Is vaping changing for me?

With my recent acquirement of the Lost Vape Orion Q and various nic salts, I have found myself increasingly partial to the quick, no-nonsense approach that this type of vaping offers.
I'm not supposed to vape inside where I live, however the discreet nature of MTL pod vaping leaves little to no evidence when used stealthily.
So, in the last few months, have got a whole host of different devices.
Currently, my top 3 would have to be:

Lost Vape Orion Q

Aspire AVP

Artery Pal II

The Wismec Luxotic Surface

Possibly one of the smallest single 18650 regulated squonkers out there, the Luxotic Surface still packs a hefty punch.

This mod comes in a variety of sleek and whimsical colour schemes and the one that I received was a stunning pattern of black and purple.

In terms of size and weight, this kit is a mere 131.8 grams and has a height of 78mm and a width of 25.5mm. It has a simple yet well-designed shape, and it fits very nicely in the palm of your hand.

The Surface boasts a substantially sized and soft squonk bottle, that has a capacity of 6.5ml, reducing the frequency at which you will need to refill. It is crafted out of food grade silicone.

As I mentioned previously, this kit is a single 18650 device, and can comfortably reach wattages of up to 80 watts. The Surface has simple up and down buttons to adjust the wattage and is displayed on a 0.49inch OLED screen.

One of the things I most appreciated about this mod was the number of different output modes there is. Not only do you get the standard variable wattage mode, but also a bypass mode and several temperature control modes.

In terms of a readable coil resistance range, the Surface can handle anything between 0.05ohms, all the way up to 3.5ohms.

Now, despite this device's small stature, it still has the incredible potential to pack quite a punch. I have been using a single coil BF RDA, running at 0.35 ohms and pushed up to 50watts. You really do get a decent, flavourful and warm vape at these settings.

Even running at 50watts, and using it rather consistently, I found the battery to last a fair amount of time.

Another feature I noticed and appreciated, was the removable base, allowing you to easily and safely remove the squonk bottle to refill it reducing the risk of leakage or spillage.

Probably my favourite thing about this mod would probably be the minute nature, as it fits perfectly in a handbag or pocket, making it ideal for being out and about.

Overall, a fantastic piece of kit, suitable for both vaping veterans, as well as vapers who are looking to start squonking.

I would like to thank UKVB for sending this device out to me to review.

Eleaf iTap Pod System

Pod systems are all the rage at the moment in the vaping industry, and rightly so. They are small, discreet, user friendly and can appeal to both seasoned vapers, and newcomers alike.

The iTap from eLeaf is an ideal option for MTL vaping, as well as tight DTL inhales too.

SPECS

Size: 20.0*16.0*102.3mm

Weight: 42.7g

Liquid capacity: 2ml

Battery capacity: 800mAh

Output wattage: 30W max

Resistance range: 0.4Ω-3.0Ω

BOX CONTENTS

1×iTap battery

1×iTap cartridge

1×GS Air S 1.6ohm Head

1×GS Air 0.75ohm Head

1×QC USB Cable

1×User Manual

The iTap is a simple to use yet effective pod system designed with great care and includes features such as replaceable coil heads, adjustable airflow and dry burn protection.

The iTap currently comes in 3 colours, matte black, blue and a brushed silver.

Battery-wise, the iTap boasts a decent 800mAh internal battery, and seemed to last me about half a day of moderated usage. A light indicates battery level, as follows, a green light means 100%-60%, blue is 59% - 20% and red is 0%-19% .

Ergonomically, the mouth piece is very effective, and it's relatively unique shape proves to be extremely comfortable when inhaling. It is an average size in terms of pod systems, and fits nicely in your grasp. There is a satisfying weight to this kit, and does not feel flimsy nor too bulky.

The iTap can take GS Air coils, and the GS Air S 1.6ohm coils are constructed using SS316L, meaning that is ideal for MTL vaping, and high nicotine eLiquids. One of the defining features of this kit would be the way it utilises a dry burn protection when vaping, reducing the risk of getting a burnt coil.

The base of the pod itself features an adjustable airflow ring, making both tight and loose draws possible. Personally, I enjoyed using the tighter inhale, as it increased the throat hit.

The pod has the standard 2ml capacity, and is conveniently filled through holes in the bottom.

Eleaf has decided to include some important safety features on this kits, including, over charge protection, over discharge protection, over current protection, 15s cut off and short circuit protection too. 

Overall, the iTap was a great all rounder if you are looking at purchasing a pod kit. Lets have a look at the positives and negatives I came across...

Pros

There was a satisfying hit when using the 1.6ohm GS Air coil

I really appreciated the adjustable airflow

Flavour was decent, even for a MTL setup

Cons

Battery life was not amazing, however it charged fairly quickly.

It would have been nice to have a slightly larger selection of colours

With thanks to UKVB for sending this kit to me to review honestly and pragmatically

*LIQUID REVIEW* Logic LQD

A widely available line of eliquid, Logic is ideal for mouth to lung vaping. I received 10 flavours to review, all are in 10ml bottles, and come in a variety of nicotine strengths ranging from 6mg all the way up to 18mg.

Blueberry (6mg, 12mg)

A straight forward, fruity flavour, there is no unnecessary complicated additions to this particular eliquid. It has a rather full on flavour that offers a decent amount of juicy blueberry notes.

Berry Mint (6mg, 12mg, 18mg)

This is definitely one for the menthol fans out there. There is a pleasant and aromatic mix of ripe berries, closely followed by an icy kick of menthol on the exhale. The berry notes seem to be quite sweet, and the sharp menthol definitely compliments the softer berries.

Forest fruits (6mg, 12mg)

A delicious blend of sweet and slightly sour berries. This eliquid offers a mouthwatering vaping sensation. It is pleasant in the fact that you can actually taste the different fruity notes in this eLiquid. I felt it came across as very moreish, and I appreciated the powerful edge of sour fruit.

Cherry (6mg, 12mg, 18mg)

Again, a very simple yet popular Flavour in the vape world, this cherry eliquid offers vapers a chance to vape an uncomplicated yet incredibly effective flavour. The cherry is both ripe and sweet, I didn't really notice much of a sour edge to it, although it still came across as a solid flavour.

Strawberry (6mg, 12mg, 18mg)

Possibly one of the most popular flavour profiles out there, this strawberry eLiquid gives vapers a solid, sweet and wholesome taste that does not diminish over time. The strawberry in this eLiquid sort of reminded me of a strawberry chewy candy, as it was sweet and tasted very full on.

Tobacco (6mg, 12mg, 18mg)

Most popular with new vapers, tobacco is an incredibly diverse flavour profile. Obviously, tobacco flavoured eLiquids are not exclusive to new vapers, and their popularity continues to increase over time. This eLiquid is both mild and earthy, and this makes the flavour very palatable, and difficult to tire of.

Chai latte (6mg, 12mg)

Immediately, you are met with a wonderfully fragrant yet delicate tea flavour. As you begin to exhale, a warmer, creamier flavour becomes much more noticeable. Overall, a rather unique flavour that will certainly impress.

Vanilla Cream (18mg)

A favourite of mine, this eliquid is both rich and decadent. You get a smooth, sweet (but not overly so) texture of vanilla, carefully concocted with soft cream. This flavour will be an absolute hit with vapers who have a sweet tooth.

Pear Mint (6mg. 12mg)

A sweet and juicy pear is met with a powerful, icy mint note. They combine to create a refreshing and unique flavour, that is sure to awaken and revitalise your taste buds. The menthol elements really cause the pear notes to pop, and vice versa, the pear mellows the mint out a little bit, this makes this eLiquid a very easy to vape flavour, as it doesn't come across as being sickly.

Menthol (6mg, 12mg, 18mg)

Arguably one of the most widely vaped flavour profiles within the vaping industry, Menthol is incredibly popular. This take on the icy favourite is both flavourful and potent. You can expect a cool exhale, leaving a pleasant and icy sensation in your throat.

TOP OF THE VAPES APRIL 2019

MOD - The Ultroner X Vapouround 'Aether'

POD SYSTEM - The Lost Vape Orion DNA

E-LIQUID - Screwball by Daily Vapes

This month I found this rather difficult to do, as I have tried so many new flavours, RDAs and mods. Pod systems have been playing a large part of my vaping at the moment, that is why  I chose to add that category this month. Without a doubt, the mod of the month has to be the Aether. When it came to e-liquids, there have been lots to choose from. However, after seeing lots of other vapers on social media talking about Daily Vapes, I decided to at least give them a go. The price is rather incredible, and the flavours are not too sweet, something I personally enjoy. I thought I'd give it a special mention for those reasons!

*HARDWARE REVIEW* The Ultroner X Vapouround Aether Squonk Mod

A wonderful collaboration between Ultroner, A manufacturer of bespoke high-end mods, and Vapouround, a worldwide and highly regarded vape magazine.

The Aether is an absolutely stunning piece of kit, you can immediately tell that the individuals responsible of designing this mod spared no expense. It is crafted mainly out of stab wood, therefore each mod is slightly different. The Aether comes in a variety of colours and patterns, and mine is a gorgeous green and blue. This device is also been designed with aluminium, giving it a sturdy, lightweight and practical edge. It weighs just 108g (without juice, batteries or an RDA) Despite being a light device, it still has a robust feel to it.

The shape of this mod also feels great to hold, as it matches the way you would naturally grip with your hand.

The Aether is a single 18650 device and has a wattage range between 5W – 80W. It can support resistances from 0.1 ohm up to 3.0 ohms, leaving you a wide range to build coils to your preference.

I found this device rather easy to use, 3 clicks of the fire button to switch it on, and + and – to adjust the wattage. Despite being just an 80W mod, I still felt a very substantial hit when inhaling.

Probably one of my favourite things about this device would have to the way that the squonk bottle itself has been designed. Rather than the typical squeezey bottle, this one needs a little more pressure to feed the liquid through to the RDA. That in itself is a definite plus, as it reduces the likelihood of accidental squeezing. However the best thing with the squonk bottle/mechanism, in my opinion, would be the way you uninstall the bottle. All it requires to take out and fill up the bottle is to push in the base of where it is, and twist it clockwise. This unlocks the bottle, allowing it to be pulled out from the device itself. In order to fill it up, there is a sturdy, knurled edge on the top. All you need to do is twist it, and pull it off to reveal a very generously sized hole to fill up with your favourite e-liquid. This is a really well thought out feature, as it lessens the chance of leakages, especially on such a special mod.

Since these are limited edition, stab wood mods, their price is a little on the high end, however, I feel that they are worth every penny if you are after a totally unique, well made and high performing device. Also when compared to other similar mods on the market, you will probably find that the Aether outperforms them both in quality and in price.

Overall, a magnificent, ergonomic, aesthetically pleasing and exceptionally well-crafted device. If you are looking to buy this mod, make sure you grab one whilst you can, you will not be disappointed!

*NEW JUICE REVIEW* Oranjizz

One of the latest additions to the already impressive range of eLiquids from Vaperstar, Oranjizz is a super fruity and super refreshing summertime vape (but still great all year round!).
When inhaling, you are met with a full on punch of fizzy orange soda, that makes your mouth water. The orange has a sweet, and ever so slightly sour element to it, making it a real pleasure to vape.
You can really appreciate the unique nature of Oranjizz, as I found it retained the splendid set of flavours throughout the whole vaping process, from inhale to aftertaste, this juice was spot on.
It is quite rare to come across an eLiquid that you don't get overwhelmed or bored by, however, after vaping Oranjizz solely for about 3 days, I never felt that it came across as too intense nor did it become dull or flavourless at any point.
As a high VG, eLiquid, Oranjizz was a hit when it comes to cloud production, quickly filling the room with delicious smelling plumes of orangey goodness!
In summary, I felt that this eLiquid brought a whole new level of flavour to the table, an intensely fruity and revitalising set of tastes that will be especially popular with vapers who enjoy strong and flavourful eLiquids!