Sigelei Fuchai MT-V Mod Kit Review

Just the other day, I was talking with my editor about the lack of originality and innovation in recent vape mod kits. The Sigelei Fuchai MT-V kit is a shining example of why. (No, that’s not a ringing endorsement of this kit, in case you’re wondering.)

Sigelei, one of the biggest names of the vape device boom of the last few years, is affiliated with SnowWolf-branded mods. And they’re also affiliated with Fuchai-branded mods. And many of these products have seen some “cross-breeding” since the partnerships were made public.

Well, I’ve hit a breaking point with all this repurposing, because the Fuchai MT-V – while a functional vape mod – is an example of what happens when a creative team runs out of ideas and goes to the proverbial well too many times.

First, let’s look at an abbreviated “official” description of the kit, along with the raw data: The Sigelei Fuchai MT-V 220W Starter Kit combines a dual 18650 battery configuration, wattage output range of 10-220W, and is paired with the Sigelei Fuchai T3 Sub-Ohm Tank. Constructed of durable zinc-alloy, the MT-V Box mod can withstand moderate falls and drops. Within the chassis is a proprietary chipset that allows for output wattages of up to 220W and can be used with resistances as low as 0.05ohms. In addition, the Sigelei Fuchai MT-V Starter Kit uses coils from the Sigelei SM Coil Family with the included Sigelei Fuchai T3 Sub-Ohm Tank, which features a dual slotted bottom airflow ring, 2.8mL juice capacity, refillable via threaded top fill system.

Initial Impressions and Aesthetics

Remember the SnowWolf V-Feng and V-Feng S mods? Then you have a DAMN good idea of what Sigelei is offering with the Fuchai MT-V. And much like the actual MTV, the concept is long dead, and lacking relevance in a world that has seen many better mods come through, at much lower price points.

Visually, save for a handful of design nuances, the Fuchai MT-V is a veritable clone of the V-Feng series mods. There are some nips and tucks here and there – the side panels are slightly taller, and the front-positioned display is slightly narrower – but make no mistake, this was carved from the same mold as the SnowWolf mods… which were made a long while back.

Putting that aside (if I even can) the Fuchai MT-V is a brash, aggressive-looking device that doesn’t aim for subtlety anywhere in its design. The jarring two-tone color scheme, odd tribal design carvings, LED light show, and translucent front panel all scream “look at me!” even if the user doesn’t want that to happen. Thankfully, the LED lights can be turned off, which I did about 18 seconds after powering up the mod.

The display itself is pretty pedestrian and seems like a direct descendant of the Fuchai GLO and related mods. It’s hardly ugly, but there’s nothing too special about the low-res color TFT screen, either. The information is there, the menus are navigable, and the resistance readings seem accurate and stable. It’s fine, but it’s definitely nothing “proprietary” like the description above claims.

I have to say, the build quality on the Fuchai MT-V is pretty solid – this thing is framed like a tank, anyway. But that doesn’t extend to the hinged bottom battery door, which popped open several times, just from placing it on a hard level surface (and once in my pocket). Changing batteries did nothing to change the result, forcing me to closely monitor the device whenever setting it down – something I really don’t want to have to do every time I use it.

Long story short? If you like the looks and the garishness, you’ll probably like this mod. If you already have a SnowWolf V-Feng mod and don’t need another just like it, you can probably stop here.

Standout Features

I’d love to just write “The less we say about the included Fuchai T3 tank, the better.” But my editor pays me to be more descriptive than that. So I’ll say this – there is absolutely no reason to choose the T3 over any other garden-variety sub-ohm tank on the market.

That’s not to say the T3 is BAD. It’s just average, like so much like sub-ohm tanks we’ve already seen. The 2.8mL capacity is hardly enough to handle heavy-wattage vaping, the SM2 single-coil heads have moderate flavor and vapor production, and the overall experience is pretty flat by modern standards. If you get the Fuchai MT-V as a kit, use the tank, have your fun with it, then put it on the shelf once you realize there are countless other atomizers you could be putting to better use.

Plus, to be honest, the longevity of the SM2 coils is pretty questionable. Two of the same heads come in the kit, so I expected comparable performance. Instead, one lasted me three days, the other five. Both started losing flavor nuances after just a day of moderate use. Neither made any impression on me whatsoever.

Impressions While Vaping the Fuchai MT-V

I’ll say this – the Fuchai series has always been powerful (well, maybe not the iffy old-school 213 that everyone owned regardless). And this is no exception. Rated for up to 220 watts, the MT-V is certainly powerful and accurate on the way up the scale. Hell, even the temp control is pretty spot-on for a device that’s clearly more designed for brute force than delicate precision. In that sense, the Fuchai MT-V is solid.

So, what’s the problem? It’s often too powerful for its own good. Take for example, what happened to me this very morning, on the last day of testing. Already underwhelmed by the Fuchai’s overall package, I had the device set to a conservative 62 watts using the companion tank. Out of nowhere, my draw heated to unbearable levels in just milliseconds, rendering the puff completely burnt and stale. I tasted fire and cotton. It was a power spike unlike anything I’ve seen in years – yes, years.

And it happened three more times since then. Nothing caused it, it had never been dropped, and I never tinkered with too many settings. The device just spikes at random, which not only killed one of the coils, but also what remained of my enjoyment with the Fuchai MT-V.

Spinfuel VAPE Recommendation and Score

If you’ve read to this point, you know there’s not going to be an “A” anywhere near this review. But I’ll be as fair as possible for anyone unaware of V-Fengs, Fuchai GLOs or other similar mods. If you like a lot of power, don’t mind some power spikes and love this look, go TRY the Fuchai MT-V before buying.

If you’ve seen Sigelei/SnowWolf/Fuchai’s previous attempts with this format, there’s very little to see here, and less to recommend. The Fuchai MT-V is a functional mod, paired with a less-functional tank… and that’s just not enough to get me excited when so many quality devices are next to it on shelves.