Tag: Vaping Diaries

The Alt Smoke Silver Bullet is one of the most popular mods on the market and its popularity is totally deserved. It’s a great performer, the build quality is outstanding, it looks great, and it has fantastic flexibility when used with an Evolv Kick. Going into this review, I expected to like the Silver Bullet a lot. I ended up loving it and it has become one of my favorite vaping devices. Here’s the breakdown.

What’s In the Kit: The barebones Silver Bullet kit costs $84.99 and comes with a simple microfiber carrying case. Alt Smoke offers additional configurations that include atomizers, cartomizers, batteries, chargers, and more. If you are an experienced vaper and don’t need the accessories, you’re good to go with just the mod. If you’re new to vaping then Alt Smoke offers everything you need to get started.

Build Quality and Construction: The Silver Bullet is built like a tank. It’s made from aircraft aluminum and feels very sturdy. The finish — available in a wide variety of colors — is also topnotch. This is a beautiful mod that will last most vapers a very, very long time. I was extremely impressed by the quality of the Silver Bullet. It’s a fantastic example of a high-quality vaping device that’s made in the USA. (And yes, I’m partial to made in the USA goods.) The Silver Bullet is backed by a six-month warranty that covers mechanical failure.

Ergonomics and Design: This is as straightforward as it gets. The Silver Bullet is a simple (though extremely well made) mechanical mod. It’s a solid tube with a button that won’t accidentally fire off in your pants or pocketbook. Due to its mechanical construction, you don’t have to worry about any circuits dying or breaking down. Since it’s made from aircraft aluminum, it has a really nice heft. Vapers that prefer lighter devices might be put off by the weight, but I loved the solid feel of the SB.

Operation: There’s a single button. You press it. After that, you just vape and enjoy. The mod uses a standard 510 connection, so you can use it with a wide variety of atomizers, cartomizers, and clearomizers.

Performance (Standalone): As a fixed voltage device, I was surprised by the strong performance of the Silver Bullet. This thing kicks like a mule — easily one of the best fixed voltage mods I’ve ever used. Running on a single 18650 battery, I was able to get a day and half on a charge, sometimes a little bit longer. Performance does go down when the battery hits the 1/4 mark or so.

Performance (With Evolv Kick): Using the Silver Bullet with the Evolv Kick gives this mod incredible versatility. The Kick allows you to adjust the wattage to your liking. You can use the Kick with an 18490 battery or buy the optional $24.95 extension sleeve to use it with an 18650 battery. The Kick gives you consistent output and versatile performance at the expense of battery life. Still, with the extension sleeve and an 18650 battery, I was able to get more than a day of vaping with the device.

Verdict: The Silver Bullet has quickly become one of my favorite vaping devices. The build quality is fantastic and the standalone performance is great. When used with an Evolv Kick, you get the versatility of variable wattage. My favorite setup at the moment is the SB, a Kick, and an 18650 battery. This gives me more than a day of fantastic vaping. Whether you prefer fixed voltage or variable wattage, I highly recommend the Silver Bullet. It’s a wonderful vaping device.

[Special thanks to RPadholic N8R for filming the intro and outro of this review! The ins and outs were done pre-surgery, while the rest of the review was done post-surgery.]

For the last few weeks, I’ve been using the Odyssey e-cigarette from Totally Wicked. This is an unusual and beautiful vaping device that really stands out. What I mean by unusual is that unlike most vaping products (or products of any kind, really), it’s not made in China. The Odyssey was designed in the UK and is manufactured there as well. What I mean by beautiful is…well, just look at it. This is a gorgeous mechanical mod that’s made from steel and glass. Considering the top-notch materials and craftsmanship, the Odyssey comes at a surprisingly low $99.99 price (increasing to $119.99 on November 26, 2012). Let’s go through the details!

What’s in the Kit: Totally Wicked did a phenomenal job with the packaging. The presentation is really classy — I’m talking Apple-level classy. Inside the box you’ll find the e-cigarette, two 14500 batteries, a charger, a tank-filling tool, a registration card, a guarantee card, a certificate of authenticity, and one of the most detailed instruction manuals I’ve seen for a vaping device. The device is backed be an atypically long five-year guarantee.

Construction and Build Quality: This is easily the most outstanding aspect of the Odyssey. Most of the unit is made from 303 austenitic stainless steel, while the tank also features laser-cut borosilicate glass (often marketed as pyrex). The lines are smooth and clean. It’s just incredibly well-made and gorgeous. One thing to note is that the firing button/locking mechanism is very tight out of the box. It loosened up for me after a day of use.

Ergonomics: Using the Odyssey is unusual compared to other vaping devices. Due to its steel construction, the unit is heavier than it looks. The balance is also bottom heavy. Whereas you’d hold a cigarette or a similarly sized vaping device towards the top, you’re supposed to grip the bottom half of the Odyssey. The firing button is at the end of the unit and meant to be activated with your pinky finger. It felt odd, but I got used to it after a day. While I found the Odyssey comfortable and easy to use after a brief adjustment period, I can understand someone else finding the device too heavy.

Performance and Battery Life: The Odyssey produced consistent power for the first 3/4 of the included 900 mAh batteries. After that, there was a significant drop-off in power. With that in mind, it usually took three battery charges to get me through the day. Since the kit includes two batteries, I just swapped one out when performance started declining. Naturally, battery life depends on your vaping habits and the resistance of the cartomizer used. I tried the Odyssey with both single-coil and dual-coil cartomizers. For me, single-coil cartomizers in the 1.5-1.7 ohm range were definitely the way to go. The Odyssey uses a 510 connection. You can use it with standard 510 cartomizers and, if you take off the plinth, eGo-threaded products. This gives it some nice versatility.

Verdict: Looking at photos or video clips of the Odyssey doesn’t do it justice. Feeling the device and seeing it with your own eyes makes it seem like a steal compared to competitors. Keep in mind you’re getting a body that’s made from steel and a glass-and-steel tank; pyrex tanks alone can cost $40 to $50. The construction and build quality are brilliant. I’ve seen competing devices made of plastic and mass produced in China sold for similar prices. I’ve seen products made from inferior materials sold for twice as much. As far as fixed-voltage vaping devices go, this is one of the finest I’ve ever seen.

That said, it’s not for everyone. Although it didn’t bother me, I can see the device’s weight being a problem for some people. This also isn’t a device for demanding vapers that often change voltage or wattage. (On a side note, I’d love to see the Odyssey’s makers come up with a mod that’s compatible with the Evolv Kick for variable-wattage performance. That would rule me.) If a fixed-voltage mod works for you and you don’t mind having to change batteries once a day or more then you’ll be happy with Odyssey. It’s a beautiful and luxurious e-cigarette that comes at a surprisingly low price.

The Vapor4Life Handle is a nice, compact vaping device that offers big power and amazing battery life. It’s part of V4L’s OMG line, which is geared towards advanced vapers. The Handle is currently available for $89.95 and comes in four colors: black, blue, green, and magenta. I’ve been using the blue model for a little under two weeks and I’m super-impressed with the product, save for one aspect. Read on for the details (please)!

What’s in the Kit: The Handle comes in a nice box with the unit, a battery, a charger, and the instruction manual. The 18650 battery is rated at 2,800 mAh, which is considerably higher than the competing batteries.

Form Factor and Ergonomics: This box mod has a simple but sleek look. With the battery in the unit, it strikes a nice balance between feeling light and having a good heft. The Handle is a pocketable device that you can safely place on a desk. I put a full 7ml tank on top of the device and it was totally stable on flat surfaces. The side of the unit has four finger grooves, but I found that using all four was too tight and my hands aren’t particularly big. For me, placing three fingers on the grooves and my pinky on the bottom was the most comfortable way to hold the Handle.

Operation: Using the Handle is a snap. It turns on and off with five clicks of the power button. A single click shows you the resistance of the cartomizer you’re using and the battery’s remaining charge. The former feature is fantastic for trying to figure out what voltage setting you should use (generally speaking, higher resistance cartomizers require higher voltages). The voltage can be adjusted from 3.0 to 6.0 volts in increments of 0.10.

Build Quality: This is the only aspect of the Handle that I wasn’t pleased with. The device is made from a rubberized plastic that has a nice texture, but feels a bit chip and flimsy. The battery door has a hinge that feels delicate. If you’re clumsy or not careful, I can see the battery door ripping off. While the plastic hardly screams luxury, the unit is put together nicely and the lines are clean.

Performance and Battery Life: The Handle’s performance exceeded my expectations. Output was very consistent for the first two-thirds of the battery. After that, I had to turn the voltage up a bit to achieve the same vape. This is normal behavior for an unregulated device. Battery life was outstanding. A full charge usually got me through a day and a half of heavy vaping. I can easily see many vapers getting two days out of a full charge.

Verdict: Aside from the plastic, I really enjoyed using the Handle. It’s a strong performer with stellar battery life. That said, it’s slightly overpriced. The good news is that Vapor4Life provides strong customer support, so the price is justifiable. For existing V4L users, I’d suggest picking up this product straight away. It’s easily the best device V4L offers and is compatible with the company’s many 808D parts. If you’re not part of the V4L family and have an abundance of 808D cartomizers/clearomizers, the Handle is definitely worth considering.