Apollo Kit by Vandy Vape – A Review

The Vandy Vape Apollo Kit Review – Are you an “active vaper?” No, I’m not asking if you vape often. I’m asking if your weekends are spent the same way as couples in those Valtrex commercials, filled with kayaking, mountain biking and rigorous hikes. Because apparently there’s a growing need for waterproof, “active lifestyle” vape mods… at least according to Vandy Vape.

Right on the heels of the (admittedly awesome) Jackaroo kit comes the Vandy Vape Apollo 20W starter kit. And, for the most part, this flavor-focused, mouth-to-lung (MTL) setup maintains the same aesthetic as its cloudier predecessor. But there are a few key things keeping the Apollo from joining the ranks of the MTL elite. Let’s see why…

The Vandy Vape APOLLO 20W MTL Starter Kit is a compact vaping creation, blending together elements of practicality, functionality, and a sleek tactical design integrating 900mAh internal battery and a mouth-to-lung atomizer system. The Vandy Vape AP 20W Mod is made from TPE material which is water-resistant.

In addition, the panels can be connected in a way to provide a waterproofing rating of IP66. This means this device can withstand pressure water being sprayed from every direction with no damage or failure in usage. In addition, the AP MTL Box Mod utilizes an integrated 900mAh rechargeable battery that can allegedly last up to two days on a single charge. (yea, sure… ED)

Impressions and Aesthetics

Roughly the same height as (and only a little wider than) a disposable cigarette lighter, the silicone- and thermoplastic-coated Apollo mod is a lightweight little device. But that coating is designed to keep it durable, even if it’s diminutive. Because not only is the Apollo waterproof, but also dust and shock-resistant, making it an intriguing option for “on the go” vapers, albeit at very low wattage.

Impressions Cont…

It’s also a rugged LOOKING device, with eye-grabbing cutouts that show off unique color plates, and a fairly noticeable LED light series that indicates battery life and voltage levels.

While there isn’t a display to determine the Apollo’s settings and available power, the vertically oriented series of lights does a decent job of conveying the right information, while staying simple enough to be accessible to newcomers.

Furthermore…

There’s a fairly stiff and clicky fire key located near the top of the device’s front side. But this is a “hit or miss” affair. And we mean that literally – because of the rubber coating, it’s very easy to misfire the Apollo, with only firm, square clicks registering any power.

Over time, you get used to the misfires, but all the same, fire keys really don’t have any excuse to fail these days, even if a mod is more durable than a Yeti cooler.

The up/down adjustment buttons do a slightly better job of being responsive, but make no mistake – the protective coating presents a problem for consistent, no-fuss firing.

Apollo MTL “Subtank”

Yeah, I put that name in quote marks for a reason. Even though the Apollo MTL tank is called a “subtank” this is STRICTLY a mouth-to-lung proposition, with a pair of included coils WELL above one-ohm.  And even if the coils were aimed at foggier pursuits, the tiny tank diameter and cocktail-straw-narrow drip tip puts any sub-ohm visions right to bed.

Apollo Tank Cont…

(Yes, technically the “Subtank” is compatible with BSKR coils, but if you try to run this tiny tank at higher wattages, you would be filling more than the thirstiest dripper available.)

Because of its size, the tank is pretty bare-bones, visually. But it’s well-machined, easy to fill and relatively leak-proof, overall. My only concern during testing was that the single-hole airflow was a little limiting, even by MTL standards. Sure, there’s a series of progressively larger airflow holes in the base, but they make very little difference in the overall experience, only serving to make more noise and mute flavor along the way.

Kanthal 1.5 and 1.8

Speaking of similar performance, the included 1.5 and 1.8-ohm kanthal coils are solid, unspectacular heads that do a decent job delivering sharp jolts of flavor, but struggle to produce much vapor, even at the coils’ 13-watt max threshold. It’s wispy and slightly unsatisfying when compared to other dedicated MTL tanks on the market. Maybe the size and device power played a role, but I can’t say I was impressed.

Proprietary Drip Tip

And the drip tip? Well, I’d recommend swapping out something with a little more breathing room, but this is a proprietary tip. This narrow mouthpiece fits the size of the tank, but draws are far too snug for anyone’s liking. Given the compact, “on the go” nature of the Apollo kit, I can understand the need for a more understated companion tank. But by no means should anyone – even the most ardent MTL enthusiast – purchase this tank on its own when so many other atomizers are available.

Vaping the Vandy Vape Apollo Kit

Let’s get right to the main reason for the score below (admit it, you peeked… you know you did). The 900mAh integrated battery is horrendous. And what’s worse is that Vandy Vape made claims of “two days” before having to recharge. Sure, I operated the Apollo under testing (read: heavy) conditions, but I was barely getting two hours of steady vaping before the LED flashed a low-cell warning. A far cry from two days, to say the least.

Casual Means Rarely….

Even if you’re a casual vaper who only puffs occasionally throughout a day, I can’t imagine the Apollo getting through the evening before having to plug in. At least the mod recharges quickly and without any excessive heat, but Vandy Vape really overstated these claims, which concerned us.

Moving past the longevity, the Apollo kit mostly does what it needs to. As a direct-voltage vape mod, there isn’t much going on beneath the hood, other than straight, low-power output. In that light, the Apollo definitely performs, delivering smooth, mostly flavorful draws for as long as the battery allows.

Low Power Nonsense

But let’s focus on that “low-power” part for a second – even though the included coils barely scratch 13-watt thresholds, the mod itself isn’t going past 20, and that’s when it’s fully charged. Once you start using it, any tank/coil combo that needs more “oomph” is going to deliver a sub-par experience.

(And speaking of “sub-par” don’t even thinking of using the Apollo for “sub-ohm” – just trust us, you’ll walk away angry.)

Waterproofing?

We didn’t test the waterproof or shockproof claims, but from what I gather on the internet, the Apollo kit hits the mark in this department, with one review reporting it survived 15 minutes of underwater exposure without incident. I’ll take that as enough proof that it’s more than durable enough to handle the occasional raindrop or damp surface.

Pros:

– Lightweight and compact

– Nice, durable exterior

– Better-than-average LED setup

Cons:

– Horrendous battery performance

– Weak companion tank

– Awkward fire key

Spinfuel VAPE Recommendation and Score

I was (and am) an admitted fan of the Vandy Vape Jackaroo kit, so I approached the Apollo with the same level of enthusiasm. Unfortunately, even for the most old-school MTL vaper, there’s simply not enough power or performance here to justify a purchase. With a 20-watt maximum output (when fully charged), there aren’t many modern tanks that can function properly on the Apollo without some loss of flavor clarity.

Just Don’t…

If you love the durability and form factor here, I’d recommend taking a look at last year’s Wismec Sinuous V80 MTL kit, which might not have the integrated battery or waterproof coating. But it’s a far-better experience overall, with an MTL tank that delivers a lot more punch and flavor, to boot.