I smoke, and I smoke too much. Not only is it expensive, but it eventually takes a toll on your health. Since I’m now at an age where every vice makes itself more noticeable, I find myself thinking more and more often about smoking, or rather, about quitting.
WARNING (11/25/2024)
I am currently receiving reports via email and on Reddit that FÜM is having issues with shipping and customer service. Some customers have not received their orders, and support seems to be trying to blame the customer for the problem.
I can personally confirm the slow support and poor shipping. Please check recent reports before placing an order.
Unfortunately, I smoke for several reasons. On one hand, there’s the nicotine addiction that has taken hold over the years, making it a factor not to be underestimated. On the other hand, it’s the act of smoking itself. I’m bored? Cigarette! I’m stressed and need to calm down for a moment? Cigarette. Alcohol and social gatherings? A cigarette is a must. So it’s the motion and the fiddling. It somehow calms me down, especially since I’m always on the move. My girlfriend suspects I have ADHD because I’m never still.
Over the years, I’ve bought a few fidget tools that keep me more or less occupied on the side. But they aren’t alternatives to smoking because they encourage a completely different kind of movement. The hand-to-mouth motion is missing, as is the drag. And the nicotine, of course. For the latter, only withdrawal will probably help. For the motion and the sensation of smoking, I’ve now discovered FÜM.
A FÜM consists of a steel core that transitions into a steel mouthpiece. The steel is encased in a wooden tube. But what’s special isn’t the shape of the FÜM, but its “features.” The main feature is the flavor sticks, called Cores, which are inserted into the FÜM. The Cores come in different flavors and aromatize the air you breathe through the FÜM. So you’re not just inhaling air; the flavor reminds you of smoking. The Cores are supposed to be completely natural and harmless to your health. They remind me of the aroma pods for Air-Up bottles.
The second feature is very subtle and fits perfectly into the FÜM. When you twist the wooden part, you can adjust the airflow. It makes a pleasant clicking sound. The wooden piece is held onto the metal part by a magnet, and it’s extremely satisfying to pull it off and let it snap back. Both the clicking and the magnetic snap are not necessary parts of the design but are intentionally built in as a fidget feature.
So the FÜM keeps your hands busy and creates the sensation of smoking. All without any health drawbacks, at least according to the manufacturer. The flavors are exclusively natural essential oils; I can’t say more about that. I also can’t say yet if it really helps with quitting smoking. So far, I haven’t fully committed to quitting. But I will definitely report back.