Getting started
When looking to start vaping, the first thing to consider is what type of experience you’re looking for. For most people trying to quit smoking cigarettes, they’ll want a mouth to lung device that simulates the tight restrictive airflow of a cigarette that is inexpensive, as you likely don’t know the further features you care about until you’ve started using things and know what you want specifically.
If this describes yourself, get an Innokin Kit, preferably one with a Zlide or Zenith atomizer and a USB power block that outputs 5V DC, some extra coils, and juice. That’s all you need to get started. For the juice you want 60/40 VG/PG ratio, probably somewhere around 20mg/mL nicotine strength. A few different flavors to try would be good.
If that’s not you, especially if you are looking for a looser airflow like a bong or shisha, or have something specific in mind, then read on.
There are several pieces in vape setup. They all work to do the same thing so there’s similarity across the board, but there are important differences.
In all devices, there is a battery, a piece of equipment that delivers the power from the battery to the rest of the equipment called a “mod”, an atomizer where the liquid is turned to vapor, the coil that heats the liquid to vaporization temperature, wick to deliver the liquid to the coil, and a mouthpiece called a drip tip.
We’ll go through things in that order.
Batteries can be built into the device, or be removable. If the battery is built in, it is not user serviceable, when the battery dies the entire mod must be replaced. In exchange for this, these devices are cheaper to get started with, and easier to use without special charging equipment, but will cost more in the long term. Removable batteries have safety concerns, and should only be charged in a seperate device made to charge the batteries. The charger and the batteries are a small additional cost, but can be replaced cheaper than a while mod when they wear out. There are fantastic testers and reviewers of chargers (https://lygte-info.dk/info/indexBatteriesAndChargers%20UK.html) and batteries (https://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/blog-entry/list-of-battery-tests.7436/)
Mooch, the battery tester, also has lots of good information about battery safety in his YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePHh3NMvu3rW2LFJeOWo-Q/playlists) a brief run down of battery safety is forthcoming.
Aside from whether they have built in batteries or take replaceable, there are 2 main categories of mods, regulated and unregulated. Unregulated deliver the battery voltage, and require a surprisingly large amount of knowledge to use properly, many safety concerns, and are not for use without a lot of preparation. I’ll write up a seperate post on what a person needs to know to use one, but they are not the proper gear to start on for most people.