Vaping Diaries Archives - Page 23 of 39

Vaping Diaries #164: Ahlusion Review VII

Here’s a review of three juices from my favorite e-liquid company, Ahlusion. This time around, I cover a trio of juices that will appeal to vapers with a sweet tooth and to tobacco lovers. Gold Member is a relatively new addition to Ahlusion’s lineup, giving the company a salted-caramel offering. Vecchio Blend is a delicious vanilla tobacco. Last, it Gold Rising, which is a curious juice with an unusual quality that some vapers will love and some vapers will hate.

Gold Member: Out of the mailbox, this salted caramel e-liquid was just okay for me. When fresh, it has a “toasty” quality that I didn’t care for. It spoiled the overall balance of the juice, but with some steeping…man oh man, this became another Ahlusion juice that I love. The toasty quality fell into the background after about a month of steeping, allowing me to enjoy a rich caramel that’s wonderfully complemented by saltiness. Salted caramel desserts were the rage in Los Angeles in 2011-2012 and this juice allows me to enjoy that flavor without the calories. I especially enjoyed this juice using a sub-ohm setup in an Aqua atomizer; the dual coils made Gold Member a delicious hot dessert treat.

On a side note, while I became a big fan of this juice after a month of steeping, I’m still weirded out by having the salted caramel taste in my mouth without the salty sensation on my tongue. It confuses my simple brain.

Juice Specs: 6mg nicotine, 50/50 PG/VG

Vecchio Blend: This non-aromatic tobacco e-liquid takes a light tobacco (and I mean light by Ahlusion’s standards) and mixes it with a lovely vanilla bean flavor. I enjoyed this juice fresh, but absolutely adored it after a month of steeping. When fresh, the vanilla is a bit more pronounced. After some steeping, the blend was perfect for me. The fantastic and authentic vanilla bean flavor is pleasantly sweet without dominating the light and authentic tobacco. One of my favorite qualities of several Ahlusion juices is how the flavors blend together perfectly. Vecchio Blend (after steeping) is another great example of this.

Out of the three juices in this review, Vecchio Blend was my favorite. I quickly went through my 30ml review bottle and have ordered a 60ml bottle since then. This is a fantastic vanilla tobacco e-liquid and I highly recommend it.

Juice Specs: 6mg nicotine, 50/50 PG/VG

Gold Rising: Curious is the word that best describes this honey-tobacco juice. The description lists it as Ahlusion’s take on the original RY4. I’ve had some of the original RY4 out of the creator’s freezer and this juice doesn’t taste anything like that. Some have speculated that this is, perhaps, a take on the original Ruyan 4, since it has some qualities similar to Chinese tobacco e-liquids. Just be warned that this doesn’t taste like a typical Asian or Western RY4 juice.

What it does taste like is a solid honey tobacco. The sweetness of the honey and bite of the tobacco come together nicely. Also in the mix is a pungent quality that’s very much a love or hate thing. People that enjoy this juice will dig the funkiness of the flavor, while people that hate it will be thinking about urine. (Actually, I know a guy that enjoys this juice and still equates it with urine. Hi Jerms!)

Personally, I liked this juice but didn’t love it. Most of the time I enjoyed it enough, but there were times when it made me think, “This is…strange.” For a honey tobacco, I greatly preferred Ahlusion’s Honey Cured over Gold Member. Since Honey Cured is an aromatic, the tobacco is much stronger and for me the honey-tobacco blend is tastier.

Juice Specs: 6mg nicotine, 50/50 PG/VG

Steeping and Review Notes (Updated December 29, 2013)
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method as of December 27, 2012. When the e-liquids arrive, I leave them uncapped for five minutes. Previously, I left them uncapped for about two days. After the liquids are given a few minutes to oxidize, the caps are put back on.

RPad.TV e-liquid reviews focus on the flavor of the e-liquids, since throat hit and vapor production can be altered by the PG/VG ratio and nicotine level selected. Each juice is vaped over a period of days in a bottom-coil silica atomizer (The Russian and Aqua), various rebuildable dripping atomizers, and a clearomizer.

Vaping Diaries #163: Vape Syndicate Guardian Review

If you’re looking for a luxury vaping device that’s made in America then the Vape Syndicate Guardian should be on your short list. Constructed primarily from titanium — an expensive metal that’s crazy strong and ridiculously light — the Vape Syndicate Guardian is a hybrid mod that comes with several accessories. While many titanium mods cost $400 for the mod alone, the Guardian comes with a Genesis-style atomizer, two tubes (18650 and 18500), and a 510 cap for when you don’t want to go hybrid. While the $475 price is high compared to most mechanical mods, compared to other titanium mods the Vape Syndicate Guardian is something of a bargain.

Build Quality and Construction: The Vape Syndicate Guardian is made from a thick cut of titanium. The company starts with a 99.9-percent block of type-two titanium, as opposed to prefabricated tubes other companies use. The mod has a luxurious feel, while also being simple to maintain.

The mod’s contact points are made from brass. While it’s a tried-and-true metal for contacts, I would have liked to have seen something more conductive to match this mod’s premium feel. Silver-plated copper/brass or rhodium-plated copper/brass would have been excellent, as well as more conductive.

The caps and switch are totally straightforward. Vape Syndicate chose to go with a simple magnet system for the firing mechanism, as opposed to a complicated spring-switch. One minor gripe I have with the Guardian is its 510 cap — the contact isn’t easily adjustable.

The Genesis-style atomizer has a few nifty tricks up its sleeve. First up is the ceramic-covered center post. This is a great feature for novices and veterans alike; the ceramic isolator increases your margin for error when building and helps prevent shorts. The atomizer also has a vented negative terminal screw, allowing you to refill quickly.

The aforementioned quibbles aside, the Vape Syndicate Guardian is a well-constructed device. The quality of the titanium is easily noticeable, the craftsmanship is strong, and the mod has a high-end feel.

Design and Ergonomics: Vapers that have never used a titanium mod will be in for a surprise with the Vape Syndicate Guardian. Titanium is noticeably lighter than stainless steel or brass. The Guardian will feel surprisingly light to many vapers. With a full tank of juice, the mod has a top-heavy balance, which feels different from similarly sized hybrids.

Once you get used to the lightness of the body and the atypical balance, the Vape Syndicate Guardian feels lovely in your hand. The mod’s firing button is smooth, with a medium-light touch and a medium throw. The button is recessed, allowing the mod to stand without firing. Button feel is, of course, subjective. For my tastes, I liked the touch, but would have preferred a shorter throw.

As for looks, the Guardian reminds me of a Cylon from Battlestar Galactica. It has bold rings on the main tube and a red tank on the atomizer. Most vapers will find its style futuristic, masculine, and rugged.

Performance: There are two factors that help give the Vape Syndicate Guardian strong performance. Obviously, it’s a hybrid so there’s direct contact to the battery. Secondly, the magnet system is “lossless.” Those features help compensate for the relatively modest conductivity of brass and titanium. While the mod delivers a solid vape, I have used hybrids that offer stronger performance.

As for the Genesis-style atomizer, I was really happy with its performance. It’s easy to work with and delivers a hearty vape. The relatively small chamber helps deliver great flavor, while the staggered air holes (0.7 mm and 1.2 mm) offered a satisfying draw. Keep in mind that my personal preference for air flow is tight to medium. Vapers that prefer an airier draw will likely want bigger air holes.

Verdict: Whenever I talk about the Vape Syndicate Guardian, I always describe it as star-spangled awesome. I love that such a great high-end mod is made in the USA. When I open up the Guardian’s box at vape shops, I picture eagles flying by and Hulk Hogan’s “Real American” theme song playing. Seriously though, the Guardian is a really well-made hybrid that offers strong performance. While the $475 price is more than what most vapers are willing to spend, it is a better value than many competing titanium mods. I’ve seen a few titanium mods that cost $400 for the mod alone. With the Vape Syndicate Guardian, you get two tubes, a Genesis-style atomizer with some innovative features, a 510 top cap, and a case. Yes, it’s expensive and certainly not for everyone, but compared to other mods in this price range, the Vape Syndicate Guardian offers a lot for your money.

If you want even more information on the Guardian and the company in general then please check out my ECC 2013 interview with Vape Syndicate CEO Adam Tout.

Vaping Diaries #162: Envision Vapor Glass Drip Tip Review

Envision Vapor offers handblown glass drip tips that are made in the USA. The tips are beautiful, unique, and well made. They’re made from borosilicate glass, which many vapers know from Corning’s Pyrex brand. While some vapers are wary of glass drip tips, there are some very good reasons to consider them over plastic and metal ones. Before I get into those reasons, I want to make it clear that Envision Vapor’s glass drip tips are my favorite. I’ve been using several of these tips for the last few months and I couldn’t be happier with them.

The first reason I recommend Envision Vapor glass drip tips is mouthfeel. Glass simply feels better on your mouth than plastic or metal. Think about beverages you drink at a nice restaurant. They’re not served in plastic or metal cups. They’re served in glass. Unless you’re the type of vaper that likes to chew on drips tips, you’ll likely prefer the mouthfeel of glass over other drip tip materials.

Heat dissipation is another reason why glass drip tips are great. Out of the dozens of drips I have, glass does a superior job at dissipating heat. This is hugely important for sub-ohm vapers and chain vapers. When using a 0.5-ohm dual-coil setup, my metal drip tips get too hot and I have to stop vaping for a bit. Even my insulated metal drip tips get very warm. Although my Envision Vapor drip tips heat up during sub-ohm chain-vaping, they never get uncomfortably warm.

Some vapers shy away from glass drip tips because of perceived durability issues. The two standard Envision Vapor drip tips I have are made from fairly thick glass. I’ve seen the owner of the company bounce them off hard floors and they were fine. I’ve dropped my mod on carpeted floors (several times) and my tips were fine. The one time I broke an Envision Vapor drip tip was when I accidentally flung my mod across the room (yes, alcohol was involved) and the tip cracked. Keep in mind that this was a thinner Maria Tube. The standard Envision Vapor drip tips are durable — probably more than most vapers think.

For the last several months, I’ve been using Envision Vapor drip tips that are great for flavor fiends. The three shapes I’ve been using — the Maria Tube, Disc, and Teardrop models — feature thin air holes for concentrated flavor. In many ways, the Maria Tube reminds me of the draw of the standard Kayfun tip (which I love) — it shoots your mouth with a lovely, concentrated blast of flavor. If you’re a cloud chaser that’s looking for an airier draw or you want to drip directly into your drip tip then you should consider the Pooh Pot model that Envision Vapor offers. As a flavor guy, I was really happy with the three drip tip shapes I selected.

As for pricing, the standard Envision Vapor drip tips cost $29.99, while the Maria Tubes cost $15.99. While those prices are certainly higher than cheap metal or plastic drip tips that are made-in-China, the prices are inline with other high-end drip tips. Personally, I think that the prices are fair. These are made-in-the-USA products that are very well made. I like them more than enough to buy more at the $29.99 price.

Like I said in the intro, these are my favorite drip tips on the market. They look great, handle heat nicely, and feel good in your mouth. I highly recommend Envision Vapor glass drip tips. Check out the company web site to see the different models and colors available. If you’d like more information on the company then check out this interview I did with Envision Vapor owners Rob DeRieux and Jason Laret.

Vaping Diaries #161: Get Your RPadTV Mod!

Edit: Price cut to $60 + shipping! No number selection at this price.

Ladies and gentlemen, here’s the RPadTV 2013 fundraising mod. The RPadTV mod is limited to 100 pieces and sales proceeds will be used to expand RPad.TV’svaping content. While I love making content for this site, it can get expensive. With your support, 2014 will be the best year ever for RPad.TV. Here are the official particulars on the RPadTV mod:

Type: Mechanical Mod
Manufacturer: EHPro
Body: Stainless Steel
Contacts: Silver-Plated Copper
Accepted Batteries: 18350, 18490/18500, 18650
Engravings: RPad.TV logo, site URL, and serial number on the main tube. Thank you inscription and RPadTV face on the bottom cap.

If you enjoy RPad.TV’s vaping content then kindly consider picking up an RPadTV mod. The money will be used for:

More Frequent Content
More Giveaways
Event Travel For More Interviews
Equipment Upgrades For Better Videos
Server Upgrades For Better Site Performance

The RPadTV mod can be yours for a donation of $100. You can pay via PayPal (donation button below) or PopMoney (use the contact form in the upper-left corner to arrange PopMoney payments). If you want to select a serial number then kindly donate $120 (again, use the contact form to see if the number you want is still available). These mods will be gifted to donors on a first-come-first-serve basis. The donation prices above are for U.S. readers only. As an additional thank you, owners of the RPadTV mod will get additional entries in all 2014 giveaways.

Now, I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that this is the best mod in the world. It’s a good mech, but not a great one. Certainly you can get a better mod for less than what the donation costs. However, I’m hoping that enough of you enjoy RPad.TV content and believe in the site enough to pick one up. The thing to remember is that you’re not buying a mod — you’re supporting a web site you like and getting a limited edition mod as a gift. Besides, this mod has my face on it! *joke*

Completely Unreasonable Goals
In the spirit of Kickstarter, I’m listing some stretch goals. I don’t expect these to be taken seriously…but if you’re incredibly wealthy or have a rich uncle, then please check them out.

$1,500: For a donation of $1,500 you get the mod and a video on your favorite American mod or juice vendor. A cameraman and I will fly out to your favorite U.S. company and film a segment (or more!) on the company of your choice. Please list three companies so that arrangements can be made.

$3,500: For a donation of $3,500 you get the mod and a video on your favorite mod or juice vendor from anywhere in the world. A cameraman and I will fly out to your favorite company and film a segment (or more!) on the company of your choice. Please list three companies so that arrangements can be made.

Okay, back to reality! If you’re not interested in picking up an RPadTV mod and would like to support the site then please buy yourself something from Amazon using this link. If you are interested in getting an RPadTV mod, I can’t wait to hear from you! And please, tell your friends about this fundraising venture. With your help, RPad.TV’s vaping content will be better than ever.

Vaping Diaries #160: On Cleaning New Vape Gear

One of the things that surprises me about vapers is that many of them use their gear right out of the mail or straight from the store. I’m talking about drip tips, clearomizers, and rebuildable atomizers, specifically. These are all parts you’re using to ingest vapor. Shouldn’t you give them a good cleaning before using them? That seems logical and reasonable to me, yet many vapers I know are happy to use a clearomizer straight from the mailbox or use a drip tip right from the store. I think that’s ~~kind of gross~~ a little bit unsanitary. I’m puzzled as to why cleaning new vape gear is unimportant to many vapers.

Let’s look at clearomizers for a minute. The vast majority of clearos are made in China in Chinese factories (duh). You have no idea what factory conditions are like, let alone packing conditions and anything that happens during shipping. There are many opportunities for grime and germs to latch onto the clearo before you use it. Shouldn’t cleaning new vape gear be a priority with clearomizers? The clearomizer is, after all, the receptacle that holds your juice before it enters your body.

Then there are drip tips. You’re putting these things on your lips and in your mouth. I’m amazed by people that use drip tips that are on display on store shelves (for god knows how long) right in the store. Recently, I picked up a beautiful drip tip from a top manufacturer. It took five Q-Tips to get all the machine oil and grime off. Imagine if I inhaled that stuff?!? Gross. Cleaning new vape gear is important!

Compare clearomizers and drip tips to tools that you use to ingest drinks or food. Would you buy drinkware or flatware from Amazon without washing it before use? Would you buy dishes from Target and use them straight out of the box? Most vapers would wash these items before using them to eat or drink, yet many have no problem using a clearomizer or drip tip without washing them first.

My personal suggestion is to give any atomizer, clearomizer, or drip tip a thorough wash with light soap and warm water. After that, give it a healthy rinse (soap residue sucks). Before using it, give it an overnight soak in vodka (ingestible alcohol is safer than rubbing alcohol). It’s a really simple process that I wished more vapers followed. If you haven’t made a New Year’s resolution yet then think about cleaning new vape gear in 2014. Better yet, start now.

Vaping Diaries #159: Craft Vapery Curated E-Liquid

Craft Vapery is taking a unique and intelligent approach to e-liquids that benefits newcomers to vaping, vaping veterans, and everyone in between. The company offers a curated and personalized vaping experience. After selecting different types of flavors you like, Craft Vapery sends you three selections per month. Your flavor choices and the recommendations of the company’s expert curators determine what juices you’re sent. Throughout your subscription, your flavor profile evolves in order to help you find different e-liquids that hit your vaping sweet spot.

In a recent press release, Craft Vapery CEO Omri Agam said, “With so many new products coming on the market all the time and no system to determine what’s good and what’s not, we’ve also felt the confusion and frustration shared by so many of our fellow vapers. Basically, we wanted to create a company that we wish had existed when we started vaping. So we put together a team of incredibly talented industry veterans in order to bring the very best in-store experience online, to everybody.”

To give you an idea of what the Craft Vapery experience is like, check out the web site images below.

[nggallery id=139]

New vapers have the option of adding a starter kit to the mix, while intermediate vapers can add cartomizers, clearomizers, and clearo heads to their monthly orders. Advanced vapers that primarily use rebuildable atomizers can focus on the juice. One of the cool things about Craft Vapery’s curated service is that it appeals to all levels of vapers. In the aforementioned press release, Craft Vapery president Joshua Krane said, “In the end, we believe that it’s this passion that will make a curated, premium subscription offering like ours a success. We’re set to deliver the best of the vape shop experience, straight to your door.”

Craft Vapery will initially be available to 300 vapers. It will cost $40 a month (juices only) for three 15ml bottles of e-liquid. Here are more details from the press release.

Signup for the exclusive box subscriptions, delivered directly to homes, begins December 16, with the first boxes shipping early January 2014. Each box contains three hand picked and curated flavors of vaping liquid, selected by personal curators drawing on each subscriber’s ‘flavor profile’ and assisted by Craft’s personal recommendation engine. Craft Vapery users can each rate their monthly selection, awarding their favorites and noting personal preferences, to aid future curation and ensure the most tailored experience possible.

While the cost per milliliter is slightly higher than what many top online e-liquid vendors offer, Craft Vapery includes personalized service that’s constantly evolving. In addition to the company’s recommendation engine and expert curators, there will be Craft Vapery employees available by email and phone, ready to help you find the juice that’s right for you. On paper, it sounds like a great idea with tremendous potential to help vapers find what’s best for them. More importantly, Craft Vapery has the potential to help vapers avoid wasting money on juices they don’t like. It’s like having a great store at your disposal without having to leave the comfort of your home. (Translate: It’s like being able to go to a great vape shop in your boxers!)

In addition to checking out the Craft Vapery web site, you can get more information by keeping up with the company’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. If you’re all set to give Craft Vapery a shot, the company has a special offer for RPad.TV readers — use the coupon code RPAD20 to receive 20 percent off your first Craft Vapery order.

I’ve a bunch of Craft Vapery coverage slated for the future. For now, please let me know what you think of the company’s approach to vaping e-liquids.

Vaping Diaries #158: Win an EHPro Nzonic Clone

This month I’m giving away an EHPro Nzonic clone. I reviewed this mod last month and while I had some issues with the build quality, I was impressed with its strong performance. None of the issues should matter though because, you know, free mod! All you have to do is:

Follow me on Twitter.
Tweet this article to spread the word. There’s even a handy Twitter button on the left sidebar for your convenience.

For extra karma points, please let your friends know about this contest. Now here are the boring contest rules.

Only one entry per participant
Contest closes on December 22, 2013 11:59PM PST
Winner will be chosen with a random number generator
Must 18 or older to participate
Must have a U.S. mailing address to be eligible
RPad Productions Inc. is not responsible for the prize being lost or damaged by USPS

Vaping Diaries #157: Vapour Art GP Paps X Review

It’s hard to write a review of the Vapour Art GP Paps X without sounding like a bootlicker. There are just so many extraordinary aspects of the mod that it’s easy to spend hundreds of words lavishing it with praise. While I’m a fan of Vapour Art products, I can also objectively say that the GP Paps X easily one of the best mods on the market today.

Build Quality and Construction: The GP Paps X is made from 316 stainless steel. This type of steel is heavier and more expensive than the 303 and 304 varieties most mechanical mods are made from. To put in perspective, 303 and 304 stainless steel are used for pots and pans, while 316 stainless steel is used for jewelry and watches. This grade of steel gives the GP Paps X a nice heft and a luxurious feel.

The contact points on the GP Paps X are silver-plated brass. Silver is tops when it comes to conductivity and it’s lower maintenance than copper. While you do need to clean the contacts periodically, you don’t have to do so as often as you would with bare brass or copper contacts.

The threads on the GP Paps X are extraordinary. After a thorough wash, they’re still considerably smoother than lubricated threads on any of the mods in my collection. So yeah, there’s buttery and then there’s the threads on the GP Paps X. Even when they’re completely dry, the action on the threads is so silky that they feel lubed. It’s impossible to adequately illustrate in words or in video how remarkable the machining on the GP Paps X is; when you feel it yourself, you’ll have a “Wow!” moment.

In terms of materials and craftsmanship, the GP Paps X is one of the best mods you can buy today.

Design and Ergonomics: The GP Paps X can be used with 18350 to 18650 batteries. It can also be used with an 18650 battery with an Evolv Kick, which is atypical for high-end mods.

The main body is brushed steel, while the accents are polished. By default, the top ring lets you adjust airflow. If you’re using an atomizer that has its own airflow control, like the Aqua or Kayfun, then you can pick up the optional replacement top ring for a flush appearance. Keep in mind that the GP Paps X has a 23mm diameter, which is slightly larger than most popular atomizers.

The firing button on the GP Paps X is another outstanding feature. The throw is incredibly short and the mod require a soft touch to fire, yet it can stand unlocked without firing. Outside of Vapour Art products, I’ve never felt a firing button like this. Again, describing with words or in a video doesn’t do it justice. It’s really quite amazing.

The aesthetics of the GP Paps X are blessedly subtle. The bottom of the tube has the GP logo on one side and the serial number on the other — that’s it. I love the understated and classy appearance of the GP Paps X, but looks are, of course, subjective.

Performance: The GP Paps X hits hard and has very low voltage drop. Compared with other stainless steel mods, the GP Paps X is among the best performers. The silver-plated contacts and tight engineering factor into its performance. Of course there are brass and copper mods with lower voltage drop, but as far as stainless steel mechs go, this mod is one of the best.

Verdict: With a price of $240, the GP Paps X is slightly more expensive than many high-end mods. Considering its superior materials and phenomenal workmanship, I think the price is absolutely worth it. It’s easily the best mod in my collection and certainly one of the best mods you can buy today. Now bring on the aluminum bronze GP Paps X Lux Vapour Art!

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.

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.