Today, I'll be covering the Smoktech 18350 mechanical ePipe mod, provided to me by Northwest Vapors. This will be a two part review, I will be covering their juice and accessories following this. The ePipe is a well made, functional device, almost a novelty of sort. I'm genuinely enjoying the portability and look that it affords, not to mention the buttery smooth switch, a luxury in the mech world. Let's get to it!
I've come to a pretty solid conclusion in my blogging/review venture. Sending out invitation to review product isn't always an enjoyable affair. The majority of companies are very supportive of my endeavor, however at the end of the day, it is likened to a "cold call" of sorts. Outside of circumventing the stigma, one of the most important things I have learned outside of ask and you shall receive, is...
A little bit of searching can lead to diamonds in the rough.
I had never heard of the company NorthWest Vapors, being an Arizona native, as well as a staple customer of high traffic establishments such as 101vape and mtbakervapor. I stumbled upon them one morning looking for companies to work with, and after a very pleasant exchange with Will and Tim, I found myself eagerly anticipating a package. When you deal with a new company and new product, it is a 50/50 shot. You could love it, or you could hate it. In this instance, I am completely floored by Northwest Vapors. Not only do they have very reasonable prices, the carry a decent array of product and make some of the best e-liquid I've ever had the pleasure of sampling.
As a reviewer, I do not use "best" lightly. I am not biased in the sort, I offer an honest review on every product I receive. It is a great feeling to know that I have found yet another company I can support along my vaping journey. With that in mind, lets get to the review!
The Smoktech Epipe is an 18360 stainless steel mechanical mod. It houses a single battery, both button and flat top. It is in my experience that a flat top battery fits better, but I have managed to use an eFest button top successfully. It is made with chrome plated brass, thankfully, as similar designs often fall victim to severe voltage drop. It sports a sealed 510 connection with a large ego well, so thankfully you do not need to use an adapter. The firing switch is enclosed with a delrin insert, so while the spring is replaceable, the throw is not adjustable. The switch is your standard spring, what I assume to be gold plated stainless. I'd suggest opting out for a brass spring to reduce any lingering voltage drop, as well as promote conductivity. The end caps are knurled, and quite nicely, allowing for a snug fit when palmed.
It's a pretty nice piece, to be completely honest. Here's what I like about the ePipe
- Aesthetic appeal
It's a mechanical pipe, what more can I say? It's certainly a center piece, more of an attraction than all day device. I'm tempted to pick up some longer drip tips to compliment the design further, but as is, it is entirely snazzy. I anticipate it'll garner quite a bit of attention, being the focal point of conversation in the near future. The chrome design compliments the aesthetic factor well, as gives off an authentic vibe, not a steampunk/retro appeal I'd imagine something like brass would garner. - Functionality
Those familiar with the Hammer (by Kato, though cloned by many) can ascertain to this. The pipe like tube design can suffer from some pretty substantial voltage drop. In my test, I noticed 0.2 drop at best. Not ideal, but nothing I can particularly gripe about. While I would recommend you only use clearomizers (iclear 16 seems to compliment it well, as does the protank 2), it is comforting to know it can perform under the constraints the design affords.
- Ease of use
When you're constantly toying with mechanical mods featuring telescoping pins, floating 510 connections, magnetic batteries, rebuild-able atomizers and drippers, it's almost a luxury to come across something that has an aurora of simplicity. With the ePipe, you simply pop in your battery and screw in your 510/ego carto of choice and go. No fiddling with a switch, no adjusting a center pin.
Not only that, but it just fits perfectly in your hand. I keep it in my palm, in between my index and middle finger. You can fire easily with your index as it rests, and it isn't in the least bit awkward, nor does it require any force. The switch depresses with ease, and for a spring, this was quite impressive.
- Construction
I am a huge fan of brass, and this is no slouch. Not only is it fairly conductive, it is heavy. Usually, we can (and I say USUALLY) liken heavy to quality...not always, but in this case, you can definitely gauge the craftsmanship by having it in the palm of your hand. It has a good weight to it, the knurled ends are fantastic, and the 510 connection has fired everything I've thrown at. For a novelty piece, I wasn't anticipating such a quality design, but I was surprised.
I am pleased to say I haven't found anything to complain about when testing out the Epipe by Smoktech. It is functional, it is appealing, it is well made. I have to say, what caught my eye initially was the look factor. I wasn't expecting performance like this, and I'm happy to say my expectations were definitely exceeded. I'd like to thank NorthWest Vapors for giving me the opportunity to try it, and I suggest that all my readers get over there pronto and check out their accessories and line of juice.
Questions? Comments? You know what to do, folks! Fill out the form to your right and get in touch. I love hearing from people, and am always looking to pursue partnership and other avenues.
Stay tuned, I'll be bringing you a juice review over the weekend!
Stay tuned, I'll be bringing you a juice review over the weekend!
As always....vape strong and live long!
