For a company with a name I still have trouble pronouncing, Suorin sure has cornered the market for pod mod vaping. And with its latest – the Suorin Vagon Ultra-Portable System Pod Mod – they’re not showing any signs of slowing down. Is the Vagon the pod mod you’ve been waiting for, or just another entry into an ever-crowding marketplace?

At first glance, the Suorin Vagon Ultra-Portable pod mod system doesn’t seem to be all that original. Sure, the longer, narrower frame is a far cry from the company’s famous Air pod mod system, but countless other vape manufacturers are using the same design. The proof, like all pod mod setups, will come down to vape quality.

Spoiler Alert: It passes the test. Let’s take a quick look to see why.

Like I mentioned above, the Suorin Vagon Ultra-Portable pod mod system (available here)  is a standard two-piece design, with curves and smooth lines, on par with most other pod vaporizers in this category. However, Suorin doesn’t make junk, and the hefty chassis and quality machining make the Vagon stand out from the endless line of competitors.

Inside this two-piece, simplified structure is a quality 430mAh integrated battery and the 2mL refillable Vagon pods, both of which add to the reassuring heft, without becoming bulky or unwieldy. The pods themselves are replaceable (though only ONE found its way into my test model – kind of limiting, guys) and refillable, but don’t be fooled by the wider fill port – the Vagon is designed for nic salt liquids. Any of you trying to use max-VG juices in here, prepare for a mouth full of char.

One interesting design element is the integrated holster clip which seems like a good idea on paper, but actually becomes a nuisance in real life use. On several occasions I struggled to get the Vagon in my front pocket without it repeatedly catching onto fabric. And more than once the two-piece design came apart because of it. Nice idea, bad implementation.

The Suorin Vagon goes back to the olden days of vaping with its convenient draw-activated firing mechanism, and subtle LED light to show the mod is in use, or in need of USB charging. Though the battery seems a little limp at 430mAh, the Vagon only outputs a max of 12 watts, so the cell capacity should get you through most of a workday without much concern.

Plus, the onboard charging is wonderfully fast (even at 0.5-amps), so no one with a USB port nearby will have to worry about a loss of power. I took the Vagon from empty to full in roughly 40 minutes, and probably could have had it at 80% full in about half the time. Impressive, all around.

How does the Suorin Vagon vape? Not to be snarky, but it vapes like a pod mod. (Albeit a good one!) Using the appropriate liquids, the Vagon is a solid pod mod vaporizer, focused on tight MTL draws, concentrated flavor and decent vapor. Those looking for a more wide-open draw will probably be disappointed by the snug airflow, but new vapers and ex-smokers will find a lot to like here.

My only complaint? Like so many other pod mod systems, the Vagon’s pods have a weak lifespan – especially with only one included in the box. After about 6 or 7 refills, the flavor and vapor intensity dropped off a cliff, and became un-vapeable in minutes. Considering the relatively small 2mL capacity, these pods might only last you a day or two before needing to be replaced.

Better value than prefilled pods? Of course, but in an industry that currently builds highly durable coils for larger setups, these pod mods are a little too close to the disposable cig-a-likes of yore… in all the wrong ways.

The Suorin Vagon Ultra-Portable pod mod system is a quality entry into this market, and a viable option for newcomers or fans of the Suorin name. It’s not as strong a contender as other, longer-lasting setups, thanks to unremarkable pod durability, but casual users will likely find themselves enjoying it as much as a Juul or other “bigger name” pod system. Just stock up on extra cartridges before leaving the house!

Score: B