Vapemail Special!

Last week I ordered a bunch of juice because I've been vaping like a fiend and was going through a good chunk of my stockpile. I decided to try a vanilla and coffee flavor from Viking Vapor, some fruity blends from Rawr Vapor and some of my favorites from FuZion Vapor. I also got an extra special present from my good buddy Shane from FuZion which included a t-shirt, gold foil sticker and a bottle of an unreleased flavor (thanks buddy!) I've also been giving out small bottles of juice to my fellow vapers since I now have a stockpile of empty bottles. Furthermore, I've decided to only purchase bigger bottles of my favorite flavors and on occasion try some new flavors in smaller bottles and share my favs with the masses. If you would like a sample of something I have, send me an email and cover the cost of shipping and ill send you some juice: photoagogostudio@yahoo.com

Viking Vapor
I haven't tried a lot from Viking, but their juice is pretty good. Not the best, not the worst, somewhere in between. Previously, I tried their peach flavor which tasted like peach rings you get from the convenience store for 2/$1 which isn't actually a bad thing. The vanilla is very sweet and would be a good addition to a tobacco flavor if you like to do some custom mixing. Since I got it, it has darkened up quite a bit and I expect it to taste stronger when it has fully steeped. The coffee flavor is decent. When you order, they tell you to put how you like your coffee in the comments section and they will custom mix it to your taste. I'm a simple man and I like my coffee with cream and sugar so that's what I put and what I got was not exactly what I expected but it was ok. Not as sweet or smooth as I was hoping but it's still enjoyable on occasion. I wouldn't recommend vaping this with your morning coffee seeing as how it doesn't match up as well as I thought it would. Nevertheless, for $10 for a 30ml, how can you go wrong?

Rawr Vapor
I love love LOVE their custom mixes and customer creations and, as you all know, I love juice with weird names which Rawr is practically known for. I purchased BaZingah, Sweet Dreams, Strawberry Cantaloupe, AuRAWRa, Dawn of Truth and Strapple. BaZingah is a nice watermelon tropical mix, Sweet Dreams is pretty much strawberry kiwi with a weird name, AuRAWRa is a sweet kiwi pineapple with menthol, Dawn of Truth is tropical banana and coconut and Strapple is strawberry apple. So far, I have not had a bad flavor from Rawr, although Sweet Dreams and Strawberry Cantaloupe could use a bit of a flavor boost. Then again, I usually don't have Rawr's juices long enough to properly steep. Plus if you're a menthol lover, Mike offers a free menthol add on to ANY of his juice!

FuZion Vapor
I've been a fuzionhead for some time now and Shane is constantly blowing me away with some of his flavor combinations and overall quality of his juice. I ordered Chuck Norris Blood, Purple Pieman and Endless Summer plus he sent me a bottle of Doom Berry in a care package (thanks again buddy!) Purple Pieman has now stolen the top spot on my favorite e-juice list, with XTC and Unicorn Blood in a close second. I haven't had the 15ml I ordered for more than a week and it's already almost gone. Chuck Norris Blood never disappoints, smooth and sweet strawberry with a subtle hint of white chocolate. Endless Summer (strawberry lemonade) could use a flavor boost and I plan on choosing that option when ordering my next batch but still a great winter pick-me-up. The new flavor, Doom Berry, reminded me of Halloween as a kid opening up a box of Good N' Plenty's. I was baffled by the name for a while so I had to shoot Shane an email to find out what it was supposed to taste like. He said it was his take on another popular flavor with hints of berry and anise. I haven't fully tested this juice but I  will say, for someone that's not a big licorice fan, I find this juice rather enjoyable. I look forward to filling up a tank of this stuff.

Do you look forward to getting vapemail as much as I do? What are some of your favorite juice vendors? Let me know in the comments below!

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Atomizer vs. Clearomizer vs. Cartomizer

Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the ultimate vaping showdown! This topic has been cause for arguments for a while now; what is the best way to vape? There's really no simple answer to that question because everyone has very specific needs and different preferences but I can give you insight on several different ways I have used these devices and my experiences with them.

Atomizers

I started off using a small standard 510 battery with an atomizer and a drip tip, dripping 3-5 drops at a time which lasted about 10 puffs. The good thing about using an atomizer is you can change the flavor the second it runs out without having a lot of residual flavor being left over. So if you have flavor ADD like I do, this is a great thing to have to at least change things up from time to time. Since I also purchase a lot of different flavors and I love getting new juice, I like to try them all the second I get vapemail. I usually keep a few of these around for trying new juices, changing things up a bit and experimenting with mixing flavors. The bad thing about atomizers is that if you don't calculate how much liquid is left you can get a lot of dry hits that taste awful and can damage your atomizer. It's always good practice to keep them wet but it can be a hassle when you're constantly getting dry hits or overfilling them. Atomizers last a long time and they're easy to clean which is good considering some can be $5-7. So if you prefer to change flavors and mix them frequently, an atomizer is a good choice for you.

Clearomizers

When I use the term clearomizer, I mean wick tanks because that's essentially what a clearomizer is but the category is slightly larger than that. In my experience I haven't had the best luck using any wick device. I'm not saying they're bad, just saying that I have my own preference however, I know a lot of people that love them and use them all the time and my opinion about them remains unbiased. From using these for a while I can say with confidence that they're a good option for someone who's trying to get a little more out of their PV. They work great on eGo devices and Vivi Nova tanks work and look great on lavatube PV's. I do own several clearos and a Nova tank so I gave them a fair and thorough testing as I do all my devices. Some pros are they're inexpensive (about $6), they last for a while, are easy to clean/use and they look nice on a lot of devices. Cons are they are prone to cracking, flavor seems slightly muted and have unpredictable variable resistance. If you're purchasing an eGo system and don't want to get a tank, consider a clearomizer as a slightly cheaper alternative and it will look damn good too.

Cartomizers

Finally, we have cartomizers; one of my favorite ways to vape with or without a tank. A cartomizer is essentially an atomizing coil wrapped in fiber fill to absorb liquid and keep the coil wet with your flavor of choice. They have several varieties including XL-5XL, shorty, mega, low resistance, dual coil, etc. Personally, I use them in my tanks and I usually cut my own holes via a dremel tool or a carto punch. You can use them with anything from a small standard 510 battery to a mod like the Silver Bullet or the ProVari (although it will look a little silly on the bigger mods.) They're relatively cheap ($1.50+) and they last for about 8 fills. Cleaning them can be a bit tricky because the fiber fill absorbs so much of the liquid but if you run some water through it and blow it out, it will work just fine. One drawback of using a carto is the fact that you can't change flavors on the fly. You really have to be set with one flavor for about 80-100 puffs, otherwise you're stuck cleaning it out and wasting juice. These are good for anyone using a tank, that wants to vape for a while without stopping to fill or just want to try something new. These are good for anyone, and seeing as they're so cheap, I recommend you order a couple just to try them.

That about wraps it up, if you have any questions, please feel free to comment below and I will answer them. I need your feedback to keep me motivated to post more often!

DISCLAIMER: I bought this device for my own use and for testing purposes. All opinions are my own and are for educational purposes.

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New Years Resolutions- New Year, New You

Hello everyone, sorry I haven't been writing as much as I used to but with the holidays and all, blogging is low on the priority list. Anyways, here we are in 2013, a new year, a fresh start. With my 1 year vape anniversary coming up, I find myself looking back and thinking how awesome it feels to be smoke free.

If you're a newcomer to my blog, thanks for reading. I write this for anyone who wants a little information on the products that are available to you that will help you become a more informed vaper. Wether you've tried using a convenience store e-cig or similar product with negative results or you just want to give quitting smoking one more shot, I can say with confidence that electronic cigarettes were the reason I haven't picked up a cig in nearly a year.

Over the next year, I will make sure to blog more, make videos and I might start giving away some free juice to worthy recipients. So keep checking back for more updates, reviews, sneak peeks and lots more! Happy New Year everyone, let's all try to keep those resolutions and kick the habit!

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Juice of the Week- Snickerdoodle Cookies

I know it's been a few weeks since I've posted but please bare with me during the holidays etc. I will be back in full reviewing force very soon. This weeks vape comes from Ms. T's Bakery which was recommended to me by several of my instagram followers as well as a friend of mine. I was never a huge fan of "baked goods" vapes but I thought, hey, give them a shot, maybe they'll be good. I originally ordered a few random bottles and she actually sent me 3 of her favorites for testing purposes so a big shout out to her for that, thanks Ms. T!

As I previously stated, I was never into vaping my baked goods but I have to say, this juice has completely changed my mind! It's sweet and cinnamony goodness all in vape juice form. Definitely a good choice to fill up a carto with this one before heading over to grandmas house for Christmas dinner. I prefer vaping this one at a higher voltage because then the vape is nice and warm just like snickerdoodles ought to be. It has a lovely sweet cookie inhale and a little cinnamon burn on the exhale, quite lovely if you ask me. I never thought I'd be into a dessert juice like this but, hey, sometimes you have to just try something to know if you like it or not!

Ms. T's will definitely be my go to for any "baked goods" vapes from now on.

**Currently Ms. T's site is down until she gets settled into her new home but should be back up soon. Trust me, it's worth the wait!**

Flavor: ★★★★☆
Vapor: ★★★☆☆
Throat Hit: ★★★☆☆

DISCLAIMER: These are my opinions based on my own testing of the product in various devices and at my own PG/VG ratio and nicotine level. Some people may experience it differently based on their own preferred mix and the PV they use.

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Site Review- J-Vapes

I was recently given the chance to review several flavors from J-Vapes and of course I jumped at the opportunity. My instagram friend Max (aka @xxam_) recommended them to me and I contacted the owner, John, who offered to send me some juice for review. So in this blog I will rate all of those juices briefly and the site as a whole. I know you guys probably skip the whole first paragraph of all of my blogs anyways and jump straight into the review so, I'll shut up now and get to the good stuff!

Okay, so I've had plenty of time to let these juices steep and put them through their paces in a variety of devices so heres the scoop:

Bangberry Mist: ★★★★★ My personal favorite of the ones I received. A nice sweet berry flavor with a little touch of tart. This one was actually named by Max as a result of a contest the site ran. This one tastes very nice through pretty much any device, even my ce4's and Vivi Nova but my favorite is in my ProVari using a 2ohm carto at 4.5v.

Pineapple Express: ★★★★☆ Hmmm, I wonder what this one tastes like? Sweet pineapple with a heck of a kick! Maybe it's because I normally vape around 6mg of nic and these juices were 12mg but this one seems to roundhouse kick the back of my throat like Chuck Norris. Not saying that's a bad thing at all, just a mere observation. I've tried several pineapple flavors and this is by far the sweetest and strongest!

Guavatron: ★★★★☆ Not sure when the last time I had real guava but this juice tastes smooth and sweet just like it's supposed to. Every vape takes me away to a tropical paradise where ProVari's grow on trees and it rains Guavatron....ok maybe that was slightly embellished but this juice rocks! Bonus points for the cool name.

Baja Blast: ★★★★☆ I don't know about you all out there in cyberspace but sometimes I go to Taco Bell just for a Baja Blast. Citrusy sweet, fruity, refreshing vape all the way through. Personally, I'd love to see this one with a tiny hint of menthol in there to add a slight chill. I've seen many flavors based on the original citrus soda but never one for this flavor. Other juice vendors take note: get creative with your flavors and your patrons will notice!

High Voltage: ★★★☆☆ One of their newest flavors in the "mountain vapor" line, this one is raspberry flavored with a nice tart finish. This one is definitely better after a few weeks of letting it steep. I'd like to see this one with a touch of menthol as well but not too much. I find myself rationing the last few ml's in the bottom of the bottle before finishing it off. This one is on my re-order list for sure.

Cherry Limeade: ★★★☆☆ I have tried several versions of this notorious flavor and up until this point, no ones been able to satisfy my palette. This is the first cherry limeade I've tried that actually tasted sweet! Don't get me wrong, the sour/tart aftertaste you get will still pucker you up but that's the point isn't it? Even though it's the best I've, I think there's still a bit of fine tuning needed but I'm sure this flavor isn't easily duplicated in a vape so an A for effort.

The site itself is designed a little funky, instead of having individual pages for every flavor, they have a general description of a series of juices on a sub-page and the choices in a selector box at the top. One thing I do like is the option for 50/50 PG/VG with any juice. Personally, I like experimenting with different options so next time I order juices, I can try a different combo and possibly improve the flavor. I trusted John to mix me up a good batch of juices and he exceeded my expectations. Big shout out to him and Max for recommending them to me. If you know a company I should review, please comment below!

I look forward to trying a few more of J-Vapes' flavors, so check back soon for more

Customer Service: ★★★★☆

Website Navigation: ★★★☆☆

Product Selection/Quality: ★★★★☆

DISCLAIMER: I may have received some products free of charge for review purposes however all my opinions are completely unbiased and accurate based on my own interactions with said vendors and their products.

follow me on twitter and instagram! @photoagogo

Accessory Review- Vision CE4 Clearomizer

I was very reluctant to try these at first because I've always been a carto tank fan but after seeing my instagram feed fill up with pictures of them, I thought I'd give them a try so I picked up a couple from Madvapes. Now if you didn't know, a cartomizer has a heating coil surrounded by fiber fill inside a metal cylinder, when you hit the button on your PV, it heats up the coil and vaporizes the e-liquid that is contained in the fiber fill. With a clearomizer, the liquid goes from the outer tank which is then absorbed through a wick into the atomizer and vaporizes the liquid. Now that the science lesson is over with, let's get to my take on these little devices.

I try to keep an open mind about everything before I try it, to be honest, I'm just trying to find the best kit to make my vaping experience more enjoyable, this blog is just a way to share my experiences with all of you. That being said, I was still a bit skeptical when I first tried them. I filled up my first one and took a drag, I instantly got a burnt taste, I was very disappointed. After doing further reading, I learned you should wait at least 5 minutes after filling before you should vape in order for the liquid to saturate the wick. A quick solution to the burnt taste if you've done this is emptying the clearo and cleaning it thoroughly. That kind of put me off to clearomizers for a while but I recently picked them up again on a whim. These worked out slightly better for me but there's still some issues with them that I don't have with carto tanks.

• Leaking- A few drops out of the top or bottom is pretty common with the ones I've used. I've heard that you need to seal them within 30 seconds of filling in order to prevent this but it seems to be very sporadic.
• Breaking- Considering you can pick these up for about $6, they're very rugged, however, if you have it in your pocket and bend over the wrong way, they will shatter on you. I've had one crack and one break off at the bottom thread skirt which was probably my fault for over tightening.
• Burnt taste/lack of flavor- I'm not sure exactly what I'm doing wrong but I always seem to get a tiny bit of burnt taste even after letting it sit for hours before vaping. Also, I've noticed the flavor which tasted great in a carto, seems to be slightly diluted when used in a clearo, not quite sure why on this one but I know a few other people feel the same way.
• Resistance/voltage restriction- Others have told me I'm crazy but for some reason, on my eGo twist, I can't vape any higher than 4.0-4.2v. Personally, I love the amount of vapor that I get from a higher voltage but over 4.2v I seem to get a little burnt plastic taste. These are hard to get a good reading of resistance on too, the advertise 2.4-2.9ohm which actually makes quite the difference on a VV device.
• Capacity- This is more of an observation than an actual flaw with them but I feel it should be noted. These are not meant to be an all day vaping accessory if you are a heavy vaper. They will hold about 1.8ml of juice which will last a lot longer than an atomizer and some cartos but wouldn't get me through a full day of vaping.

In summary, these have a lot of positive qualities, they're cheap, they fit well with an eGo and they look great. However, if you asked me clearo vs. a carto tank, I'd say go with the tank and learn how to punch and fill a carto than spend $6 every 8 fills or so.

Value: ★★★★☆
Aesthetics: ★★★★★
Functionality: ★★☆☆☆

DISCLAIMER: I bought this device for my own use and for testing purposes. All opinions are my own and are for educational purposes.

Follow me on twitter and instagram: @photoagogo

First Impressions of Clone Blood & Unicorn Blood

These two came to me courtesy of Shane at Fuzion Vapor for testing purposes and review. Shane has always been good to me and all his loyal customers allowing them to try juices he makes before they're officially released on his website. If you ever have a question or a special request he quickly responds with a personalized message, unlike some other sites that have a 'ticket' system that takes days to get an answer from. Of these two juices, Unicorn Blood has been released on his site and Clone Blood is still in testing but I imagine it will be out very soon. Ever since my first Fuzion experience, I've been hooked. To this day I'm a dedicated "fuzionhead," the flavor combinations and vitamin B added really makes them worth their weigh in liquid gold! Please note; the following review is based on my opinions without letting either steep. I simply opened my vapemail and took a puff, I'm sure these juices will get even better after I let them sit for a few days.

Unicorn Blood

This one really reminds me of my first experience with my favorite juice of all time, XTC. After the first pull, I was hooked. About 10 minutes after taking the first puff, I had to order a 30ml because I knew this would soon be on my top 10 list. The best way I can describe this delightful flavor is pure Slushee syrup before they mix in the ice. Super sweet to the core with delightful hints of red berries and candy. It's perfect for a post Halloween vape, like taking all the fruity candy you have and shoving it in your mouth at the same time. The nearly sickly sweetness of this is my favorite part, as a candy junkie, I find this to serve as a great fix. In my order, I asked Shane to add a hint of menthol to my 30ml which should make it even more enjoyable for the fruit/menthol lover I am. While vaping this I kept thinking about the video of Charlie the Unicorn and his adventure to candy mountain. If you have an addictive personality, beware, this juice will have you wanting to hunt down the mythical beast and drain it of all its vital fluid!

*Not the official product photo

Clone Blood

As with many of the juices I try for review purposes, I first attempt to figure out what flavor the vendor is going for before I check the website to see what it's supposed to taste like. Unfortunately for me, this one is unreleased so I have no basis of comparison. So based on my own expertise and refined palette for vape juice, I found this one to have almost a nutty flavor with a hint of bourbon with a sweet and dry finish. After filling up my atty a few times, I decided to email Shane to give him my first impression and what I thought it tasted like. He then replied and said it's supposed to taste like similar to a juice from another vendor with a similar Star Wars referencing name. Everyone seems to love the flavor that this is based on but I have yet to try it. I'll give you a hint, it's a variation of a tobacco flavor that's full of bounty. I've had limited experience with tobacco flavors and the ones I have tried, I haven't enjoyed very much but this one has some very nice hints of sweetness to it and has a decent bite from the bourbon flavor. I look forward to seeing other peoples take on this one and I plan on purchasing the popular juice that this one is named after for comparison.

I'll let these sit for a while and report back with any changes in flavor and the final verdict on Clone Blood. Shane, if you're reading this, keep up the good work, We appreciate all your hard work, dedication and love of the vaping community. Thanks!

DISCLAIMER: These are my opinions based on my own testing of the product in various devices and at my own PG/VG ratio and nicotine level. Some people may experience it differently based on their own preferred mix and the PV they use.

Follow me on twitter and instagram: @photoagogo