It seems like Mechanical Mods have a big following right now. I'm not sure I understand. I get that with sub-ohm coils you can get a great vape with a lower wattage, direct from the battery, but what's the attraction of the Mech Mod? I own a Vision Spinner and a Vamo, and I love that I can adjust the volts / watts to get the perfect vape. I can see investing in a Provari before long, which seemed like the standard bearer for a while anyway. But I'm curious about this Mech Mod thing. Lots of love out there for them right now. Tons of enthusiastic reviews. And some big bucks are being spent too. What's the attraction? Simplicity? No circuit board? Efficiency? I don't really get it.
My first mech came about back in 2011 as a cheap backup for my variable device that could use my existing stash of 18mm batteries. Later I picked up a Kick. It did a great job! So good, that it wasn't long until I found myself actually preferring the Kicked mech over my other mods.
What I like most about the mechs (or unregulated tubes with electronic switches) I now have:
1. Cost effective tube form factors in smaller, lighter, more durable rigs.
2. Nice big buttons with adjustable throws (easy to use without taking off work gloves).
3. Adjustable air flow systems.
4. Variety of choices in battery length with included parts (telescoping, or assorted extension rings).
5. Good aesthetics (look and feel).
6. Durability - It's takes a really good lick in just the right place to render a mech unusable...and if does happen, you can still reuse the battery and Kick (if you use one) in a new tube.
I do use Evolv Kicks and Aritsan Crowns to regulate most of my mechanical mods the majority of the time. The reason being is that over the years I have collected quite a number of tanks and atties dedicated to my favorite flavors. They range wildly in draw/build style, resistance, and wattage requirement for good performance...so the Kicks and Crowns allow me to drop any of them on the mech and adjust the power accordingly. In short, I love a variable device, but I also enjoy the low profile and features of a good tube mod.
Once I'm set up and out the door...the lack of a 'digital display' is a good thing for me. I like that even with a Kicked 18650 many mechanical tube mods can be quite a bit shorter than tubes that have display screens. Evolv Kicks and Artisan Crowns also provide a solid DC signal that's really difficult to beat when compared to most of the variable APV units on the market these days.
People here on the forums often tell me I'm crazy for Kicking a Mech with a $45 regulator button, but as someone who has owned quite a few variable devices over the years...I've only owned 2 that could come close to performing as well as an Evolv Kick, and they were both well above $150. In contrast...I've dropped Kicks into $30 mechanicals and enjoyed superb easy to maintain vapes. The Kick itself remains portable (can move from mod to mod), and 'optional' (can take it out for tinkering with the ultimate easy chair RBA setup).
