Review: iCare from Eleaf

I remember my first cig-alike... it had an "automatic switch", which meant that it did not have a button but draw activated. This was of course to imitate the smoking experience as much as possible. Some of the battery models back then came in two versions as well so you could choose between the automatic switch and a button to activate the device. I guess this was like 4-5 years ago, and a lot has happened since then. I for one have moved on to a lot more advanced devices, and I usually build my own coils, cause it gives my a much better vaping experience. More vapor and better flavour. Now to me, building coils and changing cotton is just a part of vaping. Sure there are build-decks that can be challenging, I can build more or less advanced coils and can use quite some time to experiment with different devices, but I can also do this pretty quickly if I need to. This all comes from experience and having gone through more and more advanced devices step by step. Different people stop at different points as well. Some move on all the way to making their own super-advanced wires, others stop at clearomizers, while others again think that changing coil-heads in sub-ohm tanks is advanced enough. As long as you're happy with your vaping experience, and thereby manage to quit or stay off the cigarettes, that's fine.

To a smoker wanting to try out vaping as a quitting strategy, however, simplicity is kind of crucial. Of course geeks exists that would jump straight to sub-ohm tanks and high powered regulated mods, but I think that is the exception. For most people, the chances of success will increase with ease of use. I believe that is also one of the main goals of the eLeaf iCare that I'm reviewing today. When I was asked to do this review I thought that "this is not a device for me"... and I stand by that. It's not. But I think it's very important that we don't forget the first time vapers, current smokers looking for a way to quit, so I decided I'll do my best to put myself a few years back and have a look at the device from that point of view.


In the box

• The eLeaf iCare
• 2 IC 1.1 Ohm atomizer heads
• USB Cable
• User Manual

Specifications 

• Size: 30mm*14mm*75mm
• Output wattage: 15W max
• Resistance range: 1.0-3.5ohm
• E-liquid capacity: 1.8mL
• Battery capacity: 650mAh
  

Look and feel

The iCare is a tiny device. Pretty much the size of a cigarette lighter, and it doesn't weigh much more either. It is indeed, like eLeaf say themselves, kind of cute. It has no buttons and no screen, only an indicator light inside the tank to indicate battery status when you activate it or charge it.


In use

This is where I'll try to put myself in the shoes of a smoker that has never tried vaping before. The iCare is indeed quite simple to use. It is however important to read the user manual before you start using it, cause there is a couple of things to be aware of. Alternatively, have someone show you how to use it (unless you live in the US where this apparently is not legal). Once you've learned a couple of things though, it is indeed very easy to use. First thing to be aware of is that little rectangular hole at the bottom of the top cap. This works kind of like a tool to unscrew the pipe and atomizer head from the device when you're filling it or changing coil-heads. Then there is the air-control ring that you need to adjust before you screw the thing together again. You also need to be aware of the Max line and don't fill your tank above that line, or you will make a mess when you insert the pipe and coil into the tank again. Finally, make sure to drip a few drops of juice in the atomizer head before you use it for the first time or it will probably be burned. None of these are particularly advanced tasks... just important to be aware and once you know about them, the device is indeed very easy to use. I do actually believe my mum can handle it (she struggled quite a lot with the cig-alikes I got her cause they needed cartomizers to be refilled), although I think she'd need some explaining cause I highly doubt she'd read the manual :)

Charging and cleaning this is also pretty simple. Charging via a USB cable and cleaning is done by just rinsing in water I guess. Not many parts to clean though, I just poured some water into the tank and shook it a bit, and then rinsed the pipe with water and blew into it to get the water out again.


Performance

To be honest, saying something about the performance of this device when being used to 50W+ vaping and RTAs is kind of difficult. The flavour and vapor production is of course nowhere near what I'm used to. On the other hand, from what I can remember from back in the days when I first started out, the eLeaf is miles ahead of the devices I started out with. It's suited for mouth to lung vaping, which is great for people used to smoking. The flavour isn't that bad... I mean I put some pretty strong tobacco juice in there and tastes pretty awesome compared to a cigarette. Vapor production as well, not that bad and would probably be pretty good if you're a smoker. To get some throat hit from it I guess you need some stronger nicotine e-juice than what I've got right now.

Battery life on this isn't that bad either. The battery is only 650 mAh, but then again, it doesn't put out more than max 15W so it will actually last for a while.


Pros and cons 

+ Easy to use
+ Easy to clean
+ Perfect for smokers looking to quit
+ Small and easy to bring along (about the size of a cigarette lighter)
- User manual could have been better.
- A little gap between the top-cap and the device (on mine at least)


Conclusion

The eLeaf iStick is aimed at smokers wanting to quit by vaping. And I think they've managed to create a device that is simple enough to use, and that performs pretty well for it's tiny size. I don't have any problem recommending this to first time vapers, but I'd also recommend using it with e-juice that has quite a lot of taste and high nicotine content. In fact, I think I'll give my sample to my mum with some 24 mg strong tobacco and see if that does the trick. It's certainly worth the try at only $13.20.

Thanks a lot to Abby at heavengifts.com for sending this device for review.

 
Disclosure:

• 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 free of charge for the purpose of this review
• This review contains affiliate links.