Help narrow choices?

[creekside]

Hi, all:

I've been vaping for about 4 years and using a Reo VV Grand for the last 3, along with a ERA RBA. But the VVG seems to have given up the ghost and it's time for a new mod.

The timing is actually not too bad, because I've been itching for a new toy lately anyway--you all know what I mean--so I've done some preliminary shopping. But with my VVG having crossed the Rainbow Bridge tonight, I don't have the luxury of ordering online and waiting. I need to go into a vape shop first thing tomorrow and just buy something. I dread it because the shops I've browsed in are really gearhead-ish and I've had about enough of young whippersnappers calling my 3-year old gear 'old school' and talking to me like I'm an idiot. Ugh, that's so annoying! My hobby isn't vape gear. I vape because it's superior to smoking analogs, and that's all it is to me--an excellent alternative to a bad habit.

I just want an easy and reliable device that gives major throat hit and doesn't look like a giant, um, neck massager. So I want a box mod, preferably on the smaller side, that is suitable for chain-vaping. So I need an RTA, too, I suppose. The RTA needs to be easy to rebuild. I would like to spend as little as possible, but will spend a little more for something that is good-looking or is notably superior to cheaper choices.

The local shops are selling these VV mods in my price range:

Sigelei 100W
ZNA 30 clone
eLeaf iStick 50
MVP 3.0
IPV Mini 30W

The ZNA clone was already on my radar because I like its looks. However, TH and flavor are my top priorities. I don't care about clouds.

I don't even know if I need a regulated VV. Before I had my Reo VVG, I used a Reo Mini, so my experience is pretty limited. Will having a regulated VV mod make my vaping experience easier and more consistent? I'm not a person who cares about technology for technology's sake. I only care about whether the device will do what I want it to do.

Which of these do you think I should consider most seriously, and why? And also, if you have a recommendation for me on any of these mods, can you also recommend an RTA to go with it? I think a single coil would be best for me--does that sound right?

I would prefer a non-integrated battery, but I can live with that if the price is low. I'm usually near a USB port.

Sorry for being so needy! I've done a ton of reading here over the past few weeks, and I just keep getting more confused. Ultimately, I trust you all here on ECF much more than the guys in the shops.

Thanks, folks, for any help you can offer! I'm 4+ years smokefree after a 2-pack a day/35 year habit, & I never would have been able to do that if it weren't for ECF.

 

[flippant]

A variable/regulated device is, no doubt, gonna make your vaping life simpler and more consistent. Nothing wrong with mechs, but variables are all the rage for good reason.

I'd cast my vote for the iStick 50w. It's reasonably sized, cheap, has a big (albeit integrated) battery, and has a power range sufficient for lighter to high-powered vaping. That said, I have no experience with the device, but on paper it sounds like the one for you.

You sure you want an RTA and not a dripper? If so, there's a lotta good stuff out there right now. The Lemo Drop and Kanger Mini-Subtank seem to be the hot two, right now, and they're both quite reasonably priced.

 

[creekside]

Thank you! That is helpful. I spend a lot of time driving, so yeah, I think an RTA is a practical choice for me. I'm so used to my squonker that I think the RTA is going to be the biggest part of adjusting to a new device. I'm dreading having to get used to new stuff. That's the only thing I miss about analogs--analogs are extremely user-friendly! Except for the cancer and all.

 

[inspects]

The 50W should be an excellent device....!!

Good luck finding what suits your needs......

 

[v1k1ng1001]

Sigelei 100W
ZNA 30 clone
eLeaf iStick 50
MVP 3.0
IPV Mini 30W

With the ZNA clones, it's crucial to know which manufacturer / chipset you're getting. I'd steer clear unless you've done a pile of research. So many lemons out there.

I wouldn't touch the istick given that the power output signal is PWM (correct me if I'm wrong on this.)

The MVP 3 doesn't offer the same bang for the buck as IPV or Sigelei. They're really behind the market at this point.

So...I'd consider the IPV Mini, or the Sigelei 50w if you're going to power RTAs. They both offer a quality yihi chip that should provide a satisfying vape.

If you wanted to drive RDAs and don't mind a larger device, the Sigelei 100w or IPV 2X would be good choices, again with the yihi chip.

Coming from a REO, I would think that you would enjoy RDAs rather than RTAs so the Sigelei 100w would probably be your best choice and the best bang for the buck.

As far as RDAs go, well that's a matter of user preference and new designs are coming out all the time. I'd guess that you'd want something geared toward flavor, easy to build on and featuring a deep well to prevent leaking. A $10 Veritas or Magma clone from Fasttech would fit the bill.

 

[ddarlington24]

Thank you! That is helpful. I spend a lot of time driving, so yeah, I think an RTA is a practical choice for me. I'm so used to my squonker that I think the RTA is going to be the biggest part of adjusting to a new device. I'm dreading having to get used to new stuff. That's the only thing I miss about analogs--analogs are extremely user-friendly! Except for the cancer and all.

I coulda swore he said RTA. , really hard to drip and drive especially if the hardware is completely foreign to you. Not to mention the potential from over dripping especially when driving. RTA is fine go with what you know/like.

As for picking a box mod I would say that's pretty tough even for me everyone seems to be inlove with those Istick right now but if you're going to a B&M try everything till you find something you really like easy and works for you.

 

[TorontoOntario]

I would suggest getting your self a Sigeli 100w Plus for these reasons: it has 100W which you may not need currently but one day you may want, it takes dual 18650s so with good ones the times between charging is amazing, the finish is really nice and it doesn't have those ugly screw holes the last one did (at the same time it has magnets for the battery door which is convenient) and its a good price. For an RTA I would personally suggest either a Lemo or the new Delta II by Joytech. Its actually a clearo but it has sub ohm coils installed and its an amazing vapeing experience I am telling you. The greatest thing about it IMO is if you don't like the pre made coils it has an RBA deck and I personally think in RBA mode it performs better then my Lemo. YMMV.

 

[sparkky1]

iPV2X 60 Watt Box Mod - Eciggity

 

[sparkky1]

Goblin RTA by Youde - Eciggity
Lemo Drop RTA by Eleaf - Eciggity

 

[novamatt]

If you like the look of the ZNA clone, but not the 30 watt limit and/or clone quality, take a look at the SXmini. It's a bit more expensive than the ones you listed, but it's more inline with your Reos from a quality perspective. That's an SXmini with a Lemo Drop in my profile pic, and I'd recommend the combo all day long. With the full size Lemo instead of the drop if you like a bigger tank, but smaller is better for me.

ETA: I missed the "need it ASAP" part in your original post, but the SXmini is pretty readily available in B&Ms, and on my end of the DC area, there are a TON of B&M's - I'm guessing the MD side is the same. You can probably find one that has it. Worst case, you can drop $30 or so on an iStick to hold you over (and keep as a backup) and Varitube.com will ship 2 day priority for free.

 

[HecticEnergy]

Thank you! That is helpful. I spend a lot of time driving, so yeah, I think an RTA is a practical choice for me. I'm so used to my squonker that I think the RTA is going to be the biggest part of adjusting to a new device. I'm dreading having to get used to new stuff. That's the only thing I miss about analogs--analogs are extremely user-friendly! Except for the cancer and all.

I agree that regulated mods are superior to unregulated mods. I love the functionality of my Reo Grand, but miss the consistency of a regulated vape regardless of the current charge level. USB charging is also a HUGE plus IMO, as it can be a pain to swap batteries a few times a day and slap them on the charger.

If I was buying a regulated mod for myself I would probably spend the extra money and pick up an SX Mini - as a previous poster said, it's highly regarded for its build quality, though hasn't been around long enough to show if it will stand the test of time. You could probably sell your VV (dead or alive) and easily cover over half the cost of the SX Mini. I would stick with a single 18650 mod as I find the dual 18650 mods uncomfortably large for a primary device (that usually ends up in my pocket a few times a day). Sure the extra battery life is a bonus, but I'm usually not far from a charger either.

I dont really use tanks, so I dont have any experience with newer tanks, but it seems the Joyetech Delta 2 is getting great reviews from all over, and it has a rebuildable for making your own coils.
I also hear great things about the Rose RTA. The Lemo gets a lot of good reviews too, but the way you have to install the coils kinda turns me off on it. Check out some youtube reviews of the gear and see what you like

hth

 

[creekside]

Everyone's comments were extremely helpful. Before the new purchase became a matter of necessity, I had gone into a few BMs to see devices in person and just felt that the guys behind the counter weren't hearing what I was saying I wanted and tried to sell me what they thought was cool. You all did listen, though, and I appreciate it.

I ended up with a Sigelei 150 and a Billow RTA.

The decision was made based on what they had in stock and what fit my needs and wallet best. The wallet factor ended up suffering the most, but that always happens when I shop, so... life.

The sales guy showed me a Kanger Subtank, but after we talked about building it and using it and I had some concerns, he showed me the Billow. Later, I noticed a Lemo and asked him why he hadn't shown me that, & he said that it was pretty much the same as the Billow except he thought that the Billow would be easier for me to build based on some comments I'd made. I had done research here on ECF & on Youtube, so I was familiar with the reviews on the Billow and was comfortable with its reputation.

Then he built the Billow and showed me everything step by step. I only do research when I need new gear and since my old rig was 3 years old, I was out of date on some knowledge (like microcoils weren't a thing when I learned to build my old RBA and I didn't know that wraps could touch without causing problems). So I learned some things that are going to make building easier. I tried to fill the Billow when I got home and made a mess at first, but I'll get the hang of it. I have decided to accept that there is going to be some sacrificial juice loss for a few fills.

Re: the Sig. I do not currently need 150w, but as someone pointed out upthread, I may want that in the future so I was okay with it. The price was good compared to the other local shops ($120). It is indeed too big for my hands (I'm a woman, btw, with tiny little woman hands), but I can live with it. I already really like being able to check the display for battery life, ohms, etc.

So far, the new setup is pleasing. The vape is a lot different from my old setup (because of the RBA vs RTA), but it's still good and I'm happy with everything but the size. The next time I have some extra cash (wait--extra cash... is that like jumbo shrimp?), I'll pick up a smaller unit, probably an SX Mini, for a backup.

Phew. It's been a dramatic 18 hours! I'm one of those people who researches everything to death before purchasing, and having to make a buying decision immediately was against my nature. Thanks for the handholding and wisdom-sharing!

 

[Kloverz158]

Im a little late but you made a awesome choice. Why? because I also own a Siggy-150 and all I can say is WOW. There are so much room to grow with this mod. So you made a really good choice enjoy your new toy.

 

[classwife]

Moved to Variable Voltage APV Discussion from APV Discussion

 

[HecticEnergy]

Sooo... How do you like it?
The Billow does look a lot easier to build. I thought about mentioning it but the setup seems best suited for the "Cloud Chaser" end of the market.
It is definitely nice to have a screen to know where things are at at a glance.
One review I saw said the battery readout jumped up and down quite a bit. They also mentioned that it chews through battery life when in standby mode ("on" but the display is off) - as much as 30% over night.

Everyone's comments were extremely helpful. Before the new purchase became a matter of necessity, I had gone into a few BMs to see devices in person and just felt that the guys behind the counter weren't hearing what I was saying I wanted and tried to sell me what they thought was cool. You all did listen, though, and I appreciate it.

I ended up with a Sigelei 150 and a Billow RTA.

The decision was made based on what they had in stock and what fit my needs and wallet best. The wallet factor ended up suffering the most, but that always happens when I shop, so... life.

The sales guy showed me a Kanger Subtank, but after we talked about building it and using it and I had some concerns, he showed me the Billow. Later, I noticed a Lemo and asked him why he hadn't shown me that, & he said that it was pretty much the same as the Billow except he thought that the Billow would be easier for me to build based on some comments I'd made. I had done research here on ECF & on Youtube, so I was familiar with the reviews on the Billow and was comfortable with its reputation.

Then he built the Billow and showed me everything step by step. I only do research when I need new gear and since my old rig was 3 years old, I was out of date on some knowledge (like microcoils weren't a thing when I learned to build my old RBA and I didn't know that wraps could touch without causing problems). So I learned some things that are going to make building easier. I tried to fill the Billow when I got home and made a mess at first, but I'll get the hang of it. I have decided to accept that there is going to be some sacrificial juice loss for a few fills.

Re: the Sig. I do not currently need 150w, but as someone pointed out upthread, I may want that in the future so I was okay with it. The price was good compared to the other local shops ($120). It is indeed too big for my hands (I'm a woman, btw, with tiny little woman hands), but I can live with it. I already really like being able to check the display for battery life, ohms, etc.

So far, the new setup is pleasing. The vape is a lot different from my old setup (because of the RBA vs RTA), but it's still good and I'm happy with everything but the size. The next time I have some extra cash (wait--extra cash... is that like jumbo shrimp?), I'll pick up a smaller unit, probably an SX Mini, for a backup.

Phew. It's been a dramatic 18 hours! I'm one of those people who researches everything to death before purchasing, and having to make a buying decision immediately was against my nature. Thanks for the handholding and wisdom-sharing!

 

[creekside]

So far, so good. The display hasn't been jumping, not yet, anyway. With no other regulated device to compare it to, I don't know what's pro or con about it but as a person accustomed to a non-regulated mod, I can't believe it took me this long to discover the joys of regulation. Having only had it a day, my data is minimal but it did not drain batteries overnight. In about 12 hours of pretty heavy vaping, my batts went from 100% to 70%. In my old device, I'd have had to change the batteries in less than 12 hours, so that thrills me. What I don't like is the size. It didn't seem too big until I'd used it a few hours. I thought my Reo VVG was big, but I perceive this device as considerably larger and heavier.

The Billow does make clouds. I don't really like that--I don't want to draw attention to my vaping, especially when I'm around non-vapers and non-smokers. On the upside, thanks to Trevor Jone's YouTube review, I now can fill it from the bottom without making a mess (the trick was to tilt the tank while filling). I'm still working on filling from the top without making a mess. This is my first dual coil and the amount of juice I'm using is a big surprise. Oh, well. Still FAAAR cheaper than smoking (which I also had to remind myself as I walked out of the vape shop with a new mod, new tank, and new batts... ka-ching!).

And I'm already thinking of my next daily mod. Not any time soon--I keep my gear till it dies-- but as I'm seeing how much better the vaping experience is with my new rig, I'm also wondering how much even better it will be in one, two, or three years when I shop again. PLEASE, MODDERS: make size your next Mt. Everest. And creative forms! Boxes and tubes are just not visually interesting. I want a fish-shaped mod. Fish-shaped!

 

[HecticEnergy]

So far, so good. The display hasn't been jumping, not yet, anyway. With no other regulated device to compare it to, I don't know what's pro or con about it but as a person accustomed to a non-regulated mod, I can't believe it took me this long to discover the joys of regulation. Having only had it a day, my data is minimal but it did not drain batteries overnight. In about 12 hours of pretty heavy vaping, my batts went from 100% to 70%. In my old device, I'd have had to change the batteries in less than 12 hours, so that thrills me. What I don't like is the size. It didn't seem too big until I'd used it a few hours. I thought my Reo VVG was big, but I perceive this device as considerably larger and heavier.

The Billow does make clouds. I don't really like that--I don't want to draw attention to my vaping, especially when I'm around non-vapers and non-smokers. On the upside, thanks to Trevor Jone's YouTube review, I now can fill it from the bottom without making a mess (the trick was to tilt the tank while filling). I'm still working on filling from the top without making a mess. This is my first dual coil and the amount of juice I'm using is a big surprise. Oh, well. Still FAAAR cheaper than smoking (which I also had to remind myself as I walked out of the vape shop with a new mod, new tank, and new batts... ka-ching!).

And I'm already thinking of my next daily mod. Not any time soon--I keep my gear till it dies-- but as I'm seeing how much better the vaping experience is with my new rig, I'm also wondering how much even better it will be in one, two, or three years when I shop again. PLEASE, MODDERS: make size your next Mt. Everest. And creative forms! Boxes and tubes are just not visually interesting. I want a fish-shaped mod. Fish-shaped!

LOL
Box mods arent terribly interesting to look at no, but I'm more of a utilitarian personality - comfort and function.
I love my Reo, but like I said previously, cant beat regulated mods IMO. I'd get a sunbox if it wasnt so freakin expensive. I hope the BF market gets larger with more attys available with optional hollow center pin and more inexpensive regulated devices. The Reo Grand (non vv) is probably around the same size as most regulated single 18650 mods on the market. I think that is a good size.