AAAVape Cub 30W Starter Kit Review

To most people, “AAA” means “top-tier” and “first-class.” But I’m a baseball fan, so “AAA” also takes on the meaning of “not quite ready for the big leagues.” While I’ve long been a fan of AAAVape products, unfortunately the all-new AAAVape Cub Kit misses the mark in several ways. Oh, and let’s not forget how some companies back in the day of using phone books would name their company AAA-something in order to show up first on the Yellow Pages.

On the surface, the 30-watt Cub kit has everything a newcomer needs to effectively deliver a smoking-like experience. But the measure of vape device goes beneath the surface, and that’s where the warts begin to show themselves. Let’s take a look at the specs and details…

The Company Line

The AAAVape CUB 30W Starter Kit is a glamorous looking vape, pioneering a sleek and luxurious design. It can hold a whopping 2.0mL of today’s most popular e-juice.  The Cub Kit utilizes a new set of mesh and ceramic coils from AAAVape for that pure unadulterated taste.

Features in a Nutshell

Featuring a fusion of carbon fiber and a zinc-aluminum alloy, the Cub Starter Kit is extremely lightweight and can withstand many smaller to moderate drops with no issue. Within the interior of the Cub Starter Kit also sits a sizable 1000mAh rechargeable battery to provide plenty of uninterrupted vape time.

Center 510 Connector

Mounted to the centered 510 connection is a 22mm diameter Cub Sub-Ohm Tank. The tank holds up to 2mL of today’s most popular e-juice within the glass tank.

Crafted from superior stainless steel, this tank is above the rest with a heat-insulated top cap and top fill system.

NOTE* How do these writers make devices like the Cub Kit sound so wonderful, with such lousy specs? 

AAAVape CUB 30W Box Mod Features:

• Dimensions – 62mm by 38mm by 26mm
• Integrated 1000mAh Rechargeable Battery
• Wattage Output Range: 3-30W
• Voltage Output Range: 3.3-3.9V
• Resistance Range: 0.4-3.0ohm
• Zinc-Aluminum Alloy Chassis Construction
• Intuitive Firing Button
• LED Battery Life Indicator Light
• Voltage Adjustment Button
• Centered 510 Connection
• MicroUSB Port
• Available in Wood, Pink Camo, Black Carbon, Blue Camo, Green Camo

AAAVape CUB 22mm Sub-Ohm Tank Features:

• 22mm Diameter
• 0mL Juice Capacity
• Superior Stainless-Steel Construction
• Quartz Glass Reinforcement
• Threaded Top Fill System
• Heat Insulated Top Cap
• 6ohm FMC Mesh Coil
• 2ohm FCC Ceramic Coil
• Plug ‘n’ Play Coil Installation
• Dual Slotted Adjustable Bottom Airflow Control Ring
• 510 Delrin Drip Tip
• Available in Black

AAAVape CUB Kit Includes:

•   CUB 30W Box Mod
•  The CUB 22mm Sub-Ohm Tank
•  0.6ohm FMC Mesh Coil
•  1.2ohm FCC Ceramic Coil
•  O-Ring Seal
•  Extra 2mL Replacement Glass
•  MicroUSB Cable
•  User Manual

Aesthetics of the AAAVape CUB 30W Box Mod 

This tiny, sharp-looking 30-watt mod takes its design cues from classic device motifs. In other words, it’s a box mod with various colorways available. Granted, the color options aren’t exactly subtle (pink camouflage, anyone?) but they’re presented simply, given the limited real estate on the diminutive mod frame.

 

My wood-like test model’s exterior was probably the best of the bunch, looking real enough without raising the cost of this value-oriented vape kit. Overall, I liked bringing it out on the town, if for looks alone.

Three LED Light Power Indicators

Unfortunately, the Cub is my second “three-LED light” vape review of the week, which was a letdown. As I mentioned in a previous review, we simply can’t justify putting LESS information on a beginner-oriented mod when these users need MORE to understand how their devices work. Pinhole LEDs are no replacement for a clearly laid out display, and we’re baffled that this is considered “simplicity” for new vapers.

 

Two Button Operation

The two-button operations are functional but are ultimately let down by mushy throws and a lack of clicky response time. No one is expecting a 30-watt mod to explode with rapid firing power, but these keys are soft and lack a confident sense of input. Some will argue I’m splitting hairs. But I’ve seen enough entry-level mods to know that fire keys aren’t an area where companies should be cutting corners.

Operating the Cub is standard fare if you’ve used any vape mod within the last five years. The usual click on/off power system is in place, and because there are no additional features or adjustments to be made, there is no menu system to fudge around with, nor is there any customizations to be had.

Old School

This old-school aesthetic continues with the included Cub Mini-Tank. This shrunken Kanger Subtank clone is the very essence of 2014’s leading design choices. I realize that’s silly, since performance is really all that matters with atomizers, but given the look and feel of the kit as a whole, the tank’s appearance is worth mentioning.

 

Speaking of which…

The Cub Mini-Tank

To be quite honest, I didn’t like the Cub Mini tank right from the outset. Because the squatty, 22mm offering is just too small, even for a device as compact as the Cub. Even with its proportional size, the Cub’s 2mL capacity does nothing to make up for the dimensions. Even as an MTL tank, this is a ridiculously small capacity for 2016, much less 2020, and I found myself refilling way too often.

Looking past the obvious downsides, the Cub Mini-Tank does perform adequately as an MTL atomizer. Don’t be fooled by the resistance differences, both the 0.6 and 1.6-ohm coils are true MTL coils — a point that’s hammered home by the thin mouthpiece which is next to useless as a direct lung setup.

 

Poor Top Fill Methods

The screw-top filling was a particular area that needs improvement. While the cap is surprisingly snug, and there was some reassurance knowing it could sit in my pocket without popping open, the design and function is antiquated and inconvenient. Not only did the rubber gaskets continue to slide out when filling, but the entire tank never felt totally secure.

 

Ending this section on a positive note, the plug and play coils DID sit securely, and both the included heads lasted well over a week of steady use. The flavor and vapor didn’t knock me off my feet but considering the limited performance specs of the Cub kit, I was satisfied with the results.

Vaping the AAAVape Cub Kit

Performance-wise, for a low-wattage mod, the Cub’s ramp-up performance is predictable, and gets up to speed quickly enough. More importantly, the ramping is smooth, with no pulsing or stuttering along the way – a rarity for entry-level mods, even today. In short, if you’re looking for tremendous power and adjustability, the wattage-only Cub probably isn’t for you.

For starters, the Cub has one of the limpest integrated batteries I’ve ever tested – 1,000 mAh on paper, and far worse in everyday use. I found myself trying to limit use to extend the battery life but couldn’t stop it from depleting at a speedy clip. If you’re an MTL vaper who uses higher resistance coils with low wattage outputs, you could theoretically get an afternoon of use. But I wouldn’t stray too far from a USB port.

 

MicroUSB (a step backward)

Also keep in mind that this is a Micro-USB device, and not the more-modern USB-C, meaning the Cub kit takes a little longer to recharge than you’re probably used to. This is forgivable, but worth noting for those expecting “all-day” performance from the device.

 

The biggest problem I faced was that the mushy fire key could have been a little more recessed, to prevent pocket firing. In tighter pockets, the Cub triggered inadvertently, even with the less-than-responsive buttons.

Pros:

• Ultra-compact design for a tank rig
• Unique exterior designs
• Solid coil system

Cons:

• Terrible battery performance – 1000mAh!
• Sub-par companion tank
• Mushy, unresponsive buttons

AAAVape Cub Kit – The Bottom Line

For all the flak we give to pod mods, its more-advanced versions of the modern devices are better values than kits like the AAAVape Cub. Not only do they have more control and customization options, but they also have better specs and performance.

 

There’s definitely a need for entry-level vape mods in the world, but in an effort to make things “easier” for newcomers, the Cub kit does little to welcome new vapers to the fold. And it does even less for experienced users.

 

Score: C-