HCigar VT250 DNA 250 Box Mod Review

Now tell me, honestly, look at the photo to the left, is this the sexist piece of vape gear you’ve ever seen? Have you seen one in person? Have you held one yet? Have you used one? Oh, man, you are in for one incredible vape experience when you do decide to plunk down the $139.95 (Element Vape) for this sexy beast from HCigar. Best of all, this sensual box mod, the HCigar VTi 250 DNA 250 TC Box Mod has the heart of the Evolv DNA 250 chipset.

The HCigar VT250 is far from my first DNA 250 box mod, but it sure is the most striking box mod I’ve owned. The Triple 18650 Battery box mod accommodates up to a 30mm in diameter atomizer, making it the perfect companion for the recently reviewed SMOK TFV12 Cloud Beast King. Together, the vape experience blows away anything I could have imagined.

There is some truly remarkable vape gear on the market today, and much of is aesthetically wonderful. The Lost Vape Triade and Therion are two examples, but there are others. But, the HCigar VT250 is the first work of art I’ve seen in the vape industry that not only delivers a beautiful looking machine, but one who’s heart beats with the power of the DNA 250.

The HCigar VT250 DNA250 TC Box Mod is the flagship of HCigar, with good reason. Integrating the powerful and feature-rich DNA 250 within a exceedingly ergonomic and visually striking body powered by 3x high amperage 18650 batteries, the VT250 truly puts HCigar in the spotlight.

The Evolv DNA 250 Board

Evolv’s most powerful DNA chipset features an remarkable output range up to 250W with an extraordinary 97% output efficiency rating. When used with the companion EScribe software (for Windows PC, no Mac Version), the DNA250 sets the standard for temperature controlled output. With its highly intuitive interface, users can fine-tune the configurations they want with and customization options for even the most advanced users.

The striking visual aesthetic of the HCigar VT250 is at once a futuristic concept, yet with its sloping curves and two-tone finish, its intention is to create a modern ergonomic marvel. Though its optimized for triple 18650 batteries, the actual footprint feels smaller, easier to grasp than other triple 18650 box mods like the WISMEC Reuleaux RX200 or RX300 (4x 18650 with the RX300).

Basic Operations of the Evolv DNA 250

Unlike the Evolv DNA 200, which was optimized for LiPo battery packs, the DNA 250 was optimized for LiPo and individual 18650 high amp batteries.

Temperature Protection

The DNA 250 directly measures and limits the temperature of the heating coil during operation. By preventing the coil from becoming too hot regardless of fluid, wicking or airflow, a variety of undesirable situations can be prevented. For example, appropriate temperature settings will prevent the wicking material from charring, which compromises taste and introduces unintended chemicals into the vapor.

Appropriate temperature settings will also reduce the breakdown of flavoring and base liquid components, which could impact taste or safety. Evolv’s Temperature Protection Technology requires a heating coil made from Nickel 200 alloy or other materials with a well-defined temperature coefficient of resistance, rather than Nickel Chromium or Kanthal alloys. If the temperature reaches the maximum value, the wattage applied to the atomizer coil is reduced to prevent overheating.

Please note that the temperature reading is the average temperature of the atomizer coil, and care should be taken to construct the heating coil so that the temperature is uniform, without hot or cold spots. Because wattage, not temperature controls vapor volume, large vapor volumes can be produced without unnecessarily high temperatures. Temperature Protection is most helpful if the atomizer begins to dry out, the user pauses during a puff, the beginning or end of the puff, or if the wattage setting is inappropriate for the attached atomizer.

In normal operation, when the device is not firing the maximum temperature setting is displayed on the screen. When the device is firing, the actual average temperature of the coil is displayed on the screen. By default, the Temperature Protection setting is 450° Fahrenheit.

To change the limit

1) Lock the device by pressing the Fire button five times.

2) Hold down the UP and DOWN adjust buttons for two seconds.

3) After two seconds, the maximum temperature will be displayed, and the UP and DOWN buttons should be released.

4) Use the UP and DOWN buttons to adjust the maximum temperature

5) When the display shows the desired maximum temperature, press the Fire button to exit temperature adjust mode. The maximum temperature is adjustable between 200° Fahrenheit and 600° Fahrenheit. CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

To disable the temperature protection entirely, adjust the limit up to 600 degrees, then press the UP button one additional time. The temperature limit will read OFF.

To switch to Celsius temperature, adjust temperature down to 200° Fahrenheit, then press the DOWN one button one additional time. The temperature will switch to reading and adjusting in Celsius.

Preheat Function

When the DNA 250 is used with a temperature sensing atomizer, an additional feature called Preheat is activated. No vapor is produced when the temperature is below the boiling point of the liquid. Preheat applies extra power until the heating coil is up to operating temperature to shorten the delay between pressing the fire button and generating vapor. Because preheat is temperature based, it will not overheat or burn the vapor.

 Attaching a New Atomizer

The DNA 250 uses the resistance of the atomizer to calculate the temperature of the heating coil. It continually looks to see whether a new or changed atomizer has been connected. If you are using temperature protection, be careful to only attach new atomizers that have cooled to room temperature. CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE

If a new atomizer is attached to the DNA 250 before it has cooled down, the temperature may read and protect incorrectly until the new atomizer cools. When you connect a new atomizer or disconnect and reconnect your existing atomizer, the DNA 250 will prompt you to confirm this change. When you fire the first time, before activating the DNA 250 will prompt “New Coil? UP YES/DOWN NO”.

When you see this prompt, if you have attached a new atomizer, press the UP button. If you have disconnected and reconnected the same atomizer, press the DOWN button.

Feature Highlights of the HCigar VT250

The placement of the brilliant and sharp 0.91 Inch OLED screen provides essential information in an organized display. The one exception to the Evolv’s OLED display is the single icon for dual, triple, and even quadruple 18650 setups. While most RX-equipped boards display individual battery indicators, the superiority of the DNA 250 falls a little short in this one area. Hopefully this will change with the DNA 300.

The three-button controls and oversized firing button appear above and below the OLED display and have attractive steel finishes. Each button is expertly placed and offer a firm tactile feedback when pressing.

A 510 connector and base provides atomizers with up to 30mm of space, offering a flush mounting for  any atomizer, as well as being perfect for larger tanks like the SMOK TFV12 Cloud Beast King and the iJoy MAXO V12 tank, plus the largest and widest rebuildable atomizers.

The Evolv DNA250′s efficient cell-by-cell trickle charge technology allows users to directly charge loaded batteries with accurate, safe, and maximum rate of 1A. The HCigar VT250 DNA 250 Box Mod is the best utilization yet of the Evolv DNA 250 board.

Real World Usage Report

I began using the HCigar VT250 the very day it arrived. The black and silver two-tone finish and the rich, beautiful curves drew me to the box mod like nothing before. After placing 3x 18650 high-amp (Sony VTC6) in the device I gripped it in my hand and felt the curvature of the mod blend into my palm as if it would custom made for my hand alone. Tom, Julia, and John thought the very same thing, showing that this incredible design was no fluke.

I vaped half a dozen sub-ohm tanks with this box mod and each one fit beautifully, and performed extremely well. We just received the SMOK TFV12 Cloud Beast King a couple of days ago and I’ve been using it on the HCigar VT250 ever since. Although I’m waiting for the other colors of the TFV12’s, the stainless steel (silver) matched my HCigar VT250 beautifully.

In addition to all the fine features of the Evolv DNA 250 the HCigar VT250 features plenty of venting for the batteries, keeping the internal temperature cool, while the deluxe finish keeps the outside of the box mod cool as a cucumber, no matter how high I pushed the wattage.

When you compare the selling price of numerous DNA 250 equipped box mods, the price of the HCigar VT250 is very competitive. The very high quality materials, the workmanship, and the performance of this mod makes it a hard to resist device.

Because HCigar built this beautiful body around the amazing Evolv DNA 250 board, I am left with no other grade than a perfect A+.

Grade: A+

“If you look at the photos that accompany this review, and if you’re a fan of the Evolv DNA 250, you will absolutely love the HCigar VT250. I’ve had my favorite mods before, but nothing can compare to the workmanship and stunning visuals that is the this box mod. HCigar outdid themselves with this marvelous box mod. Highly recommended!”

HCigar VT250 DNA 250 250W TC Box Mod Features:

• Triple 18650 Battery Platform – Batteries Not Included
• Wattage Output Range: 1-250 Watts
• Voltage Output Range: 0.5-9.3 Volts
• Temperature Range: 200-600F
• Min Kanthal Resistance: 0.2ohm
• Min Temperature Resistance: 0.1ohm
• Patented Evolv DNA250 Chip
• Intuitive 0.91 Inch OLED Display
• Sleek Soft Contour Frame
• Futuristic and Modern Chasis
• Multiple Ventilation Stripes
• Revolutionary Triple 18650 Platform
• Reverse Protection System
• Upgradeable Escribe Software
• 97% Output Efficiency
• Cell-by-Cell Monitoring
• Cell Balancer
• Atomizer Protection
• Low Resistance Protection
• Short Circuit Protection
• Overheat Protection
• Low Voltage Step Down Protection
• 510 Connection

Included in the HCigar VT250 Box:

• 1 HCigar VT250 Box Mod
• 1 MicroUSB Cable
• Instructional Manual