STEAM CRAVE MESON AIO REVIEWED BY BIGBOB2322

[Bigbob2322]

Welcome back for today's review of the Meson AIO from steam crave that was provided to me from Sourcemore.This AIO is a real value having a postless and mesh deck included with the kit, plus a 2nd 5ml boro tank as well as 2 AFC front panels. Steam Crave products are always built like a tank and this AIO is no exception, this is a single battery desk kit in my opinion because of it's weight (Heavy ) and you have 3 battery sizes options to use ( 21700, 20700 and 18650 with provided adapter ). Lets first see what this AIO has to offer with some product information from Steam Crave then I'll give you my findings of it after using it with both decks and trying a single coil build in it as well for 5 days of testing.

COLOR CHOICES

IN THE BOX

• Steam Crave Meson AIO (with Mesh Deck and AFC Front panel installed)
• Spare PCTG tank
• Spare Postless Deck
• Full open front panel
• Spares bag with O-rings and screws
• 510 adaptor
• Mesh building tool
• 4x mesh strips
• 2x wire coils
• 2x mesh cotton strips
• 18650 battery adaptor (no battery included)
• USB Type C cable
• User manual

PARAMETERS

FEATURES


* Material: Zinc Alloy, Aluminum alloy

* Battery: Single 18650/20700/21700(not included)

* Output: 5-100W

* Output Voltage: 1.0-8.0V

* Temperature Range: 200F-600F/100C-315C

* Resistance Range: 0.1-3ohm

* Output Current: 40A

* Modes: Power/Voltage/TC(Ni, Ti and SS)/Bypass

* Thread: Spring-loaded 510

* E-juice Capacity: 5ml

* Package: Gift Box


THREE BATTERY OPTIONS

POSTLESS COIL DECK

MESH DECK

LEAK FREE 5ML BORO TANK

 

[Bigbob2322]

510 ADAPTER FOR EASY BUILDING

FIVE SAFETY PROTECTIONS

DEVICE OVERVIEW

FIRST IMPRESSIONS


I've said it before and I'll say it again, I believe in making a great presentation with packaging to start your journey off and Steam Crave does a great job of it with this AIO. This box has a magnetic closure on the lid, opening it shows most of the kits components is their own cut outs with the paper info underneath. You get so much in this kit making it a real value.

With all that's supplied you shouldn't have to purchase anything for some time (coils, mesh, cotton). Picking the device up I noticed the Steam Crave trademark of weight that's on all their tanks and devices, this to me shows a well built solid product.

I wanted to check out the boro tank inside so I pulled off the AFC panel and noticed it was made of metal and not plastic as the 2nd full open panel is, there's also a difference of color with the full open AFC cover being Black and the adjustable one being Grey.

Pulling the boro tank out is no different than others by removing the 510 drip tip and then using a coin to unscrew the locking nut. This boro tank has airflow inlets in front and behind using fins on each side to move airflow to the rear intake. The boro tank can be easily taken apart for cleaning by using a coin to unscrew it's locking nut also.

 

[Bigbob2322]

When reinstalling the boro tank make sure the Steam Crave name is in front because that's where the fill port is, There is a rubber plug on this boro tank and the fill port is nice sized for all bottle tips.

The mesh deck comes preinstalled on the tank shipped inside the device, pulling the deck apart from the tank was a real struggle feeling like it was glued, when reinstalling either deck to the tank put some juice on the decks O-ring so next time it won't be such a struggle pulling them apart. As you can see in the photo below there is no ceramic center and it's not spring loaded, the side mesh attachment post aren't spring loaded either. Steam Crave skimped on these 2 important features.

Starting out with the mesh deck I used the supplied bending tool with the 0.15 strip. As I stated earlier you really get a lot in this kit as far a building material, ( 3 types of mesh and a set of coils ).

Even though the side posts were not spring loaded it wasn't a big deal attaching the wire mesh. After it was attached I ran 13 watts though it in small pulses just to burn off any oils that may have been on it, you don't need a lot of heat just a faint glow of red will do just fine.

Not having a spring loaded center proved to be OK but there was a lot of back and forth with the wick, it kept getting hung up on the end of the mesh strip. You want to cut the wick tails just past the WICK WELLS.

Being rushed this day I made the mistake of thinking the juice feed wells were the wick wells and just as I was going to attach the deck to the tank I spotted my mistake, it wouldn't have gone together anyway but if it can happen to me it can happen to you as well. Our lives are so rushed these days we all need to slow it down a notch. I included a picture of my mistake.

 

[Bigbob2322]

Next up was the postless round wire deck with the 2 supplied coils, you need to cut the legs on a coil cutting jig such as the Coily Tool at 6mm, this is a very easy deck to build on. Having the supplied 510 adapter to attach either deck makes building on either deck a breeze, the 510 adapter is spring loaded if you can believe that.

The supplied coils are 2.5 mm and wick the same as the mesh, I also tried a single coil build with a 3mm coil and it worked fine just like the dual and mesh. I thinned out the tails on all my builds, remember to have a bit of wiggle room in the wick wells.

Lets go over the device now, you have the option of using a single 21700, 20700 or a 18650 with the included adapter. Having 3 options is great but I chose a 21700 battery for testing. For looks I think it does a nice job buttons are on the low side but I have no problem reaching them with my thumb of finger.

The fire button sits right below the boro tank opening with the adjustment buttons below it. Adjustment buttons even have - minus and + plus symbol on them, the USB-C charge port is below them leaving a nice clean non busy appearance to the device.

I know your saying where's the display screen, Steam Crave put the display screen on the bottom of the mod and I'm alright with that but they chose to go with a shiny chrome bottom and it's a big fingerprint magnet. Numbers and fonts are on the small side but readable.

I'm glad that Steam Crave went with a back cover that is like a C-Frame cover, the device has a spring loaded positive pin for the battery, the 18650 adapter is already preinstalled when shipped. Battery polarity symbols are marked inside in Black, wish they were painted White though.

You get 2 AFC covers in this kit, one has a airflow control dial while the other has no airflow control or covering on it and it's call the full open AFC cover. For appearance I like the adjustable cover but it's a tad too restricted for my liking but the full open is just right, I just don't like the empty opening appearance. I think a small window would have helped with it's look as well as making it the same Grey color of the device like the adjustable cover is, seems all colors get the full open cover in Black.

Being a single battery device it's maximum power is 100 watts and has many power modes

* Wattage

* Voltage

* TC - ( Nickle - SS - Titanium )

* Bypass


Navigating the menu is a easy process


* On/Off - 5 Quick Presses Of The Fire Button

* Change Power Modes - 3 Quick presses Of The Fire Button

* Puff Counter Clear - Hold Fire And + Button Simultaneously Then Choose

* Lock/Unlock Adjustment Buttons - Hold Fire And - Button Simultaneously





PROS


* Very Well Built

* Two Decks Included

* Two 5ml Tanks Included

* Six Mesh Stripes Included

* Two Round Wire Coils Included

* Two AFC Cover Plates Included

* Good Flavor

* Six Power Modes

* Three Battery Option


CONS


* Heavy

* Mesh Deck Isn't Spring Loaded

* Full Open AFC Cover Is Plastic

* No Wattage Adjustment In TC


FINAL IMPRESSIONS


In the time I've used the Meson AIO it never gave me any problems using any deck, I will say that surprisingly I liked the postless deck with a single coil build the best. Airflow isn't the smoothest but it's not bad either, no chop or slop with it.

I would not take it out on the road because of it's weight but on my desk it fits right in. I'm very surprised that Steam Crave chose to skimp on the mesh deck as far as not being spring loaded in the center and side attachment posts, as I said earlier it works but being spring loaded would have been a better and easier experience.

The postless deck works just fine for single or dual coils and I'm glad there's a 510 attachment for both decks. As far as flavor goes it's good, I would say average with all builds I used.

Having super easy menu is another plus but not being able to adjust wattage in TC will make TC users not happy, I only vape in wattage mode thankfully I feel this was a skimp for TC users as well.

I have enjoyed using the Meson AIO and it will stay in my personal rotation of devices for some time. I would like to thank Kavis and Sorcemore for sending the Steam Crave Meson AIO for my review and I hope I answered all your questions.


THANK YOU
BIGBOB2322

 

[hittman]

Great job covering everything Bob! Very good review!

 

[Frenkyou]

Nice review Bob

 

[Bigbob2322]

Great job covering everything Bob! Very good review!

Nice review Bob

Thanks Hitt and Frenkyou, this one was pretty lengthy but there was so much to cover.