Back to Our Roots
Our company was built on the mission to help people quit smoking cigarettes by providing quality vapor alternatives. Products have changed drastically over the years, so we are revisiting our roots, and helping you make an informed decision about vapor products.
Turning Leaf is a Minnesota-based company that started in 2012 (previously known as Infinite Vapor). At the time of it’s inception, there were no other vapor stores in Minnesota, and national manufacturing standards were nonexistent in the industry. Resulting in a marketplace filled with unsafe and untested products.
Owners, Gavin Rydell and Beecher Vaillancourt both decided to quit smoking cigarettes with the help of vapor products. This led them to build a lab, hire a chemist, and start to make their own e-liquids. They created products they were proud to stand behind, as both owners and consumers. Along with their partner, William Boldenow, they began opening retail locations across the Midwest to help others on their journey of harm reduction.
The trio sought to change the “wild west” landscape of the vape world, by creating e-liquid products formulated with quality ingredients.
Understanding your options
The options for vapor products and devices vary widely, as the market for electronic cigarettes and vaping has expanded significantly. In this article, we will be comparing three main categories:
- Disposable E-cigarettes (Dispos): Single-use devices pre-filled with e-liquid. Once the e-liquid is depleted, the device is discarded.
- Nicotine Salt Devices (Nic Salts): Devices that use nicotine salt e-liquids, which provide a smoother throat hit and faster nicotine absorption.
- E-liquid Devices: An e-liquid device, commonly referred to as vape device, is a battery-powered device that vaporizes a liquid known as e-liquid or vape juice. These devices are designed to simulate the experience of smoking traditional cigarettes without the combustion of tobacco.
The content of this blog is for informational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your health.
Comparing Disposables vs. Refillable Devices
Defining an “Average” User
When comparing disposables versus refillable devices, we first need to establish what we mean by an “average” user as it relates to each category: Disposables, Nic Salts, and E-liquids. By looking at average sales, customer habits, and puff count – we determined the following parameters for an “average” user.
- Disposable (Dispo) = (1) Dispo every week
- Nic Salts = (1) 30mL + (1) coil every 2 weeks
- E-liquid = (1) 60mL + (2) coils every month
Yearly Nicotine Intake
E-Liquid customers consume approximately 80% less nicotine per year than disposable customers.
- Disposable customers consume an average of over 44,200mg of nicotine per year.
- Nic Salt (30ml) customers consume an average of about 39,000mg of nicotine per year.
- E-Liquid (60ml) customers consume an average of about 8,640mg of nicotine per year.
*Amount of nicotine based on total mg/ml consumed.
Annual Cost Comparison
Based on average user, an E-liquid customer will spend about 70% less yearly when compared to disposable customers.
- Disposable customers spend on average over $1,550 per year ($130/mo).
- Nic Salt (30ml) customers spend on average about $820 per year ($68/mo).
- E-Liquid (60ml) customers spend on average about $470 per year ($39/mo) This customer will spend about 70% less money each year than a disposable customer.
*Cost of use based on avg. price of e-liquid and coils.
A Personal Journey
We believe that everyone of legal age (21+) has the right to choose the right product for themselves. Everyone’s journey is their own. To begin to illustrate the broad range of options and lifestyle choices, we interviewed a few of our team members about their harm reduction journey.
Here are a few of their stories:
Beecher’s Journey:
When Beecher decided to quit in 2012, it was because he wanted to achieve a healthier lifestyle, to be able to keep up with his newborn children, and not smell like smoke. In the first 3 months of his transition, he dual-used, regular cigarettes and vapor before making the full switch. Since then, his go-to has been E-Liquids/Refillables, because it’s important to him to not create more waste, and control his nicotine intake.
Jenn’s Journey:
Jenn decided to quit smoking in 2016 from both a personal desire and advice from her partner. At the time she was smoking about a pack a day. Once she made the switch, she loved not having to deal with the lingering effects of cigarettes, from the smoky smell on her clothes to residue on the inside of her car windows. Jenn tends to use E-Liquids, as it’s more cost-effective and recently has found herself using her e-Cig less frequently.
Kayla’s Journey:
Kayla decided to quit smoking in 2014 to improve her overall health and wellness, and to save money. Vaping was still new to the market, and in her words, “it was the trendy thing to do at that time”. Once she started vaping, she never went back to smoking cigarettes. She loves the variety of choices that vapor offers, such as flavors and nicotine levels, “It truly helps people find the product that works perfectly for them and their individual needs, versus one size fits all.”
For many years, Kayla only used a refillable device with traditional e-liquids, mentioning she loved the variety of flavors and the lower cost of refillables. But, as a single working mother, whose days are often long and chaotic, it was easier for her to have something that didn’t require upkeep, for that reason Kayla switched to disposables. “I charge it for 5-10 minutes a day and I’m good to go. I don’t like to have to keep batteries, coils, and liquid on my person everywhere I go. For me, it really is the convenience they provide.”
