The PV (personal vaporizer) that I happen to currently be using is the Kangertech (sometimes just referred to as just Kanger) EMOW. It's an upgrade from the 650 mAh battery with disposable, plastic CE4 clearos that I was using prior. I've had the EMOW for about 1 month.
Why Did I Upgrade from an entry level eGo e-cigarette?
So I had been using a standard 650 mAh eGo-style battery with disposable plastic clearomizers for about 2 or 3 weeks back in December. I didnt have any complaints, but my equipment was letting me down. Several of my CE4 disposable clearomizers were DOA (dead on arrival) from eBay. And the threads were getting stripped on my battery (which was a hand me down anyway), making charging it a hit or miss endeavor. I headed to my local vape shop with the intention to pick up a new battery, and emerged with a full EMOW kit.
It came down to costs ultimately. If I picked up a new standard eGo battery, and a charger, I would be looking at about $18. The plastic tanks seemed to be finicky, so if I brought 10 of those on top of that, I would be around the same amount of cash shelled out for the EMOW kit. It included a charger and replacement coils, so it seemed like a deal.
Plus the EMOW performance in regards to the vapor production was amazing. The build, appearance and overall quality was fantastic as well.
Physical & Technical Specs
Compared to the very popular variable voltage Vision Spinner 2, the EMOW is a bit fatter and quite a bit shorter. Both are rated at 1300 mAh. The EMOW is 16.5 mm in diameter, 65 mm long and weighs about 50.5 grams. With the tank, both pieces put together create a flush, streamlined appearance. It comes with a cylindrical metal drip tip, but I replaced it with a plastic contoured one because I didnt like the feel of it against my lips at all.
The battery features venting holes at the bottom. The fire/control button is smooth and sits flush with the body. I first I really didnt like this and had a hard time finding the button in low lighting (like in the car at night). But now I actually appreciate the feature, in that it makes accidental firing of the unit less likely. If anything, this button is the one obvious flaw I see in the build quality. After only a month or so, I noticed the button getting wiggly-wobbly. Its similar to when the thread on a shirt button gets loose. It still works fine. But its also very early in the game still. Time will tell how it holds up.
The MOW (no, thats not a typo, the entire unit is called EMOW but the clearomizer alone is just MOW) tanks specs say that it holds 1.5 mL of e-liquid. However if you are familiar with Kanger bottom coil tanks, youll know that the fill must remain below the top of the center chimney of the tank. So when you fill it, youre actually left with about ¼ of empty space in your tank. So my guess is that it really only holds 1-1.2 mL. I personally dont mind this but I could see where some people would get really annoyed at having to fill the tank so often. The tank has the same airflow control as the popular Kanger Aerotech tank. The kit gives you a 1.8 ohm dual bottom coil installed, and then a pack of 5 1.5 ohm replacement coils.
A minor aesthetic issue is that when the entire vaporizer is put together, the fire button, airflow control and clearomizer dont line up with each other. Not a big deal to me, but some other reviewers were bothered by it.
Operation and Performance
When I tried the EMOW in the store, I was just shocked at how much better it performed over my little 650 eGO with the little plastic tanks. Initially I did worry that all the little parts and features were more than I need, but the vape store owner was very good at showing and explaining why I would like these features (replaceable coils, variable voltage, etc.).
Its true that the EMOW is a variable voltage device. However unlike the other batteries that have you select the voltage with a dial that you turn, the EMOW cycles through 3 voltage settings by pressing the fire button 3 times. An LED around the button changes color and there is a legend underneath the button that shows you what voltage setting that color is. This may seem really limiting to people who are used to the dial-type of voltage selectors on batteries .in that you have many more increments within a particular voltage range to use. However since this is my first variable voltage battery, Im not really bothered by it.
The MOW tank features Kangers latest airflow control, which is on their Aerotank and Genitank models as well. I really like it. The selection ring turns easy, yet stays in place on the setting you leave it. Indentations on the base show you were the air holes are. The only annoyance I found is that as you screw the clearomizer on and off the battery, you usually also move the airflow ring as well. So check it before you fire up after a refill. Quite a few times I didnt check, only to see that I had completely closed the airflow while replacing the tank resulting in no vapor!
The MOW tank is pyrex, with a metal sleeve with two slots to show your e-liquid levels. Very similar to the EVOD tank. Personally, I wish these little windows were bigger. Also the design of Kanger tanks is that a good portion of the e-liquid sits below the section that you fill (you fill the tank upside down). When you turn it right-side up, it looks like your tank is only ¾ full. Now there is a hack, where you can use a Q-tip and fill the tank all the way. But I havent been bothered enough by this to try that out myself.
The standard drip tip is metal and cylindrical. I really didnt like how it felt, and brought a contoured plastic one to replace it. It takes the popular 510 drip tips which is nice. While trying it out in the store, I still had the metal drip tip and got a rude awakening when the little bugger burnt my lip! Not a damaging burn .but I felt it it stung. The EMOW gets a bit warm, so chain vapers beware! Everything is all metal, so theres nothing to insulate the action. As far as the drip tip getting hot, I noticed it even with the plastic drip tip sometimes although it didnt hurt. I was bothered that I was feeling the vapor. However in the past month or so, this hasnt happened. I really dont know why. Perhaps I adjusted my inhalation technique. Perhaps the e-liquid I was using burnt up easily. I just dont know exactly. But I am glad that its not an issue anymore.
Compared to my previous setup, I noticed that the EMOW goes through more e-liquid. This could be due to the higher voltage, or the dual coils. I wasnt really expecting that but its something to consider. Before I would go through a 1.6 mL tank/day or less even. Now its closer to 2 2.5 mL/day.
The airflow control and variable voltage can really result in some nice vapor production. Basically more air, higher voltage = more vapor. However I find that for many of my e-liquids, a wide open airflow mutes the flavor too much. I also dont care for the taste the highest voltage gives on most e-juices. If you are new to variable voltage and adjustable airflows, begin to accept that youll have to fiddle with your settings to get the best vape.
Cons
That hot metal drip tip was the biggest con for me. I mean it actually made me afraid to vape on the thing for the first few days. However like I said previously its not an issue anymore. I would suggest that new users stepping up from lower-level vape systems be willing to adjust their inhalation and fire technique. Use slow draws. Hit the first button before you draw, and let it go before the end of your draw.
Around my 3rd week of ownership, I starting having e-liquid leak out from around the fire button. This really distressed me. However it has since stopped, and is no longer an issue. I have no clue what led to it. Since then I've changed the coils, my e-liquid and obviously have refilled my tank. I could have over-tightened...or maybe something wasn't sealed. I didn't notice when it stopped completely, so it's hard to say what was causing it.
Price could be an issue as well. For some reason, theres a pretty wide range of prices on the EMOW kit. I paid $45 for mine. Not the cheapest, but not the highest either. Spec for spec, you could save money if you picked up a Vision Spinner 2 with a Kanger Genitank on top. But you still would need a charger and coils. So it may seem pricey, but all things considered, its a good buy. Shop around.
EMOW or EMOW Mega?
I havent used the EMOW Mega, so I cant comment on its operation. Its tank is larger (2.8 mL) and the battery is 1600 mAh vs. 1300 mAh. It also has a dial to control voltage vs. the button selector on the regular EMOW. Its about $5-15 more than the regular EMOW. Its not enough of an upgrade from the EMOW to interest me. But it may be for someone who is wants the flexibility in voltage offered by competitors like the Vision Spinner 2 or Ego C-Twist. Or who want a larger battery and tank.
Conclusion
Overall I really like the EMOW. It looks and feels fantastic. It's great for everyday vaping on the go. I wish that the kit came with more than one battery, but then that would probably jump the price way up. Its the perfect variable voltage PV to be out and about with. While I could see myself upgrading in the future to a PV with a removal battery and wattage settings, it would be simply for features and longevity not for performance.
I would hesitate to suggest it for an absolute newbie however. Its safer to opt for the Kanger EVOD, with two batteries; even though they aren't variable voltage. Having two batteries allows you to find your "vaping rhythm" so to speak. I also think that only having the two narrow slots in the tank to see your e-liquid levels is a bit daunting (EVOD has the same issue). Changing out coils may be a tad more than a newbie will want to deal with; even though it will be cheaper in the long run compared to buying replacement disposable tanks.
So in a nutshell the Kanger EMOW is a fantastic 'step up' PV for people looking to move from standard eGo style batteries into the realm of variable voltage. The Kanger EMOW Mega is a better kit for experienced vapers who are are looking to add another variable voltage PV to their vaping arsenal.
So I had been using a standard 650 mAh eGo-style battery with disposable plastic clearomizers for about 2 or 3 weeks back in December. I didnt have any complaints, but my equipment was letting me down. Several of my CE4 disposable clearomizers were DOA (dead on arrival) from eBay. And the threads were getting stripped on my battery (which was a hand me down anyway), making charging it a hit or miss endeavor. I headed to my local vape shop with the intention to pick up a new battery, and emerged with a full EMOW kit.
It came down to costs ultimately. If I picked up a new standard eGo battery, and a charger, I would be looking at about $18. The plastic tanks seemed to be finicky, so if I brought 10 of those on top of that, I would be around the same amount of cash shelled out for the EMOW kit. It included a charger and replacement coils, so it seemed like a deal.
Plus the EMOW performance in regards to the vapor production was amazing. The build, appearance and overall quality was fantastic as well.
Physical & Technical Specs
Compared to the very popular variable voltage Vision Spinner 2, the EMOW is a bit fatter and quite a bit shorter. Both are rated at 1300 mAh. The EMOW is 16.5 mm in diameter, 65 mm long and weighs about 50.5 grams. With the tank, both pieces put together create a flush, streamlined appearance. It comes with a cylindrical metal drip tip, but I replaced it with a plastic contoured one because I didnt like the feel of it against my lips at all.
The battery features venting holes at the bottom. The fire/control button is smooth and sits flush with the body. I first I really didnt like this and had a hard time finding the button in low lighting (like in the car at night). But now I actually appreciate the feature, in that it makes accidental firing of the unit less likely. If anything, this button is the one obvious flaw I see in the build quality. After only a month or so, I noticed the button getting wiggly-wobbly. Its similar to when the thread on a shirt button gets loose. It still works fine. But its also very early in the game still. Time will tell how it holds up.
The MOW (no, thats not a typo, the entire unit is called EMOW but the clearomizer alone is just MOW) tanks specs say that it holds 1.5 mL of e-liquid. However if you are familiar with Kanger bottom coil tanks, youll know that the fill must remain below the top of the center chimney of the tank. So when you fill it, youre actually left with about ¼ of empty space in your tank. So my guess is that it really only holds 1-1.2 mL. I personally dont mind this but I could see where some people would get really annoyed at having to fill the tank so often. The tank has the same airflow control as the popular Kanger Aerotech tank. The kit gives you a 1.8 ohm dual bottom coil installed, and then a pack of 5 1.5 ohm replacement coils.
A minor aesthetic issue is that when the entire vaporizer is put together, the fire button, airflow control and clearomizer dont line up with each other. Not a big deal to me, but some other reviewers were bothered by it.
Operation and Performance
When I tried the EMOW in the store, I was just shocked at how much better it performed over my little 650 eGO with the little plastic tanks. Initially I did worry that all the little parts and features were more than I need, but the vape store owner was very good at showing and explaining why I would like these features (replaceable coils, variable voltage, etc.).
Its true that the EMOW is a variable voltage device. However unlike the other batteries that have you select the voltage with a dial that you turn, the EMOW cycles through 3 voltage settings by pressing the fire button 3 times. An LED around the button changes color and there is a legend underneath the button that shows you what voltage setting that color is. This may seem really limiting to people who are used to the dial-type of voltage selectors on batteries .in that you have many more increments within a particular voltage range to use. However since this is my first variable voltage battery, Im not really bothered by it.
The MOW tank features Kangers latest airflow control, which is on their Aerotank and Genitank models as well. I really like it. The selection ring turns easy, yet stays in place on the setting you leave it. Indentations on the base show you were the air holes are. The only annoyance I found is that as you screw the clearomizer on and off the battery, you usually also move the airflow ring as well. So check it before you fire up after a refill. Quite a few times I didnt check, only to see that I had completely closed the airflow while replacing the tank resulting in no vapor!
The MOW tank is pyrex, with a metal sleeve with two slots to show your e-liquid levels. Very similar to the EVOD tank. Personally, I wish these little windows were bigger. Also the design of Kanger tanks is that a good portion of the e-liquid sits below the section that you fill (you fill the tank upside down). When you turn it right-side up, it looks like your tank is only ¾ full. Now there is a hack, where you can use a Q-tip and fill the tank all the way. But I havent been bothered enough by this to try that out myself.
The standard drip tip is metal and cylindrical. I really didnt like how it felt, and brought a contoured plastic one to replace it. It takes the popular 510 drip tips which is nice. While trying it out in the store, I still had the metal drip tip and got a rude awakening when the little bugger burnt my lip! Not a damaging burn .but I felt it it stung. The EMOW gets a bit warm, so chain vapers beware! Everything is all metal, so theres nothing to insulate the action. As far as the drip tip getting hot, I noticed it even with the plastic drip tip sometimes although it didnt hurt. I was bothered that I was feeling the vapor. However in the past month or so, this hasnt happened. I really dont know why. Perhaps I adjusted my inhalation technique. Perhaps the e-liquid I was using burnt up easily. I just dont know exactly. But I am glad that its not an issue anymore.
Compared to my previous setup, I noticed that the EMOW goes through more e-liquid. This could be due to the higher voltage, or the dual coils. I wasnt really expecting that but its something to consider. Before I would go through a 1.6 mL tank/day or less even. Now its closer to 2 2.5 mL/day.
The airflow control and variable voltage can really result in some nice vapor production. Basically more air, higher voltage = more vapor. However I find that for many of my e-liquids, a wide open airflow mutes the flavor too much. I also dont care for the taste the highest voltage gives on most e-juices. If you are new to variable voltage and adjustable airflows, begin to accept that youll have to fiddle with your settings to get the best vape.
Cons
That hot metal drip tip was the biggest con for me. I mean it actually made me afraid to vape on the thing for the first few days. However like I said previously its not an issue anymore. I would suggest that new users stepping up from lower-level vape systems be willing to adjust their inhalation and fire technique. Use slow draws. Hit the first button before you draw, and let it go before the end of your draw.
Around my 3rd week of ownership, I starting having e-liquid leak out from around the fire button. This really distressed me. However it has since stopped, and is no longer an issue. I have no clue what led to it. Since then I've changed the coils, my e-liquid and obviously have refilled my tank. I could have over-tightened...or maybe something wasn't sealed. I didn't notice when it stopped completely, so it's hard to say what was causing it.
Price could be an issue as well. For some reason, theres a pretty wide range of prices on the EMOW kit. I paid $45 for mine. Not the cheapest, but not the highest either. Spec for spec, you could save money if you picked up a Vision Spinner 2 with a Kanger Genitank on top. But you still would need a charger and coils. So it may seem pricey, but all things considered, its a good buy. Shop around.
EMOW or EMOW Mega?
I havent used the EMOW Mega, so I cant comment on its operation. Its tank is larger (2.8 mL) and the battery is 1600 mAh vs. 1300 mAh. It also has a dial to control voltage vs. the button selector on the regular EMOW. Its about $5-15 more than the regular EMOW. Its not enough of an upgrade from the EMOW to interest me. But it may be for someone who is wants the flexibility in voltage offered by competitors like the Vision Spinner 2 or Ego C-Twist. Or who want a larger battery and tank.
Overall I really like the EMOW. It looks and feels fantastic. It's great for everyday vaping on the go. I wish that the kit came with more than one battery, but then that would probably jump the price way up. Its the perfect variable voltage PV to be out and about with. While I could see myself upgrading in the future to a PV with a removal battery and wattage settings, it would be simply for features and longevity not for performance.
I would hesitate to suggest it for an absolute newbie however. Its safer to opt for the Kanger EVOD, with two batteries; even though they aren't variable voltage. Having two batteries allows you to find your "vaping rhythm" so to speak. I also think that only having the two narrow slots in the tank to see your e-liquid levels is a bit daunting (EVOD has the same issue). Changing out coils may be a tad more than a newbie will want to deal with; even though it will be cheaper in the long run compared to buying replacement disposable tanks.
So in a nutshell the Kanger EMOW is a fantastic 'step up' PV for people looking to move from standard eGo style batteries into the realm of variable voltage. The Kanger EMOW Mega is a better kit for experienced vapers who are are looking to add another variable voltage PV to their vaping arsenal.
