Kits Reviewed (in alphabetical order):
Bloog
GreenSmoke
Cignot's Joye 510 (manual w/ PCC)
PureSmoker Protege
Revolver Elite
Totally Wicked Tornado
Vapor4Life Vapor King
From left to Right: (sorry no Bloog image) GreenSmoke, Joye 510, Revolver Elite (x2), PS Protege, TW Tornado with 410 atomizer/cart, V4L Vapor King
The rankings are based on months of personal experience, except for the Bloog (which I returned for a refund after 3 weeks), and the Tornado (which I purchased 3 weeks ago).
For a definition of the rankings, scroll to the bottom.
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Bloog (Purchased 19 Oct 09)
Overall Rating: 2.0
Cost: $99.99 (free shipping)
Targeted User: Beginners
Pros: 2-piece design. Good looking e-cig. Really long cut-off on the auto batteries.
Cons: Pricey for what you get. I returned the device after a few weeks of trying it out because of poor vapor and flavor. The kit came with chocolate flavored carts and they tasted more like... blueberry pop-tarts?? I wasn't a fan of the charger either. I never knew if it the battery was fully seated until I plugged it into the wall. This is the only device that I've returned for a refund.
Vapor: 2.0
Value: 2.5
Durability: didn't use it long enough to make a fair assessment
Coolness Factor: 3.5
Suggested Flavors: I didn't experiment long enough with flavors on this e-cig to find one I actually liked.
Other notes: Compatible with Green Smoke Carts.
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Green Smoke (Purchased 13 Oct 09)
* Not to be confused with the GreenCig (two completely different companies)
Overall Rating: 2.5
Cost: $150.00 (free shipping)
Targeted User: Beginners
Pros: 2 piece design. The batteries last a long time for their size and are capable of producing some surprising amounts of vapor despite their 3 second cutoff. Also, the batteries have a texture on them that feels good between your fingers. The stock carts last a few refills, so the price comes down if you buy your own juice and refill the cartomizers.
Cons: The really huge con to this device is that it is expensive. Especially considering what you get, though it did get me off of real cigarettes within a week (these were the first e-cigs my wife and I purchased), it is just too expensive to justify maintaining.
Vapor: 3.5
Value: 1.0
Durability: 4.0
Coolness Factor: 2.5
Suggested Flavors: Vanilla and Chocolate, but mostly the vanilla. Most of the other GreenSmoke flavors had a burnt chemical taste or started having a funky soap-like aftertaste.
Other notes: Compatible with Bloog Carts.
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Joye 501 Manual Kit (Purchased 10 Nov 09 from Cignot)
Overall Rating: 4.0
Cost: $46.00
Targeted User: Intermediate
Pros: Simple design. Respectable vapor. Easy transition cig from 2-piece to mods. As far as I'm concerned everyone should own at least one Joye 510. Inexpensive--I found a great price at Cignot.
Cons: The first included PCC stopped working after less than a month of use, but was replaced. It's hard to come up with any other cons when my wife has remained utterly faithful to her Joye 510 since early Nov 09.
Vapor: 3.5
Value: 5.0
Durability: 4.0
Coolness Factor: 3.0
Suggested Flavors: Just about any DIYFlavorshack or EcoPure juice and Revolver Gold. My wife prefers Dawn's Mint Chocolate Banana Float (tastes a LOT better than I thought it would).
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PureSmoker Protege (Purchased 25 Oct 09)
Overall Rating: 4.5
Cost: $115.00
Targeted User: Intermediate / Experienced
Pros: The Protege is the Harley Davidson of small 3.7v mods. It is as solid as a tank. It feels great in your hand and it is a truly good looking device. Works great with both 510 and 401 atomizers (adaptor needed for 401). My absolute favorite 2 e-cigs are my two proteges.
Cons: The brass parts in the adaptor head need to be cleaned at least monthly to keep this mod a "vaping monster". The battery end cap has slightly loose threads that require a gentle touch to get started correctly when tightening. Some users have reported defective switches. One of my charger's cord had exposed wires after 2 months of use.
Vapor: 5.0
Value: 4.0
Durability: 4.5
Coolness Factor: 5.0
Suggested Flavors: I almost exclusively vape the EcoPure "Rich" blend in this e-cig with an occasional swap to one of my several Johnson Creek liquids. Most of my other brands and flavors are pretty good, but Johnson Creek and EcoPure liquids just seem to be made for this e-cig.
Other notes: PureSmoker has changed the Protege's pushbutton switch to a mechanical version. I ordered a mechanical switch to try out on my Protege, but was unable to get it to work consistently. They have a lifetime warranty on it, so I'm not in any rush to return it. In the meantime, I still use the electronic tact switches and they haven't failed me yet. Plus, I like the look of the metal button housing on the tact switch versus the plain plastic of the mechanical version.
Update: PureSmoker is listening to their customers. The brass is gone on the newly announced Protege V1.1 (replaced with stainless steel) and so is the plastic outer button and housing on the mechanical version of the switch. It's all Stainless. I ordered a V1.1 and will update the entire review after I spend a month with it.
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Revolver Elite (Purchased 12 Oct 09)
Overall Rating: 4.5
Cost: $60.00 (free shipping)
Targeted User: Intermediate users and Travelers who are light to moderate vapers. Heavy vapers should look elsewhere.
Pros: Designed for the light to moderate vaper-on-the-go. Great looking and super compact e-cig and PCC. The PCC holds a fully assembled e-cig while charging a second battery. The Elite comes with nearly bullet-proof atomizers (I'm still using the included ones after months of use). Solid vapor and flavor. I also really like the texture on the stock batteries. Plus, it is very inexpensive. You get a lot of bang for the buck in this kit. If you travel a lot, you need to Buy this kit.
Cons: You'd be wise to memorize how to reset your PCC. If it gets bugged out, you'll need to reset it. Batteries die quickly, but the PCC will keep the spare charging as you swap them out. Each battery last me roughly 3-4 regular cigs.
Vapor: 4.0
Value: 5.0
Durability: 4.5
Coolness Factor: 5.0
Suggested Flavors: Just about any of the DIYFlavorshack and EcoPure juices. I also like Strictly E-juice's Candy cane when flying on planes. People like the smell of it =D
Other Notes: I'm absolutely amazed at the vapor from this very tiny device. This little bugger can put out a lot of vapor once the atomizer is broken in. Vapor from the stock carts was ok, but vapor from my daily liquids is almost equal to my much bigger 3.7v mod. Though it must be said, I actually drip on these atomizers.
I never leave home without it. It's so compact and such a great performer, I simply take it (and my proteges) everywhere I go.
The carts are compatible with 401 style carts, but the atomizers are not.
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Totally Wicked Tornado (Purchased 28 Jan 10)
Overall Rating: Still testing (looking like a 4.0 or above so far)
Cost: $79.00
Targeted User: Intermediate
Pros: This acts more like a "mod", but in a commercial 3-peice design. A lot of users compare this to a "super" Joye 510 and that's probably the best way to describe it. The battery life is very long. The most notable difference is that the first and last puff from the battery hits and tastes almost the same to me. This is the first time I've seen any battery operate in this way. Also, one battery lasts me a day and takes about 4.5 hours to recharge when completely drained. Good looking e-cig and pretty solid. Works great with both 510 and 401 atomizers (adaptor needed for 401). Good price.
Cons: I really don't like the concave button. The button feels... odd. A flat surface would have been a better choice in my opinion.
Vapor: 5.0
Value: 4.0
Durability: 4.0
Coolness Factor: 4.0
Suggested Flavors: I would strongly recommend just about any of the Johnson Creek liquids with this e-cig, as well as, EcoPure Rich. I rarely use anything else with my Tornado.
Other notes: I've only had this e-cig for 3 weeks and I'm still undecided about whether it's going to stay in my daily rotation or not.
The Tornado comes with an atomizer cone. It actually changes the draw on the atomizer and changes the flavor of some liquids, sometimes it's a good change, and sometimes, not so much. I suggest trying out your favorite liquids separately with the cone on and off. For example, I really like the way my EcoPure "Rich" blend tastes without the cone.
Compatible with the Janty Ego.
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Vapor4Life Vapor King (Ultimate Ultimatum Manual Kit) (Purchased 31 Oct 09)
Overall Rating: 4.0
Cost: $90.00
Targeted User: Beginning users and Travelers
Pros: Simple 2-piece design and all the stuff you'll ever need for your e-cig in one kit... no kidding. Nice travel charger, spare carrying case, a pass through, etc. The PCC and carrying case look very cool and feel solid. Absolutely great value for your money. If you like KR-808 style e-cigs, you'd be crazy not to own one.
Pass-Through note: The Vapor King pass-through gives you some really warm vapor. This was my favorite part of the kit.
Cons: I ordered several flavors for my wife and I to try from Vaper4Life. I don't know if they had a strange batch, but most every flavor tasted the same. I don't blame the e-cig itself, but I wasn't pleased with the carts and liquids I received from V4L. Needless to say I couldn't find any flavor I liked from their store and gave up after ordering several.
Also, I really didn't like the "V4L" stamped all over the batteries, it makes the e-cig look cheesy. I'd rank this e-cig higher if it didn't look so goofy.
Vapor (battery): 3.0, Vapor (pass-through): 3.5
Value: 5.0
Durability: 4.0
Coolness Factor: 2.5
Suggested Flavors: Best to order blanks and try your current favorites (which taste pretty good in this e-cig) or search the VPL forums for liquid reviews.
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The Rankings:
All rankings are 1-5
Overall: The overall ranking is my impression on the complete kit, ease of use (for what I consider the targeted audience), and my basic happiness with the product. To get a 4.0 or above. I have to remain impressed and very happy with the device for at least a month.
Vapor: This is very subjective of course. I only use EcoPure "Rich" formula to determine my vapor ranking. For me, and with my style of vaping, this liquid is capable of producing massive amounts of vapor. Also, I only rate vapor on a freshly broken in atomizer.
Value: This is just my impression on how far my money went for what I got. I don't care about packaging, but I do care about included batteries, atomizers, juice, chargers, etc.
Durability: This isn't a new technology, so most items should be fairly durable these days. I've yet to come across a piece that I thought would break if I dropped it once or twice. But, I also consider every other part of the included kit.
Coolness Factor: For this rank, I pretty much ask myself if I think I'm going to look like a dork vaping the thing in public. And if so... how much of a dork.
Recommendations
I can readily recommend the Vapor4Life Vapor King for beginners and experienced users that want the simplicity of a two peice e-cig. You simply can't beat VPL's price for the performance and accessories you get.
For those looking at a 510 starter kit, I'd suggest you skip right to a Totally Wicked Tornado or Janty Ego.
Experienced vapers that are looking for a very small, highly durable and rugged looking 3.7 mod should be very happy with the PureSmoker Protege
For the traveller, I highly recommend the Revolver Elite or Vapor4Life Vapor King. The Elite's compact design and bulletproof atomizers and the Vapor King's rugged cases make them the perfect travel companion.
Edited to add picture.
Bloog
GreenSmoke
Cignot's Joye 510 (manual w/ PCC)
PureSmoker Protege
Revolver Elite
Totally Wicked Tornado
Vapor4Life Vapor King
From left to Right: (sorry no Bloog image) GreenSmoke, Joye 510, Revolver Elite (x2), PS Protege, TW Tornado with 410 atomizer/cart, V4L Vapor King
The rankings are based on months of personal experience, except for the Bloog (which I returned for a refund after 3 weeks), and the Tornado (which I purchased 3 weeks ago).
For a definition of the rankings, scroll to the bottom.
________________________________________________________
Bloog (Purchased 19 Oct 09)
Overall Rating: 2.0
Cost: $99.99 (free shipping)
Targeted User: Beginners
Pros: 2-piece design. Good looking e-cig. Really long cut-off on the auto batteries.
Cons: Pricey for what you get. I returned the device after a few weeks of trying it out because of poor vapor and flavor. The kit came with chocolate flavored carts and they tasted more like... blueberry pop-tarts?? I wasn't a fan of the charger either. I never knew if it the battery was fully seated until I plugged it into the wall. This is the only device that I've returned for a refund.
Vapor: 2.0
Value: 2.5
Durability: didn't use it long enough to make a fair assessment
Coolness Factor: 3.5
Suggested Flavors: I didn't experiment long enough with flavors on this e-cig to find one I actually liked.
Other notes: Compatible with Green Smoke Carts.
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Green Smoke (Purchased 13 Oct 09)
* Not to be confused with the GreenCig (two completely different companies)
Overall Rating: 2.5
Cost: $150.00 (free shipping)
Targeted User: Beginners
Pros: 2 piece design. The batteries last a long time for their size and are capable of producing some surprising amounts of vapor despite their 3 second cutoff. Also, the batteries have a texture on them that feels good between your fingers. The stock carts last a few refills, so the price comes down if you buy your own juice and refill the cartomizers.
Cons: The really huge con to this device is that it is expensive. Especially considering what you get, though it did get me off of real cigarettes within a week (these were the first e-cigs my wife and I purchased), it is just too expensive to justify maintaining.
Vapor: 3.5
Value: 1.0
Durability: 4.0
Coolness Factor: 2.5
Suggested Flavors: Vanilla and Chocolate, but mostly the vanilla. Most of the other GreenSmoke flavors had a burnt chemical taste or started having a funky soap-like aftertaste.
Other notes: Compatible with Bloog Carts.
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Joye 501 Manual Kit (Purchased 10 Nov 09 from Cignot)
Overall Rating: 4.0
Cost: $46.00
Targeted User: Intermediate
Pros: Simple design. Respectable vapor. Easy transition cig from 2-piece to mods. As far as I'm concerned everyone should own at least one Joye 510. Inexpensive--I found a great price at Cignot.
Cons: The first included PCC stopped working after less than a month of use, but was replaced. It's hard to come up with any other cons when my wife has remained utterly faithful to her Joye 510 since early Nov 09.
Vapor: 3.5
Value: 5.0
Durability: 4.0
Coolness Factor: 3.0
Suggested Flavors: Just about any DIYFlavorshack or EcoPure juice and Revolver Gold. My wife prefers Dawn's Mint Chocolate Banana Float (tastes a LOT better than I thought it would).
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PureSmoker Protege (Purchased 25 Oct 09)
Overall Rating: 4.5
Cost: $115.00
Targeted User: Intermediate / Experienced
Pros: The Protege is the Harley Davidson of small 3.7v mods. It is as solid as a tank. It feels great in your hand and it is a truly good looking device. Works great with both 510 and 401 atomizers (adaptor needed for 401). My absolute favorite 2 e-cigs are my two proteges.
Cons: The brass parts in the adaptor head need to be cleaned at least monthly to keep this mod a "vaping monster". The battery end cap has slightly loose threads that require a gentle touch to get started correctly when tightening. Some users have reported defective switches. One of my charger's cord had exposed wires after 2 months of use.
Vapor: 5.0
Value: 4.0
Durability: 4.5
Coolness Factor: 5.0
Suggested Flavors: I almost exclusively vape the EcoPure "Rich" blend in this e-cig with an occasional swap to one of my several Johnson Creek liquids. Most of my other brands and flavors are pretty good, but Johnson Creek and EcoPure liquids just seem to be made for this e-cig.
Other notes: PureSmoker has changed the Protege's pushbutton switch to a mechanical version. I ordered a mechanical switch to try out on my Protege, but was unable to get it to work consistently. They have a lifetime warranty on it, so I'm not in any rush to return it. In the meantime, I still use the electronic tact switches and they haven't failed me yet. Plus, I like the look of the metal button housing on the tact switch versus the plain plastic of the mechanical version.
Update: PureSmoker is listening to their customers. The brass is gone on the newly announced Protege V1.1 (replaced with stainless steel) and so is the plastic outer button and housing on the mechanical version of the switch. It's all Stainless. I ordered a V1.1 and will update the entire review after I spend a month with it.
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Revolver Elite (Purchased 12 Oct 09)
Overall Rating: 4.5
Cost: $60.00 (free shipping)
Targeted User: Intermediate users and Travelers who are light to moderate vapers. Heavy vapers should look elsewhere.
Pros: Designed for the light to moderate vaper-on-the-go. Great looking and super compact e-cig and PCC. The PCC holds a fully assembled e-cig while charging a second battery. The Elite comes with nearly bullet-proof atomizers (I'm still using the included ones after months of use). Solid vapor and flavor. I also really like the texture on the stock batteries. Plus, it is very inexpensive. You get a lot of bang for the buck in this kit. If you travel a lot, you need to Buy this kit.
Cons: You'd be wise to memorize how to reset your PCC. If it gets bugged out, you'll need to reset it. Batteries die quickly, but the PCC will keep the spare charging as you swap them out. Each battery last me roughly 3-4 regular cigs.
Vapor: 4.0
Value: 5.0
Durability: 4.5
Coolness Factor: 5.0
Suggested Flavors: Just about any of the DIYFlavorshack and EcoPure juices. I also like Strictly E-juice's Candy cane when flying on planes. People like the smell of it =D
Other Notes: I'm absolutely amazed at the vapor from this very tiny device. This little bugger can put out a lot of vapor once the atomizer is broken in. Vapor from the stock carts was ok, but vapor from my daily liquids is almost equal to my much bigger 3.7v mod. Though it must be said, I actually drip on these atomizers.
I never leave home without it. It's so compact and such a great performer, I simply take it (and my proteges) everywhere I go.
The carts are compatible with 401 style carts, but the atomizers are not.
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Totally Wicked Tornado (Purchased 28 Jan 10)
Overall Rating: Still testing (looking like a 4.0 or above so far)
Cost: $79.00
Targeted User: Intermediate
Pros: This acts more like a "mod", but in a commercial 3-peice design. A lot of users compare this to a "super" Joye 510 and that's probably the best way to describe it. The battery life is very long. The most notable difference is that the first and last puff from the battery hits and tastes almost the same to me. This is the first time I've seen any battery operate in this way. Also, one battery lasts me a day and takes about 4.5 hours to recharge when completely drained. Good looking e-cig and pretty solid. Works great with both 510 and 401 atomizers (adaptor needed for 401). Good price.
Cons: I really don't like the concave button. The button feels... odd. A flat surface would have been a better choice in my opinion.
Vapor: 5.0
Value: 4.0
Durability: 4.0
Coolness Factor: 4.0
Suggested Flavors: I would strongly recommend just about any of the Johnson Creek liquids with this e-cig, as well as, EcoPure Rich. I rarely use anything else with my Tornado.
Other notes: I've only had this e-cig for 3 weeks and I'm still undecided about whether it's going to stay in my daily rotation or not.
The Tornado comes with an atomizer cone. It actually changes the draw on the atomizer and changes the flavor of some liquids, sometimes it's a good change, and sometimes, not so much. I suggest trying out your favorite liquids separately with the cone on and off. For example, I really like the way my EcoPure "Rich" blend tastes without the cone.
Compatible with the Janty Ego.
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Vapor4Life Vapor King (Ultimate Ultimatum Manual Kit) (Purchased 31 Oct 09)
Overall Rating: 4.0
Cost: $90.00
Targeted User: Beginning users and Travelers
Pros: Simple 2-piece design and all the stuff you'll ever need for your e-cig in one kit... no kidding. Nice travel charger, spare carrying case, a pass through, etc. The PCC and carrying case look very cool and feel solid. Absolutely great value for your money. If you like KR-808 style e-cigs, you'd be crazy not to own one.
Pass-Through note: The Vapor King pass-through gives you some really warm vapor. This was my favorite part of the kit.
Cons: I ordered several flavors for my wife and I to try from Vaper4Life. I don't know if they had a strange batch, but most every flavor tasted the same. I don't blame the e-cig itself, but I wasn't pleased with the carts and liquids I received from V4L. Needless to say I couldn't find any flavor I liked from their store and gave up after ordering several.
Also, I really didn't like the "V4L" stamped all over the batteries, it makes the e-cig look cheesy. I'd rank this e-cig higher if it didn't look so goofy.
Vapor (battery): 3.0, Vapor (pass-through): 3.5
Value: 5.0
Durability: 4.0
Coolness Factor: 2.5
Suggested Flavors: Best to order blanks and try your current favorites (which taste pretty good in this e-cig) or search the VPL forums for liquid reviews.
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The Rankings:
All rankings are 1-5
Overall: The overall ranking is my impression on the complete kit, ease of use (for what I consider the targeted audience), and my basic happiness with the product. To get a 4.0 or above. I have to remain impressed and very happy with the device for at least a month.
Vapor: This is very subjective of course. I only use EcoPure "Rich" formula to determine my vapor ranking. For me, and with my style of vaping, this liquid is capable of producing massive amounts of vapor. Also, I only rate vapor on a freshly broken in atomizer.
Value: This is just my impression on how far my money went for what I got. I don't care about packaging, but I do care about included batteries, atomizers, juice, chargers, etc.
Durability: This isn't a new technology, so most items should be fairly durable these days. I've yet to come across a piece that I thought would break if I dropped it once or twice. But, I also consider every other part of the included kit.
Coolness Factor: For this rank, I pretty much ask myself if I think I'm going to look like a dork vaping the thing in public. And if so... how much of a dork.
Recommendations
I can readily recommend the Vapor4Life Vapor King for beginners and experienced users that want the simplicity of a two peice e-cig. You simply can't beat VPL's price for the performance and accessories you get.
For those looking at a 510 starter kit, I'd suggest you skip right to a Totally Wicked Tornado or Janty Ego.
Experienced vapers that are looking for a very small, highly durable and rugged looking 3.7 mod should be very happy with the PureSmoker Protege
For the traveller, I highly recommend the Revolver Elite or Vapor4Life Vapor King. The Elite's compact design and bulletproof atomizers and the Vapor King's rugged cases make them the perfect travel companion.
Edited to add picture.
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