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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.

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 #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 #132: Majestic Vapors Review

As a comic-book fanboy and Star Wars nerd, I was really looking forward to trying some of Majestic Vapors’ “Geek Line” of e-liquids. I recently vaped Majestic Vapors’ Vader’s Vengeance, Fant4stic Four, and Lantern’s Light. Before I get to the flavor breakdowns, let’s chat about the company for a bit.

Majestic Vapors is a retail shop in the Niagara Falls area. The company offers a wide variety of juices — some straightforward blends and some interesting mixes. The Geek Line uses playful references to comics, movies, videogames, and more. The 30ml bottles come in plastic and have a very reasonable price of $14.99. The company has a weekly buy-two-get-one-free “Tremendous Tuesday” promo on 15ml bottles. All three of these juices vape cleanly and are suitable for any type of juice delivery system. They’re good straight out of the mail, though I’d suggest a week or two of steeping for Vader’s Vengeance.

The three Majestic Vapors Geek Line juices I tried were good. The one I wanted to like the most ended up being my least favorite, while the other two were more enjoyable. Here are the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes.

Vader’s Vengeance: This juice gets bonus points for a multifaceted nerd name. Darth Vader is a bad ass, the name is alliterative, and the name is also a play on the popular Boba’s Bounty e-liquid. Think of Vader’s Vengeance as Boba’s Bounty light. It’s a nice blend of a light tobacco, honey, and graham. I found it to be an enjoyable dessert vape. While I expect some Boba’s Bounty fans to scoff at this juice (it’s certainly not as distinct as the original and Boba’s Bounty fans can be…irrational), I recommend giving it a shot if you want a dessert vape with a touch of tobacco. Majestic Vapors did a solid job on this juice and it was my favorite of the bunch.

Fant4stic Four: Of course Fant4stic Four is an RY4, but it’s not a traditional one. Along with the typical ingredients of light tobacco, caramel, and vanilla, Majestic Vapors added some chocolate to the mix. In some ways, this juice reminded me of Black Cloud Vapor’s take on RY4, which didn’t quite work for me. I actually enjoyed this juice more than Black Cloud’s chocolatey RY4s, but more as a dessert vape than as an RY4. If you’re a fan of traditional Asian RY4s or sweeter Western RY4s, the chocolate might throw you off. If you approach this juice as a dessert vape then there’s a good chance that you’ll like it. Also, it’s hard not to vape this juice and not shout, “Flame on!!!”

Lantern’s Light: As a huge, huge mark for Green Lantern (the comics, not the extremely unfortunate Ryan Reynolds movie), I wanted to love this juice. Even though it’s awesomely green, it wasn’t really my thing. Lantern’s Light is a candy lime flavor, with some earthiness in the background. The end result is something like lime Skittles candy. I know a lot of vapers that would love this juice (candy flavors are hugely popular in SoCal), but I’m usually not into candy vapes. Still, I was intrigued by the idea of this juice, but wish it had a natural flavor instead of a candy one; a natural lime flavor with tobacco in the background sounds like something I’d enjoy. Lantern’s Light isn’t bad by any means. It’s simply not my thing.

(On a totally nerdy note, I mentioned to the juice maker that it’s too bad the company wasn’t around during the Blackest Night crossover. Majestic Vapors could’ve had all the spectrums covered. In my head, I’m whipping up recipes for the Blue Lantern Corps, Indigo Tribe, etc. Don’t judge me. I prefaced this tangent by saying it was a totally nerdy note.)

Steeping Notes
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method starting 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. The bottles are shaken every day for at least two weeks before vaping.

Vader’s Vengeance (Majestic Vapors)
House PG/VG ratio, 8mg nicotine
Uncapped: September 3, 2013 6:20PM
Vaped: October 9-16, 2013

Fant4stic Four (Majestic Vapors)
House PG/VG ratio, 8mg nicotine
Uncapped: September 3, 2013 6:20PM
Vaped: October 9-16, 2013

Lantern’s Light (Majestic Vapors)
House PG/VG ratio, 8mg nicotine
Uncapped: September 3, 2013 6:20PM
Vaped: October 9-16, 2013

Review Process (Updated February 17, 2013)
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 an atomizer, a cartomizer/tank setup, and a clearomizer. The exception is naturally-extracted tobacco (NET) juice; since those are known to clog up cartomizers quickly, those are vaped in atomizers and clearomizers.

Vaping Diaries #131: The Vape Tree Review

The Vape Tree is a relatively new e-liquid company that focuses on complex juices that use several ingredients. I recently vaped three of the company’s e-liquids: Pinoy Punch, Banyan Tree, and Royal Tobacco. I liked one of them and loved two. The two Vape Tree e-liquids I loved were unique and complex — very distinct blends that stand out. The one I loved the most featured one of my favorite fruits — a fruit that’s very uncommon in the vaping world. I definitely recommend giving the two juices I loved a shot. You’ll see why in the tasting notes below, but first, a few more details.

As I mentioned in Vaping Diaries #87, The Vape Tree pre-steeps its e-liquids using an ultrasonic cleaner. The juices spend around three hours in an ultrasonic cleaner before being shipped. This is the rough equivalent of three weeks of steeping. With that in mind, it was no surprise that the juices were great to vape out of the mail. Additional steeping helps the flavors unify, but many vapers will find that these e-liquids are good to go straight away. As far as vapeability goes, these three Vape Tree juices are very clean and suitable for all types of juice delivery systems. Banyan Tree was slightly heavier than the others, but still quite clean.

The Vape Tree has an October promotion for Banyan Tree and Pinoy Punch. Using the coupon code “FightCancer” will give you 30 percent off of those juices, with The Vape Tree making a 10 percent donation to the Susan B. Komen foundation.

Now onto to the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes!

Pinoy Punch: As a Filipino-American, I’m a sucker for any juice that has the word “Pinoy” in it. Yes, it has a name that I love, but I also genuinely love this juice. It’s a tasty blend of tropical fruits. There are many, many juices out there that mix tropical fruit flavors, but there were two things that made this one stand out. First, it has a thick texture that I really enjoyed. Secondly, it has…mangosteen! This is one of my favorite fruits in the world and there aren’t many e-liquids that use it. The mangosteen flavor made this Vape Tree juice a total winner in my book.

Banyan Tree: To be completely honest, I probably enjoyed Banyan Tree as much as I did Pinoy Punch, but this juice doesn’t have the word “Pinoy” in it so it got the silver medal. This is another complex blend with several different flavors that mix together nicely. The end result is a moderately sweet juice with a bakery-type flavor that has an earthy tobacco undertone. It’s pleasantly unusual. In some ways, it reminded me of a Heather’s Heavenly Vapes NET e-liquid, but was still very distinct in its own right. Some vapers view Banyan Tree as The Vape Tree’s signature juice and it’s easy to understand why. It’s well done and stands out.

Royal Tobacco: This one I didn’t enjoy as much as the others. It’s a medium-bodied tobacco with mild-to-moderate sweetness. It wasn’t bad, by any means. It’s just that this category has a ton of competition. For medium-bodied tobacco e-liquids, Ahlusion’s non-aromatic juices and Goodejuice’s House Brewed Line are fantastic choices. This is “only” a good one.

Pinoy Punch (The Vape Tree)
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: July 31, 2013 2:12PM
Vaped: September 24-30, 2013

Banyan Tree (The Vape Tree)
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Uncapped: July 31, 2013 2:12PM
Vaped: September 24-30, 2013

Royal Tobacco (The Vape Tree)
60/40 PG/VG ratio, 10mg nicotine
Uncapped: August 3, 2013 4:32PM
Vaped: September 24-30, 2013

Vaping Diaries #130: Kebo Russian Atomizer Review

The Kebo Russian is a bottom-coil silica atomizer that offers fantastic flavor and high capacity. It’s a 1:1 copy of the Svoe Mesto Kayfun 3.1, which many vapers love for its strong performance. While other companies have tried to mimic the Kayfun 3.1, they’ve mostly offered an inferior experience. The Kebo Russian offers the same outstanding performance as the product it’s based on, but for a much lower price.

What’s in the Kit: The Kebo Russian comes with the atomizer, a clear tank, a stainless steel tank, a 510 drip-tip adapter, a plastic needle-tip e-liquid bottle, a screwdriver keychain, wick, wire, extra screws, and extra O-rings. Kebo calls the extra O-rings and screws “spear parts,” but they don’t fit on any of the spears I have at home.

The extra parts are certainly useful, but I wasn’t a fan of the refill bottle and screwdriver. Using the included bottle makes refilling a slow process and I don’t like metal-on-metal contact. I highly recommend going with syringes and plastic tips; using that combo makes refilling fast and you don’t have to worry about metal scraping on metal. The screwdriver is small and difficult to generate torque with. It’s okay for making on-the-go adjustments or for people that don’t have a set of computer tools. It’s nice that Kebo included these items in the kit, but I recommend replacing them straight away.

Build Quality: The build quality of Chinese clones is all over the place. Some products are well made and others are hot garbage. Then there’s the Kebo Russian. This is, without a doubt, the best vaping product from China that I’ve ever used. It’s primarily made from stainless steel, including a stainless steel valve from the USA (China outsourcing to America?!? That’s crazy!). The materials used for the Kebo Russian are top notch.

The Kebo Russian is shockingly well made and on par with the Kayfun 3.1. Some longtime Kayfun users will be able to spot small differences in build quality, but many vapers will find them identical. Given how complex this atomizer is and how many parts it uses, the excellent build quality is even more impressive.

Design: The Kebo Russian is a complex atomizer that holds roughly 4.5ml of e-liquid. With its numerous parts and high capacity, it’s quite large. It’s 60mm long, with a 22mm diameter. For many vapers, the combination of performance and capacity is totally worth it. Some vapers will find it cumbersome.

Aesthetically, the Kebo Russian is a handsome device. The stainless steel has a sandblasted finish that’s slightly darker than the one Svoe Mesto uses for the Kayfun 3.1 Beta model. As someone that greatly prefers brushed, matte, and sandblasted steel over polished steel, I was quite pleased with The Russian’s finish.

Performance: Thousands of vapers have been enamored with the performance of the Kayfun 3.1. The Keebo Russian offers the same great flavor, a satisfying draw, and decent vapor production. Airflow can be adjusted to accommodate a variety of vapers. The range is very good and should satisfy everyone, save for those that like extremely tight draws. As someone that prefers a firm draw, I enjoyed using the Kebo Russian.

While it’s not the best choice for cloud chasers, the Kebo Russian offers stellar flavor. Between the small air chamber and the tight drip tip, you get a deliciously concentrated vape. Naturally, a lot depends on your setup. My personal preference is flat ribbon and Twik Ekowool. In the Kebo Russian, this combo offers outstanding flavor that’s on par or better than any Genesis-style atomizers I’ve used.

Ease of Use: For such a complicated atomizer, the Kebo Russian is relatively easy to set up. It’s slightly more involved than using a rebuildable dripping atomizer and much easier than setting up a Genesis-style atomizer. Most vapers that can build a coil for an RDA will have no problem using the Kebo Russian. Building space is small, but still quite manageable. My rebuilding skills are average and I found the Kebo Russian easy to work with using a variety of wire and wick materials.

Maintenance is straightforward, though clumsy vapers will have to use extra care when washing the Kebo Russian. There are a lot of small parts that can be lost or washed down the drain.

Verdict: The Kebo Russian delivers everything that I love about the Kayfun 3.1, but is much easier to get and significantly cheaper to buy. It’s available for around $115, while the lowest I’ve seen the Kayfun 3.1 is $175. For juice delivery systems with high capacity, this type of atomizer is my favorite. It holds a lot of e-liquid and offers great flavor. While I’ve enjoyed products like the AMP Tank and GP Spheroid, I prefer the Kebo Russian over both of those high-capacity atomizers.

For some vapers, there is an ethical dilemma when it comes to the Kebo Russian. It’s pretty much an exact copy of Svoe Moesto’s work and some vapers have issues with companies making money by lifting another company’s design. Some vapers don’t care about that and are only concerned about their vaping budget. Both sides are understandable. I’m not judging — just throwing it out there for people to decide.

For vapers that have always wanted a Kayfun 3.1, but have been unable to nab one because of price or availability, the Kebo Russian is a fantastic alternative. It’s cheaper and easier to find, while delivering the same awesome performance. While I still enjoy using a good RDA, the Kebo Russian has become my top choice for when I need a juice delivery system with high capacity. It’s a well-built atomizer that offers high capacity and flavor on par with Genesis-style atomizers, but without the leaking issues inherent to Gennies. If you don’t have a problem with the copying issue then I highly, highly recommend picking one up.

Vaping Diaries #129: Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com Review

Earlier this year, Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com opened for business. As a huge fan of NET e-liquids, I was really excited to see what this vendor brought to the table (or atomizer, more accurately). When I learned about the company’s different extraction and bottling options (detailed in Vaping Diaries #96), I was even more excited. After vaping the company’s Bombay, Chris’ Blend, and Coventry e-liquids, I’m pleased to say that Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com is a very good choice for tobacco fans, with the potential to be a great one.

In broad terms, Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com’s e-liquids are on the strong side, though not quite as heavy as many of the Ahlusion aromatic and Want2Vape Signature Blend juices I’ve had. The three juices covered in this review are complex and feature a blend of different tobaccos. I noticed a significant difference between the heat-extracted and cold-maceration versions of each juice. With one exception, I preferred the cold-maceration version of the e-liquids, as they brought out the complexities of the tobacco mixes. However, for clearomizer users, I recommend heat extraction, because the subtleties I enjoyed with the cold macerations were mostly lost on clearos.

While these Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com juices aren’t quite as harsh on coils as Want2Vape’s notorious brews, they’re definitely on the heavy side (as pictured in the video review). As far as steeping goes, I enjoyed these straight out of the mail and only experienced slight changes with steeping. I’d classify these as “vape ’em if you got ’em” juices.

Now for the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes of these Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com e-liquids.

Bombay: This is the boldest blend of the bunch and my favorite Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com juice so far. It’s a mix of Georgian Virginia, black cavendish, Mexican burley, and smoked Cyprian latakia tobaccos. The latakia gives it a spicy kick, while the cavendish adds some sweetness on the backend. Mixed with the other tobaccos and you have a flavorful, rich, and layered vape. There’s a lot going on with this juice and I definitely recommend it to fans of complex pipe-tobacco vapes. One minor criticism I had with Bombay is that I wish it had more latakia and less cavendish. The thing I enjoyed most about this juice was its latakia kick and the cavendish overshadowed it a bit. Still, I very much enjoyed this one.

Chris’ Blend: I’ve made up plenty of stories in my head about this Chris person and how he came up with this blend of black Cavendish, golden Virginias, and Turkish tobaccos for Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com. I’d share them with you, but my tobacco fan-fiction sucks. Instead, I’ll tell you about this sweet and nutty tobacco blend. This was definitely the sweetest e-liquid of the bunch and almost fits into that “dessert tobacco” category. It’s not like a Heather’s Heavenly Vape juice where the tobacco is a supporting player; the tobacco is medium-strong here, but the sweetness is quite high. Unlike the other two juices in this review, I preferred the heat-extracted version of Chris’ Blend, as the sweetness was toned down compared to the cold-maceration version. It’s good choice if you’re a fan of dessert-tobacco vapes and want something with more of a tobacco kick, but it’s not quite what I enjoy for this style of e-liquid.

Coventry: This was the first Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com e-liquid to catch my eye, as I’m a big fan of burley tobacco. Also in this blend are cavendish and vanilla. The end result is a tasty melange where the tobaccos take center stage and the vanilla plays a complementary role. The cavendish also adds some sweetness, though it’s more subtle than the sweetness in Chris’ Blend. While I enjoyed this juice, I couldn’t help but think of Ahlusion’s Vurley, which is a mix of burley tobacco and vanilla. For this style of tobacco e-liquid, I think Vurley is phenomenal, while Coventry is very good. That said, I can see why someone would feel the opposite way. As my buddy ECF y cherry y likes to point out (gotcha buddy!), taste is subjective.

Bombay (Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com)
70/30 PG/VG ratio, 8mg nicotine
Uncapped: August 21, 2013 6:10PM
Vaped: October 1-8, 2013

Chris’ Blend (Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com)
70/30 PG/VG ratio, 8mg nicotine
Uncapped: August 21, 2013 6:10PM
Vaped: October 1-8, 2013

Coventry (Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco.com)
70/30 PG/VG ratio, 8mg nicotine
Uncapped: August 21, 2013 6:10PM
Vaped: October 1-8, 2013

Vaping Diaries #128: El Kapitan 1.5 Review

The El Kapitan 1.5 is an updated version of a beautiful mechanical mod from the Philippines. Made by Wu Tang House of Mods, the El Kapitan 1.5 features distinct looks and great performance. For those of you not familiar with Wu Tang House of Mods, it’s highly regarded by enthusiast vapers, but isn’t as well known (to American vapers, anyway) as other Filipino vaping companies like Grand Vapor and VapeHead Origins. With products like the El Kapitan 1.5, Wu Tang’s reputation will burgeon. It’s an attractive vaping device that’s among my favorite Filipino mods.

Build Quality and Construction: The El Kapitan 1.5 is available with a stainless steel body with brass caps or a brass body with stainless steel caps. For the last few weeks, I’ve been using the former version. The materials are quality and the craftsmanship is mostly impressive. The stainless steel body is cut well and the threads are totally smooth. While the brass caps screwed on smoothly, you can see burrs on the threads. Some vapers won’t care about this since the caps attach just fine, but it will bother those that enjoy the collectibility aspect of mods.

Ergonomics and Design: Using the El Kapitan 1.5 is just like using other mechanical mods. It comes with 18650 and 18350 tubes, both of which are inline with similarly sized vaping devices. The mod is comfortable to hold and is relatively light. Its 22mm diameter makes it a great match for several Genesis-style and bottom-coil silica atomizers.

One unique feature of the El Kapitan 1.5 is its reverse-telescoping pin. The pin slides up and down, similar to how self-adjusting pins work. However, it also has a smaller section on the top that can be adjusted. For vapers that use different types of atomizers and different brands of batteries, the pin isn’t the simplest solution. It’s not that it’s difficult to use, but it’s not as mindless as floating pins or self-adjusting pins. For anal-retentive vapers that insist on zero battery rattle, a minute or two of pin adjustment is require when changing to a different atomizer or battery.

The firing button on the El Kapitan 1.5 has a short throw and a medium feel. The spring is firm enough that the device can be placed down while unlocked. The throw is short enough that a relatively soft press is needed to fire the mod. Since the firing mechanism uses a somewhat narrow spring, off-center hits can give the mod a clicky feel. Overall, I enjoyed the feel of the El Kapitan 1.5’s firing button; I love that I can place it on a table without having to worry about it firing, while also enjoying a relatively light button press.

Lastly, the design of the El Kapitan 1.5 is just lovely. Several of the more popular Filipino mods have numerous bold lines and/or stylized knurling. The El Kapitan eschews those aggressive designs for something that’s distinctly elegant. It has two engraved swirls going up the body, an anchor logo at the base, and the Wu Tang logo on the firing cap. Put it all together and you have a mod that stands out, but isn’t as hyper-aggressive as some of its competitors. Naturally, looks are subjective. Personally, I think the El Kapitan is one of the most distinctly beautiful mods from the Philippines.

Performance: The contact points on the El Kapitan 1.5 are gold-plated brass. Gold is an excellent electricity conductor that isn’t affected by air, moisture, and most corrosive agents. One thing to keep in mind is that gold is a relatively soft metal, so care should be used when cleaning the contact points. The gold-and-brass combination offers a nice blend of power and relatively low maintenance. The mod’s design combined with its materials help it delivery performance that will satisfy most vapers. Voltage drop isn’t as low as some competing high-end mods, but it’s certainly acceptable.

Verdict: Since Wu Tang House of Mods is a relatively small company, vapers can take advantage of direct sales. Wu Tang, along with some trusted Facebook group-buy runners, routinely makes his products available for a relatively low price. People that follow Wu Tang on Facebook were able to get the El Kapitan 1.5 for around $172 shipped. At retail, I’ve seen it for $220 to $250. For $172, this mod is a sweet deal. Even $220 is a reasonable price for a unique mod with high performance.

The issues I have with the El Kapitan 1.5 are minor ones. The caps thread smoothly, but don’t have the smoothest appearance. The reverse-telescoping pin is mildly annoying to use. Those issues are easy to sweep under the rug when you look at everything else the El Kapitan 1.5 brings to the table. The mod is made from quality materials, the workmanship is impressive, the performance is very strong, and it’s simply a gorgeous device. Whenever I meet up with vapers, the El Kapitan 1.5 gets attention for its looks and keeps attention with its performance. If you want a mod that’s beautiful and hits hard, the El Kapitan 1.5 is a fine choice.