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Vape Forward Vapor Flask Classic Review

Kyle Formeck
February 25, 2016

Vape Forward Vaporflask Classic Intro

The original Vaporflask by Vape Forward is a classic box mod that earned a reputation for its great quality and performance. Vape Forward teamed up with Wismec to deliver this classic design at an affordable price. So does the Vaporflask Classic stand up to its reputable parent?

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Vape Forward Vaporflask Classic Specs and Features

Kit Content

  • Vaporflask Classic Box Mod
  • User manual
  • Certificate of authenticity
  • USB charging cable

Specifications

  • Cell Type: 2 high-rate 18650 cell (discharging current should be above 25 amps)
  • Output Mode: TC-Ni/TC-Ti/TC-SS/VW mode
  • Output Wattage: 1-150 watts
  • Resistance Range: 0.05-1.0 ohms for TC and 0.1-3.5 ohms for VW mode
  • Temperature Range: 100-315 °C/200-600 °F
  • Firmware upgrade v2.00 adds the TC-SS316 and adjustable TCR (Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) modes
  • which changes the resistance range: 0.05-1.5 ohm for TC modes.
  • 92mm tall
  • 62mm wide
  • 2mm thick

Notable Remarks

Build Quality

Vape Forward Vaporflask Classic Battery Compartment
Vape Forward Vaporflask Classic Battery Compartment

The overall build quality is pretty good. The buttons feel really nice; they’re not too spongy and have just the right amount of tactility. I have also never noticed any rattling during normal usage. It’s there, but you have to really shake the device to hear it which is not something anyone should normally do. The batteries fit perfectly as well; they’re snug enough to not fall out but not so tight that you might risk tearing the battery wrap. The battery cover is held on by moderately strong magnets but on my model, the fit is a little off. The side closest to the screen sits perfectly flush but there is a noticeable gap on the opposite side. The panel stands a bit higher on that side than the chassis of the box, causing it to feel a bit cheap. While the back panel is not going to fall off, it will shift from side to side during normal operation due to the looser tolerances and I find that quite annoying.

Hand feel

Vape Forward Vaporflask Classic Black & White
Vape Forward Vaporflask Classic Black & White

Aside from the shifting back panel, I like the way this device feels in the hand. It’s a bit larger than most of my box mods but the contours make it comfortable to hold. The button placement did take a little getting used to since I was accidentally hitting the wattage up and wattage down buttons but I found locking the device solved this issue. The device also feels great in the pocket; the contours wrap comfortably around the leg making it feel a bit smaller than it actually is.

On my white version, the finish is a textured plastic. It doesn’t feel cheap and almost reminds me a bit of a matte finish without the rubbery texture, almost like a slick matte finish.

Center Pin

Vape Forward Vaporflask Pin
Vape Forward Vaporflask Pin

The center pin is spring loaded but not adjustable. The range of motion of the center pin is shorter than usual, causing atomizers with longer center pins like the Hobo v3.1 and the Aeolus v2 Pro to not sit flush. This causes an unsightly gap that would annoy a lot of people.

Aesthetics

Vape Forward Vaporflask Aesthetics
Vape Forward Vaporflask Aesthetics

This device looks similar to the original Vaporflask however, there are quite a few noticeable differences: the screen is on the side instead of the top, the batteries are loaded through the back instead of the bottom, there are less visible screws and the button placement is completely different. About the only thing that is the same is the shape. I personally like the unique look of this device with my atomizers that sit flush.

Performance

I will start by saying that this device performs extremely well. With a chip designed by Joyetech, you can expect excellent performance and the upgradability aspect means it will most likely continue to get better. When hitting the power button, the device responds instantly unlike some devices I have used in the past. When turning the device on, there is no annoying boot animation that blocks user input, allowing you to click that fire button five times and get vaping immediately!

Even with a great software user experience, the most awesome part of this device still is its temperature control precision. I am not much of a temperature control guy and I will only use stainless steel wire for it since I don’t feel comfortable using Nickel or Titanium. Stainless steel has a very shallow TCR curve that requires much more precise resistance measurements in order to reliably calculate the temperature compared to Nickel or Titanium. This box outperforms my RX200 and is on par with my DNA200 boxes in TC-SS mode. I find this a little odd because the chip in this box is nearly identical to the chip in the RX200. With a 0.33 ohm dual SS316L build on my NarDA running at 38.8 watts and 440 °F, the vape is very smooth and consistent. When the wick starts drying out, you’ll notice by the lack of vapor and flavor, not by a dry hit. I haven’t actually done a dry-burn test but I feel it isn’t necessary due to the positive experiences I have been having. I have yet to get a dry hit and I appreciate having the ability to vape my wicks bone dry.

If for some you reason you don’t have the same experience as me, you have the ability to adjust the TCR to your liking which is a really awesome feature.

Likes

Subjective:

  • Fantastic performance in temperature control mode with stainless steel wire
  • Feels comfortable in the hand and pocket
  • Buttons feel very nice

Objective:

  • Adjustable TCR
  • Upgradeable firmware

Dislikes

Subjective:

  • Back panel tolerances could be better

Objective:

  • Atomizers with long center pins won’t sit flush

Verdict

Overall, this is a nice box mod. Whether it’s worth the asking price is up to you; it performs extremely well and has a nice feature set for $120, but, at the same time, it’s upsetting that not all of my atomizers sit flush and the sliding back panel is not something I would be happy with at this price point. If you’re all about performance, then pick this up but if you care about aesthetics as well, you may want to find one in a local shop before making the purchase.

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My name is Kyle and I have been vaping for almost a year now. I started vaping to kick my 9 year smoking habit and got hooked on trying to get the best flavor out of my atomizers. I am a software developer living in upstate NY and in my free time I like to write shoegaze and dream pop music.
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William
William
7 years ago

Was excited when this mod came out, and after using a friends, I was disappointed. the battery door drove me crazy, my rda’s wouldnt sit flush, and temp control halfway worked in s.s mode. I expected better from vaporflask.

Kyle Formeck
Kyle Formeck
7 years ago

William, I understand your frustration with the battery door and atomizers not sitting flush. As for the temperature control issue, with SS wire, it can be a bit fiddly. In my experiences, it seems to work better with single coils and resistances above 0.5 ohms. Also, be sure to use the adjustable TCR and set it to 088 for SS316L wire.

Stop Iphaggotry
Stop Iphaggotry
7 years ago

Sadly, this is a betrayal to anyone who purchased their prior products. it’s as if Mercedes Benz started building Kia’s. Perhaps they aligned themselves with a group of manufacturers who may be able to survive in the wake of Euro/US regulations, rather than trying to be high quality boutique devices alone.