The Designs of Box Mods
Various individuals started tinkering to create their box mods, which quickly became commercialized. One such box mod is the Gizmo. This is a compact and sleek design that can fit comfortably in anyone’s hand. Using brass coils to minimize the voltage drop from the battery to the atomizer means that the overall quality and thickness of the vapor is improved. Other box mods are more creative, making them appear like smaller pieces of luggage or designer jewelry.
For those who prefer to make the changes to their e-cigs themselves, anything can become part of their box mods, making them very unique. But for those who do not want to try their hand at creating their own box mod, there are still plenty of great options available that can give you a unique and stylish vaping experience.
Checking off the Features
Box mods typically feature a few standards, particularly when it comes to the actual vapor. First, the best models will have a built in battery and charging port. If you have those, it makes the recharging simpler, plus if the box mod has a USB port, charging can be accomplished in the car or at any USB charging station.
Others even offer the option of charging at your computer, allowing you to vape while working and charging.
Look at what the coating is made of as well. After all, this is something that will be put in a purse or pocket with keys and who knows what else, so having a scratch resistant coating is a key feature. Other great features include an OLED screen that enable you to digitally change the controls on your mod.
Another area that you can have included in your box mod, depending on the manufacturer or brand, is a variation of voltage and the ability to adjust it yourself. Various models can be adjusted in 0.1 increments, from 3.0 to 7.0 voltage. This can translate into a heavier or lighter vapor depending on your mood or the setting. You can also find the setting that works best for you and your particular vaping habits.
Another area that might be adjustable is the wattage. With changes in the wattage, you also affect your vapor and the length of time you can vape. Those with adjustable wattage can typically be adjusted in 0.5 increments, with a range that can span from 6 to 40 watts or more. As you can see, the range is pretty wide, so adjustable wattage can give you plenty of options, depending on your mood and the frequency of your vaping.
Adding Options to Your Box Mod
Box mods can come with a variety of safety and functional features. One such feature is the low voltage notification, as well as overcharge protection. Other subtle but important additions include short circuit or atomizer protection, giving your box mod the ability to notify you of any problems. It will also typically turn itself off before operating in otherwise unsafe conditions. These detectors will also note if the atomizer’s resistance is low, and most will not allow the box mod to power on as a result. This protection will keep your box mod from being damaged and provides a safeguard for your investment.
Another thing to look for is the actual wattage. This can also have an effect on your vaping time and the quality of your vapor. Just remember that mods with higher wattage outputs typically cost more.
Other box mods might come with an adjustable spring, thus allowing you to make sure your e-liquid vile is snug in the box mod. Want to monitor how many puffs you take per day? Then look for a box mod with a puff counter, thus allowing you to keep track of the number of puffs you take per day.
Power Output Levels You’ll Need to Know
The main difference between an e-cigarette and a box mod is the power level. If you simply want to quit smoking, a cig-a-like will suffice, but if you intend to make vaping into a sport or pastime, you’ll want more power. The kind of power you can get from an eGo-style battery with 200mAh is quite limited. These mouth-to-lung devices can only produce so much vapor, and so if you want to turn your habit into a hobby, you’ll need to invest in a box mod.
Vape pens and other smaller devices typically don’t exceed a 15-30W output, but a box mod can go much higher. You’ll find mini box mods that go up to 40-50W and larger devices that can reach up to 200W. Most average devices can reach between 60-80W though, and rarely will vapers exceed this limit. In fact, vaping past 100W becomes quite difficult simply because the temperature of the vapor is intolerable.
That all being said, you cannot legitimately reach 200W unless you have an incredibly strong battery. Most batteries aren’t nearly powerful enough to support a power output of 200W especially if the mod is a sub-ohm device. Though it’s a flashy advertising point, vaping technology hasn’t advanced to the point where 200W vaping is really possible.
Comparing Battery Capacity
The battery capacity refers to the battery life. Box mods generally use one or more 18650 cells that offer the user extended battery life. Unlike e-cigs which will last only a few hours at best, a box mod can last you all day long.
Battery life is measured in milliampere hours, which are abbreviated as mAh. An ampere hour is a measure of electric charge multiplied by time. That is to say that a battery with 1000mAh will expend 1000 milliamps in one hour.
Typical vape pens will come with batteries of anywhere from 500mAh to 750mAh. However, box mods have batteries upwards of 2500mAh. Now, box mods do take up more energy because the batteries have lower resistance levels. However, you should have no reason to charge your batteries during the day as long as you start the day fully charged. It might not last for days on end, but it will certainly get you through the work day and the early evening.
When you’re comparing box mods, you’ll want to look for numbers between 3000 and 5000 mAh. You may notice, however, that some mods don’t advertise the battery capacity. If they require external batteries, you’ll have to check the battery life on the batteries themselves because the mAh will depend on your choice of batteries.
Can I Mix and Match?
Most mods come as starter kits complete with a charging cord and sometimes a tank. That being said, a mod simply refers to the vaporizer battery. The tank, batteries, and any accessories you may choose to use are completely separate.
Thankfully, vaporizer components are fairly standardized across industries. So, you can purchase a mod from one company, a tank from another, and a drip tip from a third. You’ll simply want to make sure that they both use the same 510 connection before completing your purchase.
Vapers regularly mix and match equipment from different vaping stores. For example, you may want to use one of the TFV tanks from SMOK because they come with triple and quadruple coils, but you may prefer a high-quality American-made mod from VaporFi or South Beach Smoke. The possibilities are endless with a bit of creativity.
Unregulated Box Mods: What Are They & Do I Want One?
Regulated box mods are designed with safety features in place to prevent you from any accidental explosions or mishaps. Any box mod you buy from a reputable company like ePuffer, or South Beach Smoke will be regulated. However, there are individuals who choose to build their own box mods without the standard features in the hopes of creating a device with lower resistance and more power.
You have to be extremely careful with unregulated box mods, and you should NOT attempt to build or use one unless you know Ohm’s Law and battery safety rules thoroughly.
Ohm’s Law states that the voltage is equal to the current multiplied by the resistance.
V=I*R
Or alternatively…
I=V/R
Mods today come with sub-ohm resistance levels, and when you divide by a very small fraction, you end up with a larger number. So imagine, if the voltage is a standard 7.4V with two 18650 cells and the resistance is only 0.05Ω, you have to have a current of 148 amperes–a very high number considering most batteries have between 20 and 35A.
Unless you are very experienced, you risk seriously hurting yourself and those around you by vaping on an unregulated box mod.
How Complicated Are Box Mods?
Most vapers decide to start with e-cigarettes when they first start vaping vaping simply because cig-a-likes resemble their analog counterparts. E-cigarettes are meant to function and feel like cigarettes, and for the most part they do. While you’ll have to change out the cartridge and charge the battery from time to time, you really don’t have to do all that much. If you opt for disposable e-cigarettes, you’ll have to do even less.
If you’re new to the vaping world, you may assume that box mods are only for the experienced, and that’s partially true. You shouldn’t start building your own coils or messing with advanced controls until you’re familiar with battery safety. However, they’re not really as complicated as they may seem.
If you’re purchasing pre-made kanthal coils, box mods really aren’t that much more complicated than the vape pen or cig-a-like you might have been using up until now. You’ll have to fill up the tank and change the atomizer out, but as long as you follow the instructions provided, you should have no issues.
You’ll have to experiment a bit when using wattage control to find your preferences, but as long as you’re using standard kanthal coils, the settings should be fairly straightforward. Temperature control is slightly more complicated, but there’s really no need to use this setting until you feel ready.
So What Are the Best Box Mods in Canada?
According to a random survey taken across the country, Canadians were most likely to purchase box mods that were simple and practical like the Kangertech Nebox or the iStick Pico from Eleaf. Willing to sacrifice on power and accessories, most Canadians opted for all-in-one mods that were simple and easy to use.
While their American counterparts enjoyed monster boxes that could compete at cloud chasing competitions, Canadians tended to opt for moderate-sized mods with wattage outputs ranging from 30W to 70W. In general, sales for 100W+ box mods this past year have been falling significantly here.
In fact, it seems like more and more Canadians prefer mini box mods to giant ones. The mini box mods have made a comeback this year. Though tiny, these vaporizers come with adjustable airflow control, 18650 external batteries, and even wattage and temperature control. Yet they’re small enough to disappear in your jeans pocket. These mods are perfect for those long road trips and holiday vacations when you need a lot of battery life.
If you’re looking for mods to try, check out the Vaporesso Tarot Nano as it seemed to be quite popular across Canada this year!
If I Want the Best Box Mod in Canada, What Will I Need to Pay?
Thankfully you can find cheap box mods right here in Canada regardless of your price range. There are beginner mods that run for $40-80, intermediate mods that sell for between $80-140 and advanced mods that sell for well over $100 and sometimes even more than $200.
For the most part, the price of the box mod will reflect the build quality, materials used, and technological features included. For instance, if you have a mod with a DNA chip, it will cost a lot more than a basic all-in-one mod with simple voltage-wattage control.
You don’t need to necessarily spend a lot of money to find something that works well. Though fancy DNA chips may allow you to control the temperature and wattage more accurately, the device will likely perform only marginally better than devices in the lower price range. We find that most Canadians will opt for the medium-range devices anyway.
I will say though that if you want the best box mod in Canada, you should pay for a device from Canada or at least from the United States. Though there are several reputable vaping companies from China, the Chinese government doesn’t necessarily have the same safety standards we do. If you do want to purchase from China, purchase the items through a second-hand retailer instead.
The Future for Box Mods
We’ve seen plenty of box mods with DNA chips the past couple of years. DNA chips are computerized chips that allow you far more control over your vape settings. However, they are very expensive and are too nuanced to appeal to the average vaper.
I think that the future of box mods is in usability and appearance. We’ve only seen a couple of box mods with touch screens, and while the technology is still expensive, I’m positive touch screens will be everywhere in a few years. They’re far simpler than the OLED displays that are so prevalent now, and they’re far more modern.
Only time will tell though!
Final Thoughts on Box Mods
The interesting part of box mods is how they were born from the creativity of others within the vaping community. They are part of a larger tinkering community that wants to improve their vaping experience.
Thus, for those tinkers on box mods, they have created their own unique vaping experience.
E-Cig-Brands.com recommends you to check out the following box mod brands: Mig-Vapor, VaporFi and E-Puffer.