When I first started vaping I started with an Ego-T kit. Pretty basic stuff, with no power adjustment or anything like that on the battery. Not long after I started I remember those spinner batteries was released where you could twist the bottom to adjust the output voltage. Don't think I had many of those cause I soon moved on to mech mods and genesis atomizers, and then, in time I decided to try out some of the many regulated box mods that started to hit the market. I still mainly use regulated devices in all different shapes and sizes, except tube shaped ones. When I think of it it has been ages since I used a tube shaped mod or battery. So I guess it's about time I try one then.
They've got just one button, no power adjustment, just 5 clicks to turn on or off. Many of them are quite big as well, like 22-25 mm diameter, and some come with pretty crazy sub-ohm tanks in the kit as well. Kind of like an ego battery on steroids... with bad-ass tanks and with a normal 510 connection. Come to think of it, the 5 click on/off and the basic shape is probably what is left of the Ego heritage. The SMOK Stick V8 Kit that I'm reviewing today is one of those kits. It's name makes you think of big ass car engines... so you'll expect some serious power from this, right?
In the box
- Smok V8 Battery
- Smok Big Baby Beast
- V8 Baby-M2 Core (0.15 ohm) (installed)
- V8 Baby-M2 Core (0.25 ohm)
- USB charging cable
- Bag of spares (O-rings and sealing pad)
- Vape band
- User manual
- Dimensions: 24.5*75mm
- 3000mAh Battery Capacity
- Voltage Range: 3.4V - 4.2V
- LED Battery Life Indicator
- Stainless Steel Construction
- Stainless Steel 510 Threads
- Spring Loaded 510 Pin
- Micro USB Port (Charging)
- Dimensions: 56*24.5mm
- 5.0mL Tank Capacity
- Stainless Steel Construction
- Glass Tank Section
- Dual Cyclops Adjustable Airflow
- Top Fill System
- Wide Bore Delrin Drip Tip
- Swivel Action Top Fill
Look and feel
The kit comes in 7 different colors as far as I know. I've got the black one, which I think looks pretty good. Personally I could use the red and the silver one as well. The whole kit feels pretty solid, no button rattling at all and the airflow control and top filling is nice and smooth. Not too loose and not to tight. Overall a nice looking tube-style kit that seems to be pretty well built.
In use
The kit is indeed very easy to use. The mod has only one button and the standard 5 clicks to turn it on and off. It is also supposed to have an intelligent battery indicator system that according to the Smok website will have the ring around the fire button flash 4 times whenever you take a puff and then 15 times once your battery is below 3.3V and it's time to charge. Mine just lights up when I take a puff though. However, if I unscrew the tank it will blink 4 times once I hit the button. Not quite sure how this is supposed to indicate how much battery I have left, maybe the speed of the flashing or something like that. Now I've had limited opportunities to do more testing on this, as the battery seems to last me the whole day anyway.
The tank of course has the swivel action top fill system that we know from all the TFV tanks, which works great. Easy to refill on the go with no risk of fumbling and loosing your top-cap in the toilet or something stupid like that. Not that this has ever happened to me. The airflow control is nice and smooth, and the tank is easy to take apart for cleaning and changing coils. I've had some minor leaking issues right after refilling though. Not quite sure what to do about it, but it's not a huge problem. Only happens if I fill it and then leave it without vaping a bit on it before I put it away.
Performance
This thing performs pretty damn good to be honest. The battery output depends on the current state of the battery and is supposed to range from 4.2 to 3.4 V. Then there is also a 20A continuous discharge limit and it is supposed to give you 30-45W according to ... the internet. All this, again according to the internet, is called smart mechanical style output, which I don't really have the exact details on and I haven't done any testing either. What I do know ... is that the battery delivers a perfect amount of power for the included V8 Baby-M2 Core coils that are supposed to be designed for this output system. You'll get a lot of vapor and great flavour from this setup, and the battery time is awesome. It lasts me all day, at least now when I can't vape inside at work any more.
The 0.15 Ohm head will give you bigger clouds, obviously, and the 0.25 is supposed to give you more flavour. I haven't really tested the flavour head to head, as I've used the two heads with different juices, but it makes sense. I have to say I am impressed and a bit surprised by how great this kit performs both when it comes to flavour and vapor.
Pros and cons
+ Great performance
+ Great battery time
+ Great flavour
+ Extremely easy to use
+ Price
- Battery time indicator system
Conclusion
Again... I'm impressed with the power, performance and flavour of this kit. It's also quite nice to vape on a tubed shaped device for a change, as it is a bit more handy than the box mods I usually carry around. You get a lot of fun for your money (NOK 429,00 at nosmoke.no) with the Stick V8 kit, so if you're looking for a powerful, flavourful and extremely easy to use kit I recommend you give this a try.
Thanks a lot to nosmoke.no for making this review possible.
- All my reviews are my honest opinion even if I am affiliated with the company manufacturing or selling the product.
- This product was sent to me for free for the purpose of this review.
- This review does not contain affiliate links.