Kyle M.
Member For 4 Years
I started vaping in late 2014 with a Stingray-X clone and Stillare Clone. The first thing I learned was how to build and wick an RDA, in the 7 years since I've used a great number or RDA's, RTA's, and even sub tanks. I quit vaping in late 2019 and gave away and/or sold a lot of my gear. I kept one mod, one RDA, one RTA, one Sub tank, my batteries, and building supplies. I just started vaping again about a month ago and went on the search for another RDA, there were plenty of options online but I thought I'd try to support a local B&M first. I went to five vape stores before I finally found one single RDA, a Nightmare which I purchased and have been very happy with.
Every store I went in said they stopped selling rebuildable atomizers and building tools/accessories in about 2019. It seems all anyone carries around here anymore are pod systems and disposables, I can't even find coils for most sub tanks around here. Most of the vape shop employees I talked to had been vaping awhile and were rebuildable guys themselves, but a few acted like I was speaking a foreign language. They all assured me that the rebuilding life was dead.
As I mentioned RDA's and RTA's seem pretty available online, and a lot of the YouTube reviewers are still doing new stuff, but I'm guessing they're mostly die hard builders like myself. So what's going on? Is rebuilding dying off? Are new vapers going the pod/disposable route and not even bothering with building? Are all of the old coil builders giving it up? Or do I just live in a bad area for finding this stuff?
I remember back in 2014 when all of my buddies vaped, we'd get together on weekends and have build parties all night long. We each had tackle boxes full of RDA's, RTA's, wire, cotton, and tools. It seemed like you could buy a mod or atomizer/tank on Monday and it was obsolete Friday, the industry was growing and technology was advancing at an unheard of rate. It truly was an incredible time in the history of vaping, and one I'm glad to be able to say I was a part of. I remember running to the vape shop to buy an Aspire Atlantis the day they got them in, and driving 120 miles round trip to over pay for a Sigelei 150 when it launched. I remember people who thought sub ohm builds were super dangerous and balked at high wattage mods because no one would ever vape at over 50 watts.
Back then you could walk into a vape shop and there was always a group of people in the back building something and just hanging out, now I go into vape shops and they not only don't have people hanging out building they don't even have a lounge anymore.
In 2022 I'm the last of my group of friends that vape and I can't even go to the vape shop to hang out. I truly miss the good old days and remembering them brings a tear to my eye. I can only imagine what it was like for those of you who started way back in 2009.
Every store I went in said they stopped selling rebuildable atomizers and building tools/accessories in about 2019. It seems all anyone carries around here anymore are pod systems and disposables, I can't even find coils for most sub tanks around here. Most of the vape shop employees I talked to had been vaping awhile and were rebuildable guys themselves, but a few acted like I was speaking a foreign language. They all assured me that the rebuilding life was dead.
As I mentioned RDA's and RTA's seem pretty available online, and a lot of the YouTube reviewers are still doing new stuff, but I'm guessing they're mostly die hard builders like myself. So what's going on? Is rebuilding dying off? Are new vapers going the pod/disposable route and not even bothering with building? Are all of the old coil builders giving it up? Or do I just live in a bad area for finding this stuff?
I remember back in 2014 when all of my buddies vaped, we'd get together on weekends and have build parties all night long. We each had tackle boxes full of RDA's, RTA's, wire, cotton, and tools. It seemed like you could buy a mod or atomizer/tank on Monday and it was obsolete Friday, the industry was growing and technology was advancing at an unheard of rate. It truly was an incredible time in the history of vaping, and one I'm glad to be able to say I was a part of. I remember running to the vape shop to buy an Aspire Atlantis the day they got them in, and driving 120 miles round trip to over pay for a Sigelei 150 when it launched. I remember people who thought sub ohm builds were super dangerous and balked at high wattage mods because no one would ever vape at over 50 watts.
Back then you could walk into a vape shop and there was always a group of people in the back building something and just hanging out, now I go into vape shops and they not only don't have people hanging out building they don't even have a lounge anymore.
In 2022 I'm the last of my group of friends that vape and I can't even go to the vape shop to hang out. I truly miss the good old days and remembering them brings a tear to my eye. I can only imagine what it was like for those of you who started way back in 2009.
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