Lost Vape Orion Quest Pod Mod Kit Review

Last year, Lost Vape released the original Orion pod mod, which impressed a lot of people with its hybrid-like, DNA-powered performance. But a lot of people – myself included – thought the DNA chipset was unnecessary and excessive, considering it was a low-powered pod device. That’s why we’re excited by the less-involved, and still damn impressive Lost Vape Orion Quest.

First, let’s cover the basics. The Lost Vape Orion Quest 17W AIO Starter Kit features a proprietary chipset with a 950mAh internal battery, and updated pod cartridges. It also keeps the original’s high-end design and top-flight construction. The Lost Vape Orion Quest is built from a hefty alloy, with carbon fiber or resin designs on the side, and a simple “plug and play” format that will appeal to newcomers and experienced vapers alike.

Now, for the tale of the tape…

Right off the bat, I was pleasantly surprised by how solid and well-made the Orion Quest is. Just like its big brother, the Quest is extremely durable and compact, fitting discreetly in the palm of the hand while still offering substantial heft for a device of this size.

The color options are limited, but good. Considering this is aimed at vapers seeking a more mature, less flashy vape device, it should come as no surprise that the color palettes are fairly limited, with the carbon side panels serving as the primary design focus. Still, most users will find one they like.

The build quality is equally impressive. Though I’ve read accounts of loose pod connections and button rattle, my two test models demonstrated none of those things, and performed as advertised. The same goes for the pod build quality, which snaps onto the device with a satisfying click, and is about as easy to fill as any pod on the market. No, you won’t be getting large droppers in the grommet slot, but it’s more accepting than most.

The only thing I noticed that might be an annoyance is that the pod’s adjustable airflow is awfully difficult to move out of the box. Over time, it began to loosen, but overall, I think this was the only manufacturing flaw I could notice on the Quest.

Because it’s a 17-watt device (as compared to the original’s 40) the Quest benefits from the integrated 950mAh battery. I managed a day and a half of casual MTL vaping on one charge, and the only depreciation in vape quality came at the very end of the battery’s charge, when we were perilously close to the end, anyway.

Charging the Quest was a quick affair, even with the large cell capacity. I managed to go from near-empty to fully charged in a matter of an hour (maybe a few minutes on top of that). A small price to pay for an easy full day’s worth of quality vaping.

The pods are another highlight – once you break them in properly, that is. Lost Vape filled the Quest pods with a massive amount of cotton (and warned us of this in the documentation, to boot!) so users will have to let them soak for a good LONG while when first filling. I tried after 10 minutes, and quickly realized I needed 10 (or even 20) more before things could get rolling.

Once the coil is saturated, the flavor hits nicely, and gets much better after an hour of steady vaping. The same goes for the vapor, which starts out a little limp and wispy, but soon becomes much thicker and more satisfying, even competing with some larger entry-level vape devices.

Perhaps most impressive is how durable these pods are. Unlike 99% of the competition, the Orion Quest pod cartridges are good for a large number of refills before disposal. I took one using nic salt liquids for nearly two straight weeks before the coil gave up the ghost. My second (which used more traditional e-liquids) lasted a touch longer, but the throat hit wasn’t as potent as time wore on. All in all, very impressive.

Because most of my vaping is done in the “direct lung” style, it was difficult to adjust to a more-restrictive experience like the Orion Quest. But once I locked into a pattern, I was satisfied. Both MTL and restricted lung vapers will find something to like here, depending on the airflow control setting. Personally? I found it worked “just right” right out of the box, with no adjustments needed to make this an impressive vape.

The one-button control makes things easy for newcomers, but experienced vapers used to more control will also find the Orion Quest hitting the right notes. I’ve heard rumors of this chipset even being compatible/readable by the DNA Escribe software, but I wasn’t able to confirm. Honestly, it’s a 17-watt pod mod device – even if it’s true, let’s not overthink this, people. Charge it, juice it, vape it. Repeat.

This was one test I didn’t want to do alone, so I reached out for some backup opinions. Both myself and my friend, Craig (of the mighty Needless to Say podcast) who is another direct lung vaper, couldn’t get over just how impressive the flavor and vapor production was from a device that could sit comfortably in a front pocket.

Craig was also really impressed by the Quest’s durability, since his has survived countless drops from varying heights throughout his workplace. And the pods are really locked in when attached properly, staying connected during these mishaps, without any cracking or residual leaking.

The only annoyances and improvements we could see was how the device is a little top-heavy when standing on a flat surface, often tipping without anything causing it to move. And the pods were shaded a little too dark for our liking, making refills more of a chore than they really should have been.

Spinfuel VAPE Recommendation and Score

If you were intrigued by Lost Vape’s initial pod mod effort, but balked at the price tag, we strongly recommend checking out the Orion Quest. Not only is the price much more in line with the competition, but the performance far outclasses them.

The few “complaints” we had were really personal preferences, and didn’t affect performance or enjoyment. And we doubt you’ll even notice these things when enjoying a powerful, potent vape in a device smaller than a credit card.