Are V4L carts really any different from other KR808D-1's?

[DonDaBoomVape]

Let me preface my question (although I guess I spilled the beans in the title ) with some background and with a reassurance about the good faith in which I ask my question:

My first e-cig (four months ago) was a KR808D-1. I liked the simplicity of the cartomizer concept, but I didn't like the taste ... and I found the mouthpiece/cart/atomizer uncomfortable hot. [I have since discovered that I strongly prefer tobacco-type flavors over the coffee, cola, and red bull carts I tried along with tobacco back then, so that might have been a factor with the taste issue.] And (since this was before I discovered how to refill a cartomizer) I plowed through carts (and my wallet) faster than I did with analogs. So I moved on to the penstyle and then the Prodigy (not cheap, but a long-term investment).​

Those (and a variety of tasty juices) have kept me pretty happy for the past three months, but I've been feeling restless recently and want to try something "new" and perhaps a bit shorter.* I gave some real consideration to the 510 and M401, but I wasn't bowled over by what I've read.​

In contrast, I am wowed by that V4L extra long manual battery* (in a sense, it's a VP1 for only $25). I thought I'd pair it with the GreenCig carts Steve also sells; they're supposed to be milder and with great vapor. For example, Leaford is gaga for the GreenCig (under whatever brand name).​

* Yes, I realize that, with this battery, the Vapor King is not short. For some reason, its length in mm is a tightly guarded secret, but someone here said it was about 5 1/2 inches (assembled). My DSE801 is 6 1/8 inches and my Prodigy is even longer (and, of course, a lot fatter). So it would be a bit shorter for me.​

Further good faith reassurance: I'm the guy who said this about V4L in the Wonderful World of Vapor guide:

• Vapor4Life: Their Vapor King brand name is the best known for the KR808D-1. And wow, I see they now also sell a manual battery version – a first for this model!...[Then I showed a photo of it in various colors.]​

But the reason I single them out is that they represented us (the vaping community) so well in an NBC evening news story, when we really needed it: the day the FDA report came out. I’ve read commendations of their contribution from even their competitors.​

​

So ... I'm certainly not anti-V4L, right?

However, in that same guide of mine, I point out that I am cheap. As you may know, Vapor King cartomizers are not the least expensive KR808D-1 carts out there.

Finally, my question: I know that Steve's choices of flavors are far greater than any other supplier, but for the same flavor, are V4L cartomizers really any different from other KR808D-1 carts?​

If they really are (no hyperbole please), I'll bite the bullet and try them (either instead of or in addition to the GreenCig carts Steve also sells).​

Thanks for putting up with my long-winded saga and considering my question!​

 

[kenb54]

I have used the greencig carts and like them. The flavor of them kind of all taste the same, kind of a underlying flavor that is similar in all the different flavors. They are milder than the V4L and the generic cartomizers. I used the V4L carts when I first started in April and then came back to them in September. To me there is a differecne than the ones I used in April. The flavor seems better and last longer now. They also taste better refilled than the ones I used before. The generic cartomizers don't seem to taste as good and don't seem to refill as well as the V4L. I also like the fact that Steve still has 36mg carts. Give V4L a try. I think you will be amazed.

 

[Ghetto_Cowgirl]

So I answered this question to a member in PM and...I typed a lot. Apparently I don't save sent messages so here's to me answering again

I have a lot of carts from Steve, I decided to try another supplier (who by the way was GREAT in customer service, speed of delivery and prices, I am in no way bad mouthing his service)
So I ordered a box of Chocolate a box of Marlboro and a box of Grape.
I have Marlboro and Choc from Steve but not the Grape. So the first thing I noticed (2 day shipping by the way!) was they were all tan colored...bleh! I like pretty colors! OK so next..the Grape has a hint of grape and a big throat hit, it's not overpowering on the grape side and I actually like it, however I haven't tried Steve's grape so can't compare.
The chocolate, pretty damn harsh to tell the truth, vapable for sure but more like a fake tasting chocolate rather than Steve's, OMG it tastes like hot chocolate!, chocolate carts
Finally the Marlboro, 2 of the carts I opened leaked in my mouth, so I had to blow them out and try again, insanely tight on the draw, very hard to vape. The 3rd one that did vape just fine, tasted just fine. I did get these in black for an extra dollar. But the one that worked taste almost the same as Steve's, again, a little more harsh.
The one thing about ALL the cheaper carts compared to Steve's...NONE of them last as long, maybe half the time of Steve's carts.

My opinion is, if you really need to save money and are planning on refilling and only want to buy to get the carts (and like tan?) then the cheap ones are just fine.
If you're buying for the taste, longevity and pretty colors, Steve's are the way to go.
For me, if I am running out of carts to refill I will maybe order a couple more packs of cheapies, however for prettiness and omg the flavor, Steve's by far are worth the couple extra bucks.

Woosh! Hope that helps!

 

[HaploVoss]

I'm not sure how to answer your question as I have only tried three two types of cartomizers. You wanto know if they are the same, yet you also mention the Greencig. There is no comparrison between the Greencig and standard KR808D so... ok here I go!

V4L vs. another suppliers Menthol were both very tasty. That is the only flavor I have a direct comparisson on and both of them once vaped down a bit did have the same problem getting a bit too hot if you vape them a lot.

Standard KR808D carts from nHaler: Coffee, Chocolate, and Vanilla. REALLY liked them all, Vanilla was a little on the mild side for my taste however. All of them also have 'overheating' problems if you are a really heavy vaper. If you keep them cleaned up and refilled well - this is not so much of a problem and they are very easy to refill. Nigh impossible to replace filling material on, etc.

Greencig cartomizers IMHO cannot be beat. Look at it this way, you pay twice the price for a pack of 10 cartomizers. They last you 20 to possibly 200 times as long. Do the math right? Although a tiny bit more difficult on your initial disassembly, it could not be easier to refill these things. An actual plastic cartridge with filler that slides right out. I just pull out the filler, drip 20 drops in the cartridge, slowly insert the filler back in while it soaks up the juice, pop the cart back into the cartomizer (yes - there is an atty in the bottom.. you can just drip if you want to!!!) pop the mouthpiece back on top and start vaping away!

So in a nutshell - a KR series battery with a Greencig cart just can't be beat for simplicity, longevity (per charge / refill), and simplicity of refilling / dripping.

Hope that helps some!

Take care,
- Hap

 

[Pumaman]

Re: KR808-D1 vs. V4L cartomizer

Just got my kit last week. After refilling both V4L and generic KR's, there is clearly more filler (polyfil?) in the V4l carts then standard KR's. It also appears that it may be a bit denser, though that is uncertain. This combined with V4L's own juice mixes probably account for the superior performance from V4l's carts out of the box. After refilling one of each with the same juice, they appear to vape the same to me, at least on the first fill, but the V4L's hold more between refills. The element seems to be the same in both, but I'm sure Steve could provide more details on any differences, such as different guage wire, extra wraps, etc. Although he may not want to divulge the info .

Question on the Greencig carts for any that might know, are they subject to same "hissing" that is a hallmark of the KR's?

Lastly, (sorry, not trying to hijack the thread), I had 3 of the cartridges from my initial order arrive DOA. One of them worked on the PT though, and then worked on the batteries after it had been on the PT. The other 2 stay dead. Not a complaint, the service and extras MORE than made up for this, just wondering if others have encountered this.

 

[PhoenixRising]

I have to say that I have bought cartomizers from 4 supporting suppliers here. I have purchased various flavors in various strenghts. Steve's are better. More flavor, longer lasting, and even better built on the inside (yes I take mine appart for refilling purposes). I even bought some blanks from another vendor and came to the conclusion that refilled carts from steve work better than the blanks from that supplier.

There have been some interesting comments on other forums about all the cartomizers coming from the same factory. I don't doubt the truth of this claim. Perhaps the other suppliers once they recieve their new shipments will have equally good cartomizers. In the interim, Steve's are better NOW.

I also have to agree with Ghetto, while pretty is not necessary to me, my cartomizer addiction demands good labeling. All of the cartomizers I have bought elsewhere are generic, no flavor label, and all brown. If I take one out of the box, it begins a mystery vape. Sort of rediculous since most of us like to carry a few cartomizers for the day. I have tried printing on them, sharpies, labeling the rubber caps, and it all fails. With Steve's I know exactly what I am vaping, both in strength and in flavor (they are labeled and color coded).

This alone would be worth the cost to me. Add to that the extra flavor and lasting time, and all the goodies Steve notoriously tosses in - I am sold.

 

[HaploVoss]

Question on the Greencig carts for any that might know, are they subject to same "hissing" that is a hallmark of the KR's?

No - the Greencig cartoz do not have the same hissing problem as the regular ones - I think it is mainly due to the fact they do not have the air intake 'notches' on the bottom. Depending on battery version sometimes you have to back them out half turn. It doesn't affect stability or performance one bit though. I like it because it returns the drag to an ever so slightly more 'firm' drag and not quite so airy - and of course the whistling goes away

 

[needvapor]

Just got my kit last week. After refilling both V4L and generic KR's, there is clearly more filler (polyfil?) in the V4l carts then standard KR's. It also appears that it may be a bit denser, though that is uncertain. This combined with V4L's own juice mixes probably account for the superior performance from V4l's carts out of the box. After refilling one of each with the same juice, they appear to vape the same to me, at least on the first fill, but the V4L's hold more between refills. The element seems to be the same in both, but I'm sure Steve could provide more details on any differences, such as different guage wire, extra wraps, etc. Although he may not want to divulge the info .

Steve:
from the same factory.. then what exactly is the difference? Is there one? If so what IS it?

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

OMG! This is one of the many things I love about ECF: instant gratification! I ask a question and a few minutes later, I get many helpful answers. Thank you all so much!

I really mean this! Each of you has provided a specific, targeted response to my question (not some canned "we love Steve!" message) and each has added your own take and additional info.

I am reassured that:

- My forthcoming experience with cartomizers is very likely to be better than my first exposure to the generic KR808D-1 (as a rank newbie).

- I probably will like Vapor King cartomizers more than generics (among other reasons, for aesthetics, which I do care about, and keeping straight different flavors).

- I may like V4L's GreenCig cartomizers even more (especially for longer-term cost effectiveness).

I hope that the cart refilling (with either type of cartomizer) will not be a pain in the toochis. If it is, that defeats what I regard to be the main advantage of the two-piece design: the ease and simplicity.

Thanks again!

 

[HaploVoss]

I think you would have to ask them because honestly I just took apart the menthol carto I have from V4L and it looks identical to many of my other cartoz. Also, I went ahead and took it, and one of my standard ones to the sink and rinsed them both out thoroughly, just got done refilling them both with RY4 unkown vendor "Low" juice. Both of them held 29 drops comfortably before juice started to collect on the top. I added a 30th drop to each one and shook them down. Both of them are vaping great right now. Wherever this RY4 is from it is really sweet and not my fav, but in a cartomizer it is tolerable and has a hit at least

End game: I do not see any physical difference inside or out (other color perhaps). They both vape the same -> really well.

Take care,
- Hap

 

[leeshor]

DonDaBoomVape

Just to let you know, I was quite impressed with your vapor guide. You obviously spent a LOT of time on it and I found it entertaining and informative.

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

DonDaBoomVape

Just to let you know, I was quite impressed with your vapor guide.You obviously spent a LOT of time on it and I found it entertaining and informative.

Thanks, Smokey (oh, I mean leeshor)! And yes, it has taken a considerable amount of time ... and given me an equal amount of fulfillment. Appreciation like yours is icing on the cake (and I love icing).

But it's not past tense yet; one more installment to go!

Thanks again!

 

[leeshor]

I noticed part 6 has yet to come and I'm looking forward to it.

On an additional note, I don't know if you're going to be able to find a harder working guy than Steve. He may be the only company owner on the forum that spends as much time and money researching and looking for ways to make improvements to the product.

For that reason, the reviewers like Mooby and the others who do it regularly for multiple vendors are going to need to stay on their toes because it keeps changing and improving., for the better.

Being different and better is what's going to shake the vendors out. Many have closed just in the last 4 months.

 

[Ghetto_Cowgirl]

Oh shoot I forgot
WE LOVE STEVE!!
OK that being said, if you're as freaking lazy as I am when out and about and you feel your cart starting to taste dry...unscrew from battery....drop a couple drops (I usually go for 3-5), wipe off the battery end of cart under t-shirt (in case of stray juice, you won't stain your shirt ) screw back on battery, vape away with fresh taste!
If you're home and want to refill for hours worth...pop off end mouthpiece cap, pull out rubber thingy, drip drip drip around edges til moist, pop in rubber thingy, pop on cap, roll in hand a sec...VAPE AWAY
My 510 is still sitting here, I did vape it a bit earlier...bleh...no taste with the same juice I swear
Ahem...me with my long winded stories..moral of story: IT COULDN'T BE ANY FRIGGING EASIER!

 

[HaploVoss]

That's the thing I REALLY like about the greencig cartoz - you can pop out the cartridge and all.. and you have an atomizer and wick in the bottom just begging for 4 or 5 drops of your fav juice. Drip and vape away. OR - refill the cart, pop it back in there, snap the cap back on for extended vaping pleasure! Wait... that sounded weird. Well anyway you know what i mean

 

[Ghetto_Cowgirl]

Damn I think I need to try these GreenCig carts...I'm real curious about them now

 

[DonDaBoomVape]

That's the thing I REALLY like about the greencig cartoz - you can pop out the cartridge and all.. and you have an atomizer and wick in the bottom just begging for 4 or 5 drops of your fav juice. Drip and vape away. OR - refill the cart, pop it back in there, snap the cap back on for extended vaping pleasure! Wait... that sounded weird. Well anyway you know what i mean

Is there a video of this and/or photo of the inside of a GreenCig cartomizer? I'm having trouble visualizing it. I sounds like it might match my skills/patience.

I have popped off the caps (outer and inner) of the KR808D-1 cartomizers. For me, it was the pain in the toochis* I was talking about. If Ghetto_Cowgirl is "freaking lazy" ... I'm catatonic. [I almost said Perrry Como lazy, but the reference would have been too obscure: a hilarious skit from Second City TV of the super-relaxed Perry Como singing "I will survive." He became more and more relaxed to the point where he was lying on the stage.]

* '....' for the Yiddishly impaired.

Dripping in the battery end of the cartomizer is simplicity itself and, therefore, I can handle it. [I even like watching it suck up each drop.] But opening up the KR808D-1 cartomizer (and sometimes having that first white cap fly across the room), prying out that clear stopper, topping off the cart, and closing it up again (making sure the clear stopper is put in correct side up) .... and doing all that again in a few minutes - No thanks!

But sincere thanks again to all!

 

[leeshor]

Damn I think I need to try these GreenCig carts...I'm real curious about them now

They're the only carts I can get my wife to use. Less harsh.

 

[leeshor]

DonDaBoomVape

Once you get the hang of it it's not so bad. I set up an assembly line. (7 waiting for dripping as I write this). I find it easier because I can drip 10 drops in all of them then drip them again. As I go around first to last they have had a chance to absorbe the liquid. You'll also find that getting the caps off is pretty easy too with practice.

I can do 10 in about 15 minutes including cleanup. Personally I can't afford the time to do more -- like washing and drying. But I'm getting fantastic life from the cartomizers.

 

[Ghetto_Cowgirl]

If you do go and refill them properly they last WAY WAY longer than a few minutes, at least an hour and that's vaping non stop playing my video game using the passthrough that sucks them dry fast
And Leeshor I like the slight harshness, that's why 24mg works perfect for me. I used to roll my own so I don't want a smoother hit