Ω The Sub-Ohm Review

TSOR: friends don't let friends drip and drive!

[subohmreview]

Review: Vapor Advance (4mg)

Based here in my hometown of Los Angeles, Vapor Advance is headed by a cool dude named Scott and his team of dedicated workers. Since their birth, they’ve managed to woo and impress a wide range of vapers from cloudchasers to flavor-seekers, ranging from the ever famous Subohmkrew to the likes of yours truly. After winning my first competition, I was able to catch up with the dudes from Vapor Advance, where I managed to secure their full lineup for my reviewing pleasure. Without further delay, here we go again! Warning: My camera is currently missing and unaccounted for. As such, the logo of the company is being displayed, but I will still do my best to provide an accurate description of the aesthetics of the lineup.

Usual disclaimer: While I always try to maintain an unbiased perspective of the review material, I am only human. Everyone is different, and in the end, this is just my take on the subject.

Vapor Advance's full lineup consists of Suaverry Swirl, Cumbermint, Cinnful Apple, Root Beer Rich, and Strorange.

First Impressions

These bottles are stylin'! All of the bottles I received were made out of blue glass. They are very technical, and it suits their theme. Aside from your usual informative statements about nicotine and such, the logo features the juice's name in a faux-scifi LED-style.

Catching A Whiff

Suaverry Swirl: When I first received this juice, I found it--well, in not-so-blunt terms--odd. But, I kind of grew to love it after a fresh palate-cleaning. Top note is a fine, dessert-like raspberry, with hints of a liqueur or spirit resembling a brandy.

Cinnful Apple: Ah, the traditional cinnamon apple. I'm quite fond of this flavor combination in general, but Cinnful Apple has a bit more than that. This juice features a prominent smell of brown sugar, with middle notes of a green apple and ceylon cinnamon.

Cumbermint: This juice gives off a very light, fresh aroma. While minimalistic in nature, Cumbermint has a top note of spearmint, while the base is a light cucumber.

Root Beer Rich: Scott warned me that this was a root beer "clone" of sorts, but hot-skip, this smells just like the real thing! Enjoy on ice, perhaps?

Strorange: Another one of those "drink-type" juices. It smells just like a yummy morning power smoothie. The top notes of strawberry combine nicely with orange, and it has a hint of berry (to drink, or not to drink?).

"Let's see how she vapes!"

Suaverry Swirl: I gotta tell you, folks--I've never been so pleasantly surprised in quite a while! This bad boy vapes amazingly, and the hotter you go, the better and richer it tastes. The raspberry is quite a kicker, but it's that spirit-like exhale that really sucks the bottle straight into your dripper! The throat hit bangs like an old diesel VW, and makes just about as much exhaust in vapor production.

Cinnful Apple: Remember how I told you guys that this one brought memories back just from the smell? Well, vaping it brings it from nostalgia to nirvana. This is another hot vape, simply because the flavors coalesce to make this yummy apple cinnamon oatmeal (you know, like the stuff your mother used to make you), and boy, is it good! The cinnamon enhances the throat hit, and it has good vapor production.

Cumbermint: This is a decent ejuice. While it's not the truest rendition of the timeless cucumber mint combo, this juice has plenty of spearmint, but it lacks in really driving the base with the cucumber. I'd suggest using a different cucumber flavoring. Throat hit falls short on Cumbermint, but it does deliver on vapor.

Root Beer Rich: Watch out folks, we've got a traitor in our midst! Whilst I previously mentioned that Root Beer Rich smells incredibly like the real things, it does not taste like it. I just couldn't place it, but this flavor was extremely unappealing to me and failed to deliver in throat hit. It's also a lingering flavor, and took a while to clear out of my dripper. Ouch!

Strorange: I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I do love me some power smoothie in the morning, and Strorange tastes like it. The orange is prominent, but the strawberry adds a nicely sweetened tart to it. This is a great morning vape, and good on a warm or cool build.

Last Call! (Final Points)

In general, I was really impressed by the Vapor Advance line. With the exception of Root Beer Rich, I greatly enjoyed all of their juices, and found that most of them worked really well in extreme builds (we're talking less than .14 ohms here). Cinnful Apple was easily my favorite, with Suaverry Swirl and Strorange both coming in at a close second. Cumbermint needs a bit of work, but I thought it was a nice occasional vape--the spearmint lost its flavor after a while. Root Beer Rich, however, really needs improvement, in my opinion. Go try them out, and let me know what you guys think!

Final Scores:

Suaverry Swirl:

Aroma: 9.5/10 Aesthetic: 8.0/10 Taste: 9.75/10 Throat Hit: 9.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.5/10 Vapor Production: 9.0/10

+1 ALL DAY VAPE

SOR Score: 90.5/100

Cinnful Apple:

Aroma: 9.0/10 Aesthetic: 8.0/10 Taste: 9.75/10 Throat Hit: 9.5/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.0/10 Vapor Production: 9.0/10

+1 All Day Vape

SOR Score: 89.75/100

Cumbermint:

Aroma: 8.0/10 Aesthetic: 8.0/10 Taste: 8.25/10 Throat Hit: 7.5/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.25/10 Vapor Production: 9.0/10

SOR Score: 81.5/100

Root Beer Rich:

Aroma: 9.0/10 Aesthetic: 8.0/10 Taste: 5.0/10 Throat Hit: 8.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.75/10 Vapor Production: 8.0/10

-1 "This don't taste right..."

SOR Score: 76/100

Strorange:

Aroma: 9.0/10 Aesthetic: 8.0/10 Taste: 9.5/10 Throat Hit: 9.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.5/10 Vapor Production: 9.25/10

+1 All Day Vape

SOR Score: 89.75/100

[subohmreview]

Review: Craft Vapes' Angry Apple & Cherry Bomb (3mg)

When last we spoke, I talked about how Craft Vapes was an up-and-coming company with a new take on flavors. Since then, the company has cemented their position as a unique powerhouse of innovation.

I'm happy to say that the amazing people at CV have sent me two more review samples: Angry Apple and Cherry Bomb. I've been super excited to try these fine elixirs, so let's get started!

Please remember that I'm just a single reviewer and everyone's olfactory receptors are completely different. Be sure to try every juice, even if my reviews say otherwise--I'm only human.

I sample each flavor on a variety of builds to recommend temperatures, but everything else is rated based on how it performs on my Tobh Rebuildable Atty. It's an amazing dripper, with tons of great features.

First Impressions

Hello, Craft Vapes! Made in beautiful Los Angeles, California, their bottles feature the L.A. skyline, along with their logo, nicotine amount, and flavor name. Angry Apple is a light golden color, while Cherry Bomb is a light auburn. Both flavors come with sealed drippers.

Aroma

Angry Apple: I was delighted to smell this one. Angry Apple features a top note of cinnamon and apple, with a heady middle note of hops, and sweet base undertones.

Cherry Bomb: This juice gives off an interesting aroma. It's in the same floral style of some of Craft Vapes' other flavors, but it's very subtle and simple--a cherry overtone, with a slight undertone of tobacco.

Vapin' Them

Angry Apple: Wow. Simply...wow. This amazing juice vapes like a dream. I love it so much, that I kid you not, this bottle was done in four hours (along with a battery). Angry Apple is an extremely unique, extremely flavorful apple cider with cinnamon and hops. Inhale is a near-perfect sweet cinnamon, and the exhale is pure, unadulterated hard cider. Vapor production is great on this juice, and the throat hit is strong, yet smooth--much like a real drink. 

Cherry Bomb: This is a nice cherry tobacco. What I like about this juice is that the inhale and exhale are both cherry, but completely different types. Inhale is a cherry blossom with floral tones, but the exhale is a ripe cherry--almost like a good soft drink. The tobacco is there, but it mostly serves as a balancing flavor. Vapor production is good, and the throat hit is smooth and refined.

The Downsides

For the first time in my reviewing career of five years, I can honestly say that Angry Apple is as perfect as I've found so far. That being said, cinnamon haters beware--this juice is not for you!

Cherry Bomb is great, but I feel it could use a tad bit more tobacco flavoring (say, maybe 1%). Other than that, everything's just fine!

Closing Thoughts

Cherry Bomb is a classic, classy flavor that a lot of people will like. My dad loves it. It's best on a warm vape.

I, however, loved Angry Apple. I'm obsessed with it. The bottle is done. I want to share it with all of my friends. Ever since I've tried it one month ago, it's been stuck in the back of my mind. I hope you guys read the FAQ, because what's coming up next is going to shock a lot of people. 

Thanks once again to Meg and Dave for providing me with these amazing samples.

Angry Apple:

Aroma: 9.75/10 Aesthetic: 8.25/10 Taste: 10/10 Throat Hit: 9.5/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.75/10 Vapor Production: 9.0/10

+1 All Day Vape

+1 Zach's Picks - Flavor of the Month

SOR Score: 94.5/100 *Entry - Master Tier*

Cherry Bomb:

Aroma: 8.75/10 Aesthetic: 8.0/10 Taste: 9.0/10 Throat Hit: 8.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.75/10 Vapor Production: 8.5/10

SOR Score: 85/100

[subohmreview]

Announcement: Why I haven't been posting.

So, a lot of my friends (including my most favorite reader, Ryan) have been asking why I've not been posting. Truth is, mid-terms are a royal pain in the buttocks. I've been hammering out studies for my classes, and as such, I kind of left the site to bumble around on its own for a bit.

I've also decided to start a juice company (Ephemeral Vapor Co.) with my dear friend Ryan, as well as looking into the possibility of a vape store. That stuff is time-consuming, yo.

But do not fear, for I am back, and risen once more. He-who-must-review returns to give y'all some advice on your vaping craze!

So yeah, that's it. Craft Vapes' Angry Apple/Cherry Bomb and Lightning's Holy Peach coming up next.

[subohmreview]

Review: Craft Vapes' Foggy Dew and Mad Mint (3mg)

Somewhere, deep in the heart of L.A., Meg and Dave from Craft Vapes toil away relentlessly, hoping to produce unique flavors.

I've met them on a couple of occasions, and reached out to them last week to ask about review samples. They happily sent me Foggy Dew and Mad Mint.

Now, before I start this review, I'd like to shine a light on Craft Vapes' success. They're a relatively new company, but in the short amount of time that they've been in the vape industry, they've grown to international acclaim. There's a method to the madness: Craft Vapes makes unique, complex flavors that appeal to those who seek a special vape.

Taste is subjective, and so is equipment--that's what makes vaping such an amazing hobby! Be sure to try all juices for yourself. I may be a reviewer, but I'm just a guy with an opinion. Ratings are just based on how much I liked it and how much I think others will like it, but other vapers may have different opinions.

At First Glance...

All of Craft Vapes' flavors come in your standard bottles with a dripper. It features a minimalist logo with the a backdrop of the Los Angeles skyline. Flavors are clearly marked and nicotine is clearly printed.

Foggy Dew has a light amber color, while Mad Mint has a very, very light lime tinge to it.

Aroma

Foggy Dew: As soon as I opened up a bottle of Foggy Dew, I got hit by one of the most complex scents I've ever smelled in my life (it took me about an hour of sniffing to piece apart everything). Top notes are a strong, sweet rose and floral combo, with middle notes of clove honey and spices, and undertones of light, crisp tobaccos. It's floral, it's sweet, and most of all, it's insanely complex.

Mad Mint: I kid you not, my vapemail arrived smelling as if someone had moved my mint garden and shipped it via mail. This flavor came in a sealed bottle (as did Foggy Dew) but I didn't have to open it to get the scent. Mad Mint has top notes of spearmint and mint, with middle notes of peppermint, and an undertone of menthol.

Vaping Them

Foggy Dew: True to its aroma, Foggy Dew vapes even more complexly than it smells. This juice has an amazing combination of earl grey tea, spices, rose, honey, and a light tobacco. Due to its richness, it feels as if I get a different flavor every single time that I vape it. Foggy Dew's vapor production is very good, and the throat hit is mild, but very filling.

Mad Mint: Have you been in the mood for a proverbial "shower of mint" lately? If so, look no further than Mad Mint. The first thing I noticed about this crazy combination is that it goes into your lungs like a steamroller goes into concrete. Spearmint, peppermint, mint, and menthol all form into an amazingly refreshing vape. Vapor production is quite potent on this one, and the throat hit is simply amazing.

To Vape, Or Not To Vape?

Foggy Dew: Being such a complex flavor, Foggy Dew may not appeal to all vapers. It's such a strange combination that, while it works, you'll either love it or hate it. This is best enjoyed on a warm vape, for risk of being a bit too subtle.

Mad Mint: I'd only recommend this juice for hardcore lovers of mint. It's so mint and mentholated that it unclogged my sinuses (and made them tingle) instantly. While not a basic type of mint, it's enough to put hair on your chest. Mad Mint can be enjoyed on most vapes, and it'll be right on the money.

Closing Thoughts

I'm very glad with these juices. Since the start of this review, I've gone through most of the bottle of Mad Mint, and half of Foggy Dew. The uniqueness of Foggy Dew appealed to me especially, since this juice sets itself apart from the norm by showing off a mixing talent that few can match. 

I hope to see more of Craft Vapes, and I wish them all the best.

Foggy Dew:

Aroma: 9.5/10 Aesthetic: 8.0/10 Taste: 9.75/10 Throat Hit: 8.5/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.75/10 Vapor Production: 8.5/10

+1 *ALL DAY VAPE*

SOR Score: 89/100 

Mad Mint:

Aroma: 8.75/10 Aesthetic: 8.0/10 Taste: 9.0/10 Throat Hit: 9.75/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.0/10 Vapor Production: 8.75/10

SOR Score: 87/100

[subohmreview]

Review: Space Jam's Eclipse & Astro (6mg)

Disclaimer: I've always said this about most flavors, but I like to apply this most to tobacco flavors (in this case, Eclipse): At the end of the day, I'm just a dude who likes to write his butt off. My opinions may count for something, but they're just my opinions. Please try all complex/subjective flavors for yourself.

In the last review, I forgot to mention that Space Jam was at VOW's vaping anniversary. Lo and behold, I managed to score a bottle of Astro from the dudes, who were amazing people! Also, thanks to M. and Casanova for gifting me a bottle of Eclipse to review.

Space Jam is arguably one of the largest juice vendors in Southern California. Originally known as Space Jam Robo Fuel, these dudes are veterans of the vape industry, and you can find them throughout several vape shops. They're also backed by a lot of my friends (I'm looking at you, Ryan--how the blazes did you manage to finish a 30mL bottle of Andromeda that fast???), so I've been stoked for this review.

Without further ado, let's start this review! 

At First Glance

Space Jam's bottles come with a full-size depiction of their logo. In addition, the side of the bottle clearly marks the size and nicotine amount, alongside a meter that says "Robo Fuel". Their bottle is a standard dropper bottle, but the theme of the labels plays very well with their logo.

Eclipse is a dark orange hue, similar to whiskey, while Astro is a clear yellow.

Aroma

Eclipse: Upon opening, Eclipse has a sharp top note of hazelnut, with middle notes of liqueur and coffee. I detected a base note of chocolate and fire-cured tobacco flavor.

Astro: Astro is a delightfully fruity-scented flavor. Top note is a sharp candied strawberry, with peach overtones and a base note that reminds me of apple juice.

Drippin' Them

Eclipse: I'm very particular about my tobacco flavors (smoking a pipe all day for the better part of a year will do that to you), but this is a very accurate pipe tobacco, with hazelnut, coffee, and liqueur aromas. It's very well done. Throat hit on this feels like a real pipe, and the vapor production was very good.

Astro: This is a great flavor. Inhale is something resembling an apple/peach tea, while on the exhale, the strawberry shines, but you still get an after taste of all three flavors. Throat hit on this one of strong, but not to the point of coughing. Vapor production is amazing. Even on a .5ohm build, I was blowing massive clouds.

The Downsides

Eclipse: My biggest downside with Eclipse is not the flavor. Rather, it's the fact that the flavor just wouldn't come out. By that, I mean that whenever I dripped it, I couldn't get it out of the cotton. It took me 7-8 redrips of other flavors to get the overt taste out, and I could still taste it then. At that point, I just changed the cotton out (which I was gonna do anyway for Astro).

Astro: I'd be nitpicking if I could find anything objectively wrong with this flavor, but on very hot vapes, this flavor can taste a bit too sickly-sweet. It's definitely not for people who dislike candy flavors.

Final Thoughts

I loved Astro. It's a really damn good flavor! It'll be in my flavor rotation for now, but only time can tell what the rotation will be in another month.

I also like Eclipse, and it definitely passed the tobacco flavor test. Both me and my dad (who is a classy smoker and part-time vaper) like this solid flavor.

Eclipse:

Aroma: 8.5/10 Aesthetic: 8.5/10 Taste: 9.0/10 Throat Hit: 8.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 9.0/10 Vapor Production: 9.0/10

SOR Score: 87/100

Astro:

Aroma: 8.5/10 Aesthetic: 8.5/10 Taste: 9.0/10 Throat Hit: 9.5/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.5/10 Vapor Production: 9.5/10

SOR Score: 90/100 -ALL-DAY VAPE-

[subohmreview]

Review: DNA Vapor's Backyard Boogie, Kee-Wii, & Dragonthol

Last Saturday, I attended Vapes of Wrath's one-year anniversary shindig, where I had the chance to meet the dudes from DNA Vapor. They're really awesome people, and didn't hesitate to give me two 30mL bottles of their juice. Not to mention, they also gave some GIANT bottles for giveaway.

Which I just happened to win (insert emoticon of choice here).

Thus, this week's review is brought to you by the dudes at DNA Vapor and James from Vapes of Wrath. Thank you guys!

As usual, I test all my reviewed juices on a variety of sub-ohm builds. I do this in order to gain a better understanding of the product. In addition, tastes is subjective--what appeals to me may not appeal to some readers, so I urge everyone to give all juices a fair chance.

First Impressions

Well, shoot. As soon as I got a huge 120mL of Backyard Boogie, I think my unbiased opinion went down the drain. As far as bottles go, this is a standard. Just your plain bottles (I mean, aside from the size) with a DNA logo, nicotine mark, and warning. What struck me nicely was that DNA doesn't add any colors or fancy gimmicks to their line (as you can tell from the picture).

Aroma

Kee-Wii: Kee-Wii is just that: A combination of kiwi flavors. I detected a mellow top note of candied kiwi, with a middle note of natural kiwi and a base of creamy kiwi.

Backyard Boogie: This is a more complex tropical flavor. There's a strong top note of pomegranate, with a middle note of papaya and base of blueberries.

Dragonthol: Tropical, but with a twist: This flavor is pretty simple, it's a dragonfruit mixed with menthol. Both notes are strong.

Vapin' Them

Kee-Wii: True to its scent, this flavor is a creamy candy kiwi that's not too strong in flavor. I mean that in a good way, of course, because Kee-Wii is extremely mellow. Flavor is the same on inhale and exhale. The throat hit is smooth but filling, and the vapor production was strong.

Backyard Boogie: Another creamy flavor, this one reminded me of a papaya and blueberry smoothie. The exhale is a subtle pomegranate, and the throat hit is above-average. Vapor production on this one is average.

Dragonthol: I'm not a big menthol fan, but this one really tempted me to change my mind. It's a dragonfruit inhale, with an exhale of a strong menthol. Throat hit, as with most menthol flavors, is strong, but smooth. The vapor production on this one is very good. 

Layin' Down The Hammer (Cons)

Kee-Wii: This juice tastes great on a warm build (0.4-0.8). On a hot vape, it tastes too candied, and on a cool vape, it's just okay. Also, this juice isn't for people who want an extremely complex flavor. It'll be a great mixer for you guys, but Kee-Wii is a simple pleasure.

Backyard Boogie: While I love the tropical mix of this flavor, it's an acquired taste. It uses various exotic fruits that set it apart from the norm. That being said, if you like it at first taste, you'll love it.

Dragonthol: If you hate menthol, look elsewhere. Another exotic fruit mix, this one is also a hit-or-miss flavor. It's also one of those simple pleasures, so complexity-seekers beware.

Final Verdict

These juices all deserve a try, even if you don't care for the particular flavors. I've taken to calling Kee-Wii my all-day vape, and Backyard Boogie is definitely great for relaxing. Dragonthol pleased me with the unusual combination of mentholated fresh and dragonfruit.

While I say this for all flavors, I've found that most of the DNA Vapors line changes dramatically depending on your build, so give 'em a chance and experiment with them!

Kee-Wii:

Aroma: 8.0/10 Aesthetic: 7.0/10 Taste: 9.0/10 Throat Hit: 8.5/10 Nicotine Delivery: 9/10 Vapor Production: 8.5/10

SOR Score: 84/100 *TOP PICK*

Backyard Boogie:

Aroma: 8.0/10 Aesthetic: 7.0/10 Taste: 8.0/10 Throat Hit: 8.5/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.5/10 Vapor Production: 8.0/10

SOR Score: 80/100

Dragonthol:

Aroma: 7.0/10 Aesthetic: 7.0/10 Taste: 8.0/10 Throat Hit: 9.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.0/10 Vapor Production: 8.5/10

SOR Score: 79/100

[subohmreview]

Blog: VAPE SHOPS!

You know, I still remember the early days of electronic cigarettes. Those tedious days spent, waiting for a small parcel from a distant place, hoping for that next punch of those foil-covered disposables. In those times, fortune favored the people who managed to get more than twenty puffs of some bland, generic coffee flavor. I did that for a bit over a year before I just got sick of the routine.

Reminiscing on that, it seems like such a long time, when in reality, this was the routine of most vapers about four years ago.

Since then, the vaping industry has progressed in leaps and bounds. For me and vapers in the L.A. county, we've seen the idea of a vape shop go from a rare treat to a commonplace happening throughout the area. In fact, it's happened so fast that a lot of vape shops have recently been celebrating their grand openings, with a few going for their first anniversary.

But I digress.

With so many vape shops, it can be especially hard to find someplace you can call "home". For me, it was Vapes of Wrath. They're a vaping lounge that caters to all vapers, but specializes in mechanical mods (and it's only a short drive from where I live and study). They sold me my first mod, and to this day, I still get solid advice from them on various matters (increasingly too, as I find myself spending more and more time there).

But, what really makes a good vape shop?

I've been to quite a few, but the primary thing I can say is this: a good vape shop always offers excellent customer service.

I mean, come on, we're vapers. I don't need to lecture you about how much time some of the hobbyists spend meticulously caring for their equipment. I've sanded, polished, discussed, built, cleaned, dripped, dipped, and partied at Vapes of Wrath. I kid you not, I've sat there talking shop with James for a good three, four hours. And yet, I've never seen them ignore a customer. I've never seen any of their employees be anything less than courteous and kind with their clientele.

You see, customer service is important and defining in a good vape shop because, simply put, a good shop focuses on retention. In our community, keeping a customer (that means you guys) provides way more sales and publicity than making a bad one-time deal. Having a shop with happy, relaxed customers and good service always makes me feel comfortable and makes the shop look good. Granted, the shop may not make a sale every single time, but having a customer come back always guarantees that the shop has a lively atmosphere, which, in general, means more sales!

While customer service means the world to me, knowledge is probably the next on my list. I love talking shop, and it makes me feel awesome when a shop's employees can go from discussing the latest advancements in builds and mods (VTC5s, anyone? anyone?) to helping out our pals with their basics. Knowledge is power, and a good combo can create a chain reaction of awesomeness. 

Last but not least, the most of important thing about a vape shop is the community. We fuel these amazing people who love vaping so much, that they've become small business owners, helping customers one at a time (I should know, I was one of them). No matter what vape shop you choose, just remember that you're helping people live out their dream. So support your local vape shop, and make sure to pick a shop that caters most to your personal tastes!

Safe Vaping,

Zach.

P.S. A good vape shop will always throw some CRAZY parties (I'm looking at you, Vapes of Wrath), so seriously dudes and dudettes, don't forget those (hehehe)!

[subohmreview]

Review: Kiss My Vape's Blue Rush & Sunshine (6mg)

One chilly February afternoon, I found myself walking down a busy street towards the mythical suburban mall. I was new to dual coil builds back then--my battery (at the time, I had a relatively cheap one) drained, my juice nearly empty, I sought out hospitality of the vaping variety.

(I actually walked past the place twice...it's on a diagonal street, don't blame me!)

Dominic (whom I later found out was the owner) sold me a special house juice, built me for free, gave me a quick charge, and sent me on my way, happily vaping towards my study spot.

Here in the SoCal area, it's relatively easy to spot a vape shop with their own house blend. As a matter of fact, it's quite common; Some shops even go so far as to only carry their own juice lines (my opinion on that is quite divided, and I don't think it's such a hot idea). While Kiss My Vape isn't one of those shops, they do carry a large lineup (ten flavors!).

Today I'll be reviewing two blends of Kiss My Vape's self-titled juice line. Dominic was kind enough to provide me with review samples of their new bottles.

So, has Kiss My Vape managed to escape the confines of the "House Blend" label, or does the company need some time to age? Read on to find out!

First Impressions

Helloooo, ladies! As most of you can tell, there's quite an influx of fan service on the bottles. Their entire lineup features a scantily-clad woman in various poses, while the names seem to incorporate some light humor (they have a juice called "Kiss My Nut Cake". I'm sure you know where this is going). The bottles, for all their zaniness, are well-designed, well-sealing, color-coordinated, and have a sticker on the back that clearly indicates the nicotine level. You can't see it in this picture, but both bottles were sealed with a plastic wrap around the top. 

Aroma

Blue Rush: This one smells, well, interesting. It's definitely an artificial blueberry candy, and for once, I couldn't really tell the flavor. I know the bottle says it's pixie stick, but it just smells unusual.

Sunshine:  This juice appears to have taken inspiration from that one Harry Nilsson song--on the aroma, the lime is a very sharp top note, with a middle note of coconut, and a base note of roasted almonds. It's actually a really nice scent.

Vapin' Them

Blue Rush: Woah... IT'S A PIXIE STICK. This juice took me back to when I was a kid. Contrary to the smell, it doesn't have an odd taste, but I feel it tastes just like the real thing. While it is a pretty base flavor, it's so unusual that you find yourself pretty satisfied. I mean, it's candy, without the sugar!

Sunshine: For some reason, this juice really feels as if it was conceived during dinner in Long Beach. The lime is a strong starter, but as the juice settles down, the coconut finds itself in there, and the exhale is a lime-soaked almond. In contrast to Blue Rush, Sunshine is a very complex, rich flavor that seems to get better as it steeps.

The throat hit on both these juices is a bit stronger than average, but it's nothing to worry about. Vapor production is average as well, although the nicotine delivery gets a thumbs up.

The Downsides

Blue Rush: This juice is like a shock of sweet for your tongue. It's a candy flavor, so you've been warned. I found myself only vaping it for short amounts of time. This one gets harsh if you try to vape it on a build that's below .5ohms.

Sunshine: As a rich flavor, I found that the lime would overpower everything else for short amounts of time. Upon further observation, I shook the bottle for a few minutes and let it steep for a day. I would've honestly preferred the coconut playing center stage rather than the lime.

As with most unusual flavors, these tend to be a hit or miss--you either love them, or you'll grimace. I've personally noticed that I'll vape them, decide whether I'm in the mood, and either vape them or store them depending on my decision.

Closing Remarks

The unusual (strange, even!) nature of these juices made them very tough to review, but I, personally, am very content with them. Blue Rush harkens back to days past, and Sunshine makes me want to go to the beach. Despite the zany, wacky nature of these juices, Kiss My Vape looks like they've finally grown up.

Blue Rush:

Aroma: 6.0/10 Aesthetic: 9.0/10 Taste: 8.0/10 Throat Hit: 7.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.0/10 Vapor Production: 7.0/10

SOR Score: 75/100

Sunshine:

Aroma: 8.0/10 Aesthetic: 9.0/10 Taste: 8.0/10 Throat Hit: 7.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.0/10 Vapor Production: 7.0/10

SOR Score: 78/100

You can follow Dominic and his shop on instagram (@kissmyvape). His juice line can also be found there (@kissmyvape_ejuice).

[subohmreview]

Blog: Ohm's What?

It's one in the morning, and I'm currently googling random stuff about vaping as an engineering major in love with the stuff is prone to do.

So I'm sitting there, browsing forums, and my mind says, "Well there, Zach, ol' bean, why don't you just plop a nice resistance/amp chart for a-printin', and we'll get this show going, why don't ya?" (or something like that), and so I comply.

Except, there's not much resources. There's a 1-2 ohm chart, and a 0.5-1.0 chart, but nothing that really explores the potential of draw in resistance coils.

So, being the typical night owl, I started working. And vaping. But mostly vap-ah, I meant working (yeah, that's right, working--totally not dripping for the fifth time in a row...).

Meanwhile, in Zach's mind...

*Gee, brain, how gnarly would it be to achieve 0.01 ohm resistance?*

*Well, Zach, that'd be less than the internal resistance of your battery!*

*Really brain? Wow, let's check the math!*

*Oh my god, brain...*

*That's right Zach, 422 amps of pure power!*

(Er, sorry for the tangent. It's kind of late.)

Just what the hell is Ohm's Law supposed to be anyway? Well, in layman's terms, this awesome dude named Georg Simon Ohm basically discovered that there was a connection between voltage (expressed as V) and current (expressed in amps, or the letter I). This was a pivotal moment in the history of electrical sciences and electrical work in general.

Did I mention this dude was a school teacher, physicist, and mathematician in the early 1800's? Mr. Ohm got around!

Anyway, after all this ruckus, Ohm's law became a thing, and thus, the simple (yet amazingly powerful) equation was born:

V=IR.

This means (If I remember my high school algebra) that the voltage is equal to current multiplied by resistance (in layman's terms, of course).

Equally, if we use more algebra, we can tweak the following equation to produce two different equations:

V / I = R and V / R = I.

This simply states that conversely, dividing voltage by current produces a resistance figure, and dividing voltage by resistance provides an amperage draw.

I'm simplifying because I could talk about this for hours, and I don't want to bore you guys with circuit theory and electromagnetism.

(On the other hand, if you're interested in the way all this works, there are some fascinating lectures on YouTube about it.)

Phew, now that that's over, we're moving back to my original point.

There's not much information out there, especially dealing with these crazy power amounts (0.02 resistance anyone? Clouds so big it starts raining PG?), so I decided to make my own chart, which I'll post sometime in the next week on this blog. In addition, I'll be making more spreadsheets and charts for shop owners in the Long Beach area interested in staying safe while building and knowing battery limits. 

Message me on Instagram (@ZVAPEDUDE) if you're interested.

I'm going back to vaping.

Ω

[subohmreview]

Review: DNA Vapor's Key Lime Pie (6mg)

When I think about DNA Vapors, the first thing that comes to mind is their large lineup of juices. So many flavors, which do I choose? Well, after my first juice fiasco (which involved me dropping a bottle of their Backyard Boogie into my favorite pair of Doc Martens), I was left heartbroken and determined to get my hands on another bottle from their company. This time though, I opted for "Key Lime Pie", which is claims to be just that, a key lime pie.

I've always had a thing for the citric side side of vaping. For me, there's nothing better than the tangy aftertaste of a sweet lime vape. Desserts, however, never seem to tickle my fancy. that's why I was really excited to try this flavor. But enough of my ranting. Let's get started! 

As usual, I try juices with a variety of sub-ohm builds on rebuildable drip atomizers in order to gain a complete view of the juices being reviewed. I will also warn you that taste is extremely subjective--everyone is different and there is no "one juice to rule them all". It's all about finding what works for you.

First Impressions

All of DNA's juices have a very "what-you-see-is-what-you-get" look to them (not that I'm complaining). The juice itself comes in a standard 15mL dropper bottle and has a label with the DNA logo and the juice's flavor. In addition, the bottle also indicates what nicotine level it has by way of a sharpie marking. Key Lime Pie has a a very clear, slightly green look to it.

Aroma

Upon opening the bottle, there's a very sharp top note of lime. The middle note strikes me as a wafer or sweetbread of some sort, and I managed to get a slight base note of cream. 

Vapin' It

I liked this vape. The lime is clear, but not overpowering, and as you vape it, the aftertaste of something like a creamy wafer sets in. The throat hit on this is strong, and it does its job well. It's a simple flavor, but it seems to be one of the most accurate depictions of this delectable dessert out there!

The Downsides

Though I loved this flavor, I'm actually really sad that I wasn't able to vape it for more than 8 hours without the juice losing its taste for me. As I mentioned before, the throat hit is strong--I found myself coughing more than once--so take care that you see it coming. I'm not quite sure why, but this juice had a bit less vapor production than most other brands.

Final Notes

Overall, I'm growing very fond of DNA's take on flavors, and I'll be willing to give Key Lime Pie another chance after some vigorous palate scrubbing and taste bud resets. Fortunately, DNA has a huge line (11 flavors! Wow!), so I'll be stopping into my local shop soon. I highly recommend this for all lovers of fruity desserts.

Aroma: 7.5/10 Aesthetic: 7.0/10 Taste: 8.5/10 Throat Hit: 9.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.25/10 Vapor Production: 6.0/10

NEW - SOR SCORE: 77/100

You can find Key Lime Pie and a select few of DNA Vapor's lineup at Vapes of Wrath's website. Use coupon code SBR15 to save 15% on your order and get free shipping.

[subohmreview]

Blog: A Special Announcement

Hey guys and gals, Zach here!

As some of you may know (or might've figured out from my reviews), I love going to my local Brick and Mortar store, Vapes of Wrath.  They're an awesome business in Long Beach full of awesome people who genuinely care about the vape industry and do their best to support and root for vaping in general.

That's why I'm thrilled to announce that there will be an offer for readers of The Sub-Ohm Review! Starting today, you can visit the official Vapes of Wrath website and type in the coupon code SBR15 to receive 15% off your order. You'll also get free shipping!

So if you haven't already, check out their website, and if you're in the Long Beach area, stop by their store on 4103 N Viking Way. Who knows, you might even see me around!

[subohmreview]

Review: The Vape Cliq's Fancy & Jammin' (6mg/6mg)

Last Friday, I had a chance to speak with one of the reps from Vape Cliq at the Vapes of Wrath meet. They're a SoCal-based company that has had a solid lineup of four juices (After Party, Jammin', Suit & Tie, Fancy) for quite a while now. I received bottles of both Fancy and Jammin' after sampling, but decided to give them the full write-up at home. 

As always, I test a variety of sub-ohm builds on different rebuildable atomizers in order to gain a more complete view of the juices being reviewed. I also use an adjustable airflow cap for my primary RDA.

First Impressions

As you can tell from the picture above, these bottles are quite fancy (no pun intended). They are standard fifteen milliliter bottles, but apart from their cool design on the front, the back side of the bottle features their logo etched into the glass itself. These bottles come sealed and the tops make a tight seal when you close them. Also, the color on these juices is quite clear.

Aroma

Fancy:  This juice has a great scent. It smells like a strawberry hard candy, but it's not overpowering. I also picked up a hint of menthol on the base notes.

Jammin': Upon opening the bottle, I got a strong scent of a creamy candied banana, with a base note of berries.

Vaping Them

Fancy: While this juice may not appease the most hardcore menthol lovers out there, for most of us this is a solid flavor. While vaping it, I got a light candied strawberry with an equal amount of menthol. While I'm not personally a fan of menthol (I prefer mint and eucalyptus), this was quite a nice vape. In fact, I just finished the bottle.

Jammin': Oh my. This flavor really stunned me. I'll be honest and say I expected a very base flavor from the scent, but Jammin' instantly made me think twice. The taste is a creamy banana with berries in it, but it goes down so smooth that you feel as if you're enjoying a banana smoothie. I really like this one, possibly even more than Fancy.

On an interesting note, the vapor production for both these juices was nice and gave me a decent amount of cloud (I've got a video on instagram that shows it), but the throat hits on both were silky smooth and cold on even the warmest of my builds.

The Downsides

Although I liked Fancy, it's not for everyone (menthol warning!). Additionally, I feel that a good hint of watermelon would make this juice truly stupendous. I've asked a lot of people, and most agreed. In fact, two of my buddies already mix watermelon with their Fancy.

I couldn't really find anything wrong with Jammin', but it may not be for those people that enjoy a heavy throat hit. These flavors are smooth, guys and gals!

Final Notes

I quite like Vape Cliq. They make good juices, but I personally feel that their lineup is too small, especially when the mixologists over there are doing something right. In the future, I'd love to see their take on other flavors.

That being said, these were very good vapes. By that, I mean that the bottles I got are going to be done by the end of the day, if they manage to last that long.

Fancy:

Aroma: 8.0/10 Aesthetic: 9.0/10 Taste: 8.5/10 Throat Hit: 7.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 7.5/10 NEW Vapor Production: 9.0/10

Jammin':

Aroma: 7.0/10 Aesthetic: 9.0/10 Taste: 9.0/10 Throat Hit: 7.0/10 Nicotine Delivery: 8.0/10 NEW Vapor Production: 8.5/10

You can buy all of Vape Cliq's juices from Vapes of Wrath's online store, available here. Vape Cliq juices are $12 for fifteen milliliters (15mL).

[subohmreview]

Review: Five Pawns' Perpetual Check (6mg)

Five Pawns has long been a gourmet brand to be both respected and coveted. The team at Five Pawns is known for making their own extracts and preparing their liquids manually and in small batches.

After the success of their first lineup, which featured complex and innovative flavors (Grandmaster, Gambit, Absolute Pin, Bowden's Mate, Queenside), Five Pawns released the Mixology line. This set of hand-crafted juices appears to cater to the folks who love their classy drinks. I had a chance to choose from the five, but I decided to get a bottle of Perpetual Check from the awesome people at Vapes Of Wrath. They're a great shop that expertly hand-pick their juices and carry a wide variety of authentic devices. Before we start the review, I'd like to give you a brief overview of my setup. Different resistances and builds can impact the outcome of a juice's taste, so I like to try my juices on three different buillds:

0.3Ω 26g Kanthal build, dual micro-coil.

0.2Ω 24g Boom Hotwire build, dual center post.

0.6Ω 28g Kanthal build, dual micro-coil.

After compiling the notes I take from all three, I make a final review.

  First Impressions

I've always been impressed by the aesthetic and marketing of Five Pawns. From their juice names to the container that every bottle comes with, you can immediately tell that their elegant design was made to match the taste of their juices. It's quite a pretty package and looks great in every vaper's collection. The thirty milliliter bottle includes the mixologist's signature and has "2014" in roman numerals.

Aroma

Upon removing the plastic wrapping and trying out the new child-proof seal (it's actually nice and smooth, but a bit tricky to open), I took a whiff and detected a strong top note of black currant liqueur. The middle notes feature a subtle citrus and cinnamon, while the base appears to be ginger and fig. Overall, it's a smell extremely reminiscent of spicy holiday drink.

Vapin' It

Taste: Perpetual Check is without a doubt of the most complex and intriguing flavors that I've ever tasted. Upon inhale, the spices, currant, and liqueur are immediately present. The fig flavoring is very nice and presents itself alongside the citrus notes on the exhale. It leaves a very soft sweet aftertaste on the palate. Throat Hit: The throat hit on this juice is quite solid. I can clearly feel the vapor, and the cinnamon enhances it nicely. That being said, it's not overpowering. I like a smooth vape, and Perpetual Check delivers.

Cons

The largest drawback to any Five Pawns juice may be the price average. From a consumer's perspective, Having to buy 30 milliliters at once can seem daunting, especially if you were to buy it and regret it a week later. For curious vapers, Five Pawns sells a sampler pack on their official website.

This juice offers a medium-heavy vape. It may not be for everyone, especially if you're sensitive to cinnamon/spices.

Final Notes

This juice definitely tickled my fancy. It's a very spicy-sweet vape. Even though I'm mainly a fruits type of guy, Perpetual Check has managed to woo me over. It lasts a bit longer than other juices and vapes cleanly. The 50/50 blend also helps to balance the flavor and thickness. What may have surprised me most about this juice was the consistency of the nicotine delivery--it's done well. Recommendations: Although the juice is excellent across all my builds, I prefer it on a hot/warm vape, where the full complexity of Perpetual Check is allowed to run free.

Aroma: 8.5/10 Aesthetic: 9.5/10 Taste: 9/10 Throat Hit: 8/10 Nicotine Delivery: 9/10

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A Personal Welcome.

Hi everyone. My name's Zach. It's been two months since my last cigarette. It's been four months since I stopped smoking 2-4 bowls of pipe tobacco per day. And finally, this month marks the 3 year anniversary of my experience with e-cigarettes. Since the days of punch cartomizers, I've moved on to a vape pen. As of two months ago, I've gone fully mechanical. My love for the e-cigarette and personal vaporizer industry comes not just from the fact that it changed my life--sure, it's done wonders to my health and taste--but also because this industry is unlike any I've seen. In a world that feels as if the fist with the most money wins the game, it's refreshing to see a community with such a vibrant and laid-back appreciation of a shared goal/hobby. It's also brilliant seeing a lifestyle that feels as if it's been designed to help people out. Sorry about the rant, but I'm still overwhelmed at the vape community's awesomeness. Why am I sharing this? It's simple. The Sub-Ohm Review is my take on blogging and reviewing everything from vape pens and mod devices to e-juice. Along the way, I hope to continue meeting more awesome people and becoming a better person. So without further ado, I introduce to you... The Sub-Ohm Review! Ω