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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
