 Twisp eGo e-cigarette
Theo Boshoff
There are usually two reasons why people want to quit smoking: health reasons take the number-one spot and the cost of smoking is number two. Enter the e-cigarette.
There are many on the market, but I tested the Twisp eGo, the latest offering from Janty, and I'm still struggling to decide if I like it or not.
The eGo has a bigger battery (600mah) than the normal e-cigarettes - which more closely mimics the real thing - and is thus more bulky than previous versions and feels awkward. The battery lasts longer, almost two days, depending on your smoking patterns, but because of the bigger battery, it's heavier and bigger and does not feel like smoking a real cigarette. And because of the weight, it keeps pointing its tip downwards. Secondly, there is no burning amber on the eGo to make it feel like a real cigarette. The tip is capped with a silver plate with the word Twisp engraved on it.
 If it wasn't a device meant to mimic smoking, the design would be very elegant, with its matt black finish and silver trim, but for a smoker it just does not cut it.
Okay, so it is more healthy, as it does not burn any tobacco and basically creates vapour that the company says is free of hazardous smoke particulates, tar and carcinogenic compounds. The liquid in the refillable cartridges is made up of Propylene Glycol, water, flavour and nicotine, which sounds harmful but, according to the company, are all FDA approved and are used in other products generally used by consumers, like toothpaste. The quantities of nicotine in the cartridges are also less than in a regular cigarette. The vapour looks like smoke, but it just isn't the same.
This is a very personal experience, but I found that the eGo cartridges I used burnt my throat and actually made me cough at times. It also had a chemical taste.
 The fact that you have to manage the device, making sure the batteries are charged, is a bit tedious, when simply lighting up is much easier. Charging can be done via the included USB charger or from a wall socket and takes approximately two hours for a full charge. I guess that there is always a price to pay to be healthy, like exercising.
What further adds to it not feeling like the real deal is the fact that you have to push a button when you want to inhale or smoke. According to the company, there are batteries available that automatically do the vapourising when you take a drag, but there wasn't one in my box, just two manually operated batteries.
Although I do think that e-cigarettes can help people who want to quit, if you want to stop smoking completely or at least cut down, the Twisp eGo just does not give the same smoking experience, which is part of being a smoker. Maybe one of the company's other e-cigarettes that feels more like a cigarette would be a better option.
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