Smoko Vape Max Kit and Refills
SMOKO are back with a new kit aimed at making vaping simple. We got to check out their brand new Vape Max kit.
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It has been a while since our good friends over at SMOKO sent us over anything new to look at, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been busy, oh no, they have been working on an all new, easy to use kit along with a range of refills, and they sent us a tidy bundle of goodies to test out. So today we are going to look at the new SMOKO Vape Max prefilled pod kit.
SMOKO have carved out their own niche in the vape community by specialising in easy to use, simple to maintain kits that will get you up and running in no time and will set you in very good stead for a smoke free future, and that continues with the new Vape Max kit. It is the simplicity of their products that is the real masterstroke here as they are primed and ready to fill the void for a lot of potential vapers who might have come in via disposable vapes, and with that route being imminently cut off, SMOKO have the solution. The Vape Max kit requires no technical knowledge, no understanding of ohms and wattage, it is a simple set up that even my mum could instantly pick up and use. The pods come prefilled, and all you have to do is keep the battery charged up, that is a complex as it gets.
First Impressions and Set Up
To get started, you will need to order one of the starter bundles. The most basic level contains a pack of refills and comes with a free Vape Max battery, and this is just £7.99. This should give you the equivalent of five packets of cigarettes, according to SMOKO’s own estimation. Now I haven’t smoked for a long while now, but I am pretty sure you can’t even get half a packet of ciggies for that price, so you can instantly see how much money you can save, and that doesn’t even take into consideration the health benefits you will gain from choosing a safer nicotine alternative. There are bigger bundles available too, with three or five packs of refills, and the more you get, the cheaper it gets. I would probably suggest picking up a second battery though so you can make sure you always have a spare fully charged, just to make sure you are covered.
The SMOKO Vape Max comes in a small package which contains the battery, a USB cable, and a small instruction sheet. The sheet tells you all you need to know, but you will need good eyesight to read it, the font is super small. Thankfully there isn’t much to know, but I know there are folks out there who like to be fully informed when using a new product.
As I said, simplicity is the key here, so to get started, all you have to do is take you prefilled pod and drop it in to the battery. It is held by magnets, and you may need to rotate the pod until the magnets bite. I wasn’t sure how strong they would be, but they do the job perfectly well. Then you are ready to vape. There are no controls and no airflow options so all you can do is vape, and you can continue until the battery needs a boost. Don’t worry, the discreet light in the base of the batter will let you know when you need to plug it in, and it will take no more than an hour to charge it up.
The base also has another handy feature, it has a lock feature. To activate it, there is a small button which you will need to press five times in quick succession, the light will flash a few times and then the device is shut down. This is a great safety feature which should give users peace of mind. As this is an auto draw device, it is good to know that you can disable it to prevent it getting into the wrong hands.
The Pods and Flavours
Any vaper will tell you how important flavour is when it comes to vaping, so everything so far would be null and void if it didn’t taste good. I know the taste of good e-liquid is what got me through the transition from smoker to vaper, so it is good to see there are quite a few options to chose from. In fact, there is twelve different flavours to choose from, and you can get them in two strengths. If you are coming in with the Vape Max as your first vape kit, I’d suggest starting with the 1.8% refills and they when you have comfortably made the switch, you can then drop down to the 1.1% ones. Don’t rush though, you need to make sure you are comfortable with your new lifestyle before you even thing about reducing your nicotine intake.
The pods themselves are sealed so there is no messy refilling to worry about, and you shouldn’t have any problems with leakage. Each pod contains 2ml of e-liquid, the legal limit here in the UK, and when you are finished, you can request a SMOKO collection bag to store your empties in until you are ready to send them back for recycling. There is no cost for this service, just package everything up and drop it off at the post box. I love this, vaping doesn’t need to be as wasteful as it often is these days, and I applaud any brand that steps up to do its bit for a greener future.
The pods are made from a dark but transparent plastic which looks smart, but more importantly allows you to see how much e-liquid you have left. The mouthpiece is all part of the pod and feels very much like ones you will get on most popular disposables. It is comfortable and is right in the middle of the goldilocks zone; not too big and bot too small, it is just right. The draw is also similar to a disposable vape too.
Out of the twelve flavours, SMOKO sent over eight for me to try. Another thing that sets SMOKO apart is the quality of their e-liquid which is made in the UK using the finest quality flavours and ingredients. They have also been formulated with western tastes in mind so they are all a pretty safe bet.
Original – This is a slightly sweet, natural tobacco with a dry feel and a slightly ashy finish. Unlike many straight tobacco flavours, it avoids the trap of tasting like liking and old ashtray. There is an organic earthiness along with a slight note of caramel making it taste like decent rolling tobacco. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would as I am not a big tobacco flavour user.
Mint Breeze – This is quite a strong mint, verging on menthol just fading out before it takes your breath away completely. It pulls no punches though; it is not subtle. It is also not a candy mint so don’t expect any sugar hit here. It is just a straight up fresh, clean mint with no gimmicks or tricks.
Apple – This is a crisp, sharp apple, very natural flavour like fresh cider apple juice. It has bite. It is actually very refreshing as it isn’t loaded with sugar or sweetener and relies purely on the strength of the flavour to carry it off. It is a very British tasting apple, like a cooked bramley.
Raspberry – This is a sweet and surprisingly delicate raspberry, very natural tasting. There is a lovely tang to it though which makes it come alive. It doesn’t have any of those artificial floral notes that so many raspberries have, and it also doesn’t have any hints of jam. It is a pure raspberry, no more and no less, and that makes it really good.
Menthol – If the mint is a little light for you, Menthol takes it up a level or two. Make no mistake either, this isn’t a super strong mint in disguise, it is a pure menthol, and takes me back to my consulat days, I used to love menthol cigarettes. It is quite dry, and it hits the back of your throat like a blast of pure air. If it is a clean vape you want, this is the pod choice for you.
Vanilla – I really wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did, but it delivers everything I want from a vanilla flavour. It is rich and creamy and feels decadent without ever becoming too clogging or tasting burnt. It works perfectly with this kit and quickly became one of my favourites from the selection I was sent.
Cherry – I will not bore you with my cherry obsession, just know it is a flavour I judge more than any other flavour. This is quite light, but also has depth, but I did feel it could perhaps be a tiny bit stronger. This is only because the base flavour is very good, I would just like to have had a bit more of it. There is a dryness again which made me think of a cherry tobacco but without the actual tobacco taste, more the sensation. Again, it is a natural flavour, no chemical elements or artificial sweetness.
Fruit Burst – This is an interesting one, it is a fruit medley which does a good job of mixing up a lot of different fruity notes without favouring any individual ones. It is sweet but not sickly and has slightly tropical elements, but hold me down and make me identify the actual fruits and I wouldn’t like to commit. It doesn’t really matter either, it tastes pleasant and that’s what counts.
Final Thoughts
SMOKO have really pulled it out of the bag here with a super easy to use kit that is perfect for any ex-smoker looking to make the switch. With New Year coming up fast, the timing couldn’t be any better so if you are thinking of doing the whole “New Year, New You” thing, the SMOKO Vape Max kit could be a very good place to start. The actual kit is simple yet stylish, and being reuseable and rechargeable, it is also a better ethical choice.
The flavours are very good without being super sweet or full of nasty artificial notes. They are clean and authentic which makes them very easy to enjoy. Thow in the recycling scheme, and their subscription service which should mean you never get caught without a vape, the SMOKO Vape Max is a great choice to help you make the change.
Many thanks to SMOKO for sending in the Vape Max in for review.
- Easy to use
- Natural, UK made flavours
- Subscription service
- In house recycling
- A great alternative to disposable vapes
- May not be for more experienced vapers
Michelle (Purplefowler)
Reviewer at POTVWhen her usual forum closed, Michelle found herself in a brave new world full of excitement that something fresh and new was happening. A few days later she somehow found herself on the moderating team and is still not really sure how that happened. Even stranger, she slowly worked her way up to admin and now helps behind the scenes, liasing with vendors and coordinating social media but she can still be found making smutty comments on the forum. If all that wasn't enough, she also is a proud member of the Potv review team specialising in E-liquid reviews for the discerning vaper.
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