Trying to finalise vape setup choice primarily for flavour rather than clouds

[3N1GM4]

I'm trying to decide what mod/tank to buy as a 3rd time vaper and hope people here might be able to help me.

I've tried vaping before a couple of times. I bought a Innokin iTaste SVD 2.0 mod about 18 months ago and found it to be pretty good (if a little bulky/long) and got myself almost entirely off cigarettes as a result. I then lost that (long story) and grabbed an Innokin Endura T22 which I found ok, but a bit lacking in a few respects (not surprising given the price).

After taking some suggestions in the other thread I started, I've looked into a few different options and came pretty close to buying the eLeaf Pico kit with the Melo III tank as it seemed to be a very good all round device with a compact form factor and decent functionality (temp control for example). The one downside seems to be that it can only support tanks up to 22mm diameter, so I did also take a look at the Pico 25 which can obviously support larger tanks, but I've fallen into a wormhole of paradox of choice and am struggling to decide what to get!

I was also assuming I would be looking for a device geared towards DTL vaping, but after further research it seems that this is more likely to be helpful for vapor production rather than flavour, which is what I'm more interested in. If MTL vaping is generally better for flavour as seems to be the case, are there other considerations as well? I think I'm right in saying that MTL is likely to have reduced liquid usage compared to DTL but I *think* that nicotine absorption is meant to be more pronounced with DTL, so should I look at slightly higher nic juice if I end up MTLing?

While I'm on juice, is it also the case that a higher PG liquid is likely to be better for flavour than high VG? I've read that a 50/50 mix is a good place to start for flavour, perhaps pushing up to 60% PG or higher (with the inherent impact on less vapor production and strong throat hit that comes with this)? Seems most juice I see these days is high VG and high PG is harder to come by.

I'm also keen to get a tank with as large a volume as possible/appropriate as I'd rather not have to refill more often than necessary - does a larger volume tank have any effect on flavour? I've read about how airflow positioning (below coil best for flavour), drop tip bore style (narrower better for flavour), coil/atomizer diameter (narrower better for flavour) and some other factors can affect flavour as well.

So what mods and tanks (or complete kits) and juices would people recommend for someone returning to vaping who is not a complete noob (having done it a couple of times before for a few months) and values flavour over clouds, as well as being interested in larger volume tanks? I'm ideally not looking to spend more than £100 right now, but any suggestions would be welcome. A lot of requirements I know, but it seems most stuff I find online is geared up for people who want a massive wattage sub-ohm setup to blow massive clouds, rather than those of us who might want more flavour... Or should I just go for the Pico (or Pico 25) and be done with it?

 

[Leo Bak]

There DLH tanks with lots of flavour and MTL tanks with only little flavour. I'd choose DLH or MTL, preferred tank capacity, amount of flavour, then first get a tank that suits you and later pick any mod that can accomodate it.

 

[stols001]

Well, you have a lot more options if you don't buy a kit to start (I did for my first vape, but that was decades ago). You are correct with most of your assumptions here-- DL causes more nic absorption more quickly, so you will need less nicotine but you'll run through WAY more juice and batteries, as you are likely to vape it higher. I use my Aspire Cleto for sub-ohm at 6 mg only if I need to vape quickly for whatever reason. (I vape around 30--40 watts that tank is great but it does drink juice, and it wasn't a good first choice, this time around, so then I got a Nautlus 2 which has been great, and you can use a range of coils from 1.8-- 0.7 (I enjoy both those coils, actually). PG should increase flavor, many in house and online vape shops will allow you to adjust PG/VG percentage, along with nicotine level. When I'm MTL I'm at about 18 mg of nicotine, and I use far less of it. That's not really a consideration, but it's what I like.

If you want flexibility down the line, I'd personally get a 2 battery mod, there are several good ones on the market now, for not too much money though you are then dealing with having to buy batteries and a charger, and that will increase your startup costs. That said, if you switch to DL down the line, you'll be able to use either tank, down the line, though you can certainly start with a single, USP charging stick, that will be lighter and some of them are quite powerful and adjustable (and, for most tanks, you can use either tank as well). It's really personal choice.

Good luck and happy vaping! Wishing you success on quitting this time!

Anna

 

[Eskie]

As Leo pointed out, there's no fixed way for flavor. You can go mtl or dl and still get great flavor. Yes, with dl there will be more cloud but if you are comfy with that, fine. I prefer dl mostly as I like the loose draw but I use mtl setups as well.

As to a mod, the Pico 25 seems like a great choice. I like the regular Pico but felt limited by the tank size. I have no experience with it and it is new to the market and not sure if it will be as reliable as the original. Not a knock, just the short time on the market. I have zero idea about the tank included with the kit, but if you don't like it you have a ton of options available, especially as you can now fit larger tanks as well.

 

[RainSong]

Pico and melo tank kit was where I started and I found it to be a great way to start vaping. I've moved along from there but feel confident recommending it as a starter mod. I still have 3 of them floating around between me and the hubby as secondary setups, gave another one away to a smoker looking to try out vaping.

I'm also primarily flavor over cloud, I mix my own liquid at a 60VG/40PG ratio and at strengths from 6mg-12mg.

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

Pico & Melo will set you up very well. The Melo is designed well enough for you to do both DL and MTL, and the Pico has the power to drive the tank hard enough to produce big clouds if you want that on occasion.

One thing though--both styles of vaping are good at delivering nicotine, but DL consumes more liquid. Big clouds are thirsty! You'll almost certainly need to DL lower nicotine juice.

A lung full of vapor is satisfying and kinda takes the place of throat hit gotten from MTL and higher nic concentrations. Both deliver flavor well.

 

[Layzee Vaper]

If you want to save some cash and can wait for a while you can save quite a bit on UK prices by buying direct from china.
I have got vape gear from Fastech and 3Fvape.
I have been looking at these for a MTL vape....

$32.67 Authentic Joyetech eVic VTwo Mini 75W TC VW APV Box Mod - 1-75W / 200-600'F(100-315'C) / 1*18650 / stainless steel at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

$11.82 Kayfun Mini V3 Styled RTA Rebuildable Tank Atomizer - 2ml / 316 stainless steel + glass at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

will be under 40 quid!

 

[RainSong]

If you want to save some cash and can wait for a while you can save quite a bit on UK prices by buying direct from china.
I have got vape gear from Fastech and 3Fvape.
I have been looking at these for a MTL vape....

$32.67 Authentic Joyetech eVic VTwo Mini 75W TC VW APV Box Mod - 1-75W / 200-600'F(100-315'C) / 1*18650 / stainless steel at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

$11.82 Kayfun Mini V3 Styled RTA Rebuildable Tank Atomizer - 2ml / 316 stainless steel + glass at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

will be under 40 quid!

I would call this a darn good vape but wouldn't necessarily recommend rebuildable atomizers as a first step without someone stating that's where they want to start.

 

[Cosmic_Glaze]

Think about this before you jump on the Pico 25 kit. Yes it is a 25mm device but the coils for the tank are best at 45-65w. With only a single 18650 battery it's not going to last very long. A dual 18650 mod might be something to think about if you want to vape at those watts. The original Pico kit comes with the Melo 3. (Many different coil options) one is the .5 ohm coil. You can vape that at 30-35w. Your battery will last longer. Just something to think about.
The Pico 22 is a great mod, I have a few of them, but I have a KF5 on one and a Nautilus 2 on the other. At 18w I can vape all day on one battery.

 

[Layzee Vaper]

I would call this a darn good vape but wouldn't necessarily recommend rebuildable atomizers as a first step without someone stating that's where they want to start.

Fair enough....

They also do a kit with a tank... you can use pre built coils or get a RBA head for this if you want to wind your own later on.

Comes with a couple of TC coils and 1 VW coil to get started.

$36.49 Authentic Joyetech eVic VTwo Mini 75W TC VW APV Box Mod Kit - Cubis Clearomizer / 3.5ml / 1-75W / 200-600'F(100-315'C) / 1*18650 / stainless steel + glass at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping

I only really suggested the Kayfun V3 min as it gets loads of good reviews regarding flavour.

No idea if the tank with the kit is any good or not, as I have used drippers/squonkers exclusively for the last 4 years or so.

 

[Langdell]

I share your preference for flavor over vapor production, and my recommendation for a tank that fits the bill is the Aspire Nautilus. (My experience is with the original, full-sized version, not later variations such as the mini version or Nautilus X, or whatever. So the original, just plain "Aspire Nautilus" is the only one I can speak to.) I first discovered the Nautilus three years ago or so, and it has given me the best and most consistent flavor experience of anything else I have tried before or since (including other Aspire products like the Atlantis and Cleito). So that's my two cents/tuppence.

And pretty much any device out there should fire the Nautilus fine. My main set-up these days is a single-18650 mech tube mod, which fires it like a champ. And I have also fired it from a Cuboid and from ego-style batteries, etc., with fine results.