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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.

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.

Vaping Diaries #150: Win an Nhaler Curve 18650

This month I’m giving away an Nhaler Curve 18650 mod. This is a made-in-the-USA mechanical mod with unique looks, good performance, and a lifetime warranty. To enter the contest, all you have to do is:

Subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Leave a comment below with your YouTube username (so I can verify your subscription) and your favorite feature of the Nhaler Curve 18650.

That’s all you have to do! As an added bonus, if I reach 1,100 subscribers by the end of the contest then I’ll have another November giveaway, so please share this contest with your friends. Now here are the boring contest rules.

Only one entry per participant
Contest closes on November 17, 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 #149: Madz Modz Nzonic v4 Review

Madz Modz is a Filipino mechanical-mod maker that’s best known for its Nzonic series. The latest model of the popular telescoping mod is the Nzonic v4. In addition to sporting a gorgeous media-blasted finish, the mod has a few under-the-hood changes that improve its performance. In short, the Nzonic v4 takes this popular series of mechs to new heights.

Build Quality and Construction: Madz Modz did a great job with the build quality and construction of the Nzonic v4. The threads are smooth and the materials are top notch. The tubes are made from stainless steel and feature a handsome “media blasted” finish. The result is a dark look that doesn’t pick up fingerprints.

The contacts on the Nzonic v4 are particularly noteworthy. The positive pin is silver-plated copper — two of the best metals for electrical conducitivity. Many high-end mods feature silver plating of 15 microns, while many Chinese mods use less than that. The Nzonic v4’s pin has an unusually thick 20-micron coating of silver. Silver is an expensive metal and I appreciated Madz Modz’s liberal use of silver for the positive pin.

Overall, the Nzonic v4 is a well-made mod that’s among the best from the Philippines and can compete with the best telescopic mods from anywhere in the world.

Design and Ergonomics: As far as design goes, there are several things that make the Nzonic v4 stand out. Like most telescopic mods, it can be used with 18350 to 18650 batteries. Unlike most telescopic mods, it can be used with an 18650 battery and an Evolv Kick (or similar device). Most telescopic mods top out at 18490/18500 batteries for Kick use.

The Nzonic v4’s switch uses magnets. Unlike many competing mods that use magnets instead of springs, this one has a firm feel and a very short throw. Button feel is subjective, but for me the Nzonic v4’s button is perfect — it’s firm enough to stand unlocked without firing and the throw is short enough that firing requires a light touch. Misfires can be an issue with magnetic switches, but I never had the problem with Nzonic v4 after several weeks of vaping.

In terms of looks, the Nzonic v4 is distinct without being too flashy (a common criticism of Pinoy mods). The bottom tube has a subtle logo, the top cap has simple lines and an awesome Filipino-sun styled drip well, and the bottom cap has the company name, serial number, and decorative crystal. I love the design of the Nzonic v4; it’s a distinct and elegant mod.

Performance: The Nzonic v4’s performance surprised me. Considering that it’s a telescopic mod made from stainless steel, I was expecting bigger voltage drops. Of course the silver-plated copper pin helps boost the performance, but I was still surprised. This is one of the hardest hitting telescopic mods out there. Its performance actually exceeded some of the fixed-tube mods I’ve used. Naturally, it doesn’t hit quite as hard as high-end fixed-tube mods made from brass or copper. Overall I was extremely happy with the output of the Nzonic v4 and the mod made me even more excited for a brass version.

Verdict: Lately, I’ve been shying away from telescopic mods because they generally offer lower performance and I use 18650 batteries 99 percent of the time. While I plan on sticking with fixed tube mods for personal purchases, the Nzonic v4 will certainly have a regular spot in my rotation. I love the way it looks, the build quality is impressive, the materials are fantastic, and the performance is surprisingly great. If you’re looking for a telescopic stainless-steel mod then the Madz Modz Nzonic v4 should definitely be on your wish list.

Vaping Diaries #148: IBTanked Harry Gibson Interview (Vapetoberfest 2013)

It was an absolute pleasure chatting with IBTanked’s Harry Gibson at Vapetoberfest 2013. Known in the vaping community as “OCD,” Harry and his family (Mrs. OCD and Offspring) make high-quality made-in-the-USA glass cartomizer-tanks. Best of all, IBTanked’s tanks — and glass tubes for other atomizers — are very affordable. In the interview, Harry talks about IBTanked’s lineup, the new Tiny Tank, what makes his tanks different from the competition’s, the infamous “Thingie,” the gorgeous hand-painted glass tubes the company offers, and more.

In addition to having an outstanding sense of humor, I really admire how Harry and his family run their business. IBTanked conducts business in an honorable way, interacts heavily with the online vaping community, makes great products, and offers goods at reasonable prices. The vaping community is lucky to have OCD, Mrs. OCD, and Offspring in it.

Vaping Diaries #147: Bull Box Mods Brett Bulich Interview (Vapetoberfest 2013)

Bull Box Mods makes some gorgeous metal composite and stone composite drips tips. At Vapetoberfest 2013, I chatted with Bull Box Mods owner Brett Bulich about the company’s history, its current lineup, and future products. Brett started the company in his parents’ shed and has grown it into a successful business with an ardent following. In the interview above, he talks about his company’s start, the various types of drip tips he makes, and future products. While his metal and stone drip tips are very popular, I’m really excited about Bull Box Mods’ stainless steel and titanium mods.

Vaping Diaries #146: Cyber Liquids Chris Battenschlag Interview (Vapetoberfest 2013)

Formerly known as Vaping Haze, Cyber Liquids is a Southern California e-liquid company that makes some fun juices and uses a cool cyborg theme. At Vapetoberfest 2013, I caught up with Cyber Liquids owner Chris Battenschlag to talk about the reasoning behind the company’s transition to the new brand, his juice lineup, and what makes his products different. RPadholic N8R was particularly impressed with Cyber Liquids’ cereal flavors Apple Jax and Krunch Berries. I didn’t get a chance to try the company’s juices because the staff at the booth scared me; I was pretty sure that they were all cyborgs and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from the Terminator series, cyborgs are deadly.

Seriously though, Cyber Liquids is a fun company and its juices are really popular in SoCal vape shops. I’m looking forward to trying some of the company’s juices in the future. Check out the video above to learn more about Cyber Liquids and to see if the company’s juices are right for you.

Vaping Diaries #145: Ovale USA Brandon Crow Interview (Vapetoberfest 2013)

Ovale USA director of marketing Brandon Crow covers a wide range of topics in this Vapetoberfest 2013 interview. He starts off with the company’s new Cylo clearomizer moves onto Ovale USA e-liquids and finally discusses the relationship between Ovale and Joyetech. The Cylo is a clearomizer that uses eGo-C atomizers for familiarity and easy replacement. While Ovale USA gets a lot of attention for its hardware, I believe that its e-liquids are underrated (RPadholic N8R is a big fan of the company’s Sweet Bean). Lastly, it was important to me to get information out there on the Joyetech relationship. While many vapers have used Joyetech products to quit smoking, many of them are unaware that the company is simply a manufacturer. Ovale is the designer and inventor of products like the eGo-C, eVic, eMini (eRoll), and more. As someone that has always admired creators of videogames and comics more than the publishers, it bothers me that Ovale doesn’t get the credit that it deserves.

Special thanks to Ovale USA Brandon and Katie for letting Nate and I stash our gear at their booth during the show and for being excellent company outside of Vapetoberfest!