Lavatube vs. ProVari- Warning! Lots of dumb questions!

[ADCarter1]

Currently I have an evo-c and I like it but it doesn't produce enough vapor for me. So, now I'm looking at either a Lavatube or a ProVari. Here are my questions:

1) Is the ProVari worth the extra money? Why or why not?

2) Where the heck did you buy yours? It seems like there are only two websites that sell either one. Either volcanoecigs (Lavatube) or ProVape (ProVari). What happened to capitalism and competition? My local stores don't sell either.

3) Is either one hard for a newbie like me use and fill? Can I buy cartomizers or whatever for them at my local store or do I need specialty stuff?

4) Should I just stick with my evo for a few weeks/months?

Thanks everyone!

 

[DoogieTony]

Well not to be rude, but it sounds like you may not be ready for something like this.

You said you gave an ego, what type of delivery system are you using? (cartomizers, dc tank, clearomizer)?
What kind I'd liquid? Pg/vg ratio?
The delivery method and liquid you're using largely determine vapor production.

To answer you questions:
1: the provari is high quality. I believe that its price is justified. It's well built, accurate, provides smooth constant power, has redundant fail safes, its rugged and can take a beating, has a warranty, once out of warranty provape will fix them for a reasonable price (if it actually breaks somehow), if a new version comes out they will upgrade yours for cheap, provapes customer service us outstanding.

2: provape and volcano produce their products thus they are the suppliers. I believe both have resellers but not online. There are knockoffs of the LT but not the provari.
There are other viable options such as the vamo or the sigelei zmax but I believe the provari to be superior in quality but the others can be had at a lower cost.

3: you don't fill a provari with anything but batteries. It has a 510 connection that will accept anything with that connector or you can buy adapters for cheap. I.e. 510 to ego

4: I would recommend you stick with your egos for a bit and read up on delivery options, volts/ohms, variable voltage, etc.
Check out evods/protank, vision vivi novas, maybe iclear

 

[Baditude]

Currently I have an evo-c and I like it but it doesn't produce enough vapor for me. So, now I'm looking at either a Lavatube or a ProVari. Here are my questions:

1) Is the ProVari worth the extra money? Why or why not?

Only you can answer this for yourself. Can you comfortably afford the Provari? If not, the question is moot.

With the Provari, you are getting a high end mod and paying high end money for it. It's made of better steel, better parts, by American workers. It will last years in comparison to the Lavatube. One year warranty, option to purchase a second year. Even after the warranty is expired, Provape will repair your Provari for as long as you own it.

In contrast, the LavaTube is made in China, has a shorter warranty, and offers no repair options after that. Should it stop working, consider it a disposable. Cheaper steel, cheaper parts, cheaper quality.
With both, you get what you pay for.

It all comes down to how much are you willing to pay, and how long do you plan on using your PV? Does one vape better than the other? It depends upon who you ask. My bet is those who have owned both devices will strongly prefer the Provari.

2) Where the heck did you buy yours? It seems like there are only two websites that sell either one. Either volcanoecigs (Lavatube) or ProVape (ProVari). What happened to capitalism and competition? My local stores don't sell either.

There are various clones of the LavaTube and many vendors that sell them online. They will be the same device but sold by a different name.

There are some vendors that sell Provari's, but usually at a marked up price. The best place to purchase (and cheapest) is directly from Provape. They also sell slightly blemished models at a reduced rate (with full warranty) in their clearance section.

3) Is either one hard for a newbie like me use and fill? Can I buy cartomizers or whatever for them at my local store or do I need specialty stuff?

Both devices use a standard 510 connector, so any 510 threaded device will fit. Any delivery device that uses an eGo thread will require a 510-to-eGo adaptor, an inexpensive $4 accessory available at most major online e-cig stores.

4) Should I just stick with my evo for a few weeks/months?

You need to ask yourself how satisfied you are with your present setup. Most of us end up purchasing additional mods to use as either a new primary device or for use as a trusty backup, so you really can't go wrong adding more devices if you can reasonably afford it.

But on the other hand, if you are satisfied, stick with what you have. No need to spend money unnecessarily. All that you might need to do is to try a different juice delivery device for a better vape. Here's a picture dictionary of the more common ones to try: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/baditude/index2.html

 

[r3Yr3y]

well id say these guys answered your questions pretty well all i have to say is YES the provari is justified in its price..iv had the regular ego,the ego twist,the vamo,the evic and let me tell you i wish i would have just dished out the cash earlier.But i agree stick with what you have for a while and get better informed before making the decision...

 

[gjanderson]

I will jump in on this. Is a provari or lavatube better. No, here in Malaysia most people do not care for either. I also have looked at a provari mini because a person had upgraded to a kt100 (think that is correct name) and was selling his provari mini very cheap. I tried it and while it was a nice vape; my vamo does a better job.

I say read the other posts: the ejuice and the delivery is more key. The vamo, provari and lava tube all just provide the electricity to the delivery device or atomizer.

What type of atomizer you using? Personally do not like the cartomizers. They really do taste like chemical burning at higher volts regardless of the ohms (resistence). Clearomizers would be the item to change. I heard a lot of good things about the kanger pro but do some research to learn more (i have not seen much btw) I use the vivi nova v2 and a ata t2 (not usually recommendes for new ppl). The vivi nova does a decent job and the same juice comes out thicker and better tasting. The ATA T2 does a better job just uses more of my juice. check this section first then your ejuice. Recommend getting an inexpensive ego twist or spinner if your EGO is not variable volt. Then try to find other vapors near you and see what they are using as the power horse.

 

[Thraxxy]

You won't need another VV device if you get the Provari.

My lavatube sits on a shelf... It doesn't work very well compared to my other devices.

Buy once, cry once.

 

[InTheShade]

...my vamo does a better job...

There may be comments about this point of view.

I will just add, what made you (original poster) decide that it's either a provari or a lavatube? There are a whole lot of mechs, VV mods and other batteries out there, I'm just curious how / why you narrowed it down to those two. Maybe if you can describe your way of thinking, others can chime in as to which mod might fit your needs.

 

[Thraxxy]

There may be comments about this point of view.

I will just add, what made you (original poster) decide that it's either a provari or a lavatube? There are a whole lot of mechs, VV mods and other batteries out there, I'm just curious how / why you narrowed it down to those two. Maybe if you can describe your way of thinking, others can chime in as to which mod might fit your needs.

My vamo probably gets the most use out of any of my regulated devices.

It's definitely a good device. It's also inexpensive.

 

[Julopy]

Hello adcarter! I collect APV's and APV accessories

provare is a solid device and does the job, but it's not the best, with the slow 1 button tiresome menu, you will be clicking... waiting 2 secs... click click click click click click click click... waiting 2 secs.. A LOT! , that's just why i stopped using it. http://www.provape.com/v/images/ProVariManual.pdf
Its heavy, looks like an adult "recreation" toy and most owners love it. is it worth the money? is not really a lot of money compared to the amount most of us ex-smokers used to spend on cigarettes every month. I'll maybe buy another provare when they add VW and upgrade the menu. But for me, in the meantime, is a good backup to have.

lavatube feels alright, quite heavy as well, its bigger, wider, and holds a 18650 without any "extension cap".
it doesn't have a drip well so you need a 510 to ego adapter if you want to use cone threading stuff. the menu is simple and fast.

Lava and vare are VV only, both have 510 connection so you can use a wide variety of stuff on them.
Just note the Lavatube is like a downgraded Vamo V2 so it would be like buying a PS2 for the price of a PS4.
The lavatube is 100% chinese, The Provare is 90% not chinese

-The main point is to be smoke free, the rest is just a bonus.
-There are many options to choose from.
-You don't need an expensive device to enjoy great vapor.
-There's always something newer and better around the corner.

Best wishes.

 

[Tepid]

there is nothing wrong with wanting a good battery mod.
I do not have the Provari or Lavatube, but have been looking at the Provari for a while.
I have a Vamo and so far I am pretty pleased with it. I started with 2 Ego Twists, which are fine as well, but they are now a back up if ever needed.

I would recommend that you do research and understand delivery systems first.

Vision Vivi Nova (i like the mini's persoanlly)
Kanger's (I personally do not like any of the bottom feeders for several reasons. Vape is not as good as the Nova's for me. I have T3's and a Pro Tank, I don't like either of them.)
But there are literally about 50 different Cartomizers, Clearos, Tanks, Rebuildables to choose from.
I would recommend the Vision Vivi Nova to start with.
Read, read, read more and then read some more about all of these products.
Look up PBusardo on YouTube or tasteyourjuice.com
and pay attention to his reviews, while I don't agree with everything he says, a lot of what he shows and says is extremely informative.

Good Luck.

ps, I feel I need to clarify the not agree with everything Pete Busardo says. He gives a lot of items good reviews, some not so good, his numbers I do believe are accurate, and I don't think he is trying to steer anyone wrong in any way. But, some of the items he recommends as good values, I don't really like myself, ie, Kanger ProTank. So, like with everything, you should take opinions as what they are and then see if what they are talking about is right for you and go from there.

Are you going to find the right device or I should say, best device first time out? No. You won't.
You will have to spend a little bit of money trying things.
But you can start out with a decent setup to get you started, and I would always recommend 2 ego Twists and a couple Vision Vivi Nova Mini's and an RY4 Juice, or something tobacco based. Juice is extremely subjective though.

 

[Bill's Magic Vapor]

Great questions! Thanks for the thread. I would add to my search list for one. Think you should also check out the myriad of new variable power devices. Vamo has long been a favorite, but there are good alternative vw devices out there now. If you are considering a provari, then price may not be an issue for you. However, for the price of a provari setup, you can purchase two to four other setups. To your list I would add Vamo, Sigelei, my wife loves her Anyvape CVI V1 (in red). Love the Provari, but it lacks variable wattage and is one of the more expensive items you can buy. I agree that it is well made, durable and accurate, but is it worth two Sigelei's, i.e., a V2 AND a V3....I don't think so, imho. The eVic is awesome, but not durable, I've lost two to death by granite counter top (they're working on a fix and I've heard they are available now...not interested). There's probably another dozen knock offs of the devices I've already mentioned, all within say 25% of the Vamo, and one half to one quarter the cost of the Provari. Since I have many of these mods, I think that I can say that there are vapers out there that are so in love with their personal vaporizers, regardless of technology and features, that they shoot down suggestions with extreme bias. All APV's have good points and bad points and should be carefully and fairly evaluated. Personally, I like variable power as a number of my delivery devices will experience slight resistance coil changes, often depending on the amount of juice in a tank, during a single vaping session. Constant variable voltage will not adjust for this, while variable power will adjust for this. You may need to move/step up slowly and figure out what's important to you in this Journey, i.e., vapor, flavor, battery life, aesthetics, capacity, ease of use, chargers, maintenance, etc. There is no one size fits all in vaping. The best pv is the one that keeps you away from and off analogs and allows you to overcome the cravings, habit, etc. of the most addictive substance on EARTH. It really is different for everybody. Good luck to you.

 

[SirSteve]

If your choice is between the Provari and the Lavatube, get the Provari. You can get Chinese mods that do more for less than the Lavatube. billbeckusa has some decent suggestions. I would definately go with the vamo or Sig Zmax over the Lavatube, and of course the Provari is one of the most highly regarded devices out there.

 

[ADCarter1]

Thanks everyone for all your input. I read and researched some more and when I felt confident, I went down to the local Vape Store and checked out their stock.

So there I was all prepared with all the extra research I did thanks to all of you and I said to the salesguy, "Can I see the ProVari and the Lavatube?" So, he gets them both out and says, "Look, this is my last Lavatube (Version 1). It's $20. I'll throw in the charger." And, with that, hours of research and thinking and justifying went out the window. Sold! I bought two batteries ($40- 18650) for and an atomizer (BCC Mega- $20). So for me, I got the right price. Yes, I could have bought the batteries and the atomizer cheaper online. But I was there and it was there and I bought it. I am happy with my purchase.

In the end, the difference between this and my eVo was the amount of vapor. For me, I need more vapor because it makes me feel like I am still smoking. Right now, one week after stopping smoking, I need to feel like I am still smoking and the more vapor the better. To paraphrase the old Star Wars line, "The vape is not strong in this one" and I need something to keep me on track. So far, so good!

 

[DoogieTony]

Cool,! Hope you like the new toys!

 

[bulldog63h]

Honestly the only dumb question is a question not asked. For $20 you got a good starter. My V1 LT lasted me all of 3 months but I paid twice what you did. I'm now rocking the SVD and an AGA-T2 but I have also been vaping for about 4 years now. As long as you are happy with what you've got then that's the perfect setup for you. Congrats on your new device and enjoy the he11 out of it.

 

[Ottotek]

I bought a ProVari as my entry level device. I wanted the extra incentive to stop smoking. Like the PV a lot! It's been 8 months since my last analog cig, and I'm never going back. I like vaping, and it's become a new hobby for me. I see many posts saying that folks had worked up through Blu's, Ego's, Vamo's, etc, till they bought a ProVari, and lamented over the money spent on lesser devices. My wife and I both have ProVari's and no regrets!

 

[Bdbodger]

Get a provari and be done with it or buy a lava tube or other cheap mode like the evic and be prepared to replace it when it breaks or go though a few different types before you had wished that you had bought the provari from the get go . I have not seen any provari customers have any complaints about them breaking . Well that is not true I have 6 provaries including the gold plated one . I have an original satin silver one I just upgraded to V2 and a mini that had a chip problem . Contacted provape got a link to a form sent it out and it was back within 10 days or so good as new . Great service good mod and usually problem free .

 

[gjanderson]

There may be comments about this point of view.

Yep, that is my opinion and others are welcome to comment and try force their opinion as the God' truth. Don't care. I personally think all the one button clicking and wait awhile if click too many times too much. I also do not like the appearance either (as someone else said it looks like an adult toy). It is not worth all that money in my opinion. I have dropped my vamo many times and besides scratches, it works perfectly still. Why pay over $100 for a device with only vv and no vw also that has a one button menu that can be a little tiresome to go through and then the display is not very clear either. If a person want to go into mods, think the Vamo is perfect. It costs under $50, has vv and vw and clear to read/understand display along with very simple menu system. After the vamo a person can go try a provari and see if they like it. I am personally looking to go towards epipes or box mods now. Seen many box mods built very well and even have vv and vw along with easy menu and easy read display.

Juice is very subjective but really so is the hardware. The lavatube and provari are just two of the different units. Yes I do like the Vamo but if you are looking at some of the atomizers/clearomizers; few don't work well on the vamo - they fit too low so take out airflow unless an extension is used and that looks ugly (my opinion). Most all do work on the provari and lava tube. I do like other units available. Watch youtube video reviews to see how it functions, drawbacks, how it looks, how the display looks, and such then you can make a better decision.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[Caridwen]

OP already decided. He was offered a $20 deal on a lavatube.