Why I don't like the new Aurora BFT - a newb review

[Vwls]

Hi fellow vapers!

I'm a little over two months in to my new life as an ex-smoker / current vaper. I've graduated from CE4's (hated them - twirl, tilt, twirl - GACK - dry hit! - ACK) to Protanks and Davides (very reliable and easy - thumbs up), to carto tanks (really like them - easy once you get the carto itself filled correctly), and of course, I've dripped into a standard atomizer as well. Love, love the dripping experience, but I don't like having to keep re-dripping. Annoys me so much and also, I can never seem to anticipate when it's time to re-drip... always end up getting one nasty, disgusting, metallic, Sahara-desert hit at the end of the cycle.

I love the idea of getting the pure flavor goodness of dripping in a setup that keeps feeding juice to the coil with never a dry hit in between. So naturally, when I heard about the Vision Aurora, I was like - YES! Sounds perfect... just a little squeeze, and voila - back in business. Not to mention extremely affordable and no need to buy a box mod (they sound great, but I don't like the look).

So I jumped online and bought an Aurora as quickly as I could (from a UK distributor - this was before they were available here in the US).

First impression/unboxing... . The purple is pink. The plastic bottle is aesthetically challenged. Also the bottle is way too small. The too-long, light saber look is hard to get used to. Even with a converter piece, can't get it to fire on anything but an eGo battery... disappointing. But all that is neither here nor there... could live with it.

The real problem is the vape.

The first few hits were nice... really nice.

But then something started happening. Something bad.

When I flip it upside down, squeeze, flip it right-side up, and let go, I do hear the little slurpy-sucky noise telling me that I did it right. BUT, pretty much every time... the first 3-4 hits are filled with the dreaded....

In other words, every time I squeeze, it floods, and turning it right side up before releasing does NOT suck all the extra juice back into the bottle.

Perhaps I just got a bad unit. (I did try all the options that came in the box - same issue.) Maybe my little plastic bottle isn't screwing into the threads all the way. Maybe there's a flaw in the neck or rim of the bottle, so it's not airtight, therefore causing the "suck-back" to be compromised. Maybe I just have a crappy squeezy technique.

But whatever it is, I have to work through flooded hits, not mention some spitting of hot juice droplets up into my mouth from time to time, to get to a decent hit.

So folks, I obviously can't recommend the Aurora; it's being officially retired tonight (along with about 15 bottles of juice I can't vape). No biggie - didn't cost much to find out. But I wanted to share my experience before too many ran out to buy one.

Happy vaping my friends - may all your hits be extraordinary.

 

[Rickajho]

I feared it was too good to be true. Or at least practical. Couldn't get past the "squeezy bit way up there, rest of PV way down there" design concept either. I haven't done any baton twirling since grade school.

Waiting on the next Vapage sale...

 

[The Ocelot]

I feared it was too good to be true. Or at least practical. Couldn't get past the "squeezy bit way up there, rest of PV way down there" design concept either. I haven't done any baton twirling since grade school.

Waiting on the next Vapage sale...

I haven't tried a Vmod, but are they a gravity-feed system? One of my bottom-feeders is gravity fed and it is a very different squonk than the Reo. I like it, but it's definitely different.

 

[Maggiemw]

I have a pretty green one, also from the UK, but am not having a gurgle-gurgle hassle.

I've just taken mine out again to see if I can MAKE IT GURGLE, and I have been able to: if I tilt-fill it too often, before all the liquid from the previous fill was used up, and if the vapour condenses in the tube if I am chain-vaping. I'm using the tube configuration for this experiment.

You are definitely going to think I'm OC, ( and I am,): I've just used my itaste puff counter to count how many puffs I am getting between tilt-fills: right now I'm up to 34 fairly long (6-8 seconds???) puffs, with no gurgle after the first 2-3 (only a little bubbly sound) and letting the thing rest and de-condense every so often. I'm an old lady and draw fairly softly but at length. Technically, I'm at 3.4 volts, 6.5 watts and vaping mostly PG.

There is definitely a small gurgle after a tilt-fill for the first 2 or 3 mouthfuls of vapour, but then it goes away, at least it definitely does on mine. I just try not to fill it too often, fill it with a really gentle squeeze, and let it de-condense every once in a while.

I really hope this helps!

 

[Maggiemw]

I haven't tried a Vmod, but are they a gravity-feed system? One of my bottom-feeders is gravity fed and it is a very different squonk than the Reo. I like it, but it's definitely different.

Would this be gravity-fed? You tilt it, squeeze the bottle ever so gently, bring it upright so that the excess re-enters the bottle from above, and vape.

I also find that 2 or 3 really short puffs before the long ones gets rid of any lingering gurgles at the beginning of a new series after a tilt-fill.

I seriously enjoy mine- the flavours are superb - but I also imagine that people have very different draw styles and if they start sucking hard on the thing, it is not, not, not going to be too satisfactory. In comparison with a PT2 or a clearo, it's a lot lighter draw.

 

[InTheShade]

I haven't tried a Vmod, but are they a gravity-feed system? One of my bottom-feeders is gravity fed and it is a very different squonk than the Reo. I like it, but it's definitely different.

Yes, you have to tip and squeenk not squonk. A squonk gets a flooded atty really, really quickly. It has to be a real gentle squeeze while righting the device. Or you can tilt, wait for a bubble, right the device and squonk - but it takes longer (like a second or so...)

I'm used to the VMOD now, but even so, I occasionally get a vape-awful dry hit when I am not paying attention to what the atty is telling me. i also get a flooded atty when I try to do more than one thing at once - like if I am typing on here for example. I find myself squonking while tilting and that is no good. I've actually had liquid come pouring out of the drip tip before.

On the whole though, I really like my VMOD, it's still the main device I vape (over 98% of the time) and would recommend it.

I've not used the Aurora, but I am kind of thinking it might be a combination of finesse and a possible faulty feed system due to prototype.

 

[Rickajho]

I have a pretty green one, also from the UK, but am not having a gurgle-gurgle hassle.

I've just taken mine out again to see if I can MAKE IT GURGLE, and I have been able to: if I tilt-fill it too often, before all the liquid from the previous fill was used up, and if the vapour condenses in the tube if I am chain-vaping. I'm using the tube configuration for this experiment.

You are definitely going to think I'm OC, ( and I am,): I've just used my itaste puff counter to count how many puffs I am getting between tilt-fills: right now I'm up to 34 fairly long (6-8 seconds???) puffs, with no gurgle after the first 2-3 (only a little bubbly sound) and letting the thing rest and de-condense every so often. I'm an old lady and draw fairly softly but at length. Technically, I'm at 3.4 volts, 6.5 watts and vaping mostly PG.

There is definitely a small gurgle after a tilt-fill for the first 2 or 3 mouthfuls of vapour, but then it goes away, at least it definitely does on mine. I just try not to fill it too often, fill it with a really gentle squeeze, and let it de-condense every once in a while.

I really hope this helps!

It sounds like the difference between your experience and Vwls's could come down to: a poorly made 9 cent bottle. If the threading on the bottle is trashed you probably don't get the draw back into the bottle that you need.

Which leads to one of the biggest questions/problems with this product: Where do you get a replacement bottle for it?

 

[InTheShade]

I haven't done any baton twirling since grade school.

You can tell the truth Rick, you are among friends now...

Waiting on the next Vapage sale...

They had a 33% sale this last week - but I know you are waiting for the 50 - me too. Need to stock up on atomizers.

I'm still interested in this aurora though, maybe I will wait for one on the classifieds

 

[Rickajho]

You can tell the truth Rick, you are among friends now...



They had a 33% sale this last week - but I know you are waiting for the 50 - me too. Need to stock up on atomizers.

I'm still interested in this aurora though, maybe I will wait for one on the classifieds

I'm annerd - I signed up for the mailing list right after I missed the last 50% off sale - never got any notice about this 33% sale. Looks like I need to try again.

 

[InTheShade]

I'm annerd - I signed up for the mailing list right after I missed the last 50% off sale - never got any notice about this 33% sale. Looks like I need to try again.

I'm sorry Rick, I said I would PM you next time they have a sale and I didn't. Maybe it was a few weeks back and I am confused, but I remember seeing a 33% code off. Perhaps it's because I've spent some money with them, I don't know.

I'll PM you next time I see one sir.

 

[Maggiemw]

It sounds like the difference between your experience and Vwls's could come down to: a poorly made 9 cent bottle. If the threading on the bottle is trashed you probably don't get the draw back into the bottle that you need.

Which leads to one of the biggest questions/problems with this product: Where do you get a replacement bottle for it?

I am leaning towards a question of how VWls draws on hers, and how often she retilts-and-fills, and whether there is a condensation build up. I'm thinking technique rather than hardware, but I may be very mistaken, obviously.

I know from past posts and threads that we got ours from the same batch, bought within 24 hours of each other, from the same supplier, thus I'm not convinced it's the bottle.

As I've said elsewhere, I would feel a lot better using this every minute of the day (it's that good) if I knew where to get replacement parts...I've emailed the UK supplier and am waiting for a reply.

 

[Rickajho]

I'm sorry Rick, I said I would PM you next time they have a sale and I didn't. Maybe it was a few weeks back and I am confused, but I remember seeing a 33% code off. Perhaps it's because I've spent some money with them, I don't know.

I'll PM you next time I see one sir.

'kay - thank you.

Then again, maybe it is you. You bet your bippy I was watching for Labor Day sales. Like I said, I got nuttin' via e-mail. And if there was a Vapage LD sale no one posted it in Steals & Deals either.

Lotto places actually didn't run LD sales this year that had previously.

 

[InTheShade]

'kay - thank you.

Then again, maybe it is you. You bet your bippy I was watching for Labor Day sales. Like I said, I got nuttin' via e-mail. And if there was a Vapage LD sale no one posted it in Steals & Deals either.

Lotto places actually didn't run LD sales this year that had previously.

You know that smilie says pervy when you hover your mouse over it right?

 

[Rickajho]

You know that smilie says pervy when you hover your mouse over it right?

Why, I had no idea! "brickbrat" or "raspberry" is just too verbose for a smiley.

 

[peraspera]

I get heavy crackling with no gurgling right after feeding using the included atty with the four Aurora's I have no matter how aggressively I squeeze the bottle. I get excellent vapor production which doesn't happen with a flooded atty. Same story with Cisco spec atties. I'm finding that the Aurora does a much better job of feeding the atty adequately and more easily than my VMOD-XL.

However, I do get gurgling with both the heads that are used with the tube thingy with my first one. I haven't tried the head/tube combo thingy in my others. You might want to try another atty to see if the included one is responsible for the gurgling.

I wonder if you are missing one of the sealing rings on the collar or if they are faulty in some way. There are two that are on the inside of the collar, one and the top and one on the bottom. There is also an o-ring on the outside.

 

[jrenae4]

I have really wanted to buy and try one of these as dripping is my new favorite thing! I would prob have sucky squeeze technique too though

 

[Vwls]

I'm up to 34 fairly long (6-8 seconds???) puffs, with no gurgle after the first 2-3 (only a little bubbly sound) and letting the thing rest and de-condense every so often. I'm an old lady and draw fairly softly but at length. Technically, I'm at 3.4 volts, 6.5 watts and vaping mostly PG.

There is definitely a small gurgle after a tilt-fill for the first 2 or 3 mouthfuls of vapour, but then it goes away, at least it definitely does on mine. I just try not to fill it too often, fill it with a really gentle squeeze, and let it de-condense every once in a while.

I really hope this helps!

Thanks - that is a very insightful contribution. One issue is that I do not take soft, ladylike hits lol. I am... enthusiastic haha.

 

[Vwls]

I do get gurgling with both the heads that are used with the tube thingy with my first one. I haven't tried the head/tube combo thingy in my others. You might want to try another atty to see if the included one is responsible for the gurgling.

Yes good idea. I will try the one that came with my Provari - I think that's a fairly decent one?

I wonder if you are missing one of the sealing rings on the collar or if they are faulty in some way. There are two that are on the inside of the collar, one and the top and one on the bottom. There is also an o-ring on the outside.

LOL I don't see even a single o-ring... anywhere. Forgive my ignorance, but which piece are you calling the collar? The outermost small piece that goes on last and screws on to the base to protect from leakage? Or the piece that the plastic bottle screws into? (Either way, no o-rings on mine )

 

[peraspera]

Yes good idea. I will try the one that came with my Provari - I think that's a fairly decent one?


LOL I don't see even a single o-ring... anywhere. Forgive my ignorance, but which piece are you calling the collar? The outermost small piece that goes on last and screws on to the base to protect from leakage? Or the piece that the plastic bottle screws into? (Either way, no o-rings on mine )

It's the piece the the bottle screws into. If there is no o-ring and the two washers it's no wonder you are having problems!!! I'm surprised it worked at all.

 

[stevegmu]

I like the concept of the Aurora BFT, but it looks like it is cheaply made out of poor quality materials- like most made in China products. I'm sure someone will take the same concept and develop a quality bottom-feeder that will be worth trying out.