Vape News Magazine August 2018 by Matt Schramel

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NEWS, BUSINESS & CULTURE VAPE Magazine is the only international vaping industry focused magazine with more than 35,000 readership in the United States, Europe and Asia, where vaping professionals EDITORIAL Publisher Matt Schramel

12 @VAPENEWSGO

content@vapemz.com 800-958-6427 x2 Editor in Chief Corey Noles Managing Editor Chris Mellides Art Director Van Avazando Graphic Designer Anil Verma Director of Marketing Dennis Robinson Social Media Manager Eric Vonheim

Letter from the Editor Dear readers, It’s been a wild few months in this industry with a roller coaster of emotions flooding vapers as we fight flavor bans, changing regulations from the FDA and attacks on so many fronts it’s getting hard to count. We’ve got you covered. Writer John Castle spoke extensively with Stefan Didak, founder of Not Blowing Smoke, with regard to San Francisco. Didak was on the ground fighting the ban for weeks and has valuable insight into fighting these bans. Tony Ottomanelli also offers his own insight into the flavor ban, including the contradiction in San Francisco regarding what types of harm reduction the city does support. As you’ve already seen if you’re reading this — the infamous Ryan “Squidoode” Wellinghoff is gracing our cover. Squidoode is a multi-talented personality — and he builds a lot more than just coils. With his channel having just crossed 100,000 subscribers, we decided it was the perfect time to pay him the respect he has earned in this industry. Also in this issue is a plethora of event coverage! It’s been a busy couple months with our team flying all around the world to get it, so we hope you enjoy! Have a fantastic summer (and pray for fall!) Thanks for reading. Corey Noles Editor in Chief VAPE News Wholesaler VAPE News Magazine

Director of Photography Ezra Zuniga Webmaster Axel Gillespie Contributors Corey Noles, Norm Bour Tony Ottomanelli, Fash Fadeio Alex Mellides, Chris Mellides John Castle, Susan Oser Todd Richard, Angela Garrity Rod Cochran ADMINISTRATIVE Chief Executive Officer Matt Schramel Co-Owner/Vice President Jon Laverde Executive Assistant Erin Aly ADVERTISING Jon Laverde, jon@vapemz.com 800-958-6427 x4 Jacob Barger, jacob@vapemz.com 949-910-2138 China-based advertisers contact Wingle Group Electronics LTD +852 51759256 dev@winglegroup.com CONTACT Advertising sales@vapemz.com News news@vapemz.com New Products newproducts@vapemz.com Employment jobs@vapemz.com VAPE Magazine is wholly owned by Starpixel Marketing LLC 6209 Mid Rivers Mall Dr,Suite 194 Saint Peters, MO 63304 info@vapemz.com 800-958-6427

BUSINESS A U G U S T

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FDA approves Epidiolex as first CBD medication

COLUMNS

26 28 30 34

FEATURES

36 44 50

Ask Grimm Green Stop letting Greed destroy vaping The politicizatiion of harm reduction: Brought to you by San Francisco The Vape News Blotter

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Ban Francisco: ‘Prop E’ and the War on consumer choice Disruptive Technology: What goes around may come around Shop owner James Jarvis establishes a new Battery Recycling Program The kinship of The Travelling Hoodie Vape Visionary: Tony B. of the Vapor Trail Channel Squidoode: Trained Architect, Business Owner, Wire Slinger Extraordinaire

REVIEWS

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80 84

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EVENTS

91 Midwest Vapor Expo 2018 94 NVE Mobile 98 Vape South America 102 Vapers Carnivale Expo 2018

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BUYER’S GUIDE

107 Just In Juices 112 Hardware Prospects

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18 BUSINESS

FDA Approves Epidiolex

@VAPENEWSGO

as First CBD Medication BY TONY OTTOMANELLI II TOTTS608@GMAIL.COM

he FDA caused some massive disruption in the unregulated hemp-based CBD industry after their recent approval of a new pharmaceutical known as Epidiolex. “Today’s approval of EPIDIOLEX is a historic milestone, offering patients and their families the first and only FDA-approved CBD medicine to treat two severe, childhood-onset epilepsies,” said Justin Gover, GW’s Chief Executive Officer.” The new Epidiolex medication, launched by GW Pharmaceuticals, is essentially a strawberry flavored CBD tincture made for oral ingestion and it’s extracted from marijuanabased cannabis, rather than hemp-based cannabis. Considering this, after reading such a statement, anyone who is unfamiliar with the differences between hemp and marijuana may very well be thinking to themselves “isn’t cannabis just marijuana?” Of course, the short answer is yes, but when you bring hemp into the discussion, there are distinct differences and while I would love to go into explaining the subtle, yet vast differences between the two related plants, that is an entirely separate topic. My suggestion would be to visit the VAPEnews. com website to read more on this topic.

19 BUSINESS VAPENEWS.com

Tim Gordon, president of CBD manufacturer Functional Remedies, explains the distinct differences of the newly approved medication Epidiolex, as opposed to the many retail products containing CBD. “The majority of CBD extractors use whole-plant infusion and CBD isolate techniques to make their products, while Epidiolex is made by refining the marijuana concentrate

down to a single molecule, which is then removed of all THC before becoming the base for the medication,” Gordon said. He also believes, unlike many others from within the industry,

there’s more than enough room for the hemp-based CBD industry to maintain its rapid growth. The FDA approval for Epidiolex is technically limited to patients with Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes, two rare forms of epilepsy for which there are barely any treatments. Yet, doctors will have the option to prescribe Epidiolex for other uses

as well. In regards to this, the new pharmaceutical enters an increasingly complicated legal environment for marijuana.

BUSINESS @VAPENEWSGO

This is where things begin to become interesting. Supposedly, sales of Epidiolex can not begin immediately, not until the DEA decides to remove CBD from the Schedule I classification it has been given into a different category of drugs that have federal medical approval. All in all, GW Pharmaceuticals will manufacture Epidiolex in the United Kingdom straight from cannabis plants — specially grown as a strain of marijuana with high levels of CBD. The pharmaceutical company plans to continue importing the drug, avoiding demanding and exhaustive U.S. regulations on manufacturing substances that are federally restricted.

The FDA’s Take on Epidiolex FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb mentions in a press release that Epidiolex approval “is not an approval of marijuana or all of its components.” It was very obvious the FDA wanted to make this point abundantly clear. Basically, the FDA definitely felt the need to reiterate their strong position about how they viewed unregulated CBD products.

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

22 BUSINESS @VAPENEWSGO

The statement they shared in a press release the day they approved Epidiolex was immediately interpreted by countless CBD industry professionals as slightly threatening. Of course, in classic FDA fashion, the statement was extremely wellwritten with strong language containing a number of action verbs. In essence, their language seemed much less vague when compared to other issues. It seems they want the public to be made well-aware that the current hemp-derived CBD Industry which has been built to be interlinked between several industries that already bother the FDA or some they already heavily regulate — such as, wellness, vaping, marijuana and even the food and beverage industry. Below is just a minor portion of the lengthy statement: However, given all the exciting drama instigated by the FDA within the already established CBD industry, just three days later came a twist to the story. in this instance, it could also be referred to as the climax of the second act in the theatrical classic rendition of “Business as Usual” the original screenplay (Instructions: detect sarcasm).

A Major Turn of Events In any case, this situation seems as if it were rehearsed, as countless dramatic scenarios were being predicted and doomsday claims manufactured from the hemp and marijuana industries — then,

advocates and manufacturers were outraged.

24 BUSINESS

Now, however, with the hemp language included in the Senate’s Farm Bill, it is safe to say that hemp-based CBD products will remain unaffected by the FDA’s approval of Epidiolex as this 2018 bipartisan legislation provides some much needed relief.

@VAPENEWSGO

Or, will the future reclassification of cannabidiol only create more pharmaceutical-based CBD products which would likely threaten the independent, CBD products extracted from hemp? A recent newsletter from the National Hemp Association states, “Earlier this month the House passed their version of the Farm Bill which did not include the Hemp language. The next step is a conference to reconcile the Senate and House versions. This is a crucial step as we need to make sure the hemp language is in the final version of the bill.”

suddenly a huge bottom of the 9th relief pitcher curveball was tossed from an unlikely ally. The Farm Bill of 2018 passes through the Senate without much opposition whatsoever. A bill that was championed by Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. McConnell, as well as Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), introduced their hemp legislation as a stand-alone bill in April, before getting it included in the Senate’s 2018 Farm Bill.

to mention, it will make hemp farmers eligible for crop insurance, according to McConnell’s office.

The bill would legalize hemp, removing it from All things considered, the battle is the federal list never over and so, the saga continues of controlled as the Senate’s Farm Bill passing does not mean this celebrated measure of substances and deregulation has been signed into law. allowing it to be sold The Senate Farm Bill still needs to be merged with a competing version from as an agricultural House before it can be sent to the commodity. It would the White House for President Trump’s also allow states signature. to regulate hemp, In Conclusion as well as allow This landmark decision came with a hemp researchers number of twists and turns. There was one day where just in the to apply for grants state of Colorado alone, legislation was from the Agriculture passed in favor of allowing doctors to Department. Not prescribe Epidiolex. Colorado hemp

NHA goes onto to share, “We continue to urge you to let your congressional members – both House and Senate Members – of the need to keep the Hemp Farming Act provisions in a “Reconciled Bill” — one that would permanently legalize hemp. Please contact your Representatives and ask for them to support the full legalization of hemp via the Farm Bill.” Apparently, there is still lingering doubt as much work needs to be done on this legislation in both chambers of Congress, and NHA stands “ready to assist with whatever counsel lawmakers may request.” GW Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: GWPH, “GW,” “the Company” or “the Group”) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing novel therapeutics from its proprietary cannabinoid product platform, along with its U.S. subsidiary Greenwich Biosciences (www.gwpharm.com). Any comments or inquiries into this article, please email contact@tonyottomanelli.com

Ask 26 COLUMNS

By Nick Green

With all of the talk about flavor bans, what do you think is the smartest thing we can be doing as vapers to help? - Jasmine Leach, Chicago, IL Hey Jasmine! As consumers, contacting your elected officials is not only the easiest thing to do, but also the single most effective thing we can do. Also raise awareness whenever possible and help keep people informed. I think this also goes without saying, but be a respectful vaper. I see lots of vapers “out in the wild” just blowing huge clouds everywhere and being an overall d&*k. Don’t be that person. The antz will use any ammunition we give them against us. Purchase and promote responsible branding and support vape shops and companies that support advocacy.

I’m sure a ton of stuff gets sent to you. How do you decide what is worthy of a review? - Brad McNeil, Mobile, AL Hey Brad! As a general rule I try to review as much stuff as possible, good or bad. The more information out there the better. Some random ass pod system that no one cares about, could be a jumping off point to someone else. Because of how frequently China is releasing products some things just fall off my radar as soon as they are released. As corny as it sounds, I really try my best to stay on top of “what’s hot” or “trending.” I do also make it a point on my YouTube to show off products created by vapers in our industry. I enjoy reviewing products that other reviewers have made, I feel there is a severe lack of more “crafty” vaping products. Mass produced china mods are great for the mass market, but more niche cool handmade squonkers and things like that are much more interesting to me.

Since we keep seeing things “coming back,” like RTAs and squonks — What do you think we will see reinvented next? - Alec Travers, Salt Lake City, UT Hey Alec! It seems like everything always comes back around. Right now I believe we are seeing the beginning of a big return to mouth-to-lung vaping. Not just pod systems, but RTA tanks and atomizers as well. Which I for one am very excited about. Cloud chasing kind of stopped the innovation of MTL back in the day and i’m stoked to see where it goes and how much better of a mouth-to-lung vape can be had by better technology.

STOP LETTING

COLUMNS @VAPENEWSGO

DESTROY VAPING BY COREY NOLES COREY@VAPEMZ.COM

I’m done.

literally millions of lives and turn it I’m tired of watching the worst of into some kind of the worst in this industry that I have grown to love intentionally destroy smut to line your what could be the greatest public health pocket books is breakthrough since penicillin. shameful. While I If you have received a letter from the don’t believe anyone FDA regarding one of the brands in question over the last two weeks: you sits around a table shouldn’t be shocked. I’ve yet to see a looking for ways bottle that I didn’t feel had it coming. to “hook children,” To take a technology I DO believe that that is saving

irresponsible and reckless marketing decisions were made with no consideration for the individuals who need this technology the most. It’s about a quick buck. Or another fancy watch. People flashing their money around

makes them look like Martin “Pharma Bro” Shkreli. If the owner of Nicorette or Merck Pharmaceuticals behaved like that, there would be a revolution. It’s time to start thinking of yourselves as businessmen (and businesswomen), not as rock stars.

We are an industry of survivors. Of people who saw a problem, identified it, and found a solution without the help of our government. Issues like this are tainting the great things that vapor has brought to the world.

Consumers, stores, distributors, look at your shelves and make good decisions. Stop carrying these products. If you don’t buy them, they won’t produce them. And if the product doesn’t change, our days are numbered. Make responsible decisions and STOP thinking of this industry as a three-year money grab.

In the end, we have to come together and stand united. We can’t win this fight if we keep stepping back into the grave. We at VAPE News Magazine are making changes as well — some of which I can’t discuss yet. But, we are glad to help companies — any company — re-evaluate your branding and help find a professional and mature look. Just reach out. We’ll be talking more about this effort in the coming days with additional announcements. Be watching.

VAPENEWS.com

THIS has everything to do with the constant flavor bans discussions and frankly take away the only leg we have to stand on.

Today, I’m calling on people to take a stance.

COLUMNS

For that, everyone will pay.

They can’t. And they won’t.

I don’t want to be doing this in 2022. I want to be doing this in 2042. Without changes TODAY, that’s not going to happen. 29

Your decisions affect millions of people. The FDA is right now taking actions that are hard to argue with — and it’s your fault. This childish branding and disregard for warning after warning have come to a head.

How can a politician stand behind an industry when trash like that is floating around and on the background of every news story?

30 COLUMNS

o c s i c n a r F n a S y B u o Y o T t h g u Bro BY TONY OTTOMANELLI II TOTTS608@GMAIL.COM

@VAPENEWSGO

There have been a number of expressions used to portray the relentless spirit of the city of San Francisco. Once a champion for harm reduction and still the epicenter of technological innovation, San Fran has been a shining representation of hope and change for decades.

In fact, one particular expression often used to describe the vibe of the city is “Politics is everything in San Francisco.” Perhaps, this is where things become far more problematic for reversing or repairing any sort of confusion experienced by users of “harm reducing” vapor products.

For many who were already aware that San Francisco banned e-liquid flavors, were they at all surprised to learn of the other harm reduction measure that was not only unanimously approved but also fully embraced?

San Francisco And Harm Reduction: Cherry Picking Politics? Most recently, the vape community was greatly disturbed after learning

The San Francisco Health Commission voted without any opposition to support the opening of “Safe Injection Sites.” Assuming that the majority of vapers understand what these sites consist of, still it is crucial to briefly explain. These sites will offer intravenous drug users a clean location to inject drugs, despite the fact that this drug use is against the law and could be targeted by federal authorities.

History In The Making All things considered, not only is San Francisco on pace to become the first city in the United States to offer safe injection sites, it is coincidentally the first city in the U.S. to ban e-liquid flavors — all accomplished in the same calendar year. That is quite the contradiction, denying users of one form of harm reduction while offering entire locations for others to consume in a safe environment. The idea for safe injection sites has come to fruition due to the overwhelming amount of dirty needles scattered all over the city, near transportation hubs and outside places of business. While this is a sad reality, safe injection sites are undoubtedly advantageous for reducing harm. Yet, so are e-liquid flavors — that’s the whole point. This provides IV drug users with

Make no mistake, while many may view these sites as facilities that promote substance abuse, however, these sites are undoubtedly an effective form of harm reduction. In fact, the emergence of such sites are nothing new, as similar centers already exist in Denmark, Canada, France, Australia, Switzerland, Spain and Luxembourg. The fact of the matter is that these programs often are highly effective in helping to reduce the spread of diseases. These injection sites seem somewhat shady to certain people, yet they are are extremely successful and legitimate forms of harm reduction. The main issue here comes in the form of a simple question which would likely require a complicated answer. Either way, why are injection drug users being given special treatment and essentially being chosen as a more important issue to address while flavored e-liquid is being targeted as something that must be banned from public and even forbidden from commerce? It’s so illogical, the reasons for this must only be economical.

Endless Possibilities To Consider There are many factors that come into play when reflecting on why they may be choosing to take this route. Obviously, when your city has nearly 30,000 injection drug users on the streets injecting narcotics into their bodies out in public, this is not exactly the portrait San Fran would like to communicate to the world, nor is it a welcoming invitation for tourists seeking a vacation destination. Not to mention, San Francisco has

VAPENEWS.com

Harm reduction is often a misunderstood concept and now it seems to be transforming into a misinterpreted concept as well. We may never know why so many refuse to admit their ability to understand harm reduction, but now we may never truly know why so many are beginning to create their own definitions of what exactly harm reduction consists of.

options to access clean syringes, proper waste disposal for dirty/ used needles and a staff of trained professionals to oversee the injection processes.

COLUMNS

how residents voted to ban e-liquid flavors in San Francisco. Perhaps the city officials forgot to mention that using vapor products is indeed another form of harm reduction, but perhaps not.

an Francisco is widely recognized for having its own political identity, power and freedom to choose more so than most other American cities.

had its fair share of quarrels with the federal government already many times this year. Selling flavored e-liquid is not by any means against federal law. However, opening up safe injection sites for illegal drug use would be entirely illegal under federal law.

Is San Francisco trying to pick a fight with Washington D.C.? It wouldn’t be their first time.

COLUMNS @VAPENEWSGO

After all, it is said that one of their well-known expressions is that “politics is everything in San Francisco.” History reveals the Bay Area courageously took on a number of issues in which they proudly held the torch for human rights and civil liberties countless times. While that might be true, the District of Columbia is our nation’s capital and home to nearly every government agency one could fathom —- namely, the legendary residence of the POTUS. So, if they are looking for a fight, they will get one.

Weighing Out The Factors And Analyzing The Features Now, does banning e-liquid flavors seem as if it is the most logical approach towards preserving and improving the public health of metropolitan areas? The primary takeaway from this article is an inquiry, a burning question. So, in a city that prides itself as being

a progressive metropolis, how does one harm reduction method beat out another? Seriously, how? And why? Once again, this is without a doubt a direct attack against e-liquid, vapers and harm reduction. Or, is it not that simple? Is it political cherry picking? Favoritism in politics? A Game of Thrones scenario fueled by powerhungry bureaucrats? Are they instigating another quarrel with the federal government? Providing yet another reason to send federal authorities after “Baghdad By the Bay” — for those who may be unaware, this is an actual nickname given to San Francisco in the 1940s. Nevertheless, is this harm reduction charade related to San Francisco’s unique history, from bearing witness to the suffering of injection drug users during the height of the AIDS epidemic? Is it at all in relation to the fact that much of the pharmaceutical and medical technology is developed in that area and they are not particularly fond of bearing witness to the vapor device becoming the norm for nicotine delivery? It might be a recipe including a little bit of all of these factors as ingredients for political and economic disruption. Honestly, at this juncture of the American legacy, nothing is out of question — every theory is now considered a probable cause for a likely truth.

So, maybe San Francisco’s attempt at the politicization of harm reduction is all just a smaller part of a bigger plan. For the sake of suggesting a scenario entirely out of the ordinary, perhaps this is a small step towards attempting to establish a second U.S. capital on the West Coast — serving as a political play to develop legitimate Headquarters for Democratic Party Strategies equating to the White House in D.C. rendering the need for the DNC obsolete. Seems pretty outrageous to suggest such a thing, right? Indeed it is, but at this moment of such divisiveness throughout America, it would not surprise the majority of Americans. From one point of view, some just might prefer it to be this way. Sadly, it feels like the expression “Divide and Conquer” has been put into action and we are all just spectators. Vapers Unite! Although there is one thing we know for sure. In fact it is the only thing we can see to be absolutely the truth — which will now be presented by a quote listed below that you may have seen in a number of my previous articles. That is, “in 99 out of 100 questions the answer is always the same — money.” In addition, there is one other primary aspect we all have learned and that is that the “East Coast and West Coast Beef ” never ends well for all involved. Who will be the mediator that is chosen to tone-down the repetitive rhetoric, the intense emotions and the big money? Good luck finding that mediator, for he or she is nothing more than an anomaly bordering on the imaginary.

From STAFF REPORTS

vapenews.com

34 COLUMNS

Philipstown, New York, town board meeting held on Wednesday, June 20 cemented a six-month moratorium on vape shops following a unanimous vote by board members to adopt the new policy.

@VAPENEWSGO

tanford Medicine reports that nicotine has been shown to have therapeutic properties in a variety of inflammatory diseases. Researchers found that smoking tobacco demonstrated negative association with Alzheimer’s

The Vape and Parkinson’s diseases, as well as inflammatory bowel disease, in numerous studies. The nicotine was found to be the actual source of these positive results for these diseases; not the tobacco smoking.

he Royal College of Physicians (RCP), a trusted organization representing 34,000 doctors world-wide, recently released a major report outlining the benefits of smoking cessation services and how they should be implemented as a routine component of all hospital care in the UK. The report says that giving smokers the help they need to quit smoking while being treated at hospitals will translate to saved lives, an increase in life expectancy and a reduction in overall health care costs that burden the National Health Service (NHS).

etro reports that sales of vapor products within U.K. correctional sites such as jails and prisons are high and steady, with up to 65,000 sales per week.

ndonesia will impose a steep 57 percent excise tax on e-liquid products sold in the country, in a move which signals the government’s commitment to exercise its unwavering control over tobacco products. The southeast Asian country already imposes a hefty tax on all other types of tobacco products and yet it has some of the highest smoking rates in world, according to Reuters.

he China Electronics Chamber of Commerce’s (CECC) Electronic Cigarette Industry Committee held a public industry conference to announce a draft of new standards for the General Specification for Electronic Atomization Apparatus (vape hardware) and the Standards for Electronic Smoke Chemicals (vape juice). The new standards seek to fill in the gaps from previous vape standards in China with broad and far-reaching significance.

News Blotter

ore than 255,000 fake anti-vaping comments have flooded the Regulations.Gov website. The target is specifically

outh Africa’s vapor industry now faces a new bill, described by opponents as ‘moralistic’, which would impose heavy restrictions on smoking and vaping. Christened the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, the new law would impose a ban on smoking in publicly accessible buildings, and a ten meter radius surrounding all such buildings, as well as on smoking in cars with passengers. Additionally, it takes the step of including vapor and heat-notburn systems in “smoking.”

VAPENEWS.com

he American Journal of Epidemiology reports that another study has found vaping to increase the odds of successfully

igar Aficionado reports that the cigar industry has scored a victory in the form of a reprieve of at least a year from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s rule that would have seen cigar packaging and advertising slapped with mandatory warning labels. The injunction on the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s enforcement of this requirement grants the cigar industry a reprieve of at least a year, and is the latest development in Cigar Association of America, et al. v. United States Food and Drug Administration, a lawsuit presided over by Judge Amit P. Mehta of United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The injunction comes in response to the industry asking the court to prevent enforcement of the warning label rule during its appeal.

directed at the Regulation of Flavors in Tobacco Products. The Canadian News source states the spammed comments nearly brought down federal servers and bogged down the internal network, making it nearly impossible to process any submissions.

COLUMNS

AND TV reports that Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and thirteen other representatives are pushing the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to begin enforcing regulations of vapor products. The urgency they claim as grounds for doing this is that teenagers are doing what teenagers have been doing for decades; namely, consuming substances which they are forbidden to consume — nicotine, in this instance.

quitting cigarette smoking. While the abstract claims that the evidence is “limited”, it also presents findings which suggest that vaping is the most popular strategy for smoking cessation, beating pharmaceutical aids by a wide margin (25.2 percent.)

he Massachusetts State Senate, in a sweeping vote of 33-3, has agreed on implementing Tobacco 21 legislation, which would raise the age for purchasing all tobacco products in the state to 21.

‘Prop E’ And The War On Consumer Choice

FEATURES @VAPENEWSGO

BY JOHN CASTLE JOHNCASTLE@VAPEMZ.COM

n April 2017, San Francisco City Supervisor Malia Cohen proposed a ban on flavored “tobacco products”, including vapor products and menthol cigarettes, in the city and county of San Francisco, California.

VAPENEWS.com

Stefan Didak, founder and president of Not Blowing Smoke, a pro-vaping organization that focuses on educational and promotional campaigns on behalf of industry stakeholders and consumers, weighed in on Prop E as the time for the vote approached.

FEATURES

Opposing advocacy movements were predictable and nearly instant, with R.J. Reynolds again funding the opposition. Meanwhile, activists supporting Prop E were cautioned about their optics and instructed not to use the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;banâ&#x20AC;? to describe the measure.

That measure, which passed June 2017, was suspended just over three months later after being forced to a referendum by a 34,000 signature strong petition funded in part by R.J. Reynolds. Once forced to a referendum, the flavor ban became Proposition E and its fate was left in the hands of San Francisco voters.

products and decided to lop them all in with known harmful and deadly combustible tobacco products.” 38

Didak also pointed out that the ban’s intended effects seem unlikely to manifest as intended.

FEATURES

“It’s the age old ideology of our opponents that if something is attractive to adults then it must also be attractive to minors and to avoid problems it should all be banned,” he said.

@VAPENEWSGO

“I love San Francisco. It’s a city with a lot of diversity, freedom, and excitement and a city that has been at the forefront of many harm reduction efforts,” says Didak “which is why it’s so sad to see the Board of Supervisors (BOS) be so strongly opposed to vapor

The Not Blowing Smoke head recalls that similar arguments were used in the days when other flavored tobacco products were banned.

“The fact remains that adults like flavors as much as kids do and while the argument of ‘no adult would vape bubblegum’ may resonate with non-vapers and non-smokers alike,

39 FEATURES VAPENEWS.com

the truth is that many of us have and still do,” he said.

Adding, “In the recent manufactured and orchestrated attacks on JUUL, for example, cucumber mint keeps being cited as “kid friendly” yet how many children are actually fans of vegetables, really?”

When asked about the most likely effects of the ban’s passage, the picture is clear — and bleak, according to Didak. “If the voters in SF decide to uphold the flavor ban it will immediately put a lot of small businesses out of business,” he said. “The handful of vapor retailers in the city would not be able to sustain with just the sales of tobacco flavors, many of which would also be banned as they carry other characterizing flavors besides

The date for the vote came and went. Ultimately, Prop E was passed by San Francisco’s voters — 68.39% voted ‘Yes’, while 31.61% voted ‘No’. While we haven’t yet seen immediate evidence of what Didak predicted, we have seen one other fairly nasty and predictable result of the Prop E flavor ban: copycat bans.

In places like Oakland, California, Chicago, Illinois, the State of New York, and the State of Massachusetts, copycat flavor bans sprang up almost immediately on the heels of the passage of Prop E. While the Chicago ban, Ordinance #O2018-4150, is still in limbo, New York’s ban has failed to pass in the 2018 legislative session, and the Massachusetts ban has been withdrawn.

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plain tobacco and because of the inclusion of menthol cigarettes in the ordinance, a lot of c-store, corner stores, 711’s, gas stations, etc. will also see their revenue drop.”

He continued, “For consumers, whether it is vapers or smokers, it means they would have to rely on online retail, which is often not all that convenient, or make the effort to go outside the city to purchase their favorite products.”

While battles are being won in New York and Massachusetts, vapers should remain mindful that the war is far from over. And with the passage of Proposition E, San Francisco residents have voted away a piece of their consumer choice, and vapers across the nation have

many more battles on the horizon if they’re going to protect theirs. Because any freedom, once given away, is difficult or impossible to ever take back.

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

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Disruptive Technology

What Goes Around May

Come Around 44

BY NORM BOUR NORM@VAPEMENTORS.COM

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The expression, “what is old, is new again” refers to the cyclical nature of things. Outdated fashion trends become the “next new thing,” from neon clothing to facial hair changes, and musical groups that were hip in the eighties, are now hot again.

attoos were the rage during the mid 20th century, especially with returning soldiers, fifties era hipsters, and beat generation hippies, but disappeared over the next few decades. It’s hard to be unique when it’s been done before and when everyone is doing it. The old/ new conversation fits into the vape space, too.

blu e-cigs started in 2009 and was acquired by then giant Lorillard Tobacco Company in 2012 for $135M. Lorillard was bought by RJ Reynolds American in 2014, but Lorillard saw that e-cigarettes were more than a fad and helped take the analog alternatives to the marketplace. The purchase by Reynolds included the sale of blu to Imperial Brands, a subsidiary of Fontem Ventures, where it remains today. Big Tobacco made a strong push with blu in the UK and overseas markets, which was slower to embrace

Michiel Carmel, owner of Vape & Volts, a retail vape shop in London which has been named Shop of the Year in 2016/ 2017 by a leading UK magazine, has a history in vape that goes back to 2010. It was then that he helped found the Electronic Cigarette Industry Trade Association (ECITA), which was the first e-cigarette trade association in England- and in the world.

Carmel has a well-deserved reputation as a leader in exposing new technology to the market.

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Small Is Beautiful

Pod systems, small and lower wattage hardware, nic salts and Suorin ultra-portable devices are the rage. The pen style mods may be the victor, especially when we notice how it’s adapted into CBD and cannabis, too.

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Over the years, discretion became the better move and even though innovation is stifled here in the US, it is not overseas.

Fast forward and the cycle of small and discrete is back again.

“I get approached with about a dozen new products every month, and it’s maddening trying to keep up. Though innovation still continues in Europe and the UK, blu is also making a push into vape shops in addition to gas stations and convenience stores.”

Think back to the early years. Vape pens came in one size: cigalike. They were small, inconspicuous and portable. Over the years they grew like cartoon-like Transformers into big and many times, bulky box mods. Some were too unwieldy to fit into pockets but could light up a room with the wattage they carried and fill it with vapor.

the vaping mindset. While we were busy here with exponential expansion of retail shops and liquid companies, blu was making progress overseas.

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“Right now, there is a major push towards small pod-like technology. But another one that has me excited is the Enovap out of France.”

Enovap? Never heard of it, but ironically it harkens back to the early days of vaping and the desire to control your nicotine intake. A handful of years ago the methodology was to go from analog cigs to high nicotine levels, up to 25 mg in many cases, then

ween down to a lesser amount, or remove all nicotine completely. The Enovap has a dual chamber inside with nicotine in one and flavoring in the other. The levels of both can be adjusted on the fly so higher nic concentrations can be dialed in when you want them, lowered when you don’t. Probably the only way you’ll see this in the US is if you buy one overseas. The bottom feeding squonk boxes with a reservoir which were big a few years ago, are now coming back. “The Lazy Man’s Dripper,” it has been called.

Why is it back? “Improved technology,” says Paul Radziewicz of Rolling Fog Vapor Company in North Carolina. “These

DOOLEE THIS TANK USES

BOTH & TFV8

CLEITO 120 COILS

TwoCoilsOneTank.com

48 FEATURES

new products are easier to squeeze and control the flow of juice. They made a better box, the juice bottles are softer, and when you push the juice up into the coil it saturates your coil much better. Makes you want to go back for more!”

“We’ve come a long way since the Kangertech Kbox,” echoes Carmel, “but I think squonks are more for the hobbyists than the mainstream.” When we look at “new” technology in vape, the future is dim. With hardware restricted to pre-August 8, 2016 technology, what you see is pretty much what we’ll get. Some products are being released that have been hidden away and are FDA legal (per them), but mostly it’s old stuff we’re stuck with.

Who has it better? Americans, with little innovative products to choose from, or those overseas that have too many? You can have 500 cable channels today, or just three networks decades ago. And what comes around does go around, as we see in rehashed television shows, like the Roseanne do over.

One of the unique innovations we have seen is in the form of packaging called the Easysnap. These two to four ml hermetically sealed containers are used for sampling or point of sale displays for liquid companies engaging spontaneous buyers. They are portable, will seal in flavor for over three years, and are gaining popularity overseas. Comments, questions? Please contact the author below. Norm Bour is the founder of VapeMentors and creator of the VAPE U online programs. They offer services & resources for anyone in the vape space, including vape shops, online stores and e-liquid brands. He’s also the host of Vape Radio, the largest vaping radio show in the world with more than 1.3 M downloads. Contact him at norm@VapeMentors.com

Shop Owner

James Jarvis Establishes

A New

Battery

FEATURES @VAPENEWSGO

BY TONY OTTOMANELLI II TOTTS608@GMAIL.COM

otal battery safety would begin with addressing what is required for the batteries to be disposed of properly, a form of waste management. Then again, it is best to have Mr. James Jarvis explain the purpose of his program and the message he would like to communicate.

Clarification From A Vape Shop Owner Industry professional and active advocate, James Jarvis, is the owner of six out of 20 Vapor Station vape shops in the Greater Columbus, Ohio area. From this, his new program is referred to as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vapor Station & Battery Solutions Battery Recycling Initiative.â&#x20AC;?

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This campaign for “total battery safety” is not just a simple reality we must confront nor is it what should be recognized just once a month out of the year nor shall it be given a calendar day each year dedicated in remembrance to those who’ve been injured -- we need to repeatedly share this message nonstop, to a point of being reciprocal, sending a message to the entire community of vapor product users, as well as the outsiders who do not participate in vaping.

Sure stores can take batteries and drop them off at Best Buy, but we need to be stewards of a whole entire industry and make our own statement. We need to invest in The Company Of programs like this to Battery Solutions ensure we are putting our According to their website, it describes best foot forward. We exactly what the company does: “We need to show that we are provide end-to-end solutions, from collection to recycling, based on your 360 degree businesses.” individual battery waste management needs. We hold ourselves and our partner companies to the highest industry standards.”

Battery Solutions informs business owners as well as consumers, explaining a number of extremely significant tips for battery safety. For instance, they claim that “The terminals, or exposed metal parts, of certain batteries can rub together creating a spark. It only takes one to start a fire! Properly taping these batteries ensures safe transit, but most batteries do NOT need to be taped!” Why avoid excessive packaging? It saves time and money. If your batteries are incorrectly packaged we have to repackage them properly. While some of the methods below are permitted by the U.S. Department of Transportation to safely transport batteries, we ask you only use a piece of clear tape on the terminals and only on certain battery chemistries to avoid additional fees. It is highly recommended to review the Battery Terminal Protection Guide for how to package batteries correctly on their website, www.batterysolutions. com.

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“The message is total battery safety from beginning to end. With all of the focus on teaching battery safety in-store about battery wraps, not putting them in pockets, to use cases, ect. We really have left out a huge focus which is recycling. With the influx and growth of the industry, all of these batteries are going somewhere...most if the time its the landfills. We as an industry need to be responsible business owners 360 degrees... that includes showing how responsible we can be with reducing a carbon footprint.

revealing the value of the advocacy that Jarvis has come to represent on a professional level. Melissa told me, “James has become a great advocate extremely quickly and we are excited to send Jenny, his rep, to Washington for the Day on the Hill!” Jarvis says, “Battery solutions has been fantastic. They are very professional and genuinely want to help.“

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Altogether, I was able to reach Melissa Kelley, who is the Battery Solutions Director of Marketing. Contacting her was a huge learning opportunity. Kelley was indeed well-educated on this topic as she immediately began informing me all about the materials used to create lithium-ion batteries and the true stories that unfold during the process associated with the end products that we often tend to take for granted.

Taking this account, she was extremely impressed and enthusiastic about the fact that the vape industry is reaching out to them and truly

James has been so impressed with his new battery safety program partner, he was able to convince them to buy a booth at the next VTA conference in which they will be speaking as well.

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Kelley shared some of the same exact information I received from Battery Solutions Account Manager, Jenny Adrian. It was encouraging to learn that they are all on the same page.

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Regardless, what I learned was eyeopening. They told me, “By enabling a circular supply chain for batteries, we reduce the global need for mining of virgin material especially of conflict materials, like cobalt, found in lithium-ion batteries. We’ve recycled nearly 2 million pounds of these batteries year to date in 2017. This equates to up to 400,000 pounds of recovered cobalt that can be reused.”

After learning this, it becomes clear that the recycling of batteries is absolutely crucial as it seems to affect nearly every major industrial segment of modern life and society -- from public health awareness, environmental concerns, human rights issues and countless economic factors. According to recent reports by CNN and The Washington Post, “thousands of miners in Congo dig by hand. Children, too” referring to the conditions associated with mining for cobalt. Adrian weighs in on this scenario, by sharing her opinion, stating, “These inexcusable conditions urge us into full R&D mode in the product life extension for lithium-ion batteries, starting with laptop, power tool, and cell phone batteries. Plus, working our way into electric vehicle battery reuse and repurpose.”

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

Adrian proceeds, by saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course, this is a small part to ease the ever-rising demand for cobalt.â&#x20AC;? Thus, Battery Solutions is working across a number of industries that are in direct correlation to products that may require their services. 56 FEATURES

Establishing A Recycling Program Is Only The Beginning

@VAPENEWSGO

Jarvis understands the message the industry needs to send. More importantly, he is fully aware of how the vape industry should go about navigating the appropriate route of total battery safety by reminding us all that we must always start at the very beginning. Jarvis is responsible for transforming this concept of a total battery safety campaign into a process that begins with a recycling program. This is without a doubt, a direct representation of leading by example. All in all, it is safe to say, Jarvis is a genuine leader of the vape community. He took the initiative to get right up under the main area of potential harm that may arise, although extremely rare, the batteries of vaping devices could possibly cause a spark.

While recycling is not the end-all be-all solution to addressing the malfunctioning of batteries in vape devices. Jarvis understands that his program doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

necessarily solve the issue. Yet, that is not what he initially set out to do. His plan deals with taking action from the very beginning of a larger process. So, from creating a recycling program with the proper channels to avoid risks, this merely kicks off the introduction to a more comprehensive

plan to improve the functionality between battery and device and user. Total battery safety begins with addressing the importance in building positive relationships and Jarvis had the foresight to take action toward a step in the right direction. Therefore, he is leading the way by inviting other shop owners to embrace this concept of recycling as the first step toward total battery safety. Find out more at www.batterysolutions.com.

WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

The Kinship Of The Traveling

e i d o o H BY ANGELA GARRITY ANGELA@VAPEMZ.COM

58 FEATURES @VAPENEWSGO

Two years ago, during the Vapor Blackout, Ben Villa noticed that the fight for advocacy in support of the vaping industry was something every vaper could agree on. He noticed that everyone came together regardless of what team, mod, juice or gear any vaper had. It was during this time of reflection that Villa wanted to do something that brought vapers together again. He launched his mission of the Traveling Hoodie.

illa noticed that while advocacy and vapers’ rights fights were going strong, some became more involved with their own causes. It turned into what “team” they were a part of or what “manufacturer” they represented. This competition led to segregation within the community and sadly, a lot of division as well.

the Traveling Hoodie doesn’t judge. It welcomes signatures from experienced vapers, to vapers that started that day, to shop owners, to coil builders, to anyone who wants to come together at one place to sign the Traveling Hoodie. The hoodie moves through all circles within the industry. It doesn’t care about nuances that drive wedges between people. The hoodie represents a harmony that is unspoken.

Villa caught his inspiration while shopping for clothes. He saw a solid white hoodie and was inspired to fill it with signatures of vapers. The Traveling Hoodie represents unity, coming together and stopping drama. Villa uses the hashtags #coverthewhite, #advocacytakespriority and #vapingmakesfamily to spread his message of every vaper matters.

The Traveling Hoodie stands for vaping, period. It does not care what company is represented nor what team someone is on. Everyone can come together to sign the hoodie. If everyone who vapes can put their name on something that more vapers or even a competitor signed, then everyone can come together to give their best efforts to save this industry.

Some of the biggest and easily recognized names have taken part in signing the Traveling Hoodie. However,

The most treasured signature Villa has collected is the signature of his wife, Jennifer Kelly. Villa explained

that Kelly doesn’t vape, but she sees the message and believes in the cause. Villa describes her signature as a simple “1/2” because he lovingly refers to her as “Half Pint.” Villa hopes to have Phil Busardo sign the hoodie one day. Villa has been patiently waiting a year and a half, trying to get Busardo’s attention after his coverage of advocacy panels at different expos. Villa sees Busardo’s dedication to the industry and knows he is just extremely busy during conventions. Villa doesn’t want to be “that guy” at conventions but would be honored to collect Busardo’s signature on his wearable symbol of unity. Villa has a lot of respect for Busardo as an advocate in this industry. Signatures collected on the Traveling Hoodie will not be replaced. Villa’s goal is to cover the entire hoodie in signatures collected by vapers in the community in any color imaginable.

59 FEATURES

He travels with tons of colors, so vaper’s can take their pick of Sharpie color as well as space available on the hoodie to sign. Once the hoodie is completely filled with signatures, Villa plans to frame it in double sided glass and hang it up in his shop, on permanent display. Villa will continue his mission with a new, blank canvas hoodie that is hungry for signatures. Villa is very approachable and would be honored to have as many signatures on it that the hoodie has space for, strictly because of what it represents. Please understand and respect what these signatures stand for – unity, family, advocacy. By signing the Traveling Hoodie, vapers are giving their word that they share this vision. Villa knows a person’s word means everything and he takes his word very seriously. He knows that a man’s word means nothing if he doesn’t stand behind it. Honor is something Villa treasures highly.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. once said, “I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character – not wealth or power or position – is of supreme worth.” Villa encourages vapers to continue to unite. He’s secret to unity is to be the bigger person and stay out of drama. His words are simple – just walk away from it.

The Traveling Hoodie hangs up ready for its next signature at its home in Chasin’ Vapors. Photo by Ben Villa

There is only one Traveling Hoodie. It is truly one of a kind and it speaks volumes to those who are connected by Villa’s mission. The Traveling Hoodie has been to comps as well as Expos in Foxwoods, St. Louis, Detroit, South Carolina, Cleveland, Atlanta, Mobile and Chattanooga. The Traveling Hoodie can also be found hanging inside of Chasin’ Vapors in Northfield, Ohio when it is not on tour.

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Villa wearing the Traveling Hoodie at NVE Foxwoods 2018. Photo by Nathan Cornelius

Of The Vapor Trail Channel 60

Content Creator, Product Designer and Seaglass Hunter

FEATURES @VAPENEWSGO

BY CHRIS MELLIDES CHRIS@VAPEMZ.COM

he self-proclaimed “nice guy of vaping,” Tony Brittan, more widely known as just Tony B., is a determined YouTuber who was inspired to share his knowledge of vaping and is a big believer of its many benefits. Brittan grew up in San Diego, California during a time when smoking was pretty widely accepted and at a very young age was thrust into an environment where tobacco use was the norm. “Everyone in my home smoked, and there were always cartons of cigs in the freezer in the garage, so I just started doing it,” Brittan said.” By middle school, mom knew I was smoking, so she just said, ‘Ok, I’ll buy ‘em for you, but don’t let your friends parents know.’” “That’s just how it was back then. In San Diego, where I grew up, you could smoke in high school, in the smoking

area, if your parents signed a smoking pass for you,” he added. Brittan continued to smoke well into adulthood and despite knowing that his cigarette smoking habit was taking its toll on his health, attempts at quitting cold turkey, undergoing hypnotherapy and using nicotine replacement therapies like the patch and gum all proved to be ineffective. Brittan had tried vaping as an alternative, but his knowledge was limited and the Blu e-cig he was puffing away on hardly seemed to do the trick. That all changed in July of 2013 when his parents paid him a visit. In a concerted effort to make up for the damage she had caused her son by letting him indulge in a smoking habit at such a young age, Brittan’s mother offered him an eGo pen and a Vivi Nova Mini tank loaded with Villain Vapors’ “Bonnie and Clyde” e-liquid for him to try. It had worked for her, so she had hoped it would also work for him— which it did.

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62 FEATURES @VAPENEWSGO

“She said she was using what she brought in an attempt to quit, they were working, and she wanted to undo what she had done in the past by helping me quit too,” Brittan said. “Well, I tried it, I loved it, and I was off the cigs within two weeks. Never went back.” In an effort to learn all he could about vaping, Brittan turned to YouTube and found vape reviewer Phil Busardo who created a lengthy video detailing how to use and clean the Vivi Nova Mini. Since Brittan was newly gifted the tank he dove right into the video and quickly noticed that he could’ve gotten everything he needed in about five minutes. Brittan dug deeper into vaping on YouTube and became exposed to a number of other channels. What he noticed was that there was something missing in the videos on the platform at the time.

“Look, I’m no prude, and I curse like a sailor in real life, but most of what I saw was cursing, people that looked edgy, and in general, not something that my mom would watch,” he said. Brittan was once an on-air radio personality and had taken on multiple roles during his 16-year tenure in the medium, including working as a program director and music director. In pursing this career, he bounced around from state-to-state before finally settling down on the outer banks of North Carolina. He left radio when “show business” turned to just “business” and eventually started a video production company which has given him the opportunity to do local TV commercials, real estate videos, product photography and voiceover work. “With my radio background, where

we always preached ‘keep it tight and clean’, meaning shorten it all up and don’t curse, I figured I might be able to help people that might be turned off by all of that stuff by making my own channel.” It wasn’t long after this realization that Brittan started the Vapor Trail Channel on YouTube. With over 140,000 subscribers and growing, Brittan regularly updates his channel with content that’s timely, informative and most importantly, accessible. He’s worked with some of the biggest manufacturers in China, and while he says that he likes working with American companies, the truth is that a lot of vape gear is trickling into the States from outside of the country according to Brittan. As his channel grew bigger, he began building relationships with several companies and was contacted by

Stefen Z., the owner and head designer of Vandy Vape.

But that didn’t stop Vandy Vape from developing its own chip and fully realizing Brittan’s design while making good on the more than 40,000 pre orders placed by consumers before the VooPoo debacle came to an end and Vandy Vape took full control over production of the mod.

their high-end stuff out.” “My goal with the Pulse line of products was to create affordable and easy to get squonk products to introduce that way of vaping to the masses,” Brittan said. When it came time to create the Pulse 80 watt regulated squonk mod that has since been released with the Vandy Vape chipset, the goal for Brittan was to use the popular Gene chip that manufacturer VooPoo designed for its products. What ensued was a controversy involving production of the Pulse 80 Watt using VoopPoo’s chipset with Brittan and Vandy Vape ultimately being denied access after delays and

“It’s unfortunate for all involved, but the mod is out, it’s awesome, and people are loving it,” Brittan said. “That’s all I wanted. I’m sure I have a lot to learn about conducting business with foreign companies.” When it comes to the future of the vapor product industry, Brittan is cautiously optimistic and hopes that the industry will remain as open and as innovative as it is now. “We all need to buckle down, do what we can for advocacy, and selfpolice. The forces that are against us are strong! But we can be stronger if we unite,” Brittan says. “I’m not one to sugar coat it though, it’s going to be a tough fight. The perceptions fed by the media and uninformed opposition of the industry are not good. We need to work hard to change that.”

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“Was the Pulse BF a top of the line squonk? Nope. But it wasn’t intended to be,” Brittan said. “It’s a very inexpensive mod that can be an entry to squonking, or even a great ‘beater mod’ for those that don’t want to bring

half made promises.

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As per their agreement, Vandy Vape released the Pulse line of products starting with the Pulse BF mechanical squonk mod, which Brittan liked because it was sold at a reasonable price and was a great entry level device for consumers new to this style of vaping.

At the time Brittan said he was “heavily getting into squonking” and Vandy Vape hadn’t gone public yet, but the company’s owner was interested to see if Brittan had any design ideas for hardware with the potential that they could be fully realized as a finished product. “They asked me if I had any design ideas that I’d like to possibly work with them on, and I said ‘Yea…but they’re all squonk related.’ They were into it and we entered into an NDA, so we could start working on them.”

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Squidoode Tr a i n ed A rc h i t e ct, Bu s in e s s O w n e r , W i re S li n g e r E x t r ao r d in air e

that, he’s made a path for himself where his expertise fuels his desire to work on various projects aimed at the vaping community. In light of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Deeming Rule, which created a market freeze in August 2016, Wellinghoff was under a tremendous amount of pressure to release a piece of hardware in compliance with the rule. That piece of hardware was the Doode RDA. It was a builder’s dream, and a product that Wellinghoff both designed and had manufactured.

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yan Wellinghoff, more commonly known as Squidoode, is no stranger within the vaping community. With a formal education rooted in architecture and design, it’s no wonder that the 30-year-old from Dayton, Ohio has become widely known for his exceptional coil building skills, and was among the first builders to make a big splash on social media. With his unique skill set, conceptualizing, designing, and creating came naturally. With

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BY CHRIS MELLIDES CHRIS@VAPEMZ.COM

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@VAPENEWSGO

Despite not being able to legally release new products in the States, that hasn’t stopped Wellinghoff from working with manufacturers overseas to realize his designs and sell them on the international market where his name is well known.

Back in 2012, the technology and quality of the vaping hardware wasn’t able to satisfy him and so he continued to smoke a year or two after that.

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“I was smoking a lot; probably around a pack to a pack and a half

“I started to try various ways of quitting. I tried cold turkey; I tried switching to other nicotine delivery systems like dip, and none of it really worked for me,” Wellinghoff said. “And then I think it was in 2011 or 2012 that a buddy of mine suggested vaping.”

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Before he founded his company, Squidoode LLC., Wellinghoff was a smoker. He says that his cigarette habit really took its toll when he had enrolled at Miami University to study architecture.

Wellinghoff told himself that he would quit prior to graduating, but that didn’t happen. His smoking addiction followed him into his professional life where the everyday stress associated with his work lent itself to heavy smoking. But, he knew that he had to quit, and tried a range of options to make it happen.

“I’ve been trying to work on my international branding and strengthening my reputation internationally to hopefully release a couple of more products I’ve been working on for a while now,” Wellinghoff said. “I’m just trying to have the market to present them so that I could hopefully still make some more products in the years to come.”

some days,” he said.

“One day I woke up after a long night of partying. I was short of breath from the previous night of going out drinking and smoking,” Wellinghoff said. “I gave my buddy the remaining pack of cigarettes I had and on my way home I stopped at a vape shop. From that day on I haven’t smoked, and I haven’t looked back.” That was back in February 2014. And because he was still very new to vaping at the time, Wellinghoff did what many other people have done and continue to do—he turned to the Internet for advice and information.

“YouTube and Reddit were the largest ways to get information, and how we consume information nowadays is primarily through the Internet,” Wellinghoff said. “I kind of just floated over to Reddit and Instagram and was just like a sponge, I just wanted more and more information.”

there was a community of people who were interested in that, and Kent was the only one taking the time to do some really creative builds,” he added. It wasn’t long before Wellinghoff decided to start his own YouTube channel called “The Art of Vaping,” where he could educate and inform through build tutorials. At the time, he observed that most of what he saw on the site was “too short” and had “poor production value.”

As he became more familiar with vaping, he found himself naturally shifting to the more advanced area of mechanical mods and rebuildables, and it was at this time that Wellinghoff began experimenting with coil building based on the knowledge he was able to acquire online.

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“My goal with YouTube was to very simply make nice, detailed and concise videos that were as easy to follow as possible because let’s be honest, a coil building tutorial has information that can be very dry.”

Eventually he came across a small community on Instagram and while Wellinghoff says that at that time the platform was “really disorganized and some of the connections that are wellestablished today just weren’t really there,” he began understanding that because Instagram is largely a visual platform, it would be a perfect place to share images of his work.

“I’ve been able to meet a lot of great people, a lot of likeminded people and that made me enjoy Instagram even more,” Wellinghoff said. “There was an actual community behind these photos; it was nice to sort of become a part of that.”

One of the first builders he noticed on social media was Kent Hill, otherwise known as Twisted Messes. He’s known Hill longer than any other friend he made through vaping, and says that he felt inspired by the wellshot and detailed photos he saw from Kent. This had only fueled his desire to further experiment with wire. “I stumbled upon Kent’s page, and at the time, Kent had I think, three to four thousand followers,” Wellinghoff said. “This was a long time ago, but at the time I said, ‘Holy cow, here’s this guy who’s just making these coils, and there seems to be a lot of interest there from other people.’” “That definitely showed me that

He didn’t want to be seen as an overzealous person who made it a point of injecting his personality into his videos to make them more appealing. Instead, he decided to get around by giving good, detailed information in a way that made his content enjoyable to watch. Garnering over 100,000 subscribers, Wellinghoff considers his channel to be well-received and often struggles to respond to all of the private messages and e-mails he receives on a regular basis. And while he has been inactive on YouTube for some time now, Wellinghoff plans to upload more content over the next month or two. One of the biggest factors as to why he hasn’t been uploading as frequently as he’d like is because he’s

been engrossed in running his own business, Squidoode LLC. “I started my business with the launch of the coils and back in 2015 I had the idea. At the time I had already produced some iconic builds,” Wellinghoff said. “So, I was kind of already known for that, but I was receiving a lot of feedback from viewers and fans that would always ask if there was a way to get their hands on these builds.” At that time Hill had already began establishing his business and it was he who encouraged Wellinghoff to do the same.

“He [Hill] really nudged me into doing it, so I kind of jumped into it not really knowing what the response was going to be or how large the market was going to be for coils,” he said. “At the time no one was selling advanced premade coils.”

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“A lot of things just kind of fell into place for me. With the coils and with everything I was doing on Instagram and YouTube a lot of people started reaching out to me and I started reaching out to a lot

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To his surprise his products were very well-received, and he says that he has felt honored to have helped build that market for consumers. However, it wasn’t without its challenges, as he had to make adjustments and streamline his process to meet growing customer demand.

of businesses to try to work together on some other projects,” Wellinghoff said. Those projects have included a juice line that came out of a partnership with e-liquid manufacturer Flavors United, the Doode RDA, an organic cotton product, and of course the hardware projects he’s currently working on for the International Market. This of course has been challenging according to Wellinghoff who says, “The most challenging thing has been time-management. That extends throughout everyone’s life. I was

consumed with not wanting to fail. Every now and then you have to check yourself and find your balance.” As for what’s on the horizon, Wellinghoff admits that he’ll be beefing up his YouTube content, and aside from working on hardware, he’ll be re-launching his website. He says that he will also continue to be “involved with the Instagram community” and keep the content flowing on his pages. “I try to set short term goals and I just try to achieve those short-term goals,” he said. “I think over time if you are trying to achieve something, at some point the combination of all of your efforts and the completion of all of these small goals will add up to something great.”

2JNT Philippines

72 REVIEWS

High Roller Mechanical Mod

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BY CHRIS MELLIDES CHRIS@VAPEMZ.COM

his device is interesting and quite frankly, a bit odd in appearance. While there have been a number of side-fire mechanical tube mods brought to market, they’re not all that common, and the PILAK High Roller from 2JNT in the Philippines is definitely different from what I’ve seen in the past. The High Roller is simple in its design and is comprised of a 24.6mm tube constructed from pure silver, with a silver hybrid disk threaded into the top where you would attach your atomizer, and a solid Ultem base which houses the side-fire button.

The tube is attached to the Ultem base and runs down it the whole way through. On the underside of the mod is a silver battery cap with a protruding groove that can be easily gripped and unscrewed allowing for access to your battery. Do be careful when you’re threading in the cap, if you’re not, you may accidentally cross thread the cap due to the fact that like the tube, it is also made out of silver, which is a softer metal. The High Roller is designed to be used with a single 20700 battery, which gives you plenty of battery life and the option to build at a slightly lower resistance due to the higher amp limit associated with the battery type.

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All Photos taken by Alex Mellides

The switch is spring loaded and offers just the right amount of resistance when you fire the device. The button is constructed out of Ultem and silver and sticks out a tad. It’s very responsive but it has the tendency to back out slightly during repeated use. This may cause misfires, so just screw it in some and you should be good to go. You’d think that the device would be uncomfortable to hold given its funky design, but luckily, the opposite is true. This device feels great in the hand and also feels substantial when an atomizer and battery are installed. Without them. The device is quite light. What I also like a lot about the High Roller is that it’s incredibly compact and easy to manage.

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As mentioned, the tube is constructed out of pure silver but from what I understand it’s not 100 percent pure. Had it been the tube would be a little too malleable and prone to bending or scuffing. That’s not to say that the tube cannot be scratched if you’re not careful, silver is a soft metal, after all.

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With the “high roller” name, the deep engravings on the tube and the Ultem base are inspired by gambling and money. There are etchings of dice, money bags, symbols that denote different forms of currency, and that’s just on the silver tube. The base engravings show etchings of playing cards, with two different hands— four of a kind and a royal flush. Additionally, there’s a businessman shown wearing a suit and a pork pie hat and above it is the devices’ serial number. If this all sounds a bit busy, then you’d probably be right. There are a lot of engravings, but I happen to think that they’re nicely done and aren’t too distracting while you’re using the device. If you’re a gambler then these engravings would likely appeal more to you, but for everyone else, I guess it’s just something interesting to look at.

It also cleans up easily. Wipe the silver tube with a jeweler’s cloth and it goes from dull to shiny in mere seconds.

Because silver is incredibly conductive, and the contacts here appear to be of an all-silver makeup, the High Roller hits incredibly hard. Out of all of my 20700 tubes, this device is the most hardhitting. Finding an atomizer to match it might be difficult since brushed stainless steel looks dull against the shiny silver tube, but maybe polished stainless would work, or an atty with an Ultem slam cap would look good too—but this is just this reviewer being nitpicky.

Another plus is that because of the Ultem base and the silver hardware this device never gets hot. The Ultem disperses the heat very well, and while other side-firing mods have switches that can get hot, the High Roller does not. The truth is, the PILAK High Roller is hard to fault. You’ll have to remember to handle the mod carefully because of its silver construction and if you don’t mind the engravings this is a device worth purchasing. With that, this device isn’t cheap. It retails for $420, which is a hefty sum of money. For a lot of people, that might be a hard pill to swallow, but if you’re a collector or someone who’s looking for a unique mod that’s well made and performs great you’d be hard-pressed to find something on the market that’s better. I received the PILAK High Roller for review from Dragon’s Den Vapor. Be sure to check them out at: dragonsdenvapor.com

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ENFORCER Purge Mods

Mechanical Mod

This device can accommodate 18650, 20700 and 21700 battery types, which offers users some versatility. While you can use an 18650 battery with the included adapter, it’d be wiser to use either 20700 or 21700 batteries to make full use of what this puppy can really do.

Extending from about the middle of the mod down to the switch is a fair amount of knurling with the word “Enforcer” CNC engraved vertically. The knurling was a good touch and offers a no-slip feel to the device. The button housing contains three very strong magnets that provide a very heavy throw, but you can always remove a smaller magnet for an easier press. A beefy copper contact ensures that you’re getting excellent conductivity and believe me when I say that the Enforcer packs a serious kick. The throw button is comprised of a chunk of Ultem with a brass plate embedded dead center that reads: Purge. The switch is also fully adjustable and takes up for battery rattle. Just install an atomizer and a battery, screw the switch assembly

All Photos taken by Alex Mellides

The Enforcer is a hybrid device and is available in either a high quality naked brass, or a black cerakote brass version. Both models have a tactical look, which admittedly might not be for everybody, but I applaud Purge for trying something different with this striking setup.

There is adequate ventilation above six divots that run down the side of the device just below the top end of the mod. As you follow them downwards, the device narrows before widening up again at its base.

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Purge Mods has gone on to produce several mechanical mods all of which exude a certain personality that sets them apart from the rest—the Enforcer is no different.

Of course, because this mod carries some serious heft and doesn’t sacrifice on durability or build quality, there’s no doubt it can easily survive a tumble, though I wouldn’t necessarily recommend tossing it down a laundry chute.

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ith its distinct look and comfortable reassuring grip, the Purge Mods’ Enforcer is built solid. With excellent machining overall, this device is only further elevated by its outstanding performance.

BY CHRIS MELLIDES CHRIS@VAPEMZ.COM

The Enforcer measures 29mm in diameter and tapers to 28mm at the top, so while 24mm and 25mm attys will sit flush and look great, there’s room to spare for bigger attys. With these dimensions there’s no getting around to just how beefy this device is, so if you’re looking for a lightweight device that’s easily pocketable, you had better look elsewhere.

78 REVIEWS

into the tube and once you feel a bit of resistance that’s it, you’re all snugged up.

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A colored button kit is sold separately and is available for $100 from a number of retailers. The kit allows Enforcer owners the option of customizing their switch with blue, red and black button options that are all interchangeable with the mod itself. Also included with the Enforcer is a slam cap that’s designed to fit Purge Mods’ Carnage RDA. The brass slam cap is deeply engraved with the ‘Enforcer’ lettering, comes with an Ultem wide bore 810 drip tip and features static dual cyclops airflow that provides the perfect draw. So, if you’ve already got a Carnage, toss the slam cap on the atomizer’s base and enjoy. If you don’t already have a Carnage RDA, it may be worth purchasing one to use with the Enforcer. The appearance of the slam cap on this device looks amazing. The cap is designed to fit perfectly, and the combination is simply stunning. Performance is what you’d expect from a Purge device, hard-hitting, unrelenting and powerful. The Enforcer shares a place with other 20700

mech mods that all hit hard because of the obvious improvements that exist once you make the switch from an 18650. I’ve got no complaints when it comes to how well this mech performs, I’ve never experienced a single misfire and the Enforcer definitely keeps things cloudy as hell. There’s really not much more to tell. If you’re in the market for an American-made mechanical tube mod that looks great, performs without a fault and will have people snapping their necks when they see you vaping on it, purchasing one really is a no-brainer. Having said that, this device is not priced cheap. A regular brass model will cost $350 and the black cerakote version will run you $380. It’s this reviewer’s opinion that the Enforcer will be a great addition to your collection if you’re willing to fork over the fliff. I received the Enforcer mech mod at no cost for the purpose of conducting this review. If you’d like to purchase one you can do so at most authorized retailers either instore or online, or you can purchase direct from the manufacturer at: www.fasteddiesvape.com

R E G N E V A BY JOHN CASTLE JOHNCASTLE@VAPEMZ.COM

80 REVIEWS

he fundamentals of vapor technology have remained pretty consistent since 2007. Atomizers contain wick and wire, the wick is saturated with e-liquid, the battery pumps electricity through the wire, the wire heats liquid in the wick and into vapor.

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But while the fundamentals haven’t changed, the technology they support has advanced substantially. Starting with voltage adjustment, then wattage adjustment, then temperature adjustment — while displays went from LCD to LED, then full color OLED — advanced features continued to emerge at almost the same pace at which the core technology was further refined. Is there a point at which a new feature is less a case of, “I didn’t know I needed this?” and more of, “Why in the world did they do this?” New functions have pulled the former reaction out of me more times than I can count, but the iJoy Avenger prompted the latter… at first, anyway.

In The Box

The iJoy Avenger 270 is a variable wattage and temperature control mod which can be powered by a pair of either high-drain 20700 batteries or, with the included adapter sleeve, 18650 batteries.

Pros & Cons PROS: Exceptional performance, Spacious accommodation for tanks up to 30mm, Fair price for such a powerful mod, Top notch look and feel CONS: Visual feedback (lights) for voice control ineffectively placed; audio feedback is nonexistent, Lights slightly detract from the mod’s looks, Mirror finish is a fingerprint magnet THE IJOY REVENGER 270 IS ACTUALLY A VERY SOLID DEVICE HAMPERED ONLY BY A FEATURE CHOICE THAT FEELS LIKE IT WAS DRIVEN MORE BY THE SENTIMENT “BECAUSE WE CAN” RATHER THAN BY “BECAUSE WE SHOULD.”

The Avenger 270, quite as expected, features tactile buttons for wattage and temperature adjustment; however, it also features voice recognition to control those same functions. If you’re familiar with other AI assistants such as Siri, Alexa, Cortana, or Google Assistant, you’ll already be familiar with the basic operation of voice interfaces like this. The Avenger 270 also features userselectable color lighting below the display. Apart from being just for looks, the lighting also indicates when the device is listening to your voice input.

Real World Experience Setting up the Avenger 270, for anyone who has used a dual-battery box mod before, is a relatively simple affair. In my case, with 18650s to power it, I simply inserted them into the adapter sleeve as

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The Avenger sub-ohm tank has an e-liquid capacity of 4.7ml (3.2 with the replacement tank glass) and features a top-fill design as well as dual ported

Now to the feature which could strike readers as either a breakthrough or a gimmick.

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It can fire at a wattage range from 5 to 234 watts, or at temperatures of 300 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Its functions are controlled by the IWEPAL chipset. It’s rated for resistances from 0.05 to 3.0 ohms.

airflow adjustment. The Avenger tank is compatible with iJoy’s X3 atomizer heads.

The iJoy Avenger 270 kit is not a simple device by any means. Accordingly, opening the box feels like a little bit of Christmas. Inside the stylish carbon fiber patterned box, you’ll find the Avenger 270 itself, the matching Avenger sub-ohm tank, two atomizer heads (the Captain X3 mesh head rated at 0.15 ohm, and the Captain X3 C1S head rated at 0.35 ohms), a 20700-to18650 battery adapter sleeve, a 3.2ml replacement glass for the tank, a microUSB charging and firmware update cable, and a baggy of miscellaneous replacement parts.

Specs & Features

the display. The only visual confirmation of your voice commands requires that you look at the display side of the mod — again rendering voice control less than important. In turn this renders the LED lighting on the device unimportant, as well. With voice control disabled, the lights serve no important function except to provide one of the few areas which, on the mirrored version at least, won’t collect every fingerprint that gets within a mile of it. indicated, unscrewed the tank to prime the X3 mesh coil with my e-liquid, then reassembled the tank.

82 REVIEWS

To fill the tank, the user completely unscrews the top cap to expose the pair of fill slots. Give the head a few minutes to be well saturated with e-liquid, adjust the wattage or temperature to taste, then vape.

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Here’s where voice control can be of great benefit — in a quiet environment, there’s little worry that the device will fail to hear you or hear you incorrectly. In a noisy environment, however, or in an environment with other users of iJoy Avenger 270s, you run into the first problem: Not only might the device fail to hear and properly respond to you — it may hear and act on input from people other than you, just as Alexa is prone to do when she hears her name from any source including speaker systems.

It’s certainly possible to eliminate these potential problems — by disabling voice control, which renders the function pretty much superfluous.

And then there’s the second problem with voice control as implemented in

the iJoy Avenger 270: the lack of audio feedback to indicate that a command from the user has been heard and acted upon. While there are lights on the body of the mod that indicate when it hears you, those lights are on the same side of the mod as

But with those minor gripes out of the way, the performance of the Avenger 270 is simply outstanding. At 50 watts pumped through the X3 mesh coil, vapor was stupefying, flavor was awesome, and throat hit was extremely satisfying.

Price & Availability The iJoy Avenger 270 starter kit is available from MyVaporStore.com for $56.99 before accessories or shipping, and can be had in the following colorways: Champagne Gold in a matte finish, or Blue, Green, Purple, Rainbow, or Silver in a mirrored finish.

WWW.BORDO2.US MANUFACTURED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BY CRFT LABS

Smoant Ranker 84

REVIEWS

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218W TC Box Mod BY JOHN CASTLE JOHNCASTLE@VAPEMZ.COM

This device does distinguish itself to me in one way immediately: while most of the products I review come in the form of kits — that is to say, a mod with a matching sub-ohm tank — the Smoant Ranker 218 arrives in the box unaccompanied by Smoant’s flagship sub-ohm tank, the Battlestar. It does arrive with the usual manual, warranty card, and a warning to use batteries properly and only in good condition, as well as a micro-USB cable for charging and firmware updates. (Side note: For the purposes of review, I paired the Smoant Ranker with the NRG sub-ohm tank which arrived with my Vaporesso Revenger).

Specs & Features The Ranker 218 takes a pair of 18650 batteries loaded in serial configuration. It’s capable of operating in variable power or temperature control

Pros & Cons Pros: l Premium materials l Comfortable ergonomics l Excellent display l Awesome performance

CONS: l Display placement favors lefthanded users unless righthanded users palm-fire the device l 510 area will show overhang with tanks over 25mm l Large size may not be comfortable for hands of all sizes

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In The Box

On the right hand side of the Ranker, we have a 1.3” TFT full color display. Beneath that, we find wattage and temperature adjustment keys. Below those we find the micro-USB port, which can be used for either firmware updates or battery charging.

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There are a lesser known number of examples that are designed for comfort and class. Luxury materials, best in class build quality, and looks and feel that elevate these devices above the competition.

At the top of the Ranker, we find a 25mm 510 area which houses a gold plated, spring loaded 510 pin. Moving to the leading edge, we find a hinged firing panel in a slight “pistol grip” configuration, which made me reminisce about both the SMOK AL85 and about the SMOK Mag, though the pistol grip form factor of the Ranker is not nearly as pronounced as that of the Mag.

here’s an army of choices when it comes to dual-battery box mods these days. That army seems to have two divisions: one is pushing wattage numbers higher and higher, while the other is busily equipping devices with new interface types such as touch and voice activation, or fancy lighting, or both.

modes, functions which are controlled by the Ant218 V2 chipset. It’s operating wattage range is from 1 to 218 watts at resistances of from 0.1 to 5.0 ohms, and at temperatures from 200 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit at resistances of 0.05 to 2.0 ohms.

The feeling I got, even from the NRG tank which has seen a fairly long run with me, is that the Ranker really felt as though it “took charge” and unlocked a new, slightly higher level of performance and responsiveness from it.

On the back edge of the mod, and wrapping around to cover the mod’s left side, we have a material that is either leather, or so indistinguishable from real leather that I can’t think of a reason to call it faux leather.

Smoant themselves state that it is indeed premium leather, and although that’s surprising at the Ranker’s price point, I can’t think of any solid reason to secondguess or doubt them.

REVIEWS

On the bottom of the mod we have a latch operated battery door. The one thing I don’t see on the bottom of the Ranker — or anywhere else on the Ranker, look though I did — was openings for battery venting.

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On the other hand, the Ranker does boast every other form of protection anyone could ask for, including overheating protection, reverse polarity protection, over current protection, low voltage protection, and overcharge protection. Whether Smoant means venting by “overheating protection” and I just haven’t found it, or whether they mean an electronic equivalent isn’t immediately clear to me.

Real World Experience

With nothing other than solid performance, an intuitive menu system, and satisfyingly “clicky” firing and adjustment buttons, the Smoant Ranker 218 would be only a perfect execution of the advanced box mod genre. When you throw in an amazingly comfortable (for larger hands) form factor and extremely good looking, durable, and comfortable materials, it rises above that to take its place not just as a contender, but very possibly the very best example of the form.

Setup of the Smoant Ranker 218 is a breeze. Simply screw your preferred tank onto it, press the latch in the battery door to open the battery bay, insert a pair of married 18650 batteries in serial configuration as indicated, then adjust your wattage or temperature to your preferred strength. The menu system is intuitive and pleasingly responsive.

Price & Availability

Speaking of pleasingly responsive, that Ant218 V2 chipset gives the Ranker a firing time which is listed as 0.015 seconds. Subjectively, what I can relate is that it fires so immediately that whatever fraction of a second it takes wasn’t noticeable in the slightest to me.

With its hand-filling size and eye-popping performance, the Ranker 218 stands ready and able to compete with anything on the market. With its premium, mature materials and design, there’s not much that can compete with the Ranker 218.

The Smoant Ranker 218 mod is available from MyVaporStore for $46.99, before shipping or accessories, in two colorways: Black (black frame with black leather) or Tarnish (gunmetal frame with brown leather).

Midwest Vapor Expo 2018 91

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April 21-22

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VSE International Madrid, Spain

August 14th-17th, 2018

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For Smokers By Vapers

BY CHRIS MELLIDES CHRIS@VAPEMZ.COM

elebrating its third run, Vapers Carnivale Expo 2018 took Chattanooga by storm on June 16 and June 17, with about 200 vendors present and over 5,000 people in attendance. The expo was held at the Chattanooga Convention Center and was bustling with activity as businesses networked and consumers got to purchase product directly from the e-liquid and hardware manufacturers that they love. The showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s featured vendors included Cloud Chasers Inc., Mr. Salt-E, Blu, Vapergate, Prohibition Juice Co., and Overpowered Mods.

The ticket price accounted

Select representatives from various advocacy organizations were given the floor to speak intimately before a dedicated crowd during a special presentation. Among them were Alex Clark and Sherwin Mena of SFATA, Feels Good Vapor, Inc president Fig Ramsey, Nicole Crumley of TSFA and Tristan Thompson of the Vaping Legion. Former Winston man and outspoken vape advocate, David Goerlitz, was also there. Despite having undergone surgery shortly before the event, he appeared with fire in his belly and with the aid of a cane on stage, shared an intimate account of having been a spokesman for Big Tobacco. He also laid out the truth behind the

103

Tickets were $10 for consumers and granted them access to the event on Saturday between 1 and 6 p.m. and 1 and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

for a $1 sampling fee with the remaining balance said to go directly to the advocacy organizations that were present at the event.

EVENTS VAPENEWS.com

marketing of tobacco companies, their profit-driven intent and blatant disregard for public health. Goerlitz really stirred up the crowd when he made it clear that what the vapor product industry really needs isn’t more advocates, but more activists. Vapers Carnivale wouldn’t be complete with some unique and fun entertainment. Performers from Imagine Circus dazzled attendees with stilt walking, juggling and fire eating. Female performers wore colorful and elaborate headdresses and bedazzled bikinis with full makeup on that followed the sugar skull aesthetic commonly associated with the Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Additionally, Vape Radio was broadcasting the event live as it unfolded, over the course of the weekend, and brought on an assortment of guests who participated during the broadcast. Perhaps the most important aspect behind the event was introducing current cigarette smokers to the reduced harm tobacco alternative that is vaping. As is common with previous Vapers Carnivale events, smokers were encouraged to discard their cigarette packs and register for special starter kits to allow them to transition from smoking to vaping. Vendors stood by for support and made themselves available to answer any questions that those smokers may have had.

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As the convention drew to a close, 275 smokers participated in making the switch to vaping and with the great turnout, it’s safe to say that this year’s Vapers Carnivale was a success and a shining example of the importance of educating and spreading the truth about vaping.

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WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

ris Mellides

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Compiled By Chris Mellides

Wotofo and Mike Vapes Recurve RDA

112 BUYER’S GUIDE @VAPENEWSGO

A collaboration between Chinese hardware company Wotofo and YouTuber Mike Vapes, the Recurve RDA has finally arrived! This curved RDA measures 24mm in diameter with a 22mm build deck that’s set up for single coil installs. The Recurve is available in six different colors, which include: black, gunmetal, rainbow, stainless steel, blue and gold. Included in the box are two unique 810 drip tips, a 510 drip tip adapter, three pre-built coils and two coil positioning rods that measure 2.5mm and 3mm. If you’re looking for something that’s affordable and performs well, then look no further. $35.99

www.wotofo.com

Vicious Ant

Avid Lyfe

Spade Squonker

The Workman Mechanical Tube Mod

Combining excellent manufacturing with exceptional build quality, the Vicious Ant squonker is one of the best fully mechanical 18650 bottom feeder mods on the market today. The Filipino company has spared no expense in creating a high-end and relatively affordable squonker and that’s something to get excited over. This compact mod is constructed out of anodized T7 aluminum, sports a polished 304 stainless steel switch and is available with a range of door panel options that include either resin or stabilized wood variations. The device’s 510 connector is autoadjustable and there’s a unique bottle extractor feature and sliding mechanism that offers easy and spill-free installation. $190.00-$280.00

www.viciousantonline.com

The Workman mechanical mod is built well and is constructed out of aluminum with an option for an all-brass version as well. The device is 24mm in diameter and utilizes a hybrid connector for increased performance. The Workman uses a single 18650 battery and is precision machined with state-ofthe-art CNC machines. The bottom firing button is magnetic and is fully adjustable. The mod also comes with the Runic RDA which includes a cap that compliments that tube very nicely. Meticulously inspected and hand de-burred to ensure durability and functionality, this American-made device isn’t one to be passed up. $275.00

www.avidlyfeinc.com

Featuring flat head grub screws, a leak-resistant design and a PEEK insulator with step-down airflow, this BF-ready atomizer screams quality. The device is perfect for squonking and will look great sitting on top of your high-end box mods. The KRMA is 22mm in diameter and measures 22mm in height with the drip tip installed. The 22mm top cap comes in stainless steel and black delrin. Also included are two 6mm bore drip tips made from black delrin and amber Ultem. If you’re looking for a reliable and well-constructed bottom feeding atty, then this should be at the top of your shopping list. $99.95

www.vertvape.co.uk

KRMA RDA

www.vapinart.com

Sherman 25mm RDA

With the same build deck as its 28mm counterpart, the new Sherman RDA is perfect for your 25mm tube mods and box mods. A two-post clamp system ensures that you’ve always got centered coils and makes installation a snap. The atomizer comes with a standard 810 cap and a cloud cap for even more airflow! The Sherman also comes with Ultem and delrin drip tips and chuff caps along with a standard airflow control ring and an Ultem airflow control ring. The RDA ships with a standard pin and a bottom feeder pin for those of us that squonk. A bag of extras includes o-rings, additional screws, clamps and a trusty Allen key. The Sherman is available in gun metal, naval brass and stainless steel. If you’re looking for killer airflow options and excellent flavor you know what to do. $75.00

www.subtanksupply.com

VAPENEWS.com

If you’ve been looking for an affordable mod holder that conforms to your device’s shape and clasps securely onto your waistband, backpack, vehicle interior or whatever else you can think of, then look no further. UK-based VertVape is founded by two engineers who have painstakingly developed a universal vape holder that’s undergone rigorous testing which led to the creation of an innovative Memo-band and guide strips that will fit the contours of your device no matter what it might be. This versatile product is available on Amazon and direct from the manufacturer. Grab one! £9.99/ $13.00

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BUYER’S GUIDE

Mission XV

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VertVape