Ukeman's Opinion: on the Vapage Hybrid Shifu (1.5 Ohm)....
I hope you don't mind AG for me barging in here with my opinion....
I was so surprised at how good the flavor is on these!
Up 'til now I have used Avidvaper's Aero (1.5 only but good cool vape for an LR and one you can use on any 3.7 device) on my bottom feeders; Reo Grand and VMod XL.
They (the Aero) have a smooth draw, full vapor, and close enough of a good flavor, but not quite HH357 standard for flavor.
In other words, I considered them the closest to a 357, and at $12 a pop, that makes them worth it.
Now comes the Shifu Vapage Hybrid.
Up to now, Vapage Hybrid was not one I would even look twice at -- (I've been a Hanna 357 fanboy for a few months and Hanna has revamped my whole outlook on vaping since. I no longer "require a VV" for ultimate vaping; and it's the flavor of the 357 that makes the difference.)
The Vapage Hybrid V1 just didn't measure up imo... although I might not have given them enough of a shot other than the ones that came with the XL and a couple i had acquired a while ago.
I was tipped off by Fernand, vaping guru from the VMod XL thread, that the multiple wraps of the coil of the 357 (along with the Venturi and wicking design) allows the juice to form a solid line of vaporization resulting in (my words) the ultimate in vaping pleasure.
The Aero, on looking at the coil is designed that way, and i figured that because Hanna hand builds his vs. machine build ( i assume) of the Aero, there was the difference in the flavor quality. HH357 score a 10 out of 10. Aero score an 8 out of 10.
Now the Shifu comes along with the same coil design and similar wicking (not sure about the venturi i am NOT a tech guy to say the least), AND a tilted coil (and anything else that skinny did to it).
The flavor was right there!
No off taste that i experienced in breaking in the Aero. The vapor and draw are superb too.
I immediately ordered 4 2paks (50% discount available - that's 50 off of $8.99 ! good grief !).
Nuff said?
I hope they last a good long time, but for almost a third of a HH357, uhh it's almost a non issue (that's how jaded i have become).
I say it's all about flavor, and thank goodness the vapor production and draw are perfect.
* btw, some of us have experienced a tight draw with the XL mod with it's juice chamber and collar design. I have to loosen everything from the atty, the collar, the cone, to make it have not such a tight draw.
the Shifu has like 4 (?) slots at the bottom of the body vs 2 air holes at the upper side of the connector for the Aero, but it performs perfectly on the Reo Grand with it's open drip well.
iMO this should be dealt with by the VMod folks.
So on the Shifu (on the Reo with perfect draw and vapor) it's a 9 in flavor to the 357 10 ... that's just too close to call ( ican't believe I'm saying this).
Bottom line, TOO CLOSE TO CALL FOR NOW... I'm interested in how it all pans out.
