Zootie's Vapors (Too) is coming to Historic Downtown Leesburg Virginia

Hey Everybody!  I am excited to announce Zootie's Vapors is expanding.  We have secured a spot in historic downtown Leesburg VA!  Our second location is located at 19-C Wirt St SW Leesburg, VA 20175.  Yes, we are taking over the old Vapor Studio location on the bottom floor (accessible from the street).  It will take us a couple weeks to get everything set up and ready, but we are planning to be open for business on October 20th.  Even though it's just 5 miles away, for everyone who thought Paeonian Springs was in another country, this new location will be closer to visit from the metro DC area.  We are focusing on getting the front retail space open first, but we also have BIG plans for our lounge area.  The closest parking is the Town Hall Garage, where your first hour is free and we will be able to validate for a second hour.  Also this garage is free after 5pm and on weekends.  There is also some street parking and a free parking lot on Liberty street.

We are looking forward to bringing you affordable prices, great selection, and incredible customer service at this new location.

Be sure to follow both locations on Facebook:
Paeonian Springs (The Fog Cabin): https://www.facebook.com/ZootiesVaporsStore
Downtown Leesburg (Zootie's Too): https://www.facebook.com/ZootiesVaporsLeesburg

We are also on Instagram: Zooties_Vapors, Twitter: ZootieVapors, and now on SnapChat!

How to use Temperature Control on an IPV without Nickel (ni200)

There is a lot of talk lately about the safety of vaping with nickle wire.  Health reasons aside, personally, I get a funky taste when using nickel builds in my RDA, so I have been staying away.  I also want to see more studies and reports regarding leaching toxic metals before I junp on the nickel band wagon.

So does that mean Temperature Controlled devices, like the IPV3 Li or the IPV 4S are not worth the money?  Not entirely.  With those devices, you can actually trick the devices to use the temperature control settings WITH Kanthal wire!  Granted, they arent as accurate as with using temperature sensing wire like ni200 or titanium, but if youre like me, and dont want to risk the possible health risks of using these wires just quite yet (or you have an allergic reaction to the metal), this is a great trick that you can use to still take advantage of this really neat feature.

But why is Temperature Control so popular?  Well its simple.  When you push your button on a regular wattage (regulated or unregulated) device, the device will continue to push power to the coil and the coil will get hotter and hotter and hotter.  With temperature control, you can set how hot you want your coil to fire, and regardless of how long you hold the power button down for, the coil will only get as hot as the temperature you set.  This is great for the life of your coil, saves on juice, AND will keep your coil within safe vaping parameters.

With both the IPV3 Li and the IPV4s by Pioneer4U, there is a feature that you can set the resistance of your coil.  You do this by pressing both the up and down arrow at the same time.  This is useful if you change your coils or RDA/Tanks frequently.  Always make sure you do this with each build so your device can fire the coil properly.  If you get burnt taste in tanks or your RDA is not firing as hot or quick as it should, be sure to check this setting.  Also as your coil gets more used, the ohms will increase over time, so its important to check this setting at least daily if not every few days, even if you dont swap out atomizers.

If you've downloaded and upgraded the most recent firmware on your IPV3 Li, it includes titanium support.  IPV4s comes that way by default.  If you have an original IPV4, you can download the 120 watt upgrade as well.  I prefer using the titanium setting as opposed to the nickel setting when using a standard Kanthal build because it allows me to adjust the Joules higher than 50.  Joules is essentially the same as watts, in that it will determine how quickly your coil heats up.  I usually use between 50-65 Joules when running in temp control mode because I build around a .2 to .35 ohm standard dual coil.  If you dont vape higher than 50 watts, then you can use either the nickel or the titanium setting.  they operate the same way when using Kanthal.

Here's where the magic happens.  If you set your proper resistance and use the titanium (or nickel setting) on these devices, even with Kanthal wire, I have found that the coil doesnt get AS hot as if you were just running in standard power mode.  The benefits of this is, you will not get as many dry (or burnt) drags, even when the cotton isnt fully dry AND you will be able to dry out your cotton much better than with normal power mode.  I find I can get anywhere from 8 to 10 more drags using the temperature setting than with regular power mode.

I have been using this trick since I first purchased my IPV4, and I used it with my IPV3 Li.  Both devices handle this trick really well, so much so that I hardly ever use power mode (except when first building and firing off my coils between cotton changes).

Unfortunately not all temperature sensing devices are equal.  This trick will NOT work in the Snow Wolf or any other device that automatically senses whether or not youre using a nickel or titanium wire.

So until we get a definitive answer regarding the safety of using specialty wire, its nice to know that there are workarounds for those of us who want to take advantage of the temperature control settings while using normal Kathal wire builds.  Give it a try and let me know your experience in the comment section.

Hardware Choices For New Vapers

In today's article, I'll discuss the hardware options for new vapers or for those looking to upgrade out of a starter kit/cigalike.

When many of us decide to start vaping, there is a natural progression that we go through.  With thousands of products on the market, it can sometimes be confusing.  Add in the overabundance of information on YouTube and online, and it only makes it more difficult to figure out what is the right device when getting started in this fast growing vaping world.

When you're starting out, the best advice I can give is to go visit a reputable vape shop.  A shop like Zootie's Vapors will take time to explain everything thoroughly and make sure that you know how to use your new device before you leave the shop.  This process can take anywhere from 20-30 minutes to select the right product, pick out some e-liquid and get everything set up to start vaping on the spot, so be sure to leave plenty of time. Be cautious of vape shops that try to oversell you or do not take the time to explain everything to you before leaving.  As I have said in several of my blogs, not all vape shops are created equal, so if they aren't knowledgeable or make you feel comfortable, please do not support their business by spending money in their shop.  There are plenty of shops that will work hard to earn your business and earn your trust.

The first thing we do is gauge a person's commitment level.  Ask yourself if you are just exploring it as an option and you don't want to make a big financial investment, or if you are serious about making the switch from smoking to vaping.  Having an idea as far as your vape budget is also helpful, keeping in mind that the lower priced entry-level starter kits may not be as good (less battery life, vapor production, less flavor), but it will help you see if vaping is right for you.  Sometimes a little more investment upfront will prevent going through several devices that either don't work for you, or find yourself needing to constantly upgrade.

Also keep in mind that vaping is not cheap.  You will buy juice and coils on a regular basis.  Most beginner vapers can expect to invest $100-$200 for your initial device(s) and anywhere from $20-$50/week in consumables.

When someone walks into my shop for the first time, we lay out 3-5 options, from entry-level to higher-end starter kits.  The EVOD vape pen kit for less than $40 comes with 2 batteries, 2 tanks and a charger.  These batteries do not last very long and often this is the choice of someone on a restricted vape budget, or for someone who is not entirely committed to vaping.  Many times, this choice will either lead to an immediate upgrade (within a month or two) or a backslide to cigarettes, but it is the modestly priced entry point into vaping.

The next step up would be either the Aspire Starter kit or a Joytech Ego One.  The Aspire has 2 price points, one at an entry level or the premium kit that uses a Nautilus tank and variable voltage.  The benefit of variable voltage is you can dial in your vapor experience to your preference for more vapor/flavor, etc.  The Ego One has 3 different sizes, the Mini (850mah battery and 1.5ml tank), the XL (2200mah and 2.5ml tank) or the Mega (2600mah and 4ml tank).  These are some of our best sellers because they are affordable (retail between $58-$78), have good flavor and adjustable airflow control.

Stepping out of the starter pen and getting into the variable voltage/variable wattage (VV/VW) devices, you have the always popular Eleaf iStick.  These range from 10 watts (mini) to 50 watts.  The battery life ranges from 1050mah to 4400mah.  There is also a 75, 100 and 150 watt soon to be released, but when we're talking about starter kits, hardly anyone will need more than 50-60 watts.  With these devices you can adjust your wattage (or voltage) to fine tune your vaping experience and they are very affordable (retail $30-$82).  The only downside is you will need to purchase either an RDA or a tank, so these aren't really "kits".  There are also brands like Cloupor that makes a 30 watt box, or SMOK that offers several devices in the same price point.

Entering the market now are higher-end starter kits.  Both Kangertech and Joytech released their own starter kit over the last few months.  Kangertech Subox mini is a 50 watt VV/VW device that comes paired with their very popular sub-tank.  We have these kits in black and white, but they are also available in purple and pink too.  The only downside to this device is you will need to purchase a battery because it doesn't have a sealed battery like many of the other starter kits.  It takes a standard flat-top 18650 2600mah battery that will run you $12 each.  Many people opt to also get an external charger and a spare battery to swap out even though you can charge through this device.

Following the trend of temperature controlled devices, Joytech has taken a big jump ahead with their EVIC-VT.  This VV/VW device also has a sealed 5000mah battery and comes in hot colors.  It has the ego mega tank which comes with both a titanium and a nickel coil.  Nickel and titanium are the popular metal wire used in temperature sensing coils.  The benefits of having a temperature control device is so you can set an actual temperature of your coil, so you can prevent burnt or dry hits.  By setting your device at say 400 degrees, no matter how long you hold the button down for, the coil will only get to 400 degrees and pulse to stay there.  I really wish this was around when I first started vaping because I don't know what I did before temp control came around.  Ah yes I do, I got a lot of burnt hits :)

So in a nutshell, those are the options for someone getting into vaping.  The next article I write will talk about taking the next step from tanks/starter kits into more advanced devices and RDAs.  As always, if you would like to experience what a vape shop can do for you, please be sure to stop by Zootie's Vapors at 40602 Charles Town Pike Paeonian Springs VA 20129.

Vaping For Beginners - Part 1: How To Get A Great Experience

On a daily basis, people come to me and ask about vaping,.  Many of these people have never tried vaping and heard that it could help them quit smoking while some are just curious because they are starting to see new vape shops pop up all over the place.  Over the next few weeks, I will focus these blog posts towards the beginning vaper - someone who has either tried to quit smoking unsuccessfully or someone who wants to get the best experience in their journey of getting off the smokes and into vaping.

Today, I wanted to start with How To Get A Great Experience - the first time and every time.

STEP 1 - DO YOUR HOMEWORK: The first thing any new vaper must do is educate themselves.  This could be spending hours in front of YouTube, or talking to people who already vape.  The hardest part about this self-discovery is making sure you are getting the best (and correct) information.  There are too many people online who really don't know what they are talking about - and sometimes they can be the loudest voices.  Likewise, you may have a friend who is a cloud-chaser and could possibly steer you into getting something that may not be the right device for you.  What'e even worse is going into a less-than-respectable "vape shop" to get wrong information, bad products, or getting generally overcharged for what they claim to be authentic devices.

STEP 2 - READ REVIEWS:  If you're relying on a shop to steer you into your first vape, get on Yelp or Facebook and see what others say about them.  Not all shops are created equally.  There are shops that focus on cloud-chasing or the "hangout" aspect of the vaping community.  There are dedicated vape shops that only focus on e-liquids and there are even shops that muddy the waters by being a tobacco shop or head shop that also carry a small selection of vape products.  Your best chance at success is to find a reputable business that focuses only on vaping and is run by people you can trust.  Remember, if you walk in and you're not comfortable with the environment or the people, don't spend your money there.  It's worth your time and money to support businesses that care about you and take time to explain things thoroughly.

STEP 3 - GIVE VAPE A CHANCE: I wrote about this in a previous post, but because your changing your behaviors from smoking to vaping, you have to give it a chance to work.  Commit to yourself and avoid cigarettes for at least 3-5 days.  This will allow your body to start to work with you.  Whenever you would smoke, pick up a vape instead.  Remember that the chemicals in cigarettes are what's causing you to be addicted, but the nicotine level in your vape can help get you past some of the withdrawals.

STEP 4 - EXPERIMENT WITH FLAVORS: Many people chase tobacco flavor when they are trying to quit smoking and start vaping, but remember, cigarettes taste BAD.  There are so many other flavors you can get in a vape that taste better, and may help you be more successful in the long run.  Try flavors.  Try many flavors.  Try different brands.  Visit different shops.  If they don't offer you a sample or taster of the flavor in zero nicotine, go somewhere else.  Don't buy a flavor without trying it regardless of whether a friend said it was good or not.  Every palette is different and what one person may like, another may not.

STEP 5 - GET A DEVICE THAT WORKS FOR YOU: There are thousands of devices for vaping, from the starter pen to the advanced box mods.  There are also thousands of atomizers from tanks to drippers.  Finding what works right for you based on your goals is the most important thing you can do.  Don't let a shop talk you into more than what you need.  Many of us are now hobbyists and collectors, but you don't need 5 or 20 devices to be successful in vaping.

I'll discuss hardware options in my next blog.

Breaking Through The Barriers - Give Vape a Chance

I met a friend for dinner the other night that I hadn't seen in almost a year.  He had never stepped foot into a vape shop and had never tried vaping before.  He has been smoking on and off for many years and the more we talked about how my new vape shop was going and talking about how we go about introducing people to vaping as a cigarette alternative, he asked me a very interesting question.

"What are the barriers?", he said.

He could tell I was somewhat puzzled, so he continued: 

"You know, what are some of the barriers that people face when it comes to giving it a try?  For me, I would have never considered vaping until I sat here and talked to you and actually tried it myself.  Vaping has always been something I considered to be for the hipsters - something about the people I see that do it, well, they dont really seem like my kind of people.  They seem, I dunno, like douchebags."

Even though, he pretty much insulted most all of the vaping community, that made me really think for a minute because honestly, I too had those same initial thoughts about vaping when I started using it to help quit smoking.  The first person I ever saw vaping was a complete douche.  And not just because he vaped, but sucking on a little blue glow pen and exhaling a tiny puff of "water vapor" didnt help his cause any.  Back then, there was NO WAY that vaping looked nearly as cool as I thought I was taking a long, contemplative drag of my Marlboro between my fingers and flicking an ash to the ground.  If I would have let that one guy be a barrier to me trying vaping, my life may have taken a completely different turn.

But as naive as my friend's statement was, he brought up an interesting point that night and I'd like to share with you some of the things I feel are barriers that people face when considering vaping as a smoking alternative.

Barrier #1: First Impressions

First impressions are often the most influential in any situation.  As is with vaping.  If you are new to the scene, some of the sub-culture of vapers may be an immediate barrier to wanting to try it for yourself.  Lets take my friends example, those of us in the vaping community either acknowledge, participate and/or support the act of "cloud-chasing" but to the novice, this may seem unusual.  People getting together to see who can chuck the biggest clouds may be seen to some as a turn off.  Similarly, if your first impression of vaping is by walking into a shop that is run by some punk kids who either dont know the 1st thing about vaping, or cant speak intelligently to help someone from all walks of life get into a device and setup for their best personal experience, this could potentially be a barrier that would prevent someone from taking the next step.  It is important as responsible business owners of a vape shop to not only hire but also continually train our staff the art of customer service, putting the needs of the customers ahead of selling the latest and greatest products.  I can't tell you how many times I've walked into a poorly run vape shop, where I find the "employees" either playing a game of grab-ass or completely ignoring their customers.  Blowing huge plumes of vapor in the face of a first time customer is a sure fire way to not only lose the sale, but also send those people right back to smoking.  Vape shops need to be a safe haven for anyone, so this barrier can be avoided.  Likewise, if youre out in public and you see people vaping irresponsibly where they shouldnt, this could also steer your opinion on the entire vaping opportunity.  Vapers, as a whole, we need to be respectful of those around us and be an ambassador for the community, not a detriment.

Barrier #2: Mind Games

People are 100% mental.  No, not crazy (although many of us have those tendencies at times), but everything you do is controlled by your mind.  A person needs to be willing to acknowledge that smoking WILL kill them, and there are better, safer alternatives to not only quit smoking, but also to get completely off the addictive nicotine.  The person has to be committed to give it a chance to work, and nobody can force anyone to do something they are not ready to do.  This will always be the most difficult barrier to overcome.

Barrier #3: The Exit Strategy

Most people quit the habit of smoking and pick up the habit of vaping.  Ask any of us that are hobbyists and collectors and we'll tell you that vaping can be a very expensive habit.  Many people need to know that vaping doesnt have to be a lifelong thing.  It is a great way to quit smoking by using vape to supplement the addiction of nicotine and satisfy the oral fixation, but as you advance in your vaping, you should be able to tailor back on the nicotine levels.  Once the addition of that chemical is gone, there can also be an exit strategy for also quitting vaping.  Many of us enjoy it too much, but knowing that there can be a way to end it completely and not be handcuffed by simply replacing one addiction for another should help someone overcome this barrier.

Barrier #4: Expense

As I mentioned in the previous barrier, expense can be a barrier for people when they start to look at vaping.  Sure, you can get into vaping relatively inexpensively, but anyone who has been vaping longer than a month or two will tell you, you need some serious vape budget if you plan on doing this any length of time.  Not only can advanced devices be expensive (especially if you are always chasing the latest and greatest), but just the normal expense of vaping from juice to consumables like coils, etc can add up quickly.  Most recreational vapers will go through at least 15ml of e-liquid a day (or more), so if you compare the cost of that to the cost of cigarettes, unless you are a two-pack-a-day smoker, vaping will be much more expensive over the long run.

Barrier #5: Quality of Goods Sold & Consumer Education

How many times have you purchased a juice or a piece of hardware and been completely dissatisfied for one reason or another.  For vaping to work, your devices have to work reliably, all the time.  This is often the biggest excuse for people who are trying to quit smoking to go back to the stinkys. I know for me, I make sure everything I sell, from the juice to the hardware and everything in between, is the best quality I can get.  This doesnt mean I only sell high-end authentics, but everything I provide as a responsible shop owner, either has a manufacturer defect warranty or I personally guarantee repair or replace if it's something I can control.  In the very least, I try to offer as much assistance to people, as much as I can.  Another thing is making sure the customer is steered into something appropriate for their level and experience and they leave with an understanding of how everything works.  If more manufacturers and vendors did the same, this barrier would be much easier to overcome.  Educating the consumer is hugely important not only to their success but to the growth of the industry as a whole.

Those are the 5 barriers that I could come up with in the short amount of time in writing this blog post. Feel free to use the comment section below to offer feedback or provide some barriers of your own.  As always, please come visit me at Zootie's Vapors at 40602 Charles Town Pike in Paeonian Springs VA 20129 and we'll be happy to help you overcome the barriers you face to quit smoking and start vaping.  We want you to be successful and give vape a chance.

-Zootie

An Inside Look at How Zootie's Vapors Select Juices for the Shop

People are always asking if we carry this line or that line.  Unfortunately it is not that simple for us to select a line of juice for our shop.  Every day, we get emails and samples from juice makers asking for a spot on our wall.  With over 70 flavors, we have to be very selective and that process takes time.

So for an insiders look at how new juice gets added, let me walk you through the steps we take.

1. QUALITY. The first and most important factor in selecting a juice line is to make sure that proper safety and quality control is being met.  All of the companies that we select use dedicated clean rooms, high-quality ingredients, and have responsible business practices.
    
2. TASTE.  We ask for samples and we personally vape on it for as long as it takes for us to determine if the flavor and quality meets our standards. Sometimes we share these flavors with our customers to get their opinions as well.  We are primarily testing for whether the flavor is good throughout the vape, whether its in a tank or a dripper.  We also make sure that all of the flavors listed are accurate and consistent.
    
3. COMPLEXITY.  We don't want to carry any one-note flavors on our shelves.  Sure a delicious strawberry is great, but we want flavors that have inhale, mouth taste and exhale characteristics.  Most all of the juices we carry either have consistent flavor through all three phases or sometimes they change, such is the case with Grand Vapors Velvet Revolver.  It is a delicious red velvet cake inhale that is followed by a sweet icing finish.  This is just one juice example of a flavor that exceeds our expectations.
    
4. PRICE POINT.  This one is a bit subjective and normally I wouldn't discuss "profit margins" with customers, but I think we all understand that shops are in business to make money.  Some shops choose to make that money by marking their prices up beyond what we would consider acceptable because of greed or because they have higher expenses to account for.  At Zootie's Vapors, we keep all of our 30ml bottles at an average of $20, regardless of what we pay for that brand.  We know that buying juice is one of the biggest expenses for vapers and we want to make this as affordable as possible, while still being able to stay in business.
    
5. CUSTOMER FEEDBACK.  Our biggest determining factor in selecting a juice line and keeping those flavors in stock is our customers.  If you ask for a line that you enjoy, we take that into consideration and will reach out to those companies to constantly bring in new juices.  Obviously we know what juices and flavors are selling best, so we'll continue to reorder and keep those in stock for as long as they are popular.  Occasionally there will be flavors that we like but they may not sell well in the shop.  Those will be rotated out to make room for new lines and flavor profiles as the industry and customer tastes change.
    
6. EXCLUSIVITY.  We enjoy having juice on our shelves that you cannot find anywhere else in the area.  Sure, we have brands that you will find in some of the other local shops, but unless they are personal friends of ours, we try not to have the same old same old.  We wanted to introduce new flavors and brands to the vaping community and offer a variety of the profiles and nuances.  We dont just call the distribution company and say, send me bottles.  We hand-pick each and every comany and flavor that is in our shop.  Often times, if you like a particular brand, we have the same, if not better, flavor profile from another company that you havent yet tried.  That's the benefit of having such a huge selection to try before you buy - we're sure you'll walk away with at least one bottle that you'll love!
    
7. PERSONAL INTERACTIONS WITH THE JUICE MAKERS.  At Zootie's Vapors, we are very proud to not only carry a huge selection of juices local to Virginia, but also from people that we know personally.  Having a relationship with our vendors is very important to us and the people that represent the brands is hugely important to us.  We want to work with like-minded individuals, those who give back to the vaping community and who exhibit the same level of customer service that we strive for on a daily basis.  We are a "smile and a handshake" kind of company, so when juice makers take time out of their schedule to come see us, follow us on social media and constantly ask how their product is doing in our shop, that means SO much to us.

So hopefully that gives you an idea of the process we go through to select juices, and why we choose not to carry many of the more mainstream brands out there.  We take pride in each and every bottle of juice we sell and we hope that you enjoy them as much as we do.

If you havent had a chance to stop by our shop, please take a day and come see us.  Zootie's Vapors is located at 40602 Charles Town Pike in Paeonian Springs VA.  You can also call us at 571-293-8277 or email store@zootiesvapors.com if you have any questions.

Zootie's Vapors Grand Opening Celebration

We are planning something special for our Grand Opening Party. We will have raffles, give-aways, customer discounts, and much more! Put this on your calendar and come out to help us celebrate our official opening and the future of vaping in Paeonian Springs!
We will be closing the shop at 8pm that night and continuing the celebration next door The Blind Pig Bar At Vino 9 from 9pm-11pm with live music and frivolity! Free sober rides will be available for Loudoun County residents. 18+ and older please.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1443586089269587/

Quick thanks to everyone that has come out to support Zootie's Vapors

Zootie's Vapors now open in Paeonian Springs VA

Hey Everybody!  Things have been happening so fast - but we are now open for business in Paeonian Springs VA.  We are located on Route 9, just a mile from Route 7 in between Leesburg and Hamilton.  We have over 60 flavors of e-liquid (many of them locally made in Virginia).  We have a tremendous selection of hardware, including starter kits, sub ohm tanks, RDAs, regulated and unregulated box mods and all the accessories you need to keep vaping and stay off the stinkys.

Stop by and see us at 40602 Charles Town Pike.  Turn in at the big pink pig - we are located next door to Vino9.  Live music on Fridays and Saturday nights!

Steam Crave RDA Review

Friends Don't Let Friends Buy Clones (When Authentics are Affordable)

Today I found out that there is a Group Buy on Facebook for a low-grade rip-off of our Authentic Zephyr Buddha RDA.  I call it a rip-off and not a clone because from the pictures I've seen, the deck is ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE!  Two different kinds of screws heads, cheaply made with low-grade construction.  Just a disaster waiting to happen.  It's not even close to the real thing.

But I get the appeal.  When I first started vaping, I bought clones (because I didnt know better and I didint want to pay a lot of money). My first mod was a Hcigar Nemesis clone.  It was good quality and it still in great shape all these years later.  But what this guy is buying and selling is not good at all.  People are going to be very upset when they get it.  Just remember, you dont have to buy the most expensive products, but you do get what you pay for.

I know I cant stop these products from entering the market.  If people werent buying them, they wouldnt be here in the first place.  I also know that everyone wants something for less, so I've decided to help steer people away from making a mistake by buying a cheap clone and make it even more affordable to get an Authentic Zephyr Buddha RDA.

So, here's what I am going to do:

First, I am lowering my wholesale price to retailers with the hopes that I can convince them to also drop their price on these products to the consumer.  The days of $90+ RDAs is over and I feel that the $60-70 retail price point for a 28.5mm high-quality RDA is a tremendous value and I hope you agree.  I know this still doesnt compare to a $20 wanna-be clone, but hopefully this will make them more affordable for people to get one authentic RDA that they will love, instead of breaking 3 cheap rip-offs or being completely unsatisfied with their purchase.  My goal is to sacrifice my bottom line to prevent artificial inflation and make sure that these products continue to fall within the affordable authentic niche.

Second, to anyone that is currently in a group-buy or considering buying a clone of our products, if they pull their names out of that list and say NO to clones of Vaperz Cloud products, I will sell them a REAL DEAL Authentic Zephyr Buddha RDA for $54.99 ($5 UNDER MSRP) with free shipping!  Simply contact me and let me know you say NO to clones.

Lastly, I am working closely with the manufacturer to produce in much larger quantities so on all future products, our MSRP and wholesale prices keep at a price point where it doesnt make sense to buy a clone of these products.  We would much rather our customers buy authentic products from brick and mortars than support cheap chinese manufacturing.

We have always prided ourselves in producing and distributing affordable authentic products.  We realize that as we've grown quickly over the last 6 months, our prices have also grown.  We are working harder than ever now to bring these back down so that anyone who wants a true authentic device, whether it be an RDA, Box Mod, or one of the newest innovations we have coming out this year, that you can do so at a price that wont break the bank.  We want there to be tremendous value in our products and even though we cant stop people from buying clones, we can make it affordable for people to have nicer vaping products.

Thanks for everyone's continued support.

Sincerely,
Eric "Zootie" Sutton

Important Hammer of God Box Mod Information

I wanted to personally thank you if you purchased a Hammer of God box mod by Vaperz Cloud.  We are really happy with how it turned out and so far everyone has had nothing but great things to say about it.  Since this was the very first run of these box mods, we are aware that there may be some minor kinks that need to be worked out.  Just like the Buddha RDAs, we plan on making improvements and tweaks with future runs, so your feedback and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

As these boxes are now getting in hands and being put through its paces, we wanted to let you know of a few minor issues that have been reported to us.  These are not wide-spread issues, but we wanted you to be aware so you can pre-check your mods and possibly troubleshoot if you’re experiencing similar issues.

1. We have noticed that some of the magnets that hold the panels on may fall out and need a little lock-tight.  This doesn’t affect use at all, but if you lose or are missing any magnets, please let us know and we will get you some replacements right away.
2. A couple of people have reported a "rattling" sound in the upper chamber.  This has been due to a loose piece of glue and can simply be extracted by removing the black panel on the inside of the device. Again, not a major flaw, just remove the piece of glue and no more rattle.
3. We've also seen that some of the LED displays are not working (or stop working).  What we've found is that the nut on the inside of the 510 connection is loose and when someone screws on or off the atty, the entire 510 connection will spin, disconnecting the wires that is soldered to the bottom of the 510.  We have also heard of this happening if you tighten your atty down too much.  The box mod will still continue to function properly, but these wires powers the LED.  It's a simple fix but if you are not comfortable soldering a wire, I ask that you contact me right away so we can take care of it for you.  If you send it back to me, we will fix it for you and return it ASAP at no cost.
4.  It has also come to our attention that a few people have experienced some battery sparking/flame issues with their Hammer of God box mods.  We have found that this happens when the edge of the top contact plate snags the edge of battery.  Please be careful when inserting your batteries - this should not be a major issue if you use caution and insert them correctly (positive in first).
5. We discovered a design flaw that we will fix in the next round.  If you screw your adjustable 510 all the way to the left (down), it extends too long and touches the firing switch.  This is important to note because it could cause auto-firing.  If you experience this, check your 510 - otherwise call us and we will set up a return so we can fix it for you.

These are issues we've seen and  while it's only on a few of them, we want you to know that if you bought one and its not functioning properly, to please contact us ASAP so we can fix them.

While these have been isolated instances, we also feel it's important to pass along some important safety information to everyone, so you can continue to enjoy your Hammer of God box mod without any safety issues.

Important Safety Information

• Always use reliable, authentic, fully charged batteries in your device. 
• Replace all four batteries before the voltage without an atty attached displays 3.65v
• Always use the same brand and type of battery.  Don’t mix and match.
• Always insert the batteries into the device POSITIVE first.  You may experience a spark if you insert the negative first
• When not in use for long periods of time, remove the batteries from your Hammer of God box mod
• If you notice any flames or sparks, remove the batteries immediately and dispose of them properly

Please keep in mind that with all unregulated vaping devices, there are some risks involved.  By purchasing and using any of Vaperz Cloud products, you are assuming these risks and release Vaperz Cloud and Zootie's Vapors of all liability from any damage or injury caused directly or indirectly by using these products.

7/3/15 - UPDATE
It has been brought to my attention that there is now a clone of this box selling on FastTech.  Please use caution when buying clones.  This device has been discontinued and is no longer in production.  Less than 1000 were made and there is a registry for authentic owners.  As for any warranty repairs/issues regarding the authentic version, please contact Vaperz Cloud directly.

2/8/16 - UPDATE
I am no longer distributing or affiliated with the company that manufactured the original device, so if you have any questions or need warranty support, please contact them directly at www.vaperzcloud.com

Vaping Waffles: Not just a flavor of juice

Hey it's your old pal Zootie Vapors here to talk to you a bit about Vaping Waffles.  Now I know what you're thinking, "Yeah, I've had that flavor".  But I'm not talking about the kind you drip on your coils, I'm talking about the newest form of prize raffles to come to the vaping world.

Some of you know what I'm talking about.  Hell you're probably dropping $5-$10 a week on waffles as we speak. Maybe you've even been lucky enough to win one or three.  But let me explain to those out there who don't know what I'm talking about.  Sit back, enjoy a nice vape (waffle flavored if you're so inclined) and I'll be back in a minute.

Now where was I, oh yes, vape waffle.

So there's this thing called the Internet and on the Internet is a place where people go to chat and look at pictures of cats and chicks in yoga pants, some call it Facebook or online message forums (used to be BBS back in the day, but I don't want to date myself).  Anyway, on these sites people who vape are holding a "raffle" of sorts.  The raffle or "waffle" as it's known, have a limited number "slots" available.  This number is often kept low to increase the odds and make the waffle more popular because there are higher chances to win.  When all slots have been claimed, a number is drawn at random and the person with that number wins the waffle item.  Each slot usually costs a couple bucks or more depending on the total value of the "prize" and depending on the rules, you can "buy" as many slots as you like.  Very similar to Superbowl pools where you would buy a square of your choosing, with a waffle, you can pick what number slot you want.

Put down your money and hope it lands on your number.

So if you have a few bucks burning a hole in your pocket or if you like to gamble and want a chance to win some cool vape gear, then a waffle might just be for you.  Paying $5-10 for a device that costs $100 is a great deal.  It adds the element and excitement of random luck.  There is also no risk for the person hosting a waffle either because the value of the item is calculated into the total cost per slot.

It's really quite fun.

So how would you like to try your luck with a Zootie Waffle?  I will be putting items up on the 3rd Wednesday of each month and we'll be kicking our first one off on February 18th, 2015.  Simply Follow me on Facebook to get the details first.  Because most waffles will only have 20 to 50 slots available, you need to get in quick before they're all gone.

Good Luck and Vape On!

-ZV

February Vape Road Trip

Zootie Vapors is hitting the open highway on a Weekend Vaping Road Trip.  I'll have a full supply of Buddha RDAs and a small stash of the Hammer of God box mods.

Here's my (tentative) itinerary if you want to meet up along the way and share a vape.

Friday 2/20: 11am-12:00pm Potomac Vapor
Friday 2/20: 12:30pm-1:30pm VapaMotive
Friday 2/20 2pm-3pm East Coast Vapers
Friday 2/20: 5pm-6pm Vapehard cafe
Friday 2/20: 7pm-8pm VA Vape Shop
Saturday 2/21: 11am-12am Triumph Vaping Co.
Saturday 2/21: 12:30pm-1:30pm AVAIL Vapor Norfolk
Saturday 2/21: 3pm-4pm Mix It Up Vapor LLC
Saturday 2/21 6pm-9pm Cloudz Vapor
Sunday 2/22 12-4pm @ The Ritual! Vape Competition at Brock's Riverside Grill in Fredricksburg

Vape and hug your mother!

I stopped to visit a friend yesterday.  He is opening Ocelot Brewery in Dulles, VA next month and it's been a while since I've seen the progress of the build-out.  They are a vape-friendly business, so of course we were all sharing some vape flavors and catching up on old times.

Another friend of theirs was there and I noticed he was vaping on a starter kit e-cig, so we started talking about vaping and how it has helped him to quit smoking.  Then he said the most profound thing to me.

Now we all know the immediate benefits of quitting smoking.  We chatted about how after a night of drinking and smoking a pack or two throughout the evening, we would wake up with lung pain, hacking and coughing.. just feeling generally shitty.  Since vaping, this is no longer something we experience.  Also, the fact that our clothes don't smell anymore, we can vape indoors without the smoke permeating everything we own.  Not to mention reducing the harmful chemicals, tar and other byproducts of cigarette smoke that we've been inhaling for years.

But the one thing he said, beyond all of these benefits, was one thing that has no equal.  He started telling me about his mother, who was a immigrant from Vietnam and is deeply rooted in their culture.  He said that the biggest change that vaping has made to his life is he now is no longer embarrassed to hug his mom.  He said when he smoked, he wouldn't hug his mother.  This is the woman that "exploded you from her vagina", he said, "and I wouldn't hug her when I smoked".

Wow, I thought.  This is some deep shit!  Sure, he's now benefiting from all of the reduced health risks, but this is something you cant put a price tag on.  Smoking cigarettes stopped him from doing the one thing that every son (and daughter) should do at every possible opportunity.  Life is too short and at the end of that life, we always wish we had more time to spend with our loved ones.  This transcends just the argument of whether or not it's a safer alternative to smoking.  It has allowed this guy to get back a valuable aspect to life.  It may seem simple, but because of vaping, he has re-established a new loving relationship with his mother.  So if ANYTHING is a reason to quit smoking, this, in my opinion, is the greatest benefit of all.

So I leave you with this: Quit smoking. Vape and Hug Your Mother!

Vape ShootOut: Fat Buddha RDA vs Zephyr Buddha RDA

I just posted a video comparing the vapor production between the Fat Buddha and the Zephyr Buddha.  Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ6fl7bGOFc

Upcoming Vape Events for Zootie's Vapors

The next few months will busy for 'ol Zootie Vapors.  We're taking the Buddhas and Hammer of God Box Mod on a ROAD TRIP!  More locations/events will be announced as they are finalized, but for now, here where you can find me on the Conference and Exhibit Circuit:

Vapefest - The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, NV

March 6 & 7, 2015

I'll be attending Vapefest with a vendor pass but will not have a booth.  I will have some Zootie's Vapors schwag to hand out on the floor and a small supply of RDAs (and hopefully some Hammer of Gods) for sale back in my hotel room.  In addition to actually sharing a vape with people I only chat with online, my goal of this trip is to meet other vendors and establish new brick & mortar wholesale accounts for distribution of Vaperz Cloud and Vape Boss products.

VaperSlam - Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NC

March 20 & 21, 2015

This will be Zootie's Vapors FIRST expo booth!  I will have some Zootie's Vapors schwag and Vaperz Cloud RDAs for sale at the booth at a Special VaperSlam price.  We'll be doing a raffle, have dancing monkeys, free give-away, Best Vape contest and I may even have a small supply of Hammer of Gods!  Come by the booth and say hi and participate in our contests.  We're also sponsoring a Vap'n Brew event at Foothills Downtown Brewpub on Saturday Night where we can all share a craft beer and swap lies.

The Vape Summit III - Las Vegas Convcention Center in Las Vegas, NV

April 30 - May 2, 2015

I'll actually be attending this event to help promote the Vaperz Cloud brand.  I will be looking to build wholesale relationships with other businesses during the first 2 days of the event, then helping out with the booth as they have plans to release a few new products to the vape community that weekend.

Box Mod Builds: Parallel vs Series

I received a question the other day by someone interested in the Hammer of God box mod.  The topic was, which is better (or safer) parallel or series circuit box mods.. and why.  So I thought this would make an interesting topic of conversation.

First, we have to understand each one and what it does.  So let's jump into a quick electronics lesson:

Parallel Circuit.  This type of circuit (specifically referencing a box mod) creates an electric current from each battery at the same time.  The total voltage remains that of a single battery, however the battery life of each is increased (and so is the overall amperage) since there is less draw on any one battery in the circuit.  When we discuss the harmful effects of vaping and they mention formaldehyde production, they are typically talking about voltage higher than what one 18650 battery can produce.  With a parallel build, the total current to your 510 connection will remain under 4.2v.  Regardless of how many batteries you use in parallel, the voltage will always remain that of (on average) the capacity of a single battery.

Series Circuit.  This type of circuit (again speaking in terms of a box mod) creates an electronic current through each battery consecutively (in a series).  By doing this, you effectively combine the voltage of each battery.  So if you have two 18650 batteries in a series, the voltage will be 4.2v PLUS 4.2v for a max total voltage of 8.4v.  The draw on each battery is combined with one another, similar to stacking batteries in a flashlight (or a mod).  This is where I feel safety comes into play.  Cloud-chasers want to blow bug plumes, so they will sometimes times choose a series build over parallel, so they can throw higher voltage/wattage through the coil and generate more heat/vapor production.

So the question now becomes safety, both in the quality of vaping and that of the battery itself.  If you're concerned with the recent studies showing that vaping over 5v produces significantly more cancer-causing formaldehyde than cigarettes, I think it's safe to say that parallel build box mods would be safer.  Unless you are a professional cloud-chaser and accept the risks that come with vaping at higher volts/wattage, my recommendation would be to use a regulated device or one that incorporates parallel builds.

But I am just scratching the surface here.  I know there are more opinions and sides to the story, so I'd love to hear your take.  Leave a comment in the section below to keep the conversation going.

E-Cigs Vapor More Dangerous Than Tobacco Smoke!!?

The big thing in the news today is how e-cig vapor is more dangerous than cigarette smoking.  I have to say, I was intrigued and stayed on NBC4 this morning to find out why.

The report referenced definitive study results that found voltage 5.0 and greater, resulted in a significant increase in formaldehyde production, that far exceeded that of cigarette smoke.

What they fail to mention is that unless you are vaping on a series-circuit build box mod that is pushing more than 5 volts or a regulated device that is pushing the normal limits of the clearamizer in the study (CE5), there is NO significant detection of formaldehyde.

So the test that they were running is considered the most extreme form of vaping - overkill if you will. You can still generate room-fogging vapor at much less voltage.  Take for example, a parallel build quad battery box mod like the HAMMER OF GOD while it still only produces 4.20 v at its most fully charged without any ohm resistance, still is capable of producing incredible clouds.  Well below that of any concern of this particular study.  So really the only thing it does is improve battery life. (more amperage)

I don't disagree that there is much more research that needs to be done on this topic and thorough testing of the impact of inhaling vapor, but the truth is, vaping is so much better for you than cigarette smoking.  I don't need to convince you, chances are if you are reading this, you already found the benefits of vaping.

UPDATE: 1/24/15
I found this YouTube video by Suck My Mod to be informative:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534&v=lZQQZDavmyw&feature=player_embedded

I want to hear you take on this.  Leave a comment in the section below:

Buddha RDA Photo Shoot

Here are a few photos from today's RDA photo shoot.  The items you see here are Fat Buddha RDAs and Zephyr Buddha RDAs.  They are both 28.5mm and have a 4mm juice canal and 2mm post holes in the deck.  They are available for wholesale through Zootie's Vapors or for retail purchase at shop.zootiesvapors.com

See you at VaperSlam in Winston-Salem, NC March 20-21, 2015

This year Zootie's Vapors is scheduled to make appearances at some Vape Conventions and Expos.  The first one will be VaperSlam at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem, NC on March 20 & 21st, 2015.  I will be there with Anthony from Vaperz Cloud promoting and selling some of our more popular vape products.  We will have a fresh supply of Fat Buddha and Zephyr Buddha RDAs as well as a couple Hammer of God Box Mods to show off.  Be sure to stop by the booth and say hi!

Also, I am working on organizing a "Vapin' Brew" Event at Foothills Downtown Brewpub located at 638 W. Fourth St. for either Friday or Saturday night.  In the very least, I'll be looking for other craft beer fans to join me for a few samples.

Please fill out this form so I can get a head count of you plan on joining us: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1518DtFAYad8kJtuH5V1bPOPbw4Ku1e7ZVtcXZ3N1wrk/viewform?usp=send_form

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

Zootie's Vapors LLC Customer Satisfaction Survey

Please provide feedback on your experience with Zootie's Vapors

And as a thanks for your honest feedback, you will be entered for a chance to win FREE VAPE GEAR!

This post is directed to anyone who has done business with Zootie's Vapors.

I wanted to thank you for doing business with my company.  Your feedback is important to me, so I'd like to ask that you take just a couple minutes and complete this 

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY.

It will help me gauge how I am doing and potentially identity areas where I could improve.

It will only take a minute or two of your time, but will provide valuable feedback for me.  

In return for your effort and honesty, I will be selecting a few people at random to receive 

FREE VAPE GEAR.

Please follow this link and let me know how I'm doing and how you've like the products I offer.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1x8Q2ROyLgdH-CNBTCtYAun6wwFnctMSmp3HnbP3h4oU/viewform?usp=send_form

Thanks again for your time and I look forward to doing business with you again in the future.

Vape on!

Eric "Zootie" Sutton

Smokeless Serpent e-Juice Review

Despite what many people think, not all of us in the industry get free shit given to us all the time.  Sometimes a company comes around that we want to try and we actually have to PAY for  their products.  Smokeless Serpent was one of those companies I reached out to and they were kind enough to send me a couple 10ml samples.  I liked the ones they sent me so much, that I actually placed a follow up consumer order with them.

Today, I received 5 flavors: Forbidden Fruit (which was one of the ones they sent me a sample of which is why I opted for the 30ml bottle of that one), Unicorn Dust, One Night Stand, Aquarius, and Hot Load.  They run a regular special, Buy three (3) 15ml, get one (1) 15ml free so my total order came to $48 shipped.  Their prices are very reasonable ($10 for 15ml and $18 for 30ml) and their e-liquid is made to order.  You're not paying extra for fancy packaging and bottles, so if that bothers you, you may want to look elsewhere.  What I like most about this company is, you can specify the nicotine level and what ratio you want of VG/PG.

I wont review each flavor because they are highly subjective, but I will tell you that I opt for 3mg nic and max VG blend.  Even with higher VG, there is still quite a bit of flavor in these juices and the vapor production is outstanding.  What I've found is that I dont get tired of vaping on these as I do with some of the other premium juice blends.  I prefer these flavors in a dripper, but they would taste just as good out of a tank.

If youre looking for consistently good juices and reasonable prices, give these guys a shot.  

Silver Lining Vape e-Liquid Review

Today I received some vape mail from a company called Silver Lining Vape based out of North Carolina.  They were kind enough to send me a couple 10ml of their e-liquid.  They sent me Honeydew Melon and Cherry Lust in 6mg nic.  I prefer to drip lower nic levels (0-6mg) because I am now completely off cigarettes and I am trying to cut back on my nicotine levels next.

I enjoy receiving e-liquid samples because you can never have enough juice and there are so many companies making their own house juice that I'm always pleasantly surprised with the difference in flavors available.

For my tasting, I decided to use the Zephyr Buddha RDA (https://shop.zootiesvapors.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ZB1.2) and a copper 26650 4nine mechanical mod.  I have a .26 ohm build with 22 gauge kanthal.  I used fresh Japanese cotton so I could get the true taste of each flavor.

I started with the honeydew melon flavor and the first thing I noticed was it was not a viscous liquid, meaning it was probably equal parts PG (propyl glycerin) and VG (vegetable glycerin).  Personally I prefer higher VG because I like more vapor production and less throat hit, but having a higher PG will give it more flavor.

My initial thoughts were it was a bit of a harsher hit for me on my setup.  Like I said, I like heavier VG for big lung pulls and large plumes.  This had a decent flavor, but was on par with other standard juices I have tried.  After a couple more drags, my lungs got more used to the blend, and I was able to take deeper draws and enjoy the flavor a bit more.  Overall, I thought the flavor was about average and I would give it a 5.5-6 out of 10.

I moved on to the next flavor, cherry lust.  Going into this one, I had the bad thoughts of other cherry flavors in my mind.  Buckshot Cherry Bomb in particular.  Cherry is a hard flavor for me to be a fan of because it can easily taste like cough syrup. I was hoping this one would be different.

The first thing I noticed was this flavor was a bit more viscous, a little thicker than the last one.  The smell from the bottle reminded me of a Luden's Cough Drop and the flavor was very similar to the smell.  Again, it was a harsher throat hit than I personally go for.  The cherry flavor wasnt overpowering like Buckshot, and it had a bit more of a creamy finish.  Again, I would rate it a 5.5-6 out of 10.

Neither flavor was entirely bad.  It fell in the mid-range as far as overall satisfaction for me.  Both flavors mellowed out as the wick started to dry out and the lingering flavor was decent.  I wish I had a tank or a clearomizer to try them out because I find some juices just taste better in a tank while others taste better in a dripper.

I think for a house juice blend, they were fine, but for me, I have tried so many premium e-liquids over the years that there are far too many that I would reach for before these.  That's not to say they arent worth the price, because everyone has their own preferences and tastes.  For me, they didnt quite hit the mark right off the bat, but I will definitely let them steep a week or two and see if the flavor profiles change.  I also want to try them in a tank to see if my opinion changes in a different setup, perhaps with a higher ohm coil.  I'd also be curious to see how their other flavors stack up.

Kanger Subtank Review

Kanger Subtank Review

Normally I do video reviews but today I wanted to write about a new product I recently purchased.  It's the Kangertech Subtank.

I have been looking for a reliable tank that I could build my own coils.  There just werent too many options in this space.  Until I found this one.  I was pleasantly surprised with the fact that I could use their rebuildable atomizer (RBA) or a pre-built replaceable atomizers that they call OCC (Organic Cotton Coil).

At first, I had a problem with what they call their RBA not firing.  It was being recognized by my ohm tester, but I couldnt get it to fire on my ipv mini or my stainless nemesis mechanical mod.  So I switched to their OCC.

For most of the first tank of juice, it was fine.  Good flavor, nice draw; good vapor production, but during the second tank fill, I found that every other draw I took, I was getting burnt taste.  I had to constantly prime the atomizer and I was afraid that this tank would be just like all the rest of the ones I've tried in the past.  I was ready to just go back to my drippers, when I decided to swap out the OCC for the RBA.  After some fidgeting, I was able to get the RBA to fire.  I wicked it, added some juice and I was vaping away.

I am really impressed with this RBA.  Not only can I get close to 5ml of juice but I have not had a single dry or burnt hit.  The flavor is amazing, the vapor production is sufficient and I have not had a single leak or drip of juice outside of the tank.

have now been using it for a week or so and it has quickly replaced my dripper as my all-day vape.  I still use a dripper when i want to try different juices or if I'm just sitting around the shop, but for travel and locations where I dont want to be constantly dripping, this RBA totally fits the bill for me.