Red Dragon Review

[Friday]

Just an FYI, I ordered some batteries from Red Dragon but didn't like the quick cut off so I sent them back, but the process to get my money back has taken forever! They say that they sent it to Paypal even though I didn't use Paypal to pay for it in the first place, and I still don't have it in my Paypal account. I sure won't be ordering anything from them again!

[LPfromLP69]

I too am trying to send back my Red Dragon. After much more research (This was kind of an impulse buy, noob to vaping) It looks to me like Vapor4Life and their product line will better suit my needs. The weak battery (With no portable charger) and carts that have little throat hit plus I have had three spit juice when I hit them (was not a hard hit). While this might be an option for a lighter smoker, with my 2 pack a day habit I need more nic and a closer to analog feel. I am worried now because it has been a couple days and I haven't heard anything from them. On their site it says I need a return authorization before I can send this back. In the mean time, back to my Pall Malls. I really hope my next order will be the one that frees me from tobacco. I'd also like to thank whoever started this forum, so much info in one place has made figuring out this new world much easier.

[Antha]

This was my first time ever purchasing anything like an e-cigarette. I'd heard of them before, but I'd never come across ones that could be nicotine free (in the end, I don't want to be dependent on nicotine).

Before I found this forum or did much research, I went with the Red Dragon. It just arrived at 1:30pm and it is now almost 3:30 and I will be sending it tomorrow after I get my RMA number thing. Just sent them an email.

I looked at reviews and such after I placed the order. Read good and bad things (same with most models). I figured instead of canceling the order, I would let it be delivered and test it out. If I liked it, yay, and if not, they have a 30-day money back guarantee "No Questions Asked" policy according to their website.

Here's my experience (although you can glean from the title and the former paragraphs anyway): I bought the 2-piece kit (all I had the money for at the moment and hadn't come across better deals for different e-cigs yet). It comes with the USB charger, 1 battery and 1 cartridge (I got 0 nicotine in vanilla).

I immediately plugged it in and charged it. I put the cartomizer back with the battery and tried to drag...and drag...and drag. And then, boom, the end light up. The vapor was very light and I got ** NO THROAT HIT **. After trying again, I got an itsy bitsy teeny tiny throat hit.

During the time I was waiting to receive my Red Dragon, I read a lot about the 510. I'd really like to get that. Initially, I was only interested in a 2-piece electronic cigarette, but found that the 2-piece ones are very limited in their capabilities. I'll be getting the Joye 510 and some accessories (Cignot.com looks good for this) once I get money refunded or whatnot.

Despite the experience, or lack thereof, with the Red Dragon, it does serve to illustrate to me that this is very likely to get me off of real cigarettes (analogs, hehe, I read that the first time and laughed out loud, no, really I did). It demonstrated hand motion, pulling vapor in, exhaling...it felt very realistic to me.

I realize the 510 is a 3 piece, but it seems like I can have a more enjoyable experience, customize with e-liquids (which would be cheaper than cartomizers and easier to drip with).

I was disappointed with Red Dragon. I was all excited to get my e-cig (or PV. My first post, still learning the lingo) and it wasn't what I was hoping for. Oh well, you live and learn...and get a refund.

So, that's my review, for those out there who were wise enough to read just more than one or two reviews and do more research about the products before buying.

Oh, and the reason that I rushed through doing the research (usually, I pore over things for several days to weeks before purchasing anything over $30) is because I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.

I wanted it to come quickly and be able to go there without smelling like cigarettes and not have smoked any cigarettes. My doc is a good doc, but he really comes down hard on me about the cigarettes and went on and on last time about how if I don't quit, my condition is only going to get worse, etc, etc.

He says he's "not trying to be mean, but mean enough to get you to quit" (his exact words) and he is like that, but its hard to hear "You are going to be deaf if you don't quit smoking and never hear your daughter's laughter again" and then be so stressed out after the appointment that I light up and feel ashamed and cry...then I light another one and promise myself I will quit tomorrow.

(If you're interested: I'm completely deaf in my right ear. Five mastoidectomies; lots of ear infections as a child and family only had a Medicaid spend-down. The Eustachian tube of the left ear, which has always been my "good" ear with no problems whatsoever is now giving me problems, is collapsing and according to doc, "No longer has any funtionality". Now, the ear drum is beginning to collapse. The best I can hope for is that it won't get any worse (its never going to get better). Its like an old mine shaft with rotting beams. So...I REALLY need to quit smoking for my health.)

For years, I've been wishing that I could smoke my cigarettes and that they wouldn't be bad for me. With e-cigs, it seems like this could really happen for me. Most of my problem is psychological, so having something to hold and inhale and exhale (and feel the throat hit - big thing for me) when I'm bored or stressed is sounding like it could work to get me off ::hehe:: analogs.

[nubee]

I too started my PV experience with the bare bones Red Dragon "kit".

It got me 110% off analogs and hooked on vaping but I did not like it as a long term PV.

The batt life for me was barely 1.5 hours and the recharge time 2+ hours way to high.

The taste was so-so but I used the "lights" as that was what I was smoking at the time.

The mic switch for the batts was an issue to as any noise/wind would set them off in my pocket.

I personally moved on to the DSE901 and the the Janty Stick and Protege.

So 'thumbs up' to Red Dragon for getting me off analogs and hooked on PV.

PS - you can refill their cartos and their site has an FAQ area to address it. Just take the paper cover off the cart, pop out the latex mouthpiece and fill.

[ChrisR2010]

Same here. Started with the red dragon, and I was off analogs 110% after my first puff.
Since that day, I have tried different models from different companies. I have been impressed with vapure, a 2-piece e-cig (E9). The cut-off time happens when it should and their cartomizers do produce a lot of vapor. I have been been able to refill the cartomizer once and get 80% of the performance I got when new. I stopped vaping with these after 2 weeks because I found the cartomizer prices a little stiff. But I believe it is the best 2-piece solution out there, even though I cannot comment on the quality consistency. I vape now with the joye 510, joyfully, but here again, based on my experience, they are not all created equal.

[debook]

I am like many here who started vaping with Red Dragon, but haven't been that satisfied withe the experience even though it got me off analogs. I knew going in that battery life would be an issue as well as relying on mail order for cartomizers, but with an extra charger for work I figured good to go as long as I ordered ahead. The real problem is with the cartomizers themselves in that they are pretty dry when they arrive leading to the burnt taste only a short way in to the cart. I have found this to be true with Red Dragon and Greemnsmoke carts, haven't tried the other mentioned here. Thanks to TastyVaping.com I picked up a few different e-juices and found that topping off new cartomizers makes all the difference in the world. I popped the rubber mouthpeice off every one in a new box and found the stuffing material to be almost white in color, adding enough drops to saturate it but not overfill over the wire produced good vapor and throat hit and I had to primer puff much less. Don't know how long it will be before topping it off, but the cart I topped off with RedBull flavor (very good BTW) around 12:30 is still going strong. I now have a 201 here and a 510 on the way, but this may remain my around town PV within the constraints of the batteries. Plus since its only a few drops, its a good way to experiment with flavor combinations. Hope this helps.

[DUFFMAN]

I purchased a Red Dragon and mine lasted about 2 weeks. Either the batt or the charger stopped working so I just sent them back for a replacement. I would have asked for a refund but it does look very realistic and they have excellent customer service.

I also ordered the Flu Cured 24mg cartomizers and they were great but the $19.99 plus $8 shipping really sucked. These carts did have lots of vapor though and definitely a good throat hit. What strength carts did you order? I'm pretty sure the RD carts are the same as Greensmoke and Smoke51.

Hope some of this helps!

[debook]

Since I got my Joye510 I haven't touched the Red Dragon, in fact I gave one RD battery to my brother since his died. My wife really likes them and uses those and a 510, but I've lost my interest in them. 11 to 19 bucks a 4 pack of cartridges is too much IMO.

They are good for cartomizers though, better suited for a more casual user than myself.

[mikespiked]

Unfortunately, I haven't had good success with red dragon. Although their customer service is great and they give out ridiculous amounts of vapor, I've just had my second battery (a replacement) go bad on me.

I completely agree! Great return policy (30 days money back guarentee), Great warranty on the batteries (1 year, no questions asked), but awful batteries...

So you end up having to constantly send them back to get replaced. Not a bad product, just a little pricey ordering direct from Red Dragon.

[trichman]

I have used Red Dragon now for over a month. I also tried Green Smoke and Smoke 51. Red Dragon's vapor production is better than both of the others I tried. RD's menthol is the best I have found in a pre-packaged cartomizer. I use the 16mg Menthol. Green Smoke's menthol was nauseating but I liked their vanilla. Red Dragon products are all made in the USA and their customer service is very good. They are pricey though. With free shipping, Green Smoke was cheaper for carts. Also GS & RD are compatible so I order my menthols from RD and vanillas from GS. I am not into dripping so I am staying with RD.

RD has introduced its new V9 battery. I have replaced 3 RD batteries and am using the new V9 now. It is great, no cutoff and it lasts longer than the old ones. All of the ecig batteries are prone to failure which is another reason I like RD products. The 1 year warranty on batteries almost insures that I won't have to buy them. I have 3 and and a PT that I love plus 2 GS batteries.

I am happy to recommend Red Dragon.