So, I've been using just regular cotton balls, non-organic, non-boiled, etc., etc., for a while now (it's all I could find around here). I had been using them in a Mini Pro-tank 2 and I have to admit...SO much better than the stock silica heads it came with. Anyway, I recently purchased a Svoemesto Kayfun Lite v2 and still using the same cotton balls. Kayfun vs. PT2... the improvement in vape quality was beyond words.
I've been reading lately about Japanese Organic Cotton (JOC) and how much better it is, like it's the second coming ... Needless to say, I wanted to try it. Started looking on Amazon, but the KGD was sold out, Muji was sold out, but I found Puff, 100% Japanese organic cotton sheets, non bleached, non treated etc., (~ $10-$12 for about 200 sheets) so I made the purchase. They arrived today and I couldn't wait, so I sat in my car, ripped my old wick out, and put in my new Japanese Organic Cotton.
I have an authentic Kayfun Lite v2, 1.6 ohm, 28 gauge micro coil wrapped around a 5/64 drill bit, ~1.5 mm off the deck, sitting on an MVP v2 running at 11 watts. Using a DIY Absinthe (TFA) 11% flavor, 10 mg nic, 50-50 pg/vg.
First Impressions:
Ease of use - Cotton sheets are easier than cotton balls to work with. I split 1 down the middle, snipped off what I needed and threaded it through. I never had trouble with cotton balls, but I have to admit, this was a bit easier to work with.
Wicking - So far, it is hard to tell. I've never had ANY wicking problems with regular cotton balls, so in my opinion this is a wash.
Vapor - I don't have any of PBursado's fancy equipment to run a scientific test on this, but to my eye, vapor production seems to be about the same.
Throat Hit - JOC seems to be a slight touch more than cotton balls, but not by much. My next batch of DIY, I will probably try around 8mg nic.
Flavor - The JOC is a little bit better. I can taste a tiny bit more "sweetness" coming out of the juice, but it really isn't a huge difference. Taste appears to be a little "cleaner" (for lack of a better word) also. Again, not a big difference, but a slight improvement.
Durability - Honestly can't say on this one. I've only been using it for about 30 minutes now.
Conclusions:
I will give the nod to the Japanese Organic Cotton (JOC), but not by much. Flavor, throat hit and ease of use all appear to be a tiny bit better. I feel a little better about using organic, unbleached cotton, but performance wise, I do not see much of a difference. That being said, realize that I have never had ANY wicking/flavor/performance problems using my old cotton balls. If you have had problems with wicking cotton balls, my guess is it is either your device or the way you wick it. The only time I've had a dry hit on my Kayfun is when the tank goes dry.
I will continue to use my JOC pads for probably the next year and a half, but that is only because this bag is going to last me that long. Would I purchase them again? Maybe. Next time around (assuming there isn't a new, latest & greatest wicking material), I would buy them, but ONLY if the price was comparable to organic unbleached cotton balls. There is no chance in hell I would pay the kinds of prices some of these rip-off artist are charging for this stuff. My personal opinion is that a lot of the hype is coming from either those that are trying to sell you this stuff at ridiculously inflated prices, or from those who paid those prices and have convinced themselves that it was worth what they paid for it (and that's ok. If you are getting enjoyment out of it, that is all that matters. Satisfaction is 99% mental anyway).
If you can find them easily and they are reasonably priced, get them. If not....well, it's your money.
-My
I've been reading lately about Japanese Organic Cotton (JOC) and how much better it is, like it's the second coming ... Needless to say, I wanted to try it. Started looking on Amazon, but the KGD was sold out, Muji was sold out, but I found Puff, 100% Japanese organic cotton sheets, non bleached, non treated etc., (~ $10-$12 for about 200 sheets) so I made the purchase. They arrived today and I couldn't wait, so I sat in my car, ripped my old wick out, and put in my new Japanese Organic Cotton.
I have an authentic Kayfun Lite v2, 1.6 ohm, 28 gauge micro coil wrapped around a 5/64 drill bit, ~1.5 mm off the deck, sitting on an MVP v2 running at 11 watts. Using a DIY Absinthe (TFA) 11% flavor, 10 mg nic, 50-50 pg/vg.
First Impressions:
Ease of use - Cotton sheets are easier than cotton balls to work with. I split 1 down the middle, snipped off what I needed and threaded it through. I never had trouble with cotton balls, but I have to admit, this was a bit easier to work with.
Wicking - So far, it is hard to tell. I've never had ANY wicking problems with regular cotton balls, so in my opinion this is a wash.
Vapor - I don't have any of PBursado's fancy equipment to run a scientific test on this, but to my eye, vapor production seems to be about the same.
Throat Hit - JOC seems to be a slight touch more than cotton balls, but not by much. My next batch of DIY, I will probably try around 8mg nic.
Flavor - The JOC is a little bit better. I can taste a tiny bit more "sweetness" coming out of the juice, but it really isn't a huge difference. Taste appears to be a little "cleaner" (for lack of a better word) also. Again, not a big difference, but a slight improvement.
Durability - Honestly can't say on this one. I've only been using it for about 30 minutes now.
Conclusions:
I will give the nod to the Japanese Organic Cotton (JOC), but not by much. Flavor, throat hit and ease of use all appear to be a tiny bit better. I feel a little better about using organic, unbleached cotton, but performance wise, I do not see much of a difference. That being said, realize that I have never had ANY wicking/flavor/performance problems using my old cotton balls. If you have had problems with wicking cotton balls, my guess is it is either your device or the way you wick it. The only time I've had a dry hit on my Kayfun is when the tank goes dry.
I will continue to use my JOC pads for probably the next year and a half, but that is only because this bag is going to last me that long. Would I purchase them again? Maybe. Next time around (assuming there isn't a new, latest & greatest wicking material), I would buy them, but ONLY if the price was comparable to organic unbleached cotton balls. There is no chance in hell I would pay the kinds of prices some of these rip-off artist are charging for this stuff. My personal opinion is that a lot of the hype is coming from either those that are trying to sell you this stuff at ridiculously inflated prices, or from those who paid those prices and have convinced themselves that it was worth what they paid for it (and that's ok. If you are getting enjoyment out of it, that is all that matters. Satisfaction is 99% mental anyway).
If you can find them easily and they are reasonably priced, get them. If not....well, it's your money.
-My
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