January 2014 - Where did it go?

This is an apology post, more than anything else...

This month has been sooooooo busy for me, that I've hardly had time to sleep or poop for that matter!  LOL!  :)

I've got so many things going on in my life right now, that I've had to prioritize!  I know that sounds either cliche or perhaps even like a cop-out, but I swear it's true!  I'm praying that February shapes up to be a little bit calmer, so that I can start cranking out the reviews...

And speaking of reviews (and building on my last post for 2013) I think I'm going to shift the focus of this blog to EXCLUSIVELY reviewing eLiquids AND "Cigarette" look-a-likes.  There's so much you can do with being able to variably adjust everything, from  your battery to your coil to your type and size of wick, but there's also a HUGE contingent of "converts" that isn't having it.  Too many people are plunking down their $79.95 for an eGo-C, iTaste or a Vision Spinner kit and then having a horrible experience, that they're giving up and going back to the Marlboros...

And there isn't ANYBODY catering to OR trying to help build or develop this market (aside from Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds).  And trust me when I say that neither one of them cares one bit about what you or I think about eCigs or how they should be made or function.  Furthermore, don't be too surprised when you see more and more places around the world BANNING the use or sale of eCigs, primarily because one of the above 2 companies have thrown their weight (and their money) at making it happen.

I've tried on 4 separate occasions to get them to comment or offer me something to test and to date, they've refused (or ignored) all of my requests.  Apparently 15-18k readers every month (and consumers for that matter) aren't enough to get either of them interested.

In the mean time, I've got about 8 U.S. based eLiquid makers contacting me every month for me to try their stuff for review.  And I'm so backed up, that I've put off asking ANY of them for anything.  And for that, I apologize.  I'm going to make a concerted effort in the next week or so to get a few more eLiquids in here to test.

As an aside, on New Years Day (at 12:01AM ET) I grabbed the stats for the month of December, so there's still a TOP 10 post for December 2013 needing to be written.  Sigh...

Seriously, thanks to everyone who reads, who comments and who contacts me.  In the secular world, success should not be measured by how much money you make or how many friends you have...  It should be measured by how well you do, whatever it is you do.  And you'll know whether or not you're doing it right, by how often you're asked to do, whatever it is that you do so well!  ;)

Keep your eyes peeled...  O_O
More to come!

Wanted for 2014 + Happy Holidays

So let's go ahead and call this a wrap-up post for 2013.  Sure, I've got the Nemesis clone and the VW kick being tested as we speak, but I've got something that I really want to find in 2014...

A CIGARETTE SIZED & SHAPED ECIG THAT'S WORTH USING!
(eCig and eShisha, eHookah products included!)

Sigelei #19 Mechanical Mod Review

This review has been on the back-burner now for months!  As a matter of fact, I announced that I'd be reviewing it "soon" back in June 2013!  Sorry about that...

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Shenzhen Sigelei Technology Co, Ltd. is a Chinese manufacturer of many eCig and Vaping related products.  Everything from drip tips to atomizers to APV's and MODs.  Best known for their ZMAX product line, their catalog of Mechanical Mods is not only impressive, but growing!

Upcoming Reviews for August 2013

Being the "log watcher" that I am, I try and determine what people are looking for and I see if it fits into the category of something I would personally want to have or use.

One of the things I see, are hundreds of searches for "Tobacco Flavored" eLiquids.

If you've read my original review about Hangsen eLiquids, I sampled mostly non-tobacco related flavors.  In this upcoming review, I'm going to review these 6 Tobacco Flavors:

Arabic Tobacco Flavor
Cigar Flavor
Cubana
Eastern Tobacco Flavor
Indian Tobacco Flavor
Marlboro Red Flavor

Update 8/26/2013: The Hangsen Tobacco review is UP!  Go get it HERE...

And as a bonus and something I'm sure you've come across in your eLiquid travels....

Vitamin A Flavor eLiquid

Update 8/28/2013: The Vitamin A flavored eLiquid review is UP!, Go get it HERE...

I have no idea what this is.  I can't find any reviews on it anywhere, so I figured I'd be the first.  Keep your eyes peeled...

Hangsen has many flavors to choose from (more than 200 from what I understand), but since money doesn't grow on trees, I have to be somewhat selective when I bring in new devices and eLiquids.

Update 8/16/2013: After months of teasing you, the review for the Sigelei #19 review is being put together as we speak.  Keep your eyes peeled for a revealing and insightful review on Sigelei and this Mechanical Mod!

Update 8/23/2013: The Sigelei #19 Review is UP!  Go get it HERE...

Also (and I eluded to this in a recent post), Tasty Vapers! is now averaging in excess of 11,000 Unique visitors every month and with that kind of readership comes opportunities for sponsorship and other relationships to be formed with makers and sellers alike.  And while I'll never take a penny to review a product, I expect to see more products made available to me at no cost.  Free is always nice, but good reviews only come from honesty, not from money.

As always, thank  you for your support, thank you for your comments and thank you for Liking it, Tweeting it, Sharing it, +1ing it and telling your dog about it, etc...  ;)

Without the support of your dog (errr, you), we wouldn't be where we are today!  ;)

Tasty Vapers! - 6 Month Celebration

6 Months ago I was smokin' like a chimney and absolutely oblivious.  I couldn't have cared less if I got cancer, emphysema or any other health related problems or diseases associated with Analog Cigarettes.

As of yesterday, I've been cigarette free for 180 days and I've avoided more than 7,200 stinkies! I don't know about you, but I think that's quite the accomplishment, especially because I'm not even aware that I did anything.

This Blog was inspired by the idea that other smokers needed an outlet to obtain and attain knowledge about both the pros and cons to eLiquids and Vapor producing devices.  And thanks to readers like you, you've actually made what I have to say relevant.  People not only appreciate honesty, they demand it!  You have my solid promise to never take a single penny, pence or fen from any company whose product (or products) that I don't absolutely love!  And if you've been reading, you know there aren't too many of those!  ;)

This Blog now reaches more than 10,000 readers every single month and as a thank you to each and every one of you, I have eJuice producers and hardware makers and sellers communicating with me and all I can say, is get ready to enjoy some savings!

Hopefully by the end of this month (I did say hopefully), I'll have my very first DEAL featured right here and exclusively @ Tasty Vapers!

So keep your eyes wide open for what's sure to be some incredible deals!

And please, if you appreciate what I'm doing here, by all means, please continue to Like it, Tweet it, Share it, +1 it, tell your dog about it, Blog about it, or otherwise post about it!  I promise you that I am absolutely beside myself, just knowing how much these posts mean to you.

And if you wouldn't mind, PLEASE VOTE in my anonymous poll, it's for a really good cause!

Thank you once again, and hey, post some comments.  I get too many private comments sent to me and not enough public ones.  Consider it your way of saying thank you, but out loud.  In case you didn't know, I've enabled anonymous comments, so no account is required to post one (or two, or three)!

CE4 & CE5 - Stardust Review

UPDATE: Please participate in our anonymous POLL.  It's for a really good cause!

If you started Vaping within the past 2 years, there's a really good chance that you started out with a "Stardust" Atomizer.

I consider this my "most overdue" review, because I left these puppies back in the dust ages ago.  I left them in the dust because I could never get a CONSISTENT Vape out of them and I most certainly was never able to get ENOUGH Vapor out of them either.  However, for millions of people, these either are or were the very first Atomizing device they purchased.

Review: 6 eLiquids from Hangsen

Of all the things that I've been complimented on, my thoroughness and the ability to "tell it like it is" have been the most prominent.  I want you to understand this, before you read this review...

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Today, I'll be reviewing 6 eLiquids from Hangsen.  Before I begin (and especially if this is your first time reading my reviews) I want you to understand my rating criteria.  Unlike some "website-magazines" that shall remain nameless, I don't require that vendors send me free stuff, so you can be sure that I'll give it to you straight...

KamryTech X10 Review

UPDATE: Please participate in our anonymous POLL.  It's for a really good cause!

Before we begin, I want to make a statement....

I am an American.  As such, I would always give a U.S.A. Made product the first chance.  As the product that I'm reviewing is a direct competitor to a product that is already made in China, I see no issue.  As with most things, "may the best man win".....

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So today I'll be reviewing a direct competitor to the Kanger ProTank...
It's called the KamryTech X10...

Some of you might be curious as to why I would want to review this particular item.  The answer is simple.  While the ProTank is currently my favorite device, the thing that makes it my favorite has nothing to do with the design of the ProTank.  It's all about how it performs...  The thing that makes it perform, is not the body of the ProTank... It's the engine!

SmokTech Octopus Review

NOTICE: OBJECTS IN PICTURES ARE SMALLER THAN THEY APPEAR

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So this is a review and a documentary.  It's a review, because you're going to learn a lot about the SmokTech Octopus Dripper and it's a documentary, because this is my FIRST RDA and even though I've learned a lot from using Genesis style atomizers, working with a dripper (as I'm told) is a whole new experience.

 

Review: 5 eLiquids from Mount Baker Vapor

If you've been Vaping for more than a few months, you've probably heard someone refer to MBV, MtBakerVapor or Mount Baker Vapor.

I've heard the name repeatedly, but I've also heard it in reference to flavors I'd never go anywhere near.  Those of you who follow me, know that I keep away from peaches and mangoes and anything "perfumey" smelling....

Review: 3 eLiquids from Alien Visions

UPDATE: Please participate in our anonymous POLL.  It's for a really good cause!

Even with the AVE website running amuck, Alien Visions is still managing to at least get some orders out the door. ^_^

In this review, I'm hoping to find out if Boba's Bounty is a fluke, or if Alien Visions actually has what it takes to be THE go-to guys for eLiquid.  In the spirit of full disclosure, one of these eLiquids is SOLD BY AVE, not made by them.

Kanger ProTank Review - Followup

UPDATE: Please participate in our anonymous POLL.  It's for a really good cause!

So a couple of weeks ago I wrote a glorious review of the Kanger ProTank.
Today I want to do a followup review, now that I've had more time to use it.

WANTED: REALLY GOOD ELIQUIDS!

Is it really too much to ask, for a quality made eLiquid with a STRONG and PRESENT flavor?  Is it really too much to ask for an eLiquid with a GOOD and LASTING flavor?  Is it really too much to ask for an eLiquid that is CONSISTENTLY and RELIABLY made?

Review: 3 eLiquids from Dekang

UPDATE: Please participate in our anonymous POLL.  It's for a really good cause!

So with a 2 out of 3 score against boutique eLiquid makers, I've decided to "import" 3 fruit flavored eLiquids directly from China.  I figured it would be an excellent test to see if maybe China can do something that we can't...

Upcoming Reviews for June 2013

So due to a decision I made a week ago, the CCVapes.com eLiquid review has been delayed and will appear on this Blog either 5/31/2013 or during the month of June...

Update 5/31/2013: The CCVapes Review is up!.

Upcoming review #1: Sigelei Mechanical Mod #19

Everybody and their grandma has an opinion on these, I happen to think that this mod is a real diamond in the rough, but only placing one into my hands can confirm that.

Update 8/23/2013: The Sigelei #19 Review is finally UP!

Upcoming review #2: I'll also be doing a re-visit on the Kanger ProTank.

Update 6/3/2013: The ProTank followup is now online Here!

Upcoming review #3: I'll be reviewing 3 different Dekang fruit flavored eLiquids, right off the boat from China.  I've had an excellent experience with the Tobacco flavors, I'm very interested in how well they pull off fruity flavors.  At $6 for 30ml's it's hard to pass up the opportunity.  If they're good, I'll be thrilled.  If not, I can't compain...

Update 6/2/2013: The Dekang review is now online Here!  And I did complain!  :)

Upcoming review #4: 3 new eLiquids from Alien Visions!  They're back online again!  If they can only get their website issues sorted out...  Does AVE have what it takes to make everything delicious, or is Boba's Bounty a fluke?

Update 6/11/2013: The AVE review is now online... Catch it HERE!

Upcoming review #5: I decided that I needed an RDA (a dripping type of rebuildable atomizer) to be able to get all of the nuances of the different flavored eJuices that I'm reviewing.  I've got an SM2.0 (also referred to as an SM20) on its way from China, and I've got to tell you that I'm really looking forward to this build!  Can anything really taste any better than my Kanger Protank?  We'll just have to see!

Update 8/23/2013: The Review for the SM2.0 has put put on permanent hold.  Maybe you'd be interested in the SmokTech Octopus?

Use the "Follow" link on the side of this Blog to be notified of updates...

I won't be spamming you, as I'm 99% certain that I don't get your email addresses...

Update 6/11/2013 - Additional Updates for June 2013 are HERE

Update 6/13/2013 - More Updates for June 2013 are HERE

(images used above sourced from http://www.sigelei.com & http://www.google.com)

Quit Smoking Analog Cigarettes Yet?

It's hard to believe that:

a. I haven't smoked more than FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED cigarettes
b. That I've become "one of those people" who is disgusted by the image above

Tobacco free for just over 100 days now, and to be quite honest I'm not aware that I feel any different.  People have a tendency to overcompensate when they repent of something they shouldn't have been doing to begin with.  You know, "look at me, look at the great thing I've done".  It's their way of getting others to compliment and help to motivate themselves.

I don't need a pat on the back.  I'm pretty sure that I never needed to be told that placing a small, cylindrical stick filled with chopped and crushed tobacco leaves, that's wrapped in a piece of paper coated with formaldehyde (also known as embalming fluid and it's used to slow the burning process of the paper) between my fingers, lighting it on fire and then putting it up to my lips and inhaling the resulting micro-particulate ashes into my lungs CAN'T POSSIBLY be a good thing.

Quite honestly, I'd probably still be smoking those disgusting things if it weren't for eCigs!

Have you given those nasty things up yet?
Do you want to?

It could help to make your remaining days on this rock more comfortable...
And if not yours, then perhaps someone that you love very much...

Finding an easy to use and reliable way to do it is why this Blog is here!

Use the link on the right side of this page to follow this Blog...
Use the buttons below to share it on FaceBook, Twitter & Google+


(image used above sourced from www.google.com)

Alien Visions: Boba's Bounty Review

UPDATE: Please participate in our anonymous POLL.  It's for a really good cause!

I heard about "Boba's Bounty" within days of becoming a Vaper...

I didn't know what it tasted like, I didn't know where to get some, but I knew that it had developed a following like nothing else has in the land of eCigs and Vaping.  In other words, I knew I was going to have to get some at some point.

SmokTech Natural + RSST Kit Review - Followup

UPDATE: Please participate in our anonymous POLL.  It's for a really good cause!

So I've received a whole bunch of communications from people in different places asking me to do a followup review on the SmokTech RSST leaking issue. (the original review is HERE)

When I first setup the RSST, I had one small "snag"...  The lower isolator (the one in the 510 connetion) would not come out.  When I say "would not come out", I mean to say "I didn't want to force it out".

I've been wondering if maybe it wasn't seated correctly and perhaps that was causing some leaking.  Although in retrospect, any leaking is ORIGINATING from the top, but regardless, I wanted to make sure.

So I took apart the whole unit and very carefully got the isolator removed.  Upon which I discovered something new.  The upper and lower isolators ARE NOT THE SAME, which means that THEY ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE.

So I took my time, carefully cleaned and inspected each part and put it back together.

3 hours later, I had my first signs of leakage, so reassembly is not the solution...


Added 5/26/2013: I have pretty much stopped using this RBA.  Its flavor reproduction is a 2 out of 10.  If your taste buds are dead due to so many years of smoking, you probably won't notice.  So if that's the case, and if you can get past the dripping 510 connector, the RSST Vapes really well.

IMPORTANT: If you're thinking about getting an RBA, because you're trying to get a better more consistent Vape, then perhaps you should check out the Kanger ProTank FIRST!  It's half the price of the RSST, Vapes like a dream AND it produces great flavor!

Next, The Natural...

I went ahead and ordered 2 different kinds of protected batteries (which I'll be reviewing soon).  

Update 6/8/2013 - The Battery Review is UP!

I now know that protected 18650 batteries WILL NOT WORK IN THIS UNIT.  Why won't they work?  Well, they won't FIT, they're TOO LONG.

As you can see from the image above, you CAN force a protected 18650 battery into the unit, but you're going to have some problems making everything "fit" correctly.  For the purpose of this review, I went ahead and unscrewed each part of the tube a little bit at a time, until I was able to fit everything together.  I'm not happy though.  I don't like how it feels in my hands AND I happen to think it looks stupid.

My recommendation: Don't use protected batteries in this device unless you're willing to purchase the extended tube (which I don't even know for certain will work.  according to the ST website, that tube is to support 18500 batteries, so that might not even be a real option).  If you're worried about using unprotected batteries, then don't get a Natural.

So that's my SmokTech Natural + RSST Kit Review - Wrap-up.  

As always, I hope you find my reviews, opinions & advice helpful...

I recognize that everyone's mileage may vary, so whatever you use, as long as it's not a cigarette, it's a great device!

If you appreciate what I'm doing here, you know what to do....
Like it, Tweet it, Share it, +1 it, tell your dog about it, etc...  ;)

SmokTech Natural + RSST Kit Review

UPDATE: Please participate in our anonymous POLL.  It's for a really good cause!

Critical Updates to this review can be found HERE

So I've had this kit in my possession now for a few days and I hate to say it, but this is going to be a mixed review.

Upcoming review: SmokTech - The Natural + RSST Kit

As we speak, I am awaiting the arrival of my first "Mechanical Mod"!

This is a matched-set that includes 2 products from SmokTech...

1. The Natural (supports 18350/18650 batteries)
2. The RSST (which is a very exciting rebuildable)

Update 4/9/2013: Review is UP!
Update 4/16/2013: Follow-up Review is UP!