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SMOANT Ladon Starter Kit – It seems like the standard, high-wattage box mod kit is becoming a forgotten beast amid the flood of new pod devices. So, Smoant might be forgiven for releasing a vape mod rig like the Smoant Ladon 225W kit that would have been innovative in 2016… just not today. But, when you strip away the familiarity you’re left with a kit that simply works. And maybe that’s exactly what this category needs.
Let’s see what’s up, starting with the specs.
Discover the Smoant LADON 225W Starter Kit, featuring a dual 18650 battery layout, extensive temperature control suite, and is paired with the Smoant LADON Sub-Ohm Tank for exquisite cloud production. Constructed from durable zinc-alloy, the LADON houses a pair of intelligent chipsets, calling on the ANT and Buckboost Chipsets to manage battery life and achieve a wattage range of 1-225W. Equipped with a comprehensive temperature control suite, the LADON can utilize wires of nickel, titanium, and stainless steel to achieve the perfect hit for advanced users.
In addition, the Smoant LADON Kit utilizes a pair of high amp 18650 batteries to deliver plenty of power to the threaded 510 connection above. Paired with the Smoant LADON Sub-Ohm Tank, the LADON Starter Kit can utilize a specialized RBA coil, allowing for usage with traditional crafted coils or mesh sheet coils to provide an option for those that like to build and use prebuilt replacement coils, granting a high degree of freedom.
Smoant LADON 225W Box Mod Features:
- ANT & Buckboost Chipset
- Dimensions – 91.5mm by 46.9mm by
- Dual High Amp 18650 Batteries – Not Included
- Wattage Output Range: 1-225W
- Voltage Output Range: 6.0-8.4V
- Temperature Range: 100°-300°C / 200°-600°F
- VW Mode
- TC Mode
- TCR Mode
- Nickel, Titanium, and Stainless Steel Wire Compatibility
- Zinc-Alloy Chassis Construction
- Intuitive Firing Button
- Two Adjustment Buttons
- OLED Display Screen
- Overcurrent Protection
- Over Heat Protection
- Battery Reversal Protection
- Over Time Protection
- Low Voltage Protection
- Threaded 510 Connection
- MicroUSB Type-C Port
- Available in Silver, Black, Rainbow, Red
Smoant LADON Sub-Ohm Tank Features:
- 28mm Diameter
- 0mL Bubble Glass Capacity
- 0mL Straight Glass Capacity
- Pyrex Glass Reinforcement
- Superior 304 Stainless Steel Construction
- Top Fill System
- Smoant LADON Coil Series
- 16ohm Mesh Coils – rated for 65-80W
- 15ohm Dual Mesh Coils – rated for 70-80W
- 2-in1 RBA Deck – Traditional or Mesh Coils
- Press Fit Coil Installation
- Dual Slotted Bottom Airflow Control Ring
- Threaded 510 Connection
- 810 Widebore Resin Drip Tip
- Available in Rainbow, Stainless Steel, Black
Includes:
- Ladon 225W Mod
- Ladon AIO Tank
- Replacement Glass
- 0.16ohm Mesh Coil
- 0.15ohm Dual Mesh Coil
- Spare Parts Pack
- Type C USB Cable
- Certificated Card
- Battery Warning Card
- Warranty Card
- User Manual
Aesthetics of the SMOAT Ladon
This tall, wide, but still palm-friendly mod has a pretty commanding presence. My silver, red and black test model has grey leather (or leather-like) material throughout the rear grip area – it’s not the softest leather I’ve seen, but the grip has nice texture, and there’s more than enough “give” to add some comfort.
One thing you’ll notice throughout the zinc alloy frame is the inclusion of tiny star screws. Now, I don’t know if these are responsible for durability, or just to give off the impression of strength, but they stand out, especially on a solid black device.
The Ladon’s 510 connection is a highlight and lowlight at once. While the entire top plate is near-bulletproof, the mod can only handle up to 26mm tanks and RDAs without overhang. Yeah, you can use bigger atomizers, but the overhang is glaring. The industry moved toward broader tank atomizers a while ago, making this design choice a little suspect.
Another drawback is the boring 0.96-inch OLED display, which looks like something iJOY tossed out in 2016. Don’t get us wrong — the Ladon is clearly going for an older-school, no-nonsense kind of approach, but Smoant gave us FANTASTIC 1.3-inch full-color displays years ago, making us wonder what the thinking was here.
But, let’s get back to highlights — like the fantastic fire and operation buttons, which perfectly balance firmness and throw, and allow users to fire easily, but also stay firm in pockets or purses. It just feels right, which is always a plus, no matter what year it is.
The Smoant LADON Sub-Ohm Tank
We won’t spend much time on the included Ladon tank because it’s a solid, if slightly unspectacular sub-ohm offering. By that, we mean the tank gives a good level of performance — which we’ve all come to expect these days. You’ll enjoy rich flavors and massive vapor production for most of the coils’ ~10 day lifespan, after which you’ll probably want to swap coils before things get a little dodgy.
BUT, Smoant gets points for one truly welcome, old-school throwback — the creation of an RBA deck! (Remember when all tanks had them?) This 2-in-1 RBA allows users to enjoy traditional wire or mesh sheet coil builds without having to buy disposable coil packs.
We wish we got this deck in the kit package, but regardless, this is a fantastic idea and one we plan to test once we get our hands on one.
Vaping the Smoant LADON Kit
Underneath all this responsive, leather-wrapped goodness is the ANT and Buckboost chipsets that performs as powerfully and smoothly as any mod in this category. This board’s claim to fame is battery efficiency, and rapid fire ramp-up – something we can confirm after using the Ladon for a short period of time.
But quick ramping aside the chipset also makes for an extremely intuitive interface – even with a two-button, up/down control scheme. A few simple clicks opens up the menu trees, which are clearly legible and easy to navigate on the display. There, you can quickly find and adjust any of the Ladon’s myriad modes and settings.
Do I wish the Ladon had an “action/enter” three-button control scheme? Absolutely. But given the limitations, the responsive buttons and clear display make the Ladon about as user-friendly as this format could be. Boring? Maybe. Usable? Absolutely.
Full Featured
Speaking of which, the Ladon has quite a few things going on under the hood. With a potential 225 watts of power output, full temperature control suite, TCR adjustments, preheat settings and a full slate of protection measures, the Ladon has everything a modern vaper needs, and more.
Smoant’s latest also has one of the most accurate coil detection features around. All of my homemade and prebuilt coils were detected without flaw, stutter or jumpy resistances. Coil detection isn’t exactly a new development. Accurate coil detection is. And the Ladon gets it right.
It should be noted that the Smoant Ladon is a true 225-watt device. Using both RDAs and high-wattage tank systems, the Ladon easily hit that mark – and maintained it without drastic drops in battery life.
In fact, the Ladon is one of the more efficient mods in my collection, in terms of battery longevity. Vaping steadily at 60-85 watts, I pushed the mod hard for 5+ hours before needing to swap out cells. This was done while testing all modes, preheat settings and features. Once I settled in and kept the settings intact, I saw a slight boost over the course of the day.
Pros:
- RBA deck!!!!
- Solid, no-nonsense performance
- Fantastic build quality
Cons:
- 510 deck is a little narrow for 2020
- Boring, old-fashioned OLED screen
- Control scheme is antiquated
Bottom Line of the SMOAT Ladon
When you turn off your “I need something innovative” switch, the Smoant Ladon presents itself as a fantastic dual-18650 vape mod, and anyone looking for a new device in this (somewhat neglected) category should strongly consider buying one. It’s not perfect, nor is it unique in any way. But the device is sturdy and nicely designed, and the options and performance make the Ladon perform like a much higher-end mod.
