1. Atomizers aka Attys,
2. Cartomizer aka Cartos,
3. Clearomizer aka Clearos,
4. tanks
5. Dripping
6. Bottom Feeders, ,
Which is best?
My opinion is that I don't know which is best. Taste is subjective. Everyone has a different opinion, I've tried every thing except the bottom feeder. My favorite is the Clearomizers Clearos because I think the Cartos have a plastic taste to them and the dripping is too labor intensive. Many swear by Bottom Feeders but without direct experience, I'm not qualified to comment. Maybe I've got to spend $200.00 to round out my education. Sigh....
Their is no superior system, although everyone thinks their method is superior, it's just a matter of what you like.
To make it simple for your first forays into vaping Clearos and Cartos are simplest and convenient at an economical price point
The most popular in the
vaping world in this order [Arguably]
1. Cartomizers- including Carto Tanks
2. Clearomizers- Newer Technology and catching on
3. Dripping and Bottom Feeders
Let's start at the beginning
All units are universal in that they have a Battery, PV (Personal Vaporizing Unit) and a Coil that heats up to vaporize liquid. There are just different ways that it's packaged and to do it.
When I began 4 years ago I started with an 801 connection which is fatter than the 510.
Attached to my APV unit was an Atomizer and than I pushed a Polyester Cartridge into the Atomizer. [Inneficient]
So we had 2 parts
1. The Atomizer which has the Coil that gets Hot
2. The Cartridge that has Polyester soaked in Liquid with the bottom coming into contact with the atomizer
Some people dispensed with the Cartridge part and would drop the liquid directly into the atomizer coil. They call this dripping and it's still done today.
Next Came the Cartos or Cartomizers
Manufacturers figured out they could take the two pieces, Atomizer, and foam cartridge and combine them into 1 unit called a cartomizer. The coil in a carto is usually embedded in the Polyester and as it heats up the liguid is vaporized. You take the mouthpiece off an drop liquid in to keep the Polyester wet. Or you might use a drip tip which has a design that allows the liquid to be dropped through the tip without having to take off the mouth piece.
Next came the Clearomizers.
Many didn't like vaping Polyester for taste and possible health ramifications. If you've ever used a cartomizer after a week the Polyester Filling shrinks. Where does it go. I hate to think that I vaped it up. The next step in vaping development was a clearomizer.
The way a clearomizer works is that it has wicks that extend into the clear tank. thus the name clearomizer. Sort of like candle wicks. The liquid travels up the wick [top coil] or down the wick [bottom coil] into the coil. It's clear, no foam, so you aren't inhaling plastic [Yes I'm biased]
Now we have some very interesting Variations.
Carto Tanks, This is a large Cyllindrical tank.. The carto tanks have a cylindrical cartomizer that has holes punched in it and than is inserted into the tank. The tank is then filled with liquid and the cartomizer is kept wet by the liquid going through the holes. It's a way of not having to refill often.
Than we have Clearomizer Tanks which are clearomizers that are enclosed in a large tank.
Now let's get back to dripping.
Dripping is considered by many purists as being the best vape as you only have two elements with nothing between them. The liquid and the atomizer coil. Problem with dripping is that it is time consuming, potentially messy, with a learning curve. You have to drip liquid on your coil just about every time that you vape. I've tried it myself and as a admirer of simplicity and convenience, it just wasn't for me. But many swear by it.
The E-Cig industry always finds a way to innovate. A few years ago bottom feeding mods came onto the market. The Reo Grande is the most famous. They have a plastic bottle that fits into the body of a box mod, and than you squeeze the bottle and liquid will come up from the bottom and saturate the coil in the Atomizer.
This solves the messy dripping problem and makes the dripping process civilized and convenient.
These are the choices, try one or try all. As mentioned above, beginners should use Cartomizers or Clearomizers. Leave dripping and bottom feeding for a later experimental phase.
Although the Reo Grande Bottom feeder has a devoted following, they haven't reached the price point for a new vapor to make the investment. [Arguably]