If you have followed electronic cigarettes in the media, you might be familiar with the clip embedded below from Late Show with David Letterman. During an interview segment with Katherine Heigl, she and Dave discuss her various attempts to quit smoking. She then demonstrates her electronic cigarette for an inquisitive Dave.
"This is remarkable," Dave exclaims after trying it for himself. Seemingly fascinated by the device and after some back and forth, he asks, "Who makes the damn things? Where do you get those?" Katherine replies, "This one's called a Smoke Stik."
With an endorsement like that, we had little choice but to try Smoke Stik for ourselves, and of course, bring you the unbiased Top 5 Electronic Cigarettes review.
A trip to the Smoke Stik website reveals that other celebrities including actors Daniel Sunjata of Rescue Me, Josh Henderson of Dallas, Taryn Manning of Hawaii Five-O, and Audrina Patridge of The Hills, use Smoke Stik.
Smoke Stik e cigarettes are available in various eye-catching metallic finishes including stainless steel. A number of the models feature glowing "jeweled" tips in place of the standard gray plastic with reddish glow. So, if you love shiny objects, Smoke Stik may be the brand for you.
Currently priced at five for $19.95 plus shipping, Smoke Stik cartridge/atomizers are available in Tobacco and Menthol flavors. Available levels of Nicotine range from 0mg to 16mg.
Also available at an additional cost of $20.99 are six "Skins" that are useful if you would like your electronic cigarette to resemble the U.S., Canadian, Mexican, or Confederate flag. For the less patriotic, snake and hearts style skins are also included.
Priced at $79.95 before discounts, the Smoke Stik Premium Starter Kit includes two 2⅝” lithium ion cigarette-style batteries, 3 cartridge/atomizers (1 Low, 1 High, 1 Menthol), 1 USB Charger with Car Adaptor, 1 AC Wall Charger, 1 Carry Case, and the User Manual. We noted that the Car Adaptor and Carry Case were both items not generally included in most starter kits, so we counted those as positives. From there things went downhill pretty fast.
Without the benefit of charging, we screwed the first of our three cartridge/atomizers into one of the cigarette-style batteries. As the cartridge/atomizers are not individually labeled, we had no idea if it was the Menthol, Low or High. The first drag was disappointing as some type of fruity flavor filled our mouths, while the vapor we exhaled was disappointing at best. We tried the remaining two cartridge/atomizers with similar results. Further, after trying all three, there were disagreements as to which was the Low, the High and the Menthol. We finally decided that the one with the most fruity flavor was the High, the one with the second most fruity flavor was the Low, and the least fruity flavored was the Menthol.
But it gets worse. The "High" cartridge/atomizer actually leaked back into our mouths. At Top 5 Electronic Cigarettes we have tested many different brands (mostly two-piece designs), and this was the first time that anyone had encountered a leaky cartridge/atomizer.
We then set both batteries to charge. The Smoke Stik Premium Starter Kit includes three chargers, and unlike most starter kits, the USB and AC chargers may be used simultaneously as they are each comprised of separate parts. In most kits, the cigarette style battery screws into the USB charger which plugs into the AC adaptor for wall outlet charging.
Unfortunately, our results were no better the following day. The vapor volume was still sub-standard, and the taste was not anything remotely like tobacco.
We estimated that the cost to maintain a one-pack-per-day cigarette habit using Smoke Stik to be $1389.95 annually (including the cost of the Premium Starter Kit), or $115.83 per month, or $26.73 per week or $3.81 per day. Therefore, we find Smoke Stik to be a poor value, costing more than twice as much over the course of a year as our #1 pick, Apollo Extreme.
When compared to the cost of tobacco cigarettes and the same one-pack-per-day habit at $6.00 per pack or $2190.00 per year or $182.50 per month or $42.12 per week or $6.00 per day, the annual savings for a Smoke Stik user is $800.85. You would save more by switching to what some might consider an "expensive" brand, our #2 pick, Green Smoke.
In summary, we found Smoke Stik to be a poor value owing to its flavor, lack of vapor volume, and relatively high cost.
Smoke Stik has earned THREE STARS and is NOT RECOMMENDED. Add one star if you are addicted to shiny objects as well as Nicotine.
The Smoke Stik Premium Starter Kit retails for $89.95 before discounts. Shipping is additional. Click to enlarge.
First click the "Visit the Official Smoke Stik Website" link below, and then enter TOP5 in the Coupon Code box at checkout to receive 10% OFF any Smoke Stik starter kit order!
PLEASE NOTE: ANY AND ALL PRICING LISTED ON THIS WEB SITE IS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF ITS OWNERS AND EDITORS AND IS SUBJECT TO INCREASE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DISCOUNTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR WITHDRAWAL AT ANY TIME WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. WE WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU MAKE YOUR PURCHASES PROMPTLY TO DECREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ANY INCREASE IN PRICE AND/OR CHANGE/REMOVAL OF ANY DISCOUNTS.
Smoke Stik has earned THREE STARS and is NOT RECOMMENDED.
*Rankings compiled from editors' reviews and evaluations of top-rated e-cig offers.
WARNING: Nicotine is known to be a highly addictive substance. If you are not currently a smoker, we advise you not to begin smoking. If you are a smoker, we advise you to quit smoking. If you cannot quit, we advise you to use tobacco alternative products like electronic cigarettes (also referred to as e-cigarettes or electric cigarettes) to help you quit. Please note that e-cigarettes are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate or cure any condition or disease. You must be over the age of eighteen (18) to use or buy electric cigarettes. We advise you to consult your doctor before using e-cigarettes if you are pregnant or breast feeding, or if you have heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or asthma, or if you have a demonstrated sensitivity or allergy to nicotine or inhalants.
Visit the Official Smoke Stik Website
