Videos Archives - Page 15 of 43

Vaping Diaries #231: Hot Import Nights and Surefire Vapor at ECC 2014

Out of the 30+ interviews the RPadTV crew filmed at ECC 2014, my chat with Surefire Vapor co-founder Mike McNeely and Hot Import Nights CEO Michael Munar was the only one that was crashed by several beautiful models. That, my friend, is a lovely thing. If you’ve been paying attention to Surefire’s marketing efforts then you know that the company is branching out like no other vaping company by pursuing crossover relationships. Mike and Michael talk about the collaboration between Hot Import Nights and Surefire Vapor, how the two communities intersect, and more. At ECC 2014, Surefire showed off the 26650 King Kong Mod. At the next Hot Import Nights event in San Pedro, CA, the company will debut the dual-26650 Suicide King Mod.

I’m a fan of Surefire Vapor on several levels and one of the reasons I appreciate the company is that it’s helping advanced vaping become mainstream. While you can see products like Blu and Njoy in several mainstream settings, the same can’t be said for vast majority of advanced vaping devices. Yes, getting exposure through Hot Import Nights is fantastic for Surefire Vapor, but it’s also healthy for the vaping business as a whole. Getting more and more people exposed to high-end mechanical mods, rebuildable atomizers, etc. is a great thing for the entire vaping industry.

Anyway, I’m sure that many of you will be watching the video just to see Lilly Evans, Mis Morning Star, Victorya Van Tran, Sally Mia Kior, Diamy Att, Kairi Dreme, Gwendolynne Gee, and the the other ladies. Oh yeah, there may or may not be a couple of cameos by a certain Calivapers personality and a certain Surefire exec too!

Vaping Diaries #230: Cuttwood Austin Hopper Interview (ECC 2014)

Cuttwood is one of the fastest-growing e-liquid companies in vaping. Earlier in the year, it had a hugely popular hit in Unicorn Milk, but there was also some controversy about titanium dioxide found in the juice’s coloring. At ECC 2014, I caught up with Cuttwood president Austin Hopper to learn how the company got started, how he dealt with the Unicorn Milk situation, the company’s current lineup, and the upcoming Boss Reserve line. Despite the titanium dioxide issue, Cuttwood has become wildly successful, according to some numbers I was given from a third party (seriously impressive).

In addition to Unicorn Milk, Cuttwood currently has Monster Melons and Sugar Bear in its lineup. The former is obviously a fruit flavor, while the latter is a milky cinnamon e-liquid that’s reminiscent of sweet cereal. Austin didn’t reveal all the details on Boss Reserve, but noted that it has hazelnut flavor and a smokey taste.

The Cuttwood booth was really hopping at ECC 2014. The company drew thousands of fans with free juice, caps, t-shirts, and more. While I’ve met hundreds of friendly people in the vaping business, Austin is one of the most gregarious I’ve encountered. It was fun chatting with him as I learned more about his company. While I’ve enjoyed Unicorn Milk and Sugar Bear, I’m really looking forward to Boss Reserve. From the way Austin described it, the flavor profile seems right up my alley.

Check out the ECC 2014 clip above to get to know Cuttwood and Austin Hopper.

Vaping Diaries #229: The Stash Box DNA 30 Donny Sirivisut Interview (ECC 2014)

Evolv DNA 30 box mods are all the rage in 2014 and the coolest one I’ve seen — by far — is The Stash Box. Made from aircraft aluminum and utilizing a design that houses an atomizer within the mod’s body, The Stash Box is rugged yet light. Its novel design makes it stand out, while also making the mod extremely functional. While there are several box mods that allow vapers to enjoy the benefits of the excellent DNA 30 chip, I haven’t seen one as unique and stylish as The Stash Box. At ECC 2014, I caught up with the mod’s creator, Donny Sirivisut, to learn more about the mod and its design. Donny also teases some details on his next project — The Smash Box. This collaboration with Mankos Mods will have similar features to The Stash Box, but with a wood body.

Now please excuse me, as I go dream about a custom Stash Box with an RPadTV logo engraved on it….

Vaping Diaries 228: Five Pawns Black Flag Fallen Interview (ECC 2014)

Five Pawns is one of my favorite e-liquid companies in vaping. I enjoy the complexity and layers of many Five Pawns juices and really appreciate how the company pushes the envelope on the juice side of the vaping business. Coming in December 2014 is the company’s Black Flag Fallen. At ECC 2014, Five Pawns founder & president Rodney Jerabek told me about this exciting e-liquid. While he wouldn’t reveal all the details of the ingredients at this time, Rodney spoke about some of the core flavors of Black Flag Fallen, such as espresso and black truffle cream. He also spoke about the black-and-chrome box and bottle design, which retains the Five Pawns style while also standing out. Lastly, Rodney talked about a contest-like bottling program for the first run of Black Flag Fallen. Similar to the phenomenal Castle Long Reserve, a single barrel of Black Flag Fallen produces 134 bottles of e-liquid. In a single batch, 133 bottles of Black Flag Fallen will come in clear glass bottles, while one comes in a frosted black glass bottle. If you happen to snag the black bottle then you’ll get a special treat from Five Pawns. It’s like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but with vaping!

Watch my chat with Rodney to learn more about Black Flag Fallen’s flavor, packaging design, and more.

Vaping Diaries #226: Beyond Vape Neptune Review

Vapers looking for a relatively inexpensive all-in-one solution should take a look at the Beyond Vape Neptune. This hybrid dripper offers sharp looks and strong performance at a relatively low price (for an original product that’s not a clone). Available in a variety of colors, there’s bound to be a shade that’s right for you. While this hybrid dripper brings a lot to the table, there’s one aspect of the device that could make it a poor choice for certain types of vapers. Read on for more details on the Beyond Vape Neptune.

Design and Ergonomics: The Beyond Vape Neptune’s body features a modular design. Pieces of the main body can be mixed and matched, allowing the device to accept batteries as small as 18350 and as large as 18650.

Since it uses a hybrid setup, the device is relatively short no matter what type of battery you use. It’s made primarily from 6061 T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, which is lighter than the brass, copper, and stainless steel used in most mods. Fans of short and light vaping devices will definitely enjoy the way the Beyond Vape Neptune feels in hand.

The atomizer portion of the Beyond Vape Neptune is fairly basic. It features three posts, for easy dual-coil setup, and a decent juice well. Airflow is totally basic, with two fixed holes on the top cap. Vapers that prefer adjustable airflow for different builds or different juices will find the atomizer rather spartan.

Lastly, the button on the Beyond Vape Neptune uses a medium-to-stiff spring with a relatively short throw. While I enjoyed the device’s throw, I wish it had a lighter spring. My preference is for feather-light buttons with extremely short throws. While I wasn’t unhappy with the device’s button, it didn’t impress me either. Button feel is, of course, totally subjective and I’m sure that many vapers will be pleased with firing mechanism on this device.

Build Quality and Construction: For the most part, I was pleased with the Beyond Vape Neptune’s build quality, but there’s one major caveat, which I’ll get to at the end of this section. Out of the box, the threads on the device are heavily lubricated. After a thorough washing, I was happy to see that the threads are fairly smooth.

The atomizer portion of the device is also well made. I’ve heard second-hand that some Beyond Vape Neptune units have inconsistent post holes, but I didn’t encounter that issue. The post holes on the device I’ve been using were accurately placed.

One possible issue with the Beyond Vape Neptune is its use of aluminum. While it’s a strong and light metal, it’s also relatively soft. The device uses a thin cut of aluminum tubing. This makes it a poor choice for clumsy vapers or those that tend to beat up their gear. If you drop it on concrete then you’ll have a nasty dent on your mod. If you’re not mindful when screwing and unscrewing the mod then there’s a good chance that you’ll wear out the threads. While there certainly are some advantages to its light and thin aluminum body, the Beyond Vape Neptune requires a little more care than a brass, copper, or stainless steel mod.

Performance: Thanks to its hybrid design and aluminum construction, the Beyond Vape Neptune is a very strong performer. Going off of raw materials, aluminum is more conductive than brass and stainless steel, though not as conductive as copper. The device uses silver-plated brass contacts for additional performance gains (and easy care). Of course design and workmanship also factor into performance, and the device does well in those departments. Vapers looking for a high-performance setup at a relatively low price will be happy with what the Beyond Vape Neptune offers.

Verdict: The Beyond Vape Neptune brings a lot to the table for only $150. It’s an original product that offers quality construction and great performance. It comes in a variety of colors, making it a nice choice for vapers that want a device that stands out. While it’s possible to buy a clone mod and clone atomizer for less money, there aren’t many combinations out there that offer this level of performance and construction. One mistake I often see with the Beyond Vape Neptune is vapers dismissing the device because they forget that it’s a hybrid. For $150, you get a very good mod and a decent dripper. As long as you can adequately care for its thin aluminum body, the Beyond Vape Neptune is a great choice for a first mechanical device and for vapers that want to add a splash of color to their collection.

Vaping Diaries #225: Ahlusion Review X

For my tenth Ahlusion review, I’ve chosen a trio of coffee and tea e-liquids. These aren’t straight-up, run-of-the-mill coffee and tea juices. Two of them add complementary flavors to coffee, making for unique and complex vapes. The other is the most striking tea e-liquid I’ve ever tried. All three are high-quality juices that you should take a look at if you’re into coffee or tea flavors. Read on for more details on Ahlusion’s JG Blend, Masala Chai, and Boba Tea with Coffee.

JG Blend: Ahlusion makes some of the best tobacco e-liquids on the market. It also makes some great coffee e-liquids. With that in mind, I had high expectations for this coffee-tobacco blend…and my expectations were absolutely met. Like Ahlusion’s other non-aromatic juices, the tobacco in JG Blend is light, but flavorful. The coffee flavor is one of the best I’ve tried (keep in mind that I’m a huge coffee nerd). There are a lot of coffee-tobacco juices on the market and if you’re looking for one in the light to medium range, JG Blend is one of the best you can buy. Like many of my favorite Ahlusion e-liquids, it’s a flavorful mix that’s not overpowering and something I’ll definitely order again.

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

Masala Chai: “Adult” is a great word for this Ahlusion e-liquid. It doesn’t taste like an overly sweet chai latte that you’d order at Starbucks or Coffee Bean. This is an authentic and complex chai tea. I can’t stress that enough; the popularity of chai lattes at places like Starbucks has given people a “dessert” image of chai. Ahlusion’s Masala Chai is absolutely not a dessert vape.

Having said that, the flavor is remarkable, but divisive. I very much enjoyed its combination of earthiness, spiciness, and sweetness, but if you’re used to artificial or candied juices then Masala Chai might be too much for you. It’s definitely one of the most unique e-liquids I’ve tried, but it’s certainly not for everyone. It’s rich and complex, but doesn’t assault your tastebuds. Depending on your palette, you’ll either find this juice to be delicious or you’ll find it too foreign. At the very least, Masala Chai stands out from other tea e-liquids with a truly distinct flavor.

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

Boba Tea with Coffee: Raina and I reviewed Ahlusion’s plain Boba Tea early last year. Both of us enjoyed the e-liquid, but felt there was something missing. To my tastebuds, Boba Tea with Coffee is tastier than the plain version. The different flavors come together for a delicious dessert vape. You get the sweet and creamy milk tea complemented by a tasty and pleasantly bitter (slightly) coffee. I order milk tea with coffee at boba shops and this e-liquid does a good job of approximating that flavor, but is really delicious if you think of it as its own thing. While I enjoyed Ahlusion’s plain Boba Tea, adding coffee to the mix cuts down on the sweetness of boba (a bit much for what I enjoy) with some earthiness and bitterness. The complex combination of flavors totally worked for me and this is a juice that I will order again in the future.

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

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

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

Fenix Rage Preview Interview With Ted Lange

If you’re looking for an old-school hardcore platformer then you should definitely check out Fenix Rage. The game is being developed by Green Lava Studios and published by Reverb Triple XP. Fenix Rage is a relentlessly difficult platform game that’s extremely addictive and has lots of replay value. Some gamers that have watched videos of the game believe that it’s the next Super Meat Boy.

In addition to the brutally challenging main game, there are a few things that help Fenix Rage stand out. If you get tired of dying, you can take a break with the game’s arcade mode. This mode contains a number of diversions that use the same game mechanics and controls of the main game, but without the supremely challenging difficulty. If you want an under-the-hood view of Fenix Rage then you’ll definitely want to check out the “Fenix Box” levels. These levels give you a stripped down look of the game, showing off its tight controls and precise hit detection. Lastly, Fenix Rage makes outstanding use of cookies. Confections are collected in the game and play a part in the story. Actual cookie recipes and baking instructions can be unlocked in the game. One of the developer’s sisters is an avid baker and contributed her recipes to the game.

Check out the interview above with Reverb Triple XP executive producer Ted Lange. He provides copious details on Fenix Rage. For additional info on the game, be sure to check out the Fenix Rage coverage on PaulSemel.com.

A nifty side note about the game — some of its character and level designs were influenced by SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron. I totally forgot about that cartoon until Ted mentioned it. Good times.

Fenix Rage will hit Steam and other PC digital distribution platforms on September 24, 2014. The game will hit the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles in early 2015.

Vaping Diaries #224: NeoVapeTek E-Liquid Interview (Chris Chapman)

Following up on my chat on the unique NeoVapeTek Venturi RDA, here’s an interview on the company’s upcoming vaping e-liquids. At E-Cig City 4 in Riverside, I hung out with NeoVapeTek head of e-liquid research Christopher Chapman. He told me about his background as a vaper and how he got into juice making, as well as three of the company’s launch flavors and what’s coming next.

I’ve tried two NeoVapeTek e-liquids and been pleasantly surprised by the flavors. As a former clove cigarette smoker, I was curious about NeoVapeTek’s Dejarum blend. There aren’t too many clove juices out there and most of the ones I’ve tried were a little bit off (or more). Dejarum is on point. In the interview, Chris talks about exploring the culinary uses of clove and adding complementary ingredients in order to achieve an accurate approximation of clove cigarettes. The other NeoVapeTek juice I’ve been enjoying is Are Why’s Mallow. This is a unique twist on the RY4 formula — arguably the most duplicated and imitated flavor in vaping. Wanting to stand out from the crowd, Chris experimented with numerous complementary flavors until finding toasted marshmallow. As a huge RY4 fan, I’ve found this unique take on the flavor quite compelling. Lastly, Chris talks about Orango Tango, which is his partner’s favorite e-liquid in the NeoVapeTek launch lineup.

In addition to talking about the company’s six launch flavors, Chris discusses what he’s working on and what flavors you can expect next from NeoVapeTek. I’ll be giving his juices a full review in the near future. For now, kindly check out the interview above to learn more about the company’s efforts in the e-liquid space. If you have a chance, please let me know which of the company’s launch flavors you’re most interested in (leave your pick in the comments section…please!).

Special thanks to Handsome Vapers Club for introducing me to the NeoVapeTek crew!

Vaping Diaries #223: NeoVapeTek Venturi Atomizer Interview

At a recent LA Vapers Club meeting, I met NeoVapeTek’s head of hardware production & design, Jack Dallas. He told me all about the Venturi atomizer, one of the most unique vaping products I’ve seen in 2014. While there are loads of rebuildable dripping atomizers (RDAs) geared towards cloud chasers, there aren’t many that are made with flavor fiends in mind. As someone that’s way more concerned about flavor than vapor, I was excited about the Venturi atomizer. After using it for a week, I’ve been extremely impressed by this novel RDA. A full review is in the works, but before I get to that, let’s learn more about the Venturi atomizer from its creator.

With its atypical design, I naturally wanted to learn more about how this unique vaping product came to be, so I met up with Jack at E-Cig City 4 in Riverside. He told me a great story of how the design for the Venturi atomizer randomly came to him while he was taking a shower. He also spoke about the number of revisions the product went through, his unusually great customer service, and what’s next for NeoVapeTek. The company has a number of additional caps for the Venturi atomizer, including brass and copper models, as well as the C-Cap that’s made for cloud chasers. Jack’s next product will most likely be a Genesis-style atomizer, with a box mod likely to follow. If his future products stand out and perform the way the Venturi atomizer does, then you’ll definitely want to keep you eyes out for NeoVapeTek’s future wares.

As I said earlier, a Venturi atomizer review is currently being worked on, so stay tuned for that (please). Later in the week, I’ll post a video with Chris Chapman, the gentleman that handles the e-liquid side of NeoVapeTek. Former clover cigarette smokers will definitely want to check out that video. (*tease*)

Special thanks to Handsome Vape Club for introducing me to the NeoVapeTek crew!

Vaping Diaries #222: Illuminati Vapor Erik Todorovich Interview

I first came across Illumunati Vapor in a Vapor Liq subscription box. The company’s Lion e-liquid quickly became one of my favorites. This mix of vanilla custard and ube (known as purple yam to white people) was striking. Vanilla custard is an extremely popular e-liquid flavor, while Ube is used in many Asian desserts. When these flavors combine, they ~~form Voltron~~ come together for a unique and delicious dessert vape. Lion stands out from the numerous vanilla custard juices on the market and it made me want to learn more about Illuminati Vapor.

Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Illuminati Vapor owner Erik Todorovich at Monster Vape Lounge. We chatted about how the company got started, three of his e-liquid flavors (Lion, Veritas, and Live Forever), what the company has planned for the upcoming Electronic Cigarette Convention (ECC), FDA regulations, and more.

Earlier in June, I tried the company’s Veritas e-liquid. This lovely mix or blueberry and lemon meringue was most excellent. Objectively, I like it even more than Lion. Subjectively, I will always say that Lion is better…because I’m Asian-American and have to give props to the creative use of ube. I’ll be doing a review on some Illuminati Vapor juices in the future, so stay tuned for that.

I’ll also be chatting again with Erik at ECC 2014. The company has some interesting things in the works for the show. Flavors are being relaunched and Illuminati Vapor has plans that will appeal to vapers that are into the collectible aspect of the hobby. As a collector nerd (comics, videogames, etc.), I’m curious to see what the Illuminati Vapor has in store.

Check out my Illuminati Vapor interview when you have a chance and let me know what you think. Do any of the company’s flavors appeal to you? Are you interested in juice companies getting into collectibles? Leave a comment and let me know (please)!