I first saw photos of the Digiflavor Pilgrim and I was a little skeptical... But looks can be deceiving. I was just about over RDTA's. I had been using the Avocado 22 and 24, along with the iJoy Classic and they're fine... Great vaping RDTA's that found themselves build-less and shelved... I always end up going back to RTA's and dripping. This is the first Digiflavor product that I've used (excluding GeekVape stuff) and I'm already looking at getting another. I'm gonna break this puppy down and show you the genius in the design...and how it works like an RTA.
On the outside the Pilgrim looks like an everyday RDTA. A tank with an RDA mounted on top. It has a few tricks up it's sleeve though. It's made up of 3 sections: 1) The top cap/lid that closes off the juice fill ports 2.) Airflow/ inner chamber area (I'm calling it the top section) and finally 3.) The tank and build deck section that are made together. There are two top caps, one with a proprietary ultem tip and the other accommodates 810 (Goon) tips. Unfortunately a tip for the 810 adapter is not included and would've been a nice touch. I enjoy using the ultem tip. It's comfortable and works great. Moving down you see a Liam Neeson Darkman looking guy and the word Pilgrim engraved on the middle section and bottom ring respectively. They're both very subtle, keeping the attention on the tank as a whole. The black version looks killer too. In the box you get spare o-rings and grub screws, a tri-tool with flat head drivers, and a 510 adapter that fits into the 810 top cap. Instructions are not included so the box directs you to Digiflavor's website for more info.
The inner workings, what you don't see from the outside, is what separates the Pilgrim from all the other RDTA's as fas as I know. Lately companies, especially DF, have been making RTA's with the deck centered inside of the tank (like the Siren for example). Now they've used that same concept in an RDTA. The deck is encased inside of a chamber with airflow tubes leading to the outside. The airflow is cut off from the tank so the only way it can leak is if the deck floods. Depending on wicking and the VG ratio of your juice, it can leak though if left on it's side for too long. I get that. Cotton isn't used for building dams... and it wicks the best when it's loose and fluffy. Using a 70/30 blend juice and a single coil, I left it on it's side with the coil and airflow facing down on a napkin. Ten minutes later it finally leaked...not too bad, but it didn't have a chance under those conditions. Leaving the airflow facing up it didnt leak a drop.
The top section screws down onto the tank and once it's tight the airflow can be adjusted. It looks like the top section would unscrew when turning the airflow ring counter clockwise but it stays in place nicely. Turning the airflow ring will adjust the size of the airflow opening like most AFC's. There are 3 slots for single and dual coil configurations, or you can run a single coil with dual airflow if one slot is not enough. One slot full open is a tight, restricted lung hit. With two slots full open it continues to be resticted, but it's enough...and smooth. This baby was built for flavor but you can still get it to bust out some thick clouds.
After the top section is secure, your airflow isn't going to line up with the coils. No problem! Just grab the tank and twist! The top section turns with it allowing you to line up the airflow with the coils. It works because the base (the ring below the tank) and build deck remain stationary while everything turns around them. It's an awesome design! I pulled on the tank section but could not get it to come off. You can still clean it since the deck has a huge gap around the outside but you won't be able to pull it off and scrub it down... that could be a con to some. If I find out that it's removable I'll let you guys know.
The build deck looked so familiar...I picked up my old Griffin 25 and compared it's deck to the Pilgrim's...the resemblance is uncanny! Space is limited so you have to keep your builds small to keep from touching the chamber walls. They've used flat head grub screws to secure the coil leads and that's a pro in my book, but they ruined it by not cutting the slot deep enough, making it a pain to tighten. Wicking is easily accomplished by pressing your cotton into the huge cutouts. You just have to tuck them in nice and tight because that inner chamber is going to come down and seal it off. I like to leave my wicks a little long and cut them at a sharp angle, that way they're nice and thick up near the wick channels and leave a few fibers dipping down into the tank.
The chamber inside is very tight and compact, helping to increase the flavor, but it limits the size of coil you can install. Anything over 3mm ID will definitely be too big and they can't be too wide or your cotton will get choked off. Subjectively, I get better flavor with dual coils. A single coil is good, just not as rich and saturated. When running a single coil, the silicone block reduces the chamber even further by creating a wall behind the coil, concentrating the vapor. It's also slanted on the backside so when both airflow slots are open you get smooth direct and indirect airflow that can be restricted down for a whole new experience!
