It seems like every year, it’s harder and harder for a smoker to find a place to enjoy a cigarette. I quit a couple years ago, but when I still smoked, I’d find it annoying having to go out of my way to find a place to smoke without bothering non-smokers. It was after I quit that I started finding smokeless electronic cigarettes and wished I’d found them sooner. Recently, I was sent this kit from Blu Electronic Cigarettes to review.
What Is A Smokeless Cigarette
Smokeless is the key word here. A smokeless cigarette is one that doesn’t produce any smoke because it doesn’t burn tobacco. Instead, it uses an atomizer to turn a liquid form of nicotine into a vapor that is inhaled rather than smoke. Although it’s not exactly the same as a Marlboro, it’s advantages include less spending, less health risks, and no second-hand smoke. Perhaps the biggest advantage offered by an electronic cigarette is the ability to get your nicotine anywhere without bothering other people. I’ve used these indoors in several places where smoke is not welcomed.
Comparing Smokes
This isn’t my first kit I’ve reviewed, so I am fortunate to be able to compare Blu electronic cigarettes not only to traditional tobacco burning cigarettes, but also to other smokeless electronic cigarettes. As expected, the taste and feel wasn’t quite the same as actually smoking. The taste is different, but not necessarily bad. It’s milder and easier to drag from. A Blu cigarette is also heavier than a tobacco cigarette, so holding it in my lips was a bit of a challenge.
So how does Blu compare to other electronic cigarettes? As for the taste and cigarette-like experience, it’s really very similar to other brands. My initial experience was that it was hard to get a good drag out of my e-cigarette, which was likely due to a low battery charge as I had no problems with a new battery. The weight and overall feel was also about the same as other brands, although it seemed just a little smaller.
Where Blu stood apart from the rest of the pack was in convenience and presentation. From the sleek black design to the light-up blue tip, Blu’s electronic cigarette makes a bit of a fashion statement. It’s sure to make people ask about it. The kit included a black box to carry your cigarettes in and charge the batteries. Along with a compartment for a full e-cigarette, it has a slot to plug in a battery for charging and slots for additional cartridges. An additional charger that came with my kit was smaller and could be plugged in via USB. The second charger is ideal for taking it with you on the go.
Blu Has Flavor
Many electronic cigarettes offer options for light or full flavor. Blu provided me with a rainbow of flavors that included Classic Tobacco, Magnificent Menthol, Vivid Vanilla, Java Jolt, and Cherry Crush.
The added flavors were a nice change from just tobacco flavor.
Conclusions
The feel of a Blu electronic cigarette is a lot like its competitors in its experience, but it brings more to the table with the convenient charging and carrying options, better design, and a variety of flavors. It’s also cheaper than I’ve seen other kits selling for. This is a top pick if you’re in the market for a smokeless electronic cigarette.
I used to be a smoker. I used to smoke almost a pack a day of cigarettes and I enjoyed it as an activity. I still like the smell of someone else smoking, but I quit almost two years ago. I quit for a number of reasons, including the health concerns, the rising cost of a pack of cigarettes, laws permitting smoking just about anywhere here in Arizona, the smell others near me had to deal with, and the effects of second hand smoke on others. It wasn’t until after I quit that I realized the horrible lingering smell of a smoker that only a non-smoker notices. I bought a new car a couple weeks ago. It’s the first car I’ve had that I didn’t pollute with cigarette smoke and I “smoked” a SuperSmoker Blue electronic cigarette in it on the way to work this morning.
Benefits and drawbacks of an electronic cigarette
First, I’d like to point out again that I don’t think an electronic cigarette is a good alternative to not smoking at all. If you don’t smoke, you’re not missing anything and you’re saving a lot of money. I do think an e-cigarette is a good alternative to traditional smoking for many reasons, but I’ll start with some of the drawbacks of an e-cigarette over a traditional one. There’s really just a couple. The first, of course is that, in my opinion, no electronic cigarette has truly been able to replicate the taste and feel of a traditional cigarette. The second slight problem with an e-cigarette is that when yor supply runs out, you can’t just replenish it at any convenience store (that I know of). That said, it’s important to note that this (and other) electronic cigarettes have advanced a lot over the years. The first smokeless cigarette I tried years ago felt awkward and tasted like burnt cookies. It was horrible. The SuperSmoker tastes like a cigarette and could easily be a suitable replacement to fill the need for the taste and nicotine. It also feels a lot like a cigarette. There’s still room for improvement here, but the form factor is pretty decent and it’s easy to hold, even if it is (understandably) a little heavier than what a smoker is used to. The other benefits that aren’t immediately apparent just by using the SuperSmoker have their impact on your health, convenience, and wallet. While I’m not going to say these are healthy, I will point out that they are reportedly much better for you and for people around you. The device uses an atomizer that takes the liquid nicotine from the cartridge and turns it into a fine vapor that you inhale. Because there’s no burning of paper and tobacco, they’ve cut out the inhaling of a lot of the junk that makes smoking bad for you. That means the people near you don’t inhale second hand smoke, either. Again, better to not smoke at all, but this is the lesser evil in terms of health risks. The cost benefit is better as well. A kit may cost a little up front (€109 on the site), but a box of cartridges (€15 on the site) gives you (and I’m estimating here) about three to four times as many drags as you’d get out of a pack of cigarettes and maybe more if you count all the times you have to put one out early. The savings comes long term. The final benefit I find with these is the convenience of being able to get your fix anywhere you want. Here in Arizona, smoking is prohibited in just about any public building, but inhaling the vapor from an e-cigarette is not smoking and is excluded from the law. If I were still a smoker, in need of my nicotine and oral fixation on a regular basis, this convenience would be a huge selling point. Imagine being able to use this on the plane, in a mall, or just at your desk. When I worked in Detroit, I often hated that I had to freeze outdoors to have a cigarette during work hours. This could have been very handy.
How does it work?
The technology is something I don’t want to delve too deep into, but I’ll fill you in on the basics. The device recognizes the flow of air created when you inhale and that triggers a chip to heat up the atomizer. The atomizer uses liquid nicotine from the cartridge and turns it into a vapor, which you inhale. It’s all pretty lightning quick, so you inhale and you’ve got some nicotine vapor in your mouth, which can be inhaled like cigarette smoke.
The cartridges come in Normal, Light, Zero, and Menthol and are disposable. The kit comes with a box of 24 Zeros, the SuperSmoker, the charger, a nice little case and an adapter to plug into U.S. outlets. Each box of cartridges comes with a new atomizer because you need to change it every 24 cartridges. Unfortunately, you need to charge it for about three hours before using it the first time.
Comparisons Above, I already compared this to the traditional cigarettes you can find at any convenience store and despite the couple of small drawbacks, I think this wins hands down. The pros far outweigh the small cons. As a package, it’s pretty much in line with other products I’ve seen and tried with some small differences. The first difference I noted was that the cartridges seems a little flimsy. This wasn’t an issue for me since they are disposable, though. Also, I think this can be partially attributed to the fact that they are made to feel more like the filtered end of a cigarette. It actually feels a little soft and cottony. If the feel of a cigarette is important to you, the SuperSmoker has an advantage with its cartridges. The next thing that I noticed was the carrying case. I hadn’t seen this offered with other devices and it was a nice touch. Inside the case there’s spots to put the e-cigarette and a couple cartridges. I also noted a difference in the cost. The starter kit was more expensive than others I had come across, but if I were shopping around, the added starting cost might be worth it for the softer filters and other long-term advantages. One of the things I did not like about this and other electronic cigarettes is the light-up tip. If I was 16 again, that might be something I thought was cool, but as an adult, I’d prefer not to have it at all. Aside from the benefit of less battery consumption, I would also be able to remain a bit more discreet while using the SuperSmoker. I don’t mean discreet like “sneaky”. I mean discreet as in I’d rather not have to explain to every flight attendant and passenger that it’s not really lit or emitting smoke. Over all, I think it’s a good product for the money and it’s as close as you’ll get to a real cigarette without all the smoke.
Remember when I told you how you can legally smoke anywhere? It’s been a pretty interesting week. Over the weekend, I got an email from NJOY announcing what they had previously asked me to keep quiet about. I am excited to say that I can finally tell you what they’ve had in the works all this time. On top of that, one of the people who bought an NJOY starter kit after my last post let me know that they heard about the NPRO and are probably going to upgrade. A friend of mine had seen the NJOY products here and a few other places and wrote to thank me for the 10% discount he got by just using my coupon code, “Joe10″. The reaction I’ve gotten after my first post has just been so positive that it’s no wonder people are still thanking me for the 10% off code.
Introducing NPRO
I’ve been waiting a few months now for NJOY to unveil their new product because I knew a little about what was in store and I knew everyone would love it. Here’s the basics:
The most exciting part about this to me is the form factor. I know a lot of people have really loved the original NJOY product, but they wanted something that looked and felt more like a cigarette. This is exactly what they wanted. It’s a smokeless cigarette that looks, feels, tastes, but does not smell like a real cigarette.
Why should I buy an electronic cigarette?
There’s a number of reasons, actually. For starters, it’s actually healthier. Because it doesn’t actually burn tobacco, there’s no carcinogens. It’s cheaper, too. Click the paragraph above and try the savings calculator on the right side of the NPRO products page to see what I mean. Of course, most people I know buy it so they can relax for a minute with their nicotine without having to go outside.
Here’s just some of the places you can enjoy an NPRO legally, where you can not enjoy a regular cigarette:
on a long flight
in your office
in the local coffee shop
in your favorite restaurant
while shopping in the mall
in any elevator
I wish I had this when I was a smoker. I was living in Michigan, having to come down from my 4th floor office and stand in the freezing cold every time I wanted to smoke. Then there were the 6 hour flights back to Phoenix with no smoking. The NJOY or NPRO would have been really handy for me.
Save some cash
Remember, NJOY gave me a special coupon code that allows me to knock 10% off the purchases of all my readers. All you have to do is enter “Joe10″ when asked for a coupon code while purchasing. You’ll automatically get a 10% discount.
Last week, a link to this video came across my Twitter. The claim was that there is a cigarette that is “mostly harmless”. Having smoked for several years (and having quit to be more healthy), I became intrigued pretty quickly. After watching the video, I emailed the marketing department, and Jim (the guy “not smoking” in the video) responded. As it turns out, NJOY is headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ. Today, I had a chance to tour their offices, try the product, and sit down with Jim for some details on how it all works. If you decide to buy anything from NJOY, be sure to save 10% on your purchase with the coupon code, “Joe10“.
After watching the video, I had a few questions.
What is NJOY?
The short answer is that it is a non-burning, smokeless, (mostly) odorless electronic cigarette. By definition, it’s not even a cigarette. It’s really an electronic device that emits a nicotine vapor that is inhaled. There’s no flames, smoke, second-hand risk (that I am aware of) or any of the typical characteristics of a cigarette that annoy non-smokers. It’s more like a social improvement on the use of nicotine.
Can I really smoke it on a plane?
Legally, yes. When I met with Jim, he was happy to show me some helpful documentation. Included in this was a letter from the Transportation Security Administration, stating that because the device is not a tobacco product, the laws that prohibit smoking on a plane don’t apply. As a matter of fact, since it doesn’t produce smoke, it is legal to use anywhere smoking is otherwise banned. This would have been really handy when I was living in Detroit and had to brave the zero degree winter weather for my nicotine fix at work.
Does it cause cancer?
Smoking is bad, and NJOY seems to avoid the whole tar and carcinogens issue completely by providing a cigarette that produces neither. The main reason I quit smoking is because of the risk of cancer. I liked smoking, but I eventually got to a point where I decided that I was too old and too smart to continue spending money to risk getting cancer. While NJOY contains the nicotine that smokers crave, it doesn’t create the tar, it’s actually healthier than smoking traditional cigarettes. It does still feel like a cigarette, though. This is probably what I liked most about it.
It must be expensive, right?
The second motivator for me giving up cigarettes was the rising cost. I smoked about a half pack per day at almost $6 per pack. To put it into perspective, quitting smoking pretty much pays for my dedicated server at $100 per month. Had I known about NJOY, I would probably still be “smoking”, only without the health risks and at about half the cost. An NJOY cartridge provides about the equivalent of two packs of cigarettes, but only costs about $5. If you’re having a hard time quitting, switching to NJOY could be an alternative that will at least save you money.
Is there a smell?
I asked Jim about the odor. As a smoker, I hadn’t noticed it much, but as a non-smoker, the smoke odor that sticks to a smoker is pretty noticeable. I couldn’t smell it at all. While I puffed away at the cigarette model, Jim took a big drag from the cigar model and I leaned in to smell the vapor he exhaled. I had to try pretty hard to get the odor. The strawberry cigarette model smelled a bit like strawberries.
How does it work?
This is the part that has me so excited. I still don’t understand it 100 percent, but the basics are pretty clear. The cigarette comes in three pieces. There’s the battery (the “cherry” half of the cigarette), the actual vaporizing component that contains the microelectronics in the middle, and the “replaceable cartridge containing water, propylene glycol, nicotine, a scent that emulates a tobacco flavor and a membrane to suspend the ingredients” that makes up the “butt” end you inhale through.
When you take a drag, the vaporization process is triggered, vaporizing and heating the nicotine and flavor scent. This warm vapor is what you are inhaling, making it feel like a drag from a real cigarette and providing you with the tiny dose of nicotine. When you exhale, you expel the vapor, but if you are trying to not look like you are smoking for some reason, you can just hold it in. The thing I like about this process is that you can just take a drag and then not have another until you want it. Any smoker who has been interrupted during a smoke and saved that half cigarette for later knows the benefit I’m talking about.
The investment
I look at this like having a printer at home. You’ll save money printing things yourself at home, but you need to first invest in the printer. This isn’t much different. They’ve got a starter kit that comes with all the goodies you would need to get started. Then you just buy the cartridges. The starter kit is $110 ($99 with the coupon), which sounds expensive at first, but if you smoke a pack a day, you would make up that cost after just over a month of smoking. After that, you’d be saving money.
Is it for me?
For me, maybe not. I’ve quit smoking, so for me it would re-introduce the nicotine and probably start my habit back up. My brother, on the other hand would love this. He’s still a smoker and could definitely benefit from the savings and the convenience. The starter kit may actually be his next birthday gift. As for you, it really depends on where you are today. If you’re not a smoker, there’s not much reason to start, but if you’re already smoking, it makes sense to reduce the health risks and cost and be able to have that cigarette when you need it, regardless of location.
At the end of the day, I found that I really liked the product. Jim filled me in on some new things they’ve got in the works, too. I promised to not say what they are, but if the product interests you, subscribe to their updates (bottom of the site) to get informed. They’re working on some pretty cool stuff.
