Looking for something better than a 30w istick

[Midnightalaskan]

Hi y'all,

I've been lurking on here ever since I got into vaping about 5 months ago and finally decided to make an account and start being a little active.

I know there are plenty of "what should I get posts" but I wanted to see what yall think of my situation and I need 3 more posts to be able to post elsewhere...

So with no further adieu, I need a bit of advice.

I started off with some no name spinner and clearo from a local shop and was not impressed. It died about 1/3 way through the day and the vapor was weak. After I realized they didn't know much about vaping, I decided to go to a more knowledgable shop and get something simple, small(ish) and not too expensive. The gentleman suggested an istick (30watt) and a aspire K1 glassomizer. At the beginning, it was perfect. The k1 has a similar draw to an analog and coupled with a good tobacco blend, it was just what I wanted... Until a buddy of mine have me some juice that his shop makes... Then my world was shattered and the quest for clouds began. That stuff was soo dang good but the K1 didn't give me the draw I wanted. So the local shop that suggested the istick, suggested a Aspire Atlantis. Ever since then, I have been wanting more... I love my Atlantis but the coils are expensive and I wanted to try a RDA so I bought a Doge V2 and began my quest of coil building and cloud chasing!

Now after a few months with my istick and Doge, I think it's time to give this little doge-ie a better, more powerful home.

Now, as far as coil builds go, I'm going to experiment a little so I'm just wanted to ask what yall would recomend as far as a new mod. I like the VV/VW of my istick but I now need more power!

What's a good mod out there that is:
A. Going to have all the power I'll ever need.
B. Not going to break the bank. (The wife keeps telling me that this habit is getting more expensive than analogs!)

And 3. Has a good track record.


I've thought of going to an istick 50, but if I'm going to drop some money on a mod, I think I want something that I will not want to upgrade from several months down the road.

I think mech mods and unregulated mods are not what I want because I want to dial in my watts to the system I put on it.

My K1 I run at 13W, my Atlantis likes 20W and my doge is running a full 30w with the dragons I have running on it. (I find I like to run in vw mode).

I have a set of Samsung 18650 batteries so I'm open to both a sealed battery system or a replaceable battery system.

Any input would be great!

Tl;Dr
Why's a good mod to upgrade from a 30w istick?

What would you all recommend?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Sir2fyablyNutz]

I recently won a Sigelei 150 watt on a contest in ECF. Dual 18650's gives plenty of mah. It's boxy but I love it. I rarely use it over 30 watts. Now I've noticed the Sigelei is out with a 150 watt temperature control for under $100. It will give you power to grow, tc for improvement, and the same long mah with the dual 18650's.
Sigelei 150 Watt - MyFreedomSmokes (for reference)

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Just my 2 cents..

Good luck in your decisions.

 

[Wraith504]

sig 150, ipv4, ipv3 li istick 100w. All of these have the dual 18650 battery configuration and will provide you with plenty of power.

 

[Denvap0r]

This is an IPV3 150 watt mod. Uses 2 18650 batteries and packs enough power for anything now and in the future you might build. I have never actually used it's full capacity. There are newer models of this that have temperature control and are relatively affordable.

 

[Midnightalaskan]

sig 150, ipv4, ipv3 li istick 100w. All of these have the dual 18650 battery configuration and will provide you with plenty of power.

I was eyeballing the 100w istick but I figured I would get a few people's input before I pick something and pull the trigger. For $30-50 it's a lot more doable for me than anything that I see for $100+, plus it's easier to explain to the wife. Although the sigelei 150w looks really cool.

But you know what they say, a happy wife is a happy life!

 

[Wraith504]

I was eyeballing the 100w istick but I figured I would get a few people's input before I pick something and pull the trigger. For $30-50 it's a lot more doable for me than anything that I see for $100+, plus it's easier to explain to the wife. Although the sigelei 150w looks really cool.

But you know what they say, a happy wife is a happy life!

All of those are sub $80.00 You have to consider things like if you want the ability to have temperature control. Chips with the ability to be upgraded via firmware or not, etc. The I stick 100 has not been out very long, so there is no real data on its longevity/performance. The Sig 150 is probably the most solid of all of them. the ipv4 is not bad at all if you remove the charging board to prevent any battery issues. Forgot to mention the smok x cube ii at 160w as well for sub 70 dollar range.
You will likely want to invest in at least 4 more batteries if you plan on using the dual 18650 config rather than a built in lipo. Batteries will go quick once you start using higher wattage to chase the clouds.

 

[Midnightalaskan]

All of those are sub $80.00 You have to consider things like if you want the ability to have temperature control. Chips with the ability to be upgraded via firmware or not, etc. The I stick 100 has not been out very long, so there is no real data on its longevity/performance. The Sig 150 is probably the most solid of all of them. the ipv4 is not bad at all if you remove the charging board to prevent any battery issues. Forgot to mention the smok x cube ii at 160w as well for sub 70 dollar range.
You will likely want to invest in at least 4 more batteries if you plan on using the dual 18650 config rather than a built in lipo. Batteries will go quick once you start using higher wattage to chase the clouds.

All very good and valid points.

I don't mind if I finally break down months and months from now (read: years) to something with a bunch of bells and whistles but for now, unless I am convinced otherwise, I'm just looking for an upgrade in power and something that won't break the bank/ piss of the wife lol. I already have quite a few expensive hobbies. I don't need another one.... Yet...

The main 2 reasons I was eyeing the istick is because of the price and experience I have had with my 30w. I really like the feel to it and how well it has served me thus far. As far as batteries, I kind of figured I would need a set or two more, but as of now the plan was to have my 30w as a backup when the batteries need a charge. I also believe the 100w istick has a passthrough so I can charge and vape at the same time. I know that's not an "exclusive to istick" tech but it definitely is something I love with my 30w-er.

Yes, I know it already seems like I have made up my mind but honestly, it's not made up. I love all the input yall are giving me and it also helps if I need to upsell to the wife to a unit that is more than what I had originally planned to spend.

Actually she doesn't care too much on what I buy but I like to keep her happy and in the loop all the same. If yall have valid points/experience it's easier for me to explain.

This may sound weird but it's a system that has kept us happy for the last 5 years and also keeps my impulse buys to a minimum. Lol nothing worse than buying something you don't need or use.

 

[Bunnykiller]

IPV4.....

 

[Wraith504]

All very good and valid points.

I don't mind if I finally break down months and months from now (read: years) to something with a bunch of bells and whistles but for now, unless I am convinced otherwise, I'm just looking for an upgrade in power and something that won't break the bank/ piss of the wife lol. I already have quite a few expensive hobbies. I don't need another one.... Yet...

The main 2 reasons I was eyeing the istick is because of the price and experience I have had with my 30w. I really like the feel to it and how well it has served me thus far. As far as batteries, I kind of figured I would need a set or two more, but as of now the plan was to have my 30w as a backup when the batteries need a charge. I also believe the 100w istick has a passthrough so I can charge and vape at the same time. I know that's not an "exclusive to istick" tech but it definitely is something I love with my 30w-er.

Yes, I know it already seems like I have made up my mind but honestly, it's not made up. I love all the input yall are giving me and it also helps if I need to upsell to the wife to a unit that is more than what I had originally planned to spend.

Actually she doesn't care too much on what I buy but I like to keep her happy and in the loop all the same. If yall have valid points/experience it's easier for me to explain.

This may sound weird but it's a system that has kept us happy for the last 5 years and also keeps my impulse buys to a minimum. Lol nothing worse than buying something you don't need or use.

i personally would avoid any passthrough feature on a mod with removable 18650s. You can easily get samsungs/Lg batteries for 10 bucks a pair. The on board charging is almost always slow and inefficient compared to your external charger. 2 sets of batteries should be able to rotate all day unless your vaping extremely heavy or a really big build that requires tons of power to ramp your coils up. I think you should come up with a clear and decisive hard limit budget first, then decide on what option to purchase. Rather than the other way around. If you want to spend 100 as a limit 80... etc.. Then you can really narrow in on what options you have that could even include getting extra batteries.

 

[Tonkpils]

I'd personally go with the Sigelei route for build quality alone. I have owned Isticks and IPV products in the past and have ended up replacing them with a Sig150w for myself and a Sig30w for my SO. The things a tank, where as the Isticks and IPV seem to be fragile.

 

[Wraith504]

I'd personally go with the Sigelei route for build quality alone. I have owned Isticks and IPV products in the past and have ended up replacing them with a Sig150w for myself and a Sig30w for my SO. The things a tank, where as the Isticks and IPV seem to be fragile.

I knocked my ipv4 off of my tool box at work with is 3 1/2 feet high onto concrete/tile floor. picked it up, dusted it off gave it a look over, pulled batteries hadnt shifted, no heat. put em in and went and vaped to relieve the anxiety. not a scratch on it.

 

[Tonkpils]

I knocked my ipv4 off of my tool box at work with is 3 1/2 feet high onto concrete/tile floor. picked it up, dusted it off gave it a look over, pulled batteries hadnt shifted, no heat. put em in and went and vaped to relieve the anxiety. not a scratch on it.

Weird, My IPV mini2 fell 2 feet from my bed and dented the battery cap and stripping the threads rendering it useless unless. My sigelei on the other hand has been submerged in fluids, dropped, banged, and then some

 

[Wraith504]

Weird, My IPV mini2 fell 2 feet from my bed and dented the battery cap and stripping the threads rendering it useless unless. My sigelei on the other hand has been submerged in fluids, dropped, banged, and then some

3 biggest concerns for me when dropped. Batteries/shift short etc. 2. landing on atty/510 causing short, 3 cracked screen.

 

[evan le'garde]

It's never going to end you know !. Reading the op reminds of pretty much what everyone goes through, and continues to go through. The more time that passes the more devices we buy. You'll find you will be buying more mods as the months go buy and to be honest what you buy next will just be another step towards a much larger collection of mods you'll wind up with. I'm using a Sigelei 100 watt plus right now, but have an IPV3 and an IPV4 and it won't end there. Also have an old Tesla, 3 Vamo's, a Provari and some old Spinners sitting around somewhere.

Just get yourself an IPV4 for now, great little box mod. You'll want something else in a few weeks so it doesn't really matter in which order you buy this stuff.

 

[Bricca]

+1 on the istick 100w especially at the price. Looks like a winner: replaceable batts/100 watts/around 30-40 bucks as of now on preorder. If it works I think it's a great. That being said, I've used the 30/50 watt versions quite a bit and both had to be swapped out due to QC issues. Make sure the vendor has a return policy!

 

[suprtrkr]

Sig 150 or Snow Wolf, both with Temp Control, both in the $100 range. Good machines.

 

[Hans Wermhat]

The 100W iStick is brand new. Looking at the problems that line has had in the past, I would wait to see some user reviews before buying it. I picked up the iPV4 about a month or so ago, upgraded it, and it has been a solid device. It has some reported issues too, though. There is an updated version that doesn't have on on-board charger. If you go with the iPV4, make sure you get that one. +1 on the Snow Wolf. Everybody that has one seems to like it, but it's pricey. I would definitely go with something 75-100W with temp control. That's going to be your best bet for something "future proof". I keep seeing bad reviews on the SMOK brand stuff though. The TC doesn't work from what I've seen. You might want to steer clear of those.

 

[roxynoodle]

You can find some good deals on the old Sig 150W now that the tc one is out.

 

[roxynoodle]

The 100W iStick is brand new. Looking at the problems that line has had in the past, I would wait to see some user reviews before buying it. I picked up the iPV4 about a month or so ago, upgraded it, and it has been a solid device. It has some reported issues too, though. There is an updated version that doesn't have on on-board charger. If you go with the iPV4, make sure you get that one. +1 on the Snow Wolf. Everybody that has one seems to like it, but it's pricey. I would definitely go with something 75-100W with temp control. That's going to be your best bet for something "future proof". I keep seeing bad reviews on the SMOK brand stuff though. The TC doesn't work from what I've seen. You might want to steer clear of those.

Good post

The updated ipv is the ipv4s. Get that one if you choose that mod. The charging board in the first one was dangerous. It was shorting on the 510 and causing fires/explosions.

 

[Hans Wermhat]

Mine is just over a month old. As soon as the warranty is up, the charging board is coming out.