Firebrand Firebolt Review
September 30, 2011 by kevin · Leave a Comment
| Arrival | 3 days |
| Nicotine Levels | 2 |
| price | $19.99 |
Packaging and Presentation 3/5
The Firebolt by Firebrand comes in a black or white (depending on flavor) box, the same dimensions as your standard cigarette pack. Unfortunately, the flip-top isn’t actually there, it’s just a normal flap that comes open. You can also modify foam inserts in the box to hold your one battery, three cartomizers and charger at easy access. The box benefits from Firebrand’s sense of graphic design, which pulls it off better than other similar cigarette-pack boxes. More importantly, it has all the necessary information right on the front and the back so you know exactly what you’re purchasing.
Battery/Responsiveness 4/5
Being a disposable kit, the Firebolt battery is impressive in that it gives you multiple charges, which is part of where the “semi-disposable” comes from, I’m assuming. It also looks and feels like a normal 510 battery, which is pretty awesome considering how large and awkward other disposables have to be, as they aren’t rechargeable. This also helps avoid any bad experiences, as any one-charge disposable can lose its charge under the right conditions, resulting in a fully displeased customer. It’s highly responsive and is vented enough to allow for an exceptionally easy draw, too.
For the range of disposables out there, this is probably as useful and easy to hold as you’re going to find at this price. Especially considering disposables as mostly going to be for those who aren’t really familiar with e-cigs, nothing will turn those off more than a big, awkward unit, especially one that’s potentially drained.
Vapor/Flavor 3/5
This is the area where I had to remind myself that this unit was a disposable and for less than 20 bucks, because I was fairly disappointed. It could’ve been that I was just simply to used to the amazing vapor production that you’ll get with every single other Firebrand product. The vapor production is just simply less than spectacular here. This may be due in part to the extra venting on the battery allowing too much air to pass through the unit before it picks up vapor, but it felt like the cartos were largely responsible. The cartomizers have the same look and feel of the Hellfire or Cyclone cartomizers but they fall very short of their vapor production. It’s by all means useable and you get a decent amount of vapor, but it’s night and day compared to other Firebrand products. The flavors were actually quite good, the tobacco was shockingly so. But they probably would’ve been even better if the cartos could’ve produced enough vapor to let them shine, so it’s overall just an issue of vapor production. With all that being said, I may be guilty of nitpicking here by comparing these cartomizers to the quality ones that Firebrand has become known for. However, it’s fair to say that if this unit shipped with two or three Hellfire or Cyclone cartomizers instead, it would be the best disposable/semi-disposable on the market by far.
Overall 3.5/5
The Firebolt semi-disposable from Firebrand is sensible in its price and convenience. It’s certainly not trying to sell itself as, or be a higher end product. If you’re new to electronic cigarettes and want to get an idea without taking the plunge, this will give you an adequate introduction for less than twenty bucks. It’s a great, affordable gift for someone who you’d like to see try out vaping, too. In terms of the vaping you’ll get from it, it’s certainly worth that compared to the price of cigarettes, depending on where you are. The kit could see some improvement in its cartomizers but aside from that has everything else going for it where other disposables don’t. Overall, probably won’t satisfy the experienced user but a good buy for the beginner, it really doesn’t get much cheaper to try e-cigarettes than this.
Nicotek Metro Reviews
September 26, 2011 by Blake P · 8 Comments
| Arrival | 1-3 Days |
| Flavor | 2 |
| Nicotine Levels | 2 |
| price | $74.95 |
Packaging & Presentation 3.5/5
Nicotek is the spiritual successor to previous NJOY products, and it has a lot in common with it’s previous iterations. The presentation and packaging is much better than NJOY’s however, and while it’s not the highest quality materials it’s certainly store shelf ready. Their accessories are small but effectively packaged in their box along with a metal carrying case, 2 batteries, and cartomizers. The carry case itself looks nice but really isn’t durable or easy to carry around. The cartomizers themselves were shrink wrapped, and I had a bit of a rough time getting through it. This could be a fluke though, or my own personal fault for being a finger nail biter, so I won’t hold it against them.
Battery/Responsiveness 3.5/5
Nicotek’s biggest claim to fame is the life of their batteries. They claim that they can go for 2 days before needing to be recharged. This is of course going to vary on your personal patterns as a smoker or ecig user. I didn’t get that kind of life out of it, although it is a pretty long life and not a problem at all. They do also recharge quickly which is a bonus. They’re quite responsive and I never had to drag more than once to get it going.
Vapor/Flavors 4/5
The Metro’s best feature in my impression was the vapor itself. Their cartomizers produce a lot of vapor, though the flavor is pretty standard. It’s not weak by any means, but I’ve certainly tasted better from similarly priced kits. Nothing too outstanding, but it’s definitely good production for what you’re paying.
Overall 3.5/5 (Not An Average)
The Metro from Nicotek is certainly an improvement over the design we’ve seen from kits like NJOY in the past, but it still isn’t top of the line. The price tag on it is a little more than some other kits out there that have better overall value in their flavor and battery life. On the other hand, you get plenty of vapor production, a decent battery and a whole bunch of cartomizers for your money, so it’s still a great buy for starters. It’s definitely nice to see improvements to the old formula, but more work must be done to put it on par with other comparable kits.
Firebrand Cigs (Brand Diablo) Reviews
September 17, 2011 by Blake P · 3 Comments
| Arrival | 3 days |
| Nicotine Levels | 4 |
| price | $59.99 |
Firebrand Phoenix Millenium
Presentation/Packaging 4.5/5
The Phoenix Millenium is Firebrand’s 510 entry to the ecig world, and it comes in like a lion. The branding and presentation is pretty solid overall, but you might just be distracted by the “hardcore” design of the product. Everything’s in there though, and it’s a quality box unlike the typical old school magnet flap that you still see.
Battery/Responsiveness 4/5
Everybody loves options, and Firebrand aims to please. You get to customize your kit from either auto or manual batteries in black or platinum and I can happily say that they all perform to the highest tier. The manual battery gives you more control over the vapor, but both varieties spark right up and have a pretty solid lifetime.
Vapor/Flavor 4/5
The Phoenix Millenium produces some of the thickest vapor I’ve seen from a 510 kit, and with that being said there are still many options to choose from. They make “hellfire” cartomizers that are pre filled and also give the option of a separate atomizer with empty refillable cartridges. The e liquid, or “liquitine” in this case still produces a great amount of vapor and gives you lots of flavor options. The taste isn’t the best on the market, but it’s far from the bottom as well.
Overall (Not An Average) 4.5/5
Firebrand has a solid 510 kit on their hands here, offering a great value with what’s included for the price tag. Their batteries are quick and responsive with a good lifetime, and their vapor is on par with the best available as well. Throw in the fact that there are so many customizable options and there isn’t anyone I wouldn’t recommend this kit to.
White Cloud Cigarettes Reviews
September 17, 2011 by Blake P · 8 Comments
| Arrival | 1-3 Days |
| Flavor | 10 |
| Nicotine Levels | 5 |
| price | $289.95 |
Presentation/Packaging 4.5/5
White Cloud set a pretty high bar for presentation and packaging with their previous 2 Cirrus kits, and while the Cirrus III is a little different it’s all the better. It’s modern, sharp and a little reminiscent of the Apple iPhone packaging. Most of all, it’s smaller. Shrinking their packaging while increasing its quality is the first step in the right direction, but they still manage to include all the pertinent marketing material and instructions while giving you more actual hardware at the same time.
Battery/Responsiveness 4/5
White Cloud’s Cirrus III battery is their smallest and lightest yet, making it a great transition product. The battery also has incredible battery life considering its size and charges in a snap. The “smooth draw” technology that White Cloud so highly touts is back, and their battery is still one of the most responsive 510 style ones I’ve used. Some people may still think it’s too smooth, but take it from someone who is a regular smoker it makes you feel right at home. Comfort is one of the biggest challenges that a smoker faces when switching to an ecig, and White Cloud wants you to feel all warm and fuzzy during your transition.
Vapor/Flavor(s) 4/5
One weakness of previous Cirrus kits was that the flavor was a little weak. Not bad, just weak. They’ve now introduced some new “flavor kick” cartomizers, as well as improvements to all of their flavors, that make this completely a problem of the past. They offer some of the best espresso and vanilla flavors in a cartomizer and their tobacco is first-rate. They still produce a great amount of vapor and throat hit, but the improvements to their flavor garners their new kit a higher score.
Overall (Not An Average) 4.5/5
While it’s on the upper tier of pricing, you definitely get what you pay for here. The Cirrus III comes with 3 batteries now, as well as a wall charger so the value is certainly improved. That was the biggest drawback to previous iterations, and with it rectified I would certainly recommend this kit to anyone looking for a high quality ecig. It’s nice to see a company that takes their customers criticisms into account and acts on them. Kudos to White Cloud for a stellar product.
The Safe Cig Micro Review
September 16, 2011 by kevin · 3 Comments
| Arrival | 24-72 Hours |
| Flavor | 13 |
| Nicotine Levels | 1 |
| price | $59.95 |
Packaging & Presentation 5/5
The Safe Cig Micro comes in a cardboard flip-top box that closely resembles a traditional pack of cigarettes. This packaging certainly serves the purpose of allowing The Safe Cig Micro to sit side-by-side with tobacco products in a retail setting. The size and shape of the box are familiar enough to be comfortable to a smoker, making the transition that much easier.
And while the packaging is useful and good for the transition from traditional cigarettes, it seems to be just as much about sending a message that electronic cigarettes are an effective alternative to tobacco products. While it may seem like a risky move, speaking as one who has made the switch from tobacco cigarettes to e-cigs, I can definitely respect The Safe Cig for presenting their product this way.
Battery/Responsiveness 4/5
Aside from the e-cig conversation, The Safe Cig Micro goes a long way in terms of practical improvements. The battery is substantially lighter, smaller and has a much easier draw than The Safe Cig. It’s just as responsive as The Safe Cig- the first draw gives a great hit. The Micro battery also features extra vents at the base of the battery that allow for much more vapor with less effort. The battery life seemed to be considerably shortened compared to The Safe Cig. Then again, battery life is sometimes the trade off when you go with a mini ecig to begin with.
The best thing about the Micro is definitely its size, shape and feel. It’s much shorter than the majority of e-cigs and only a couple other brands can match this size. It definitely matches the size of an actual cigarette. It could be the lightest battery I’ve held but I wasn’t concerned enough about the weight to get out a postage scale- it’s really like nothing between your fingers.
Vapor/Flavors 5/5
The vapor production on the Micro is better with less effort, which could be due to the extra vents allowed by the battery combined with an improved cartomizer design. The Micro is available in a surprising thirteen flavors, three of which are the The Safe Cig original flavors- Classic, Traditional and Menthol. The other ten that have been introduced with the Micro are regionally named with flavors representative of each. For example, the Turkish cartridges have a taste of aromatic Turkish tobacco and the Columbian, of coffee. This is a vast improvement over the limited flavor options The Safe Cig has offered in the past. I’m glad to see The Safe Cig finally delving into flavor variety, while keeping true to their policy that electronic cigarettes are for adults only and should be marketed as such.
Overall 5/5 (Not An Average)
The Safe Cig Micro is the next step for electronic cigarettes in terms of becoming widely used and accepted over tobacco products. It’s a small improvement over the trusted quality The Safe Cig is known for. It’s hard to overlook the flavor additions as well, which were overdue for such a quality product. If the size and flavor varieties aren’t as important to you and you’d like to have that extra battery, The Safe Cig is every bit as worth the money as the Micro. On the whole The Safe Cig Micro’s look and feel make it the best transition product I’ve tried- so if you’re looking to make the switch look no further. Its performance is all around top-notch as well, so it’s a great value for the experienced e-cig user, especially when you’re on the go.
White Cloud Cirrus II Review
September 12, 2011 by Blake P · Leave a Comment
Presentation/Packaging 3/5
Like many electronic devices the White Cloud Cirrus II comes packed tightly in a superfluous amount of cardboard, perhaps to keep the contents safe from harm. It’s kind of like when you purchase a special edition dvd that comes in a box within a box. With a dvd there is least a little bit of substance with the hard plastic case. Pictured on the front is an inviting scene of green pastures and a clear blue sky, with some cumulonimbus of course. Once you crack open the first layer by sliding it out of it’s cover there’s another flip top package on the inside where the ecig is neatly organized. It comes with two batteries, a usb charger, with it’s w and crescent moon shaped c logo that lights up when plugged in, a user manual and a pack of five cartomizers. It has a clean, sleek white design that suits the name. There aren’t really that many components. The batteries are small, the cartomizers are well contained in a small compact box and the charger is a simple usb plug with about a two inch cord.
Battery/Responsiveness 4/5
A charge generally takes about an hour and half and it’s enough to last quite while. It has some excellent staying power, one charge lasts about six to eight hours depending on how hard you drag. I found the first pull to be a little disappointing. Fortunately there was a rather lengthy user manual that I could consult that had a remedy for this situation. After perusing through the booklet I discovered that there were some “helpful hints” that you could do to help improve the vapor production. On the cig where the battery and the cartomizer meet there are four small holes. Covering two of the holes with your fingers and taking at least 3-4 second drags helps improve the vapor production substantially. Why it works that way, I’m not sure but it does make it perform much better. I personally would rather not have to hold it that way but it’s a matter of preference or habit.
Vapor/Flavor(s) 4/5
The user manual has a section dedicated to the cartomizer flavors and strength. In it are a list of codes. These codes are printed on the side of the cartomizer to indicate flavor and strength. For example X-R stands for extra strength regular flavor. They come in an intriguing variety such as strawberry, clove, vanilla, menthol and regular tobacco. The strawberry is quite delicious. I found the clove to be a little too subtle for me but the essence was there. The regular tobacco flavor is good, however it doesn’t really taste like tobacco. It has somewhat of a cream taste to it like you’re sipping a cup of half and half. Throat hit is excellent depending on the strength and even with the NF (nicotine free) you can still get a good taste of whatever flavor you sample. I like it to pack a punch so I always go for the extra extra strength (XX).
Overall (Not An Average) 4/5
Aside from the unnecessary packaging this ecig is worth the extra money. Battery life is excellent, it has incredible vapor production, depending on how well you follow the instructions, and it has an eclectic mix flavors that can be enjoyed with or without the nicotine throat hit. For those who do like their nicotine kick I recommend using the XX. It has a great bite that cuts like a knife.
Firebrand Diablo Falcon Review
September 8, 2011 by kevin · 2 Comments
| Arrival | 3 days |
| Nicotine Levels | 4 |
| price | $74.99 |
Firebrand Diablo Falcon
Packaging and Presentation 4/5
The Diablo Falcon Kit comes in a clever slide-out box with plenty of room for all the components to be laid out individually. And for being named the Diablo Falcon, I was surprised at the subtlety of the graphics used on the box- not so much the “hardcore” imagery Blake noted on the Phoenix Millennium. So the presentation was certainly an effective one and a little different from the common magnet-flap box with everything stacked on top of everything inside.
Battery/Responsiveness 4/5
While I normally tend towards the micro and mini batteries, the Diablo Falcon battery is one of the better eGo style batteries available. Each battery comes with a heat shield, which feels necessary as the Firebrand Hellfire atomizers are heavy duty and put off intense heat after extended use. It’s a little shorter and wider than some eGo batteries, which I found less awkward and it has a nice finish with the cool Firebrand logo stamped on it. Combined with the heat shield, the Diablo Falcon unit has a look that will garner envy from even the most experienced vapers.
In terms of performance, it’s a manual battery so the responsiveness is solid. The 650mAh battery lasts for ages and since you get two with the kit, the overall value of the kit goes way, way up. Having this much vaping time in one kit is pretty rare, so it’s a great place for starters who might run out for a pack of smokes when their battery dies. I only knocked the battery down a point because the button lacks a safety feature, which can be pretty important to those worried about the thing heating up in their pocket.
Vapor/Flavor(s) 4/5
Firebrand has some unique cartos and liquid for a kit producer. And I’m not a big fan of any three piece kit but since Firebrand also offers refillable cartomizers, I won’t bang on that. Plus, their atomizer definitely deserves the name Hellfire- it gives the vapor an intense throat hit for being just 30% PG, so if that’s what you’re looking for, by all means go with the three-piece (atomizer) kit. But with both the cartomizers and “Liquitine” filled cartridges, Firebrand’s 70%VG liquid produces gargantuan vapor. With enough use, your home will be a dead ringer for backstage at a Willy Nelson show. And while their flavors are lacking, they’re good enough to be enjoyable, despite their silly names. The Vestratto (vanilla) and Fuzz (peach) were particularly good.
Also of note, the same cartomizers and atomizers that fit their 510 also fit the Falcon, so make sure to take a look at Blake’s review of the Phoenix Millennium to get his take on Firebrand’s vapor and flavor. In any case, making their products compatible is a good and fair thing from any ecig company.
Overall 4.5/5 (Not An Average)
Firebrand is a newcomer to the already vast e-cig market and they know what the customers want. As Blake noted, they provide so many options that you’re sure to find something you like. If they keep it up and maybe throw in a few more e-liquids, they’re sure to rise to the top of the field in short order. The Diablo Falcon is overall a great value for the starter and the old hand alike. Short of a battery safety feature and a few more liquid options, it’s one of the best kits available.
