampling my FlavorMax™ products for the last couple of weeks and I have to say that I’m extremely impressed with them. I’ve only had the pleasure of tasting the regular tobacco and the red label flavors so far but I can safely say that they provide the most realistic “smoking” experience of any e cig cart I have ever sampled. I currently sitting here puffing on a red label cart while drinking a pot of coffee, and I’m in smoker’s heaven

The other thing that Green Smoke has decided to do is add more value to their starter kits. It has been a criticism of this company for quite some time that their prices where just too high compared to the likes of V2, South Beach e cigs and Electronic Cigarette Inc so anything they do to rectify this has to be welcomed wholeheartedly. To be fair to Greensmoke they have always tried to set themselves apart by offering a better quality of product so it’s only to be expected that it’s going to cost a little more to pick up a kit.

With that said their standard electronic cigarette starter kit know comes with the following items:

• 1 Long Rechargeable Battery
• 1 Short Battery
• 1 USB E-Cigarette
• 1 USB and Wall Home Charger Kit
• A 5-Pack of Old Style Cartomizers
• A 5-Pack of new Tobacco FlavorMax™ Carts

The extras over the old kit are the 5 FlavorMax™ carts and the USB e cigarette which adds up to almost $70 in added value, not bad at all. In addition the standard kit now retails for $129.99 instead of $139.99 so you are really getting a much better deal than before.

The social smoker kit also now comes with a USB electronic cigarette and it’s price has been reduced from $109.99 to $99.99. That’s good value too, but I still recommend most smokers opt for the kit with 2 batteries so you have a back up when you are out of the house.

If you haven’t heard about the USB cigarette then it’s simply a device that lets you connect your green smoke directly to your PC or laptop enabling you to run on battery power. It’s great if you spend a lot of time at your desk or run down your batteries unexpectedly and need to get a quick hit of nicotine.

How Do FlavorMax™ Carts Compare To The Competition?

It’s all very well Greensmoke bringing out a brand new line of carts with a fancy name, but if they aren’t as good as those you get elsewhere then no one is going to be impressed. So let’s take a look at them and compare to some of the other manufacturers on the market. Bare in mind that so far I’ve only tried the tobacco flavors so I can pass judgment on the entire range.

I’ve always loved the Green Smoke vaping experience but if you have read my recent reviews you will have noticed that I’ve become a fan of a couple of other brands. Both V2 and White Cloud have impressed me with the quality and flavor of their nicotine cartridges and I’ve actually been using the V2 e cigarette as much as the Green Smoke since I received it in the post thanks to it’s minty fresh menthol flavor. White Cloud cigarettes on the other hand have managed to provide us with a selection of flavors which are so far the most realistic on the market. In my opinion these two companies are the ones that Green Smoke’s new FlavorMax™ had to live up to.

It seems to me as if Green Smoke’s aim with the new range is striving to recreate the most perfect “smoking” experience possible with a smokeless cigarette. That’s the way it has always appeared to me as they are renowned for producing a unit which pumps out masses of vapor. In this respect the new carts are incredible, allowing you to generate far more “smoke” than any of the other devices I have recently covered in my e cigarette reviews.

On top of that there is a really nice throat hit which is perhaps a touch better then that offered by the V2 and similar to the extra strength White Clouds (although I find the Green Smoke to be less harsh on my throat after prolonged use).

One thing that is worth noting about this e-cig is that it doesn’t heat up the fiber that holds the e-liquid inside the cartridge. As far as I can tell this is the way that most other carts work and it means there is a danger of inhaling carbon monoxide and other chemicals in the cheaper brands if the atomizer tube gets too hot. Perhaps this is the reason that I’ve gotten a plastic taste in some of the brands I’ve tested recently (namely the Apollo and Breathe Fresh E Cigarettes). Green smoke uses a proprietary “wicking” technology to keep this heat away from the carrying medium for the liquid. If nothing else this gives me peace of mind that vaping with these devices is doing the least amount of damage possible to my health.

Another point to note is that you no longer have to take a “primer” puff when using a Green smoke like you do with many other electric cigs which use an automatic battery. One of the reasons I was so impressed with the V2 manual battery was that you could get a good draw without having to puff a couple of times before inhaling. With the new carts and batteries you get a great throat hit and vapor straight away making the whole process all the more enjoyable. Add that to the fact that the batteries allow you to take a really nice long draw before the cut-off kicks in and you have an outstanding “smoking” experience.

One negative aspect of the new FlavorMax™ Cartridges is that they have been increased in price a little to $16.99 a pack but there are specials available which allow you to buy in bulk at significantly lower cost. One thing to keep in mind is that FlavorMax™ are quite a bit bigger than the older carts so you get more nicotine liquid for your cash, with enough extra puffs per cart to make up for the higher price point.

Another thing I’m not in love with ( I’m really nitpicking here ) is that the sticker on the carts is just a little bit too thick which can make it tempting to peel off. It’s not a big deal, but I mention it only to ensure this review is as complete as possible.

The last thing that I almost forgot to mention is that FlavorMax™ make use of a much more advanced packaging than the competition with triple sealing to ensure they stay factory fresh for longer. Your five cartridges come individually packed in foil so that, in theory, each one is maintained in optimum condition until you need it. They also have a secure rubber stopper on the business end of the cart, and an easily removed sticky strip where you inhale. To top it all off, the cardboard box they come in is very professional looking and has a real nice feel to it. It’s obviously that this company is putting a lot of thought into their products and spending the cash to ensure they stay ahead of the field.

The complete range of flavors available at the moment are:

• Absolute Tobacco
• Red Label Tobacco
• Menthol Ice
• Mocha Mist
• Smooth Chocolate
• Vanilla Dreams

I’ve been reliably informed by a friend online that the Menthol Ice and Mocha Mist are awesome, but you’ll have to wait a little while yet to hear what I think of them myself.

What About Green Smoke Battery Life?

The amount of time your battery lasts is one of the most important things in making your transition to the e cigarette as successful as possible. If you are out of the house and your power runs out then you are going to be in trouble, and might even resort to tobacco to get that nicotine hit. That’s the reason it’s advisable to always carry a spare with you, and why I try to steer people away from the starter kits which only come with a single battery. On top of that you want to get a brand which supplies high quality power units which last you long enough that you don’t get frustrated with constantly having to recharge. In the past there has been some criticism about some e cig batteries because they often don’t last as long as some of us would like. So far, after a couple of weeks with my new green smoke starter kit, I have to say that I’m impressed with the amount of vaping time you get before you have to find a power point. My small battery has been lasting me a full day so far, and the last battery is a fiend which seems to last about twice as long. If the Green Smoke batteries continue to last this long after a number of recharge cycles there with be nothing to complain about in this area.

The Accessories

The chargers supplied in the starter kit do a perfect job powering up your batteries when required. They are nicely built and are branded with the companies logo which I always think is a sign of a product which has has a little bit more thought into it. One thing you should note is that the company recommends you only charge your battery until the unit indicates that optimum charge has been reached. It’s possible that leaving your batteries on charge all day can lead to a reduction in their functional life. I assume this is the case with batteries supplied by all the companies out there, although I have never tested to see if this is true.

Conclusion To The Green Smoke Review

All in all the Green smoke e cigarette is an outstanding product and one which should be at the top of your list when trying to decide what to buy. This company has always provided products which are at the cutting edge of the industry and the new cartomizers they offer have made them an even more attractive prospect. On top of that you have their renowned customer service department which is always on hand if you have a problem with your purchase, and there’s a money back guarantee which will get you a full refund if you decide you don’t like the e cig experience.

Click Here To Get 10% Off Your Green Smoke E Cig

V2 e cigarettes are a brand that hasn’t been around for as long as most of the other products which I’ve reviewed on this web site. The reason it has taken me so long to try them out was that for one reason or another I assumed they were just another copycat product with nothing new to offer the e cig user. It turns out I might have been wrong!

I finally bit the bullet and ordered a kit from their online store after a friend online told me he had been using one for a few months as his first choice device. This guy has tried more than his fair share of electronic cigarettes so I knew there had to be a good reason for him to leave his other e cigs at home.

My V2 e cig was delivered only this morning and I have to say that I was blown away as soon as I unpacked it. The way the e cigarette looks isn’t the thing that sets this product apart, although it does look pretty cool. It’s got a similar design to my old favorite the Green Smoke and the popular South Beach. The V2 is actually a bit bigger than those two models which many people will consider to be a negative point. In the hands it certainly feels slightly bigger but it’s not so heavy that a regular e-cigarette user will be concerned. At 16.8 grams its 3.2 grams heavier than the Green Smoke or White Cloud’s Cirrus III, but you would be hard pushed to notice the difference when in use.

The V2 is a classic 2 piece e cigarette, making use of the cartomizer style cartridges. With this design you simply screw your nicotine carts into the battery and you are ready to go. Every time you switch cartridges you also get a new atomizer which usually leads to a more consistent smoking experience. The cartomizers from the V2 electronic cigarette come in really nice bright matte colors with a pleasant papery feel, in contrast to the shiny battery cover. Of all the cartridges I’ve tried so far these are the nicest to the touch and they look nice with the V2 logo and flavor printed in a stylish font.

Taking my first draw on the V2 was a very pleasant experience as I instantly took a liking to the flavors I received (sahara tobacco, menthol, and vanilla). Each once tasted pretty much as you would expect, unlike some manufacturer’s flavors which you would be hard to place if you didn’t have a label to give you a clue. The menthol was probably the stand out cart thanks to its extremely fresh taste, but the other two were close behind.

My strong full flavor carts have an almighty throat hit, just the way I like it. If you are a light smoker though you might like to choose a lower nicotine level to save your throat.

I know you are dying to find out how much vapor these produce as it’s the thing that most of us crave from a good e cigarette. After all, it’s one of the most important parts of the vaping process when it comes to feeling like we are using our favorite tobacco products. The V2 didn’t disappoint me here either. You will get more vapor from the Green Smoke though, so if it’s your top priority you might want to look elsewhere. The V2 has about the same vapor as a South Beach or White Cloud Cirrus, which is plenty to keep me happy.

Another bonus with this product is that you get to choose between both manual and automatic batteries. I opted for one of each so I could review them for this site. The automatic battery is the one that comes with most of the e cigarettes on the market where the power is activated when you inhale. The problem with this design is that it takes a moment for the atomizer to heat up when you take a draw. This is why most people take a couple of small “primer” puffs each time they use an e cig to get the best vapor and throat hit.

The manual battery allows you to switch on the device by pressing a button before you inhale, letting you take a single satisfying draw with the vapor filled nicotine immediately on tap.

So far so good.

Using the V2 is great experience, but take a look at the accessories you get for your money and you will be blown away. I paid less that $100 for my traveler kit (thanks to discount code “ecigshop” ) and received the following items:

• 2 batteries – choice of automatic or manual switch
• 15 cartridges – choose up to 3 flavors
• USB Charger
• Wall Adapter
• Car Charger
• A Carry Case which charges your battery on the go
• A Notebook-Cig which you to plug a cart into your USB port and vape without needing to use a battery

To me that represents just about the best value available you are going to find at the moment. You have a multitude of charging options which will mean you will never get caught short without the power to run your electronic cigarette. If the worst comes to the worst you can always plug into the USB port and use your laptop as a power source.

I love the portable charging pack that comes with this starter kit. It not only looks great, but it has a quality feel and is small enough that it fits snugly in your pocket. Open it up and you see that it has enough room to charge one of your batteries and store a couple of spare cartomizers. Supposedly when you charge up your pack it has enough power to charge 5 batteries, although I’ve not had time to check this yet.

Conclusion

I’ll update this e cigarette review as time goes by and I use my V2 more extensively but my initial impression is that this device is the best value currently available on the market. If you have about $100 to spend on a starter kit then I wholeheartedly recommend the V2 traveler kit. It’s only 30 bucks more than the standard kit which doesn’t include the USB passthrough, or the oh-so-special charging pack.

The best things about this electronic cigarette are:

1. Its great flavor
2. Good vapor production
3. Fantastic charger pack
4. Incredible value
5. It has a nice feel to it

Things you might not like so much (I’m nitpicking here):

1. It doesn’t produce as much vapor as a Green Smoke
2. Flavors aren’t quite as good as the very expensive White Cloud Cirrus
3. The batteries are a little larger than the competition

Use V2 Coupon Code ecigshop to get an extra 10% off your order.

Click Here to buy direct from the official V2 Online Store.

What Do You Get In An E-Lites Starter Kit

This company offers a couple of choices for those looking for an e cigarette starter kit, you can opt for either the E80 or E200. As far I can tell the only difference between them is the fact the E200 comes in a solid plastic case rather than cardboard, and there are extra carts in the box.

Both kits come with just a single rechargeable G9 battery and a USB charger which is enough to get you starter, but people who smoke a lot will definitely want to invest in an extra battery with their kit.

The first thing you will notice about E-lites when you visit their web site is the low prices for their kits. The more expensive E200 is your for $65, while the E80 looks like an absolute bargain at just $40. E-lite have got to be one of the cheapest 2 piece e cigarette brands on the market at the moment, but are they a good choice for someone who is looking to spend as little cash as possible?

The Kit

When I opened up my package that arrived in the post I was immediately taken by the cool box which contained this e cig. It looks almost exactly like a pack you’d get your Marlboro’s in with it’s red and white design, cardboard construction, and pocket friendly size. Apart from the Safe Cig I have to say E-Lites have come up with my favorite packaging, even when compared to the most expensive starter kits on the market. My only concern about it is that it’s so good I’ll want to use it to carry my kit on an every day basis, and I’m not sure how it will stand up to the wear and tear.

Inside the funky pack you’ll find one rechargable battery, a couple of cartridges, and a rectangular USB charger. The single battery supplied might pose a problem for those of you who are looking to use this E Cig exclusively as you’ll find yourself without power as you wait for it to recharge. You can remedy this obviously by opting to purchase an extra battery with your kit, but this will add $15 to your bill. For smokers who are simply looking to cut down on tobacco, or are social smokers, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Using The E-Lites E-Cigarette

The E-Lites looks like a standard two-piece electronic cigarette much in the same vain as the South Beach or Premium. Indeed the battery and carts that come with this brand are exactly the same size as the Premium. You simply take out your cart, screw it on to the supplied battery and your ready to go.

Taking a draw on the E-Lite for the first time you will notice a few things if you are a seasoned vapor:

1. There’s good air-flow through the device which makes it nice and easy to take a draw.
2. There’s a very good throat hit which makes you feel like you are still using tobacco.
3. The taste of the vapor is very similar to a number of other brands on the market such as the Apollo and Breathe Fresh.
4. The vapor production of the device is very impressive for the money you pay.

There are very few negatives to point out with the E-Lites given the very low price tag. The flavor of the carts isn’t something I would rave about compared to the brands I use on a regular basis such as the Green Smoke, Safe Cig and V2, but at $40 for a kit it’s not something I’m going to moan about for too long.

This device works perfectly well, providing a good smoking experience to the user. It might not reach the high levels set by the big players in the market such as Green Smoke and V2, but they don’t seem to be trying to compete with these brands.

A few years ago when you bought a very cheap e cigarette you would be likely to receive a product which would leave you feeling like you are better off going straight back to tobacco. I used to enrage me that smokers would buy an e cig to try it for the first time and likely be put off altogether because the device they tried was substandard in terms of taste, vapor production and ease of use. E-Lites, thanks to their cheap price and high quality product, are doing their bit to put those dark days behind us. Their electronic cigarette might not be the best on the market, but if you want to spend just a few dollars to decide if this tobacco replacement might be suitable for your needs then you could do worse than to order one of these and give it a whirl.

The downside to the cheap starter kit is the fact that you are going to have to pay a premium price for your refill cartridges compared to many other brands. A pack of 5 E-Tips costs $25 which is expensive when you look at the refills from even the more costly brands on the market such as Green Smoke. If you are only planning on using your e cig for a few weeks to wean yourself off tobacco then it might make financial sense to opt for the E-Lites, otherwise take a look at some of the top rated e cigarettes recommended elsewhere on this site.

After doing my safe cig micro review recently I realized that there are still devices out there I haven’t tried which are actually rather good and my urge to find more e cigarettes to review which are enjoyable to use has increased.

The premium e cigarette was the next brand on my list to try and I was looking forward to getting my hands on it after reading a number of positive reviews on the Internet. Read on to find out if I was right to expect great things form this brand.

What Do You Get In A Premium Starter Kit

The Premium Electronic Cigarette comes in a well made cardboard box which is on a par with the offerings from companies such as Green Smoke, South Beach and Electronic Cigarettes Inc.

Inside your starter kit box you will find:

• A couple of rechargable batteries
• 6 nicotine cartridges – I was supplied with high strength tobacco flavor
• 1 USB Charger for charging batteries from your laptop
• An AC Adapter for mains charging

Extras:

I also received a pack of 5 high strength menthol cartridges courtesy of Premium

The Premium starter kit, which normally retails at $79.95, is pretty basic in terms of accessories provided but is standard issue compared to most of the other popular brands on the market. Having said that if you look at some of the kits you can pick up from V2 cigs at low prices the box does seem a little empty.

Premium also do kits with really cool custom battery patterns which look fantastic and will really help you stand out from the crowd. They are expensive at $110 for a kit but if you don’t mind spending a bit more they are definitely worth a look.

The E Cigarette

First impressions of the Premium E Cig are good. This 2 piece e cigarette is very similar in look and feel to many of those devices which I have reviewed previously, especially the Green Smoke and South Beach.

How does it smoke?

• It is nice and easy to get a draw out of it
• It provides a good quality throat when you take a large draw
• Their tobacco flavor carts are very enjoyable
• Above average vapor production make this a realistic cigarette replacement

What could be better about the Premium Electronic Cigarette?

• I wasn’t overly keen on the Menthol flavor carts, preferring the ones sold by V2 and Green Smoke
• The overall experience of using the Premium falls a tiny bit short of my top rated e cigarettes
• I got a little nicotine liquid in my mouth with a couple of the cartridges I used.

Refill Cartridge Flavors

One thing that sets Premium apart from the competition is the number of different flavors they offer to their customers. If you are someone who likes to experiment with tastes as wildly different from your tobacco cigarettes as possible then this is a brand you will want to have on your short list. You can buy anything from cola and clove to grape and watermelon in 5 nicotine levels. I usually stick to tobacco flavors myself, but if you like to mix up the look and taste of your vaping experience you should look no further.

E Cigarette Accessories

Premium offer an above average amount of accessories to go along with their e cigs, it’s just unfortunate they don’t offer them in their kits at a discount price. In their shop you will find the following add ons to make your vaping experience a bit more fun:

• An e cigarette stand to keep your Premium conveniently at hand when you are sitting at your desk.
• A car charger
• A number of different portable charger packs and carry cases
• The aforementioned custom batteries

Conclusion

The Premium is an e cigarette worthy of it’s name in the respect that it delivers a high quality experience to the user. The tobacco flavor carts are one of the tastiest available and they have plenty of choice for smokers who are looking for something fruity instead of the more traditional flavor.

There are other brands out there though which I would have to put ahead of the Premium for anyone looking for my advice on what to buy. The massive vapor production of the Green Smoke make it a more realistic smoke, the more natural tasting carts of the safe cig make it more enjoyable, and the V2 offer a vast range of accessories with their kits at outstanding prices.

Having said that, if what matters to you is choice of flavors and the ability to customize the appearance of your personal vaporizer then the Premium is definitely worth considering.

It’s been over three years since I started this web site and decided to do electronic cigarette reviews to help people choose the best product for their money. If you asked me why, in all that time, I had never done a review of the safe cig I would find it hard to give an answer. After all, this is one of the most popular devices on the US market and was one of the first to become available in this country.

When the company released the safe cig micro recently I finally decided it was time to get my hands on one of their kits and give it a test drive. I contacted the company and they were good enough to send me out a free sample with a bunch of refill carts.

I’m going to come right out an say it, I’m was really impressed with the Safe Cig as soon as I opened up my package and took my first draw. This is an exceptionally good product and I’m kicking myself that I haven’t taken the time to write up a review of it before now.

The first thing you’ll notice if you fork out the cash and receive your package in the mail is just how professional this outfit is compared to the vast majority of others in the marketplace. If you read their web site you will learn that Safe Cig claim to be the only US company to privately fund their own research, development and engineering of the products they sell. Many companies simply sell rebranded generic e cigs which means you can buy the same product from another company. Safe Cig on the other hand sell e cigarettes which cannot be purchased elsewhere, and which are manufactured to their own exacting standards.

This higher attention to producing a top quality is evident as soon as you open up the package with your Safe Cig Micro. Your starter kit comes in a delightful cigarette shaped box which closely resembles a pack of Marlboro. Contained inside the compact box is a couple of batteries, 7 refill carts, and your USB charger. In my opinion it’s the finest packaging from any manufacturer on the market. Instead of a simple cardboard box with the components placed inside with little thought, you get an ingenious package which indicates a company who puts a huge mount of thought into their products and are committed to being in this game over the long term.

Taking a look at something as simple as the USB charger provided with the Micro is an indicator of dedication Safe Cig have to quality. Compared to the simple black charger you get with something like the Cigarti and Apollo you have a beautiful little white USB connector with sleek lines and some nice branding. It also has an auto cut off switch when your battery has charged so you don’t have to worry about ruining your batteries if you aren’t around to unplug them when the charging is complete. This is definitely a cut above what you get from the average e cig company.

Taking the Micro cig itself in your hands you realize that the product really lives up to it’s name, it extremely small. In fact this new Safe Cig is almost exactly the same size as the very expensive White Cloud, but costs a paltry $60 for the starter kit. At first sight this product looks like a bit of a bargain.

How Does The Safe Cig Micro Vape?

Of course all the style and quality of an e cig amounts for nothing if it’s not a lot of fun to actually use. Thankfully the Safe Cig lives up to our initial impressions and offers a very realistic cigarette replacement. The 18 MG nicotine carts I’ve tested offer fantastic flavor and a perfect throat hit for someone who is used to smoking regular strength cigarettes.

I can’t tell if the battery on this device has a cut off to regulate how long you can take a draw, but if it does then it runs longer than you need to get an awesome throat hit. There is also no need to take a primer puff, with the battery activating as soon as you start to inhale.

Vapor production of the Safe Cig Micro isn’t it’s strongest point although it produces enough “smoke” to give the required effect. The carts I received with my kit produce less vapor than my V2, and a lot less than the Green Smoke monster. Whether of not this is going to be a deal breaker will depend on your own personal preference but I could certainly be happy using the Safe Cig as my primary device even with the lowish vapor output. I feel that it makes up for this failing thanks to the natural tasting liquids and perfect throat hit.

I was sent the Royale and Trinidad flavor carts and can honestly say I really liked both of them. Royale is a traditional tobacco style while the Trinidad had a hint of Apricot.

Safe Cig Micro Battery Life

The one criticism I’ve heard about the Micro from my searching the Internet is the fact that the batteries don’t last long enough and I have to report that this is a genuine concern for heavy smokers who are out of the house a lot. If you vape on an almost constant basis then you might find yourself getting frustrated with the Micro, I’m finding batteries are lasting me about three hours before needing to be recharged. For those of you who spend a lot of time at the computer where you can easily recharge when needed, or only use the e cig on social occasions this might not be such a big deal. If you spend all day out and about without access to a USB port you might need to look elsewhere, especially since Safe Cig don’t offer a portable charging pack like V2, Cigarti and Blu Cigs. On the plus side the batteries do recharge to full power much quicker than those from most other brands.

Micro Refill Cartridges

One of things that kind of put me off the Safe Cig originally was the fact they didn’t offer a wide range of flavors. They stuck rigidly to the traditional tobacco flavors and the obligatory menthol for the reason they didn’t want to be seen to be encouraging use of their products by minors. While this was an admirable approach which other companies were unwilling to take it was also a little annoying that users couldn’t have a selection of tastes available to help keep things interesting.

With the introduction of the Micro Safe Cig have decided to take a new approach, and that is to give us the option of a wide variety of different “tobacco” flavors. These new refill cartridges come with great names such as Madagascar, Madrid and Moroccan allowing the company to provide vapers with plenty of choice without compromising their morals. It’s a nice solution to the problem of not wanting to appear to be promoting to kids while still offering the hard core user a selection of flavors which will ensure they can find something which suits them, and plenty of options so they never get bored.

The carts themselves also look and feel fantastic with a nice white matte finish, the Safe Cig logo, and color bands according to the flavor of the liquid inside. The only thing that could perhaps be changed would be if they put the name of the flavor on the cartridge somewhere to make it easier to tell what you are screwing onto your battery, but there is the chance that could ruin the slick look.

Conclusion

The Safe Cig is an outstanding e cigarette product which I wish I had done a review of years ago. It provides a great vaping experience with a fantastic throat hit and very tasty, natural flavors. It also comes in the best box I’ve seen from any brand I’ve tried, and gives the overall impression of a industry leading device in terms of quality.

This product does have it’s downsides however which stops me from awarding it the award for best e cigarette on the market. If Safe Cig could boost the amount of vapor produced just a touch and improve the batteries to double their life span then there wouldn’t be many e cigs which could compete with this brand.

Click Here to buy direct from the official Safe Cig Online Store.

Cigarti are a company that offers something that little bit different from the other e cigarette manufacturers out there in that they have a vast range of different skins available for their batteries. This allows users to pick a style for their e cigarette so that they can stand out from the crowd of fellow vapers. If you aren’t familiar with e cigarette skins they are simply colors and patterns which cover the battery to make them look pretty. It’s something which can add a little excitement to an otherwise bland appearance, but I think it might be a gimmick which appeals more to females than the make of the species. Personally, I would rather just have an e cig which looks white like a regular ciggie, although I’d be tempted to get one in black if I felt like going really crazy. However, if getting an electronic cigarette which looks wild is something which is right up your street you will want to check out this brand.

In my opinion, getting an e cigarette which performs perfectly is much more important than getting one which looks funky, so let’s see how the cigarti compares to the other brands I’ve used.

Of course, the first thing we all notice when an e cigarette arrives in the post is the packaging. Cigarti have done a decent job in this department and the box they have come up with is a very nice little number which both looks and feels like good quality, it bodes well for the product as a whole.

The price of a starter kit form this company will set you back $90 which isn’t exactly cheap, but not terrible if the product lives up to expectations.

Inside the box you get the following components:

1. 2 rechargeable batteries
2. 1 USB charger kit allowing you to recharge the batteries on your laptop or from the mains.
3. 6 Nicotine Cartridges
4. A User Manual
5. A Cigarti Membership Card

First impressions of the Cigarti e cigarette itself are favorable too. It’s an electronic cigarette which has a great feel to it and the carts come in really nice colors to indicate the flavor of e-liquid they contain.

What’s Good About The Cigarti Cigarette?

This is obviously a well built e cigarette, as you would expect now that this industry is starting to mature.

To my touch the battery appears to be ever so slightly narrower than those from most other manufacturers which gives it a nice feel in your hands.

This is a real easy e cig to get a draw out of, in fact it feels like you have to puff on it about exactly as hard as a regular tobacco cigarette.

The batteries have a long life which is more important than you might think if you haven’t used an e cig before. There is nothing worse than getting caught far from home without the power needed to get that hit of nicotine.

They have a large number of flavors to choose from so if your fed up with the taste of tobacco it will be a long time before you’re bored trying them out.

What I Don’t Like So Much About The Cigarti E Cig

Most of the flavors taste slightly artificial to me. The mint flavor has that slightly plasticy taste which I’ve also found so far with the Apollo and Breath Fresh e cigs. The tobacco flavor is quite pleasant but doesn’t have the throat hit I look for so it isn’t as satisfying as something like the Green Smoke or V2 cig.

The batteries are quite long. This isn’t something that really bothers me now that I’m so used to using e cigarettes but if are switching over from tobacco you might want something which is a little bit closer to the size you are used to.

There’s almost no discernible throat hit. This could be down to the fact that most of the flavor’s they sent me are only 6mg when I am used to using high strength carts. Still, I think in this day and age even the lower nicotine level carts should have some sort of throat hit as it’s an important feature if we are going to successfully switch to electronic cigarettes from tobacco.

The Cigarti e cigarette produces a medium amount of vapor, and you really need to take a couple of vigorous primer puffs to get a good draw because of the battery cut off. I’ve seen worse vapor production in the but not as good as the V2, and way behind the Green Smoke e cigarette.

Conclusion of my Cigarti Review

When you take into consideration the price, quality and performance of the Cigarti I have to say that it’s not a brand I would immediately recommend to my readers. There are just too many other products out there which will give a superior vaping experience for similar, or less, cash. The V2 has a wider range of accessories, tastier flavors and a more attractive price tag. Having said that you can get the same cool portable charging pack with the Cigarti which is also available for the V2. You can’t however get it as part of a starter kit at a discounted price so you will have to shell out an extra $40 to get your hands on it.

When comparing the Cigarti Vs Green Smoke you see that the later beats it easily for quality of vaping experience, and you can pick up a starter kit for about the same price.

The Cigarti seems to be quite a popular electronic cigarette from my research on the web but I’m not entirely sure why so many people are buying their kits when there are so many alternatives available. It could come down to their marketing efforts, or maybe a large percentage of buyers just like the skins they offer for their batteries. Whatever the reason, I suggest you take a look at your other options before you make that purchase.

Let’s take a look at the key differences between V2 and Green Smoke from the perspective of a potential buyer who visits both their sites (click here to open both the V2 and Green Smoke web sites to see how they look for yourself):

What stands out about the V2 compared to Green Smoke for people who find themselves looking at both websites?

1. They offer a variety of different colors of battery (white, black, stainless steel and cool blue) compared to just a couple of color options at Greensmoke (white and pink).

2. They have a great selection of different flavored carts to cater for all possible tastes.

V2 Cartridge Flavors available include:

• Cowboy Tobacco
• Congress Tobacco
• Sahara Tobacco
• Menthol
• Coffee
• Vanilla
• Cherry
• Peppermint
• Chocolate
• Cola

Green Smoke’s slightly less impressive range includes:

• Absolute Tobacco
• Red Label Tobacco
• Menthol Ice
• Mocha Mist
• Smooth Chocolate
• Vanilla Dreams

3. V2 e cigarettes have a larger number of kits available at a variety of price points so there is something for all budgets. You can spend anything from $60 for the economy e cigarette starter kit all the way up to $160 for the Ultimate Kit which comes with more accessories than you can shake a stick at. Green Smoke on the other hand only offer the Social Smoker Kit at $100, and the Standard Kit which comes in at $130.

4. V2 electronic cigarettes can be purchased with a massive number of different cool accessories which make your new cigarette replacement a lot more fun and convenient to use.

Some of the accessories you can find for sale on their web site which are not yet available with Green Smoke cigs are:

• A really nice new Soft Case for carrying your kit around.
• A universal adapter which will allow you to use cartridges from other manufacturers along with your V2 batteries.
• A Portable Charging case which will allow you to charge your batteries while you are on the move and don’t have access to a power point.

Green Smoke, who are currently working on a couple of new accessories, only offer a standard carry case, and a USB Cigarette.

5. V2 Refill nicotine cartridges are cheaper – $1.69 each compared with $3 a pop from Green Smoke

6. V2 offer a lifetime warranty as opposed to a one year warranty

7. Like for like you will spend quite a bit less cash if you get your starter kit from V2, even if you take into account the fact they don’t offer free shipping.

What are the similarities between the two companies?

Both offer you a 30 day money back guarantee meaning you can try out their product and ship it back for a refund if you are not happy with it. This is great for people who have never tried a smokeless cigarette before who don’t know if it’s going to suit them.

So after listing all these advantages of the V2 why is the Green Smoke still my top rated e cigarette?

1. The first and foremost reason for Green Smoke getting my number 1 spot is to do with the most important consideration when we buy electronic cigarettes, and that’s the fact that it’s simply a better smoking replacement than anything else I’ve reviewed. The Green Smoke e cigarette, in my opinion, offers a better quality of vapor which makes using it a more satisfying and realistic experience. When you take a draw on this device it just feels more like you are smoking a regular cigarette than any of the other products in my e cigarette reviews thanks to the great throat hit and thick vapor.
2. Although V2 offers a much wider range of flavors I’m the kinda guy who likes to stick with the tobacco offerings from e cigarette manufacturers. The new Flavormax carts from Green Smoke taste better and are more “realistic” than those from any other company.
3. V2, and many other brands, offer products made from “off-the-shelf” parts, which means that their products don’t differ all that much from many other companies on the market. Green Smoke on the other hand has had their batteries and carts manufactured specifically for themselves which means you are getting something made to their own exacting specifications that’s unavailable from any other source. The extra cash the company has put into research and development of unique smokeless cigarettes is really starting to pay dividends as their product moves ahead of the competition. This determination to provide something that little bit special is probably part of the reason they have fallen behind the competition when it comes to releasing accessories such as the portable charging pack.

So Who Should Buy V2 E Cigs?

So as you can see, these two devices offer something a bit different for the consumer. You should buy a V2 electronic cigarette if:

1. You want an e cig with a wide variety of accessories which make the product easier to use in every day life, and a few options to customize your purchase.
2. You are looking to spend as little cash as possible but still need to get a discount electronic cigarette they will be happy to use over the long term.
3. You are interested in trying as many different non-tobacco flavors as possible.

Who Should Buy Green Smoke E Cigarettes?

You should opt for Green Smoke over V2 if:

1. You don’t mind spending more money to buy a top rated e cigarette.
2. You have to have the best vapor cigarette on the market.

There you have it. I hope this post has made it a little bit clearer which of these products is the best option for your own particular needs and budget. If you have any more questions get in touch with me and I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible with an answer.

For more information on these products read my V2 Cigs Review and Green Smoke Electronic Cigarette Review.

]]> http://www.ecigaretteshop.com/2011/10/v2-cigs-vs-green-smoke-what-is-the-best-e-cigarette-on-the-market.html/feed 0 http://www.ecigaretteshop.com/2011/09/vapor-king-etank-review.html http://www.ecigaretteshop.com/2011/09/vapor-king-etank-review.html#comments Sat, 17 Sep 2011 15:18:26 +0000 Ric http://www.ecigaretteshop.com/?p=610

Most of the e cigarettes I’ve reviewed over the last couple of months have had one thing in common:

They are two piece electronic cigarettes comprised of a battery, and a cartomizer which contains both the nicotine liquid and the atomizer.

Back in the day most devices were actually know as three piece because they had a separate atomizer and nicotine cart. When Green Smoke brought the first two piece onto the market it was a bit of a revelation and heralded a new age in the world of electronic cigarettes. The new design made vaping easier thanks to the fact that you didn’t have to worry about changing your atomizer every so often as the performance of the old one started to degrade. Every time you change your cartomizer with the 2 piece units you get a new atomizer which means improved, more consistent performance.

With that said, it’s still possible to buy e cigs which are true to the old idea of having a separate atomizer and cart; but things have moved on somewhat from the designs of old. A couple of the newer products available from Electronic Cigarettes Inc fall into this category and this review will hopefully enlighten you as to whether they might be something you should think of buying.

Electronic Cigarettes inc were good enough to send my through two of their products to review and today I’m going to take a look at the Vapor King eTank.

This smokeless cigarette doesn’t look too different from the 2 piece units we are used to seeing on e cigarette shop although it is a bit bigger than the Green Smoke. It’s shape resembles a large traditional tobacco cigarette, although it comes in a variety of different colors. The one I received is a cool black color with a blue LED which lights up when you inhale. This design really makes the Vapor King stand out from the crowd and will certainly get you noticed when you use it in public.

The thing that sets this device apart from those I’m used to using is in the way it is constructed. It has a battery much like any other electronic cigarette, but from there things start to get a little different. To the battery you attach a separate atomizer before plugging in a cartridge which you have to fill with nicotine liquid yourself from a little plastic bottle. This might seem like a lot of hassle to someone who uses 2 piece e cigarettes but it is actually kind of fun. Think of it as rolling your own tobacco as opposed to buy a pack of 20 Marlboro.

What do you get when you buy Electronic Cigarette Inc’s Etank?

• 2 eTank Batteries
• 2 eTank Atomizers
• 5 eTank Cartridges
• 1 Mains Charger
• 1 USB Charger
• 1 Manual
• 1 Nice Quality Gift Box

Once I had unpackaged the Vapor King I was dying to see how it would vape. The product looks really great and I was impressed with the quality of the build, with an awesome feel compared to the 3 piece e cigarettes I remember struggling with just a few years ago.

Dripping e liquid into the empty cartridge was a relatively simple process. You put the top of the bottle into the hole in the cart and squeeze gently. The only thing you have to look out for is not to be too rough or to overfill which will lead to e liquid going where it shouldn’t ie. All over your hands.

With the nicotine liquid injected all the parts of the Vapor King screw securely together and you are ready to give it a blast. As soon as I take my first inhale on it I know what I’m going to say in this e cigarette review about the Vapor King experience:

1. The Vapor King lives up to it’s name and produces bags of quality vapor.
2. There is a nice throat hit which gives that familiar sensation similar to smoking tobacco.
3. I’m not overly keen on the taste of the tobacco flavor nicotine liquid supplied with the device.

After prolonged use of the product I have to say that I’m pretty impressed with it. It’s certainly a well made piece of kit and I think most people who pick one up are going to enjoy using it, but that’s not to say that it’s perfect by any means. The fact that I didn’t like the nicotine liquid which was supplied with it isn’t really a big deal as there are plenty of companies out there who will supply these liquids in an flavor you might desire, you just have to do the work and spend a little cash to find your favorite.

A downside to the Vapor King which wasn’t immediately obvious was the fact that it is prone to leak when not in use. If you have it lying in your pocket all day then you are going to find liquid seeping out when you reach for it. This means getting nicotine liquid on you hands and even in your mouth when you take a draw. Although this isn’t a deal breaker for me, it is a little unpleasant compared to the experience of using a model with a sealed cartomizer.

All in all the Vapor King Electronic Cigarette provides a positive vaping experience, and it’s obviously an e cig which has been manufactured to a high standard with a quality feel which is missing from many e cigarettes on the market. If they could just fix things so the e-liquid wasn’t prone to leaking all over the place this device could be a real winner. I know that I will occasionally vape with this product in the months to come, the only change being that I’ll buy some better tasting liquids from one of the many specialist retailers out there.

Click Here to order a Vapor King E Cig today

Other reviews you might like to read before making a purchasing decision:

• V2 e cigarette
• White Cloud e cigarette
• South Beach e cigarette

]]> http://www.ecigaretteshop.com/2011/09/vapor-king-etank-review.html/feed 0 http://www.ecigaretteshop.com/2011/06/breathe-fresh-e-cigarette-review.html http://www.ecigaretteshop.com/2011/06/breathe-fresh-e-cigarette-review.html#comments Sat, 11 Jun 2011 02:29:35 +0000 Ric http://www.ecigaretteshop.com/?p=427

This Breathe Fresh review isn’t going to be a long one because this isn’t a brand that I would advise any of my readers to spend their cash on. It’s not that it’s a terrible e cigarette, there are just much better options available, as you will learn as you read the other reviews on this site. If we are buying something on the Internet there is never a need to purchase any product which isn’t the best on the market when we can visit another store with the click of the mouse. Regardless, here are my thoughts on the Breathe Fresh e cigarette.

I bought the basic starter kit because I really only wanted to try the batteries and the carts to see how they perform. The package I received came with a USB and mains charger which will keep your batteries charged up, though they look and feel a little cheap compared to many of the products I’ve seen in the past.

Everything about this 2 piece device strikes me as being decidedly average, although at $69.99 for my starter kit maybe that’s what I should have expected. I do like the way the carts screw easily and securely into the battery, but the cartridges themselves have that fake cigarette filter look which doesn’t appeal to me. The device is a nice size though, being slightly smaller than the V2 e cigarette, but that can’t make up for the areas where it falls short.

Obviously it’s the way it “smokes” that’s the most important thing about an electronic cigarette and the Breathe Fresh just doesn’t match up with the other devices I’ve been using recently. When you are taking a draw on it you think you are going to get great vapor production as plenty escapes from the side of your mouth when you are puffing away. It also offers a nice easy draw and the throat hit you get when you inhale is sufficient. It’s on exhaling that you notice the vapor you worked hard creating seems to have disappeared into thin air. I’m not sure why this is, it’s probably caused by the ingredients used to make the e liquid. Whatever the reason it makes the Breathe Fresh less satisfying to use than any other e cig I’ve reviewed so far.

The flavor of the tobacco and menthol carts I tried was tolerable but definitely not as enjoyable as something like the green smoke, V2, or even the South Beach. In their favor I did find them to be superior to the Apollo e cigarette in the taste department.

As always I see there are other e cigarette review sites which seem to think the Breathe Fresh is an awesome device providing great vapor production. I can’t say if this is because they’ve never actually tried it for themselves, or there are problems with quality control at the company. In any event, I recommend you opt for one of the other units mentioned on this site.

You might want to check out:

1. The V2 E Cigarette Review
2. The White Cloud E Cigarette Review

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