After several days living with my new istick 40W from cvapor.com I think it's time for a review
Many of you are already familiar with its techs, but for the others:
1-40Woutput, works with 0.05-1.00ohs (TC) 0.15-3.5ohm (VW) coils
100-315oC/200-600oF (ΤC mode)
Built in 2600mah battery
Colors:Black, silver, grey, blue
Dim: 36.2X22.3X77.3 mm
Self adjusted ss 510 pin
Its SN is engraved at its upper part, next to the nicklace slot, while at its bottom part there are the usb charging port and the CE symbol
Comparing to the istick 30W, their external differences are:
The istick has a round fire button, it is slightly wider, its buttons are placed opposite the atty connection, not under it. Finally, the 40’s oled screen isn’t as bright as the 30’s.
Functions:
Fire button: 5 quick clicks to activate and deactivate the mod
Fire+ < Press and hold for stealth mode in and out
When activated, Press and hold <+> to lock the buttons
When deactivated, Press and hold <+> to switch the screen for right or left handed users
< or > to increase/decrease watts and temperature
Fire + >: Press and hold to lock/unlock the atty.
Protections:
Short circuit, 10sec cut off, high mod temperature, low battery, high atty temperature.
Vaping with the istick 40
I tested the istick with an Eviva Atmistique RTA and a Kayfun Lite+.
Comparing to the dna40 it’s far more simpler and easier to use. It takes only one click to do anything, while at dna40, even for increasing the temperature 5 degrees you have to lock (5 clicks) press and hold 2 buttons, press the +, press the fire and unlock with 5 clicks. With the istick you simply press one time the > button to increase the temperature one step.
With one click you can set anything: switch mode, + or – watts, temperature, lock-unlock the atty or the mod etc.
But please notice that using the istick 40, one cannot set a maximum wattage while working in tc mode. This function is available at dna40 chip based mods, where you can set e.g. the temperature to 450oF and also set the watts to 20, thus forbidding the mod to cross the 20w limit, even if that means that the temperature never reaches 450oF. Istick’s watts when in tc mode has a standard upper limit of 40W.
Well, how about the chip? Is it any good? A little parenthesis here: Eleaf’s policy to use built in LiPo batteries is now tested. The istick40 is a powerfull and battery-stressful mod when vaping at 40W with a 0.2 coil or when vaping at 550oF with a 0.1 coil. Is this policy right at istick40?
Should a vaper change the internal battery with an LG HG2 or similar, if they plan to use it for serious subohm vaping? I’d rather suggest it, although I don’t have the sheets to prove it. I can only notice that the battery lasts quite longer when used in 12W than when used in 220oC.
So… speaking about the chip… it was a pleasant surprise that it performs extremely well in tc mode comparing to its price and doesn’t give you headaches if your other mod is a dna40.
I tried to switch the same atty between the istick and a dna40 as many times as I could.
The dna40 chip is better but not that better. The istick’s ohm reading wasn’t always accurate but 90% was. You need to set it a 10% more degrees and 0.2-0.3 watt to perform the same.
I tested the two mods twice each with a new dry coil. I fired and the results were:
Istick: yellow both times, dna: 1 time white, 2nd time light brown.
When the tank is empty, both mods decrease the power to the minimum
Problems
Sometimes, the atty seams to get weak current and the temperature protection signs appears. Just take out the atty and screw it again. As the coil gets old, you need to increase the temperature to continue vaping the same. With the dna I increase about 10-15%, with the istick I increase the temperature up to 20%. I noticed no problems working with the atty unlocked.
Finally… to buy or not to buy.
It’s a mod you’ll never cry for the money you paid for it. Very small and convenient. Its chip is generic but performs well. In VW mode it's even more powerfull then the istick30. When vaping with a dual coil subomh, you’ll never feel the mod failing while inhaling. I thought that as a VW it’ll be a good one, but in tc mode it’ll perform poorly, but the mod is very decent. With a killer design and an overkill price. Even as a back up mod, it’s a very smart buy, unless you need a two battery over 50w mod.
Many of you are already familiar with its techs, but for the others:
1-40Woutput, works with 0.05-1.00ohs (TC) 0.15-3.5ohm (VW) coils
100-315oC/200-600oF (ΤC mode)
Built in 2600mah battery
Colors:Black, silver, grey, blue
Dim: 36.2X22.3X77.3 mm
Self adjusted ss 510 pin
Its SN is engraved at its upper part, next to the nicklace slot, while at its bottom part there are the usb charging port and the CE symbol
Comparing to the istick 30W, their external differences are:
The istick has a round fire button, it is slightly wider, its buttons are placed opposite the atty connection, not under it. Finally, the 40’s oled screen isn’t as bright as the 30’s.
Functions:
Fire button: 5 quick clicks to activate and deactivate the mod
Fire+ < Press and hold for stealth mode in and out
When activated, Press and hold <+> to lock the buttons
When deactivated, Press and hold <+> to switch the screen for right or left handed users
< or > to increase/decrease watts and temperature
Fire + >: Press and hold to lock/unlock the atty.
Protections:
Short circuit, 10sec cut off, high mod temperature, low battery, high atty temperature.
Vaping with the istick 40
I tested the istick with an Eviva Atmistique RTA and a Kayfun Lite+.
Comparing to the dna40 it’s far more simpler and easier to use. It takes only one click to do anything, while at dna40, even for increasing the temperature 5 degrees you have to lock (5 clicks) press and hold 2 buttons, press the +, press the fire and unlock with 5 clicks. With the istick you simply press one time the > button to increase the temperature one step.
With one click you can set anything: switch mode, + or – watts, temperature, lock-unlock the atty or the mod etc.
But please notice that using the istick 40, one cannot set a maximum wattage while working in tc mode. This function is available at dna40 chip based mods, where you can set e.g. the temperature to 450oF and also set the watts to 20, thus forbidding the mod to cross the 20w limit, even if that means that the temperature never reaches 450oF. Istick’s watts when in tc mode has a standard upper limit of 40W.
Well, how about the chip? Is it any good? A little parenthesis here: Eleaf’s policy to use built in LiPo batteries is now tested. The istick40 is a powerfull and battery-stressful mod when vaping at 40W with a 0.2 coil or when vaping at 550oF with a 0.1 coil. Is this policy right at istick40?
Should a vaper change the internal battery with an LG HG2 or similar, if they plan to use it for serious subohm vaping? I’d rather suggest it, although I don’t have the sheets to prove it. I can only notice that the battery lasts quite longer when used in 12W than when used in 220oC.
So… speaking about the chip… it was a pleasant surprise that it performs extremely well in tc mode comparing to its price and doesn’t give you headaches if your other mod is a dna40.
I tried to switch the same atty between the istick and a dna40 as many times as I could.
The dna40 chip is better but not that better. The istick’s ohm reading wasn’t always accurate but 90% was. You need to set it a 10% more degrees and 0.2-0.3 watt to perform the same.
I tested the two mods twice each with a new dry coil. I fired and the results were:
Istick: yellow both times, dna: 1 time white, 2nd time light brown.
When the tank is empty, both mods decrease the power to the minimum
Problems
Sometimes, the atty seams to get weak current and the temperature protection signs appears. Just take out the atty and screw it again. As the coil gets old, you need to increase the temperature to continue vaping the same. With the dna I increase about 10-15%, with the istick I increase the temperature up to 20%. I noticed no problems working with the atty unlocked.
Finally… to buy or not to buy.
It’s a mod you’ll never cry for the money you paid for it. Very small and convenient. Its chip is generic but performs well. In VW mode it's even more powerfull then the istick30. When vaping with a dual coil subomh, you’ll never feel the mod failing while inhaling. I thought that as a VW it’ll be a good one, but in tc mode it’ll perform poorly, but the mod is very decent. With a killer design and an overkill price. Even as a back up mod, it’s a very smart buy, unless you need a two battery over 50w mod.
