OBS Bat 218W Mod and DAMO Tank Kit Review

It seems like a lot of tank manufacturers are dipping their toes in the high-performance vape mod waters. And some – like Sense – have achieved a moderate level of success. But OBS – makers of some of the finest tanks and rebuildables on the market – surprised me with their release of the OBS BAT 218W and DAMO Sub-Ohm Tank Kit. Because, while it’s far from perfect, it makes a pretty solid first impression out of the gate.

If you have a deluge of dual-18650 box mods, the OBS BAT is far from a NECESSARY purchase. But if you’re just entering this level of devices, the BAT makes a strong case for your hard-earned money. Let’s dive in and see why.

At first glance, the BAT is pretty underwhelming, with a pretty standard matte, two-tone color scheme, a pedestrian monochrome display, and a subdued companion tank. With a similar basic look as Vaporesso’s Revenger or Switcher mods, as well as other tall, dual-battery devices, the BAT doesn’t have any specific standout feature. But if you like the jewel-esque, angular look, the BAT has you covered.

Hell, even the arrow-shaped LED light scheme – a tired “innovation” at this point in 2018 – is pretty plain in its implementation. They can be customized a little more than most, but is this really a selling point for advanced vapers? Maybe it’s me, but I’m not too excited by muted lightshows these days.

In turn, the display is perfectly adequate. But is that enough anymore? The bright OLED screen displays all pertinent information, with sharp fonts and good contrast, even in the outdoors. But after seeing the fantastic displays on recent mods, like the Sense V-Jet or the stunning Smoant Ranker and Cylon mods, it’s difficult to get too jazzed by this.

A screen means nothing if the rest of the device is built poorly, and thankfully OBS has answered the call. The OBS BAT is one of the sturdiest dual-18650 mods I’ve seen in a while, with strong aluminum or zinc alloy construction, and a real nice center-mounted 510 connection, with room for up to 32mm tanks without overhang.

Another nice feature is the quality of the fire key and operation buttons, which are wonderfully clicky and responsive. I have no doubt they’d survive a stiff drop without a whimper. The BAT never misfired once due to mushy response – something I wish I could say about other devices in my test queue.

Finally, I had a little trouble with the battery compartment. Though it never became problematic, several of my 18650 pairs fit a little snug inside the chambers, forcing me to shake the mod to release them. It might just be my cells but keep this in mind if your wraps run a little thick.

Unlike so many new devices that claim their circuitry is something proprietary, the OBS BAT comes with a rudimentary menu and operating system. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if this chipset was a direct offshoot of Vaporesso’s aging-but-venerable OMNI board, since it shares a number of the same qualities.

Thankfully, one of those qualities is performance, as the OBS BAT vapes pretty well. With a power limit of 218 watts, complete temperature control suite, protection features and preheat settings, the BAT is pretty full-featured. However, tinkerers should know that there is currently no TCR mode available on the device. As a firmware upgradeable mod, this might be coming down the line, but in its stock form, you’ll have to accept the available nickel, titanium and stainless-steel options.

The menu trees are equally straightforward, with familiar three-click controls to let you adjust at will. Newcomers may have to lean on the instruction manual but vape veterans will feel right at home with this antiquated, but proven setup.

Also, as my colleague pointed out in the preview, you can work around the three-click method by holding the fire key and “up” and the same time to enter the navigation. I’m not sure if I saved any time by doing this, but options are good, regardless of efficiency.

If you haven’t realized it by now, the OBS BAT is a very straightforward, no-nonsense vape mod. And it performs well, with no notable highs or lows. While this might be disappointing to an enthusiast looking to add to an extensive mod collection, it might also be reassuring to a newcomer looking for something simple and easy to use.

The nameless chipset achieves its 218 watts without many problems. I did notice some SLIGHT stuttering once I began chain vaping above 200 watts, likely the result of some pulsing. But overall, the BAT does what it says it will, without getting too warm, or throwing out unnecessary random error warnings.

Temperature control – a feature that may finally have peaked in terms of features and performance – works as intended on the BAT. The menu system makes it easy to adjust temps, wattages and resistances, and there were no hiccups once locking them in. I do think the lack of TCR is surprising at this point in vaping’s evolution. But then again, maybe OBS felt it was overkill.

As a longtime fan of OBS tanks and rebuildable atomizers, I was excited to try the new DAMO. But I was also a little surprised by how subdued the overall design is, especially when compared to its commanding OBS-V and Crius devices. It’s not small by any means; 25mm diameter and 5mL capacity is nothing to sneeze at. But compared to some of today’s cloud-chucking leaders, the DAMO seems a little lightweight.

But I’m happy to report the tank is a pretty solid performer. Combining a SMOK-like coil system with the company’s trademark sliding top-fill cap, the DAMO proved to offer a good amount of flavor, alongside respectable cloud production, especially with the airflow control wide open.

The included OBS M-series coils were solid performers, with varying longevity. The M2 single-coil was a decent option for low-to-mid-wattage vapers, and I enjoyed the rich taste I got from using it, even if the vapor was a little thin. As of this writing, it’s still working as well as the day I got it, with only a SLIGHT drop in vapor production.

The 0.2-ohm M6 triple coil is a different story entirely. Rated for up to 100 watts, I found it to be much more flavorful than its little brother. The thick vapor it produced was reminiscent of much more well-known coils, with flavor to match.

If only this performance lasted. Unlike the M2, the M6 gave me just three days of optimal flavor and vapor before it began to stutter. And by day four, my clouds were mostly limp and flavor-free. The coil wasn’t dead, but it didn’t have much of a pulse, either.

(And for those of you wondering, no, I wasn’t using a coil-killing e-liquid. Just a standard 70/30 blend without excess flavorings or sweeteners.)

In a nice touch, the DAMO is actually cross-compatible with all SMOK Baby coils, except for the direct-voltage series – which is a wonderful bonus trait. The Vaporesso NRG tank also has this ability and is a better atomizer for it.

I decided to test a quad SMOK Baby coil in the DAMO, and it fit like a glove, performing just as well here as it does in its own branded tank. I didn’t notice any improvements or advantages to using these coils in the OBS DAMO, but again, options are always welcome, and this is a good one.

The OBS BAT and DAMO tank are a really solid pairing, especially for newcomers who want to try high-performance vaping without needing a master’s degree in engineering or computer science. It offers a simple, straightforward, high-performing setup that will satisfy a wide range of users.

If you’re a collector, or seeking something truly new and unique, the OBS BAT kit might be a little TOO similar to mods you already own. That said, as a first entry into a crowded market, this kit makes a strong first impression – and I would bet my salary on OBS coming even stronger with its follow up device.

OBS BAT Mod Score: B+

OBS DAMO Tank Score: B-

Overall Kit Score: B