E-Cigarettes Archives - Page 4 of 42

Vaping Diaries #357: The Vape Barrel Interview

I hang out at Monster Vape Lounge frequently and have seen The Vape Barrel’s Plutonium e-liquid flying off the store’s shelves. With that in mind, I was keen to interview someone from the company at Vape Nights 2015. I spent some time with The Vape Barrel’s Rob Harrington to learn more about the company’s origins, hear some flavor descriptions, and learn about what’s coming next.

The Vape Barrel was started by three friends that have been smoking cigarettes together since high school. Tired of their corporate jobs and thrilled that vaping got them off of tobacco cigarettes, the three friends started an e-liquid company. The Vape Barrel’s flavors are layered, combining a number of different ingredients to offer a unique flavor. So far, three friends are off to a fantastic start.

As I mentioned in the intro, Plutonium is wildly popular at Monster Vape Lounge. This juice combines strawberry, mango, lemonade, and peach. As a fan of dessert e-liquids, I was drawn to Neptunium. This juice features toffee, vanilla, and Bavarian cream. The Vape Barrel has put an interesting twist on tobacco with Californium. Aimed at vapers just coming off of cigarettes, Californium is a blend of tobacco, peaches, and cream.

On a loosely related note, I want to compliment The Vape Barrel on its choice of swag. Most vaping company’s sell or give away snapback caps for promotional purposes. As a baseball fan that prefers fitted or flex-fit hats, I’m not a fan of snapback caps. (I also associate snapbacks with obnoxious younglings that use Snapchat as their primary form of communication.) Instead of the usual black snapback that most vape companies offer, The Vape Barrel has a classy grey flex-fit hat.

Thank you for indulging me on that hat tangent. To learn more about The Vape Barrel, check out my Vape Nights 2015 chat with Rob below.

Special thanks to Flavaho for sponsoring this interview.

Vaping Diaries #356: 528 Custom Vapes Interview

528 Custom Vapes has been serving up sub-ohm tanks before sub-ohm tanks were cool. While these kinds of tanks are hugely popular in the 2015 vaping world, 528 Custom Vapes has been serving them up for years. Many vapers consider the company a trailblazer and cite it as a big influence on today’s rebuildable tank atomizers. At Vape Nights 2015, I caught up with 528 Custom Vapes owner Tom Starkey to learn more about the company, hear about the Monster v3 tank, and learn about future products.

Tom told me a great story about the company’s origins. 528 Custom Vapes was initially funded by a check Tom received after wrecking his car. The company’s name was derived from the apartment he was living in at the time. Local vapers used to say, “Hey, we have to go to 528 to get out tanks customized!” 528 Custom Vapes became popular for its modified Kayfun atomizers. While the Kayfun was known for its great flavor, the vapor production left something to be desired for vapers accustomed to rebuildable dripping atomizers. Tom’s modifications drastically increased the airflow, allowing for one of the first — if not the first — tanks suitable for cloud chasers.

The modified Kayfuns went onto be known as the 528 Custom Vapes Monster. The company is currently on version three of the product. In the clip below, Tom goes over some of the features of the Monster v3. He also spoke about future products. 528 Custom Vapes is currently working on a dripper. I’m excited to see Tom’s take on a dripping atomizer.

Lastly, Tom spoke about the 528 Custom Vapes logo. It reminds many older vapers of the Thundercats cartoon from the ’80s. The symbol was actually influenced by Tom’s friends in the tattoo business, rather than the cartoon.

To learn more about 528 Custom Vapes, check out my chat with Tom Starkey below.

Special thanks to Revol Vapors for sponsoring this interview.

Vaping Diaries #355: Off the Record Liquids Interview

It was excellent hanging out with Off the Record Liquids chief alchemist George Alva at Vape Nights 2015. His company makes some complex and inventive juices. As you’ve probably figured out, Off the Record Liquids uses a musical theme and features a 45 rpm record adapter in its logo (for those of you under 30 or so, here’s info on a 45 rpm adapter). George infused his experience in the music business and love of music into his e-liquid company.

In the interview below, George told me about two Off the Record Liquids flavors. First up is Ziggy Starburst, which replicates the flavor of Hawaiian shave ice (not shaved ice!) with a big kick of jackfruit. Since George started vaping in the Philippines, he wanted to prominently feature an Asian fruit in this flavor. It’s a great choice for vapers that love candy and fruit juices. Next up, he told me about Raw Power, which is RPadholic N8R’s brother’s favorite juice. This concoction blends cigar tobacco, butterscotch, vanilla custard, and hazelnut coffee. It’s one of the more inventive tobacco blends I’ve seen from a SoCal juice maker.

One of George’s newer lines is Vapor Pudding. This line has started out with Chocolate Vanilla Swirl. If you’re a fan of Snack Packs then you’ll definitely want to check out this juice. In the future, Vapor Pudding will have at butterscotch-Butterfinger pudding.

In addition to his own Off the Record Liquids and Vapor Pudding lines, George is offering his ISO-certified lab to partners. He will manufacturer juices for companies or co-release them depending on the business relationship the client wants. For stores that want to make a house juice or DIY juice makers that want to take their mixing to the next level, it’s an interesting opportunity.

To learn more about Off the Record Liquids, Vapor Pudding, and more, kindly check out my chat with George Alva below.

Special thanks to Revol Vapors for sponsoring this interview.

Vaping Diaries #354: DTU Modz Interview

DTU Modz makes some of the best and hardest hitting unregulated box mods on the market. At Vape Nights 2015, I caught up with Mr. DTU himself, Devon Dalzell, to learn what makes his box mods stand out. In terms of performance, his box mods use solid-gauge copper wiring, eschew MOSFET switches for additional performance gains, utilize a floating 510 connector, and feature a high-amp switch. There are a glut of box mods on the market that use MOSFET and inferior wiring; if you’re looking for the highest performance then you should definitely give DTU Modz a look.

As far as color options go, DTU Modz offers a wide variety of solid colors. Among the current selections, the white and pink boxes stood out to me. In the near future, Devon said that he’ll be offering a number of splatter and camouflage options. No matter your taste, DTU Modz has a color or pattern that should make you happy.

While the new colors will land in the immediate future, a new version of the DTU Modz box will arrive later down the line. Devon showed me a prototype that he’s working on and RPadholic N8R got to film the outside of the box. The upcoming box mod is a bit sleeker than the current offering — smaller than the current DTU Modz boxes, but larger than the common Hammond 1590G boxes. It felt comfortable in my relatively small hands and I dig the way it looks. Since this box is a prototype, N8R wasn’t allowed to film the internals, but I can tell you that the wiring is very clean. While I foresee a pink DTU Modz box in my future, I’m excited for the next version as well.

To learn more about DTU Modz, check out my chat with Devon below and be sure to give him a follow on Instagram (linked above).

Special thanks to The Vapor Spot for sponsoring this interview.

Vaping Diaries #353: Madz Modz Interview

One of the highlights of my March trip to the Philippines was meeting Madz Modz owner Eddie Amado. He’s one of the pioneers of the Filipino vaping scene and has made some truly beautiful mechanical mods. Back in 2013, the Madz Modz Nzonic was one of the most sought after mechs in the game. It offered a brilliant combination of performance, versatility, and style (love the Filipino sun juice well!). In the interview below, Eddie talks a bit about Madz Modz’s history, as well as a few recent products.

Eddie spoke about the performance of the Nzonic. At the time, it was one of the hardest hitting mechs available. The performance was especially impressive when you consider that it’s a telescoping device (more connections lead to more opportunities for voltage loss). The stainless steel Nzonic outperformed many single-tube brass mods that were available at the time.

Inspired by his wife’s lipstick, the Madz Modz Arama has a unique locking mechanism that’s built into the switch. Whereas many mechanical mods leave an unsightly gap in the locking area, you won’t be able to tell whether the Arama is locked or unlocked with the naked eye. Similarly novel is the Madz Modz Royale. This mech has a firing switch that’s built into the mod, so there are less parts to clean. Since there are less parts to clean, the Royale will perform more consistently in the long run.

As for future products, Eddie has been toying with Yihi SX350 chips and is planning to make a box mod. With a glut of C-frame devices already available, he won’t be adding another one. Expect another uniquely stylish Madz Modz vaping product, but this time in box mod form. I hope that Eddie uses the Filipino flourishes that made the Nzonic so aesthetically appealing.

To get to know one of the true innovators in the vaping world, watch my chat with Madz Modz Eddie Amado below.

Vaping Diaries #352: Random Thoughts on the ProVari Radius

ProVape recently revealed the ProVari Radius box mod. This is a huge deal for several reasons. If you’ve been vaping for several years then you remember when ProVape’s ProVari tube mods were the best in the business. Since then, the company’s products have been surpassed by various mods that use Evolv DNA chips and Yihi SX chips. There are many vapers that feel that ProVape hasn’t kept up with the times and that its products aren’t what today’s vapers want. The ProVari Radius was meant to address any “ProVape has fallen behind” issues. On paper, it does and it doesn’t. Here are some random thoughts on ProVape’s ProVari Radius.

Since I’ve been in a great mood for the last month and want to keep things positive, I’ll start with the good. ProVape’s customer service and support are among the best in the business — far better than what most vaping companies offer. The form factor of the ProVari Radius looks great; it’s a relatively small box that should feel comfortable in most hands. As with previous ProVape mods, the ProVari Radius has a number of safety features that are great for beginners. The mod is made in the USA, which matters to vapers that want to support American products and jobs.

Aside from the modern form factor, the ProVari Radius seems more like a 2014 mod than a 2015 one. While the specs are fine for many vapers, others will find that the 0.3-ohm coil limit and 9.5 amp power limit are deal-breakers. ProVape’s chip also lacks temperature control, which is a feature that many vapers enjoy. Considering the 0.3-ohm limit and 40-watt range, the $199.95 price seems steep. Yes, you’re getting ProVape’s excellent customer support, but it’s for a box mod that has less capabilities and range than cheaper products.

So who is the ProVari Radius for? Certainly ProVape has thousands of fans that are eager to buy the latest mod the company has to offer. There are also many vapers that will be perfectly happy with the box’s ohm and power limits. If you’re the kind of vaper that sticks to pre-made coils with tanks or builds coils above 0.3-ohms then the ProVari Radius is worth a look if you vape under 40 watts. Otherwise, there are most interesting options that use Evolv’s DNA 200 or Yihi’s SX350-J chips. Those products offer more capabilities and versatility. While it’s nice to see an American vaping company like ProVape make progress, it’s disappointing that the ProVari Radius doesn’t appeal to a wider variety of vapers. ProVari tube mods were once desired all over the world. Today, there are several great choices out there and I don’t see the ProVari Radius having the same level of appeal.

Vaping Diaries #351: Ohm By EDM Interview

Yesterday I caught up with Ohm By EDM co-owner Mike Chang at Monster Vape Lounge. My excellent friend Mel introduced me to Mike at a recent OC Vape Meet, raving about the company’s Lychee e-liquid. I was intrigued, since lychee is one of my favorite fruits and my favorite lychee e-liquid gunks coils. I was happy to discover that Ohm By EDM’s lychee is delicious and, according to Mike, vapes cleanly. The juice serves up the lychee flavor that I love, with a clean vaping experience.

While I was busy enjoying Ohm By EDM’s Lychee, Monster Vape Lounge boss Carlos was vaping the company’s Strawberry Milk. There are a lot of strawberry milk and strawberries & cream e-liquids on the market. In the interview below, Mike explains how his juice differers from the competition’s. I vaped a tiny bit yesterday and enjoyed it, but need to vape more before passing judgement.

The last flavor in Ohm By EDM’s current lineup is Melon Breeze. This juice serves up the sweetness of melon with a refreshing icy breeze. Mike was quick to point out that this isn’t a fruit and menthol mix. This e-liquid has a cool and minty flavor, but without the harshness of menthol. As a fan of fruit and mint medleys (not menthol), I’m looking forward to trying out this e-liquid.

In addition to rounding out the Ohm By EDM line, the company has plans to launch another line of e-liquids in the future. Mike didn’t reveal much in the interview, but shared some of his plans in a post-interview chat. While I can’t share that information with you at this time, I’d keep an eye out for EDM’s future e-liquids. From what Mike told me and from his initial flavor descriptions, the upcoming EDM juices sound delicious. For now, kindly check out the interview below to learn more about Ohm By EDM.

Vaping Diaries #350: Convict Vapor Lockdown RDA Interview

One of my favorite companies in the vaping business, Convict Vapor recently released the Lockdown RDA. Company owner and product designer Brian Grow isn’t a fan of constantly re-dripping, so he made the Lockdown RDA to hold a lot of juice. The atomizer also has a unique airflow design, allowing for excellent combinations of flavor and vapor production. I recently caught up with Brian at Monster Vape Lounge to get the skinny on his latest product.

The most striking feature of the Lockdown RDA is its L-shaped air holes. I was surprised to learn that airflow can be adjusted to accommodate cloud chasers and flavor fiends alike. The air holes have distinct looks, while being quite practical. Under the hood, the Lockdown RDA has a somewhat small building area and extremely deep juice wells. The post holes are very large, able to fit Clapton coils, parallel coils, etc. All told, this is a very versatile atomizer.

I’m also a fan of the Lockdown RDA’s clean and simple design. I loathe outlandish designs with overdone lines and knurling, so the atomizer’s looks fit right into my aesthetic wheelhouse. The Lockdown RDA is available in brushed and polished stainless steel. For vapers that prefer extremely hot builds, white and black Delrin caps are available for the atomizer.

On top of its great features, the Lockdown is backed by an outstanding one-year warranty. Convict Vapor is one of the most generous companies in the business when it comes to support and I really appreciate how well it treats its customers. In addition to getting a great vaping product backed by phenomenal customer service, the Lockdown RDA has a relatively low price — around $70 at most vape shops.

To learn more about the Lockdown RDA and to see its various finishes, check out my chat with Brian below.

Vaping Diaries #349: Kalied Custom Designs Interview

If you want the look of a high-end mod but don’t want to pay high-end prices then you should look into what Kalied Custom Designs offers. For a relatively low price, the company can customize the look of your mod with custom patina work, cerakote finishes, and exotic metal plating (black rhodium, gold, etc.). If you want a slick, one-of-a-kind mod out of the box then you should check out Kalied Custom Designs’ iPV D2 box mods. For $100 shipped you can have a unique box mod with a beautiful and durable finish.

In the interview below, Kalied Custom Designs owner Kato Bryan told me a bit about the services and products his company offers. For his custom patina work, he uses an alcohol-based ink for the patina coupled with a heat process. Once the color is set, the metal is coated with seven layers of clear coat to ensure durability. Kato mentioned that one of his customers has a custom patina Zero Mod sleeve that he made two years ago and the sleeve still looks fantastic.

It’s very cool that Kalied Custom Designs is using the iPV D2 to show off the company’s work. On its own, the iPV D2 is a solid performer that’s inexpensive. When you add Kalied Custom Designs’ work into the mix, the mod becomes more unique and personal. High-end mods certainly have their place among collectors, but most people aren’t willing to spend $600 or more on a rare box. These custom iPV D2 boxes make the looks and rarity of high-end mods accessible to all vapers. As someone that gets bugged by the elitism in vaping, I love what the company is doing with these boxes.

To learn more about Kalied Custom Designs, see five of the beautiful boxes Kato worked on, and hear about the company’s other services, check out my chat with Kato below.

Vaping Diaries #348: Rage Box Modz Interview

Box mods are the hotness in 2015, but with so many choices out there, it’s hard to pick one that’s right for you. Rage Box Modz offers a number of box mods and generous service that makes the company’s wares worth a look. Rage Box Modz products are assembled in the USA and are backed by a lifetime warranty. According to company founder and owner Charles Long, it doesn’t matter how you acquired a Rage Box Modz products; whether you purchased it directly from the company, picked one up in a trade, or found one on the side of the road, the company will take care of your product. Seeing that level of customer service in the vaping world is fantastic.

Rage Box Modz offers a variety of 18650 and 26650 box mods in a number of colors. You can choose a parallel battery configuration for maximum battery life or a series configuration for raw power. The boxes are available in five different colors — black, white, kiwi green, Tiffany blue, and pink. You can see the various finishes in the video below.

In addition to offering some great box mods, the company offers 3D printed battery holders. Resembling a hip flask, these holders can accommodate 18650 and 26650 batteries in various configurations. I have too many friends that have left batteries in their pockets and had them short out on their keys or something (and really, I expert better from you guys and gals). Rage Box Modz 3D printed battery holders are a fantastic way to carry your batteries safely.

To learn more about Rage Box Modz, see some of the finishes the company offers, see the 3D printed battery holders, and hear a tease about the company’s upcoming Raptor chip box, check out my chat with Charles below.

(For the record, I flubbed the out in this interview. As always, I will blame RPadholic N8R and absolve myself from all responsibility.)