Raymond Padilla

Vaping Diaries #156: Vape Syndicate Guardian Preview

The Vape Syndicate Guardian is hybrid mechanical mod primarily made from titanium. It’s made in the USA with 100 percent of its parts sourced from America. The latter is a really important distinction (to me, anyway), as some vaping companies get…flexible with the “made in the USA” label, offering products that are “assembled” in the USA or “engraved” in the USA. The Vape Syndicate Guardian is true American product. When I talk about it with my friends, I always describe it as star-spangled awesome.

There are several things that make the Vape Syndicate Guardian unique. Obviously the titanium body is rare, but there are some novel features in the mod’s Genesis-style atomizer. The atomizer has a ceramic center-post isolator that prevents shorts. The negative post screw is vented, allowing for easy refilling. The mod also uses a magnetic switch in a recessed housing.

The Vape Syndicate Guardian comes in a padded plastic case, similar to those made by Pelican. It comes with 18650 and 18500 tubes, as well as a 510 cap for when you want to use a standard atomizer. Considering that there are many titanium mods in the $400-$500 range for the mod alone, the complete kit Vape Syndicate offers is a relative bargain at $475. Remember, it comes with two tubes, a 510 cap, and a Genesis-style atomizer.

I’ll be putting the Vape Syndicate Guardian through its paces over the next few weeks. Stay tuned for the full review. If there are any aspects of this all-American hybrid that you’d like me to address in the review, please leave a comment below.

Gal Gadot Cast as Wonder Woman (Superman vs. Batman)

According to Deadline, the search for Wonder Woman is over. The ridiculously lovely Gal Gadot has been cast as Diana of the Amazons in Superman vs. Batman. Many of you are familiar with Gal Gadot from the Fast & Furious movies. She was also Miss Israel 2004 and served two years in the Israeli army. So yeah, she’s a stunning actress/model that kicks all kinds of ass. Gal Gadot makes sense as Wonder Woman, don’t you agree?

Of course some comic-book fanboys will be disappointed with the casting. Jaimie Alexander (Sif in the Thor movies) was rumored to be in the running for the Wonder Woman role. Alexander (not the daughter of Jason Alexander…despite what I tell people IRL) has already shown the ability to kick ass while looking beautiful on the big screen. That said, there are some moviegoers (like RPadholic N8R) that hate when an actor or actress plays multiple superhero roles. It can be disconcerting.

Personally, I’m jazzed about the Gal Gadot casting. She’s gorgeous and can beat me up. That’s just…hot. How about you? What do you think of Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman in Superman vs. Batman? Excited? Disappointed? Ambivalent? Kindly share your thoughts on the Israeli beauty playing the Amazonian princess in the comments section.

Source

NFL Week 13: What You Learned

Since so many of you are big (American) football fans, here’s some space to talk about the latest NFL games. Whether you’re discussing your fantasy league players, Mike Tomlin’s upcoming fine, or Trent Richardson’s benching, please talk it up in the comments section!

Coffee Talk #605: Your Black Friday / Cyber Monday Loot!

Greetings from Hawaii everyone! I wanted to check on your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping. What was on your wish list? What goodies did you walk away with? As for me, I’m still lurking. I really didn’t take advantage of any Black Friday sales, as I was traveling. I did pick up 240ml of vaping juice from my favorite e-liquid vendor, Ahlusion. The company had a Black Friday sale and I had a coupon that stacked with the discount. I walked away with…continued

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the best beach in America, playing with your favorite niece, or Spam hats, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Aside from that, I’m still searching for a television in the 50-inch range. There have been some tempting deals in the $500 price range, but nothing has jumped out at me just yet. Hopefully Cyber Monday will have a deal that steals me away.

So how about it ladies and gents? What Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals did you nab? Also, don’t forget about Amazon’s Cyber Monday week of savings in the sidebar (please!).

Vaping Diaries #155: E-Kustoms Atomizer Caps Review (Nimbus, Patriot, Igo-W)

If you’re looking for a way to change up the look of your rebuildable dripping atomizer then you should consider E-Kustoms atomizer caps. Available in clear acrylic, acrylic with metal accents (brass or copper), and lead-free brass, E-Kustoms atomizer caps are a great way to spruce up the looks of your Nimbus, Igo-W, or Patriot atomizer. These products are made by a gentleman in Southern California and are geared towards enthusiast vapers. While they’re on the pricey side, many vapers will enjoy what these caps bring to the table.

Acrylic caps are currently the hotness in the SoCal vaping scene. It’s just very cool to be able to see the deck of your atomizer and watch the vapor in your chamber. On the practical side, you can see when your coil is getting dry and seeing the coil(s) makes it easier to lineup your air holes perfectly. I was particularly high on the E-Kustoms atomizer caps with copper accents. They look brilliant on copper mods like the El Kapitan v2. They’re also well made; they slip onto atomizers easily and stay on securely.

Vapers that are concerned about safety needn’t worry about these caps melting. I tested two acrylic caps with dual-coil builds in the 0.4 to 0.5 range and they were just fine. To my surprise, they were also resistant to juices that crack polycarbonate tanks. Somewhat foolishly, I vaped 2ml of Ahlusion Cherry Cola, which I’ve cracked polycarbonate tanks with. The E-Kustoms atomizer caps stood up to the juice just fine. That said, I wouldn’t recommend making a habit of vaping citrus or cinnamon juices with these acrylic caps.

The only downside to the acrylic caps is that watching your atomizer can be mesmerizing. While you might enjoy watching the vapor float in your atty and eventually condensate, you pretty much look like a tool. It’s all in good fun though. Even though I’ve been using these caps for a couple of weeks, the novelty hasn’t worn off. I still watch the atomizer after every four or five drags…and I look like a fool every time. Ha!

The lead-free brass cap is very classy looking. Naturally, it looks great on brass mods, but also changes up the looks of stainless steel and copper mods. Like the acrylic caps I tested, the lead-free brass model fit my Patriot perfectly. While it doesn’t have the novelty factor of the acrylic caps, the lead-free brass cap has a nice, understated appearance.

E-Kustoms atomizer caps are not cheap, but keep in mind that these are custom made to your preferences. The all-acrylic models are $30, while the acrylic caps with metal accents are $40. E-Kustoms Chris will drill out any size holes you wish, making them suitable for flavor fiends and cloud chasers alike. Like I mentioned in the intro, these products are geared towards enthusiasts vapers that don’t mind paying $30 to $40 for an after-market cap. I totally understand vapers that have a problem paying more for one of these caps than they did for an Igo-W. Having said that, I really like these products and recommend them if you can swing the price. They’re well-made products that are cool and fun. If you want a custom-made E-Kustoms atomizer cap then hit up E-Kustoms Chris on Facbeook.

Vaping Diaries #154: El Kapitan v2 Review (Wu Tang House of Mods)

The copper-body El Kapitan v2 is the latest mechanical mod from the excellent Wu Tang House of Mods. The Filipino mod maker is known for making beautiful mechs that are available for fairly reasonable prices (when bought directly from Wu Tang). Last month I reviewed the stainless steel El Kapitan 1.5 and was very, very impressed. With its gorgeous and highly-conductive copper body, I like the El Kapitan v2 even more.

Build Quality and Construction: The main tube of the El Kapitan v2 is made from copper, which is a more conductive metal than the brass or stainless steel the vast majority of mechanical mods are made from. The mod comes with 18650 and 18350 tubes. The top and bottom caps are made from brass, while the contact points are gold-plated brass. Gold is highly resistant to corrosion and helps you go longer between pin cleanings. The materials used to make the El Kapitan v2 are high quality.

The build quality is also very strong. The copper tube is a relatively thick cut of metal and the caps are well made. When I reviewed the El Kapitan 1.5, the caps had some visible burrs on the threads. My El Kapitan v2 review unit doesn’t have any burrs and the threading is very smooth.

Design and Ergonomics: With its relatively thin top cap and small firing mechanism, the El Kapitan v2 is a bit shorter than many competing mechanical mods. The design is more understated than the one used in the El Kapitan 1.5. Some people didn’t care for the 1.5’s distinct swirl (I loved it). The minimalistic design of the El Kapitan v2 features two lines on the main tube, a ship steering wheel logo on the main tube, the Wu Tang House of Mods logo and serial number on the bottom cap, and the Wu Tang-styled drip well on the top cap. Put it all together and you have a very handsome mod.

Aesthetically, the copper body looks amazing. When new or freshly polished, the El Kapitan v2 has a shiny pinkish-brown look. After acquiring some patina from use, it has a vintage look. I love the way patina looks, but excess patina can hinder conductivity. Whether it’s shiny or with patina, the copper body gives the El Kapitan v2 a distinct appearance.

The firing button features a short throw and a medium spring. The mod can stand unlocked without firing, while a short press is required to vape. Off-center presses can result in a clicky feel. For the most part, I really enjoyed the firing button on the El Kapitan v2. It was right in my wheelhouse, offering a short throw and the ability to stand unlocked without firing.

The one niggling aspect of the El Kapitan v2 is its positive pin. Like the El Kapitan 1.5, this mod features a reverse-telescoping pin that’s not the easiest to work with. It’s not difficult by any means, but it’s not as convenient as many floating, self-adjusting, or telescoping pins found in other high-end mods. Some vapers will be annoyed that they’ll have to pop out the pin and adjust it when switching between different atomizers and/or batteries.

Lastly, the El Kapitan v2 has a 21mm diameter. It looks great with smaller atomizers, but 22mm atomizers have a slight overhang. Given the popularity of atomizers like the Kayfun, The Russian, and the Patriot, this could bother vapers that seek totally flush setups.

Performance: The El Kapitan 1.5 featured great performance and relatively low voltage drop. The El Kapitan v2 is even better, thanks to its copper body. Again, copper is more conductive than brass or stainless steel, so the results weren’t surprising. While the gold-and-brass positive pin isn’t the best choice for performance hounds, it does offer a nice blend of low maintenance and good conductivity.

Verdict: When purchased directly through Wu Tang House of Mods’ Facebook group buys, the El Kapitan v2 cost around $182 shipped. I’ve seen online retailers mark it up between $220 to $250. According to Wu Tang, only 133 of these mods were made, so there’s a collectible aspect to the mod if you care about that sort of thing. If you can find one at the lower end of the aforementioned price range then I recommend snapping it up right away.

With its beautiful copper body, sweet design, and strong performance, I’m quite enamored with the El Kapitan v2. The only reasons I couldn’t recommend it are if you don’t like the way the positive pin works or if you don’t like 21mm-diameter mods. Those aspects of the El Kapitan v2 didn’t really bother me, but I can understand some vapers not digging them. For my part, I was impressed with the El Kapitan v2’s looks, design, construction, and performance — another fine product from Wu Tang House of Mods.

NFL Week 12: What You Learned

Since so many of you are big (American) football fans, here’s some space to talk about the latest NFL games. Whether you’re discussing your fantasy league players, Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning, or the voluminous coverage of Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning overshadowing the actual game between the Patriots and the Broncos, please talk it up in the comments section!

Vaping Diaries #153: EHPro Nzonic Clone Review

A few months ago I reviewed EHPro’s EA Mod and was very, very impressed. With that in mind, I was curious to see if the EHPro Nzonic clone would offer a similar combination of strong performance and good construction quality at an affordable price. In a nutshell, it does not. While the EHPro Nzonic clone is a good product, there are other clones on the market that offer a better vaping experience at a similar price.

What’s in the Kit: The EHPro Nzonic clone comes with the mod, two extension tubes, a protective pouch, and a polishing cloth. It’s a nice and complete package, especially for an inexpensive clone.

Build Quality and Construction: The EHPro Nzonic clone has average build quality. The stainless steel body feels good and has a nice heft to it. Unfortunately, the unit I received had average threads with some visible burrs. The burrs didn’t affect the action of the threads, but they were definitely unsightly. Burrs aside, the threads had above-average smoothness.

My biggest issue with the mod was its firing button. As far as construction goes, the magnetized switch and firing mechanism were finicky. The button often popped out while in my mod bag. By comparison, I never had this problem with the Nzonic v4 or the Vape Los Angeles Oni (the latter is mechanically identical to the EHPro Nzonic clone).

While I liked the EHPro Nzonic clone’s metal body, the thread burrs and firing button bugged me.

Design and Ergonomics: Although this mod is touted as an Nzonic clone, it’s not a 1:1 clone — very far from it. It’s much bigger than a real Nzonic and the firing button feels nothing like the one on the original. I greatly preferred the original’s smaller size. The firing button…I really didn’t like. It has a soft feel, which is good, but it also has an unusually long throw. On the plus side, despite the long and mushy feel of the firing button, it does not fire when placed down while unlocked, even with a large atomizer on top.

Like the real Nzonic, the EHPro Nzonic clone is versatile. It can accept 18350 to 18650 batteries. The extension tube is long enough so that you can use an 18650 and an Evolv Kick. Not many mods offer that option, so this mod should be on the short list for Kick users that want the long battery life 18650-sized batteries offer.

While it doesn’t compare to the real Nzonic mechanically, aesthetically the EHPro Nzonic clone uses a lot of the same design language. The brushed stainless steel body has lines on the top cap and the signature Filipino sun drip well. The bottom cap has a brass accent ring, a brass firing button, and a decorative sapphire-like crystal. For the most part, it’s a handsome mod, though the firing button looks a bit cheap.

Performance: While I wasn’t a fan of the EHPro Nzonic clone’s size and firing button, there’s no arguing with its performance. Thanks to reasonably tight engineering and silver-plated copper contacts, the voltage drop is relatively low and the performance is very strong. While it wasn’t quite as good as what I experienced with the EHPro EA Mod or the Nzonic v4, the EHPro Nzonic clone offers very good performance for a stainless steel telescopic mod.

Verdict: For less than $60, the EHPro Nzonic clone offers good performance for the money. If you like its size, looks, and button feel then you should snatch one up. As far as clones go, I think the EHPro EA Mod and Hcigar Nemesis are better choices. The former offers better performance in a side-firing package, while the latter offers a better feel and superior build quality in a fixed-tube setup. The EHPro Nzonic clone isn’t a bad device by any means, but there are better choices out there for vapers looking for a budget mechanical mod.

Vaping Diaries #152: Innokin iTaste VTR Review

The Innokin iTaste VTR is a variable-voltage/variable-wattage box mod with a unique form factor. Positioned as the company’s premium box mod — with the iTaste MVP 2 positioned as the affordable model — the iTaste VTR has all the features vapers want from a VV/VW device. Its performance is accurate, the wattage and voltage ranges are broad, it can check resistance (ohms), and the build quality is tops. To me, this is the best product Innokin has ever released, but there’s a big reason to disagree with my opinion — the weight. With its integrated-clearomizer design, the iTaste VTR is fairly compact, but it’s also one of the heaviest vaping devices I’ve used. Some people will be completely turned off by the weight, but if you can manage it then you’ll enjoy one of the best mass-market box mods available today.

What’s in the Kit: The iTaste VTR comes in a decorative box, similar to the iTaste 134. The box comes with the unit, an iClear 30s clearomizer, a 510 adapter tube, and the instruction manual. You’ll need to supply your own 18650 battery.

Ergonomics and Design: The design is the most unique feature of this vaping device. Unlike most box mods — which aren’t all that common to begin with — the iTaste VTR has a compartment for an atomizer. Obviously it was designed to hold Innokin’s iClear 30 and iClear 30s products, but it can accept clearomizers with a diameter of 19mm or less. With a clearomizer that size inserted into the unit, the iTaste VTR is quite compact. That’s the good news.

The bad news, for some vapers, is that the iTaste VTR is extremely heavy. It’s one of the heaviest vaping devices I’ve ever used. Even though I generally prefer mods with a nice heft to them, there were times when I felt the weight of the iTaste VTR was a bit much. For vapers that prefer lighter devices, the weight is definitely a deal-breaker. Based on the weight alone, I highly recommend checking out the iTaste VTR at a shop to see if the weight is something that will work for you.

As for the other ergonomic aspects of the iTaste VTR, let’s look at the device with the clearomizer slot pointed down. To the left of the slot is the LCD display, which is very bright and easy to read. Going clockwise, the firing button is opposite the clearo cutout. At the top of the unit is a dial to adjust voltage and wattage, with a function button in the center of the dial.

If you’re using an atomizer that doesn’t fit into the cutout then you can use the included 510 adapter tube. The adapter accepts both 510-threaded and eGo-threaded atomizers. It’s a nice inclusion, but really defeats the purpose of the product’s design.

If you can manage the weight and use an atomizer that fits into the cutout, the iTaste VTR is generally comfortable to use. I enjoyed using it most of the time. When I was out walking and vaping, there were a few occasions where the heft was a bit much for me.

Construction and Build Quality: The model I reviewed was the polished version, which picks up fingerprints like crazy. The unit looks lovely when it’s clean, but after a few minutes of use you’ll have loads of fingerprint smudges. I hate that, but understand that many vapers don’t mind it. If you hate fingerprints then you should consider the green version of this product.

Like Innokin’s other top devices, the build quality is very good. The device is put together well and the quality is strong for a mass-produced product. As far as construction goes, the iTaste VTR is among Innokin’s best offerings.

Operation: Using the iTaste VTR is a snap. Pressing the function button brings up the atomizer resistance (ohms) and last voltage or wattage setting. Pressing it again will change it between variable-voltage and variable-wattage mode. Moving the the wheel clockwise will increase voltage or wattage, while moving it counterclockwise decreases those settings.

The voltage range is 3.0 to 6.0 volts adjustable in 0.1-volt increments, while the wattage range is 3.0 to 15.0 volts adjustable in 0.5-watt increments. This is a broader range than what the iTaste MVP 2 features.

The LED above the firing button give you a general idea of your battery life. Green means that your battery is above 3.75 volts, yellow means it’s somewhere between 3.61 and 3.75 volts, and red means that it’s below 3.61 volts.

Performance and Battery Life: Like Innokin’s other top products, the iTaste VTR delivers consistent output. I used it at a variety of voltage and wattage settings, and was satisfied with what the device delivered. The device is best used with the clearomizer cutout. With the 510 adapter tube, the unit seemed to deliver slightly less power (which you can compensate for by dialing up voltage or wattage) and didn’t check resistance as consistently as it did with the atomizer connected directly to the slot. The wasn’t too surprising since the adapter adds another junction for current to flow through.

Since the iTaste VTR has a five-amp limit, I recommend going with a high-mAh battery like the Panasonic NCR18650B. With its 3,100 mAh capacity, this battery will get most vapers at least a day and half of vaping, while some vapers will get two days or more out of it.

Verdict: There are many things I love about the Innokin iTaste VTR. Its design is unique, different, and compact. It comes at an affordable price (street price of around $80). Its performance is consistent. And the kit is complete (really like the iClear 30s, btw). Prior to the iTaste VTR’s release, I thought that the iTaste SVD was Innokin’s best product to date. Personally, I feel that the iTaste VTR is even better, but I completely understand someone thinking otherwise, simply because of the unit’s weight.

The iTaste VTR offers the features and performance at vapers want from a VV/VW device, but its unusually high weight is a deal-breaker for some. That’s totally understandable. If you’re looking for a VV/VW device and don’t mind a heavy product then the iTaste VTR will make you very, very happy. If weight is a concern and you don’t mind a lower voltage/wattage range then the iTaste MVP 2 is a better choice.

Vaping Diaries #151: Monarch Mods Virtue Philip Wolff Interview

Last month I chatted with Monarch Mods co-founder Philip Wolff to talk about the company’s new Virtue mechanical mod. This made-in-the-USA mech targets the high-end market, packs some unique features, and boasts outstanding presentation. The initial model is available in brushed or polished stainless steel. The contact points are silver-plated copper for some hard-hitting performance. The top cap is extremely thin, for an elegant look that’s hybrid-like. The firing mechanism — probably my favorite aspects of the Monarch Mods Virtue — has a recessed button with an extremely short throw, a feathery-light feel, and a locking mechanism that requires a short turn. The mod comes in a wooden box that’s filled with shredded leather. The prototype I saw was beautiful and well-made — definitely one of the finest made-in-America mods that I’ve seen.

Check out the video above to learn more about the Monarch Mods Virtue and stay tuned for the full review in the near future.