Can we be real for a second? Mechanical Mods can be intimidating. Sure, you want to achieve those massive clouds, but at what risk? That’s why a device like the CoilART DPRO 133W Box Mod Kit, (available now at Element Vape) is so welcome, as it helps to bridge the gap between overly complicated ‘regulated’ Mods, and the simple operation of a mechanical device.

With 133 watts of potential power, a handful of important protections, and a slim, appealing form factor, the DPRO has a lot of things going for it. But is this homogenized setup good enough to stand on its own as a vape mod? Or will vapers be better served with a more sophisticated device? Let’s dive in and see what CoilART is offering with the DPRO.

If the Oxford Dictionary ever decides to include vaping vocabulary, the terms “streamlined vaping” and “bare-bones box mod” should be accompanied by a photo of the CoilART DPRO mod. Like a throwback to the early days of Box-shaped vapes, this simple, (mostly) unadorned device has a basic shape, uncomplicated 510 connection, stainless steel accents, and just a few LED lights to keep track of battery life in 25% chunks.

That’s it – no displays, no adjustments, no USB upgrades. Just a simple dual-18650 Box Mod, a simpler 24mm RDA, and a vape kit free of superfluous gimmicks.

But there is beauty to be had in simplicity, and the DPRO is shining evidence of this fact. My black and silver test model was covered in that grippy, smooth, velvety rubber coating, which not only feels good in the hands, but also helps to keep excessive heat at bay when firing.

In fact, the only real adornments on the DPRO come from the company logo on the fire key. But this is probably the part of the DPRO that needs the least attention, since the large, aluminum button is extremely clicky … and extremely loud when doing so. While the firm throw is reassuring and confident, it also has a slight metallic “ping” whenever pressed, which got annoying over the course of a week.

The bottom battery door is unspectacular, but solid, holding either one or two 18650s in parallel, depending on user preference. But I did appreciate how snugly the batteries stayed in place without ever getting stuck.

Finally, I should mention how light the aluminum DPRO really is. Even with a pair of batteries installed, the well-machined but noticeably thin metal frame is feather-light, yet durable. It might not survive a car rolling over it in your driveway, the DPRO is more than capable of handling a few (hundred) drops from a decent height.

As an unregulated (though protected) Box Mod, the DPRO gets all of its power directly from the batteries. So, there’s no power adjustments to be had, the entire determination of wattage output comes from the resistance of your coils, and what the DPRO needs to do to power them.

Because of this, your coil building (or selection, for those who buy pre-made coils) is paramount. If your coils have too high of a resistance, the Mod might not give off enough power for a satisfying vape. So, mouth-to-lung enthusiasts might want to think hard before buying a direct voltage device like the DPRO.

In turn, the DPRO is capable of working with a variety of atomizers, but it’s probably best for users to stick with RDAs and well-chosen coils, since you’ll ultimately have better control over the experience. While prebuilt direct voltage coils (like SMOK’s M-series Beast options) will allow you to use some tanks, I followed CoilART’s lead and used the included DPRO RDA for testing.

Other than this, the DPRO is a simplified “build and fire” experience. While there are protection measures in place – most notably short-circuit and reverse polarity – the DPRO still requires users to practice pinpoint battery safety, as well as a good understanding of coil resistance and ohm’s law, to help stave off any unwanted results.

We were excited by the included CoilART DPRO post-less RDA, and after a week or so, remain fairly satisfied with its performance. That is, once we figured out the best way to build and wick it.

This seemingly simple RDA first comes across as a builder’s paradise, with a roomy 24mm deck, angled airflow, and gold-plating as far as the eye can see. However, the post-less format requires users to pre-snip their leads, which cost me more than a few inches of lost coils. This isn’t the first post-less deck to operate this way. But it is the first one I’ve seen in a year – and I wasn’t thrilled to see it return.

Also strange is the shallow 3mm deep juice well, and the narrow wick slots. It’s far too easy to flood the deck and “cut off” your juice flow, thanks to wicks that are even a hair too thick. This, alongside the angled airflow ports, leads to some frequent flooding, even for master coil artists. I’m used to getting a good 6-8 drops on a typical RDA build, but the DPRO only allowed for half this amount before pooling up around the deck.

Also annoying is the far-too-loose top cap, which is near impossible to keep in place without adding extra O-rings. It’s also shallow, which makes for some tremendous flavor opportunities, but also a lot of spitback if you’re not careful.

Though there are a handful of other devices I could have tried with the CoilART DPRO, I feel like the company intended for users to keep the kit together. With that in mind, I can safely say the DPRO hits like a freight train with the right builds in place.

I started with the included pair of fused Clapton’s, which read approximately 0.2 ohms on my meter. Keeping the wicking in mind, I used a fairly complex 70/30 blend and was pleasantly surprised at how well the DPRO ramped to an appropriate wattage. Within the first 2-3 draws, the Mod had found its sweet spot, and was delivering a fair amount of power to those coils.

As discussed, the DPRO RDA kept up with its companion mod, offering up rich, deep flavor to go along with the thick clouds of vapor. While this wasn’t quite on par with some clouds from the bigger regulated devices in my collection, I enjoyed the simplicity of this setup, and the way the pairing matched up.

I decided to test the DPRO Mod a little further and attached a simple 0.15-ohm Kanthal build, just to see if the Mod would spit out a little more power. Amazingly, it did just that – a mere .06 ohms triggered the device to fire harder, and before I knew it, the room was filled with fog (and the DPRO RDA was dry after three hits).

Throughout the testing, I was surprised to see how stutter-free the performance was, even though the DPRO was entirely dependent on battery power. In turn, I was happy to see how “accurate” the four-light battery gauge was, always giving me enough headway to swap cells when needed.

Speaking of which, the DPRO’s battery life during testing wasn’t great – just a few hours on a pair of fully charged cells. That said, the first hour was absolutely dynamite, with strong, smooth, stutter-free draws throughout.

Let me address the most obvious question coming from a newcomer to mechanical vaping: Is the DPRO safe? Yes. Is any powered device dangerous in irresponsible hands? Also yes. If you’re planning on slapping just any pair of batteries in here to make clouds, please move on to another Mod– the DPRO isn’t for you.

But for experienced vapers looking for a new type of device, or newcomers willing to take the time to learn the science behind the clouds, the DPRO is an appropriate next step. The protections are in place to keep smart vapers safe, while still providing the unadulterated enjoyment from a straightforward vape setup. The DPRO might not be the most advanced thing out there. But it shows you don’t need too many bells and whistles to do this “vaping thing” right.

DPRO Mod score: B+

DPRO RDA score: C+

Overall kit score: B