Vaping Diaries Archives - Page 30 of 38

Vaping Diaries #81: Innokin iTaste 134 Review

Innokin has been pumping out quality devices that combine great performance and great prices. The iTaste MVP, iTaste SVD, and iTaste VV 3.0 are among the best in their respective categories. The iTaste 134 adds something really different and unique to Innokin’s lineup. Unlike its sister products, it doesn’t attempt to offer an affordable device with all the modern features you’d expect. The iTaste 134 offers a distinct style that makes it stand out from the crowd. Its “cool” design comes at the price of some features and performance. Read on to see if this unique vaping device is right for you.

What’s in the Kit: The iTaste 134 comes in a decorative box that includes the device and one iClear 30 clearomizer. The review sample I received was black with silver bars. An all-silver version is also available. The device has an MSRP of $169, so expect a street price a little bit lower than that.

Ergonomics and Design: The most outstanding — and divisive — feature of the iTaste 134 is its design. It’s definitely distinct and noticeable. People either love or hate it. I brought it to four different vape shops in two weeks and people with geeky tendencies loved it; they either enjoyed that it looks like an M134 machine gun or were giddy because it looks like a lightsaber. The people that hated it thought the design was too extreme, saying that it sacrificed functionality for coolness. No matter the case, the iTaste 134 received more attention than any device I’ve ever brought to a vape shop. You won’t need to see it in person to decide if you like the device’s looks (in my experience, many mods look better in person than they do photographed). What you see is what you get with this mod.

As for ergonomics, it really depends on the user. If you like heavy mods then there’s a good chance you’ll like the feel of this one. If thin-and-light mods are your thing then you definitely won’t enjoy using this device — it’s very big and very heavy. As someone that prefers hefty mods, I found the iTaste 134 enjoyable to use. Going into the review, I thought that the silver bars would make it uncomfortable to hold, but that wasn’t the case. After a few days of using it, I became accustomed to the weight and didn’t find it uncomfortable to hold. (Of course all my other mods felt like pencils after using this one.) While the length and weight didn’t bother me, I completely understand that many vapers will find this device cumbersome.

Construction and Build Quality: Like the iTaste MVP and iTaste SVD, the iTaste 134 features very good build quality. It’s a solid device that’s put together well. It’s also a very complex device to assemble (24 screws that you can see and probably several more inside that you can’t), so there are many areas where mistakes could be made. To my delight, there weren’t any loose screws or rattling parts in my review unit.

The two minor problems I had were with the scroll wheel and the firing button. I wanted the wheel to give off a louder click and have a tighter feel. The firing button was too “clicky” for me and I wanted a springier feel. These are two areas that will be improved in the final version of the device. My Innokin contact said that the button and scroll wheel on the final version will be made from better material that’s more durable. The final scroll wheel will also have a louder click. Obviously I can’t say how these facets of the device will end up, but keep that in mind when you’re reading reviews that are posted around the same time as mine or before — this is not final hardware and minor changes will be made.

Operation: This is one facet of the device that isn’t getting much attention. It’s so easy to use. Since it’s variable wattage, users don’t have to worry about the resistance (ohms) of the equipment they put on top. The output will be consistent. The scroll wheel couldn’t be easier to use; you simply slide the wheel to the desired wattage. In many respects, the iTaste 134 is like an eGo-C Twist on steroids. For vapers that find menu systems using multiple button clicks confusing or annoying, this mod is a great choice. It combines the simplicity of an eGo-C Twist with 18650 battery life and the accuracy/versatility of variable-wattage performance.

The ease of use comes at a price though: functionality. Since it doesn’t have an LCD screen and menu buttons, the iTaste 134 doesn’t do all the things that its sister product, the excellent iTaste SVD, can do. The big one for me is the battery indicator, which only gives basic information using three colors (green = high charge, yellow = average charge, red = low charge). Some people have complained that the iTaste 134 can’t display resistance. My Innokin contact said that since the device is variable-wattage then there’s no need to see resistance since the output will be whatever you set it to. I agree with him to a point. Most users don’t need to see resistance. There are some good reasons to know the ohms of your juice delivery system (particularly for people that build their own coils), but most users don’t need to know this. That said, even people that don’t need to know their resistance want to. I totally get the need for useless info. I’m a mark for advanced sports metrics. I’ve wasted hundreds of hours on Wikipedia researching things I don’t need to know about. While I use delivery systems that require rebuilding, I also use lots of standard gear. No matter the case, I find myself checking resistance for no reason other than “because I can.”

Performance and Battery Life: For the review, I used the iTaste 134 with rebuildable atomizers, direct-driping atomizers, a carto/tank, and a clearomizer. In all cases, the output was consistent. Compared to the iTaste SVD, which I found to be a very accurate device, the output felt a tiny bit lower at the same wattage settings. While it was a little puzzling considering that both devices use the same PCB, according to my Innokin contact, the variance wasn’t large enough to bother me.

The biggest issue I had was with the device’s wattage range. It can be set from 6.5 to 12.5 watts. However, from 7.0 to 12.0 watts it can only be adjusted in 1.0-watt increments. (And no, you can’t set it between numbers on the scroll wheel. The device won’t fire.) Compare that to the iTaste SVD (which, again, uses the same PCB), which has a range of 3.0 to 15.0 watts that can be adjusted in 0.5-watt increments. It’s not so much the limited range that bothered me (though that will certainly be an issue for some vapers) as much as the 1.0-watt adjustments. Being able to fine tune output for certain juices or delivery systems is a big deal and that can’t be done with the iTaste 134. As someone that usually vapes at 8.5 watts, I had to compromise in one direction or the other. I felt like Goldilocks with only two choices: “This vape is too soft. This vape is too hard.” With a lot of the juices I vaped on the iTaste 134, I couldn’t get the “just right” taste that I’m used to.

As for battery life, it all depends on the battery you’re using and your vaping habits. Using the excellent Panasonic NCR18650B, I got around 1.25 to 1.5 days of vaping per charge.

Verdict: If you’re looking for a great vaping device with all the bells and whistles then you should take a good look at the iTaste SVD. It simply does more than the iTaste 134. If you’re looking for a powerful mod that’s easy to use then the iTaste 134 could be a great device for you. What it all comes down to is looks. This is a very unique and distinct mod. For some people, a $150 street price is worth paying just to have something different. For others, it’s not. The iTaste 134 is somewhat limited and certainly heavy, but there’s nothing else like it on the market.

I like that the iTaste 134 is atypical and love that Innokin has tried something different in order to diversify its lineup. It’s a very unusual move for a Chinese vaping company. Most manufacturers from China release “me too” products, straight-up clones, or devices with unarguably ugly designs. I applaud Innokin for releasing a device that’s strikingly unusual. Would I buy one? Yes. I’m a big enough nerd to get $150 of vaping enjoyment just off of its looks. That said, I completely understand vapers that feel that this device is too limited and unwieldy for their money.

[Update July 29]: Innokin dropped me a line to make sure that people know not to use stacked 18350 batteries with the iTaste 134. The combined 7.4 volts of power may damage the PCB.

Vaping Diaries #80: eBaron Dripper Pro by Leo Review

The eBaron Dripper Pro by Leo is a rebuildable dripping atomizer (RDA) that features great build quality, handsome looks, and versatile building options. It’s priced similarly to other high-end RDAs, but the cost is worth it — particularly for ProVari owners and/or vapers that are uncomfortable with the rebuilding process. After using the Dripper Pro for several months, I’m very impressed with it. It’s a great dripper for vapers that want a quality device and are learning the ropes of RDAs.

Build Quality: The Dripper Pro is made from 304 stainless steel. The threads are smooth and I haven’t had any problems with the O-ring after several months of use. It’s a well made RDA that’s built to last.

Design: This is a very handsome dripper with classy looks. Although it was made to match ProVape’s popular ProVari vaping devices, it looks great on many mods. The upper chamber is smooth stainless steel, while the base has a series of dimples, subtle branding, and a serial number.

Performance: The Dripper Pro hits like you’d expect any small RDA to. You get great flavor and vapor production, with more throat hit than other juice delivery systems. Yes, you can get comparable performance from drippers that cost less than $20, but with this device you’re paying for build quality and style.

Ease of Use: This is where the Dripper Pro gets interesting. It uses CE2 ceramic cups to hold the wick and coil. Experienced vapers can rebuild the whole thing. It’s recommended that you use resistance and non-resistance (NR) wire for building coils, which adds a step some people find complicated. It’s possible to use all resistance wire, but I don’t recommend it since the extra heat has the potential to ruin your O-ring.

Those that are uncomfortable with building coils for tight spaces can buy pre-made wicks with NR leads and extra ceramic cups. After placing the wick in the cup, you insert the wires, plop it down, cut the excess wick, and cut the excess wire. It’s a fairly straightforward process that many vapers can handle.

People that are completely uncomfortable with rebuilding can by whole cup/coil units. It doesn’t get any easier than this. You pop the unit into the Dripper Pro and cut the excess wire. This is a nice option for vapers that have difficulty with rebuilding, but want the full flavor of dripping.

Verdict: The eBaron Dripper Pro is a well made device that offers great flavor, vapor, and throat hit. I was impressed by its looks and performance, and really appreciate the versatile rebuilding options. While it’s true that you can get similar performance from a cheaper device like the Youde IGO-S or a number of China clones, you’re getting quality workmanship and sweet style with this dripper. For those that need it, this dripper offers completely simple rebuilding. Whether you’re an experienced vaper or just starting out with RDAs, the Dripper Pro is a great choice that will serve you well.

Vaping Diaries #79: Five Pawns Review

If you’re looking for complex e-liquids with amazing flavors then you should definitely check out Five Pawns. In a very short time, the company has become one of the best e-liquid vendors in the world, as far as quality goes. Its juices have a complexity that I’ve only seen from a handful of other companies.

Positioned as premium e-liquid, Five Pawns juices come in glass bottles covered with cardboard tubes. The box protects the bottle and adds a classy look. Each bottle lists the mix date, lot number, and bottle number. The packaging reminds me a lot of Apple products; slick labeling and packaging envelope a superior product, enhancing the experience.

A lot of people get sticker shock when they see the price of Five Pawn’s e-liquids — $27.50 for the standard line and $37.50 for the Reserve line (30ml bottles). Yes, they’re expensive compared to other online vendors, but as I learned during my interview with Five Pawns president Rodney Jerabek, the business focuses on retail. Since Five Pawns doesn’t want to undercut its retail partners, the online prices are the same as retail prices. With many brick-and-mortar shops selling average juice (or worse) for $1 per milliliter, the Five Pawns prices are inline. Of course it all comes down to taste. To me, these juices are absolutely worth the price and I’ll definitely be buying more bottles in the future. That said, I totally understand why some people think they’re too expensive. As they say in Thailand, “Up to you.”

The three juices covered in this review are Bowden’s Mate, Absolute Pin, and Castle Long Reserve. The last juice is particularly unique, as it’s aged for three weeks in a treated oak barrel. All three juices are rich, flavorful, and complex. If you’re the type of vaper that enjoys simple and straightforward juices (which can be delicious in their own right) then these might not be for you. If you appreciate complex flavors and unique mixes of multiple ingredients then you should definitely check out these juices. Here are the the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes.

Bowden’s Mate: This is a sweet, creamy, and minty e-liquid. The French vanilla and mint hit me right away on the inhale. A nice chocolate followed those flavors. Yes, there are many vendors that make an “Andes Candies” type of juice, but this one is better than any that I’ve tried. Five Pawns’ French vanilla is wonderfully delicious and totally makes this juice, making it different from the other chocolate/mint flavors out there. Like other Five Pawns e-liquids, it’s finely crafted and the flavors come together splendidly.

Absolute Pin: Absinthe fans must give this juice a try. The tasting notes mention a “subtle absinthe undertone,” but the anise dominated the flavor to me. (To be fair, I’m pretty sensitive to anise due to several unfortunate Jaegermesiter-fueled evenings.) Complementing the anise are caramel, cinnamon, and Irish cream. It all comes together for a ridiculously complex and boldly flavorful juice. It’s definitely not an all-day vape for me, as I can only take anise in small doses, but I really appreciate the blend. I never thought absinthe and caramel would work so well together. A few friends of mine that love absinthe juices mentioned that this is one of the best and most unique blends they’ve tried.

Castle Long Reserve: The insert included with the bottle says, “What’s in this bottle is special.” That’s not pretense or exaggeration. This is a truly special e-liquid. Toasted almond and coconut hit me right away, followed by vanilla. The vanilla flavor in this juice isn’t as dominant as it is in some other Five Pawns flavors; it’s more complementary, while still adding to the deliciousness. Further in the background is a touch of bourbon. The flavors come together amazingly. Castle Long Reserve is a finely crafted juice that’s easily one of the best and most unique I’ve ever had.

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.

Bowden’s Made
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Mix Date: March 22, 2013
Uncapped: May 23, 2013 7:22PM
Vaped: June 6-10, 2013

Absolute Pin
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Mix Date: March 22, 2013
Uncapped: May 23, 2013 7:22PM
Vaped: June 6-10, 2013

Castle Long Reserve
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Mix Date: May 25, 2013
Uncapped: July 5, 2013 6:40PM
Vaped: July 15-19, 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 #78: CravinVapes Review

CravinVapes is an e-liquid company out of Angola (the one in Indiana, not the one in Africa). The company makes a variety of juices at affordable prices and claims to “use USP food grade flavors and organic extracts.” 30ml bottles cost $12, which is on the lower end of the spectrum for made-to-order juices from American vendors. The juices come in plastic bottles with subtle labels.

For this review, I chose three dessert flavors: Vanilla X, Sunkiss Float, and Maple Nut Bestie. I was pleasantly surprised by two of the flavors and found the other to be just okay. Here are the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes.

Vanilla X: There are thousands of vendors that sell vanilla e-liquids and I was pleased to find a superior one in Vanilla X. This is a rich, creamy, and sweet vanilla that has a thick texture. The vendor describes this e-liquid as having a touch of custard-like flavor. It’s great on its own, but also handy as a mixer. If you have a juice that needs a kick of creaminess and sweetness, add some Vanilla X and you’re good to go.

Sunkiss Float: In my head, this juice was supposed to have the great taste of Vanilla X, complemented by a tangy orange flavor. Unfortunately, that’s not how it turned out. It’s not a bad juice by any means, but there are many orange creamsicle e-liquids out there that are better. The orange flavor is underwhelming and the recipe is a bit off. The qualities that I enjoyed in Vanilla X were tough to detect in Sunkiss Float.

Maple Nut Bestie: I’m usually not a fan of candy e-liquids, but I’m a sucker for Brach’s Maple Nut Goodies so I had to try this one. The company did a very good job of replicating the flavor. You get peanuts, toffee, and maple syrup in a mix that blends together nicely. Yes, it’s a very sweet flavor and has some artificial tastes, but so does the candy that it’s based on. While it’s out of my wheelhouse, I enjoyed this juice.

Vanilla X
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: March 11, 2013
Uncapped: March 23, 2013 5:47PM
Vaped: June 1-5, 2013

Sunkiss Float
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: March 11, 2013
Uncapped: March 23, 2013 5:47PM
Vaped: June 1-5, 2013

Maple Nut Bestie
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Mix Date: March 11, 2013
Uncapped: March 23, 2013 5:47PM
Vaped: June 1-5, 2013

Vaping Diaries #77: Innokin iTaste 134 Preview

The Innokin iTaste 134 is one of the most unique vaping devices I’ve seen all year. This 18650-battery mod has extremely distinct looks, an unusual weight and heft for a digital mod, and an atypical slider to adjust wattage. It’s very cool and very macho, but there are a few things to think about before you plop down money for a pre-order.

The iTaste 134’s design is striking. It totally reminded me of Jesse “The Body” Ventura’s character in Predator. (The one that “Ain’t got time to bleed,” and proclaimed himself to be, “A goddamn sexual tyranasaurus.”) This is the vaping device that he’d use. It has very bold lines that give it a masculine appearance.

Vapers that prefer thin-and-light mods will find the iTaste 134 intimidating. It’s one of the largest and heaviest devices I’ve used. It’s even bigger than an Alt Smoke Silver Bullet with a Kick extension, a device many consider to be large. Personally, I prefer mods that have a nice heft, so I’ve been enjoying the iTaste 134. Keep in mind that I’ve only had it for a few hours. I’m curious to find out if the weight will bother me after extended usage.

To change the device’s output, you have to twist a sliding mechanism. This is common with smaller vaping devices, like the eGo Twist, but something I haven’t seen in a mod that uses 18650 batteries. The lowest setting is 6.5 watts. From there, you can adjust in 1-watt increments from 7-watts to 12-watts. The iTaste 134’s highest setting is 12.5 watts. While many vapers will be fine with this setup, those that like to fine-tune their wattage will have to compromise. Another factor to keep in mind is that while the slider mechanism makes the iTaste 134 very easy to use, it also means that the device can’t do things that those with digital screens can do, such as displaying resistance (ohms) and precise battery levels.

The iTaste 134 comes in a nice decorative box. Included are the unit and one iClear 30 clearomizer. Innokin is still determining the MSRP (which should be finalized next week). I’ve seen pre-orders for the iTaste 134 as low as $99 and as high as $160.

While this is definitely a very cool and very distinct device, I need to spend more time with it in order to judge its performance. Stay tuned for the full review in the near future.

Vaping Diaries #76: Fancee Juice Review

Recently, I vaped three sweet e-liquids from Fancee Juice — Peppered ChocoMint, Pina Clouda, and MeeseTracks. The company claims that these juices are “hand crafted here in Michigan with USA made ingredients.” The juices I tried had a nice, moderate sweetness that let individual flavors and richness shine. As someone that dislikes cloying, in-your-face sweetness, I really appreciated Fancee Juice’s approach. These e-liquids are more “gourmet dessert” than “candy.”

In addition to serving up quality juices, Fancee Juice’s packaging is another extraordinary aspect of the company. The 30ml bottles in my order came in glass, the bottles were covered in cardboard tubes that were tied with string, and the box was lined with an artificial hay-like material. The packaging protects the bottles nicely and gives the goods a classy touch. As far as combining top-notch protection and charming presentation, Alice in Vapeland is the only vendor I’ve used that uses packaging comparable to Fancee Juice.

All three juices vaped cleanly, making them suitable for carto/tank, clearomizer, and dripping atomizer users. While I enjoyed the flavor and sweetness level of these juices, people that want more sweetness can opt for extra flavor. These e-liquids cost $19.99 for a 30ml bottle, making them slightly more expensive than most online vendors, but I think the price is worth it for many vapers. The juices are flavorful, well made, and come in fantastic packaging. Now onto the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes.

Peppered ChocoMint: This is a blend of chocolate and peppermint. I’ve had a lot of bad chocolate e-liquids since I’ve been vaping; it’s one of those flavors that many vendors botch. The chocolate in this juice is really good — definitely one of the better ones I’ve tried. Combined with the peppermint, you get a flavor similar to an Andes Candies chocolate or a York Peppermint Patty. The blend was right in my wheelhouse, with plenty of flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. While the flavor combination is simple and straightforward, it would have been easy to mess up the mixture. For what I like, Fancee Juice did a good job the balance.

Pina Clouda: Based on the popular cocktail, this juice was more of a “pineapple and cream” than a “pina colada” to me. It’s certainly a tasty e-liquid, but it wasn’t what I was looking for. The pineapple and cream flavors dominate, while a little bit of coconut is in the background. I didn’t taste any rum at all. I would have preferred a little bit more coconut flavor and a nice rum kick. That said, I think a lot of people would enjoy this one, but to me it tasted more like Dole Whip than a pina colada cocktail.

MeeseTracks: This was my favorite of the bunch. I really enjoyed the delicious, Nutella-like flavor of this juice. Again, I’ve had lots of gnarly chocolate e-liquids in the past, so I really appreciated Fancee Juice’s chocolate flavor. Combined with the hazelnut flavor, MeeseTracks made for a rich and savory vape, with just the right amount of sweetness. Similar to Peppered ChocoMint, it would have been really easy to use the ingredients in this juice to create an unbalanced flavor that assaults your tastebuds with sweetness. Instead, Fancee Juice served up an e-liquid that lets you taste and enjoy the different flavors in the mix.

Peppered ChocoMint
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Born On: March 2, 2013
Uncapped: March 9, 2013 5:33PM
Vaped: May 24-31, 2013

Pina Clouda
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Born On: March 2, 2013
Uncapped: March 9, 2013 5:33PM
Vaped: May 24-31, 2013

MeeseTracks
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Born On: March 2, 2013
Uncapped: March 9, 2013 5:33PM
Vaped: May 24-31, 2013

Vaping Diaries #75: Vapor Stands Pie Slice Review

A couple of months ago, I wrote about Vapor Stands, a new Californian company that makes handmade e-cigarette holders. For the last few weeks, I’ve been using the company’s Pie Slice stand. This is a custom job that can be made with your choice of cherrywood, oak, or walnut. It can hold up to six vaping devices, with holes cut for your specific mods. The Pie Slice covered in this review uses all three woods and has holes for five mods.

After the wood is cut, it’s sanded to a super-smooth finish. After that, it’s coated with three layers of polyurethane for glossiness, protection, and durability. The looks are gorgeous and the craftsmanship is fantastic. The Pie Slice looks great in an office, the living room, and anywhere else you vape. When people visit my office, it’s often the first thing that catches their eye. It’s an attractive piece of woodwork.

Four of the five holes on this particular Pie Slice were cut for fairly standard-sized mods. The other hole was cut specifically for an Alt Smoke Silver Bullet, which is larger than normal. Vapor Stands cut the holes perfectly and even contacted a few of the manufacturers to verify the proper size. The bottom of the holes are covered with felt, so that the mods have a soft base to sit on.

The Vapor Stands Pie Slice is a great American vaping product. It’s a gorgeous stand that’s extremely well made and backed by great customer service. $55 is a reasonable price for a custom handmade stand that’s crafted in the USA. If you appreciate woodwork and want a handsome stand for your vaping devices then I highly recommend this product.

Links: Vapor Stands Official Site

Vaping Diaries #74: Best Vaping E-Liquids of 2013 (Thus Far)

Since half the year is over, I wanted to use this column to talk about some of the best e-liquids I’ve tried in 2013. While most of these juices aren’t new, they were all new to me. Most of them have been reviewed in previous Vaping Diaries columns, while a few of them will be reviewed in the near future. Given my love for NET (naturally extracted tobacco) e-liquids, it wasn’t surprising that most of my favorites used real tobacco. However, a few synthetics and one dessert flavor made the list. Janty’s DK RY4 is considered by many to be the original RY4 and I’ve yet to taste a synthetic RY4 that’s as good. Five Pawns’ Gambit is ridiculously complex. As for the rest, here’s my list:

Peachy Criminal (Ahlusion) — A mild but complex tobacco accompanied by Ahlusion’s delicious, natural peach flavor
Honey Cured (Ahlusion) — A striking blend of strong, authentic tobacco and a bright honey sweetness
Vurley (Ahlusion) — A delicious burley tobacco complemented perfectly by sweet vanilla
Gambit (Five Pawns) — Easily the most complex dessert vape I’ve ever had
Louisville (Want2Vape) — A delicious burley tobacco with a slight, slight touch of sweetness
Patriot (Goodejuice) — Burley boldness, distinct perique, and sweet cavendish make up this delightful tobacco blend
GJ4 (Goodejuice) — The classic RY4 formula with an authentic tobacco “oomph”
DK RY4 (Janty) — Often copied, but never duplicated, this is the best synthetic RY4 I’ve ever had
Full Virginia Flake (Mountain Oak Vapors) — A NET RY4 that emphasizes sweetness, but with authentic tobacco in the background
Organic RY4 (Orb Vapor) — An atypical RY4 that’s given a nice twist through hazelnut and French vanilla flavorings

Vaping Diaries #73: Ahlusion Review V

Here’s a review of three dessert juices from one of my favorite e-liquid companies in the world, Ahlusion. In addition to making some of the best tobacco, fruit, beverage, and dessert e-liquids I’ve tried, Ahlusion’s customer service and packaging are top notch. While I really appreciate those aspects of the company, it all comes down to the juice and these three range from very good to great.

The flavors reviewed this time around are Pralines and Cream, Rick’s Request (rice pudding), and Maple Dream. All three are clean vapes that work fine with any juice delivery system. Two of them are very sweet, while one is moderately sweet. In general, I dislike overly sweet juices, unless they have complexity. These three juices definitely fit that bill. Here are the flavor breakdowns and steeping notes.

Pralines and Cream: This is a really sweet juice based on the classic New Orleans praline recipe of pecans, sugar, and cream. At the time I ordered this juice, an almond option was available for those that prefer French pralines. I found the juice to be very sweet, but some of my friends thought it wasn’t quite sweet enough for a true NOLA pralines taste. I really enjoyed the blend of nuttiness, creaminess, and sweetness in this juice. While it wasn’t one of the best Ahlusion juices I’ve had, it was very good and much better than most juices out there. Unfortunately, this juice has been taken off the menu. I’m hoping that Ahlusion brings it back with an even better formula.

Rick’s Request: This is a rice pudding e-liquid that was named after an Ahlusion customer. It’s a very rich and creamy juice that’s probably the most polarizing of the three in this review. Some of my friends loved it, while some thought it was too perfumey or had a taste reminiscent of potpourri. I really enjoyed this one. It didn’t quite taste like rice pudding to me — more like several elements of rice pudding. It’s a delicious blend of cream, cinnamon, and a moderately sweet raisin flavor. It’s definitely one of the more unique juices I’ve tried this year. One thing to keep in mind is that Rick’s Request should get a long steep. The smell started to change at the five-week mark and my dripping tests showed that the flavor started to bloom (for me) shortly after that. Some people I know let this juice steep for four months before enjoying it.

Maple Dream: Unsurprisingly, this was my favorite juice of the bunch. I’ve enjoyed Ahlusion’s maple flavoring in Maple House Blend and I’m currently enjoying it in Maple Burley. This is a sweet and bright juice, with a nice, creamy undertone. When a lot of people hear maple, they think of maple syrup. That’s not what you’re getting here. This is a natural and flavorful maple sugar flavor. For me, this wasn’t quite as sweet as Pralines and Cream, but sweeter than Rick’s Request. As I’m partial to Ahlusion’s unique maple flavor, I found this juice to be delicious.

Pralines & Cream
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Uncapped: January 12, 2013 2:50PM
Vaped: May 16-23, 2013

Rick’s Request
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Uncapped: January 12, 2013 2:50PM
Vaped: May 16-23, 2013

Maple Dream
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 0mg nicotine
Uncapped: January 12, 2013 2:50PM
Vaped: May 16-23, 2013

Vaping Diaries #72: Innokin iTaste VV 3.0 Review

Innokin is back with the third version of the iTaste VV. Gone is the pen-cap cover, which some people loved and some people hated. The finicky magnet adapters have been dropped in favor of an eGo-threaded 510 connection. Battery life has been slightly improved too. The two big additions are a resistance (ohms) meter and variable-wattage performance.

The iTaste VV 3.0 competes with products like the eGo Twist and the KGO VV. Those products offer similar form factors and battery life, as well as variable-voltage versatility. The iTaste trumps them by offering both variable-voltage and variable-wattage performance. This is a big deal. As far as I know, Innokin is the only vendor that offers a relatively small e-cigarette with variable-wattage. On features alone, this is a best-in-class product, but how is its performance and value? Read on to find out.

What’s in the Kit: The iTaste VV 3.0 comes in a Full Kit and Express Kit. The Full Kit (pictured above) includes a battery, five iClear 16 clearomizers, a retractable Micro USB cable, a wall adapter, a detailed instruction manual for the device, and a leaflet for clearomizer instructions. The Express Kit comes with a battery and a retractable cable sans wall adapter.

Construction and Build Quality: The build quality of the device is good, but not great. Since it’s aimed towards newer vapers or heavy vapers looking for a secondary device, top-of-the-line materials aren’t used, which is totally expected. Most of the device is inexpensive metal (copper, aluminum, and zinc), while the accents and buttons are plastic. Like the other Innokin devices I’ve reviewed, this one features a bright and clear LCD display.

For a device this small and light, it feels solid…until you move it. This is a minor nitpick, but I didn’t like how the buttons rattled when the device was moved. The rattling adds a sense of cheapness to an otherwise solid device.

Ergonomics and Design: Unlike most of its competitors, the iTaste VV 3.0 features a square design. I love the look of the device; the lines are clean and the device is generally handsome. The squareness is practical too, since it won’t roll off of surfaces like round devices. The device is comfortable to hold and the buttons are accurate. There isn’t much you can do with vaping devices of this style, but Innokin’s design stands out.

Operation: The instruction manual does a great job of explaining the iTaste VV 3.0’s functions. It’s easy to switch between variable-wattage and variable-voltage mode, check atomizer resistance, and change voltage or wattage. The device can be adjusted from 3.3 to 5.0 volts in 0.1-volt increments, as well as 6.0 to 11.0 watts in 0.5-watt increments. The only thing I didn’t like on the operation side is that you’re forced to see the puff counter before you can adjust voltage or wattage. While I understand that the puff counter is a popular feature in some regions, most American vapers don’t care about it.

Performance and Battery Life: I was surprised and impressed by the device’s performance. Output was generally consistent over the numerous voltage and wattage settings I tried. The iTaste VV 3.0 delivered a satisfying vape with the various clearomizers, carto/tanks, and dripping atomizers I used with it. Vapers accustomed to large and powerful mods that are looking for a backup or stealth device will be happy with what this device delivers.

The iTaste VV 3.0’s battery capacity is rated at 800 mAh. This is enough for casual vapers to get through the day, but not nearly enough for heavy vapers. On the days that I used the iTaste VV 3.0 as my sole vaping device, I used around three full battery charges, which was inline with my expectations. The device does offer Micro USB passthrough, enabling simultaneous charging and vaping. If you’re a frequent vaper that’s looking to use this as your only device then I’d suggest getting two batteries.

Verdict: The Innokin iTaste VV 3.0 is the best small vaping device I’ve ever used. It performs well, delivers the battery life you’d expect from a device this size, and offers variable-wattage performance. As far as I know, it’s the only device this size that offers variable wattage, which adds nice convenience and great versatility for beginning vapers or those that don’t have the Ohm’s law vaping chart memorized.

The iTaste VV 3.0 Express Kit has a retail price of $49.99, while the Full Kit lists for $69.99. I’ve seen the former for as low as $25 and the latter for as low as $40. At those prices, both kits are fantastic values. The Full Kit is a great choice for people starting out with vaping or those upgrading from cig-alike products. The Express Kit works well for experienced vapers looking for a backup or stealth device. As of this writing, I believe that the iTaste VV 3.0 is the best vaping device in its category.