Mod Reviews

VT167 by HCigar

Evolv's DNA 167 is the down tuned variant of the DNA 250 which is widely considered to be the most advanced chipset currently available. The VT167 features a maximum output of 167 Watts and offers both Variable Wattage and Temperature Control functionality. The Evolv chip offers a massive amount of customization via the Escribe software and has a 97% power efficiency rating.

by VapeMaster
Jan 27, 2017

Share on:

VT167 HCigar

Evolv's DNA 167 is the down tuned variant of the DNA 250 which is widely considered to be the most advanced chipset currently available.

The VT167 features a maximum output of 167 Watts and offers both Variable Wattage and Temperature Control functionality. The Evolv chip offers a massive amount of customization via the Escribe software and has a 97% power efficiency rating. Should you not wish to make use of Escribe rest assured that you can use this device straight away since it is pre-loaded with several pre-sets for the most common wire types. The VT167 requires two 18650 good quality batteries such as LG, Samsung or Sony.

VT167 by HCigar features

DNA 167 Chipset.
Official Evolv Chipset Down Throttled DNA 250.
Escribe Compatible.
Variable Wattage and Temperature Control Modes.
Temperature Mode Supported Wire Types: Ni200, Titanium and 316 Stainless Steel. Additional Settings Configured Through Escribe.
Temperature Range: 200-600°F /1000-300°C.
Zinc Alloy Chassis.
Elliptical Arc Design.
Dual 18650 Battery Powered (In Series).
Snug Fit Sliding Battery Access Panel.
Silver Plated Contacts.
Battery Ejection Ribbon.
Three Button Control Face.
Oversized Firing Button.
Rocker Adjustment Buttons.
0.91 Inch OLED Display Screen.
Micro USB Port. 1A Charging
Firmware and Software Upgradeable.
Stainless Steel 510 Threading.
Silver Plated Spring Loaded Contact Pin.
1.0- 167W Output Range.
1.0- 7.4V Output.
0.1- 2.0 ohm Variable Wattage Resistance Range.
0.08- 1.0 ohm Temperature Sensing Range.
Cell by Cell Monitoring.
Cell Balancer.
Atomizer, Weak Battery, Temperature, Resistance, Auto Power Down, and Heat Protection.
Lock Mode.
Stealth Mode.
Power Lock Mode.
Power Preset Mode.
Resistance Lock.
Max Temperature Adjustment.
Power Efficiency: 97%.

What’s in the box?

HCigar VT167 Box Mod.
User Manual.
Warranty Card.
Micro USB Cable.

VT167 by HCigar styling and build quality

The VT167 is extremely well put together and features the VT's signature elliptical chassis constructed from zinc alloy and this is accented with either a carbon fiber or a silver weave battery door. As such it has a very striking and stylish design. The overall matte finish is excellent and has not tarnished at all during the time I have spent using the device. The VT167 has a nice amount of weight to it when the batteries are fitted and it still feels reasonably compact for a dual 18650 device but it is certainly much larger than the IPV 6X and the SMOK Alien.

The two buttons appear to be made from aluminium, are responsive and rattle free. The single adjustment button uses a convenient rocker switcher which admittedly does take a little getting used to if you are used to separate plus and minus buttons. The display is bright and clear with all of the typical information clearly show including Wattage, Resistance and Voltage. In addition temperature is shown when it that mode along with battery life and whether the Resistance lock is enabled or not. All of this information can be completely customized via Escribe if you wish. The display is nicely recessed to prevent any scratching and it does appear to be tinted with a screen protector but this didn’t appear to affect its readability.

The 510 pin is spring-loaded but the one thing I don’t like that much about it is the fact that it feels a bit too soft and springy and it certainly is not as stiff as the one you might find on a lot of other mods. On the plus side of things it does not feel loose at all and all of your atomizers will sit flush on this device. The 510 connector is made from Stainless Steel, has great threading and is secured to the device with three Stainless Steel screws.

The battery compartment uses a clip style design much like the IPV 4S and the Therion 166 that is secured by ball bearings. The batteries are easy to fit into the sled-like design and removal is equally simple so is no need for a battery ribbon.

Suitable venting is provided via three large slots in the base. The batteries can be charged externally or via the included Micro USB cable with the port itself being located at the bottom front of the device. The cable also allows you to connect the VT167 to make use of Evolv’s Escribe software but there are several pre-sets already set up for you including Ni200, Titanium and 316 Stainless Steel so it isn’t a requirement.

Ease of use

Five clicks of the main fire button locks/unlocks the device.
To lock the power make sure the device is unlocked and hold down the plus and minus adjustment buttons.
To lock and unlock the Resistance make sure the device is locked and hold down the fire button and the plus adjustment button simultaneously.
To put the device into Stealth Mode make sure the device is locked and hold down the fire button and the minus adjustment button simultaneously.
To change the temperature make sure the device is locked and then hold down the plus and minus buttons simultaneously. The temperature can be adjusted in the menu and you can have it display in either Celsius or Fahrenheit or switch it off completely.
To access the pre-sets on the device make sure the device is unlocked then hold down the plus and minus buttons to access power mode and then click the plus button a couple of times. The device pre-sets include Wattage Mode, Ni200, Ni200 No Preheat, Ni200 Relaxed, SS 316 and Titanium.

VT167 by HCigar performance

As you might expect there is absolutely no issues with the performance of the VT167 and that is no doubt due to it featuring the most advanced chipset currently available. You get all of the benefits of the DNA 250 apart from its maximum Wattage which has to be down throttled to a maximum of 167W to function with two 18650 batteries.

The VT167 performed flawlessly no matter what I used on it and I like all of the DNA devices that have come out recently I really notice the difference when vaping compared to other mods since it is much smoother. I tried out quite a few of my atomizers in Variable Wattage mode and all of them worked extremely well.

To test the Temperature Control Mode I set up the Ammit RTA with a 3mm diameter 0.5ohm Stainless Steel coil and it worked absolutely brilliantly with no issues at all. Like all of the DNA mods I love the fact that you can lock the Resistance properly which ensures you get a very consistent and enjoyable vape!

Battery life was very good since the DNA chip has a 97% power efficiency rating. Overall you do get a little bit longer than most dual 18650 devices but not by a huge amount. Of course the batteries will drain faster if you vape often and use high Wattage.

Conclusion

The VT167 is an excellent device that offers solid performance in either Variable Wattage or Temperature Control Mode. In addition the styling of the device is excellent since it looks really good and feels comfortable to use. It should also have some good long term durability since it is very well-built.

I find it very hard to find any faults with this device but I would have preferred the 510 pin to be a bit stiffer than it is but that is probably just me nit picking and to be fair I don’t see it coming loose or anything. If you want a device that features the newest chip on the market and providing you don’t need over 167 Watts the VT167 is a superb choice that is well worth picking up! We received this item from GearBest - you can check it out on their site here where it is currently on promo sale for £74.60 - http://www.gearbest.com/temperature-control-mods/pp_495530.html?wid=21.