Quick summary: Great features, the thickest vapor, some of the best feel and taste around – and lots of great deals. They’ve also added freshness dating. For all of those reasons, V2 Cigs get our highest e-cigarette rating.

There are several brands of e-cigarettes that we can comfortably place at or near the top of our rankings. By a narrow margin, we have chosen V2 Cigs as our top-rated electronic cigarette. The factors that led to our decision are vapor and convenience.

V2 Cigs had the thickest vapor and strongest hit of the e-cigarettes we’ve tested, we found their claim of “the thickest vapor in the business” was spot on. The vapor cloud was thick enough to give a hit that was quite satisfying (particularly with the tobacco flavors), and gave us enormous exhales – we could even blow thick smoke rings with ease. We found that the manual battery (more about that in a later) intensified the smoking experience yet another notch. V2 e-cigs utilize the two-part design, and to us, that’s always a plus. We always prefer the simplicity of only two components, rather than the complex and somewhat messy methods employed by 3-part designs.

The V2 Ultimate Kit that we tested included three batteries: a short one, a 110mm one, and a 140mm (yes, it really is that long, and the longer time the charge lasted was great) manual battery. Rotating them gave us plenty of time to smoke while one of the batteries recharged. That was convenient enough, but the portable charging case that comes with the kit added to the convenience factor; you just charge the case (which is smaller than a pack of cigarettes) and then you can charge your e-cigs 3 or 4 times while on the go – meaning you can spend the day away from a power source and never have to worry about “running out.” The Power Cig that came with the kit allows you to hook directly into a USB port and smoke at your desk without worrying about charging anything; there’s also a car charger for even more convenience.

As for that manual battery (an option al choice when you order), there’s a tiny button right where your fingers rest on the e-cig, and you depress the button just before taking a hit; it heats the flavor crystals to give you an even fuller, concentrated hit. A bit awkward at first, but definitely worth it when you’re looking for a strong inhale.

On first glance, V2 has some really interesting model designs. There are the traditional white batteries, of course. But then the battery choices range from chrome, to fully sleek blue, to black. If you’re looking to make a fashion statement, the chrome design is almost futuristic. V2 definitely isn’t the only company to have an all-blue design, but it’s certainly interesting. More to our liking is the extra-long, 140mm white battery which can give a truly elegant look to a woman’s smoking. The filter/cartridge colors are dependent on the flavor: for example, cork for tobacco flavors, green for menthol, blue for peppermint, and so on.

V2 Cigs come in four strengths, from 18 mg of nicotine (full flavor), down through light, ultra-light and zero-nicotine; that either lets you choose the strength of your e-cigarette on a regular basis, or lets you taper down gradually if that’s your choice. One other note: V2 doesn’t “shut off” like some other e-cigs do, when your inhale goes longer than five seconds; we’re not sure if the issue is one of safety, but we do know that if you want a power hit, V2 lets you take it.

V2 cartridges come in a lot of flavors. In fact, it’s one of the biggest varieties on the market with ten different flavors: three tobacco blends including Red and Turkish, Menthol and Peppermint, Coffee and Chocolate, Vanilla, Cola and Cherry (we liked the coffee, chocolate and vanilla best).  And they’ve just recently boosted their battery power to 4.2 volts, the highest level on the market, to hold charges longer. Each V2 cartridge is equal to about one pack of cigarettes; that’s a little on the low site compared to other brands, but we think the flavor and feel of the V2 vapor is worth the tradeoff.

They also have lots of marketing people on the case, with a seemingly endless number of specials and deals, in addition to the huge choices of looks, flavors and strengths. They also have a number of specialty products for e-cig aficianados who  prefer to buy the e-liquid and refill their cartridges, such as ‘drip tips’ in either aluminum or rubber, making the process a snap; flavor samplers to let you decide which you like best; custom-made cartridges allowing you to choose all the specs – the list goes on.

The thickest vapor and strongest hit, some terrific flavors, convenient accessories – and lots of great deals. That’s why V2 Cigs get our highest e-cigarette rating.

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Update 4/16: V2 Cigs has made a major announcement today – with improvements to their products and website.

First, they have a new and more powerful set of portable charging cases, smaller than a pack of cigarettes, letting you charge your batteries on the go as many as eight times while you’re away from a power source. They also have new, more powerful home and car chargers and adapters letting you charge much more quickly. The new chargers are included in their V2 starter kits.

Next, they’ve reformatted their website, letting you build an entire starter kit from scratch as you choose your own colors, flavors and sizes,

And perhaps most importantly for some people, they’ve changed the packaging of their cartridges. They’re packed in foil for freshness, and there’s even a freshness date included on every package. Finally, they have made available batch reports for your shipments, letting you get a customized report on your carts – nicotine levels, contents and so on.

Finally, they have special deals scattered throughout their website to encourage you to explore. It’s a big step forward for the electronic cigarette we had already ranked as #1.

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PRICE: Starter kits range from $59.95 to $139.95. (Note: price comparisons are difficult because each company includes different products in their kits.) Use the code “smokingsection” for a 15% discount on all V2 Cigs merchandise. (Note: the availability of discount codes for our visitors has no effect, pro or con, on our reviews.)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT V2 CIGS

Quick summary: The powerful throat hit, menthol and big smoke clouds brought Green Smoke right to the top of our rankings; they’re our choice for menthol smokers and right near the top of the list for everyone else.

Attention, menthol smokers. Green Smoke is an e-cigarette made just for you. Actually, there are a number of great flavors of Green Smoke that will appeal to just about everyone, but their “menthol ice” flavor is what really appealed to us – a strong menthol taste somewhere between Newport and Kool. Their other flavors are also very good: Red Label (thick and satisfying, close to the taste of a Marlboro Red), Tobacco Gold (a rich, sweet mixture of flavors), and Absolute Tobacco (almost like a pipe tobacco). They also have three “novelty” flavors: Smooth Chocolate, Mocha Mist, and Vanilla Dreams.

We tested the Green Smoke pro kit which came with two white batteries, one long and one short, which screw into the “cartomizer” (the cartridge that creates the vapor) in their two-part design. It also had a wall charger, a car adapter and a USB cigarette; that allowed us to smoke one while charging the other, or smoke whenever we wanted at our desk with the USB cigarette connected to our computer. The charges lasted the equivalent of about a pack, and the cartridges lasted a little longer than some of the competition, between a pack and a pack-and-a-half worth of smoking time. The wall charger was of a more convenient design than some of the others we’ve tested, a definitely plus.

Green Smoke produced a strong hit and huge smoke clouds, at or near the top of the list of the e-cigarettes we’ve reviewed. The exhales definitely passed our “smoke ring” test. They also have the strongest nicotine cartridges we’ve seen, ranging all the way up to 24mg. (There are also full flavor, light, ultra-light and zero nicotine levels available.)

We liked the design of Green Smoke models, with a two-piece design; they actually pioneered the simpler approach which eliminated the need for messy mixing and refilling with e-liquid, and in our opinion, it’s the only way to “vape.” There is a shut-off safety feature, limiting your inhales to about five seconds, but that’s probably more than enough for most people.

We felt that like the other top-rated brands on the market, GreenSmoke e-cigs look, taste, and feel almost exactly like a real cigarette with a strong, deep sensations on inhalation, a tip that glows bright when inhaling, and the huge clouds on exhaling. The price per cartomizer is lower than much of the competition, as well, making them a very good value. The strength, menthol and big smoke clouds pulled Green Smoke just about even at the top of our ratings, and made them our definite choice for menthol smokers.

PRICE: Starter kits from $69.99-129.99. (Note: price comparisons are difficult because each company includes different products in their kits.) Use the code “disc10-26721” for a 10% discount on all Green Smoke purchases over $100, or “disc5-26721″ for a 5% discount on purchases under $100. (Note: the availability of discount codes for our visitors has no effect, pro or con, on our reviews.)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GREEN SMOKE

Quick summary: More flavors than any e-cigarette we’ve reviewed; more colors, styles and fashion designs than any other on the market, as well as e-cigars and e-pipes, make them our editors’ choice for style and choices – and a solid product as well.

The Premium Electronic Cigarette (PEC), is one of the bigger names on the e-cigarette market. Established in 2008, this company has been a leader in the development of two-part and single piece electronic cigarettes. PEC offers one of the highest varieties of physical models on the market, with designer patterns and unique designs – and perhaps most noteworthy, they even offer electronic cigars and electronic pipes.

PEC’s flavor offerings are astounding – nearly 20 different flavors, ranging from tobacco and menthol, to coffee and chocolate, to clove and irish cream, to watermelon and peach. They also offer strengths from zero nicotine, all the way up to 24 mg of nicotine for heavy smokers who need a real punch. Their length is equal to a 100mm cigarette, longer than some of the other e-cigarettes we’ve reviewed, and a nice length to our mind.

Most of these e-cigs are our preferred two-part models, and they come in all sorts of designs and colors – 15, to be exact – for those looking to make a fashion statement. (For most kits, you can choose two different colors of batteries when you order.) For example, you can order contrasting brown camouflage and green camouflage colored batteries, and you can choose the color of the filter as well. These are sharp looking, and the products are not only offered in solid colors, but patterns and designs taking up most of the battery, and a solid color taking up the filter. For example, the Indigo style has contrasting light and dark design for the battery, and a solid indigo color on the filter. PEC also offers custom design batteries with holiday styles; Christmas decorations such as candy canes and snowflakes, pink and purple hearts for Valentine’s Day, and so on.

The PEC disposable e-cigarette is one of the better values we’ve found. The 600 Puff U TVG Disposable is equivalent to about 3 packs of traditional cigarettes, for only $10.99. Of course, you can only use this thing once, but it’s ready to be used instantly, as soon as you get it. The product is all black, with a red (tobacco) or green (menthol) illumination on the light, illuminating each time you puff. A nice choice for someone who wants to try an e-cig before buying an entire kit.

As we’ve mentioned, one other thing that sets PEC apart is their stock of electronic cigars and pipes, priced around the same level as the e-cigarette kits. E-cigars are, of course, much bigger than electronic cigarettes, as to more closely resemble a traditional cigar, with an appropriate brown style with a single gold stripe. The electronic pipe  resembles a traditional tobacco pipe; brown stock and black mouthpiece, but with a gold stripe and a distinctive gold bowl. they each come in premium tobacco flavor.

PRICE: Starter kits range from $44.95 to $119.95. (Note: price comparisons are difficult because each company includes different products in their kits.) Use the code “SS10off” for a 10% discount on all Premium Electronic Starter Kits. (Note: the availability of discount codes for our visitors has no effect, pro or con, on our reviews.)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PREMIUM ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE

 

Quick summary: White Cloud provides a high quality product, with lots of options, for the highest price we’ve found. Many will find the price justifiable, but high price will definitely be a major objection for some.

White Cloud Electronic Cigarettes is one of the latest e-cig companies on the market, and offer the most expensive products we’ve selected for our e-cigarette reviews. They say there is a good reason for the prices: exceptionally high quality products with a low product failure rate and the longest-lasting batteries and cartridges.  We obviously can’t judge their overall product failure rate, but their batteries and cartridges do in fact last longer than most of their competitors’.

White Cloud’s flagship product is the Cirrus, and while they’re manufactured in China, they are hand-assembled, putting them several steps up the ladder from the generic, Chinese-manufactured e-cigs you’ll see elsewhere. And the company is continually improving the product: In 2010, the Cirrus II was released, 30% smaller and lighter than Cirrus I; in April of 2011 the Cirrus 3 was released, and in October of 2011 it was the Cirrus 3X – each time significantly reducing the size of their E-Cigs.

Technologically, we like this product. The White Cloud Cirrus uses our preferred two-part design for their products. They also are proud of their so-called “Smooth Draw” cartridges, assembled according to a several specific assembly processes. First, the header coil is placed directly in the center of the cartridge to ensure an even migration of liquid from the nicotine wrap to heating coil.  This stops the chance of overheating and burning people’s lips. Second, there is an unobstructed path created by the vapor stack and silicone bell trap. This creates a smoother draw, and eliminates the need for what’s called “prime puffing” – or puffing to trigger the electronics – like you see with some other e-cigs.

The White Cloud cartridges come in eight different flavors:  Regular, Menthol, Vanilla, Espresso, Chocolate, Clove, Strawberry and Kick. There are four nicotine levels: extra strength, full flavor, lights and no nicotine. And with an eye toward glamour and fun, the company has designer Vapor Jackets available for their e-cigs, providing hundreds of different designs and patterns you can put on your e-cigarettes.  They fit any size of Cirrus model e-cigs and are also “heat shrunk” so the adhesive will not ruin your battery.  They come in packs of seven, with free shipping, for $4.99.

White Cloud are the most expensive e-cigarettes we’re reviewed, but also one of the best designed.  This is certainly what they see as their strong point, and in our opinion they follow through with good products. Whether they’re in your price range, is only something you can decide.

PRICE:  Starter kits range from $159.95 to $349.95 – the most expensive one includes a full two-year warranty.  (Note: price comparisons are difficult because each company includes different products in their kits.) Use the code “WCKIT30” for a 30% discount on all starter kits. (Note: the availability of discount codes for our visitors has no effect, pro or con, on our reviews.)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHITE CLOUD

Quick summary: EverSmoke is one of the newest e-cigs on the market, and we found the hit to be the smoothest of all the electronic cigarettes we’ve reviewed; they also have one of the most convenient options available, automatic home delivery of your orders so you don’t run out.

When it comes to e-cigs, a lot of attention is rightfully paid to the power of the throat hit. But we’ve often wondered “what about smokers who look for a smoother taste and feel?” We’ve found the answer in EverSmoke. The draw on an EverSmoke isn’t quite as powerful as some of the other brands we’ve tried; but the vapor goes down easily, with vapor clouds almost equivalent to our top-rated options.

There are other things to like about EverSmoke as well. Their batteries are among the long-lasting that we’ve tested (there are three options: standard, long (high-capacity) and mini (smaller than usual but good for nights out) – you can order each in either automatic or manual. We also liked their personal charging case, the size of a pack of cigarettes, that lets you charge your mini batteries while you’re on the go.

EverSmoke offers a decent assortment of flavors cartomizers: classic tobacco, menthol, cherry, vanilla, coffee and peppermint. Two more tobacco flavors, as well as pina colada and peach, are going to be available soon. All carts are available in 18mg, 12mg, 6mg, and no nicotine. Their starter kits, which are less expensive than many competitors’ come with wall and USB chargers.

The one other thing that sets EverSmoke apart, is their home delivery program, where you’re offered the option to have
flavor cartomizers delivered to you on a regular basis. When you’re a traditional smoker, you can just run out to the store if you need cigarettes. It’s not as easy when you’re using electronic cigarettes, so having regular deliveries is a convenient way to make sure you don’t accidentally run out of cartomizers that will take days to arrive.

As a newer entrant to the market, EverSmoke is still evolving. But there’s already a lot to like, particularly if you find smoothness more important than a powerful throat hit.

PRICE: Starter kits range from $59.95 to $154.95. (Note: price comparisons are difficult because each company includes different products in their kits.) Click on any of our links to EverSmoke for a 10% discount on all starter kits. (Note: the availability of discount codes for our visitors has no effect, pro or con, on our reviews.)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT EVERSMOKE
 

Quick summary: In a nutshell, Frii is simple, efficient and satisfying. A good combination – a solid choice for those who are looking for an e-cig with nicotine.

Simplicity, efficiency and price are the reasons we look favorably on this product. Frii has no hazardous chemicals, and literally allows you to control how much nicotine you’re taking in.  No tar, no carbon-dioxide. Whether you’re trying to kick the habit, or you’re not ready to “give in” to smoking restrictions, Frii will accommodate you.

The charge duration of Frii’s lithium ion batteries is one reason for our endorsement. One e-cig charge will probably last as long as a whole pack of traditional cigarettes.  Recharging the batteries powering the e-cigarette, is also a simple process.  The Frii kit includes both an AC power adapter, and a USB power adapter, so you can either plug it into the wall, or plug it into a computer and you’ll quickly be ready to smoke again.  This sort of simplicity is what we’ve come to expect from Frii; there are two physical parts of their E-cigarette (as opposed to three parts, the norm among older e-cig brands); one end, the longer end, contains the battery, and the other, the filter cartridge, contains the atomizer which holds the vaporizing liquid.  But there are also no messy liquids to pour and no flavor pouches to deal with – just a cartridge that you can change at will.

Frii allows you to choose how strong you want your e-cig to be.  Frii cartridges offer a choice of high, medium, or low nicotine strength (16, 12 or 8 mg) – or no nicotine at all.  So if you’re trying to quit, you can wean yourself down gradually; if you’re a social smoker, you can choose a lower amount of nicotine; if you’re a committed smoker using an e-cigarette for convenience or as a permanent substitute, you can choose the highest level available. You are in total control of what you’re smoking. You inhale a mixture of mostly nicotine and water vapor, but it feels almost exactly like the “real thing.” And when you exhale, there’s no odor or second-hand smoke – just smokeless water vapor that also looks just like the real thing. Frii also offers a nice selection of flavors: Tobacco, Menthol, Coffee, Vanilla, Strawberry or Cherry. The tobacco and menthol flavors are traditional and satisfying; the others are a wonderful change of pace and turn smoking into something even more enjoyable than ever.

Quick summary: Their long-lasting cartomizer (atomizer) is one of the best values that we’ve found, and that makes them worth a look for those looking purely for nicotine-free e-cigarettes.

Smoke Assist products contain only water, propylene glycol, and a scent that imitates tobacco flavor. No tobacco, no tar, and unlike most of the competition, no nicotine. They’ve been toxicologically tested and contains no known ingredients considered to be cancer-causing agents.

One important thing to know, is that Smoke Assist offers a free electronic cigarette – an offer you can only get by going through their website. You must, of course, order a starter kit in order to get the free cigarette.

Smoke Assist’s starter kit comes with:
- Stainless steel shell with Micro-computer control circuit to work the first time, every time
- USB Rechargeable built-in Lithium Battery with USB Charger
- 2 Cartomizers: Each cartomizer is roughly 3 packs of cigarettes

We find these to all be strong arguments for Smoke Assist, which features a two-part design with a realistic reddish indicator light. The longer white part of the product is the battery, and the “filter” actually contains what they call the cartomizer (many other manufacturers call this the atomizer). As mentioned, one cartomizer is approximately equal to three packs of cigarettes, which is a much better deal than most other companies (some of whose atomizers can equal less than a pack of cigarettes) – meaning some big savings in the long run.

Smoke Assist products are socially acceptable in almost any situation, without any distinguishing odor – or of course, any second hand smoke. As is the trend, these products actually look almost exactly like traditional cigarettes. But they distinguish themselves well, and when you add the value of their long-lasting cartomizer, that makes them our top choice for those looking for nicotine-free e-cigarettes.

PRICE: Starter kit is $99.90. (Note: price comparisons are difficult because each company includes different products in their kits.)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SMOKE ASSIST

Quick summary: A good e-cigarette; much more attractive are some of the options, such as the many tobacco flavors they offer, their handy, smaller “micro” e-cig and their variety pack of various nicotine strengths.

The Safe Cig promotes its products as “home grown,” so to speak; the original e-cigarettes introduced to America, and still made in California. But to us, what stands out is that they offer two sizes of e-cigs, the original, and the “Micro.” It’s a much smaller version of their standard product, just half the size so it will fit into your pocket or clutch purse easily. They promote it as smaller, slimmer and sexier; it may not be for everyone, but it’s a great idea. There are six strengths of Safe Cig available, from zero nicotine all the way up to 24mg of nicotine, the equivalent of an unfiltered cigarette. And a nice twist is that they offer a “variety pack,” with one atomizer of each strength – so that you can try them all and decide what the optimal level of nicotine is for you. Another interesting difference between their product and many others, is the type of flavors they offer. There are 14 flavors of Safe Cig (color coded to match the flavor) and most of them are variations on tobacco flavors: traditional to classic, Turkish to Colombian, Moroccan to Mandalay, and so on. There is menthol, but not the usual fruit or ice cream flavors. The message to us is: these are products aimed at people who love the taste of tobacco. The makers of the Safe Cig focus quite a bit on the engineering of their e-cigarette, saying that they have unique designs for their battery, their refill cartridges (with a unique vapor catcher inside the cartridge to concentrate the vapor for inhalation), and so on. We’re not engineers, so we can’t judge these claims one way or the other. What we do know is that their cartridges last for about one pack’s worth of time – an average life span for e-cigs; they have our preferred two-element design; and their batteries are powered at 3.7 volts, lower than several of the brands we’ve done e-cigarette reviews for, but higher than others. And so overall, what we know is that the Safe Cig is around the middle of the pack (no pun intended) for e-cigs, but that they have some really neat things to offer, like their “Micro” e-cigarette, their variety pack of strengths, and their focus on tobacco flavors. They’re not our first choice – but because of those features, they may be yours. PRICE: Starter kits range from $55.96 to $137.95. (Note: price comparisons are difficult because each company includes different products in their kits.)

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SAFE CIG

Quick summary: a middle-of-the-road e-cig, but perhaps the best fashion choice of all brands we’ve reviewed, as well as some nice pricing breaks.

Let’s be honest, many people smoke, at least in part, because smoking looks cool. The feeling isn’t as all-pervasive as it used to be, of course – but there are still a lot of folks who believe smoking is sexy…sophisticated…choose your own adjective. And so, it’s no surprise that a quality e-cig company is trying to fit into that marketing space. Meet South Beach Smoke. Their advertising is sexy, their endorsements are sexy – and their e-cigarettes are stylish.

The details, as far as an e-cig review are concerned, are solid and straightfoward. No tar, no carbon monoxide or carcinogens – you’re inhaling water vapor and nicotine. There are two varieties of South Beach Smoke: the starter packs come with a less convenient three-component design; their upper-level packs come with an easier-to-use two-component design (the atomizer and cartridge are combined into a single piece) which also means an easier, smoother draw when you smoke. Each cartridge is the equivalent of a little over a pack of cigarettes; there are four strength levels (full, light, ultra-light, and no nicotine) and five flavors (tobacco, menthol, vanilla, chocolate, cherry) of cartridges available.

As for the design of South Beach smoke, they have their own signature bright-orange crystal tip, and with their long brown filters, they look a lot more like “real” cigarettes than many of their competitors. There’s lots of smoke on the exhale as well, making the total experience seem almost as sexy as a hot babe smoking in a 40′s black and white movie.

They’re also working to bring in the celebrity endorsements for South Beach Smoke; Karina Smirnoff, from the national television show Dancing With the Stars, was seen relaxing with a South Beach e-cig at the Just Dance 3 launch party in LA; Jeremy Piven’s has demonstrated his South Beach e-cigarettes at a party in Beverly Hills this year; US Weekly says Mel Gibson traded one of his traditional cigarettes for a South Beach e-cig at a private house party in Beverly Hills; the product is included in the gift bags given attendees at the MTV Awards shows. They’re working hard to boost the image of South Beach Smoke as the young, hip e-cigarette, and the campaign seems to be working.

More impressive to us is that they’ve also come up with some good pricing breaks online, including free shipping, gasoline rebate cards with your first purchase, free kits for the military, and so on. We didn’t quite find South Beach Smoke brought enough to the table to be a first-tier recommendation for us, but it was close, and it might be your first choice if you’re looking to make a lifestyle statement in your e-cig smoking preference.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO ABOUT SOUTH BEACH SMOKE