Best VV/VW device for the buck

Status
Not open for further replies.

john0821

Senior Member
ECF Veteran
Dec 12, 2012
233
172
Bay Area
I stretched the spring, so my battery wouldn't rattle for the Vamo. I prefer it over the eVic too. There's something about easy menu, solid vaping, and being able to go from an 18650 to an 18350 easily that makes my Vamo my daily. Now yes, you can get a Vamo for under $50, but you also need batteries and a charger which isn't too expensive either. But once you have the batteries and charger, it does open the door for other APVs.
 

SirSteve

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Dec 10, 2012
1,358
2,099
Northern Indiana
The VAMO is a good choice, rather big and heavy, but easy to use and very affordable. I got mine in December, and it did have a weak spring, I replaced the spring with the Silver Bullet replacement spring from AltSmoke and haven't heard a battery rattle since. So if you ever need/want a replacement spring, you know where to look.
 

Thepinfamily

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2013
515
403
Virginia
I think the most popular budget priced vv/VW devices out are the Vamo, Zmax, eVic and the itaste. Watch the reviews on youtube to compare and decide what you like. The are all under $100 and good devices. The all have their pros and cons though.
Vamo is $50 or below. Fairly big and heavy. Powerful workhorse with a good build quality. Can't use some devices like the T3.
Itaste SVD is just under $100. Very long device. Great quality. Very easy to use.
EVic is about $105. Smallest of these listed. So so build quality. Works great but try not to drop it. Very technical menu and features. Tech heads love it. Firmware updates and lots of neat toys.
Zmax is just under $100. Smaller than the Vamo and itaste. Great build quality. Again, can't use the T3 and a few others. Tons of options and settings. This is my preference out of these.
There are two companies that make the z-maz. Smoktech and sigelei. They are very similar. The sigelei is slightly bigger. There are reviews for both on PBusardos page.

Watch youtube channel PBusardo for the best reviews on all these devices. He may not have a review for the iTaste SVD. Grimmgreen does though. Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:

stillnotsmoking

Ultra Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Mar 1, 2013
1,379
2,092
GA, USA
All the money I've spent on China VV devices, some that were essentially "throw aways" could have bought 2 provaris. If I could go back and do it all over again, I'd go straight for the Provari, THEN if I felt that I really needed more devices for whatever reason buy some other stuff.

Not to say there aren't quality devices out there besides the Provari, because there are!
 

serenity21899

Vaping Master
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2013
6,322
11,256
Antioch IL
A Vamo is the cheapest, but I haven't had one so I cannot comment.

I do have a Provari. You can get a blem version 2 for $140. And I never found the blem. It's extra for the extension cap (to use an 18650 battery) and extra for a blue LED. And it does not have vw. However, I do not feel my life is incomplete without it. For your money you do get a year warrenty, and can extend it another year for a fee. After that, set fees are charged for repairs.

For comparison, an Ego Twist 1000man and a Provari with extension cap:
ego prov compare.jpg
 
Last edited:

Thepinfamily

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2013
515
403
Virginia
You know I really think I'd consider the provari more since its built so well if it had VW. From other things I've read, the VW is very nice to have and should be a very big consideration.

I feel the same way. I've been struggling over what device to get for a week or so now. I'm also very concerned about size and I'm totally sold on VW. I change flavors and delivery systems constantly. Why on earth would the provari not have VW? I would guess its so they can sell everyone a provari or two then come out with the VW model. Then sell everyone a provari or two again. I'm going to wait and just buy the first one with VW. Until then I think I'm going to get the sigelei z-max. It will accept my T3's I like so much, is only slightly larger than the provari and has a nice screen. When a VW provari comes out my sigelei will be my backup.
 

Baums

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 6, 2013
493
456
47
NY
I feel the same way. I've been struggling over what device to get for a week or so now. I'm also very concerned about size and I'm totally sold on VW. I change flavors and delivery systems constantly. Why on earth would the provari not have VW? I would guess its so they can sell everyone a provari or two then come out with the VW model. Then sell everyone a provari or two again. I'm going to wait and just buy the first one with VW. Until then I think I'm going to get the sigelei z-max. It will accept my T3's I like so much, is only slightly larger than the provari and has a nice screen. When a VW provari comes out my sigelei will be my backup.

Ok so you seem in the same boat. What made you go with the sigelei? Is it just the T3 or something else too?
 

Thepinfamily

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Jan 18, 2013
515
403
Virginia
Ok so you seem in the same boat. What made you go with the sigelei? Is it just the T3 or something else too?

A number of factors really. I looked at the 5 devices I listed in my first post. I decided to take the eVic out of the running. I like it dont get me wrong. I dont like the fact it only has a 5amp limit(although its more than enough) and I dont like the build quality. I think with the concept their using being so widely accepted they will quickly come out with a better built eVic soon. New and improved. I want it to be as small as possible. Out of the 4 left the smoktech z-max is the smallest but the sigelei is real close. I like the screen more than the others. OLED I believe its called. I like the kit used in the review that comes with everything. The fact that I can use my T3 also. I think the Vamo is to big and I cant use the T3. The Itaste is so long it looks ridiculous otherwise I like it. The somktech won't take a T3 and the screen is not as nice as the sigelei's. Thats about it. The Sigelei has its cons also.The menu is not perfect in regards to flow and ease of use and it resets most settings when the batteries are removed. Nothings perfect but im strongly leaning toward the sigelei for these reasons.
 

quatro

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Jan 31, 2013
359
1,357
TX
Could you explain this a bit further if you would. I am learning here and am intrigued by this.

With a VV device you set up the voltage based on your preferance depending on the coil/head resistance. With a VW device you set up the preferred wattage, now if you change heads the device will auto read the resistance of the coil/head and auto select the correct voltage so your power remains the same (in Watts), pretty nifty and definitely the next generation product when compared to a VV only device.
 
Last edited:

markvm

Full Member
Feb 14, 2013
28
18
Kentucky
I own a Provari and a few mech's but received a Lavatube today and love it. The reason being it is somewhat bigger in diameter than the Provari while somewhat smaller than a mechanical Silver Bullet. It has three buttons that make it easier to change voltages and will do everything I'll ever need it for. But, if you are looking for a slimmer mod then don't waste your time on a Lavatube although I think it fits my hands so much better than the Provari. It retails by itself for 80 bucks by itself, or you can get the Xtar charger and a 7 ml cartomizer tank for 130 bucks. Kinda pricey but this will be my go to mod. But only because it fits my grip better. A Provari is a very nice variable mod to and many others.
 

Baums

Super Member
ECF Veteran
Verified Member
Feb 6, 2013
493
456
47
NY
A number of factors really. I looked at the 5 devices I listed in my first post. I decided to take the eVic out of the running. I like it dont get me wrong. I dont like the fact it only has a 5amp limit(although its more than enough) and I dont like the build quality. I think with the concept their using being so widely accepted they will quickly come out with a better built eVic soon. New and improved. I want it to be as small as possible. Out of the 4 left the smoktech z-max is the smallest but the sigelei is real close. I like the screen more than the others. OLED I believe its called. I like the kit used in the review that comes with everything. The fact that I can use my T3 also. I think the Vamo is to big and I cant use the T3. The Itaste is so long it looks ridiculous otherwise I like it. The somktech won't take a T3 and the screen is not as nice as the sigelei's. Thats about it. The Sigelei has its cons also.The menu is not perfect in regards to flow and ease of use and it resets most settings when the batteries are removed. Nothings perfect but im strongly leaning toward the sigelei for these reasons.

Have you found a good place to buy the sigelei? Doing a kit or buying the body and other more quality batteries?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Users who are viewing this thread