Mod Reviews

SMOK Stick One Basic Kit

Since starter kits seem to be all the rage recently well-known manufacturer SMOK offers not one but two entry level devices. For anyone who might remember their first “pen” like starter kits these new products are a significant evolution of that design.

by VapeMaster
Sep 6, 2016

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SMOK Stick One Basic Kit

Since starter kits seem to be all the rage recently well-known manufacturer SMOK offers not one but two entry level devices. The SMOK Stick One is offered as a Basic and a Plus version. For anyone who might remember their first “pen” like starter kits these new products are a significant evolution of that design.

SMOK Stick One Basic Kit features

19mm Diameter
eGo Cloud Battery
2200mAh Battery Capacity
Operating Voltage: 3.4-4.2V
Charging Voltage and Current: 5V. 0.8A
Comes bundled with a Nano TFV4 Sub-Ohm Tank
Direct Voltage Output System
Operating Voltage Range: 3.4~4.2V
Single Button Operation
Intelligent Battery Life Indicator
2ml Tank Capacity
Top-Fill Design
Quad Adjustable Airflow Control
Double-Layered Barrel Drip Tip
Interchangeable Coil Heads
8 Seconds Cut-off Protection
Low Resistance Protection
Short Circuit Protection
Low Voltage Protection
Micro USB Charging Port with Pass-through Capability

What’s in the box?

1x SMOK eGo Cloud Battery (2200mAh)
1x SMOK Nano TFV4 Tank. 2ml Capacity. 19mm Diameter
1 0.3ohm Micro Fused Clapton Dual Core (Pre-Installed)
1 0.25ohm Micro Stainless Steel Dual Core
1 SMOK Vape Band
1 Silicone Tank Dust Cap
1 Micro USB Charging Cable
Spare Parts
Instruction Manual

SMOK Stick One Basic styling and build quality

Back in the old days of vaping when you bought a starter kit you got a very limited capacity battery and a couple of really awful CE4 clearomizers if you were lucky. Nowadays new users have it made with starter kits containing decent batteries and Sub Ohm tanks!

The Stick One is really nicely designed device and what’s more it looks pretty stylish. The device is reasonably light and it feels good in the hand. The finish is also appealing and I really like the brushed steel look. The tube features a spring-loaded pin and the Nano TFV4 tank that comes with the kit fits seamlessly. The single button has a nice feel to it and seems very responsive. In contrast to the one on the Stick One Plus I found it was a better fit and did not rattle at all.

The Nano TFV4 tank is a nice addition and it holds 2ml of juice which while TPD compliant is perhaps less than ideal. It feature top filling and has four airflow slots that are adjustable. The drip is double layered, the outer layer is constructed from Stainless Steel and the inner layer is made from Pyrex. Should you wish to use your own drip tips rest assured they will fit this tank.

The Micro USB port is located at the bottom part of the tube and it is fitted horizontally so you can keep the device upright while you charge it. The device does also have pass-through capability. On the bottom of the device is a single hole to provide venting for the battery. Unlike other devices the Stick One Basic does not allow you to adjust the Wattage to your liking and basically sets the Wattage based on the Resistance of the coil you are using. For new users this will not be a problem since it cuts down on complication.

Ease of use

This is a really straightforward device to use and you simply have to click the button five times to switch it on and off. To vape you simply hold down the button, it will cut off if you hold if for more than eight seconds. Due to the LED light you can easily see that the device is in operation.

The tank is easy to use and can be fully disassembled for cleaning. It uses SMOK’s unique flip out top lid and is top filling. There fill hole is not that large so you do need to take care when using dropper type bottles.

How does it vape?

I primed the pre-installed coil and filled up the tank with some VGOD Tornado. I had already tried the Nano TFV4 before when I reviewed the Nano One Kit and I found it a pretty decent vape. In contrast when used on this device for the first time I found it somewhat lacking.

To be fair the tank does put out plenty of vapour for its small size but the flavour seemed rather washed out. I took the tank off the device and fitted it to the SMOK Stick One Plus and the flavour was slightly better than using it on the Stick One Basic but nowhere near as good as I remembered when I reviewed it. I then decided to fit it to my Sigelei 150W TC and at 45-50W the vape was seriously nice, very warm with decent flavour and plenty of cloud production.

In all honesty the vape might be okay for someone who is new and planning on filling up the tank with the strongest E-Liquid they can get their hands on but for anyone else the vape just seems a bit weak with 6mg and 3mg juices. I get the impression that the tank just doesn’t perform anyway near as well as it does on a Variable Wattage device which is a bit of a shame.

In consideration if you only really want something reasonably light and form friendly to blow clouds with when out and about then this might be acceptable. One really positive point is the fact that the airflow can be heavily closed down and you can certainly get a better mouth to lung vape than with the Stick One Plus but do keep in mind that it is still a little loose and ideally could do with being a bit more restrictive.

The tank does get very hot if you are chain vaping so do be careful. The device itself stays relatively cool. The Stick One Basic does have pass-through capability so you can charge it while you vape. Charging time is roughly 2-3 hours.

Conclusion

Of the two Stick One Kits on offer the Basic is nicely designed, looks stylish, and is form friendly. Certainly the Nano TFV4 airflow will certainly be easier for a new vaper to get used to but in terms of flavour it isn’t exactly great. If flavour and a potent throat hit is what you want then I think you would be better off with SMOK’s Stick One Plus but the only issue with that device is the chunky size, weight and hefty airflow. Despite both products being decently made they also seem to fall down in one specific area considering who they are actually aimed at which is unfortunate.

Remarkably considering this is the more form friendly device out of the two products on offer it actually has a slightly higher battery capacity than the Stick One Plus, 2200mAh versus 2000mAh.

Considering how my vaping has evolved over the years I don’t want to dismiss this product out of hand since while it isn’t something I would really use some people may really like it. Potentially as a first ever vaping device the quality of vape the Stick One Basic offers might actually be completely acceptable to you but I would suggest you go into a shop and try one first to be certain.

Personally I feel that the Stick One Plus is a significantly better vape but that is probably just based on my personal taste. If you feel the Stick One Basic ticks all the boxes for you then it will certainly be worth picking up!