Hi Dim,
Welcome to Thunder’s Place and to the Pumper’s Forum.
I also started out with those PE paysites that give such bad press for hanging and pumping.
However all these sites, as you know, have interests. Financial interests, they are there to sell something. This forum is for the people, by the people, and it’s not selling anything.
It took me a while to realize that both hanging and pumping are not so bad as those sites make them to be.
In fact, they are both completely valid and very effective ways of enlarging your penis. And, most importantly, are NOT dangerous IF used correctly.
You will suffer from none of the side effects that are mentioned in the paysites, if you know what things to avoid.
Regarding the gains from pumping - there is still a debate about how permanent they are. It could very well be that it’s also an individual thing. Almost all pumpers I talked to agree that there are some permanent gains, for some they were bigger gains for other smaller.
However, if you combine pumping with jelqing and squeezes or other PE exercises, you might get much better results. This is my advise to you. You won’t be disappointed!
Read this wonderful introduction to pumping by avocet8: Vacuum Pumping 101.
Also read this great thread about combining pumping with other PE exercises: Synergistic Effect of Pumping When Systematically Combined with Other PE Techniques.
Please don’t hesitate to ask any other questions.
Good Luck!