Moving up to the big(ger) leagues: eGo or Screwdriver?

[The Gentleman Cannibal]

Hey there folks, I've found myself it a bit of quandry. I've found my way back to vaping after a brief respite, and I'm ready to step up to the big leagues and pick up a nice mod. After some research, I've found two that fit my budget: the eGo Maniac kit over at GoodProphets, and the Screwdriver Mk. 2 kit over at Totally Wicked (hotlinks lead to product page). Both seem quite sexy, and both seem to be highly regarded, which makes deciding a real pain. So I must turn to my "elders" for advice. I'll put out what I'm looking for in a faux smoke, and my perceived pros+cons for each product. Then, maybe you guys could give me advice.

Flavor and vapor are my top two requirements, respectively. Battery-life is 3rd, and looks a distant 4th. The flavor part I'm a bit confused on. It seems that people say 510 atties produce the best flavor (mark for the eGo). But of course, I've also heard that 901s produce killer flavor (Screwdriver), so I'm really not sure on this one. Reliability, build quality, and functionality are so important that they fall outside my four considerations. A unit could produce enough vapor to hide a skyscraper, taste so good you see God, last longer than the Sun and be so good looking that it gets more numbers than you do when you hit the bars, but if it works sporadicly or breaks if you sneeze in the same room as it, then it's worthless in my mind.

The eGo includes a ton of stuff, and seems to be widely used and highly regarded, but for me there are two issues that involve the battery. First, and most obvious is life. Compared to the Screwdriver, battery life is shorter. Yes, you can get bigger batteries, but I like my gear to work the way I want it to right out of the box. The second issue I have is that I don't like being reliant on a few suppliers for batteries. I know it's a bit weird, and probably a bit crazy, but it's how it is. With a Screwdriver, I can just go, find a place that sells rechargables, and all is well. But with the eGo, with the body being the battery (or is it the battery being the body...?), my options are a bit more limited.

The Screwdriver seems to be a great choice, what with its vast battery life and such. And while the reviews I've read and seen have been fairly glowing, there's a lot less of those reviews. That makes me nervous, as it was the same situation with my 601 Power Pal, which I'm pretty unsatisfied with. There also seem to be occasional issues with the button and battery contact. It's worth noting that I'm sorta leaning towards the Screwdriver right now. That could change in five minutes, of course.

Both units seem killer, especially for their price. They ain't the GG TS or the Saber, but I'm not sure my kidney is worth one of those (the other is reserved for the Russian Mob. Funny story, really). Anyways, as I said before, the eGo and the Screwdriver both seem so great that I'm struck with a terrible bout of indecision, with just a hint of indigestion. So if you guys could give me some advice on this one, that'd be super.

 

[Buzzy]

Take this with a lot of salt, since I do not own either one, but have read a fair bit around the forum. The screwdriver has been around longer, I think, and takes separate batteries, which are quite a bit less expensive to replace than eGo batteries if that is an issue - and all batteries eventually need to be replaced.

A lot of forum members really, REALLY, seem to like their eGos. EGos use a 510 atty or cartomizer. So you can go 2 piece or 3 piece as you prefer. Screwdrivers use a 901 atty and cartridge, which I think is compatible with a KR808D-1 cartomizer, but I'm not sure.

So if you have a lot invested in 510 or 901 attys/cartridges, that might be a factor since you could still use them.

The screwdriver is sometimes referred to as an atty killer? So that might mean that for some reason atty life is not as good on a screwdriver. 901 attys are usually known for very good flavor, but 510s produce more vapor or so I read, and heat up a little hotter. But you can always get adapters for use either way.

I'm mostly settled on 510 compatible equipment (510 mega batts, and a B
B). I've found the 510 cartomizers quite good, but use attys mostly. Anyway, that my . I don't think you would go wrong either way.

 

[sanfordf]

I think you will find that either unit will be adequate. Not perfect, in their own ways. For instance, the Screwdriver has a bottom button. Some don't like that, some do. The Ego/Tornado functions at a slightly lower voltage. Either one benefits vapor wise from using one of the many lower resistance atomizers, especially the Tornego. Whichever unit you purchase, you should have something else, to have/use in rotation or as a backup, along with spare atties, juice and batteries. Over using any unit leads to an early demise. I am leaning towards the Ego (you get 2 units with a kit). I have a DSE905v4 (because I didn't like the bottom button), a Tornado, a Indulgence w/extended tube+passthru, Hellotech 016, a 2AA box mod and numerous 510s.

 

[Kent C]

The eGo batt is rated 3.2-3.4 volts. The Screwdriver is a true 3.7 Volt batt. Whiich means given the same ohm'ed atomizer, the Screwdriver will outperform the eGo. However, the standard atomizer on the eGo is the 510 and the standard atomizer for the Screwdriver is the 901. So do that math (and check my math ;-) :

eGo -3.3V with 2.1 ohms = 5.2W
SD - 3.7v with 3.4 ohms = 4.0W

Of course with the use of adapters you can now put almost any atty on any batt but 'out of the box' the eGo will be putting out more wattage/current.

 

[prof beard]

If you don't mind waiting a week to get it, I'd recommend getting an original Mk1 SD from trog (The ScrewDriver Online Electronic Cigarette Shop). It now has the same mechanical button as the Mk2 and is available in 901, 510 or 801 versions - you can just buy the body if you want and get your batteries and atties elsewhere.

I have both Mk1 and Mk2 SDs, and used them for a LONG time with all sorts of atties (via adapters) - I'd had no problems with either.

I've done some reviews here:

Prof Beards Blog Group The Super Six Review | VapersPlace

 

[warlike36]

I would go with an Indulgence and be done with it. I'am super pleased with mine. Good luck and Happy vapin.

 

[muttSRT]

I never used a SD. So I can not say if its good or bad. I have owned (and still do) the Ego, which I really like.

As far as vendors, I have dealt with goodprophets numerous times and have always been thrilled with the pricing and the customer service. I have heard lots of not so good reviews on TW, so I have yet to order from them.

 

[The Gentleman Cannibal]

Thanks for all the input, folks. I ended up going with the SD from TW, and got a few 5ml bottles of some of their tobacco flavors, which I hear are supposed to be pretty good. A shame they don't have 'Spirits Blue flavor...Anyways, I'm hoping that those issues that others have had with TW were isolated insidents, but worse comes to worse, I'm more than adept at raising hell.