Many of our readers may be thinking about quitting smoking and if they already haven’t done so 2020 is the year to make a determined effort to succeed and finally stop smoking – clear the way for a healthy 2020.

Ways to Stop Smoking

It’s easy to say at Christmas, or at New Year that you want to give up and stop smoking but the secret is not only to mean it but to take positive action. For the lucky few this can mean going “cold turkey” and just stopping, for others it can mean cutting back so that instead of getting through a packet of cigarettes a day you make a pack last a day and a half, then two days, then two and a half days and so on until you find that you are only smoking once a day or even less frequently. If you are doing this try to avoid places where you feel you should smoke to “fit in”, be that pubs or other social settings.

Another method that some people have used to stop smoking is to use e-cigs (e-cigarettes). These, as you may know, or have read elsewhere on this site, often look like cigarettes but instead of being filled with tobacco have cartridges will with liquid that sometimes contains nicotine (but can also contain flavoured nicotine-free liquids). I’m sure that you have seen the television adverts or even the e-cigs that you can buy over the counter in supermarkets, newsagents, garages or even in small shops of all types. If you need help on getting the right e cigarette, take a look at our guide on the best e cigarettes that you can buy in the UK.

Safety First

If you do decide to use ecigs as a way of stopping smoking there are several things to consider. Do you want to start with one that contains nicotine (there have been reports of pets being killed when they have chewed a nicotine cartridge such as this one on the BBC or this one from Australia. These articles would suggest that you need to keep the cartridges away from pets (and probably children as well) but any responsible smoker would do the same thing with their cigarettes and matches anyway.

Summary

There are lots of ways to stop smoking if you are determined to do so. The NHS offers a lot of support which is freely available and should be used in conjunction with your quest to stop using your vape pen.

It’s been quite the year for the vaping industry. As more and more smokers understand the benefits that vaping affords, let’s take a look at some of the year’s top research studies and what we’ve learnt in 2019. 

Vaping Twice as Effective as Patches and Gums

If you vape, you’ll be aware of how effective e-cigarettes have been in your quest to become smoke-free. However, without any scientific research to back the wishful thinking up, the opinion had been very much limited to the vaping community. But at the beginning of 2019, the beliefs of the vaping community became scientific evidence when the (UK) National Institute of Health Research and Cancer Research UK funded a groundbreaking study that revealed just how effective e-cigs are. Led by a team of researchers from several UK based universities, the study found that e-cigarettes are almost twice as effective as other nicotine alternatives such as patches and gums in enabling a smoker to become smoke-free. 

By choosing to use e-cigarettes and e-liquids such as XEO vaporizers and Vapour2’s premium e-liquid, the journey to becoming smoke-free can be viewed as a much more effective way to give up smoking than it was before. The perceived hurdles and cravings that are traditionally so synonymous with smokers trying to quit are close to becoming a thing of the past.

E-Cigarettes Help 50,000 People Quit Smoking Each Year

If you were ever in doubt that vaping is a useful tool that helps smokers quit, then a recent study led by University College London has revealed some hugely positive news. Funded by Cancer Research UK, the study found that, since 2011, smokers using e-cigarettes to help them quit coincided with the success rate of smokers actually quitting. It might sound straightforward, however many critics of e-cigs debate whether vapers are simply swapping addictive cigarettes, for supposedly addictive e-cigarettes.

As we know, vaping is a healthy lifestyle choice that smokers undertake on a relatively short-term basis, as an aid to become smoke-free. Available in 4 different concentrations of nicotine (o%, 0.6%, 1.2% and 1.8%), vapers can gradually decrease the amount of nicotine that is in their e-liquid, which means that in time, smokers can become both smoke and nicotine-free. 

Less People Smoking, More People Vaping

In July, more good vaping news came via the NHS’s ‘Statistics on Smoking’ Report 2019. The report detailed that, as suspected, the most common reasons for vapers choosing to vape is because they want to quit smoking. Quickly becoming the go-to tool for people trying to quit smoking, the report found that the number of smokers continues to decline. 19.8% in 2011, the current percentage of smokers in the UK has since reduced to 14.4%, which is down from 14.9% in 2017. The numbers equate to around 1.8 million smokers quitting since 2011. What makes the report such fascinating reading, is that since 2011 the number of smokers quitting is mostly within the younger age groups of 18-24 with numbers exponentially decreasing the older the age group. Compared with the underage vaping epidemic that the US is currently experiencing, the latest figures show us that despite claims made by various media outlets, juvenile vaping in the UK remains relatively problem-free.

Update 2020. ASH (Action on smoking and health) have now confirmed in their recent press release on Vaping: “In 2019 around half as many Britons now vape as smoke, and the majority are ex-smokers

CDC Say Vaping is Safe

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that the US vaping industry has become a focal point for scrutiny in recent months. From the controversy surrounding JUUL marketing their products to those under age to the outbreak of a mysterious vaping related illness that hospitalized thousands, the question of whether vaping is safe has been a prevalent one. While no specific ingredients have been mentioned as a cause, the understanding is that e-liquids containing THC has caused the illnesses. Furthermore, it is thought that the e-liquids in question may have been bought illicitly. 

Tasked with investigating the outbreak, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) have since revealed that they do not believe the explosion of illnesses are linked to long-term vaping.

While the vaping epidemic in the US has dominated the headlines in recent months, the wealth of positive vaping news, research and study that took place in 2019 is something to give a hearty cheer about. Bring on 2020 and a smoke-free future for all.

If you’ve heard about the recent outbreak of a mysterious vaping related illness that is making its way across the US, then you may be wondering whether or not it’s safe to vape and if you might be affected. Let’s take a look at the details and provide some reassurance that it is safe to vape in the UK despite what’s happening in the US. 

What is happening in the US?

First reported in September, the e-cigarette news that has been occupying the headlines around the world is the outbreak of a serious lung disease that has been sweeping across the US. With over 1,500 cases reported from 49 states, the disease has sadly accounted for 38 deaths to date. The high number of cases and fatalities speak volumes about the severity of the disease, though the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) who are investigating, have said that the illness is confined to a specific group of people. 

With the majority of patients identified as young males (70% male with an average age of 24), the predominantly common theme is that patients with the lung illness had been vaping products that contained THC. `While this may be a regular theme among the illnesses, the team at the CDC who have been investigating the case say there isn’t a specific substance that they can conclusively identify as the cause. Additionally, it appears that the THC containing products that may be responsible had been sourced illicitly from street dealers or from friends and family who may have obtained those products from the black market. Confusingly, while no specific chemicals have been attributed as the cause, the CDC says that it is not clear whether all the cases are even the same kind of lung disease. 

The illicit nature of e liquids potentially vaped by many of the patients has led to a US-based study of illegal e-liquids. Of 12 illicit e-liquid cartridges tested, 9 contained dangerously high levels of Vitamin E – a substance banned by the TPD and not found in UK or EU made e liquid cartridges. Worryingly, of the 12 THC vape cartridges, all contained pesticides, including myclobutanil, which breaks down into the highly poisonous hydrogen cyanide when vaped and inhaled. 

Due to the sudden outbreak of illnesses, states across the US have begun to ban and limit the sales of various e-liquid flavours, while the US administration explores the idea of a nationwide ban. But what does this kind of legislation mean for those who value vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking tobacco products, who use e-cigarettes to stay smoke-free?

Outbreak Not Associated to Long Term Vaping

An item of information that may provide US vapers with some hope is that the CDC, do not believe that the current outbreak of lung-illnesses is related to long-term vaping. With an estimated 9 million US vapers currently enjoying the benefits that e-cigarettes afford, the danger of vilifying the vaping industry and banning e cigarettes could mean that the millions of US vapers may be warned off vaping entirely and consequently return to smoking tobacco cigarettes to satisfy their cravings for nicotine.  

E-Cigarettes Still Far-Less Harmful Than Smoking

It should come as no surprise that the illegal drugs market is a global market, which means that any harmful products in the US have the potential to make their way to UK shores. While the threat of illicit e liquids finding their way to the UK remains, the advice for vapers is to stay vigilant and avoid the temptation of vaping e liquids if you’re uncertain about where the e liquid has been sourced from. 

Ensure that what you’re vaping is safe and always buy your e-liquid from a reputable brand that has good reviews to back it up. E liquids from companies such as Vapour2 will use only the best ingredients and are lab tested for your safety per the Tobacco Product Directive.  

The advice of Public Health England (PHE) is that e-cigarettes are still far less harmful than smoking tobacco cigarettes and that vaping has the potential to provide smokers with a route to becoming smoke-free. An independent study conducted in 2015 and published by PHE says that e-cigarettes are up to 95% less harmful than smoking, while more recent research indicates that vaping is up to twice as effective as other nicotine replacement products such as patches and gums. 

Affable, affordable and a great introduction to dry herb vaping, the Vie Dry Herb Vaporizer at £49.95 is one of most cost-friendly dry herb devices to be found on the market. Compact and convenient, let’s take a look at and review the Vie Dry Herb Vaporizer in all its glory.  

Vie’s Vital Statistics

• Build Quality:7
• Ease Of Use: 7.9
• Heat Chamber Size: 8.5
• Multiple Heat Settings: 9.2
• Value For Money: 9.7

PROS

• Affordable
• 2 airflow options
• 3 heat modes
• 4 temperature settings
• Herb capsules create 360⁰even heating of herbs
• Use for dry herbs and wax concentrates
• Dry herb capsule stores 0.3 grams
• 200 vape puffs per charge

CONS

• Vaporizer heats up in 1 minute
• Not suitable for e-liquids

Vie Heating Chamber & Capsules

First things first, the Vie is not to be used with e-liquids. This is a device for those seeking an alternative to the conventional e-liquids that have become so popular. While you may be content with loosely packing your leaves directly into the heating chamber, Vie provides a designated dry herb capsule that stores 0.3g of herbs. Perfect for those on the go, pre-prepare capsules that are mechanically and thermodynamically designed to evenly heat your herbs to 360⁰to create a great tasting flavourful vape. 

Variable Heat Settings

For those looking to truly take control of their vaping experience, the Vie will offer you quite the range of temperature settings to suit your tastes. 

Depending on what you’re vaping will determine which heat setting you will need. Whether you’re going to load dry herbs directly into the chamber, use herb capsules or even use concentrates or wax capsules, the Vie will afford you multiple heat modes and temperature settings to provide the optimum heat necessary to create the best vaping experience. 

To adjust the heat settings suitable for what you want to vape, you’ll need to press and hold the temperature level button, which can be found on the bottom of your Vie. Then to change the heating mode, simply tap the power button. A blue light will indicate the low heat mode suitable for loading your herbs directly into the heating chamber, a red light signals the correct temperature for dry herb capsules and a purple light indicates the heat mode required for concentrates and wax capsules. 

In addition to the various heat modes that you’ll be able to select, you can also apply alternative temperature settings. Once you’re in your desired heat mode, simply select the temperature level by pressing the button found on the bottom of your device. With each press of the button, you’ll be able to navigate through four variable temperature settings, which will be indicated via the LED bars found on the front of your device. One bar indicates 170⁰C/338⁰F, two bars for 200⁰C/392⁰F, three bars will provide heat of 220⁰C/428⁰F and finally, four bars will create heat of 250⁰C/482⁰F.

Vie Battery Life

Considering the tech that has gone into this powerful bit of kit, the battery life of the Vie is comparable to some of the far more expensive devices available on the market. With a charging time of approximately one to two hours via a designated USB cable, a fully charged Vie will provide you with up to 200 puffs to enjoy before having to re-charge. Keen to know how much power you have remaining? The light found near the micro USB port will let you know what kind of charge you have left on your device. A green light represents 50-100%, an orange light 30-49%, while a red light means that you have 5-19% left. If you’re seeing a red flashing light, it means that you’ve got less than 5% left and you’ll need to get yourself to a charging point pronto.

Want to vape but think you can’t whilst your device is charging? The Vie has a unique Safe Pass-Through feature, which will let you vape even whilst your device is plugged in. 

Vie Design

Sleek, stylish and unassuming, the jet-black coloured Vie is ergonomically designed to fit discreetly into the palm of your hand to let you sit back and vape dry herbs with ease. While you might find similarly designed vaporizers on the market, the Vie includes some unique design features that leave you feeling suitably impressed. 

Airflow is an important attribute of any vape. Determining how hot or cool the vapour you inhale is can be the difference between a sweet or sour experience. Contributing to further control in the temperature department, the Vie has a small silicone insert that can be found underneath the mouthpiece. On one side of the insert, you’ll see a maze and on the other just a single hole. For dry herbs, the side of the insert with a maze will help to cool the vapour by spreading the surface area of the vapour before you inhale. The single hole will provide a direct airflow, which is good for products like concentrates and wax. 

Essential Accessories

If want to venture into the world of dry herb vaping, the key to experiencing the perfect vape will be the quality, coarseness and consistency of the herbs that you’re packing into the chamber. Investing in a robust herb grinder such as the Vapour2 PRO Grinder that will finely cut your herbs to the correct consistency will ensure that none of your herbs goes to waste. Always make sure to add dry herbs to your grinder.

A few simple twists should be all that is required to produce the kind of final consistency that you’re looking for. If you grind your herbs too much, your mixture may be too fine which means that your chambers contents may be too dense to vape effectively. If your herb mixture is too fine, you’ll ultimately reduce the airflow and limit the surface area of the herbs that you’re trying to vape. Avoid attempting to grind any moist or damp leaves, as these will clog up your grinder. 

Vie Dry Herb Vaporizer Kit Contents

Considering the Vie costs just under £50, you get a lot of brilliant stuff for your bucks. In addition to the Vie Herb Vaporizer, the kit contains two herb capsules, a wax concentrate capsule, USB cable and a whole host of cleaning goodies to keep the device free from any build-up of excess herbs.

• 1 x VIE Vaporizer
• 1 x Quick Start Guide
• 1 x Advanced User Manual
• 1 x 20cm/12inch USB/Micro Cable
• 1 x Stainless Steel Carrying Tube
• 2 x Herb Capsules
• 1 x Concentrate/ Wax Capsule
• 1 x Cleaning Kit & Parts
• 1 x Microfibre Cleaning Cloth
• 1 x Thick Brush
• 1 x Thin Brush
• 4 x Stainless Steel Screens
• 1 x Large Pick Tool
• 1 x Portable Pick Tool
• 1 x Herb Auto-Packing Spring
• 1 x Sim Card extractor tool

CONCLUSION

Priced at just under £50, it’s hard to find any faults with the Vie Even if there were any qualms or queries, finding a dry herb vaporizer that’s as affordable and multi-functional as this is hard to come by. If you’re looking for a simple, yet highly capable dry herb vaporizer for the home then choosing the Vie would be a wise move to make. 

Known as the ‘powerhouse of vaporisers’, MigVapor’s recent Khan model has taken the market by storm. Offering phenomenal performance and a small form-factor, the Khan is a dry herb vaporizer designed to provide an optimal vaping experience for users of all stripes. 

So, how does it stack up against some key criteria and is it worth considering as an upgrade or a solid first step into the world of herbal vaping?

Battery life: One of the main draws of the device is its powerful 2500mAH battery. Able to fit in the device’s slim housing, the powerpack ensures long-lasting use and enables a range of variable temperature settings; giving you a staggering range of 150-240°C for the device.

The high capacity battery goes from empty to fully charged within 2-3 hours, locking the device into charge mode and preventing it from accidentally being turned on whilst plugged in. While it can be a little frustrating waiting between charges, a portable battery pack can easily help you top-up on the go with no fuss. 

Usability: The Khan solely deals with loose-leaf products and is top loading, letting users avoid the finicky changing mechanisms that come with hybrid vapes. Five short clicks on the device’s button activates the heating mode and a built-in vibration function means that you can be quietly informed that your device is ready to go without being forced to ‘clock watch’. 

The Khan’s housing is made from elegant aluminium that has been branded by the device’s signature snake motif, packing a lot of bite in a small frame. The device also enjoys a smooth draw through an isolated air path, ensure that your vape always operates at maximum efficiency. Marry this with a colossal 0.5g capacity chamber and you have a device that can make sure your chosen supplement lasts as long as you need it to. 

Variable heat settings 

Settings: As with many of MigVapor’s products, usability is of the utmost importance. The device is controlled by a central button that powers on in three seconds, allowing you to quickly access your temperature control mode and other options. This is all presented through a neat smart screen that allows you to make key adjustments with ease, whether it’s a burst of power for a strong smoking session or a gentle heat to make the most of your herbal product. 

This also allows you to tweak your overall battery settings and find the perfect balance between longevity and performance, letting you easily switch your settings as needed – even on the move. While the device may take some initial getting used to, checking through its fantastic user manual can have your tailoring the settings and making it your vape in no time at all. 

Value for money: As with many V2 products, the Khan comes with a wealth of accessories to keep your vape going for as long as possible. This includes an additional glass mouthpiece and a range of maintenance and cleaning tools at no additional cost. Chief among these useful extras is the dry herb bubbler that comes as a free piece of additional kit and has become a massive USP for the item.

Made from balanced, graded Pyrex, the bubbler cools the smoke leaving your vape. This reduces the ‘burn’ that often accompanies other products and creates a smooth, clear draw that can only be replicated through much larger, non-portable devices. While the bubbler is robust, it’s always advisable to take extra care of your product and picking up a case can help ensure that your items stay safe and intact. 

Mig Vapor Torpedo kit contents 

• Torpedo dry herb vaporizer -2200 mAh
• 5 Mesh filters
• 2 long black silicone mouthpieces
• 3 silicone mouthpieces
• 1 cleaning brush
• 1 USB charger
• 1 Torpedo user guide

In Conclusion

The Khan is a genuinely surprising package that fits a lot of options into an elegant piece of kit. Unlike many multi-use vapes that deal with e liquids, the device focuses on doing one thing <i>excellently</i> and provides a best-in-show herbal vaping experience. While it may sit at the higher end of the market when it comes to its price point, the device unquestionably delivers for the casual user and seasoned professional alike; offering functionality, durability, and a reliable performance, charge after charge. If you’re serious about enjoying your herbal vaping, it’s well worth taking the time to invest in a product that not only lasts, but is guaranteed to deliver time and time again. 

If you want to learn more about the Khan you can view it in our online store and review the specifications.