How often do you switch strains and/or vendors?

[Renob]

I guess everyone has their kratom routines that work for them. From what I’ve read , switching strains and vendors is pretty common practice in order to keep the kratom working to its fullest potential. I’ve tried a few different methods but I’m not really set on what my best kratom schedule is.

Do you guys like to switch strains and vendors multiple times per day (using one strain or vendor in the morning and something completely different in the evening)?

Sticking to the same vendor for a day? A couple of days at a time?

Sticking to the same strain for more than one day (or one use)?

I’ve tried using one strain for a couple of days at a time and I’ve found that it may lose effectiveness from this practice. I also frequently switch or mix strains each day (green in the morning, white in the afternoon, red in the evening, etc)…

I think what I’m leaning towards is the idea of using 2-3 different strains each day but trying to stick to the same source (vendor) for at least a few days at a time. When I first ordered from Otie’s, I thought it hit so well that I only used Otie’s for the first few days but switched strains frequently. I recently started with Liza’s, I was ultra impressed so I’ve mainly been using her stuff for a bit. I’ve got some superstition-ish (and OCD lite) rituals with my kratom and I’m constantly trying to see what the best method is for me will be.

What works best for you? How many vendors and strains do you rotate and how often?

[Kelleytoons]

I have over 100 batches and I switch them up every single time I dose (I dose perhaps twice a day, three or four times a week). I have a rack that allows easy choice and as I use that batch I turn it around and it sits that way until next time (so every few months I rotate the racks).

[Renob]

I have over 100 batches and I switch them up every single time I dose (I dose perhaps twice a day, three or four times a week). I have a rack that allows easy choice and as I use that batch I turn it around and it sits that way until next time (so every few months I rotate the racks).

Wow! That’s quite the rotation! I try to have products from about 3 or 4 vendors at a time. I’ve got bits and bobbles of about 30 different ones right now. They’re almost all pretty similar, lol. There are always a few standouts that really hit well for me though.

[Kelleytoons]

It's overkill, for sure. It happened because I started my collection prior to being a member here, and thus it was crap until it wasn't.

As I got more and more memberships here (as well as learned who the really standout vendors were and what batches everyone rated highly) I did replace *some* of my early efforts, but mostly just added to it. At one point I had a journal which helped me determine what was hitting and what wasn't, but at that time I also wasn't really clear on how personal conditions affected impacts, so much of the info was suspect.

I probably need to journal again and curate my collection back down to a more manageable size but with my TFH membership it's kind of self-correcting in that those batches are replacing things that I know just weren't the greatest anyway (and no offense to vendors like Okie and Mitraman, but if it comes to a choice I'll ALWAYS go with anything from TFH). I suspect what I'll end up with is going to be predominantly what I like to consider, for me, the Big Three: TFH, Denette and Oties (who is kind of a distant third). And it will be sprinkled with "the greatest hits" from others like Liza, MM, Satre (sp?), Lucky's and others (so perhaps one or two batches from the three or four other vendors, with 30-40 from each of the first two and 10 from Oties).

I've also done something different with my rotation I had not done before - before I had a pretty strict "this one is next" with the exception that it was always a white before tennis. So I just grabbed the next one. Now because I have 40 different ones at a time sitting in a rack in front of me (with the other 40 on the "next" rack sitting in my computer room) I now pick and choose which one I'm going to take fairly easily. Once selected I then turn the bottle around so I don't take it again until the rack is cleared and switched.

In this way I've found I don't always need a white before tennis - sometimes a green or yellow works just fine. And I don't always need a red in the evening, as a green or yellow might also be nice there. It just seems to work for me.

[CatfatherB]

I have a huge stash from various vendors, nowadays I like just sticking to one bag of something fast in the morning and something slow in the afternoon, I see a lot of people switching every dose different vendor and putting the rest in the trading post, it takes me at least 50 grams of continually using a batch before I can say if I like it or not but, that's just me. I'm weird.

[Arob1000]

I have a huge stash from various vendors, nowadays I like just sticking to one bag of something fast in the morning and something slow in the afternoon, I see a lot of people switching every dose different vendor and putting the rest in the trading post, it takes me at least 50 grams of continually using a batch before I can say if I like it or not but, that's just me. I'm weird.

If a batch can keep hitting over 50g or continued use it is a really special one, don’t get me wrong they exist but don’t come around too often.

I’ve been rotating through like 10-20 batches from various vendors, TFH, D615, Rhino, LSMS, Okies, Otie’s, Mitraman and more. I don’t favor any of these vendors as they all have some amazing leaf, for example Okie’s early summer leaf is still some of my all time favorite.

One of the things which isn’t discussed too often here is what farmer each vendor gets their leaf from. For example TFH and D615 have like 7+ farmers all from different trees/regions so it is possible to only use D615 or TFH leaf and get a ton of variety if you alternate farmers. Some other smaller vendors only have a few farmers so not as much variety but their product is still quality!

[CatfatherB]

I have a huge stash from various vendors, nowadays I like just sticking to one bag of something fast in the morning and something slow in the afternoon, I see a lot of people switching every dose different vendor and putting the rest in the trading post, it takes me at least 50 grams of continually using a batch before I can say if I like it or not but, that's just me. I'm weird.

If a batch can keep hitting over 50g or continued use it is a really special one, don’t get me wrong they exist but don’t come around too often.

I’ve been rotating through like 10-20 batches from various vendors, TFH, D615, Rhino, LSMS, Okies, Otie’s, Mitraman and more. I don’t favor any of these vendors as they all have some amazing leaf, for example Okie’s early summer leaf is still some of my all time favorite.

One of the things which isn’t discussed too often here is what farmer each vendor gets their leaf from. For example TFH and D615 have like 7+ farmers all from different trees/regions so it is possible to only use D615 or TFH leaf and get a ton of variety if you alternate farmers. Some other smaller vendors only have a few farmers so not as much variety but their product is still quality!

There's lots of kratom users like my brother who only buys one bag of kratom and that's all they'll use until it's gone and get another, sometimes it's stronger sometimes it's weaker... If it's bunk just get another bag. We're just picky, lol

[terposton]

I can't imagine how many vendors or strains I have but the ones I use every day is Texas Family Harvest. I know there are many that say you have to rotate vendors but I have used nothing but TFH for many years and hardly use other vendors much even though I have many of them. TFH is a different vendor with many strains and I have most of them so that is probably why. I may use other vendors a couple of times a week. When I first started though, nearly 7 years ago, I would buy 2 or 3 bags and use them until they were nearly gone before buying more. I did that for probably the first 2 years and it worked fine.

[Kelleytoons]

Now that I have a membership it's clear to me that more and more of my rotation will be TFH (I just bought two kilos that will replace 20% of my current rotation - it will mean that over half my rotation is either TFH or Denette. The other 40 strains are a mixture of others but I can see I will replace more and more with TFH).

[Renob]

I’ve seen Texas Family Harvest mentioned so much in here that it seems like half of the forum is sponsored by them! . All jokes aside, though, can you guys really tell that much of a difference with TFH? I’ve tried 6-7 different vendors and I have a favorite or two but they’re mostly all similar. I’m wondering what the catch is with TFH? Are the prices super high? Maybe I’ll try for a membership. I’m thinking that I have to at least look into it. I learned a term on this forum..”FOMO”.. and now I’ve got FOMO all of the time!

[Kelleytoons]

There's a number of things about TFH - somewhere on the forums there is a (long) discussion about what makes them different but the main thing that sticks out in my mind is how completely they control their suppliers (including actually knowing WHAT they are being sold - nearly all vendors just have to take the word of whoever is selling them whatever it is, and sometimes those "words" are suspect at best).

For me the wakeup call was when I got the opportunity to test their wares - I honestly never had better kratom from any of the other dozen or so vendors I've tried. My expectations were low - because someone had given me a TFH sample I had tried previously that was ho-hum. After testing the ten samples I got I knew TFH was superior in nearly every single way.

That's not to say there aren't good batches from other vendors - only that TFH is the most consistent, high quality vendor around. It's unlikely you can get a membership soon but I would NEVER turn down that opportunity if it comes your way. In the meantime there is the Trading Post and I would highly recommend you spend some time there seeking out some of their wares.

[Renob]

There's a number of things about TFH - somewhere on the forums there is a (long) discussion about what makes them different but the main thing that sticks out in my mind is how completely they control their suppliers (including actually knowing WHAT they are being sold - nearly all vendors just have to take the word of whoever is selling them whatever it is, and sometimes those "words" are suspect at best).

For me the wakeup call was when I got the opportunity to test their wares - I honestly never had better kratom from any of the other dozen or so vendors I've tried. My expectations were low - because someone had given me a TFH sample I had tried previously that was ho-hum. After testing the ten samples I got I knew TFH was superior in nearly every single way.

That's not to say there aren't good batches from other vendors - only that TFH is the most consistent, high quality vendor around. It's unlikely you can get a membership soon but I would NEVER turn down that opportunity if it comes your way. In the meantime there is the Trading Post and I would highly recommend you spend some time there seeking out some of their wares.

Thanks for this information! I actually haven’t considered joining the trading post. I was aware that it existed but haven’t looked into it. I think I’ll do just that!

[Eu4oric906]

I think they (tfh) benefit from hype and exclusivity to be sure, but deserved and they are a high quality vendor whom I respect. There are others. Still FOMO is real, jump on the trading post and see with your own three eyes amigo. Can dip your toes in on any vendor you fancy if ur patient. This place will provide.

[Pixiedust]

My main go to is MBC. But I also have some from New Hope Botanicals and Chicago Botanicals. I switch up strains just about every time I dose. About once a week I will switch it up from what vendor tea I use. I've been taking the same amount for almost 2 years and haven't needed to increase it. Whenever it's not working as well as I'd like, I increase my water intake. That plays a huge role for me.

[Renob]

I tried using one strain per day again but I got bored and it lasted all of one day.

I still switch with just about every dose, 2-3 times per day (usually 3). I was trying to switch vendors frequently but I found one that’s been hitting for me so I’ve been focusing less on that aspect and switching up my “colors”. I’m also in the habit of making my own 2 strain blends for my late afternoon (last dose of the day). This seems to be working great for me. I rarely use the same strain on two consecutive days.

[Renob]

My main go to is MBC. But I also have some from New Hope Botanicals and Chicago Botanicals. I switch up strains just about every time I dose. About once a week I will switch it up from what vendor tea I use. I've been taking the same amount for almost 2 years and haven't needed to increase it. Whenever it's not working as well as I'd like, I increase my water intake. That plays a huge role for me.

Water, water, water! I’ve increased my daily water intake by about double over the last few weeks and it’s been making a world of difference in how I feel in general… if it’s making the kratom hit better then that’s a bonus!

[Pixiedust]

My main go to is MBC. But I also have some from New Hope Botanicals and Chicago Botanicals. I switch up strains just about every time I dose. About once a week I will switch it up from what vendor tea I use. I've been taking the same amount for almost 2 years and haven't needed to increase it. Whenever it's not working as well as I'd like, I increase my water intake. That plays a huge role for me.

Water, water, water! I’ve increased my daily water intake by about double over the last few weeks and it’s been making a world of difference in how I feel in general… if it’s making the kratom hit better then that’s a bonus!

Yes! Water is extremely important. Or hydration in general. I've started drinking Gatorade and using liquid i.v. packets. It's helped a lot. Definitely recommend them.

[34766]

i use a different vendor everyday unless i’m on vacation. then i just grab a couple favorites.

[Kelleytoons]

Yes! Water is extremely important. Or hydration in general. I've started drinking Gatorade and using liquid i.v. packets. It's helped a lot. Definitely recommend them.

Let me qualify that a bit - I think taking kratom with an acidic drink is VERY important. Perhaps even more important than hydration in general (at least in terms of kratom effectiveness).

I've experimented extensively on this and I'm convinced that when I take my kratom with Propel (the number one ingredient, aside from water, is citric acid) it intensifies the experience. I take a LOT (I take capsules) and if I do it with just water it's nowhere near as good. I'm not pushing Propel, but it's hard to find a tastier carbonated zero calorie beverage that also boosts kratom (I used to use orange juice but there's only so much of it you can drink).

[Renob]

Yes! Water is extremely important. Or hydration in general. I've started drinking Gatorade and using liquid i.v. packets. It's helped a lot. Definitely recommend them.

Let me qualify that a bit - I think taking kratom with an acidic drink is VERY important. Perhaps even more important than hydration in general (at least in terms of kratom effectiveness).

I've experimented extensively on this and I'm convinced that when I take my kratom with Propel (the number one ingredient, aside from water, is citric acid) it intensifies the experience. I take a LOT (I take capsules) and if I do it with just water it's nowhere near as good. I'm not pushing Propel, but it's hard to find a tastier carbonated zero calorie beverage that also boosts kratom (I used to use orange juice but there's only so much of it you can drink).

I’ve tried some water with fresh lemon juice for my toss and wash a few times but I’m not sure if I noticed much of a difference . After reading this, though, I’m going to have to start experimenting again. Anything that will make my kratom seem more potent is great advice! . Thanks!

[Pixiedust]

Yes! Water is extremely important. Or hydration in general. I've started drinking Gatorade and using liquid i.v. packets. It's helped a lot. Definitely recommend them.

Let me qualify that a bit - I think taking kratom with an acidic drink is VERY important. Perhaps even more important than hydration in general (at least in terms of kratom effectiveness).

I've experimented extensively on this and I'm convinced that when I take my kratom with Propel (the number one ingredient, aside from water, is citric acid) it intensifies the experience. I take a LOT (I take capsules) and if I do it with just water it's nowhere near as good. I'm not pushing Propel, but it's hard to find a tastier carbonated zero calorie beverage that also boosts kratom (I used to use orange juice but there's only so much of it you can drink).

I’ve tried some water with fresh lemon juice for my toss and wash a few times but I’m not sure if I noticed much of a difference . After reading this, though, I’m going to have to start experimenting again. Anything that will make my kratom seem more potent is great advice! . Thanks!

Maybe try soaking it in lemon juice and let it sit (I do mine 10-20 mins). You can add water after you let it sit or whatever you want to it. You can strain it if you want (I usually don't, but I have before). I've done that and noticed some difference. Hope that helps.