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.

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
• A 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.

Goblin RTA

Finally, I have my hands on the Goblin. 

Is the Goblin taking the vape world by storm? Is it really everything it's cracked up to be?

With ridiculous air flow, four post design, ALL STAINLESS (!!) construction AND under 40 bucks, it is a definitive force to be reckoned with. It does have a few kinks, but at the present time, I am all but sure the v1.2 has rectified most of them. Let's break it down now.

With atomizers, it goes without saying that the quality of the atomizer in question is quintessential. If the manafacturer cut corners, you're going to to run into some difficulty. Posts can spin (or, in one case with a plume veil I had, NOT EVEN DRILLED OUT), screws can strip, decks short, etc, the list goes on and on. So, in the 24.99-34.99 price point, it's a safe bet to assume costs were invariably cut somewhere.

Well, either Youde is really, really good at keeping material and overhead down, or they just know what the community wants. After the animosity surrounding the ceramic wick in the atlantis, the chrome plated brass plume veil clones, and the chrome plated brass aspire mini, Youde listened to the community. Some put too much stock in the brass/stainless war, but I certainly want stainless steel, when available, at all times. It should be the standard, at this point. Copper and brass look fine on a mod, but I do not want any particulate matter in my lungs, and I'm sure nobody else does either.

So Youde decided to construct this bad mother out of solid stainless steel. The drip tip, deck, and chimney are 100% stainless, which is both durable, and SAFE. This is the kind of quality I've come to expect from higher priced authentic devices, and to see a 29.99 down RTA constructed out of stainless steel, is, well... a steal (don't groan, I know that was awful.)

Big plus, in my book. Now, just because it is constructed out of a preferable material, does that also mean the device boasts  similarly admirable usability? Yes, in fact, it does. Everything about the device is built solid. The deck is done exceptionally well, with rigid, straight posts. The screws are a bit finicky with larger wire, but we'll touch on that later. The deck itself is machined incredibly well, with some very unique juice channels. They run all the way down the base, ensuring a perfect vacuum is achievable. The included drip tip is a no frill approach, but has a wide enough bore. The 510 pin protrudes nicely, ensuring a snug fit on most devices, and even hybrid devices. The adjustable pin is solid copper, to boost conductivity.The included pyrex is reasonably thick, and fits like a glove when the tank itself is assembled. I do, however, have a few small complaints.

For one, the deck and chimney are on the small side. This makes builds larger than 2.5mm in a diameter a struggle, and to be perfectly honest, regular builds can be tricky as well. I find the key is getting your leads clipped as short as humanely possible, so that you can ensure the coils are as close to the block as possible. If they're even a touch backed out, when the equally small chimney is screwed down, the coils will touch the wall and short. I had a bit of difficulty adjusting to this, but it is rectified rather easily - 28g wires seems to be the consensus here, as you can get more wraps and maintain a smaller coil. This is something easily overlooked once you get more comfortable acclimating to the space constraints. I can know wedge in builds will relative ease, it just required a bit of a learning curve.

The second complaint is the screw hole on the bottom. This device is fed juice by way of a fill hole, which I have never been a fan of. The provided screw locks into place with ease, but for some reason, the device does occasionally leak - something I observed over the course of a few days. It could be the viscosity of higher VG juice, but for some reason, it does have a tendency to get a bit leaky.

Suffice to say, the Goblin is constructed well. Initially, the community was a bit nit-picky about the 3ml capacity, but Youde quickly introduced a larger tank and chimney, allowing the v1.2 to hold a surprisingly large amount of juice - 5ml, to be exact. Unlike the atlantis, you do not have to buy this extension separately - both the chimney and pyrex are included, which is a nice bonus.


So...let's break down the pros and cons so far.

PROS

• Solid, full stainless steel construction
• Ridiculous airflow (3mm, dual)
• V1.2 includes an extension tube for higher capacity (5ml)
• 22mm
• Drip tip included

CONS

• Deck is on the small side
• Screws are hit or miss
• Tends to leak from the fill hole (minimally, but noticeable.)
• It can be hard to wick the device. I will share a video that was instrumental in getting this to perform to expectations, as the man explains it far better than I ever could.

So far....it's a very, very good start. The pros far outweigh the cons. Now, if you're wondering how it performs...

It's an absolute monster. 

The Goblin v1.2 is a lean, mean, asskicking RTA machine. Though the design may need refining ever so slightly, it's an absolute beast of a tank, giving the closet RDA experience, in RTA form. The dual 3mm airflow is just as big as the mephisto! It's larger than the sub tank, atlantis, lemo, billow, etc - it just puts the majority of the market to shame. With the right build, and wicking, you can get serious sub-ohm clouds, and flavor to boot.

I was, in all honesty, absolutely blown away by this device. Before I go on further, let me back peddle abit.

The Goblin has four channels, which need to be delicately taken care of, in order to ensure optimal performance. I could give you a run down, but I found a video that explains in the greatest of detail how to get this thing rocking and rolling, with absolutely NO dry hits. I struggled getting consistent hits, until I stumbled upon this. Do yourself a favor and give it a look - this man has it down to a science.





Okay...so, if you managed to sit through that incredibly long video, I applaud you, and hope you're well on your way to enjoying the device.

Once the build is perfected, their is absolutely no competition. The goblin can keep up with chain vaping, high VG juice, you name it. It seems that the science behind it is perfecting the wicking - and though it may be a continous process of frustrating trial and error, it is absolutely worth it. My experience with RTAs is minimal, but I can tell you that it gave me a far more enjoyable experience than the likes of the lemo, the billow, and the kayfun v4. It's on it's way to become an industry leader, and I see future revisions as the king of the RTA game.

Personally, I find it to be hands down, the best experience outside of an RDA. If you're looking to chase clouds and flavor, this does it all in stride. It is an absolute blessing, as I can now drive and work around the house without taking a pause to get a nice, dense, flavorful cloud.


It's a no brainer. Stop by www.mtbakervapor.com and use coupon code VAPOCALYPTIC and pick yours up today!

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.

MBV Juice Review # 3

My campaign with MtBakerVapor is coming to a close, and I must say...it was a wonderful opportunity that both strengthened my ability as a writer, as well as giving me the opportunity to cultivate my opinions, and share information with the community, as a reviewer. I am forever grateful to Michael and Mikala, two of the best people I've had the pleasure of dealing with in this hobby. Let's get down to the review

Root Beer

3mg

100% VG

Verdict: Though relatively simplistic by design, Root Beer offers a traditional, albeit conservative, approach to the popular soft drink. The inhale is delightfully crisp, with the familiar taste of root beer and a tinge of sarsaparilla, with a sort of carbonated/"bubbly" taste following the inhale. It is sweet, but could do with some sweetener - out of the bottle, it was almost...a bit bland? It is not a bad juice, however, it is missing...something. It could do with a touch more sweetener, maybe even a very light vanilla back, rounding out the close-but-not-there crispy sweetness. For what it's worth, the crispness is evident when dripping - I recommend using this in a tank, or a higher ohm build, as it kicked like a mule on a 0.1 ohm twisted dual coil. It was almost a bit too much, a similar feeling to dripping mentholated juices. 

Rating- 3/5. It's not bad it's just missing something. This was the first bottle I ever purchased over 30ml (236ml, I believe) and I GUZZLED it. Times change, as do formulas and palletes. I'd wager an extra flavor or two will set this juice straight, propelling it as close as possible to the real deal.

Pumpkin Pie

3mg

100% VG

Verdict: The skeptic in me doubted this concoction, recklessly anticipating a trainwreck - I mean, pumpkin pie? Surely this is some sort of joke, I've yet to come across a flavor such as that, much less one that reasonable emulated the taste of the familiar treat. Fortunately enough, my doubt subsided the moment I first tried this juice - my god they've done it. Pumpkin Pie is a near perfect rendition of the classic fall treat, encapsulating the creamy, velvety texture, the oh-so delectable sweet taste of pumpkin, and even the whipped cream on top. I could use a wide variety of words to pad the review and eloquently break down the taste, but really, it's just sweet, creamy pumpkin pie. If you're a ran of the treat, you're doing yourself an injustice by not vaping this. It's everything you could want, and more, free of that silly artificial/perfume taste, as well as disappoint. It's always a nice change of pace when something you anticipate to do poorly becomes a new favorite.

Rating - 5/5. Dessert junkies, this is one juice you can't miss. Upon further inspection, it is listed as "almost gone" and may or may not be phased out of production. Get it while you can. Mikala, get me a 236ml. (Kidding...;])

Hawk Sauce

3mg

100% VG

Verdict: Back in the days of Protank Mini 2s and the Ego-T, I gave this juice a shot. I was never a menthol smoker, nor did I envision myself at that point being a berry fanatic. After giving it a vape, I egregiously threw it out, chalking it up to "just what in the absolute hell is this?" Remember when I said palettes change? Well, let me tell you, I damn near drank this bottle (once again, I do not endorse doing this. Don't. Please. Can't afford those kind of repercussions, especially considering nobody iseven questioning if this is a paid review...hint...wink...hint..okay I'm done. Though you cannot drink it, I'd wager you'd feel as if you were, if you fancy it the way I did. The combination of various tropical berries and a smooth, refreshing blast of menthol is a hard combo to master, and even harder to perfect. Is it perfect? Well, no. Is it irrefutably delicious? I think so. The inhale is abundant with it's berry tastes, raspberry and I want to say blueberry, with the exhale being all menthol. It seems that the menthol has been scaled back, as I remember it being overwhelmingly strong. In a tank, it's still not my cup of tea. Out of the Mutation V3, it was gone before I knew it. Chances are, you've probably had it. If not, do yourself a favor, pick up a small bottle to try - menthol isn't for everybody, but this juice will be damned if it's denied!

Rating: 4/5 - previous inconsistencies hold this juice back, steep time may or may not be advisable, but when it's done right, it can't be beat.

Pink Lemonade

3mg

100% VG

Verdict: Honestly, I don't even like Pink Lemonade. I found it deplorable as a child, more-so as an adult. Funny thing is, though, I totally love lemonade, so I half assumed this would be somewhat of enjoyable experience. For review purposes, it's mediocre at best. Subjectively, I can't tolerate it. To be blunt, it tastes like a glass of pink lemonade. Seriously. It's sour, it's tangy, and it's... pink. That is my main gripe with the juice. The lemonade is great, and has always been a favorite of mine from MBV, but whatever simulates the pink taste just does not sit right with me. It's as if the vape starts good, but abruptly reaches a halt, turning into something I wouldn't touch again. If you're a fan of the drink, or if you're looking for a semi-sweet tangy lemonade liquid, this could be the one for you. Personally, I'm not a fan.

Verdict: 2/5 - just not something I can vape on, but something I can totally see others enjoying.

IPV MINI 2 70W

Hello everybody! Today, I'll be reviewing the IPV Mini 2 70w box mod by Pioneer4you. The box was provided to me by my good friend Jonathan over at www.alluringvapors.com. Make sure you stop by, take a look around - his prices are competitive, and he has a wide selection of premium juice, the latest and greatest box mods, and plenty of other things. Let's get cracking

Features and Specs:

• 510 Threaded
• Loading resistance: 0.2 ohm - 3.0 ohm
• Output Voltage range: 3.6 V – 8.5 V
• Output Wattage range: 5.0 w – 70 w
• YiHi SX330V2C chip
• Floating top pin
• Visual operating system
• Low voltage protection
• Low resistance protection
• High input voltage warning
• Output short circuit protection
• Reverse battery protection
• Dimensions: 3-3/4"L x 1-9/16"W x 7/8"
• Utilizes one 18650 battery (removable and sold separately)

Okay, so. At this point in the game, the market is becoming saturated with box mods. You have your Sigelei 100, 100+, 150, mini versions, the IPV 2, 2S, mini, 3, 4,....I could go on and on. It's a safe bet to say that the community is gravitating towards these devices; forgoing the now seemingly ancient tubular mechanical mods in favor of sleek, chip powered, variable voltage/wattage devices. I'm going to just say it, I think this is a move in the right direction. With chip controlled devices, we're able to utilize a wider range of builds, chase clouds without getting into low ohms (not that their is anything against this, those devices/users will always have a place in this community) and offer a reasonable amount of safety (in comparison to mechanicals, at least.)

With that said, I've covered the Sigelei 150w, Cana DNA 30, have the iStick 30w coming up, and I found myself holding the Mini in my hand, vaping away, asking myself.....is this outdated already? I mean, I've got 150w of power right across the room, and various 30w devices...my answer is no. Devices like the IPV Mini 2, hell even any device under ~70w, will always have a place in the market. I know quite a few people who rarely exceed 50 watts, some even 20 - personally I hover between 70-120 myself, but it's all subjective. In my opinion, the IPV Mini 2 is a decent enough device; with it's limitations. Let's break it down now.

The first thing I thought of when I had this device in my hands was, "Huh...it's like the VTR, but smaller." Though the form and certainly function are considerably different, it has a certain heft to it like the VTR, before it inevitably became a ghost on the market. I, for one, was actually quite impressed. I compared it to the larger, decidedly bulkier Sigelei 150w, and it is considerably heavier, and feels a bit more...premium. This is largely due to the all aluminum construction and space saving in the Sigelei, but regardless, the heft definitely reinforced my opinion on the build quality. To some, it may be a touch heavy, but I think this is mitigated with the sleeker, smaller design. It can weigh down a bit, but it's small enough that as the day progresses, I tend to not notice.

The 510 threading is...decent, and that's being modest at best. I found it a bit of a chore to get atomizers to thread, and fear the threads may weaken, even cross thread, at some point. The diameter is equal to 510 devices, however it feels slightly narrow, requiring precision placement and threading in order to get your atomizer to catch. Speaking of the 510, the floating top pin is a bit finnicky...some atomizers thread flush, but still require a few more turns to get nice and snug. I think that this could eventually lead to a mishap, potentially damaging the floating pin. I, personally, recommend that you try and avoid swapping atomizers consistently - not because it can't handle it, but due to the wear I can envision down the line. I myself paired it with a Mutation v2, and their it will stay...not everybody can do that, but I personally do.

The LED screen is functional, as expected, featuring the simplistic affair we've come to expect from the IPV series. It displays the resistance of your atomizer, your wattage, the voltage, and your battery level. If you have a short, or you've built to low, it'll flash check atomizer. Simple, functional, nothing more to it really.

The buttons on the device are rock solid...Responsive, tactile, and delightfully clicky. I used this mod extensively for three days, and have yet to have an auto fire, or any unresponsiveness.  The power button is larger enough to compliment the slim profile, allowing you to always access it with a firm press. One thing I noticed is that the buttons to adjust the wattage up and down are extremely close to each other, so if you're trying to adjust the wattage with your thumb, you may have to take a closer look - the second nature you're accustomed to may fool you, and you just may raise/lower the power in error.

The innards of the device are perhaps my biggest gripe with the device. Their is little in the way of protection - perhaps I am used to the insulation on the Sigelei, or even the Cana, but this has everything exposed - the chip, all the wiring, everything. Upon further inspection, everything seems to be soldered and glued properly, but one wrong move with a leaky atomizer and you run a huge chance of frying the device. Thankfully, you rarely, if ever, have to access the inside of the device - instead of removing the back plate to install your battery, the IPV 2 Mini has a small aluminum switch that is removable, similar to a mechanical mod. It's a catch 22 (I'll get to it briefly) because on one hand, you don't have to deal with the awkward screws (not to mention on tool is included...seriously Pioneer, let's get with the program. MAGNETS.)

If you can get the damn thing in there. The battery housing is a touch narrow, so most batteries do not "fall into place" and require a gentle nudge to get in. I could definitely live with that, if it weren't for the horrible threading on the cap. The threads are small, and not well machined, making it difficult to screw on. The switch requires precision accuracy, and don't be surprised if you're fumbling with it, trying to get it into place. Due to this, I've got to say, I would've really preferred a battery door, because this cap will cross thread very, very easily if you are not careful. Outside of the somewhat sloppy inner components, this is by and large the biggest fault I can give the device. 

The device can be charged via USB, which largely eliminates a lot of the problems I've mentioned. Simply marrying a battery to the device and charging via USB seems the smartest choice, but it does come with a few limitations, one being that it charges a bit slower. I'd also like to point out that you technically can use it as a pass through, Pioneer4You recommends against it, as it can damage the chip. You also never, ever want to leave it unattended on the charger after complete, as it can catastrophically damage the device and battery.

The battery life is what you'd expect out of a single 18650 - if you're running this at full power and vape consistently, expect to go through two batteries a day. If you're comfortable around 20-40w, one battery should last most, if not a whole day. With my subtank at 1.2 ohm, I vape pretty heavily throughout an entire 8 hour shift at 23w, and it was a little less than halfway when I got home. Dual batteries in, but people like me will never forget the single 18650 devices - especially at those crucial moments when I'm charging two batteries!

At this point, you're probably asking yourself if it's worth it. While you can find similar devices offering higher wattage for pennies more, let me tell you, I think it's a decent backup box mod to have around. At around 69.99, it's a great device to have on hand as a backup. I personally have a charged battery in it at all times, in case my Sigelei dies on me. It also doubles as a great device to have in the car, in case I forget my main carry for the day. 70 watts is an ample amount of power, even for the most serious cloud chaser. I was skeptical as I have fallen in love with 120w+, but with a nice twisted build sitting at 0.5 ohms, full power, I get a warm, dense, flavorful vape. I was actually a bit surprised, and could potentially rely on this as an every day device.

With all that said, it is what you'd expect from a sub 70 dollar device. You aren't going to get the latest and greatest chip, updates, precision machining etc, but rest assured that if you can ignore the quirks and some stupid design choices, the IPV Mini 2 remains a reasonably solid device. It boasts a tried and true chip, USB charger, the ability to fire down to 0.2, a very sleek profile, a solid amount of power, decent battery life, and remains affordable. If you're looking to stay under 100 but want to get past 30, even 50, I'd definitely recommend picking up the device. If all else, it doubles as a solid backup.

Mutation V3

This will be brief, because Indulgence did not make any astromical changes, and you can get most of the information from my review on the v2.

The Mutation v3 is the latest iteration of the ultra popular Mutation RDA, and thankfully, the concerns voiced over the v3 were addressed, notably with phillips head screws. The v2 featured these odd triangle screws, which stripped, (and so did the cheap tool provided), not to mention making the device extremely hard to build on. The biggest (and most welcomed) changed is the old faithful phillips head screws. Now, building on the device is easier than ever.

Let's get some quick specifications.

Features:

• HUGE Adjustable Airflow - 18 holes!
• New insulator (rated to 280 degrees C)
• Dual negative poles - built into base
• Central positive post block
• Heat sink top cap
• Large Juice Well
• Silver coated contact pin
• 22mm Diameter
• Wide-bore Drip Tip
• Single-airflow option

Essentially, it is the same dripper, with phillips head screws, a higher rated insulator, and a removable adapter than can accomdate standard sized drip tips. I personally didn't think this was an issue until I used a a regular sized drip tip. The larger bore may have chucked an ample amount of clouds, but offered very little in the way of flavor. I was blown away by just how good the flavor out of this thing is - the air holes have been slightly altered, angled, in order to create a vortex of vapor. This swirling of vapor and air creates sizable clouds and ridiculous amounts of vapor.

To be brief, the v3 is built incredibly well. The top cap sits perfectly on the base, which sports one of the easiest to build on decks. Instead of three posts, the V3 features dual negative poles, and a positive block. This allows much more access, not to mention it's easier to clip leads, and get those rockin and rollin sexy center builds without any frustration. The negative posts are milled and rigid, with the positive block sitting comfortably, not budging an inch. The post holes are slightly larger than the v2, which makes lower gauge wire builds a breeze. The one thing I liked about the v2 was the screws never backed out (until they got stripped), and surprisingly, these are some beefy phillips. Three days later and I have not had to adjust the screws once, and my build has remained perfectly seated still.

The V3 is by no means an innovation, more-so a much needed correction, but if you're a fan of the line, it's worth upgrading. If you can live with the awkward screws, you may not need it, but if yours are worn and stripped, or you're tired of wishing for more hands, pick this up. It is everything you love about the V2, with all that you wanted to begin with. If you're looking for some serious cloud chasing ability AND even better flavor, it's hard to deny the V3.   What more could you want?

Serious airflow? Check.

Kickass deck?  Check.

Deep juice well? Check.

Wide bore drip tip? Check.

510 drip tip compatible? Check.

Authentic AND affordable? You bet your ass.

At 24.99, it's a steal, remaining at the top of the list when it comes to affordable, reliable atomizers. Hell, for under a hundred bucks you can get the IPV2 and the v3...an absolute kickass combination, by the way.

Thanks for reading guys, hope you enjoyed. You can find everything listed and more over at www.alluringvapors.com. Jonathan carries a wide assortment of products and is a straight shooting, stand up guy. Thanks again for the opportunity, and thank YOU for reading!

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