asMODus Pumper-18 BF Squonk Box Mod Preview

Given the recent resurgence in the Squonk Mod marketplace, it was only a matter of time until a company tried to improve on the basic mechanics. And that’s exactly what’s happening with the all-new asMODus Pumper-18 Squonk Box Mod, available right now at Element Vape.

I won’t lie – the idea of a more-advanced squonk mechanic seems pretty awesome. Because there’s no way using our ring fingers to squeeze a rubber bottle is the optimal way to get this done. But has asMODus hit the mark with its unique pump design? Well, we’ll have to test it more to find out, but so far, it seems like the Pumper-18 is more than just a bigger mousetrap.

Let’s take a quick peek at the Pumper-18 Squonk Box Mod to see what’s up, and ready ourselves for the upcoming review by Spinfuel VAPE

Despite asMODus redefining the way we use our bottom-feeding vape atomizers, the Pumper-18 is an unregulated, mechanical Squonk Mod. But it’s a damn nice one. Built from some nicely polished stabilized wood, the simple, no-nonsense format almost has a steampunk aesthetic, where machinery rules all.

I particularly like this stabwood design, because it’s derived from actual maple wood, meaning knots and imperfections abound. While my test model wasn’t loaded with them, these nuances help further the “one of a kind” feel these luxury vape devices go for.

The rest of the Pumper-18 is bound by well-machined aluminum alloy, which nicely contrasts with the rich, deep colors of the stabwood. Other than that, the presentation is standard for a mechanical Mod – that is, to say, simple, understated, and high-end.

In fact, the only “standout” feature is the narrow cutout along the side of the Pumper-18, which gives users access to the stiff pump handle. In my limited time with the Mod, I was a LITTLE concerned with the tactile feel of the pump handle, as it was a little too rigid, and often felt like it was about to snap if I pumped too hard, or too many times in a row.

Over time, the handle seemed to loosen a bit, so we’ll keep an eye on this as our testing ensues.

The other physical concern we had was the odd placement of the fire button on the side of the mod, rather than in a traditional trigger location. While the mechanical, direct voltage nature of the setup likely plays a role in determining where the fire button might go, the Pumper-18 wasn’t a natural-feeling Mod in my hands, and I often felt like one-handed operation would be difficult.

I should mention that the asMODus Pumper is available in both an “18” and “21” format – which stands for “single 18650 battery” and “single 21700” battery, respectively. I am testing the Pumper-18, and so far, battery life is on par with other mechanicals in this category. In other words, it’s not that good.

I will be curious to see if the 21700 version offers notable boosts in battery performance. So far, our experiences with 21700 cells haven’t been too impressive. But a direct voltage comparison might give us the best idea about whether or not these cells are worth investing in over the next year.

I also wonder if there’s a significant size difference between the models. The Pumper-18 is quite palm-friendly, but difficult to operate with one hand. I can only imagine a larger Mod will make things even more difficult.

Another mild concern was the squonk bottle itself. In our short time with the asMODus Pumper-18, the bottle itself seemed pliable, but durable. However, the innovative pump mechanic also means a proprietary Squonk Mod bottle is in place, limiting the choices for replacement, if and when something needs to be replaced.

This wouldn’t seem like such a concern, if not for the fact that the Pumper-18 currently only comes with one bottle in the box. Considering this is an all-new design, I’m a little surprised asMODus is leaving things to chance like this.

Finally, I’m going to need to test the squonk performance a little more closely. Because the handle was so rigid and difficult to use right from the outset, I found myself over-squonking more than once. In time, I have no doubt I’ll get it down, but for beginners, I anticipate a lot of flooded decks at the outset.

Despite these concerns, I have some pretty high hopes for the asMODus Pumper-18 Squonk Box Mod. Not only is it the first real design innovation we’ve seen for a squonker in some time, but it also presents an intriguing balance of new and old-school mechanics, presented in a pretty damn attractive package.

We’ll be spending a lot of time with the Pumper-18 over the next few weeks – stay tuned for a detailed review soon!