Showing posts with label vape life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vape life. Show all posts

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Vape Chef Review

Today I will be going over 4 liquids provided to me by The Vapor Chef. After hearing the rave reviews of Honey Peary over the years, I was definitely itching to get my hands on a few bottles!

Disclaimer: These products were provided to me for the basis of this review. I am not financially compensated, or affiliated with Vapor Chef in any way, shape, or form. What you are reading are on my honest opinions as a consumer, free of bias and monetary influence. 





Max VG

Thoughts: I'm not going to lie, I was extremely excited to try this juice in particular. As a dessert junkie, I have not had much success sourcing a very well mixed, accurate tasting Smores liquid. In theory, it sounds great, but chocolate is decidedly hard to replicate, and various other components are utilized to sweeten the mixture, such as marshmallow, graham cracker, etc. The bottle itself smells wonderful, with definite hints of both graham cracker and marshmallow. The inhale is very feint, tasting similar to graham crackers, with the exhale followed by the feint sweetness of marshmallow. The chocolate, unfortunately, was extremely light, unfortunately, and my palate could not pick up more than a subtle note. Overall, it's a sweet, "dry" tasting juice. I could definitely vape this consistently, but it does not capture what I initially anticipated. To it's credit, I've yet to have a good liquid with a chocolate base!
Verdict: 3/5 Smells wonderful, and I could definitely vape it, but it tasted more so like graham crackers and marshmallow.



3mg
80 VG/20 PG



Thoughts: This juice smells fantastic! I was blown away by the smell alone, picking up banana, nut, and bready muffin notes. Banuffin is without a doubt a home run. The inhale is reminiscent of fresh bananas, no artificial candy taste here. The exhale manages to perfect the slightly sugary, bread taste of a muffin, with hints of nuts throughout. To be blunt, this particular juice perfects what it emulates, offering no more, or less, than a sweet, nutty banana muffin. I could vape gallons of this, and it may be my next all day vape!
Verdict: 5/5. Absolutely stellar juice, smells wonderful, hits every flavor note perfectly, and does tastes exactly as intended. 

3mg
Max VG

Thoughts: Initially, I was beyond skeptical. In fact, I had to quickly reference the websites description, as I thought I was about to vape a creamy, buttered... beer. I'm not one to turn down a good beer, but I definitely do not want to vape it! Thankfully, this is nowhere close to being based on alcohol. Vapor Chef describes it as a creamy butterscotch, with vanilla, and other things. It definitely smells of rich butterscotch, and leaves behind a very pleasant aroma. The inhale is very decadent, thick and creamy, as if they managed to turn a pound of butterscotch candies into a liquid. The exhale is where you get the vanilla notes, they're crisp but not overpowering. It is an interesting blend, as the creaminess of the butterscotch blends well with the crisp vanilla taste. This is definitely a very rich liquid, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Verdict: 5/5. Expected beer, ended up being amazingly rich butterscotch and vanilla. This is great in the morning, or after a nice meal.


3mg
Max VG

Thoughts: Going in, I wax not sure what to expect. I've never had the particular dessert, so I was decidedly skeptical, but intrigued as it does smell wonderfully tart and creamy. The inhale is a very rich apple taste, and similar to Banuffin, I'm happy to say it is both crisp and refreshing, and nowhere near artificial. On the exhale, I picked up rich caramel notes, with a bit of graham cracker, and vanilla. Though I've never had the dessert, I'll definitely be pulling up recipes, as this particular liquid is amazing! It captures the rich tartness of an apple and fantastically blends it with a caramel drizzle, with what tastes like graham cracker dust and vanilla. I have to say, I went through this particular bottle the quickest. 
Verdict: 5/5. A wonderfully crisp apple and vanilla dessert flavor, light, but still rich all on it's own. I'd definitely recommend this to both those who enjoy fruits, as well as those who enjoy desserts.



Overall, I was extremely satisfied with what Vapor Chef provided me with. These are fantastic dessert liquids, and will decidedly satisfy even the sweetest of tooths. I'm looking forward to placing an order in the future, and definitely recommend you guys check them out as soon as possible. Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, July 26, 2015

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.


Monday, July 6, 2015

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.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Vulcan RDA

Hey everybody! Today, I'll be doing a review on the Vulcan RDA, thanks to MtBakerVapor. It is my first shot at an authentic RDA....does it stack up the onslaught of clones? Let's dig in and find out.


Specifications

Features:
  • Single solid piece base construction
  • Revolutionary "under-passing" juice well
  • truly functional bottom-base heat sink
  • Innovative AFC side walls
  • Double Laser-cut vent holes
  • Red copper bottom contact pin/screw
  • PEEK insulators
  • 3-sets post screws out of the box
  • Plastic casing doubles as an atty stand
  • 22mm Base



Right off the bat, the specifications seem to put this bad boy into perspective - it features a solid base construction, the "under passing" juice well, heat sinks, PEEK insulators, and it all clocks in at under 60.00 - for an authentic. Now, I know that word gives some people the shivers, because lets face it, the clone market is exploding on what appears to be a daily basis now...however, if you build it, they will come, and the authentic market will not falter anytime soon!


To begin, let's break down the packaging.

 Packaging/Presentation

This has to be, hands down, the greatest device packaging I've ever witnessed. While it does not come in a lavish keepsake-esque box, or bursting at the seams with confetti, it is elegant and eye catching, relishing in it's authentic goodness, yet simplistic enough to not be overbearing. The Vulcan itself comes in a large dripper sized piece of plastic, with two heat sinks - bottom and top. Everything is packaged neatly within this large heat sink container, and it comes off rather stylishly. It is nice to see this, rather than the same old box. At least it's something cool to keep around, and a nice place to store the vulcan when not in use.





Build Quality

An authentic device, in my opinion, poses a few expectations. First and foremost, I do not want "mystery metal." We see this commonly in fasttech products, and the cheaper spectrum of clone devices - brass, copper, "stainless"....etc. I am not as active in the community as I once was, but I still remember the lead/brass debacle, and as such, I absolutely refuse to vape anything constructed out of brass, plated with brass, or copper.

Thankfully, the Vulcan appears to be one solid chunk of stainless steel! The deck itself is carved out of a nice piece of stainless, and it is sleek, and sexy. It sports a three-post design, with the negative posts milled into the deck. While I am a big fan of the four-post deck, the old standard has held it's age, and remains easier as ever to build on. The posts are rigid, as are the thumb screws - though they take a bit to get used to, hex screws are
also included, and interchangeable I was a bit skeptic about the thumb screws, fearing that they wouldn't tighten down well enough - well, fear not, because these suckers screw down very tightly!

The juice well is surprisingly deep, and holds a relatively large amount of liquid - I'd put it on near magma levels, at least, considering what I use daily - the doge, mutation, stillare, and mutation...neither of which offer truly deep juice wells. It's a nice change of pace to squeeze just a bit more juice out of my RDA.

The sleeve itself is nice and thick, with the logo carved into the steel, of which the "V" is the airflow. The top cap features a heatsink, and the conical design leads to an elegant looking RDA. No drip tip is included, but it will accept your standard 510. 

It has a copper pin, ensure maximum conductivity, and it has fired on every device it was thrown at, which is always a good sign. Lately I've been fighting finicky 510 pins, notably on my Herkales, so it's a nice change of pace not having to constantly adjust something.

Overall, it is a remarkably well built device. At 59.99, I'd wager it's one of the best bang for your buck authentic RDAs. You get a solidly constructed piece, with thick, sturdy posts, heat sinks, a large juice well, and a rather appealing looking device. While that's all amazing, you must be wondering...how does it vape?

Performance

To be perfectly honest, if you are looking to chase clouds, the Vulcan simply isn't built for that.  The conical design, paired with the relatively restricted airflow, affords an entirely different experience. I found that building in the lower ohm range, around .2-.5, led to very warm, thick vapor. Compared to the mutation, for instance, the same build would be relatively cool, with an exponentially larger amount of vapor. This is due to the restricted airflow - which isn't inherently a bad thing. If you know what to expect from the Vulcan, you will know that it is more a flavor-chasing device. While it does have the
capability to produce a very respectable amount of vapor, you aren't going to be fogging up the room with this - though, I'm not sure why you'd try, and it would be some intensely hot vapor!

With the higher ohm builds, on a box mod, I was able to get some seriously great tasting flavor out of this device. The heat sinks really cool the vapor down, keeping it from overtaking the flavor - while some think heat and flavor go hand and hand, such is not the case when you don't have a large amount of airflow.

Overall, the Vulcan is exceptionally versatile - it can chuck out a respectable amount of vapor, but not ridiculous clouds - though theoretically you can, I wouldn't agree with you that it is a pleasurable vape - it simply gets too warm, too fast. I found the sweet spot on a mech to be about .5, dual coils. On a box, I was running it at about .8, around 50-60 watts. If you're looking for an affordable,, exceptionally well made, and versatile device, you cannot go wrong with the Vulcan RDA.

Monday, March 9, 2015

iStick 30w

I've gotta say, it seems a bit odd reviewing this device with a Sigelei 150w in my hand, but personally...it's a pretty kickass little thing. I'd like to thank MtBakerVapor for the shot at reviewing it, the wait was definitely worth it. 








Here, take some specifications, you know you want too.

  • Atomizer short-circuit protection: 
    • If atomizer short-circuits, the OLED screen show “Atomizer Short”.
  • 10s firing cut-off.
  • Low-voltage protection: 
    • Once the battery is below 3.3V the OLED screen will show “Lock”, which means its time to recharge.
  • Unlock the Low-voltage Protection:
    • The iStick begins working again once it reaches 3.7V.
  • OLED Screen.
  • Voltage range varies from 2.0V - 8.0V.
  • Click power button three times while battery is on to switch from VV to VW mode.
  • Passthrough style battery lets you vape while you charge.
  • 2200mAh internal Li-Ion Battery.
  • Power on/off: Press the button for five times to turn the iStick on and off.
  • Low power Alert:
    • If the battery’s power is lower than 10%, the power symbol on the screen will flash.
  • Supports sub-ohm coils.
  • Accurate Metering.


Okay, reviews done, I'm going to sleep.


Just kidding. Wouldn't want MBV to sick those crazy bunch of bastards in GWAR on my ass for running off with such a sweet device. Though, actually, I'd get to meet them, so maybe...ah okay.



First Impression

Man, this is one tiny device. Seriously, it's like half the size of a standard DNA 30w mod, and that's incredible. When you consider a 2200mAh lipo and circuit board are packed into here, you've got to respect the design, you've just got too. It looks sleek and modern, a no frills approach if you will. No odd contours, no out of the box adaptations, just a straight forward, compact, 30 watt box mod. I really like how well it fit into the palm of my hand, it's a very discrete, stealthy piece of engineering. I imagined I'd have some trouble with it, considering my hands are on the larger size, however it felt incredibly natural, and was a nice change of pace from the larger, dual battery box mods.


Build Quality

At 34.99, a hair more than 1 dollar per watt, you've got to ask...okay china, what did you skimp out on? Surprisingly, I've found very little faults to knock in the build quality. It does not have the heft of the IPV series, it does not have intricate engravings, temperature control, nothing. However, it is built very, very nicely.

The actual box feels like it's worth a bit more than the MSRP, despite any real weight to it. In this instance, heft does not dictate quality, and though it feels much like a toy, it is a true powerhouse. The device feels solid, head to do. The spring loaded 510 has quite a bit of give, with all atomizers sitting flush, threading effortlessly. I do not own the 20w, but it is great that eLeaf employed the spring loaded pin, something that is always a welcome addition. Speaking of, it is also now 22mm in diameter, something that will certainly ease the minds of obsessive compulsive vapors the world over. 

The screen is remarkably bright, crisp, and clear. It's on the small side, clearly, but it definitely looks more than a modicum sharper than quite a few other "premium" devices.

One little grip I have with the build quality, however, are the buttons. They certainly work, and have yet to stick, misfire, or show any sign of unresponsiveness....but they just feel weird. It is almost as if the firing switch and adjustment switches are surrounded by rubber. It has no click, no real response, it's as if you're pushing into rubber. This absolutely frustrates me, but it is nit-picky at best if the buttons function as intended, and they do. Outside of that, it is built remarkably well, even offering a USB port to support charging. The port is sturdy, and does not move a bit.

Sadly, however, it is on the bottom of the device. I understand a bit of engineering and schematics go into placing it elsewhere, but seriously, with innovation beating down doors daily, you'd think more companies would opt out for a side-charger. It just works better if it can stand up right, but this is more of a personal thing, at best.

Performance

Over the course of a week or so, the iStick 30w was my faithful in car companion. You see, I lack the coordination required to drip and drive, and although I probably shouldn't, I do anyway. With a reasonable powered device at my side, it's worlds easier to throw an RTA or tank on this sucker and keep it handy at those inopportune moments..especially in Arizona, where drivers go to crash.

Frankly, it holds up incredibly well. With a 0.4 ohm limit, it has a wide variety of range, only shying from the ultra-sub ohm, super cloudchasers (and really, this device is far from any of those peoples radars, as it's simply counterproductive.) However, many are content at the 0.4 range, effectively able to chase reasonably dense, large clouds, if they so choose. 

It's nice to have the option, really. With 260w+ mods out there, 30w may seem archaic, but coupled with the right amp limit, it's quite a reasonable amount of power for even the more power hungry people. A nice 0.4 ohm dual coil build at 30w may take a second to ramp up, but when those coils get heating, it's hard to trump the experience in price range. On the opposite side of that spectrum, a nice 1.6 ohm coil at 12-18 watts is also a very enjoyable, satisfying experience. Honestly, it makes me wish that these devices were available when I started, because those both new and old to the market have so much variety at their hands, that some of us did not. You can literally throw this device at almost anything and get a great beginner, intermediate, or even advanced setup. For instance,

Paired with an Aspire Mini, running somewhere around 13-15 watts, you can get a very respectable amount of vapor and unbeatable taste, a true leg-up for those looking to trash the habit for good.

Moving up the ladder, paired with a Sub Tank, or perhaps at Goblin, running anywhere between 14-30 watts, you've got a killer RTA setup that won't break the bank. When you factor in that those particular tanks aren't as power hungry as their counterparts (namely the atlantis and artic) you've got a great flavorchasing setup.

Finally, paired with something like the Atlantis, or maybe even an RBA such as the mutation, you've got the ability to chase clouds, though you may want to look into higher wattage devices at that point. While it is possible, somebody coming from 50w+ or mechanical devices will certainly scoff, as it just can't handle the kind of power users like that are accustomed too. 

Regardless, the flexibility of the iStick 30w is undeniable, and the staying power is nigh unchangeable. At 34.99, you just can't argue with 30 watts, especially when it's so neatly packaged in a compact box.

So, pro's and cons.....


PROS
  • Compact
  • 30w of power
  • USB charging capability (as yes, it is also passthrough)
  • Spring loaded 510
  • Beauty ring included
  • 22mm Diameter
  • Versatile device
  • Affordable

    Cons
  • 2200 mAh battery - can last some two days, others, not so much. Lower wattage builds lead to longer battery life, so while you can go down to 0.4 ohms, don't expect to stay long at 30 watts.
  • Silly charging port location
Honestly, at the price point, you just cannot go wrong. If I could, I'd have two or three in my collection, as they serve as handy, powerful compact boxes to keep in the car, or as a spare. I entirely believe this is an all day device for some people, and to those who have yet to get into the super serious cloud chasing/higher wattage game, this definitely has some staying power, even with the 50w on the market. The good thing about saturation is the price will slowly drop even more, so for those who have no need to go over 30w, I absolutely, sincerely recommend you look into the eLeaf iStick 30w device.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Sub Tank

Hello everybody! Today, I'll be sharing my thoughts on the Kanger SubTank that MtBakerVapor graciously gave me the opportunity to do so! Lets get to it!


The Kanger Sub Tank is KangerTechs answer to the Aspire Atlantis - sub-ohm capability in a clearomizer....but their's more. One thing the Atlantis lacks is a rebuidable section - something that the Sub Tank has, and executes well. Users have the option of using pre included coils ohming in at 0.5 and 1.2, or you can build your own coil, kayfun style. Many are wondering who came out on top - the Atlantis or the Kangertech. Personally, they both have their flaws, but one thing is sure - vaping is evolving, and the advancements we're seeing are pretty kickass. Let's go over the tank.


Kanger SUBTANK Clearomizer
Thread Type: 510
Tank Capacity: 6ml
RBA Capacity: 4.2ml
Tank Material: Glass tub and Stainless Steel


Packaging

What I like most about the packaging is  that this thing is packaged beautifully - immediately upon removing it from the envelope, I knew I had a quality piece of hardware. I wish I could show off the internals and how neatly everything was tucked away, but come on guys - I tore into this thing! The box is gigantic. Inside, you'll find

x1 Subtank
x1 0.5 ohm OCC (organic cotton coil)
x1 1.2 ohm OCC (organic cotton coil)
x1 RBA coil
x1 RBA connector
x1 1 screwdriver
x2 screws
x1 manual
AND some organic Japanese cotton!

To be brief, the contents are packaged securely, the manual is surprisingly well written, and the overall packaging just exudes quality.


Build Quality 

The Sub Tank is built like, well.. a tank. The 25mm version is pretty hefty, what with it being completely stainless steel. The tank boasts some incredibly thick pyrex, and although I'd advise you never drop it, something tells me it could withstand a fall or two better than previous KangerTech tanks. The upper glass is secured by a glaringly red o-ring, something you will love or completely hate. The bottom is secured by threading into the base which seats your coil, and personally I think these are some very, very well machined threads.

One slight drawback is that the base of the Sub Tank clocks in at 25mm - it will not sit flush on your standard 18650 modes, but it does look incredibly sleek on a majority of boxes, as well as 26650 mods. The 510 is spring loaded, and I recommend staying away from hybrid connections - I fried a battery by trying to use it in hybrid mode, and although it could have been a fluke, I will not be taking the chance again.

RTA top-portion

If you wish to use it in clearomizer mode, simply remove the base, and install your coil. If you wish to use it in RTA mode, you must unscrew the upper portion of the tank, and install the shorter version built to accompany the chimney and deck of the RTA section. The screws thread in and out easily, but they are pretty cheap - quality screwdrivers only. The included RTA section is than threaded into the same place you would install your coil. The RTA deck itself feels incredibly sturdy, with well machined juice wells. The chimney, however, is kind of thin for stainless - though I have yet to have a problem threading it, I'd recommend caution and a light hand - I can definitely see it seizing with too much force. I'd also like to mention that you should probably pickup some knurled screws, as I had very little success trapping wire thinner than 26g - the included screws are just too small.

One thing I would like to point out - and this is the only negative thing I have to say about the device - is that the included manufacturer coils are indeed chrome plated brass. It goes without saying it is a cost cutting method, entirely stainless steel coils just aren't practical - however for safety reasons, exercise caution. Brass may contain lead, and lead + acidic juice + high temperatures = not a good time. I was able to reveal the brass with a screw driver, but over the course of two weeks noticed no chips in the chrome otherwise. I would definitely recommend routine examination of your coil in between top ups, discarding it if you see any of the plating flaking off. Is it dangerous? Well, the studies aren't out, and we have yet to see ANY case of lead poisoning...but it's better to be safe, than sorry!


Performance (clearomizer)

The clearomizer mode is probably my favorite setting. Essentially, the concept is as simple any other bottom coil tank. You unscrew the base, fill up, and install your coil...similar to the pro tank 2, 3, aero tank, etc. Who would've thought that after getting into mechanicals and dripping, I'd find myself with a kanger tank?

Let me just say....it kicks ass. The clearomizer section holds 6ml of juice. It has three airflow settings, and although the widest setting is just a bit tighter than the Atlantis, it still can chuck some pretty impressive vapor. I found that even though air flow was a bit restricted, the flavor was out of this world - thanks to the organic cotton nestled inside the coil. It has an incredibly pure taste, so much so that I began to like juice I previously couldn't stand in other tanks!

I prefer the 1.2 ohm coil, at 22.5 watts it is a great balance of vapor and flavor production. I found that the 0.5 ohm had to be run at a similar setting, not able to handle much power. I managed to get a few burnt hits around 32-35 watts, so make sure to stay under 30. On the other side, it's great for those looking to conserve their battery, as it isn't as "power hungry" as the atlantis.

What I like most about the clearomizer setting is with such a large capacity, it is easy to fill it up and take it with you when you can't drip - running errands, driving, etc. This thing + my Cana 30w is a god send in traffic, saving me from every having to drip at a red light again! I love the fact that I can leave it in my car, hop it, and be good to vape. I'd also like to mention it has not yet leaked a DROP of e-liquid, something I was surprisingly impressed by.

To be perfecting honestly, this thing is revolutionary. To think that just last year, most of us were using the iClear 30, evod, pro tank 2, etc. It's remarkable how fast the industry has evolved!

Performance (RTA mode)

Just when you thought it couldn't get any better, the Sub Tank also capitalized on the RTA craze, providing a seperate deck that allows the user to build and install their own coils! It performs very similar to a Kayfun - the deck has a positive and negative terminal, with the coil leads being "trapped" under each wire. I will go out and say I absolutely hate building like this, it is a royal pain in the ass, but that's just me - I was never good at building kayfuns. Once you have your coil installed, you than feed your cotton through, saturate it, making sure not to block your juice channels. Than, you take the RTA "cover" and screw it atop the base - ensuring that no part of your coil touches it - and than install your chimney. In order to use the RTA base, you must remove the top section of the Sub Tank and install the smaller portion, which is as simply as unscrewing and screwing two screws. Essentially, this works works like so

Coil is installed, tank is full. Your wick rests above the wells, and as you vape, the positive pressure inside the tank changes, pulling juice to the wick. When you stop, the vacuum that you created pulls the liquid back to the tank. Essentially. I personally recommend you look up a video on proper building/wicking technique, as it can be tricky - with higher VG juice, I had trouble with dry hits. 

Fortunately (for me) this isn't a building tutorial - once I got a good build going (I personally found my favorite setup to be twisted 28g wire, 8 wrap, wicked with organic cotton) this thing performed as well, if not better, than any kayfun I've ever had. When you get it going, it wicks incredibly well, and dry hits become a thing of the past - though it is a lot easier if you use a 60/40 vg/pg juice, or 50/50 - it can struggle with max VG.

The flavor is incredibly robust, bringing out notes in juice I couldn't detect before. It does have restricted air flow, but I was able to comfortably do lung inhales without too much trouble. I did have to keep it wide open, as anything less was a bit uncomfortable for me. To those of you who enjoy the kayfun experience, you will feel right at home with the Sub Tank - it performs as you'd expect an RTA too, chucking out tons of flavor, and respectable clouds. I kind of wish it had a larger capacity, but honestly it wasn't too much of a hassle. Refilling is done by unscrewing the base, which is great, because I hate messing around with leaky fill ports. In RTA mode, it did leak once, but it was my fault - make absolutely SURE the screws that hold the top portion of the tank are completely secure, or you will loose pressure and have a bad time.

Overall, the subtank was a very pleasant surprise - Aspire shook the world up, but thanks to their vision, us consumers are subjected to innovation at nearly every corner, with the Sub Tank being at the fore front of just that. It's sleek, it's a quality device, and it isn't overly complicated. In clearomizer mode, it performs wonderfully, and in RTA mode it is equally impressive. I love that Kanger included the RTA base, as it provides a huge variety in one small package. I do wish that they would get rid of the damn brass, 'cause if they did, they'd have one of the absolute best pieces of vaping hardware on the market. Do I recommend a purchase? 

Are you looking for moderate airflow, great flavor, and respectable vapor from a clearomizer? 

Are you looking for a quality built tank?

Are you looking for something to use when you can't drip, something for when you're on the go?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, it's a no brainer - pick this thing up TODAY. Just please, PLEASE keep an eye on those coils - routinely inspect the chrome for chipping, and if it does, discard it. It may not hurt you, but it is better to not take the risk!

www.mtbakervapor.com has it in stock for 38.99, and you can use coupon code VAPOCALYTPIC for an additional 10% off. What are you waiting for?! GO GET ONE!










Tuesday, January 27, 2015

MtBakerVapor Liquid Review

Hey everybody! Today I'll be going over some more MtBakerVapor liquid, which is always a pleasure!



3 MG
100% VG

Description:Slim Mints e-juice is the perfect balance of flavors, combining the taste of rich chocolate cookies with undertones of delicious creamy mint filling, making this flavor a refreshing yet decadent treat.
Flavor: Aptly named "Slim Mints", it's no secret that the sole inspiration of this juice is the ever popular, famous and delicious, girl scout thin mint cookies. At this point, you're probably wondering if the liquid lives up to the reputation the tasty treat has cemented for itself. The answer is...absolutely! Slim Mint is a shocking realization of the classic treat, practically duplicating the taste and finely replicating it in liquid form. The inhale is a bit creamy, with a great chocolate note, with the refreshing mint following on the exhale. A very straight forward liquid, but when it works, it works.
Rating: 5/5 - a nice take on a classic treat, great and consistently tasty in ever setup I tried.

3 MG
100% VG

DescriptionFresh strawberries, heavy whipping cream and fluffy cake flavors come together in this deliciously irresistible Strawberry Shortcake e-juice.  
Flavor: Strawberry Shortcake is a fairly tasty juice, but in my opinion, it has one downfall - the strawberry. I'm very picky when it comes to strawberry, but in this particular juice, it wasn't so much the taste of the strawberry, but the heaviness of the flavor - it had a bit too much. The whipped cream was light, as I only tasted it faintly on the inhale, with the cake batter flavor emerging on the exhale, but similarly so. The strawberry flavor is very strong, and I felt that it kind of over powered the balance and overall flavor of the juice - perhaps a flavor shot or two could even that out, or completely wreck it...something to consider. If you like strawberry, you may really, really like this - it's not that I didn't, I was just expecting more on the dessert front.
Rating: 3/5 - a decent juice, but could use a less strawberry, more cream and cake. Though faint, they tasted exceptionally well.

3 MG
100% VG

Description:Inspired by one of our most favorite homemade cake recipes, Lemon Bar is perfect for a lazy Saturday afternoon with a glass of milk and freshly baked cookies. This perfect blend of sweet, sour and mouthwatering cake will leave any baked good enthusiast wanting more!
Flavor: Ever had a lemon bar? If not, you're missing out. My mother makes the best in the world, and they happen to be one of my favorite treats - needless to say, I had ridiculously high expectations for this juice, and the anticipation was high. It was the first bottle I tore into, and the only I couldn't watch steep - I had to try it...and you know what? I'm glad I did, because it tastes AMAZING! Lemon bar by MtBakerVapor has, in my opinion, the perfect balance of light, fluffy cake, and tart, sour lemon. The lemon is a very pure taste - so much so, you coulda told me it was organic and I'd believe you. The cake batter is very rich, with a slight hint of sweet cream - it's not so much dry, but sweet and creamy. The inhale is rich and lemony, somewhat bitter sweet, with cake batter and cream following on the exhale. Overall it is a very, very well done blend, and I was incredibly impressed. All day vape for sure, and a well done homage to it's inspiration.
Rating: 5/5 - a wonderfully artful take on a tasty treat

3 MG
100% VG

Description:Banana Cream Pie is a delicious dessert flavor with notes of custard and fresh bananas, and subtle hints of nuts and graham cracker crust.
Flavor: If you haven't noticed, I really like my liquid in dessert/treat form. I've got one hell of a sweet tooth, and Banana Cream Pie by MtBakerVapor managed to hit the spot. All the components of the tantalizing tasteful pie are here in spades - semi sweet banana, fluffy tasty cream, and graham cracker crust. The inhale is where the banana really shines - it's quite tasteful, a bit on the artificial side but not too over the top. The exhale is where the mix itself shines - the cream and crust combo is stellar, and quickly became hard to put down. Overall, it is a very, very well done juice. The banana and cream go very well together with the graham cracker providing the backbone. I'd say that the graham cracker is the dominant flavor, but that's not a bad thing by any stretch - it's a damn good taste, a bit dry, sweet, yet very, very flavorful.
Rating: 4/5 - if the banana was refined just a tad, I'd vape it by the gallon.

3 MG
100% VG

Description:With a myriad of fruit flavors all packed into one e-juice, Fruity Hoops is one of our more deliciously complex flavors. Fruity Hoops e-juice is a delectably sweet and fruity vape, sure to delight any vaper.
Flavor: Let this steep a bit because I know the blend can be complex and I didn't want an off putting taste from the get go. Fast forward two weeks later and color me impressed! I was surprised at just how well MBV pulled off the fruit loop formula -  so much so that I blew through the 30ml in two days! It has every note you'd look for - the crisp lemon, the dry cereal taste, a bit of orange, a bit of everything that makes the cereal great. The inhale is where the lemon and orange shine, with the exhale tasting more-so like the texture of the cereal, dry and sweet. I was a bit disappointed that it didn't have a creaminess to it - it tastes like the dry cereal, but I didn't sweat it much, as it was still very good. I would like to see some sort of cream/custard combo in the future to emulate the milk taste, but as for now, I'm very, very satisfied. If you're in the market for a cereal flavor that is tasty, affordable, and gone too soon, check out Fruity Loops by MtBakerVapor.
Rating: 5/5 - an affordable, tasty take on a new-found favorite liquid.

Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It's always a pleasure to work with MtBakerVapor, they're great to do business with, and just top-notch people all around. Make sure you stop by and pick up some liquid today, use coupon code "vapocalyptic" for 10% off your order!