Become a Patron!

Smok

SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
I own quite a few devices that have been brandished as "shit" by users who had no clue and misused said device, got the "one bad apple," or fail to disclose their own user error, or damaged the device...

Agree 100% on this as I have a few devices and tanks others said sucked but I love and they get used by me all the time plus a few that I say to myself this is no big deal or what is all the hype about or it sucks? Some is personal preference but nothing better than hands on real time experience.
 

f1r3b1rd

https://cookingwithlegs.com/
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
VU Challenge Team
Member For 5 Years
VU Patreon
- look before you leap, but over scrutinizing anything will only cheat you.

This right here ^^

There is no substitute for experience... Ever

When i first started vaping I used nothing but provari- 200$ mod with more limits than my ex-wife.
Soon after a new mod company put out a dna30 mod. This was New and I knew nothing of the company but I bought it, since then I've owned or used at least one item from most companies out there.
People knock joyetech, I own 5 of them, none have had a single issue. I'll keep buying them
 

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
And if everyone who buys says it's shit, then it's shit, but if I believed every word of a few other's opinions I would have cheated myself out of a very gratifying vaping experience. I own quite a few devices that have been brandished as "shit" by users who had no clue

Same here.
Most seem to think that Kanger is crap.
Been using a Kbox mini 50W for over 2 years without any problems at all.
Also using the DB 160 and DB2 for quite a while with no issues.
Well I dropped one DB2 and it hit right on the fire button and physically broke the tactile switch. But my bad.
 

SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
I pay no mind to most online reviews where these products are concerned. I come here.

Most reviewers (Not All) have lost any faith or reputation they had in my opinion and I am really tired of hearing I do not get paid for this but it clearly states was sent to them for FREE for the review. Then the sales of all the gear generating thousands of dollars for the reviewer who doesn't get paid!
 

f1r3b1rd

https://cookingwithlegs.com/
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
VU Challenge Team
Member For 5 Years
VU Patreon
Most reviewers (Not All) have lost any faith or reputation they had in my opinion and I am really tired of hearing I do not get paid for this but it clearly states was sent to them for FREE for the review. Then the sales of all the gear generating thousands of dollars for the reviewer who doesn't get paid!
This why I watch one or two for entertainment value only. (Comedy)
Otherwise, I'll wait a while after something comes out and talk to a few people I know I can trust.

BAM crew
 

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
This why I watch one or two for entertainment value only. (Comedy)
Otherwise, I'll wait a while after something comes out and talk to a few people I know I can trust.

BAM crew
yeah pretty much the same here.

Remember that Todd liked the Wanko :)

I do think that perhaps the higher watt non squonk Kanger mods are not so great as their smaller ones.

I have 4 of the Kbox mini mods so I should be good for at least 10 years with them :)

2 years of use with a bottom fill tank at least 1 tank per day and the 510 threads are still fine in the mod...
As well as on the Subtank Mini that I have been using on there for 2 years + as well.
 

f1r3b1rd

https://cookingwithlegs.com/
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
VU Challenge Team
Member For 5 Years
VU Patreon
yeah pretty much the same here.

Remember that Todd liked the Wanko :)

I do think that perhaps the higher watt non squonk Kanger mods are not so great as their smaller ones.

I have 4 of the Kbox mini mods so I should be good for at least 10 years with them :)

2 years of use with a bottom fill tank at least 1 tank per day and the 510 threads are still fine in the mod...
always had a kbox, it was nice and performed well. my only problem was the branding. i know it sounds odd, but I'm a little OCD, and don't like mods with the branding to stick out. i like a plain box or tube with little to no writing and without leds all over the place.
 

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
always had a kbox, it was nice and performed well. my only problem was the branding. i know it sounds odd, but I'm a little OCD, and don't like mods with the branding to stick out. i like a plain box or tube with little to no writing and without leds all over the place.
The Kbox mini in white is pretty subtle on the branding.
All of mine are white.
The good guys vape white :D

But all my tanks are SS.
No painted tanks for me.

I too do not like to buy something that is an advertisement for the company I bought it from.
No clothing with the brand printed on them for me.
heck I even cut the levis patch off of levi jeans.

They can pay me if they want me to advertise for them.

And to me many of the mods coming out now appeal to the young with their bling...
 

Teresa P

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
always had a kbox, it was nice and performed well. my only problem was the branding. i know it sounds odd, but I'm a little OCD, and don't like mods with the branding to stick out. i like a plain box or tube with little to no writing and without leds all over the place.
I don't mind the branding so much, but the Kaos burned me out on lights. Yeah, it was pretty, it was nice, but in the longrun it looked like I was shouting to everyone nearby "Look! I'm vaping!" because the lights just draw attention. I couldn't care less if anyone sees me vaping, most folks know I do. But I also don't wear a Hyundai jacket. ;)
 

f1r3b1rd

https://cookingwithlegs.com/
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
VU Challenge Team
Member For 5 Years
VU Patreon
The Kbox mini in white is pretty subtle on the branding.
All of mine are white.
The good guys vape white :D

But all my tanks are SS.
No painted tanks for me.
She had 2, a silver non-descript one and a black one with Kanger written in bold red.
The silver one was cool! Little blue led, nice and pretty durable


BAM crew
 

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
She had 2, a silver non-descript one and a black one with Kanger written in bold red.
The silver one was cool! Little blue led, nice and pretty durable


BAM crew
My preference in mods is either silver or white.
I do have 2 black ones though.
A VTC mini and a Dovpo Punisher 80.
The red on black of the Kangers never appealed to me.
 

pescadore

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
This right here ^^

There is no substitute for experience... Ever

When i first started vaping I used nothing but provari- 200$ mod with more limits than my ex-wife.
Soon after a new mod company put out a dna30 mod. This was New and I knew nothing of the company but I bought it, since then I've owned or used at least one item from most companies out there.
People knock joyetech, I own 5 of them, none have had a single issue. I'll keep buying them

I have a Evic Mini that I have had for several years and have between myself, my wife, my son and a few others I have loaned it out to has been put through hell. Still working and never had a problem with it. I use what works for me and admit I am an Evolv fanboy too. I haven't had good luck with Smok mods but know others that have had them and they worked fine. I wouldn't buy another one because of my bad experiences with them and if someone ask for advice on the forum, I don't mind sharing that experience. I still have at least 3 Smok Big Baby Beast tanks and use them with the RBA section. I prefer them to a lot of other tanks that I have tried. We all have an opinion and a forum is a good place to voice that but you really shouldn't judge anything that you have not owned and owned more than one of because like has been said their are bad apples in everything that is produced. I take advice from those that I trust and put very little faith in the opinion of someone that doesn't have experience.
 

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
I have a Evic Mini that I have had for several years and have between myself, my wife, my son and a few others I have loaned it out to has been put through hell.
My VTC mini sits on the shelf.
Works fine but Subtank Mini tanks wobble on it....
A design issue.

sure I could use a washer under the tank but why when they fit perfectly on other mods.
 

pescadore

Silver Contributor
Member For 4 Years
My VTC mini sits on the shelf.
Works fine but Subtank Mini tanks wobble on it....
A design issue.

sure I could use a washer under the tank but why when they fit perfectly on other mods.

Never tried Kanger tanks on mine but have had several others on it with no problem. I have had other mods that would only accept certain tanks though so I know what you mean.
 

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Never tried Kanger tanks on mine but have had several others on it with no problem. I have had other mods that would only accept certain tanks though so I know what you mean.
If the atty 510 is a bit too long to suit the VTC mini the atty will wobble due to the mounting method of the 510 connector in the mod.
If the atty screws down tight to the mod top then all is well.
 

Valbunny

Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
So I have an Alien 220 W, two V8 Sticks, and a Priv V8. One of the V8's broke within two weeks, likely because of where I purchased it from, the second V8 is working fine no problems, the Priv is about a month old, no problems with it either. The Alien is my primary mod, about a month and a half old, with slight problems, and lots and lots of user errors aha, though no problems bad enough that I would never purchase another of their products.

However I did very little research before purchasing a mod, and literally didn't even know how to use it, and if I were being honest, being a new user I likely would not have purchased a smok, however I am glad that I have, and I have purchased two more since my first. Though when I upgrade, I will be looking into other brands, but no real problems with smok. :)
 

Mykreign

Platinum Contributor
Member For 5 Years
I would never recommend a smok mod to anyone, but I would recommend their tanks.

To me, Smok is to vaping as Walmart is to department stores. Popular, decently priced products with bad quality. My gf used to have an alien and my sister has had two of them. All 3 are junk now. But hey, they look cool and are easy on the wallet!

1st one lasted about 5 weeks then the 510 shorted out. (Some day i'm going to take this one apart and look at it)
2nd one lasted a week and the 510 came out.
3rd one lasted about 4 months and then everything on the screen read "0." (I think this might be caused by a short as well)

Not to mention the paint chipping off, the battery door being a bad design IMO, and the stories online of them burning up and sometimes catching fire.
 

Polargirl

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
And if everyone who buys says it's shit, then it's shit, but if I believed every word of a few other's opinions I would have cheated myself out of a very gratifying vaping experience. I own quite a few devices that have been brandished as "shit" by users who had no clue and misused said device, got the "one bad apple," or fail to disclose their own user error, or damaged the device..."This company is a piece of crap because their device that I dropped in the toilet/down a flight of stairs isn't working anymore/as it should." And this does happen. Some will dis an entire company because the one device they used simply didn't suit their needs.
I pay no mind to most online reviews where these products are concerned. I come here. There are real people here who actually have used the devices in question and aren't flunkies paid to leave reviews on certain websites. Once I'm here, I pick and choose who I'm going to listen to. People like @f1r3b1rd, @5150sick, @KingPin!, and others are trusted members in good standing that will give honest opinions and reviews that I can trust, contrary to Joe Blow who just signed on to leave a bad review of a company then never come back. And I've purchased several devices from trustworthy members here who actually know shit from shinola. I have yet to be disappointed.
Long story short - look before you leap, but over scrutinizing anything will only cheat you.
Oh, I never implied that all people's opinions should be equal. Anthony Vapes seems to do more to test mods than anyone else but he is far from the know all end all either.

Quantity of opinions does matter when empirical data is unavailable however.
 

Polargirl

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Most reviewers (Not All) have lost any faith or reputation they had in my opinion and I am really tired of hearing I do not get paid for this but it clearly states was sent to them for FREE for the review. Then the sales of all the gear generating thousands of dollars for the reviewer who doesn't get paid!
Anthony Vapes seemms to do the most testing but doesn't explain how he ranks the mods.

He did say he spent several thousand on vaping gear before anyone gave him anything as the reason freebies don't influence him.

Seems plausible but would sure like to know his ranking methods. Mooch explains his battery testing methods in detail.
 

SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
@Polargirl I never mentioned any reviewer specifically and I wonder why you seem to be shilling for this one.
 

KingPin!

In my defence, I was left unsupervised ^^
VU Donator
Platinum Contributor
Member For 4 Years
VU Challenge Team
Reviewer
My old smok H priv is still going strong beaten to buggery, I think smok do well for power mode (always been crap with TC)

I believe you need to take each product as it comes and if there is a pattern of failure throughout their product releases then avoid that company altogether until they sort their act out, otherwise it may well be just skip a particular product approach

I do think with smok they have dropped the ball as of late with QC on a few of those products as such avoid recommending them to newbies at the moment - you hear so many my mod stopped working for it to be just a conincidence

Their tanks are still pretty good though
 

Polargirl

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
@Polargirl I never mentioned any reviewer specifically and I wonder why you seem to be shilling for this one.
Publicly questioning how a reviewer ranks products isn't what a normal person considers an example of shilling. Quite the contrary.

What I find unique about Anthony is that he does more to actually test mods while most reviewers just mostly rant their opinions. I just wish I knew how he ranked products. That would really be telling of how good his opinion is.
 

Polargirl

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
My old smok H priv is still going strong beaten to buggery, I think smok do well for power mode (always been crap with TC)

I believe you need to take each product as it comes and if there is a pattern of failure throughout their product releases then avoid that company altogether until they sort their act out, otherwise it may well be just skip a particular product approach

I do think with smok they have dropped the ball as of late with QC on a few of those products as such avoid recommending them to newbies at the moment - you hear so many my mod stopped working for it to be just a conincidence

Their tanks are still pretty good though
That is what forums are for since no empirical data will ever come out of China on Chinese products. Forums have to be a very poor substitute but what else does the vape gear buying public have?

Right now, it is Smok that is having the most problems. Hopefully, they do clean their act up and maybe forums (not just this one) provides sufficient incentive to do so.

Before Smok, it was other companies and it will be another one after Smok but Smok is the company generating the most complaints presently.
 

SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
A person who doesn't even own any Vape Gear mentioning one particular reviewer multiple times in my opinion is shilling for them. I guess you have been at thing so long you really know so much................. In your mind huh?
 

Polargirl

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
A person who doesn't even own any Vape Gear mentioning one particular reviewer multiple times in my opinion is shilling for them. I guess you have been at thing so long you really know so much................. In your mind huh?
Yes, because claiming to not own vaping gear makes quite the credible shill as does questioning ranking criteria.

You sir are a moron!
 

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Too bad the Wasp Nano was not 'designed' by a vape reviewer.
If it had it would get the recognition it deserves.
Very few reviews it seems since unlike the other more expensive ones they did not send free samples to all of the reviewers.
 

SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
shill
SHil/
North Americaninformal
noun
noun: shill; plural noun: shills
  1. 1.
    an accomplice of a hawker, gambler, or swindler who acts as an enthusiastic customer to entice or encourage others.
    • a person who pretends to give an impartial endorsement of something in which they themselves have an interest.
      "a megamillionaire who makes more money as a shill for corporate products than he does for playing basketball"
verb
verb: shill; 3rd person present: shills; past tense: shilled; past participle: shilled; gerund or present participle: shilling
  1. 1.
    act or work as a shill.
 

SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
pos·er1
ˈpōzər/
noun
noun: poser; plural noun: posers
a person who acts in an affected manner in order to impress others.
synonyms: exhibitionist, poseur, posturer, fake;
informalshow-off
"she's such a poser"
 
Last edited:

Polargirl

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Too bad the Wasp Nano was not 'designed' by a vape reviewer.
If it had it would get the recognition it deserves.
Very few reviews it seems since unlike the other more expensive ones they did not send free samples to all of the reviewers.
A credible product tester like what Mooch is to batteries is badly needed.
 

SnapDragon NY

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Press Corps
Member For 5 Years
VU SWAT

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
A credible product tester like what Mooch is to batteries is badly needed.
Will never happen.
Batteries are simple and easy to test if you know how.
Attys especially are to subjective and variable in use to test in any scientific way unless special test equipment is developed.
A fixture that will have an adjustable draw on the atty and measure flavor and vapor production vs juice consumption and watts, etc.
Then there is the coil variables....
And the asthetics...

Mods now could be functionally tested as far as accuracy of output and durability with standardized drop tests and button cycle life tests, etc...
But we are talking about long test times for valid results.

But to get a piece of vape stuff and produce a review in a day or two is garbage.
 

SteveS45

Diamond Contributor
ECF Refugee
Member For 5 Years
But to get a piece of vape stuff and produce a review in a day or two is garbage.

Well said indeed..............

Worst yet is a script for every device that every review is like a repeat of the previous but only the names have been changed.
 

Polargirl

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
PBusardo
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc345z36sFqyC1BheWmW_Iw

Daniel
DJLsb Vapes
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo4AFXAUeus3oMgp4JZEjxA

These guys have been doing reviews for a long time- review many products and go in depth with tear down and other data, very informative and helpful!
From what I know about PBusardo and I can be wrong, is that he designs his own products. He seems quite knowledgeable and may very well be about the best product designer out there for attys but that would be a conflict of interest trying to also be an objective reviewer.

I don't know anything about Daniel and DJLsb Vapes. Need to look at that more. Isn't he business close with PBusardo?
 

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
From what I know about PBusardo and I can be wrong, is that he designs his own products. He seems quite knowledgeable and may very well be about the best product designer out there for attys but that would be a conflict of interest trying to also be an objective reviewer.

I don't know anything about Daniel and DJLsb Vapes. Need to look at that more. Isn't he business close with PBusardo?
Naah he does not design his own products except for maybe a recent thing with Innoken.
 

Polargirl

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Will never happen.
Batteries are simple and easy to test if you know how.
Attys especially are to subjective and variable in use to test in any scientific way unless special test equipment is developed.
A fixture that will have an adjustable draw on the atty and measure flavor and vapor production vs juice consumption and watts, etc.
Then there is the coil variables....
And the asthetics...

Mods now could be functionally tested as far as accuracy of output and durability with standardized drop tests and button cycle life tests, etc...
But we are talking about long test times for valid results.

But to get a piece of vape stuff and produce a review in a day or two is garbage.
The sales cycle of products is often shorter than what it would take for long term testing so that obviously cannot be done. Testing the modes in a day or two is all the information that can be had but even having that more objectively and thoroughly would be an improvement.
 

Polargirl

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Naah he does not design his own products except for maybe a recent thing with Innoken.
I thought he designed another atty about two or so years ago. Innokin is big enough of a company for objectivity to be questioned.
 

SnapDragon NY

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Press Corps
Member For 5 Years
VU SWAT
From what I know about PBusardo and I can be wrong, is that he designs his own products. He seems quite knowledgeable and may very well be about the best product designer out there for attys but that would be a conflict of interest trying to also be an objective reviewer.

I don't know anything about Daniel and DJLsb Vapes. Need to look at that more. Isn't he business close with PBusardo?
Phil recently collaborated with Innokin to make a great MTL tank!
Phil is passionate vaper that quit cigarettes by vaping- he is mainly a MTL vaper -
Phil also has an ejuice line out, not sure how well that is doing.
23331104_10213292459201467_5138239338670810972_o.jpg
 

Polargirl

Silver Contributor
Member For 2 Years
Member For 1 Year
Phil recently collaborated with Innokin to make a great MTL tank!
Phil is passionate vaper that quit cigarettes by vaping- he is mainly a MTL vaper -
Phil also has an ejuice line out, not sure how well that is doing.
23331104_10213292459201467_5138239338670810972_o.jpg

Phil has been an activist for the vaping community and seems to genuinely care about smokers quitting. He is quite valuable to the community especially ex-smokers.

Of course no one can be all things to all people. Working with Innokin to help smokers quit is something he is more uniquely positioned for than being an objective reviewer which is something many more people could easily be.

What is the full name of that Atty? I only got Innokin Ares.
 

The Cromwell

I am a BOT
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Phil recently collaborated with Innokin to make a great MTL tank!
Phil is passionate vaper that quit cigarettes by vaping- he is mainly a MTL vaper -
Phil also has an ejuice line out, not sure how well that is doing.
23331104_10213292459201467_5138239338670810972_o.jpg
He had some kind of falling out with Molecule labs who makes his ejuice....
Not sure where that went or what the problem was though.
 

bobnat

VU Donator
Gold Contributor
Member For 4 Years
Too bad the Wasp Nano was not 'designed' by a vape reviewer.
If it had it would get the recognition it deserves.
Very few reviews it seems since unlike the other more expensive ones they did not send free samples to all of the reviewers.

Are referring to the RDA or RDTA?
 

SnapDragon NY

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Senior Moderator
VU Donator
Diamond Contributor
Press Corps
Member For 5 Years
VU SWAT
Phil has been an activist for the vaping community and seems to genuinely care about smokers quitting. He is quite valuable to the community especially ex-smokers.

Of course no one can be all things to all people. Working with Innokin to help smokers quit is something he is more uniquely positioned for than being an objective reviewer which is something many more people could easily be.

What is the full name of that Atty? I only got Innokin Ares.
Innokin Ares MTL RTA
I guess being a reviewer would be an advantage- he has vaped on hundreds of tanks- good, the bad and the ugly and would really understand what would make a great MTL tank, but again those are his likes or dislikes, since I am a DL vaper this tank would not interest me, but nice to know that he is trying to build a great tank for the MTL crowd!
The thing with most vape gear and liquids is subjective- what I like, you may hate and vice versa!
When these two reviewers are reviewing mods- they are using all the testing that is possible to try to understand a quality or faulty mod- pros and cons.
Heck I have made some bad decisions in my 3 years of vaping, nothing is perfect, I just narrow down what I like, or what I think I would like and give it a try, don't know till I try it!
I usually only use single coil RTAs, but recently took a chance on the Ample Pixy- dual coil RDTA- such a fun tank, vapes great, absolutely no leaking and I am so glad I took the chance on trying something I was unsure of as there are not many reviews on this tank.
 

VU Sponsors

Top