Mod Reviews

Vandy Vape BSKR Elite Kit

Antony checks out the Vandy Vape BSKR Elite kit, a pod kit with tube mod styling and the option to use your own tank

by Antony Lord
Mar 1, 2023

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Vandy Vape BSKR Elite kit

I’ve been fairly impressed in the past with a lot of Vandy Vape gear, so when I spotted they had a new BSKR Elite kit in the works which seemed to combine the best elements of a modern pod kit alongside a classic tube mod, I was intrigued. Once again, our friends over at Sourcemore have supplied us with a review sample so I can put it through its paces.

Specifications

136.5 x 22 mm
External 18650 battery
Usb-c charging
3.6 v output
Resistance range 0.2~3 ohms
3ml PCTG pod
510 adapter included

Vandy Vape BSKR Elite kit unboxing

The BSKR Elite is available in three colours (stainless steel, matte black, and frosted grey), and I was sent the black version for review. This comes in a nice presentation box with everything laid out in a single layer, there is also an instruction manual and USB-C cable hidden underneath.

One thing that strikes you immediately as you remove it from the box is just how heavy it is, I’m assuming that it’s a zinc alloy construction, and with the pod and an 18650 fitted, this weighs in at a not inconsiderable 142 grams! The classic tube shape makes it very pocketable, but you’ll certainly be aware of its presence.

Vandy Vape BSKR Elite kit first look

The main body has some cut outs in the main tube to break the design up, I particularly like the indentation around the power button which is also lightly textured, and these design choices make the BSKR Elite very comfortable to use. With the pod fitted, you’d be hard pressed to distinguish this from a classic tube mod with a separate tank which in my eyes can only be a good thing.

As this uses an external 18650, the battery tube utilizes a classic screw cap at the base. The best way I could describe the threads here would be “crunchy”. They really were awful initially but this has thankfully improved slightly with repeated use. You do have on board charging via a USB-C port around the back which in my tests hit a peak charging rate of 0.95 amps.

The blurb for the BSKR Elite is a little contradictory as it mentions a constant/fixed 3.6 volt output with “3 power levels”. Unfortunately the power levels aren’t selectable and in fact refer to the small led embedded in the power button which indicates the remaining battery power: Green is above 70%, amber is above 30%, and red is below 30%. This is a little disappointing but it has performed solidly throughout my testing so I can’t complain too much.

Vandy Vape BSKR Elite kit coil change

The pod section uses standard VVC coils which simply press fit in from the base. I've used these before on other Vandy Vape kits but this is the first time I’ve tried the mouth to lung orientated versions. Rather than relying on magnets, the pod actually uses a bayonet style fitting which is much more secure, and you have an adjustable airflow ring built into the top section of the battery section.

Vandy Vape BSKR Elite pod

The pod is very tank-like in many respects with a proper top fill system and a standard 510 drip tip, and it has a healthy 3ml capacity. The VVC coils proved to be consistent performers with great flavour and decent longevity, and I continue to be impressed with them in this mouth to lung version. One thing I haven’t been able to find online is replacement tank sections, however this should be quite robust as the tank is PCTG.

One of the extras in the box is a pack of three Soft Vape Filters to use instead of a standard drip tip. I’ve tried similar systems before and they’ve usually ended up becoming a gross, soggy mess in a matter of minutes, but I actually got nearly a full twelve hours use this time around before this happened. I can see the potential benefit of these for someone just coming off cigarettes, but for myself after vaping full time for seven years, I’ll stick to my standard drip tips.

Vandy Vape BSKR Elite kit 510 adapter

One of the more interesting pack in items is a 510 adapter which turns the BSKR Elite kit into a fully-fledged tube mod that you can use with any 22mm tank. The bayonet fitting comes into its own here and provides a solid, reliable connection. This has been one of my favourite aspects of the kit and full marks to Vandy Vape for including it in the box as many others would have offered this as an optional extra.

Pros

Solid construction
Great performance from the VVC coils and pod
510 adapter included in the kit

Cons

Crunchy threads on the battery cap
A bit heavy

Conclusion

Another great kit from Vandy Vape, the BSKR Elite literally offers the best of both worlds with a cracking pod option and the ability to swap over to a standard 510 connection and use your favourite 22mm tanks. It all feels reassuringly solid as well but that does come at the expense of being a bit weighty.

Many thanks to Sourcemore for sending the Vandy Vape BSKR Elite over for review. As always, they’ve sent me a discount code for you to use as well: VVBEK will bag you the BSKR Elite for $22.49.

Vandy Vape BSKR Elite kit handcheck

Antony Lord

Reviewer at POTV

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I was a twenty a day smoker for 25 years and like most smokers I was always going to quit "next week". Having hit my mid forties and having the usual smokers cough and difficulty with anything more than moderate exercise it was obviously time to give up the cancer sticks. I bought my first e-cigarette in 2013 when they were expensive, difficult to find and quite frankly... crap. I used it for about a week then went back to the roll ups, mark up another failed quit attempt. The fact that I had just changed jobs and was under quite a lot of stress probably didn't help. Move on to 2016 and whilst I was browsing eBay I noticed that one of the suggested items that would occasionally pop up was for a cheap e-cigarette. It looked similar to the one I'd bought 3 years earlier but it was only £5 (about 8 times cheaper than before) so I decided to give it another go on a whim. Once the kit arrived I managed to gradually replace the cigarettes with my new kit over a two month period and got into watching YouTube reviews for newer kit. My cheap and cheerful kit was replaced by a more upmarket affair, and being a noob I made a mistake once it arrived... I put in the supplied direct lung coil, this was of course a complete revelation and I haven't touched a cigarette since. Oh and I no longer spend the first five minutes of every day having a coughing fit either.