Mutation V4 by Indulgence

Hello everybody! Today, I'll be going over the Mutation V4 by Indulgence, provided to me by SmokenMist

It seems the good guys at Indulgence are reinventing the wheel once again, with another reiteration of the ultra-popular Mutation RDA. The V4 has some awesome new additions, yet doesn't stray from the original design - it features a four post deck, 18 airholes on each side, adjustable airflow control and it's original, authentic, and affordable. Let's take at look at some quick specifications before we break it down.

• 22mm Diameter
• 304 SS construction
• Diamond Airflow Holes
• Bottom feed airflow holes routed underneath coils
• Adjustable airflow control
• 18 airholes (9 on each side)
• 4 post design
• Negative posts milled to deck
• Deep juice well
• Huge post holes

Well....whats new?!?

The Mutation V4 features an assortment of modifications, with the biggest being it's new, revolutionary airflow design. The 18 holes have been slightly modified this time around in the shape of a diamond, to encourage the vapor to form a sort of vortex, leading to a lot more flavor, and a lot more vapor. The V4 is the first in the Mutation line to feature bottom feed airflow holes, which are located on the upper part of the deck. When your coils are positioned directly over these airflow holes, air is pulled up and over the coil, leading to an increased vapor production. The V4 has a ton of airflow configuration settings, thanks to this new bottom-fed airflow design. It truly redefines versatility, as the V4 can be taken from a super subohm cloud chaser, to your daily flavor chaser. It does, in fact, do it all. Let's get to the review!

Packaging 

I have always been a fan of the Mutation V4 packaging. This RDA comes packaged in a nice little box, which contains the V4, some replacement o-rings, screws, and the blue screwdriver of screw stripping death. Inside, you'll also fine a 510 drip tip adapter, some plugs for the bottom airflow (if you can't figure out how to NOT OVER DRIP) and a nifty plastic extension piece. It's presentation is subtle, and somewhat minimal, but it's nice to have all this stuff when some authentic devices do not even come with a drip tip, much less a box. 

Quality

Outside of the very first Mutation, I have yet to be disappointed by Indulgence and their forthcoming iterations. The deck is constructed of 304 stainless steel, and it is machined incredibly well. The post holes are very clean, very large, and the posts themselves extremely rigid. The negative posts are milled into the deck, with the positive block secured by the 510 pin. I have thrown some pretty wire heavy builds in here, specifically a quad 22g (please use caution when trying builds like this, and be aware of your battery and device limits!) and double twisted 24g wire, and after plenty of torquing, I could not get the block to spin.

The O-rings on the base are incredibly snug, and the top cap slides on and off with extreme ease. The airflow control is machined just as well, however the end pieces of the blades are extremely sharp, so be cautious when doing cleaning this piece, as it can nick you if you aren't mindful. The drip is delrin, and wide bore - while not as huge as a chuff, or the V3s included drip tip, it still does a fantastic job of cooling the vapor, and pushing the clouds. The 510 adapter works as it should, allowing you to utilize a range of standard drip-tips, an option that wasn't available in previous versions(unless you purchased the adapter separately)

Overall, the Mutation V4 is what you'd come to expect from Indulgence - a solid, well built device, with features you'd see in an authentic, for a fraction of the price. It is still amazing that Indulgence is able to produce and sell these RDAs, which are in my opinion, best in class, for the price (sub-29.99). They continue to show the market that originality and affordability should NOT cost an arm and a leg.

Performance

This is where the V4 shines. Comparing it to previous versions, you can expect more of the same. Thanks to the wide bore tip and the 18 hole air flow configuration, the Mutation V4 reigns king in the airflow department. For all you cloud chasers, this is one RDA that belongs in your rotation - it is simply best in class. 

The Mutation has caught flack, however, due to the previous versions inability to really chase flavor. Indulgence has downsized the drip tip, and not only due to the slightly redesigned angular blades and now diamond shaped air flow holes, they have introduced bottom-airflow options. 

The bottom airflow is completely adjustable - below the coil are three holes, which when in use, pull air from underneath and than over the coil, leading to increased airflow. To adjust it, the outside of the deck features 3 holes, from big, medium, to small. Similar to how you would adjust the standard airflow, turning the top cap (not the airflow blades) can cut off the big hole, the small, the medium, or create a combination of both - for instance, for my flavor chasing build, I have 6 of the diamond holes closed, with half of the middle bottom

open, and the entire small hole open. This creates a tighter, more restrictive draw than can really utilize the bottom-airflow and vortex to create flavor that many thought the Mutation was unable to do!

Another nice addition is the optional plastic extension pieces. This see through extension is screwed into the base of the drip tip, and forms a bridge to speak, between the tip and the chamber. This creates a cooling affect for those of you who run very low, very hot sub-ohm builds. I have tested it with some of the hotter builds (quad 22g, looking at you) and while it doesn't completely negate any heat, it does cool it down to a very noticeable degree.

With that said, I have read people that people do have trouble with leaking. It's no surprise that the occasional oversight can lead to some extra juice finding it's way into the bottom airflow and seeping out at the base. I have found one very reliable way to combat this.

Don't overdrip. I know, captain obvious over here, but it is true. When you utilize the bottom air flow, dripping normally can lead to juice running off the wick and into the holes, coming out of the 510, or at the base. If you want to utilize the bottom airflow, instead of dripping as you normally would, you need to paint the wick. Drip alongside the cotton, but be mindful to not completely saturate the juice well. One way to combat this is by utilizing a "z" wick, (Thanks to whoever shared this on Reddit!) pictured below.

Simple, right? I have yet to suffer from anything other than the occasional leak due to dripping too much - something you can actually control, but it does happen. Another great way to prevent this is by utilizing the plugs found in the box - they are plastic pieces that plug up the bottom airflow. You do lose a lot of the versatility that the V4 offers, but it will allow you to run your standard builds, that you may or may not find leak more in the V4 than say, the V3.

Overall, I am impressed with the Mutation V4. It is everything I've come to expect from Indulgence with just the right amount of re-imagining. I'm a big fan of the bottom airflow, and the reduced bore drip trip, as I no longer have to swap out my Mutation when I want to utilize flavorful builds. I'd wager than not only is the Mutation V4 one of the most versatile RDAs on the market, but that you'd be hard pressed finding another one that is authentic, exceptionally well built, and downright affordable. The V4 is without a doubt a home run, and I expect nothing less from Indulgence.

Do yourself a favor and pick one up today from Smokenmist by following this link - I have scoured the internet, and at 24.75, this is got to be the best price on the market. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my review, and get in touch - I love hearing from my readers, and I'm always looking to improve my work, website, and everything in between. Stay vaping, people.

Derringer RDA

Today, I'll be reviewing the Derring RDA, provided to me by www.MtBakerVapor.com. Let's take a look at this compact RDA, shall we?

Packaging

To be completely honest...this was the probably the biggest letdown. Instead of coming in a box, be it plastic, or display, the Derringer comes packaged in a tiny ziploc bag, with a hex key, a few Phillips screws, and the RDA itself. This isn't a knock on MBV, as I've read that this is how the v1.2 has been shipped out from pretty much everywhere. When you deal with authentic hardware, it's nice to feel that you purchased something worthy of the (often) heavy price tag - at 64.99, I expected a bit more than a plastic bag, but it's certainly not a deal breaker - just a let down. Also, Praxis....would it hurt to throw in a drip tip?! 

Build Quality

Now here is where authentic devices have a chance to shine! Immediately upon removing it from it's packaging, I was already floored- the Derringer is a looker, that's for sure. With it's ultra minimal design and incredibly compact form, this little RDA is definitely a stunner. I was initially skeptical, I had my doubts - I just couldn't get over the form factor. In person, however, it looks rather elegant, and when paired with similarly low profile mods, such as the Le Petit Gros in 18350 mode, it really shines.

The top cap sports the Praxis logo, and has a bit of heft to it. It's incredibly well machined, and slips on and off the deck with relative easy. The engravings are very well done, deep etchings, and they don't stand out - you know you have a Praxis product, but it's not shoved down your throat. It really adds to the minimal design. 

The Derringer sports a few airflow options, offering those who enjoy mouth to lung hits a ton of restrictive options, and for your lung hits, I'd say it is comparable to that of the Tobh. This is by no means a cloud chasing RDA, and to do so is downright foolish - while you can get some respectable clouds from higher gauge wire, anything super-sub ohm is just not fun. The condensed top cap and small frame lead to an extremely hot vape, if you're trying anything crazy. The inner barrel, which controls your air flow, is totally adjustable, and lets you dial in just what you want the Derringer to do - whether that be to flavor chase, or pull of some surprisingly impressive clouds (I found my go-to 7 wrap, 26g dual coil lead to fairly dense clouds, that were warm, but not blisteringly hot!)

The deck itself is incredibly well done as well. With such a small design, you'd be a fool to expect a deep juice well....right? While not nearly as deep as some of the other RDAs on the market (such as the Mutation X, Magma, Troll, etc) it is exceptional, size considered. I found myself not having to drip as often as I thought I would, but still more than I would normally. 

The deck itself is very well done, too. It features your standard three post design, and hex drive heads (When did this become a thing, and can it please stop?) The post holes are slotted, and while you may not be able to cram low gauge twisted builds into them, I was able to run dual 24g coils just fine. I've read online that the center-post tends to spin or wobble, and thankfully, after 8 or so builds, I've yet to deal with this issue. The deck can be a little tricky to build on if you're spoiled by easier to build RDAs, such as the Mutation and Plume Veil line, but it shortly becomes second nature after the initial period of adjustment...but maybe that's me, because frankly, I am no good at building on three post drippers....still...to this day!

The Derringer is constructed from US 303 Grade Stainless Steel, machined incredibly well, and all the interchangeable parts (AFC ring, barrel, top cap) come on and off with ease. I believe it retailed quite a bit more than it does currently (at) 64.99, and had I purchased it at the higher price point, I would've been satisfied with the craftsmanship. It is definitely what I'd come to expect from an authentic.

Functionality

Good construction and a respectable design can only take you so far - it must perform as well as it looks, right? In my honest opinion, in the right hands, this thing can generate INCREDIBLE flavor. The vortex airflow and condensed top cap can produce notes in a juice you either long forgot, or didn't know even existed - this is true, believe me. With the wrong build, however, the Derringer can turn into a fire chucking monster - not literally of course, but it puts off incredibly hot vapor. I prefer a warm vape, but I was able to get downright chest-caving coughing fits from this (my fault - please do NOT do a parallel 24g dual coil build. I warned you.....put that wire away!!) 

If you respect the design, and build to it's nature, you can get an incredibly satisfying experience from the Derringer. I guess you could say that about all RDAs, but the trend lately is versatility - in my upcoming Mutation V4 review, I'll be touching on how you can chase flavor, clouds, a combo of both, lung hit, mouth hit,... it is versatile. I wouldn't call the Derringer one dimensional, but I do personally believe your options are limited if you're looking to achieve the quality that it is capable of.

Overall, I believe 64.99 is a fantastic price for this wonderful, authentic, dripper. It deserves a place in everyone's rotation, be it as a daily driver, flavor chaser, or just a nice show-piece. You just can't top the sleekness when paired with an 18350, or small box mod. It's just too sexy.

Questions? Comments? Be sure to fill out the comment form, e-mail me. I like hearing what my readers think, and I am always looking to improve my work!

Disclaimer: The opinions contained in this review are those of the reviewer, and are in no way, shape or form to be used to endorse any other products or to defame the company by any means. The company, product and service names used in this web site are for identification purposes only. All hardware and liquid reviewed were provided for review purposes, and review purposes only. All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Any third party comments/reviews published on the site (whether edited or not) are third party information for which www.vapocalypticreviews.com takes no responsibility and disclaims all liability. 

SMK Flagship Mechanical Mod

Guess what everybody? During my hiatus, I actually got a job WITH www.mtbakervapor! As such, I am obligated to tell you that the opinions in this interview are just that - my opinions - and are in no way, shape, or form endorsed, paid for, or sustained in any way, monetarily or otherwise. Let's get to it!

Let's take a quick peak at the manufacturer specifications..

Features:

• Floating Copper Firing Pin
• Copper Bottom Pin
• Adjustable Delrin Button Housing
• +/- .15 Voltage Drop @ 1 OHM
• 4 Vent Holes in Button Housing
• All Pieces are Interchangeable
• 18650 Tube 
• 22mm Diameter

Fairly rudimentary, no? Marketed as just that, the SMK Flagship is a mechanical mod devoid of bells and whistles - it has no fancy engraving, it does not stray from the tubular design, and it is not touted as the latest and greatest. Rather, the SMK rests on it's haunches knowing that it simply...works. 

It works well.

This authentic mod sports a made in america design, available in copper or stainless, and has the ultra affordable price tag of just 99.99 - showing that you can get quality material, artisan craftsmanship, and a functional device without sacrificing an arm and a leg. Let's go ahead and dive into what makes the Flagship rock.

Design

Nothing is out of the ordinary here. The Flagship sports the tried and true tubular design, with no glaring deviations - while it may do little to set itself aside from the pack, and outside of very few devices, what mechanical really does these days? In fact, I think the elegance of the Flagship is relative to it's ultra simplicity - it does not need an engraving, or a definitive stamp to call it's own. The nature of it's design lends to it's affordability and class, and I'm a big fan.

The switch itself, however, delightfully functional, and dare I say innovative in it's own right. Within the delrin housing are ball bearings, that lend a hand to not only conductivity, but rigidity of the switch. I won't lie, for 99.99, I halfheartedly anticipated a nightmare of a switch, the pitfall of many otherwise stellar mechanical mods. Surprisingly enough, it is without a doubt the smoothest switch I've dealt with to date - it has a moderate to low amount of throw, requires a firm press, and has yet to catch, stick, or otherwise fire on it's own. The ball bearings keep the switch from firing under it's weight or otherwise, and affords more peace of mind than the Manhattan/Fuhattan series type switches, utilizing opposing magnets. Good mods in their own right, but I've had more than a few auto-fire out of the blue...

Not with the Flagship.

Atop the superior switch design, the Flagship also sports solid copper contacts for ultra conductivity..and man, does this thing hit like a freaking train. It should be called the SMK Steam Engine 9000, or something (and that is why I'll probably never find myself in the marketing and development field..) The individual serialization is also a nice touch.

Have I mentioned the threads yet? No? Talk about smoother than a knife through butter. The craftsmanship and machining of the Flagship is impeccable, in fact, extraordinarily so ... I thought I was holding a mod worth it's weight in gold. In all seriousness, though, for the price, color me impressed. The switch and top cap slide off with ease, and thread back on just as well. Nothing crunched, nothing cross threaded. Upon further inspection, I could spot not one machining irregularity - they were crisp, smooth, and beyond what I'd expect from a device in this price range.

The top cap sports an adjustable copper pin, again to strengthen the conductivity between the atomizer and the mod itself. I'm a big fan of copper contacts, and it should be no surprise at this point. They're practically an industry standard, no?

Performance

After such a beaming review, you've got to be wondering, just how well does this baby work? 

It hits like Mike Tyson.

With it's all copper design, top to bottom, it should be no surprise that the Flagship is a powerhouse of the highest caliber, able to keep up with the best of the best. I built my mutation V3 exceptionally low for the Flagship, in hopes of putting it through it's paces. With a freshly charged VTC4, and my dual coil twisted build coming in at .02, I was ready to go.

This thing simply fires on all cylinders. If you're looking to produce some serious vapor, look no further. This thing should be your ace in the hole at your local cloud comp, your rig when you want to emulate a techno show in your living room, hell I swear it put off so much clouds I made rain. Simply put, I can't explain it any further. It works, and it works well. With an ultra low voltage drop, and a top to bottom copper design, look no further if you're eager to step into the authentic world and chase those glorious, glorious clouds... (unless cloudchasing isn't your thing, which is totally fine) because this can rock any setup you throw it's way. It is one of the very few mods that pose at least sustainable functionality when paired with the Atlantis v2, Subtank, or even a higher ohm dripper for all you flavor chasers.

Simply put, for 99.99, I was absolutely blown away by every facet of this device. From the top-to-bottom stellar construction, functionality, and ultra minimal design, the SMK Flagship should be the gold standard that all authentic mods are held to, in both design and price. Functionality should not be at a premium, nor should design - SMK has shown us that it is possible to get the best of both worlds on a budget. 

The Flagship was provided by www.mtbakervapor.com for review purposes. This review was not paid for, or otherwise influenced in any way, monetarily or otherwise. Everything you read are my expressed opinions, endorsed in no way, shape, or form by www.mtbakervapor.com or any of it's associates.