Firstly the not so small print… and apologies for the length of the post.
The good Civil Servant is required to state any interest he may have in any subject under discussion, so here I must state I bought this Mulus and one spare pod with my own money in the UK and have no commercial affiliation with any company.
Scene setter…
I am 69 years of age, smoked for more than 50 years and switched to vaping just over four years ago. The kit that got me off of smoking in a oner was an iStick 30w with a Nautilus Mini. I still have seven such kits, love their 1.6 ohm coils, have tried squonkers, drippers, various other kits, mech mods etc but I always come back to my Old Faithfuls which I judge others against.
I like modular systems, in general, as in Falcon Pipes, Fender Guitars and Aspire Minis where if a single component goes wrong it can be replaced and spares can be sourced readily and can be kept in stock by the user.
I don’t see vaping as a hobby, pastime or whatever - for me it is an alternative to smoking and I value reliability, consistency, convenience of use and longevity in my devices above all else.
And so to the Mulus … (my remarks relate to the TPD Compliant model with the smaller pod)
What attracted me to it when I heard it was coming out?
I spend a lot of time working in the garden in Scotland where things can and do fall out of pockets; my wife and I also do a lot of travelling and we normally spend our winters in Spain - the land of hard tiled or marble floors which are unforgiving when devices come into contact with them accidentally.
The Mulus looked compact, pocket sized and could be carried in a soft spectacle case for extra protection, offered an internal plastic pod for which spares could be readily obtained, could at a pinch be charged via a cable, and most importantly could utilise Nautilus Mini 1.6 coils.
Searching the Internet for reviews I found that the Mulus was receiving much praise and so I decided to give it a whirl.
How did it go for me?
I can only relate my personal experience and opinions after one week of use - others’ thoughts and findings may differ.
The kit arrived well packed and presented in its protective box as did the spare pod. The device itself looked attractive. As received, it came with a Nautilus adapter, both Nautilus and Tigon coils various, a charging cable and an instruction manual.
The supplied Manual is in very small print, not ideal for the aged, and the official online PDF version is no better - however online there are plenty of detailed instructions by various reviewers and the device is pretty simple to work out if you have vaping experience.
Having no interest in switching from my preferred 1.6 ohm Nautilus Mini Coils I junked the spares in the kit and after fitting a fully charged battery, plugged in one of my own fresh 1.6 ohm coils and filled the pod with unflavoured 30 PG/ 70 VG 16 strength liquid, set the power to my normal 8 watts, adjusted the airflow to the minimum and fired up.
The experience was excellent with the vapour feeling only slightly warmer than I would have expected from a Nautilus Mini with its exposed glass tank at the same wattage, but for me the supplied attractive drip tip was too short and had too wide a bore for MTL vaping so I switched it for a Nautilus Mini style one.
And so it continued for the rest of the week. At the midpoint I switched to 50/50 PG/VG 16 strength mentholated liquid and the results were the same.
In summary I found the device produced a very satisfactory, mellow vape* and in normal use did not leak, apart from one night when I left it in the car overnight and the temperature dropped to -2 C. Then I noted some condensation (?) on the inside around the tank itself and on the bottom contact.
The magnets holding the door are excellent, there is a base slot which makes removing the door simple, and the device is easy to fill though its side port. I found no difficulties in removing/replacing the tank onto its spring loaded base contact, and fitting/replacing Nautilus coils was simple as the adaptor is a pull out push in job with the normal screw fitting for the actual coils.
The readout slot showing the mode in use and the wattage is clear and easily read. The + and - adjusting buttons, located inside, are simple and settings can be locked.
By comparison with say a Pico topped with a Zenith, even with a full pod and a 1650 battery aboard the Mulus is a mere featherweight.
So far so good then?
Yes but…
I have commented on the small print of the manual - this could benefit from improvement, at least online.
The firing button to my mind is in an awkward place meaning you have to hold the thing in your left hand with fingers gripping the edges and your index finger pressing the button. If you turn it round to fire it with you thumb you have to take care that your hand does not cover the vent slots. Ditto if you hold it in your right hand, and in my case it was then difficult to get my thumb to contact the button. I would have preferred the fire button on the narrow end a la Pico.
On the rear of the device are two slots serving the purpose of allowing airflow to keep the pod cool and allowing the user to see how much liquid might remain in the pod. On the TPD version, at least, you cannot see the liquid level through these slots even in strong daylight and have to take the back off to check it.
The fire button does rattle a bit but operates just fine.
I have mentioned that it is easy to refill the pod - with the TPD version this is just as well as it is very small - I fill a normal Nautilus Mini twice a day; I filled the Mulus up to four times a day. Either it is thirsty or the pod is too small.
Will I replace my Nautilus Minis with Mulus devices?
While I liked the Mulus from the off and came to like it even more over the week - I would not at this stage change over for the reasons stated above ... but possibly in the future should a Version Two come out with changes/improvements along the lines covered previously I would give the matter serious consideration.
I have attached some photographs giving size comparisons and highlighting some of the points I have raised.
*As a former Moderator on a well known Pipe Smoking Forum and a reviewer of boutique pipe tobaccos I am aware that there is a profound difference between Brits and American’s preferences in pipe tobacco.
British pipe tobacco comes moist, and Brit Pipemen go to great lengths to keep their tobacco moist after the pack or tin has been opened, believing that this gives a mellow smoke and ensures that the smoker does not get the dreaded “Tongue Bite.
Our American Cousins prefer dry tobacco and many even dry out their already dry tobacco further before lighting it, paradoxically also believing that this prevents Tongue Bite.
My definition of a “mellow vape” reflects this; I define a mellow vape as being on the cooler side and being slightly moist.
Pictures
The good Civil Servant is required to state any interest he may have in any subject under discussion, so here I must state I bought this Mulus and one spare pod with my own money in the UK and have no commercial affiliation with any company.
Scene setter…
I am 69 years of age, smoked for more than 50 years and switched to vaping just over four years ago. The kit that got me off of smoking in a oner was an iStick 30w with a Nautilus Mini. I still have seven such kits, love their 1.6 ohm coils, have tried squonkers, drippers, various other kits, mech mods etc but I always come back to my Old Faithfuls which I judge others against.
I like modular systems, in general, as in Falcon Pipes, Fender Guitars and Aspire Minis where if a single component goes wrong it can be replaced and spares can be sourced readily and can be kept in stock by the user.
I don’t see vaping as a hobby, pastime or whatever - for me it is an alternative to smoking and I value reliability, consistency, convenience of use and longevity in my devices above all else.
And so to the Mulus … (my remarks relate to the TPD Compliant model with the smaller pod)
What attracted me to it when I heard it was coming out?
I spend a lot of time working in the garden in Scotland where things can and do fall out of pockets; my wife and I also do a lot of travelling and we normally spend our winters in Spain - the land of hard tiled or marble floors which are unforgiving when devices come into contact with them accidentally.
The Mulus looked compact, pocket sized and could be carried in a soft spectacle case for extra protection, offered an internal plastic pod for which spares could be readily obtained, could at a pinch be charged via a cable, and most importantly could utilise Nautilus Mini 1.6 coils.
Searching the Internet for reviews I found that the Mulus was receiving much praise and so I decided to give it a whirl.
How did it go for me?
I can only relate my personal experience and opinions after one week of use - others’ thoughts and findings may differ.
The kit arrived well packed and presented in its protective box as did the spare pod. The device itself looked attractive. As received, it came with a Nautilus adapter, both Nautilus and Tigon coils various, a charging cable and an instruction manual.
The supplied Manual is in very small print, not ideal for the aged, and the official online PDF version is no better - however online there are plenty of detailed instructions by various reviewers and the device is pretty simple to work out if you have vaping experience.
Having no interest in switching from my preferred 1.6 ohm Nautilus Mini Coils I junked the spares in the kit and after fitting a fully charged battery, plugged in one of my own fresh 1.6 ohm coils and filled the pod with unflavoured 30 PG/ 70 VG 16 strength liquid, set the power to my normal 8 watts, adjusted the airflow to the minimum and fired up.
The experience was excellent with the vapour feeling only slightly warmer than I would have expected from a Nautilus Mini with its exposed glass tank at the same wattage, but for me the supplied attractive drip tip was too short and had too wide a bore for MTL vaping so I switched it for a Nautilus Mini style one.
And so it continued for the rest of the week. At the midpoint I switched to 50/50 PG/VG 16 strength mentholated liquid and the results were the same.
In summary I found the device produced a very satisfactory, mellow vape* and in normal use did not leak, apart from one night when I left it in the car overnight and the temperature dropped to -2 C. Then I noted some condensation (?) on the inside around the tank itself and on the bottom contact.
The magnets holding the door are excellent, there is a base slot which makes removing the door simple, and the device is easy to fill though its side port. I found no difficulties in removing/replacing the tank onto its spring loaded base contact, and fitting/replacing Nautilus coils was simple as the adaptor is a pull out push in job with the normal screw fitting for the actual coils.
The readout slot showing the mode in use and the wattage is clear and easily read. The + and - adjusting buttons, located inside, are simple and settings can be locked.
By comparison with say a Pico topped with a Zenith, even with a full pod and a 1650 battery aboard the Mulus is a mere featherweight.
So far so good then?
Yes but…
I have commented on the small print of the manual - this could benefit from improvement, at least online.
The firing button to my mind is in an awkward place meaning you have to hold the thing in your left hand with fingers gripping the edges and your index finger pressing the button. If you turn it round to fire it with you thumb you have to take care that your hand does not cover the vent slots. Ditto if you hold it in your right hand, and in my case it was then difficult to get my thumb to contact the button. I would have preferred the fire button on the narrow end a la Pico.
On the rear of the device are two slots serving the purpose of allowing airflow to keep the pod cool and allowing the user to see how much liquid might remain in the pod. On the TPD version, at least, you cannot see the liquid level through these slots even in strong daylight and have to take the back off to check it.
The fire button does rattle a bit but operates just fine.
I have mentioned that it is easy to refill the pod - with the TPD version this is just as well as it is very small - I fill a normal Nautilus Mini twice a day; I filled the Mulus up to four times a day. Either it is thirsty or the pod is too small.
Will I replace my Nautilus Minis with Mulus devices?
While I liked the Mulus from the off and came to like it even more over the week - I would not at this stage change over for the reasons stated above ... but possibly in the future should a Version Two come out with changes/improvements along the lines covered previously I would give the matter serious consideration.
I have attached some photographs giving size comparisons and highlighting some of the points I have raised.
*As a former Moderator on a well known Pipe Smoking Forum and a reviewer of boutique pipe tobaccos I am aware that there is a profound difference between Brits and American’s preferences in pipe tobacco.
British pipe tobacco comes moist, and Brit Pipemen go to great lengths to keep their tobacco moist after the pack or tin has been opened, believing that this gives a mellow smoke and ensures that the smoker does not get the dreaded “Tongue Bite.
Our American Cousins prefer dry tobacco and many even dry out their already dry tobacco further before lighting it, paradoxically also believing that this prevents Tongue Bite.
My definition of a “mellow vape” reflects this; I define a mellow vape as being on the cooler side and being slightly moist.
Pictures
- The Mulus compared sizewise to an iStick topped with a Nautilus Mini
- The awkward position of the firing button - firing with the left hand
- Turning it round in the left hand means care must be taken not to fully cover the ventilation slots
- Ditto if you try using the right hand
- Using my right hand gave me an awkward reach to get my thumb on the fire button
- Showing the position of the firing button on a Mulus and an iStick Pico
- I would have preferred the firing button to have been located on the side as per the Pico
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