Vandy Vape Simple EX Squonk Kit - Pod Killer!

The Vandy Vape Simple EX Squonk Kit is designed to cater for you squonkers who shudder at the thought of a pod device but want to try out Nic Salts. This is a small device with a 4ml capacity bottle and an airflow control on the RDA that will go down to a gnat's chuff so you can vape very high nic salt juices by only taking a small amount of vapour.

by Si Davies
Apr 10, 2019

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Bought with my own money hands on review which is based upon my experience and opinions of this mod & RDA kit. I have extensively tested this before reviewing for almost one month of regular use.

In this review I will cover:

1 Line Review (For those that can't be arsed to read through)
Rating out of 10
In the Box
First Impressions
Mod review and info
RDA review & info
Compared To: Assorted Pods & Pico Squeeze (original)
Conclusion
Pros & Cons
Links and additional specs & info

One Line Review

The Vandy Vape Simple EX is a pod rival AND an upgrade in my opinion - compact, stylish, adjustable voltage, superb flavour & ideal for Nic Salts.

Score = 9 out of 10

The highest I have rated a device - read on if you want to know why...

In the Box

1 x Simple EX Squonk Box Mod
1 x Simple EX RDA (BF Pin Fitted)
2 x 1.24ohm Superfine MTL Fused Clapton Coils
1 x Screwdriver
1 x Allen Key
1 x Regular 510 Pin
1 x Spare Parts Bag
1 x Micro USB Cable
1 x Warranty Card
1 x User Manual

Unboxing & First Impressions

For such a small device it comes in a disproportional large box, that said it's well packed and well laid out. I really like the extras such as the all metal RDA top and the option to pop on a colour matched 510 drip tip for a tighter draw.

I has the colour matching Plastic RDA cover fitted which matches the 4ml squonk bottle cover, unpacking it all was pleasant to see everything laid out and already felt great value for money, first thing was to pop the mod on charge while I set about building the RDA.

I have a Vandy Vape Pulse mech and I couldn't help thinking it had a smart baby.

I was genuinely impatient to get this charged and built, high expectations and hoping it vaped as good as it looked.

Mod Review

The mod itself features a very limited screen and menu which is actually one of its strong points - it’s 'SIMPLE' - as all you can adjust is the Voltage from 3.3V to 4.5V, voltage changes in increments of 0.3V, simply press the left button to decrease and the right button to increase – simples! You can turn the mod on and off with the usual 5 clicks of the fire button.

The ergonomics design of the mod is impressive, squonk bottle, internal 800mAh battery, adjustable voltage screen and RDA all fitted into a very compact pocket friendly design. It has a metal chassis and it's a little heavier than some pods but nothing to complain about.

The battery life is pretty good although it's unlikely to last you a day and is obviously relative to the chosen voltage. I would have liked a higher mAh, but it would have made the mod larger I expect – you can’t have it all.

The squonk bottle aperture is near perfect, plenty of room to get your digits in to press and only requires light pressure to get the juice into the RDA.

Refilling the bottle is also easy enough, nothing innovative, just unscrew the top cap, pour in your liquid and close. You get the usual top overspill if you fill it too high, I left around 3mm from the top with no overspill, with 'micro hits' 4ml lasts ages and usually longer than the battery life.

The fire bar is on the screen side and opposite to the squonk bottle, it protrudes a little like a rocker switch and easy to reach how ever you hold it. So, fingers or thumbs, it's easy to reach and never accidently triggers the voltage switches.

There are battery vents at the base and a Micro USB charging port at the bottom of the screen, charging times are pretty fast - I've not tested it from flat, but it's never taken more than 30 minutes.

The screen also features a 5 bar battery life indicator, better still it carries on delivering your chosen voltage without drop off, downside to that is it just stops working when the battery can no longer deliver the voltage, unlike a pod that drops off.

There's not much more to say about the mod until the RDA's shoved on it, so onto the RDA...

RDA Review

Vandy Vape Simple EX RDA Features:

21mm Diameter
Clear Acrylic Top Cap Construction
Optional Delrin Top Cap
Two-Post, Single Terminal Design
Large Terminal Shelf Opening
Top-Secured via Flathead Slotted Screws
Restricted Airflow Design
Adjustable Single Side Airslot - Multi-Sized Airflow Size
Gold-Plated Squonk BF 510 Pin
Gold-Plated 510 Connection

The included RDA is 21mm in diameter and is a single coil 2 post build deck design. This took around two minutes to build and wick - it was so simple, with the perfectly shaped included Clapton coil with legs slotting easily into the dipped screw connectors. Pop the coil in centrally to the wick slots, tighten and a little reshaping and a quick pulse to remove hotspots - in my case there were none so was hot to trot! Vandy Vape didn't include wicking (minor con) so I used some Muji cotton - the length was intuitive as you just cut it down to reach the juice well, fluff it up, tuck it in, prime it and it's good to go.

After the mod was fully charged I filled up the bottle and took it for a test spin. Now, my intention for this device was to replicate that pod style draw, so I set the airflow to the second smallest hole. After a few primer puffs to bed in the coil and wick I started to puff away on it and right off the bat, at the lowest voltage, my high expectations were met - and some!

A very smooth draw with zero spit-back, it was a bitter sweet experience as only the day before I got the Smok Nord and thought nothing could beat it. The Simple EX blew that theory out of the water, the flavour was full and smooth and warm but not hot, I didn't need to change a thing - it just works. The drip tip PC Colour match top cap is the perfect height so you're not feeling the heat on your lips at all.

I used SALT nic salts which are the highest quality flavours I have found so far.

I did try the all metal top cap - it made little difference so popped the colour 510 drip tip onto it and you get an even tighter draw if that's your thing. I found the standard PC top cap to be the best option for that pod-style vape.

I have had no leaks, over-squonking is very forgiving as it sucks back the juice - as is under-squonking. I get quite a few draws before needing to squonk again. I've had no juice leak from anywhere even though it's bottom airflow. Just one little annoyance - the top caps are very tight to remove...

Compared to...

Here's the tricky part, do I compare thee to a summers day ... sorry drifted off! How do I compare it to a squonk mod or pod systems?

It's most definitely not a pod, yet it is a pod rival – and, as much as I love my pods, this device has taken preference over them all. It delivers a pod-like vape more than other mouth to lung tanks / RDAs, but with the convenience of a larger capacity and cheaper consumables. I honestly can't put my finger on why it is so pod like - it's just an MTL squonker, right?

Vandy Vape obviously developed this squonker to tackle the pod competition and I think they have nailed it - this sits in my pod collection and not my MTL collection or squonk.

I call it my SOD!

I won't compare all the pods but a generalisation of the following (In my favourite order):

Smok Nord - Best flavour giving pod I own, SIMPLE EX is better and shorter and a very similar weight, though the Nord feels better in the hand.

Aspire Cobble - Another great flavour giver with a nice tight MTL draw, very stealthy (little vapour production), smaller & lighter than the Simple EX but the battery life is short and again the flavour is better on the Simple EX.

Aspire AIO - Larger than the Simple EX but much lighter, it's another one that delivers good flavour but not as good as the above, it also feels cheap and nasty.

Aspire Breeze 2 - This was my first Pod experience and at the time loved it but it doesn't compare to the above, it also has a faulty common build quality issue where the pod catches break.

Ijoy Diamond VPC - This is a piece of crap except it has variable wattage, it spits like a camel and leaks like a leaky thing, no comparison.

So to compare it to the nearest squonker I can compare it to, the original Pico Squeeze. This is a semi regulated 'bypass' style mod, I have tried a couple of the better bottom-fed MTL RDAs such as the SXK Le Concorde Styled RDA and the Jorda B Styled RDA on it - hard to describe but I didn't enjoy either. MTL RTAs fared better but this setup isn't in the same league as the Simple EX. That said I have tried the RDA from the Simple EX on the Pico Squeeze and it's too hot for me.

Conclusion

Vandy Vape Simple EX is just that it's 'simple' a bit like some of my EX's ;)

This set up has taken over from my pod systems for now, there's so much to love about this kit! It sits in my pocket nicely without any leaks, it’s stealthy for that sneaky vape, great for indoor vaping and it's one of the first Nic Salt devices that gave me that '1st morning ciggie' high. I know it's not a pod and it's not a traditional squonker, it sits somewhere in between. In my opinion it's in a class of its own and is absolutely top of its class. Until something comes along to beat it, but for now this is my favourite MTL vape and is always in regular use.

Though it's boasted as a Nic Salt device it's also great for other liquids I've tried in it, though I keep going back to salts.

Would I buy another if it broke? Absolutely 100% - I bought another two of them so I now have three flavours on the go and I can go a full day between them without needing to recharge.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Better than a pod (or any that I have tried)
Rebuildable
Simple to use
Easy to build
Fast charging
Innovative sleek design
4ml Capacity
Superb RDA
Included coils are spot on (I've ordered some of this wire for my other MTL devices)
Difficult to leak
Optional top cap & 510 drip tips
Flavour is the best MTL I've tried
Lots of extras
Value for money
Baby Pulse mech style looks great
Tight to loose airflow control
Battery indicator
Constant chosen voltage delivery

Cons:

No cotton (minor niggle)
Battery life won't last the day.
Internal battery means eventually it will become disposable (apart from the great RDA)
Protruding fire button could pocket fire
Top cap is tighter than I am!

I cannot come up with any other cons unless I get really petty.

Rating = 9/10

As mentioned before, this is the highest that I have rated a device before, it has impressed me that much. No novelty factor as I have been hammering one of these for four weeks and have bought two more. This is not mere shinyitis but essential purchases as the extra two means that I can use them for a full day - and more – without needing to recharge.

Vandy Vape Simple EX Squonk Box Mod Features:

Dimensions - 58.5mm by 41mm by 23.6mm
Intergrated Battery Design
Bottom-Feeding Squonk Design - 4mL Squeeze Bottle
Vandy Vape Advanced Chipset
Variable Voltage Range: 3.3-4.5V
Voltage Changes in Increments of 0.3V
Lightweight Nylon & ABS Construction
Intuitive OLED Screen - Battery & Voltage Display
LED Battery Light Indicator
Tactile Firing Button
Dual Adjustment Buttons
Overtime Protection
No Atomizer Alert
Low Power Protection
Short Circuit Protection
Over Temperature Protection
Squonk-Ready 510 Connection
Available in Pink, Blue, Green, ULTEM

http://www.vandyvape.com/kit/Simple_EX_kit/

RRP £39.99 but you should find it for a lot cheaper, I paid £19.99, best price I found as of today (19th March 2019)

https://www.sr-vapes.co.uk/product/vandy-vape-simple-ex-kit-free-spare-bottle-included/

(The free bottle is just the silicone bit, no top or tube!)

So that's about it, I hope you found my personal experience review helpful, as always comments, corrections and comments appreciated this all helps motivate me to do more reviews :)

Si Davies

Reviewer at POTV

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My background is Engineering and Professional Photography. Mostly from POTV users knowledge I learned so much about pretty much all styles of vaping and equipment, Cloud Chasing, Squonking, Mouth To Lung, Direct To Lung, Pods, Mechs, Rebuild-able tanks and atomisers etc, and have experience with many many devices and atomisers, it's become a hobby and enjoy trying out the latest gear. I like to think my reviews are plain speaking and informative without getting too technical, if I have to resort to reading the manual then I don't consider it user friendly!

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