Is the Vaptio IronClad Frogman C Kit a Move Forward?

Intro and Specs for the Vaptio IronClad Frogman C Kit

Well, no one can accuse Vaptio of not keeping things interesting. After a recent slew of products that skirted copyright law, they decide to unleash a small, 50-watt max direct voltage mod kit… with a tank we’ve seen and tried with NON-direct output mods. Yeah, we’re a little confused – not only by the specs, but also by the performance of the combination, which was erratic throughout.

Hold on, this is one of those reviews that might take some handholding before we get to our recommendation.

But first, let’s give Vaptio their says….

IronClad, a compact and trendy shaped kit from Vaptio, has an all-in-one button for easy switch on/off and vaping. Combining a built-in 2600mAh built-in battery and a huge 6mL capacity tank, it offers longer vaping enjoyment and massive clouds. Mesh/Strip Coils are available for various tastes. Creative LED RBG lights clearly show the battery’s state of charge. Its leak-proof electrode frees you from risks of short-circuit and liquid leak.

Initial Impressions and Aesthetics

With a name like “IronClad” I was expecting something extraordinarily rugged and durable. And I was wrong – the mod itself feels similar to a die cast toy car, which is to say weighty but somewhat hollow. While I didn’t necessarily feel like the IronClad was going to fall apart after a drop or two, I fully expect the kit to start showing dents and paint chips within minutes of the first mishap.

As a fixed output device, the two-tone color scheme gets most of the attention, since there’s only one button and no display. Overall, the finish IS attractive, right down the LED light indicator that lets you know when the mod is firing as well as battery life. But it’s also a pretty pedestrian look and feel, which is surprising considering the IronClad is the latest superhero-inspired kit in Vaptio’s line. (I’m assuming the target was Iron Man, but the orange and black exterior of my test kit reminded me more of a certain women’s prison show than the savior of the Marvel Universe.)

Despite the hollow feel, there’s a somewhat decent 2,600mAh battery integrated into the chipset. During testing, the battery was solid, if unspectacular, giving us 3-4 solid hours of vaping before the internal cell started to produce weaker draws. I kinda hoped that Vaptio would have implemented a regulation on the chipset that ensured consistent draws from top to bottom, but overall, I was satisfied with the battery performance.

The wraparound fire key (well, ONLY key) feels like a highlight at first, thanks to a solid, clicky feel and quick response. But as the button breaks in, a tinny, metallic ringing starts to get louder with each fire. It’s not a deal-breaker, but again, this device should feel solid, and yet it rings hollower the more you use it. Not exactly “iron clad,” now is it?

But I do have to throw a big thanks to Vaptio for one thing – the outstanding bottom venting ports on the angled portion of the footprint. Batteries in compact devices can get hot quickly, so ample venting is absolutely mandatory. And I’m happy to report the IronClad never gets uncomfortable when firing, even when it seems to be pushing its 50-watt maximum.

Standout Features

Though it’s not going to win any year-end awards (at least around these offices) the 6mL Frogman C is a solid sub-ohm atomizer, with updated mesh coils that definitely improve on previous Frogman tanks. Even with the bright orange finish, the Frogman C resembles a lot of recent sub-ohm offerings, most notably the Innokin Plex series. But it’s well machined and works well.

The two included coils – the standard mesh M1 and the mesh-strip T1 – offer similar levels of flavor and vapor production. I had hoped the T1 would represent a significant step forward in both categories, but all the same, both heads were flavorful and long-lasting, giving me nearly a week of rock-solid performance before flavor started waning.

I should note that while the tank was well-machined, the IronClad’s 510 connection has a rough, gritty feel on the threading. It took a few days before the tank and device fit seamlessly together, even though other tanks and RDAs fit just fine. I didn’t vape these tanks much, but the threading of the matched components just didn’t seem to jibe as well as it probably should.

Vaping the Vaptio IronClad Kit

Like we mentioned at the outset of this review, the IronClad is a frustrating little device. While the fire button is responsive when firing, it doesn’t always want to turn on right away, forcing me to “rapid-fire” click until the LED indicator activated. Once on, the mod worked well enough, but to have something as simple as an “on/off” setting be affected by weird performance? Yeah, it was a little disheartening.

Another strange detail is how underpowered the IronClad feels, even with a speedy, snappy fire response. Though it hits hard out of the gate when firing, there’s an unmistakable sensation of the device immediately lowering its output, regardless of the coil resistance. The result? Quick bursts of warm vapor, followed by a sense that the IronClad is struggling to keep up.

Which is a shame, because the included coils DO have the ability to deliver some solid flavor. Even if the vapor wasn’t as potent and warm as I may have wanted, it’s clear Vaptio made good use of mesh coil technology. Perhaps a better mod would deliver more accurate results, but even with the uniform look and feel, there’s a nagging sense that this isn’t a well-matched kit, and that haunts the overall experience.

Other tanks offered a mixed experience. Some tanks, like some of SMOK’s recent output, gave stronger hits overall. Other popular tanks barely registered. It was a very hit or miss experience overall, and one can’t help but wonder if Vaptio might have rushed this one to market before it was ready. If the IronClad was a more-versatile, multi-purposed vape mod, this mismatched pairing might be more acceptable. But as a limited, direct-output mod there isn’t much purpose for this setup, especially with so many other solid devices available.

Pros:

– Great venting

– Decent battery life

– Good coils

Cons:

– Horrible threading

– Weak power output

– Limited versatility

Spinfuel VAPE Recommendation and Score

What can we say. They can’t all be winners, and not every review is going to blow our minds. While I think there might be a market for a pocket-friendly, beginner mod like this, the truth is the IronClad kit doesn’t really cater to any one type of vaper. It’s too weak for true sub-ohm vaping, too flimsy for rugged use, and too erratic for newcomers to feel comfortable using.

We don’t hand out too many definitive decisions on these pages, but unless the specs and feel of the IronClad kit match your desires to a tee, we’re going to have to pass on this one.