#made a similar set for s17

[eesttm]

In sync

Greg and Alex in Taskmaster Series 18

[jaydexbg]

Aite, Jay's thoughts on Restoration now that the emotional dust has settled.

My non-spoiler thoughts are... it's okay, a love letter to the series? No. A love letter to fans? For the most part.

No shade to RT, Burnie or anyone who worked on this, they did what they could, and had time for. This is going to be loooooong as its my full summary of the movie as a long-time fan, RvB is my special hyperfixation/interest. Spoilers below the cut.

Alright, to start. I personally will believe that s14-17 are cannon, and that Restoration is a simulation/Jax movie/AU/Alternate ending./what have you. I believe this for many reasons, but let's get the Big 3 out of the way first.

1. Sarge's death. I understand it's inclusion, and I understand that with the anvil and steel boot of WB it was hard to produce something of immense quality. Sarge had been a consistent key player and many of us expected this.

But his death was... wrong. It didn't feel impactful, he didn't die a Sarge death. While the reasoning was good (saving Caboose) the execution and runtime made it feel sloppy and just a plot driver(barely). He deserved a much more heroic send-off, and this comes from a avid Red Team supporter, so this should have impacted me. If Sarge had a proper heros death (and the movie had more time), set in a similar vein as Church (or even like he would have died to Meta in s8) then I think I would have had a lot more feelings, and I think it would have also allowed me to accept it much easier, I'm not insanely upset at Sarge dying(however I still would prefer them all to be happy), im upset at how it was handled.

2. Doc's death. Alright, this one peeves me a bit. I LOVE the idea at play, I personally even think it works with Wash given their history in S8, it is a really good reveal. But this also means Doc, an integral character who's been there since Season 2. Doc, who had been the most mistreated and abused character--and JUST got over being overshadowed by O'Malley in universe(S17)... died off screen. And that alone makes me not want to take this as cannon.

It was a moment of "WHAT??-wait." I like Doc, I like all the characters of RvB, but Doc dying off screen after the battle is not it. The Matt Hullum double kill is arguably funny, but I won't stand for Doc dying like this. Sorry.

And 3. The one that bit me the most, hold your sighs/tears; Grimmons. I'm sorry, but I refuse to believe that Grif would leave Simmons, or that Simmons wouldn't go with him. These two characters have been joint at the hip since episode one, they have been through EVERYTHING together. There is a LOT of subtext behind these two, Grimmons barely felt like a fan ship, if they revealed the two were married the entire time I wouldn't have batted an eye.

I don't like their ending. They should have either both went to earth, or both stayed in Blood Gulch. I understand Grif's entire thing was hating the military, but he loved his friends, he cared so much (saving Sarge MULTIPLE times despite Sarge still always bullying him, agreeing to go with Sarge and Caboose to fight the Meta even though he didn't have to, him throughout all of the Chorus Trilogy, and this is just the stuff that is cannon no matter what.), and I don't believe him simply being dismissed would have him leave, he stopped being apart of a proper military when Project Freelancer shut down, and while he was apart of Chorus they'd clearly been demoted/let go since they were ranked down to Privates in Restoration. (I also believe S15 handled the idea of them being moved after S13's ending far better)

And while I don't mind Simmons coming into his own as a leader, he dosent... have a team? They abandoned Lopez, Sarge is dead, Donut is an Admiral (likely for the UNSC), and Grif left. The Blues only have Caboose and Tucker. Carolina and Wash are likely going to go back to the hospital to let Wash heal (which is another thing). So its just Simmons, Caboose and Tucker alone in Blood Gulch? Doing... what exactly? Fighting? This is not a good ending for any of them and it barely makes sense. Id honestly have preferred a "where are they now" segment to this ending.

With those out of the way, lets go over a small lighting round of stuff i didn't like;

Wash felt like he was just there to tell us Doc died, and to get Carolina to the final fight. If you removed him entirely and just said "Carolina has been tracking Meta" nothing would change.

Carolina's inclusion felt like someone threw a cyan bolder into the script, her entrance being a homage to Maine's entrance in S10 was cool but she appeared out of nowhere.

I refuse to believe that after all of this none of them would be checking in on Wash, that man has been the glue of the Reds and Blues since he joined the team and I REFUSE to believe they would just dump him at an institution, however this is especially insane for Carolina. She would be with him every second.

Tucker was INSANELY underused, his moments of breaking through Sigma's control were good, but Tucker felt like he wasn't important. He should be, he should have been the main character of the story, he is the main character of Red vs Blue to me (after Church).

The way Lopez and Sheila were just abandoned is disrespectful. Its in character, and the whole gag but for a final season I dont want a gag like that in a finale. I wanted to see Lopez at that campfire scene imagining him not talking but enjoying the reminiscing. That would have been so sweet and nice. This also applies to Sheila.

The lack of Donut outside of a mention of him being an Admiral and the silly memory of him from Simmons is outrageous. He is a main character, we established this in S17 and retcon or not, he earned that development and it should have remained.

Grif was was insanely angry in the beginning, I imagine this more as Geoff because his performance throughout was probably the best of the movie. He's taken RTs closure hard and I completely understand him being upset, so this is barely a complaint.

Alright... with the negative out of the way, lets talk positive! i wish I could say my positives outweighed the negatives, but unfortunately that isn't the case, however I do have two big standouts.

1. The campfire scene. This, this scene alone is what adds a chunk to the positive section of my feelings. It was the scene that really gut punched me, the moment I heard Ed Robertson's voice I crumpled into tears (I am a HUGE Barenaked Ladies fan). The pure bittersweetness of watching these characters who have been through so much together finally taking a serious moment to reminisce is all I ever wanted from RvB. I wished with all my heart that Tucker, Church, Sarge, Donut, Doc, Lopez, and Sheila could share in it, who knows maybe Sarge and Docs ghosts popped by to listen. But, this is to me, what I wanted.

2. Agent Texas. This was good, this was REALLY good. The bait and swap to have Caboose bringing Tex back and not Church was good, and especially nice development from Caboose despite how rushed it feels. The kicker of this though? this Tex was not the same Tex as before. That reveal that this Tex was not based on the Directors memories of Allison's failure, but instead based on the Reds and Blues memories of her beating their asses is ACTUALLY insane, and a genius twist. And her getting her black armour plus the playing of Round One/Bullfight got me more hype then I was ever expecting to get from Restoration. I also believe that Tex finally being remembered properly and being able to move on with Church was heartwarming and very much deserved.

My negatives far outweigh the positives, but the positives are so good, and with it being the finale of 21 years worth of content I cant in the right mind say I dislike Restoration. I don't like it as the ending to Red vs Blue, call me bias (my favourite season is 15) but the trade off of development for the characters between Restoration and Shisno is just not worth it for me. Say what you will about the Shisno Trilogy but you cannot ignore that it gave us the much needed development for many characters, Grif and Donut standing out the most. While the "god"-plot is far fetched and out there, and I've heard that Tucker was character regressed in s16 (which I do not believe and will die on that hill but thats a topic for another day), or the inclusion of the Blues and Reds putting a wrench in some lore I still don't think it was all bad enough to warrant a retcon entirely. Who knows, maybe this was all planned from the start, or it was just because of WB. But this ending is not satisfying to me. I won't say its a bad ending, if I didn't like Shisno so much and never bothered to watch it I'm sure as a direct continuation from S13 I would have a much more positive look on it.

I also do believe that Burnie wrote it in such a way that you can decide for yourself if S14-17(and 18 if you enjoyed it) or Restoration is the cannon ending and to that I respect it.

So in short, my review of the final piece of official Red vs Blue content, is that its okay. A lot felt OOC, and plot was rushed and messy, things felt like they were all predetermined and not driven by the characters as is RvB's biggest strength. It was far too short and even still I generally don't like retcons. But for what it is, and the positive moments it brings I still think its good. Not cannon to me, but I will definitely be taking points from it into my personal cannon post-s17 (Admiral Donut my beloved, you would be so cool if you actually showed up).

[kate-bashford]

FAS3003 Rick Owens Research

After working with fabric and trying to figure out the best ways to wrap the fabric on the half scale mannequins, I set myself the aim of researching designers who use fabric in similar ways to find the most effective methods of construction. Natalie mentioned Rick Owens to me in our most recent tutorial, so I focussed my research on his work for now. 

Indeed, I found that in his S/S17 collection, many of the pieces used pleated or manipulated fabric to create different shapes on the body. For example, the image above uses a circular shape of the manipulated fabric to create a different line and style to the piece. I particularly like how the pleated fabric is looser yet the base fabric is tighter and more fitted, thus creating a clear difference in the two. This is something I could consider when it comes to the contrast of the makeshift top that the boys “made” and their uniform shorts. 

The rest of the collection is also intriguing with how they wrap the fabric around the body- something I wanted to focus my research on. In particular, the above image wraps the fabric around the shoulder from under the arm which is something I had not considered. Upon reflection, I don’t think this would necessarily work in a post apocalyptic environment as they wouldn’t have that much excess material to make the fabric wrap around both the body and shoulder like this. 

The above image follows a silhouette more closely aligned to that of the designs I have created. Indeed, the cut off of the shoulders and neckline is similar to my first shirt design, although the folds of the fabric follow a different pattern. Here, I particularly like how the fabric falls off the body and frames the face, which would be beneficial on stage. However, for Lord of the Flies I would make this significantly tighter in order to create a survival look to the garment. This is something I shall explore further, especially when looking at how to construct the garment itself. 

To further my development, I shall explore the work of previous designers on existing Lord of the Flies productions, looking at the subtleties in which they communicated the characters through their costumes. I shall also revisit my half scale work and try to utilise some of the draping patterns Rick Owens has used. 

Owens, R (2017) WALRUS SS17. Available at: https://www.rickowens.eu/en/US/collections/men-walrus-ss17 [accessed 22 April 2023] 

[storiesofsvu]

Her Everything Ch 9

Warnings: Language, talk of racially sensitive stuff (s17 episode related), character death (it’s just Dodd’s, don’t worry). A lot of talk of the job.

A/N: This covers all of season 17 in one chapter, I didn’t want to do a huge time jump at this point, and honestly, this year hit the squad/da HARD, so it made sense to include these kind of things in the story. Next chapter is somewhat similar but with a million times more fluff.  Also I had to watch Dodd’s die like, 3 times to get this chapter out. You’re welcome

Buy me a Ko-Fi.

**

The next month and a half was definitely one of mourning, a disheartened fog hung thick in the apartment. Aside from grieving his Abuelita, Rafael knew you were going through the annually internal struggle of coping with your own Mother’s death. The two of you did your absolute best to stay strong for each other, making sure there was time carved out of your busy schedules to curl up on the couch together, reassuring each other that things would work out. You were lucky to have each other, and even more lucky that the events over the past little bit brought you tighter together rather than drive a wedge in between you. Especially considering what the upcoming year was about to throw at both the NYPD and the D.A’s office.

First it was discovered that the chief medical examiner was in fact, a serial killer, outed by the notorious Greg Yates, Rollins found out she was pregnant, you were thrown a new Sergeant who happened to be the Chief’s son and then Rafael brought home a case he was sure would spark a huge fight. Uni’s from another precinct had shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, quite literally emptying their clips into the poor kid. You’d been on the scene with the rest of the SVU crew to witness the aftermath. Olivia was quick to stand up for the uni’s,  arguing with Barba, saying the cops were doing their job, and he expected the same thing from you considering you were part of the blue.

“Suppose this is the part where you yell at me for going after an indictment.” He muttered as he came in the door that evening, tugging out files to continue working.

“Are you kidding me?” You glanced up from your laptop and he could see the rage and melancholy burning in your eyes, “You weren’t at that scene Raf, there was absolutely no reason for one of those pricks to unload his entire round into that kid, much less all three of them. One or two shots and he would’ve been subdued, it’s like these idiots forget they have tasers.”

“And if they’re claiming they were fearing for their lives?”

“Three people with guns vs someone they thought was armed?” You rolled your eyes, shutting the laptop, “I’d tell ‘em they should wear their vests more often. And I’ll testify to that.” You moved around the island to where he’d set up shop, kissing the side of his head.

“I’d rather keep you out of this one.”

“Too prejudicial?”

“Yes.” You leaned in again, kissing his cheek softly,

“I’m gonna shower..” You’d made it a few steps away when he turned to you again, calling out towards the hallway.

“Carino?” Stopping, you turned to face him, leaning on the door frame. “Have..you ever killed someone?”

“Once.” You sighed heavily, “He’d kidnapped and raped an eleven year old girl. We managed to track him down to a hideaway house, my partner went in without backup, by the time I got inside the perp had a gun to my partner’s head, loaded and cocked, ready to shoot.”

“Sounds like you’re not the biggest firearm fan.” You let out a huff of a laugh,

“Listen Raf, some of these guys, they head straight to the academy after high school, rising through the ranks if they feel like it. For them, all they care about is the power, feeling cool cause they’re a cop. I didn’t do it for the gun and the badge, I do it for the victims. I went to school, I got a degree, I took extra courses in psychology, crisis counselling, I’m heavily trained in first aid so if someone is shot on a scene I can do my best for them to make it to a hospital, even if it is a perp. I’m here to solve their crimes and get them back into the world on the right foot. I could give a fuck if I had a gun on my hip or not. It may be protocol for me to draw my weapon in situations, but I do my damn best not to fire it. Indict these trigger happy bastards, it’s what they deserve.” Rafael couldn’t help the small smirk at your words,

“You did once say you were the cop that kept other cop’s toes in line.”

“I do my best to make sure innocent people don’t get killed. Just wish we would’ve gotten there faster, might’ve been able to stop them.” You turned at that, traipsing down the hallway as Rafael called after you.

“It’s not your fault!”

“I know.” You shouted back wearily from the bedroom.

*

You noticed Rafael a little more on edge as the trial for the three uni’s started, to be fair, everyone was a little on edge. The entire department was shaken up by the matter, and there were definitely more than one or two blow outs over the entire situation, not to mention the media. You did your best to keep your head down and keep doing what you were doing, there were plenty more cases to be working on. And it seemed like SVU wasn’t going to be let off easy. Benson got herself into a hostage mess in a townhouse, Yates and Rudnick managed to somehow escape Greenhaven which meant more visits from the Chicago P.D team, and then there was a giant mess of a sex ring involving the Catholic Church, corrupt cops, A.D.A’s and Judges.

To say you were beyond exhausted was the ultimate truth. By the time May rolled around, you were more than thankful to be able to have a few days off. Rafael had suggested a nice dinner to celebrate your three year anniversary, you only groaned in response, not even wanting to think about putting on a dress and going out right now. You apologized when you saw the rejected look in his eyes, promising him you could do something in the following weeks, but for right now, you just wanted to curl up with take out and wine. You picked a date and Rafael softly kissed you, telling you that he’d plan it out, you had nothing to worry about.

Then came the Munson case, things were all hands on deck, and it was busy as ever at the precinct, as if you hadn’t taken down enough influential perps this year, you were now dealing with a corrupt C.O from Rikers. You’d spent the evening going over things with Dodds, files scattered across your desks, working much later than anticipated. It was only when Liv insisted the two of you be done for the night that you finally left the precinct. You were surprised to find Rafael at home already, thinking he’d still be at the office, this was a tough case, with a lot of pressure coming from higher ups and other departments.

“Rafael…?”

“Hmm?” He didn’t bother looking up from the file he was reading.

“Wanna enlighten me as to why there’s a protective detail downstairs?” His head shot up at that, sputtering in response, his heart racing in his chest.

“I..uh. What?”

“You think I can’t recognize an unmarked car or two plain clothes? Did something happen with the case?”

“It..may not be related to the Munson case.”

“Oh?” He sighed heavily. Rafael hated the fact that he’d been keeping this secret, he just hadn’t thought it was that important until today, and he hadn’t wanted you to worry over nothing.

“I’ve been getting threats since the Terrance Reynolds case. Nothing serious!” He shot out, seeing the sense of shock and worry on your face, “Just, hang up calls from burners, texts, things like that.”

“Okay…so I’ll repeat; why is there a protective detail downstairs?”

“Carino, you might want to stay somewhere else for a few days.”

“Rafael what are you not telling me?” You cocked a brow, crossing your arms over your chest challenging him to continue withholding whatever it was.

“Today some punk threatened to throw me down the court house stairs and crack my skull.”

“Raf!” You started to move towards him, dropping your detective stance in worry, he cut you off with an extended hand.

“And I may have given him our home address.” He definitely should’ve seen the swift smack to the back of the head coming,

“Are you kidding me Rafael!? Maldito idiota!” You let out a heavy groan, “You’ve been getting threats for the better part of a year and instead of reporting them, instead of telling your girlfriend, who may I remind you is a fucking cop, you give your actual address out to someone who threatened to kill you? How stupid are you?!”

“I didn’t want to worry you.” You rolled your eyes, “I wanted to keep you safe, keep you out of it as long as needed until it blew over.”

“Well I’m in it now!”

“I’m sorry.” Your body language softened at the true remorse in his expression, moving in between his legs against the bar stool as you loosely linked your hands behind his neck.

“Apology accepted.” You met his lips for a soft kiss, humming in satisfaction at the way his hand cupped your cheek gently, the other arm resting on your hip. “You’re still an idiot.”

“I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

“Oh I know you will.” You flashed him a mischievous grin, “Put all this away and come to bed, that way you can reallymake it up to me.”

“I will gladly take that offer.” You laughed at the smirk he shot you before tightly pulling you to him in a much more heated kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you always.” You murmured against his lips, tugging him to stand, following you back to the bedroom.

*

Rafael was down at the precinct a couple of days later, they’d managed to track down and bring in the perp who’d threatened him and he needed to make an I.D with Carisi and Rollins.

“Where is everybody?” Rafael asked, gesturing to the relatively empty bull pen, ‘Congratulations Dodds’ banner still up along with a half eaten cake.

“Doin’ a closin’ job at Munson’s.” Sonny replied, dropping down into his desk.

“All of them?”

“Fin’s with the vic. It’s new policy with close jobs, one body per group of civilians, Liv, Dodds and Y/N, one gets the kids, one handles the wife, one handles Munson.” Rafael grimaced at the thought of you out there with someone like Munson, especially on a close job, he reminded himself that you always reassured him you could take care of yourself, but something just wasn’t sitting right.

Back in his office he had the news on in the background, an attempt to try and keep up with the case from the media’s perspective. His head shot up from his opening argument when a breaking news case broke through the screen, Munson’s mugshot splayed across the screen, the anchor mentioning that in a turn of events the man had taken his wife and two NYPD members hostage and shots had been fired by the man, conditions of the others currently unknown.

He felt his heart drop into the absolute pit of his stomach, his pulse instantly began to race as the panic coursed through his veins. His brain flashed back to the conversation about guns you’d had earlier that year, how you used all plausible options before firing your weapon and in that moment, God did he ever wish you were one of the trigger happy ones instead. Barely thinking he grabbed his phone, tossing his jacket back on as he raced out of the D.A’s office, Lincoln Hospital was the closest one to the Bronx, the closest to the Munson’s house, it had to be where you were.  His phone called you on repeat the entire twenty minute drive over, each time it hit your voicemail he felt his entire soul breaking. How on earth had he been so stupid to not tell you just how much he loved you each day he spent with you, that he loved you more than he could ever imagine, more than anything in the entire world.

His gut of where you would be was right on the nose as he sped into the waiting room, brass was everywhere, he spotted Olivia with Tucker, heading straight to them.

“Where is she?” He didn’t realize how out of breath he was, nor how shaky is words came out. Olivia barely glanced up at him, still in a daze of guilt, not properly thinking.

“‘Round the corner, second door on the left.”

That was at least something good, it meant you weren’t in surgery, it meant if you’d been hit you might be out for a while, but at least you were closer to being alive than he’d worried. Rafael didn’t even notice racing past Sonny as he exited the door Liv had specified, he practically collided right into you as you moved to the doorway.

“Raf-?” The only way you could describe the sound he let out was a choked back strangle of a cry. Your front was nearly completely covered in blood, a smear of it still on your neck you hadn’t realized was there. He roughly pulled you to him, wrapping his arms around you in the tightest hug possible, one of his hands cupping the back of your head, fingers tangling into the messy bun. You felt his body nearly shake against you as he melted into you, holding you there until he’d managed to control his breathing again, feeling that you were in his arms, that you were safe, not open on an operating table somewhere.

“Why the fuck haven’t you been answering your phone? I thought you were hit. Are you okay?!” He pulled back and you could see the tears brimming in his eyes. Your hand reached up to stroke his cheek gently,

“Oh Rafa..I’m fine.” Your lips met his cheek, holding there for a moment, letting him realize you were real, and that you were really okay, “I was just giving blood, Mike’s…lost a lot..things aren’t looking good.”

“I’ve been calling you non stop for half an hour!” Your face scrunched,

“My phone never went off..” You stepped over to a nearby chair, rummaging through the bag a nurse had given you to throw your blood soaked blazer in. You’d whipped it off as fast as you could to try and stop the bleeding in Mike’s abdomen at the Munson’s. Digging through it your hands hit both pockets, then shook the blazer out over the bag. Nothing. Your hands patted down the minimal pockets of your dress pants, double checking you hadn’t shoved it into your bra, you turned back to Rafael with a look of apology on your face, “I…I don’t have it. It must’ve fallen out at the house. Mi Amour, I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you like that.” Your hand grasped his, pulling it to your lips quickly before wrapping your arms around him once again, “I’m here, okay. I’m fine, I’m safe. I’m with you, and I love you always.”

“Marry me.” You almost didn’t hear the words muffled against your skin, pulling your head back to read his face.

“What?”

“I thought I’d lost you today, and the only thing I could think of the entire time was that I never told you just how much I loved you. Carino you’re the only person I want to be with for the rest of my life. I love you more than anything, and I’ve known that for a while now. Abuelita knew you were the one the moment she met you, it may have taken me a bit to catch up, but I know she wasn’t wrong. Marry me.” You were doing the best to control any amount of confusion or awe from expressing itself on your face, you couldn’t control the smallest of smiles, the tears brimming in your eyes at his admission. You knew you loved Rafael more than anything on the planet, and that you always would, you just had no idea he’d been on the same page.

“Is..is this because of..” You gestured slightly, insinuating to the whole hostage, getting shot situation.

“No.” He grasped your free hand in his, “Well, kind of, but the ring’s at the apartment. I had this whole plan for next week for our date, but I don’t want to wait any longer. I needed you to know now.” He felt his heart rate pick up again, but this time because he suddenly felt incredibly vulnerable. He’d laid his feelings out on the table and it was your choice that would either crush them completely or elate him more than he could ever imagine.

“Oh Rafael…of course I’ll marry you!” A small giggle escaped your lips as he pulled you in for a kiss, this one more passionate than the others, “Te amo siempre.” You murmured against his lips, happy to have this little private moment to yourselves.

Truthfully, your little bubble of happiness remained just that. A few hours later, when Dodds was finally in the ICU, he ended up having a massive stroke and was declared legally brain dead. Rafael held you tighter when the news came in, knowing that your brain was racing through every moment in that house, the million things you could’ve done differently to end up with a different outcome, not to mention the shot could still have hit you in the heat of the moment. The squad reluctantly left the hospital in a sense of complete exhaustion, both mentally and physically, everyone coping with it in different ways, it always stung harder losing one of your own.

You and Rafael decided to keep the news of the engagement under wraps, out of respect for Mike and the Dodds’ family, it wasn’t exactly the time to be celebrating. While he did give you the ring the next morning, you only wore it around the house, making sure to stash it back in the little blue box before heading into work.

It was actually on accident nearly a month later, you’d been out running a couple errands, diamond on your hand when Liv called you in for a case. You had to drop everything and head into the precinct without the time to go home first and hadn’t even realized. You were in interrogation talking things through with the perp while she watched through the glass, smirking at how much you talked with your hands, the diamond ever so obvious. She turned to Rafael when he showed up, smile on her face,

“Congratulations.”

“What? The bastard that stupid?” She laughed, nodding towards the window,

“That’s one hell of a ring.” Rafael felt his cheeks flush, a grin breaking out on his cheeks as he realized what she was talking about.

“Yeah, well, she deserves it. She deserves everything.”

“She really loves you, you know.” Liv smirked over at him, “I can always tell when she’s distracted texting you when she’s supposed to be working, the silly grin’s a dead giveaway.” Rafael couldn’t help the laugh at that,

“Sorry. I promise I’m not trying to distract your detectives.”

“‘S’long as you’re only distracting her, I’m fine. You make her happy, incredibly happy. And I’m happy for the two of you, really.”

“Thanks Liv.” He gave her a soft smile before turning his attention back to the interrogation room, his eyes lingering on you before fully tuning into the conversation.

You made him so happy his heart nearly hurt, he couldn’t remember feeling like this in years, you’d swooped into his life and nearly stolen it all away. He knew how incredibly lucky he was to have you, how lucky he was that you said yes, that you excitedly put that ring on your finger, and now, would be able to proudly wear it.

The rest of the squad was pretty quick to find out at that point, everyone congratulating the two of you and teasing you about how you were stuck with Barba for the rest of your life now. You laughed it off, saying you wouldn’t have it any other way. Amanda of course was quick to suggest a night out to celebrate it, and honestly, thanks to the months prior, the squad neeeded something to celebrate, to be happy for, so you agreed. A night out with the team and Rafael at Beekman, you were quick to insist on no decorations or any kind of bullshit like a ‘bride to be’ sash, this wasn’t the bachelorette party or anything. Though you didn’t miss the gleam in Rollins’ eye when you mentioned that, you knew you were in for it.

Lucia was over the moon, ecstatic that Rafael had finally made the move and couldn’t wait for the wedding, which you quickly reminded her would probably take a while. You were leaning towards a longer engagement, both of your schedules so constantly busy and up in the air you figured you’d use the small amount of time off both of you had to decide on smaller things before booking a venue or setting a date, where was the rush anyways? You both loved each other more than you could imagine, a silly ceremony and piece of paper wasn’t going to change that

[theparanormalperiodical]

The 13 Scariest Paranormal Investigation TV Show Episodes You Need To Watch - And The Links To Watch Them For Free!

As a paranormal blogger, I’m used to fangirling with other occult-obsessives about anything that’s spooky. 

It could be a scary movie. It could be a ghost they’ve seen first hand. It could even be an urban legend that frightened them to their very core! Either way, they always have a turning point in their life that pushed them towards the paranormal. 

My epiphany was different.

Sure, I’ve always had this constant connection with otherworldly spirits - but it was developed by one thing: paranormal documentary TV shows.

Most Haunted, Ghost Adventures, Celebrity Ghost Stories…

Each and every one made me want to be there with them!

I wanted to wander ‘round castles for a living. I wanted to read ghost stories everyday and explore the history behind them. I wanted to connect the dots and explore a new, hidden world.

It’s for that reason that I’ve decided to share my love for these shows with you, dear reader.

I’ve brought together the best episodes from Most Haunted, Ghost Adventures, Paranormal Lockdown, Celebrity Ghost Stories, Ghost Hunters and Paranormal Witness, explained the ghost stories that are the centre of the episodes, and have even provided links (and the terrifying timestamps) to the episodes. 

All you’ve got to do is press play!

Oh, and leave a comment on which one traumatised you the most…

Now, let’s get spooky.

#1 - The Dorothy Puente Murder House - Ghost Adventures (S12, E3)

Ghosts give me the heebeejeebies. Demons make me want to hide under my quilt and cry to a Sigrid song. But it’s stories of entrapment that really fuck me up. 

This is one of those stories.

Dorothy Puente was a landlady who ran a boarding house in California for elderly and mentally disabled residents. Don’t be fooled by her charitable exterior, though - what was happening inside the boarding house was a very different story. 

Puente was a serial killer who committed 9 murders - a number which is still disputed to this day - throughout the 1980s, and then cashed their social security checks. 

Whilst there are a number of details to this case, I thought I’d leave that to be discovered during the episode. 

Nevertheless, I thought I’d wet your appetite with some seriously traumatising tales:

In 1985, she hired someone to do wood panelling in her apartment. Not only did she give him an old pickup truck that I assume contained traces of evidence of her crimes, she asked him to build a 6-by-3-by-2 foot box. In non-maths terms, that’s the dimensions of a coffin. 

Claiming it was full of books and other small items for disposal, she journeyed with him to a local dump to dispose of these, uh, books, and stopped him before they reached the local area to dump the waste.

She directed him to instead drop it into a river cause that’s not suspicious at all.

But suspicions were roused when she began repeatedly hiring a local homeless man to do certain tasks like digging the basement and removing soil from it, or putting concrete in the garage. It was when he disappeared that the pieces began to connect together. 

Given the dark details behind the case, when Zak Bagans and his squad rocked up, they were on the receiving end some of the most striking paranormal activity they had ever witnessed:

Featuring EVPs crammed full of aggressive growls and demands for them to “Get out!”, or Ovilus Voices spewing words eerily similar to the murders and how the bodies were disposed of, this investigation stays true to what happened there.

But outside of the equipment used, the physical effects on the investigators was incredible!

One medium felt a choking sensation believed to channel the feelings of victims being force fed sleeping pills and then left to die in the Death Room. And the other? She drew a picture uncomfortably similar to a spirit seen by a tenant of the house - the spirit of Dorothy Puente. 

The other physical contact experienced includes pain felt in Zak’s lower back, as well as Zak entering this trance like state from which he fell off the bed!  

Here’s the episode:

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x55gpad 

Want to seem some spooks, like, right now? 

09.10 - an EVP with Peggy, the resident who sees Puente’s spirit frequently.

13.10 - a medium begins to sense spirits and experiences some shocking effects.

17.30 - a medium produces pictures of the spirit she senses.

25.20 - EVPs in the backyard - where the bodies were buried - answer some of the questions that still go unanswered. 

30.20 - Zak Bagans begins to exhibit extremely peculiar behaviour.

#2 - Idaho State Tuberculosis Hospital - Ghost Adventures (S18, E10)

Whispers, children and angry old men.

No, it’s not the title of Fall Out Boy’s latest album - it’s just a few of the current inhabitants of The Gooding Inn.

Once a TB hospital that was shut down in 1976, this building has witnessed its patients literally choke and drown in their own blood as their lungs fill up. 

But what’s seriously scary about this episode is the effects on the most recent residents of the inn:

Not only was the housekeeper clearly upset about her encounter with an angry male ghost, she clearly feels the negative energy such spirits embody.

But it's when the current resident is interviewed that the reality of this location is realised. Two of her children had died whilst living in the former hospital, forging a strange link that is explored in the episode.

Yet before I spoil the whole show, here’s a taste of what’s to come:

A playful child spirit and a woman with a child make their own appearances, as well as the strange tale - and even stranger spirit - of Anton Beaver.

Ready to watch?

Here’s the episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdCxNtshvhg

Looking for a quick fear fix?

These are the timestamps of note:

05.25 - Zak Bagans starts the show with the housekeeper’s own tale of the hauntings she’s witnessed.

10.00 - One woman recounts the potential impact of the hauntings on her family.

12.15 - a paranormal investigator brings his own footage and experience of activity in a passage from which gurneys and wheelchairs would bring in the patients

16.00 - Zak Bagans researches those who died there - and creates a sudden shockwave of paranormal activity across the building.

21.50 - a weird non-human noise is heard when a dark shadow appears.

32.00 - pranks set by a spirit of a former child patient begin to haunt the team.

#3 - 30 East Drive - Most Haunted (S18, E1 Halloween Special)

Take a look around my blog - no, seriously, look at what I write about: old manors, haunted abbeys, demonic forests… They all seem to stand out. And I think that’s what makes this tale - and this episode - quite so scary.

Welcome to 30 East Drive, a council house nestled in Yorkshire, England.

It started in 1966. The Prichtard family had just moved into a new home when they started to notice rather peculiar occurrences:

A fine layer of dust fell on everything in the house, puddles would appear from nowhere, even if one was cleaned up, the tea dispenser would go off randomly, and items would levitate!

Given the evident paranormal resident, clergymen were called to exorcise the house. 

They were not successful. Holy water would leak out of the walls, ghostly hands would appear and ‘conduct’ the hymns being said to remove him, faces were slapped and people were pushed. Despite the rather playful poltergeist at first, this spirit slowly became more aggressive:

The daughter, Diane, began to find scrapes and bruises appear on her body, and was even dragged up the stairs by her hair! It was eventually deduced that this could be the spirit of a Monk whose body was discarded down the well that the house now sits on. Why was he thrown down a well?

Because he - or perhaps his twin brother - raped and murdered a young girl.

And as he is often seen wearing black robes, the house was given labelled the Black Monk House. Fancy a watch? You’ll be spoiled for choice then - Paranormal Lockdown also had a stay in the house.

Here’s the Most Haunted Episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO3EeYBGNuo

“But, spookyllama, where are the timestamps?”

I couldn’t find any timestamps of note because the activity in this episode is constant!

Within the first 1 and a half minutes, a marble is thrown, echoing one of the most common hauntings in this house. Knives were also found sticking out of sofas, as was a crucifix jumping off the bed. 

#4 - The Wentworth Woodhouse - Most Haunted (S17, E6)

Our next episode also features a ghostly monk, but this time we see activity beyond marbles being chucked at cameramen. Indeed, this episode is just as iconic as the former - this is due to the controversy surrounding the evidence captured in this video.

One of the most famous hauntings of the Wentworth Woodhouse is the first earl of the house walking down the main stairs of the house. Only he’s headless. And they claimed to capture this footage:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/most-haunted-team-finally-catch-12417869

This footage only taps into one component of the paranormal activity seen in this house, however.

This house has seen centuries worth of aristocratic family feuds, deaths and drama which still roam its halls. Whether its footsteps, ghostly laughter or opera singing, it seems all past residents never actually left. 

Yet aside from the earl taking a nightly stroll, the scariest spirit has to be a ghost that stands still during his hauntings, leading many people to think he’s a statue. 

Specifically, the most haunted locations - aside from the library - are the George VI quarters. With shadows tracing the walls and dark figures standing in the doorways, the Most Haunted team were certainly not alone.

You can see the episode here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdTnJC4cO54

Want a speedy scare?

28.00 - a door rattles and sounds as if its being opened, only its not - it’s locked and there’s no handle.

30.00 - The team hears a whistle, so they whistle back. What happens next is mind-blowing…

50.00 - The crew hears a couple of footsteps follow them around a part of the house.

#5 - The Washoe Club - Ghost Adventures (S16, E7)

The Ghost Adventures team might have investigated this wild-west location 3 times, but it gets no less spooky as time goes on. The oldest saloon there, The Millionaires’ Club, is the centre of the activity as a former exclusive saloon for rich businessmen.

Upon Zak Bagans and his team’s final return, they are reduced to tears by the activity witnessed.

This activity includes the spirit of a prostitute who committed suicide in room 77, a full-bodied apparition in the ballroom, a brick thrown in the basement and a women, Lena, haunting the staircase.

The episodes in particular have also captured EVPs saying their names: “Zak, look out”, and "Nick, Zak, coming..., they're scaring me".

Ready for a trip to the Wild West?

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqhyh6

#6 - Hinsdale House - Paranormal Lockdown (S1, E5)

If you thought these buildings were scary, wait ‘til you hear about the Hinsdale House. Question is, what separates it from the other contenders? 

This is a demonic haunting.

Considered this generation’s Amityville, the whole property exhibits signs of activity an exorcism couldn't rid it of: mysterious phone calls, chanting from nearby woods, animal hybrids and full bodied apparitions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this house.

Lucky for us, the Paranormal Lockdown team spent 72 hours here, investigating the hauntings both during the day and night.

Within the first 7 minutes of filming, an abundance of flies fills the house, not unlike horror films that trace the stories behind houses just like this. The following emotional impact on Nick further forges a link to the supernatural. 

Featuring choking, consistent EVP’s saying Nick’s name and even Lorraine Warren on the blower telling them to get out of the house, negative energy is an understatement for this house.

You can watch it here:

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6tujvf

Head to 25.00 if you want to see their investigation of the forest - including the Gregorian chanting that is claimed to still echo on this former Native American burial ground.

28.00 - when Katrina asks spirits to go to Nick and show their presence when he’s in a different room, the spirits follow orders.

Unfortunately, the spooks don’t end when the credits roll:

Nick claims spirits from this house followed him home and told him to go to a little house tucked away in England.

And that house was 30 East Drive.

#7 - 30 East Drive - Paranormal Lockdown (S2, Halloween Special)

So, we know Most Haunted’s verdict of the Black Monk House - what about Nick and Katrina’s?

Having spent 100 hours there - one of the longest amounts of time they’ve been in lockdown for - they witness apparitions, marbles flying across the house, a scar appears on Katrina’s stomach, and even a murder attempt by the spirit.

That’s right - a Grandfather clock is pushed over, nearly killing Nick! 

You can watch that happen here:

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6azzx0

#8 - The St. Augustine Lighthouse - Ghost Adventures (S2, E19)

Haunted locations aren’t just famed for paranormal fanatics like me rocking up.

It’s the history which matters. 

And this haunted lighthouse is celebrated for its history with its own museum denoting the things it was witnessed as a part of America’s Oldest Port. And with multiple people living and dying on the property, the subsequent variety of activity is what sets this lighthouse apart from, well, non-haunted lighthouses!

But it's that history repeating itself that makes this one of the scariest episodes included on this list: a woman in white roams both the nearby forest and the top levels of the lighthouse, a man walking in uniform wanders round the basement, and spirits make use of the famous staircase that fills this building.

Have I piqued your interest? You can satisfy your supernatural needs here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHsNtvT8uHU

Check out the walk through of the lighthouse and description of the main activity at 05.30.

19.45 - you can hear the chattering of multiple spirits on the staircase - and you might even see someone - or something - walking down it, too.

24.00 - this is the most incredible evidence they’ve ever captured - trust me.

#9 - The Stanley Hotel - Ghost Hunters (S2, E22)

Famous for inspiring the Stephen King classic, The Shining, this hotel is infamous for its real life haunted history. First opened in 1909, the 420 rooms - including an underground cave system - hold many ghosts who still make regular appearances.

Room 217 for example, once belonged to a housekeeper. Often visitors to this room notice their luggage is unpacked, items moving, or the lights flickering. Oh, and she’s not a fan of couples sleeping together in the same room, either!

After that, why not visit the Concert Hall? Haunted by a spirit who was once believed to be an usher, you may hear a voice telling you to leave, a nudge, or even see flashes of light of his torch.

You might even hear the giggle of a child echoing down from the attic, a former nursery.

Question is, why is it quite so haunted? There’s 2 claims behind this: the crystals in the cave system below the hotel channel the energy, and the staircase is a vortex for ghosts, allowing them to come and go as they please.

Ready to see what happened?

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ekji3

#10 - The Rain Man - Paranormal Witness (S1, E6)

Ghosts and spirits, demons and death; all the episodes mentioned in this post stick to relatively confined notions of the spiritualistic and pagan religions. However, this episode takes us further than I ever expected.

Paranormal Witness is a show - a bit like Celebrity Ghost Stories - where paranormal stories get retold and acted out.

And this episode follows a young man, Don, who becomes possessed by his abusive grandfather. Having displayed the typical signs of possession, he then began to have strange encounters with water. 

Water began to seep from the walls, and then from the ceiling. But this wasn’t water - when someone touched it, it felt sticky.

It was only when Don was stuck in a trance, that water began to go upwards, towards the ceiling, and pots and pan began to rattle.

When religious rituals were used to cleanse Don, the water was directed towards the bible and person performing the cleansing.

This was only the start of Don’s new powers. And they were to intensify during his final stint in prison.

Hungry for more? Check out the full episode here:

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hvjvg

#11 - The Haunted Highway - Paranormal Witness (S1, E2)

Like I said: Paranormal Witness doesn’t stick to the typical hauntings we see. And this episode involves a UFO.

This story - without spoiling the episode - revolves around a mother and son who go missing in the desert. With a relative’s strange dreams pointing her to where they might be and a medical mystery twisting the tale, all that is left is one question:

What really happened in the desert?

You can watch this episode on Amazon for £1.89.

#12 - Celebrity Ghost Stories (S1, E9)

This episode featuring Morgan Fairchild, Lili Taylor, John Salley and Vincent Curatol is considered one of the scariest episodes of this popular episodes from which paranormal experience are acted out.

Here’s the synopsis to tickle your tastebuds of terror:

“A young Morgan Fairchild is abused by a spirit when she moves into her new husband's family home; an unidentifiable stranger comes to John Salley's aid during a nightclub shooting; Lili Taylor hears unexplained noises when she goes on retreat.”

You can watch this episode on Amazon for £1.89.

#13 - Pendle Hill - Most Haunted (S6, Halloween Special)

Pendle Hill might feature as a hiking opportunity in the Pennines, but it actually has a history - and a haunting - to boot. 

Back in the early 17th century, a family of peasants were believed to possess a variety of paranormal powers. And the effigies they made of human hair and teeth didn’t make them appear any less suspicious, either!

The Pendle Witches, as they were known, were arrested, tried and then hung on Pendle Hill.

The witches never left the hill, however. 

Not only did the neighbours of the Pendle Witches experience and die from mysterious illnesses, to this day supernatural activity has stuck close to this location.

Teeth have dropped onto tables during seances, and unnaturally frequent rainfall on the hill is a common occurrence. 

So, what did the Most Haunted team see when they visited the site?

Acorah was apparently possessed by a witch, and a table and a glass smashed during the seance. Oh, and the whole cast and crew felt as if they were being strangled at certain points during filming.

Were they experiencing the final moments of the Pendle Witches as they were executed for their crimes?

You can check that episode out here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu7yRqoLxLc

Or, you can have a speedy spook, instead!

30.00 - the equipment batteries drain, a classic indicator of paranormal presences.

32.00 - Acorah begins his readings of the area, and clearly becomes quite emotional and intense when describing the spirits he sees and hears.

45.00 - Acorah exhibits strange behaviour, and is on the receiving end of harmful spirits.

59.40 - Acorah sees a spirit - or perhaps an otherworldly being.

01.48.00 - the team perform the seance.

Now it’s time to hear what you think.

Which episode are you watching tonight?

And did I miss any seriously-spooktastic episodes out?

[calliecat93]

Since I can't go to RTX and they aren’t streaming it this year but I wanted to do a masterpost of something RvB related, I decided to write a wrap-up of this interview with Jason Weight on The SHizno RvB Podcast. Please go check it out because there was now ay that I could fit everything in here and there’s so much good stuff in it. SO please go and check it out! But anyways, here we go:

Joe had told Jason about the plan for a Donut and Wash season back at RTX, which Jason at first wasn't on board with. But once he began writing it, he got into it and became very attached to Donut. 

When rewatching the show to prep for S17, one scene that took note of was in the caves when Grif was making the Reds not look at Kai when naked… except for Donut since he just paid attention to the Blue’s base. It felt like he had depth in those kinds of moments and it got him to like him. He was very happy to see more people join Team Donut after the season. He feels like only the surface has been scratched for him.

He confirmed that Donut’s innuendo in the finale was intentional (even putting ‘tongue and cheek’ in the character notes) and any made after will likely be intentional by him.

When they talked about Donut and Tucker’s development, Jason joked that Simmons would be next to receive development. So it seems that Jason is at least aware of our desire for a Simmons season XD

The Everwhen was devised essentially as another method of time travel different from the previous methods seen before since doing it the same way again would have been boring. 

The timeline after the paradox in the Writers Room was called Schrodinger’s Ass. 

The version of time travel we got was the third version. Jason spent a month on Verison One, but Burnie had rejected it. Then he, Joe, and Miles devised a second version, but near the end they threw it out and the third version that included The Everwhen was made.

How it worked in previous versions was that Chrovos has made the alternate Blood Gulch as a containment unit type of thing to contain the Reds and Blues as she went backwards in time, giving them a limited amount of time before she reached the beginning of time and… honestly, IDK how to type the whole thing out. But to put it simply, it was very convoluted and thus The Everwhen was made. The first version was also rejected due to being too similar to S9.

Jason is on Red Team! His explanation? “Red Team is an actual team.” 

He really liked the direction that Joe took Wash, especially since him now having a disability gives him a new unique perspective that, even if he doesn’t get to write in the future, he looks forward to seeing the direction that Wash is taken. He also believes that if they focus on Wahs’s rehabilitation, Caboose should have a major role in it. HIRE HIM RT, DANG IT!

Simmons original nightmare was the same scenario and the same joke… except that the one int he UFO was his dad. The higher-ups rejected this since it could come off as, well… incestuous/pedophilic. Which while I think the ‘dad’ bit would have made more sense… yeah, I… can’t blame them for that one. Jason DOES say that in his mind, Simmons feels that he’s in his father's shadow and the scene was supposed to be in a Freudian reference to those feelings.

Genkins was originally not as intimidating int he script. Much of it came from the direction, especially in Episode 10 after he got skewered by the golf club. Same with Wash and Carolina’s scene in Episode 9. He greatly loved seeing the direction that Austin and Josh took with the scenes.

Miles had toyed with having a scene set directly after S13 (he says 10 but I think he meant 13), but Jason felt that it was best to leave that area alone since it had ended on such a perfect note and talked him out of it. Jason also toyed with having the guys see Epsilon’s final message ala Princess Leia hologram and Tucker picking them up/explaining Episolon’s nature. But it was too talky nor did it really affect anything, so they instead went with Tucker re-living Crash site Bravo which was done by Miles.

If RvB ended up a Seinfeld-esque comedy, Grif and Simmons would live together with Grif trying to get Simmons out of his shell. Sarge is essentially Dan DeVito. Tucker would live alone and use his sword to open up beer bottles. Donut would live in a gym due to, in his mind, him having severe allergies and is why he wears the Power Armor all the time. Carolina and Wash would live together and have a dog, and they both suck at dating due to judging the other’s dates (which Jason feels their relationship is brother and sister). Caboose owns the building they all live in. Lopez is maintenance. I want this show now.

Jason reads all the comments after all the episodes, including on Tumblr (I’m going to be so much more paranoid over my reviews now...) and one post he really liked was the idea of an RvB Road Trip since he used to be a roadie.

Jason doesn’t know how the whole Shisno thing came about since it was Joe’s idea. He does say that it used to be spelt ‘shizno’ until they found out how it’s officially been spelt as ‘shisno’. Whoops. They DID consider involving Wyoming’ time distortion unit in the story, but with all the other time shenanigans they felt it would make it too complicated.

Koen Wooten, a 3D Producer at RT, joked about putting time travel into every show from now on. Miles and Jason were unamused XD

He had a lot of fun with things like writing The Labryinth and Kai messing with Tucker

The hardest part was balancing out the time travel and figuring out what to look into and what not to. 

Jason is very used to being a director due to his own show, Starship GOldfish, and his scripts for himself are MUCH longer and detailed than they end up being in the final draft. For, he had a specific way that he wanted to have Chrovos done, so he was Skype’d in to direct Lee Eddy. Speaking of, he pushed for her after seeing her do Gwen from Camp Camp live at RTX 17 and he really wanted to have her in the show in some form.

For RvB Movie Nights, Jason thinks that Grif would like Caddyshack, thinks that Carolina is terrified of horror films like Paranormal Activity (which makes Wash confused) and ends up panic stabbing the TV, Simmons and Donut both do documentaries, Lopez liked Mr. Bean… then after going back to the beginning of time, he hates that kind of media and just watches an aquarium screen, and Kai likes Alien.

For Halloween, Jason would want to dress as the Fishman from S3 of Camp Camp. 

When questioned about the show potentially hitting serial escalation after the Cosmic Powers stuff, Jason talks about how they feel that they have now sealed off from that and can move more laterally again. But he does also feel that there are larger threats out there that affect you more personally, such as everyone trying to kill you which he thinks could be much stronger than fighting some ultra-powerful God. But we’ll have to see where things go from this point.

He believes that moving forward, Doc can be more important since he now is a nice guy with the danger of O’Malley in him. 

He also has seen that fans feel that the Reds and Blues need a rest, which he agrees with. One idea he likes that he did in PSA’s was do some Grif and Sarge bonding since he feels there’s plenty left unexplored there, Caboose helping Wahs rehabilitate, giving Simmons an arc, and Donut exploring the universe to do some world building. He and Joe liked the idea of maybe doing a mini-series, especially since Halo 6 won’t be out for quite a while and doing one can explore some new options. He also brings up ideas for the future like Locus on trial, Wash’s rehabilitation, and Tucker seeking out Junior to bond with him more after what happened in The Labryinth. I mentioned that RT needs to hire Jason ASAP, right?! RIGHT?!

He also feels that there would, ideally, eventually need to be a new villain… and suggests himself cause of him being British. HA! He also really loves villains and if he got to keep being the writer, he would absolutely voice the villain like Miles did as Felix. Although he does bring up the ‘self-insert’ critique but thinks it would be okay since as the villain it would be okay to hate him!

At the end of the interview, Jason talks about how collaborative the entire process had been and how Miles greatly helped him with the writing as well as Josh and Austin’s direction, who he hopes will still be on it. He says to thank them.

Well, that was fun! I will say, Jason hit all of the right buttons for me and I do legit hope that he can come back. But even if he can’t, this was so great and having his contribution was amazing. Thank you again for everything Jason~

[tamaratrabuuniverse]

Thoughtful Interaction Design - Chapter 2 - Löwgren, J., & Stolterman, E. (2004) (This is a summary) 2. The Process (S15) - Theorie of Design can never be comprehensive or complete in any sense - in order to be able to "use" explicit theories and models, the designer has to remain critical. - The Designer has to rely on her own reflective and critical mind, based on a thoughtful understanding of how design can serve a purpose. (S16) - design process as a thinking activity and as a social activity. 2.1 From Vision to Specification (S16) - In the design of the process, which takes place very early in a project, it is decided to what extent the process will focus on early phases, creative and innovative work, new technology, the organization in question, users, the needs of the client, analysis, and specification. - this kind of design of the design process requires thoughtful design. - a critical and reflective mind - one of these fundamental aspects is the recurrent leaping between details and the whole, or between the concrete and the abstract. (S17) - any design process is characterized by Dilemmas. - dilemma is the situation which involves choices that all lead to unsatisfactory solutions - The complexity of design and the nature of dilemmas make creativity fundamental - We distinguish among three levels of abstraction in early design work: the vision, the operative image, and the specification (S18) Visions - A vision is a first organizing principle that helps the designer to structure. - A vision can have different forms, is a preliminary idea of a basic solution. - he vision is only in the mind of the designer and it is usually sketchy and diffuse. - Visions will follow the designer through the design process and influence her analysis, studies, ideas, thoughts, and proposals. - vision is the designer's first organizing principle. (S19) the operative image (vlt. Erscheinungsbild) - The operative Image is a first externalization of the vision. - it says that a designer has to delve(eintauchen) into the situation, and all its dilemmas and complexity, with an Open mind. - The operative image has the function of bridging the abstract and elusive (schwer fassbar) vision to the concrete and complex situation. - finally decides how this process will move forward is the designer's ability to refine the operative image. - the operative image can increase from the vision, stabilized when more visible, is operational (betriebsbereit), enables communication (S20) specification - There is no clear division between design and construction - in the construction process new design situations inevitably come up. - we are not talking about a linear process nor an iterative process. Instead it is a fully dynamic dialectical process. The vision, the operative image, and the specification influence each other continuously. (S21) - A design situation can never be restricted to the extent that there is only one solution, because if that were the case, it is, by definition, not a design situation 2.1.1 Design as a Thought Process (S22)   - To be good at design, you have to understand what seems to be the "nature" of design thinking. 2.1.2 The Problem and the Solution (S22) - the design situation is established in parallel with the first design proposals. - Decisions and choices have to be made, and the vision influence all of these decisions and choices. - Donald Schön has influenced many design thinkers with his ideas on the nature of practical, action-oriented knowledge. (S23) - A well-known action leads to a result that in one way or another surprises the actor. - The actor tries to relate what she sees to similar Situations in her previous experience. - Schön describes a kind of conversation between the designer and the Situation. - Schön's terms, as reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action. (S24) - James Hillman (1996) talks about the authentic attention needed to fully grasp the reality around us. - good design work is knowledge creation and production - lt takes courage to avoid the simple solutions, to challenge the present situation, to oppose simplistic interpretations of what makes a proper solution. - A thoughtful designer is someone who knows the limitations and opportunities of design and understands how to handle them in a unique design Situation. (S25) - lf necessary, a thoughtful designer takes on the responsibility of educating the client, users, or anyone else involved in the process, in order to better facilitate a thoughtful design process 2.2.2 The Process and Levels of Abstraction (S25) - a consequence of reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action 2.2.3 Questioning (S26) - The "why question" challenges old ideas that have settled over time and opens up new avenues of thought. - The design is no longer a problem-solving activity, but a truly creative and innovative process. - 2.2.4 Degrees of Freedom and External Representations (S27) - When everything is possible and nothing is given, creativity has no friction, nothing to work with, nothing to build on - Designers always work within restrictions and limitations. (S28) - Design research has shown that most designers use some kind of external representations, such as sketches - Sketches: (1) to form ideas, (2) to communicate with oneself, and (3) to communicate with others. - 2.2.5 Exploring Design Possibilities (S29) - Divergence is an approach where the designer expands her thinking to cover broader issues, find more alternatives, and explore more opportunities - Convergence is about focusing on a specific solution or a synthesis of several ideas. 2.2.6 Capturing the Design Situation (S30) - Our ontology influences what we consider to be important aspects and dimensions of reality and our epistemology determines in what way we believe it is possible to acquire knowledge about reality. (S31) - It is necessary to create an image of reality that makes a good foundation for design. - a researcher is interested in reality whereas a designer is interested in what reality could become. 2.2.7 The Final Composition (S32) - The design process always results in a composition where all aspects, dimensions, ideas, limitations, and opportunities have to be molded into one design. - Composition is a delicate task involving balance and contrast. 2.3 Design as a Social Process (S33) - the design process ls almost always a social process. - 2.3.1 Caring for the Vision (S34) - studies show that successful design teams use a diverse set of strategies to disseminate and share the fundamental ideas that constitute the basis for a system. (S35) - another strategy is to appoint a "super designer." This person, who might be called a systems architect or lead designer, has the ultimate responsibility for taking care of the vision 2.3.2 Relationships and Roles (S36) - The role of a designer, in the design process, is shaped by her relation to the client and the user. - A skilled designer recognizes and knows when and how to involve different partners in the process, such as users, clients, decision makers, and others. - Dahlbom and Mathiassen (1993) present three roles an interaction designer: computer expert, socio-technical expert, and political agent. - The computer expert offers technical expertise and expects clients and users to specify what they want her to produce. (S37) - For Socio-technical it’s necessary to include social aspects in the design work to achieve a good system and satisfy users. - Political experts argue that the most important aspect of design is to take a stand in the ongoing struggle that is the design Situation. - 2.3.3 Design as a Project (S38) - Interaction design inherits a rich history of methods, models, and methodology from fields such as human-computer interaction, systems development, and software engineering. (S39) - The categories are contract development, product development, and in-house/custom development. (S40) - The less formal nature of in-house development often affords a more flexible design process. - This leads to the conclusion that "real" design is about finding ways to design a project within these preconditions and limitations- by accepting them or trying to change them. A design project is itself designed and depends on creative and innovative thinking for its success. 2.4 Designing the Design Process (S41) - We find that there is no clever way of defining away the intricacy of design. - Thoughtful design has to be based on a realization and understanding of the fundamental aspects of the design process - The thoughtful position is to view the whole situation as a design task: to design the design process.

Thoughtful Interaction Design - Chapter 2 - Löwgren, J., & Stolterman, E. (2004)

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In California: Newsom talks tough on reopening public schools; more details in Smart case

I'm Winston Gieseke, philanthropy and special sections editor for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, bringing you the day's key headlines on this windy Wednesday.

In California brings you top Golden State stories and commentary from across the USA TODAY Network and beyond. Get it free, straight to your inbox.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that all California schools should reopen when the new academic year begins next fall. His frustration was evident: “Money is not an object now. It’s an excuse," he said. “I want all schools to reopen. I’ve been crystal clear about that.”

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Newsom spoke at an elementary school in Santa Rosa that began welcoming students back this week. But his wishes remain an expectation rather than a mandate in California’s decentralized education system, where 1,200 school districts negotiate separately with teachers unions and ultimately govern themselves.

Facing political pressure and a recall effort, Newsom has said he plans to lift most of California's coronavirus restrictions on June 15 as part of reopening the state to business as usual. Earlier this month, he made a similar pronouncement, but many districts and teachers remain reluctant.

Newsom has repeatedly said he sees no barriers to getting the state's 6.2 million public school students back into classrooms now, as California's COVID-19 infections continue to drop and more residents are being vaccinated.

"If current trends and best practices continue, the next school year can begin with offering full in-person instruction to all students," the California Department of Health said in a presentation Wednesday that focused on school reopening. It specified that schools should plan to offer full days of instruction, five days a week.

How is this OK?’: Meanwhile, frustrated parents throughout the state, say that while students may be permitted to return to school in person, more than half will stick with distance learning.

Associated Press reports that Kira Gaber said she’s been told to send her kindergartner back to his San Francisco classroom with a laptop and headphones — while his teacher works online from home. “How is this OK? This is completely not in-person learning,” said Gaber, who doesn’t plan to send her son to class with a computer. “I’m going to send him with worksheets and a coloring book.”

Frustrated parents in San Francisco have even coined a new phrase for their latest classroom reality: "Zoom in a Room."

As more California counties open up vaccines to younger adults — tomorrow the state opens eligibility to everyone 16 and up — California public health officials warned of decreases in supply, the result of a national reduction of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The state has received about 2.4 million doses this week, and it expects 2 million next week and 1.9 million the week after. This is in addition to vaccines shipped directly to pharmacies and community health centers from the federal government.

This week, availability remains mixed, with some places reporting an excess of open appointments. Humboldt County in Northern California, for example, urged residents to make an appointment, saying that “hundreds of doses” were available through the weekend.

Similarly, a mass vaccination site at California State University, Los Angeles, announced it would take adults on a walk-up basis because of excess appointments. But by late Tuesday morning, the site was turning people away because of demand.

Paul Flores will face first-degree murder charges in the 1996 disappearance of Stockton college student Kristin Smart, authorities say.

Police said they believed that Flores, now 44, had been attempting to rape Smart, his fellow Cal Poly student, when she was killed inside his dorm room. His father, 80-year-old Ruben Flores, is charged with accessory to murder after the fact for helping to conceal Kristin’s body.

Both men were arrested Tuesday morning. The arraignment is set for Thursday.

“We’ve got physical evidence, we have witness statements, things that in our view in the totality bring us to the point where we believe we can go forward and prosecute Paul Flores for the murder of Kristin Smart,” San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow said during a press conference Wednesday.

Smart's body has yet to be found, but authorities received evidence in the last month regarding a possible location where she was taken, Dow said. He also did not rule out a plea deal with Paul Flores in exchange for information leading to Smart’s remains.

A venomous snake bit an employee at the San Diego Zoo Monday, according to zoo officials. A spokesperson for the zoo said the wildlife care specialist was immediately transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.

“Although the San Diego Zoo cares for a number of venomous reptiles, incidents like this are very rare, and the snake was contained at all times with no risk of an escape,” the zoo said in a statement.

The snake involved is an African bush viper, also known as Atheris squamigera. Native to parts of western and central Africa, their venom can cause fever, hemorrhaging and possibly death in humans, according to the University of Michigan's Museum of Zoology website.

While there is no known antivenom for an African bush viper's venom, per the Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester, New York, patients can be treated for their bites using antivenom created for other snakes' venom.

And finally, if you're a fan of woodies — those vintage cars with their signature wooden frames that evoke images of surfers transporting their boards to and from the beach — you are in for a rare privilege.

The Central Valley Woodie Club will be sponsoring its 15th annual Woodies in the Valley, an all-woodies car show, Friday and Saturday in Visalia. A sampling of the vehicles from 1928 to 1951, including original, restored and full hot-rod woodies, will be on display.

For more information on the event, visit valleywoodies.com or contact Wayne Yada, president of the Central Valley Woodie Club, at (559) 967-1357 or info@valleywoodies.com.

In California is a roundup of news from across USA Today network newsrooms. Also contributing: Associated Press. We'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with the latest headlines.

As the philanthropy and special sections editor at The Desert Sun, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising and people who give back in the Coachella Valley. Reach him at winston.gieseke@desertsun.com.

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Bitcoin Profit Calculator Review Is It Work or Not

Bitcoin Profit Calculator

A Bitcoin Profit Calculator allows you to identify how much can you benefit from a particular Bitcoin miner. It takes into consideration all appropriate costs, such as hardware, electrical energy, and fees.

Element Hash Rate BTC/USD Currency Exchange Rate BTC/Block Compensate Swimming pool Fees % Hardware Price (USD). Power (Watts). Power Expense (USD/kWh).

Bitcoin Profit Calculator Recap.

Go into the hash rate of your Bitcoin mining hardware (obligatory). Get in extra optional details, such as swimming pool costs, power prices, and so on. The more details you go into, the a lot more precise the outcome will certainly be. Outcomes will be presented automatically in USD (to see the in-depth estimation, click "Program Facts"). Some worths (e.g. the exchange rate) are updated instantly with the most recent network stats. However, you can change any type of worth by hand to simulate feasible situations.

For a comprehensive description regarding each part of the calculator go on analysis. Here's what I'll cover:.

Determining Bitcoin Profit Calculator. Hardware Prices. Equipment Performance. Electrical energy Expenses. Bitcoin Mining Difficulty as well as Network Hash Power. Bitcoin Price. Block Compensate. Frequently Asked Questions. Final thought: A Bitcoin Profit Calculator Anticipates the Future.

1. Determining Bitcoin Profit Calculator.

Bitcoin mining secures the Bitcoin network. Without miners, there would be no one to update Bitcoin's journal, which is known as the blockchain. The even more miners you have, the more decentralized and secure the network is. As a result of miners' important role in the network, an incentive system was developed so that miners will certainly be made up for offering their solutions.

Each block mined by miners includes a block benefit-- a taken care of amount of Bitcoins that are paid to the miner that mined the block.

While mining today is very affordable, it's possible to run an effective and also profitable mining operation. Allow's describe the many variables that will determine whether your mining procedure will certainly pay.

Equipment Prices. Antminer S17+. Manufacturer:. Bitmain. Hashrate:. 67 TH/s. Power intake:. 2680W. Success ranking:. 5 Celebrity Score. View Miner. AvalonMiner 1166. Producer:. Cannan. Hashrate:. 68 TH/s. Power consumption:. 3196W. Profitability rating:. 4.5 Star Rating. Sight Miner. T3+ Pro. Maker:. Innosilicon. Hashrate:. 67 TH/s. Power intake:. 3300W. Profitability rating:. 4 Star Ranking. View Miner.

The up-front price of mining equipment is usually the largest cost for any kind of new mining operation. Just like excellent computer systems set you back even more cash, excellent mining equipment is pricey. There are 3 main mining hardware makers today that provide miners on the marketplace.

When buying mining equipment, you will want to look at a miner's hash price measured in Terra Hash (Th/s). A greater hash rate means a much more effective miner.

Miners likewise produce heat as well as require to be provided with electricity. Unless you currently have the required components, you will likely need to purchase cooling fans as well as power supplies. Make certain to take these right into account and also include them right into the "hardware price" section of the calculator.

Equipment Performance.

Hash power alone is inadequate to identify the top quality of a miner. Similar to the means autos are rated by their MPG (miles per gallon), miners are valued by how many Bitcoins they produce according to the electricity they take in.

The factor for that is that miners utilize large amounts of electricity, and power expenses money. Basically, you desire a miner that has a high hash price and also makes use of the supplied electricity efficiently.

W/Gh (watts per gigahash) is the metric utilized to show a miner's efficiency. The lower this number, the extra efficient the miner.

Electrical power Prices.

Electricity prices can make or break a mining procedure. A huge month-to-month electric bill implies considerable costs in addition to the up-front cost of the equipment.

China's cheap electrical power is among the reasons almost 60% of Bitcoin's network hashing power is located there. In the USA, for instance, a lot of mining equipment is run in Washington State, where power prices are fairly low-cost thanks to hydroelectricity. Venezuela's situation and the cheap power resulting from it have actually made Bitcoin mining incredibly successful there.

Electric expenses for cooling down are yet one more variable to take into consideration, as miners generate significant heat throughout the mining procedure. Inadequate cooling might harm your mining procedure and even bring about permanent damage in the equipment. However, there are means to harness this by-product to your benefit.

Imaginative miners in chilly areas can utilize the heat produced by miners to warm their homes in the winter months. If the heat produced by miners will partially change your regular heating costs, it can be another means to save money and also improve your possibilities of success.

Additionally, miners in chilly areas also have a benefit due to the fact that they may not need to use additional followers to cool down the hardware.

Mining Difficulty as well as Network Hash Power.

In order to maintain Bitcoin's inflation in check, as even more miners sign up with the network the trouble is increased i.e. it gets harder to extract. This makes sure that Bitcoin blocks are mined, typically, every 10 minutes. Simply put, a greater trouble is a sign of more hash power on the network (i.e much more or more powerful miners are at job).

Mining profits is based partially on the present problem to mine Bitcoins. Problem can (and also will) change. Stay sharp to breakthroughs in mining technology as well as efficiency to obtain a much better idea of just how the network's hash price and problem may look down the line. From past experience, it normally increases as time passes (typically 0.4% each day). Bitcoin Cost.

Bitcoin's price is extremely unpredictable and also can't be anticipated. Mining Earnings is displayed in USD based on the exchange rate at the time of calculation.

This indicates, you might calculate your productivity today with a Bitcoin rate of X and experience a rate decline to Y a day later that will significantly affect your success. In other words, be prepared for cost movements as well as recognize that Bitcoin's price is an aspect that you can not manage.

Block Award.

Unlike Bitcoin's rate, the Bitcoin block incentive is foreseeable: every four years (or 210,000 blocks to be precise), the amount of Bitcoins awarded for every block, is cut in half. In 2012, the benefit was cut from 50 Bitcoins per block to 25 as well as is now 12.5 Bitcoins per block. In 2020, this incentive will be up to just 6.25 Bitcoins per block, etc.

Keep in mind that while each cutting in half cuts miners' incentive in half, the increase in demand that results might result in Bitcoin's rate rising, keeping mining profitable.

3. Frequently Asked Questions.

Just how Do I Beginning Mining Bitcoin?

Obtain a Bitcoin miner. Sign up with a mining swimming pool. Install a mining software program. Begin mining.

The Amount Of Bitcoins Can You Mine in a Day?

In June of 2019, if you utilize the Antminer S17 Pro (56 TH/s, 2212 Watts) with an electrical energy cost of $0.12/ Kw you can extract 0.00188769 Bitcoin in someday. Nevertheless this calculation might be obsoleted when you read this as Bitcoin's trouble modifications every 2 weeks. It's ideal to run a brand-new estimation before beginning to mine with updated stats.

The length of time does it require to mine a Bitcoin?

Presuming you're using the Antminer S17 on June 2019 it would take 531 days to mine a full Bitcoin with the Antminer S17. Nevertheless this estimation may be outdated when you read this as Bitcoin's trouble changes every 2 weeks. It's best to run a brand-new computation prior to starting to extract with updated stats.

Is Bitcoin Mining Still Profitable?

It's still possible to earn a profit from Bitcoin mining if you have the ideal equipment and low sufficient electrical power costs. However, today mining as a pastime is almost non-existent because of the intense competition in this area. If you're serious about extracting you must conduct adequate research study before purchasing your initial miner.

Also, bear in mind that revenue is NOT profit. You need to consider extra mining expenditures or missing costs that weren't become part of the calculator. (e.g. the cost of your mining equipment or the power it requires to run it as well as cool it down if required).

3. Final thought: A Bitcoin Profit Calculator Anticipates the Future.

To conclude, a Bitcoin Profit Calculator can provide you a much better idea concerning your potential to run a successful mining operation. Keep in mind, nevertheless, that some factors such as Bitcoin's cost as well as mining trouble, change daily and can have dramatic results on profitability, so it is necessary to perform approximately date calculations when required.

If you have extra remarks or concerns do not hesitate to leave them on the remark area listed below.

From Simple & Accurate "2 Clicks" Bitcoin Profit Calculator (2020 Upgraded). https://thebitcoinprofitapp.com/bitcoin-profit-calculator

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Best Vape Tanks 2018

Best vape tanks 2018

This is the Vaping360 best vape tank page. We explore the best vape tanks on the market to help you find the best one suited to your preferred vaping style. The below vapor tanks are the top rated ones across different categories (MTL clearomizers, sub ohm tanks and RTAs).

Our picks are based on our team’s many years of combined of vaping experience. If you are unsure which type of vape tank is for you, then be sure to check out our vaping tank information section at the bottom of this page. We hope you find the best tank for your vape.

Best mouth-to-lung vape tanks

Aspire Nautilus 2

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Pros

Compatible with original Nautilus BVC coils

Durable construction (protected glass)

Satisfying mouth-to-lung draw

Flavor on par with original Nautilus series

TPD compliant

Top fill

Cons

Stiff airflow adjustment

Specifications

Capacity: 2 mL

Size: 22 x 53 mm

Thread: 510 thread

Material: aluminum / pyrex glass tube

Aspire has gained quite a reputation from mouth to lungers with their Nautilus line. The Nautilus 2 takes the best features from each product in this line, to create the ultimate MTL device. They have also made some improvements such as top-fill, pinpoint airflow and a futuristic aesthetic.

The Nautilus 2 comes with 1.8 ohm BVC coils pre-installed, much like the original Nautilus tank. There is also an option to use 0.7 sub ohm coils. The maximum capacity is 2 mL, making it TPD compliant. The draw simulates the sensation of smoking with a restrictive draw, even wide open.

The tank is 22 mm and reminiscent of the old Nautilus Mini, with a new modern twist. The outer shell also helps to protect the glass against bumps and scratches. Perfect for mouth-to-lungers.

Innokin Zenith MTL

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Pros

Easy to use

Good coil performance

Good coil longevity

Good flavor

No leaking/flooding or gurgling

Easy to swap coils without emptying the tank

4 mL capacity (non-TPD version)

Competitively priced

Tutorials from Phil Busardo will help new vapers

Cons

No super-tight airflow option

A bit of whistling on some airflow options

Can’t take apart to wash

Can’t replace glass

Specifications

Size: 24.7 mm (D) x 53.2 mm (L) (4 mL version) | 24.7 mm (D) x 48.9 mm (L) (2 mL TPD version)

Material: 303 stainless steel

Fill: easy-twist top fill

Airflow: bottom-adjustable five-hole airflow

510 drip tip

The Zenith MTL provides a satisfying experience for beginners and MTL vapers. Designed by two of the most well-known vaping YouTube reviewers, the tank uses pre-made coil heads that slide right in for extra convenience. The Zenith doesn’t flood, leak or give any dry hits.

Measuring in at 23 mm in diameter, the Zenith holds 4 mL of e-liquid. It has an adjustable airflow system that can be adjusted for either MTL vaping or a restrictive lung hit. The tank features one of the easiest to use top-fill systems that can be accessed by slightly turning the top cap.

Halo Triton II tank

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Pros

Tiny and discrete

Replaceable 0.75 sub ohm coils

TPD compliant

Adjustable airflow

Multiple coil options

Two included in kit

Nice value

Trusted name

Cons

Suitable only for low-wattage vaping

Specifications

Color: stainless steel

Tip Color: standard / widebore

Capacity: 2.0 mL

Resistance: 0.75 ohms

Tank Length: 70 mm

Width: 14 mm

Thread: No

If you are looking for a simple, inexpensive sub ohm vape tank, this is it. The Halo Triton II takes replaceable coils and fits up to 2 mL of juice. It has adjustable airflow, 0.75 sub ohm coils. Each pack includes two tanks, an excellent value from a trusted name in the vape industry.

Halo also offers multiple replacement coil options for the Triton II and juice to refill it with. They are slim and discreet, but produce a flavorful cloud. It will be your go-to sub ohm clearomizer. It puts out a satisfying puff of vapor while providing the perfect MTL or restrictive direct lung draw.

Vapefly Nicolas

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Pros

3 mL capacity

Plug and pull coil replacement

9 precise airflow options

Smooth restrictive draw

Sub ohm MTL tank

Flavor is on point

1.8 ohm coil option

Cons

Not TPD compliant

Specifications

Diameter: 22 mm

Height: 46 mm

E-liquid capacity: 3 mL

Thread type: 510 thread

A company by the name Vapefly has recently fulfilled a need for a mouth-to-lung tank for sub ohmers. Enter Nicolas. Similar to the Nautilus Mini, but with notable improvements. A valid MTL option. It has 9 precise adjustable airflow settings and a convenient plug and pull coil system.

The Nicolas is 22 mm in diameter and holds 3mL of e-liquid. It comes in black and stainless steel options. Suitable for flavor chasers who enjoy a tight draw or a nice, restrictive lung hit. The flavor, build quality and overall design is up there with the best MTL tanks on the market.

Innokin Prism T20

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Pros

Good flavor for a MTL tank

No-spill coil swap system

Easy to use top-filling method

Slim design (20mm)

TPD compliant

Coils use organic cotton

Cons

Doesn’t perform as well with high-VG liquids

Specifications

Diameter: 20 mm

Capacity: 2 mL

Coil: 1.5 ohm

Material: SS + pyrex

Thread: 510

Innokin delivers everything a mouth-to-lung vaper could hope for with their new Prism T20. It is a top-fill 2mL tank that is 20 mm in diameter. The coils use organic cotton delivering huge flavor for a tiny, MTL device. It also utilizes a special coil-swap system to eliminate any spillage.

A solid option for those who want a slim mouth-to-lung tank with great flavor and performance.

Eleaf GS Juni

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Pros

Nice MTL draw

Multiple coil options

Low profile tank

Good flavor

Nice airflow system

Affordable

Cons

Coil material not specified

No top-fill

Specifications

Diameter: 20 mm

Height: 42 mm

Weight: 19.4 g

E-liquid capacity: 2 mL

The Juni GS is a simple and affordable tank. It has a precise adjustable airflow system for a wide array of vaping styles. The entire tank comes apart for easy cleaning. Two different coil heads are available. One for mouth-to-lung (cigarette-style) vaping and one for sub ohming.

The Juni measures 20 mm in diameter and holds 2 mL of juice. It has a simple yet refined look. It only stands at 42 mm in height. For the price, the Juni GS is a versatile option for a new vaper on a budget. It’s also a solid backup or companion tank even for the most experienced vaper.

JAC Vapour S17 TF

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Pros

Good coil longevity

Three coil options

Solid flavor

Good build quality

Durable

Top-fill

Cons

Uses proprietary coil heads

Non-removable glass

Specifications

Dimensions: 17 x 51.5 mm

Stainless steel and glass

Resistance range: ≥ 0.5Ω

Adjustable airflow

Capacity: 1.8 mL

Removable drip tip/top fill cover (adapter available to convert to standard 510)

JAC Vapour specializes in creating starter kits geared towards beginners. Their products are dependable enough for every vaper. The S17 is their latest tank, based off their past success. It utilizes the same coil heads but now features top-fill, so it’s easier to use than ever before.

The tank is 17 mm in diameter and holds 1.8 mL of e-liquid. It uses either 0.5 or 1.0-ohm direct lung coils or 1.0-ohm MTL coils. The flavor is comparable to some of the best tanks out there like the Nautilus 2. The coils are tiny but provide big flavor and have a rather long life span.

Best vape tanks for clouds (sub ohm tanks)

Uwell Crown III

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Pros

Great overall performance

Locking top mechanism

Convenient half-twist top fill

Coils break in fast

Can handle a lot of power

Smooth quiet airflow

Good build quality

Cons

Doesn’t perform as well when tank is half full

Tank gets hot after chain vaping

Condensation build ups in drip tip

Specifications

24.5 mm diameter base

5.0 mL max capacity

Anti leak threaded top fill method

3.5 x 6 mm dual-fill Ports

Crown 3 plug and pull replacement mechanism

0.25 ohm SUS316 parallel coil 80 to 90W

0.5 ohm SUS316 parallel coil 70 to 80W

Vertical coil design

Plug and pull design

Threadless design

Convenient and fast coil installation and replacement

Crown 3 key tool

Coil changing and tank cleaning

Precision triple adjustable bottom airflow

11 x 2mm each

Stainless steel construction

Available in other finishes

Quartz glass

Stainless steel 510 threading

24 K gold-plated contact

The Crown is back! One of the most popular tanks ever made is now better than ever. The Uwell Crown III is a 24.5mm tank that holds 5 mL of e-liquid. It features an anti-leak threaded top fill with large fill ports. The Crown II utilizes a smooth bottom airflow design.

The coil heads have been redesigned with a new plug and pull system. Instead of having threading like most coils, you simply just pop them in. Crown III coils come in 0.25 ohms that run from 80 to 90 W and 0.5 ohm coils good for 70 to 80 W. Both are made of 316 stainless steel. Enjoy crisp flavor in both wattage and temperature control mode with the Uwell Crown III.

Aspire Cleito EXO

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Pros

Resilient tank design

TPD compliant (when using EXO coils)

Big airflow slots

Resistant to leaking due to gasket seal

Still accepts original 0.4 and 0.2 ohm Cleito coils

Huge vapor/flavor production for a sub ohm tank

Includes spare drip tip

Cons

Non-adjustable airflow

Need to refill often when using EXO coils

Specifications

Size: 23.5 x 57 mm

Capacity: 2 mL (TPD version) / 3.5mL (standard version with 0.4 ohm coil)

Coil: 0.4 ohm (40-60 W) / 0.16 ohm (60-100 W)

Thread: 510 thread

The Cleito is back and stronger than ever. It still accepts the original Cleito 0.4 ohm coil heads in addition to the new EXO coils, which convert it to a TPD-compliant (2 mL) device. Expertly machined using stainless steel and durable PCTG technology. Dual top air slots deliver more than enough airflow for mid-wattage vaping.

The Aspire Cleito EXO is 23.5 mm large and holds 3.5 mL with original 0.4 ohm coils rated from 40-60 W. The EXO coils are 0.16 ohm claptons good for 60-100 W. The top cap has convenient knurling and a full gasket seal. Last but not least it has a 24 K gold-plated 510 connection.

SMOK TFV8 X-Baby

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Pros

Convenient top fill system

Big dual 16 mm by 2 mm airflow holes

Beastly clouds and flavor production

Two types of coils available (0.4 and 0.5 ohm)

Good build quality

Cons

Not compatible with original Baby Beast coils

Specifications

Size: 24.5 x 59 mm (standard edition) / 24.5 x 57 mm (EU edition)

Capacity: 4 mL (standard edition)/ 2mL (EU edition)

Coil: X Baby Q2 dual coil – 0.4 ohm (40-80 W)/ X Baby M2 dual coil – 0.25 ohm (3.7 V mech mod)

Material: stainless steel

Thread: 510

Introducing the Baby Beast Brother! SMOK has reimagined the TFV8 into a new 4 mL device. Sizing in at 24.5 mm in diamter, it features the same top filling method that made the TFV8 popular. It also has two huge 16 mm by 2 mm airflow holes suitable for a nice direct lung draw.

The build quality on the X Baby is pristine, as you would expect from SMOK. The tank was designed not to leak, due to its top hinge locking system. It takes M2 0.5 coils (30-50 W) and Q2 0.4 ohm coils (40-80 W). An excellent choice for those who love a flavorful mid-wattage vape.

SMOK TFV12 Baby Prince

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Pros

Mesh coil included

Easy top fill with lock

Spare glass included

Uses Baby Beast coils

Cobra resin drip tip

Perfect for direct lung vaping

Good tolerances

Cons

Coil material not specified

Specifications

23 mm base diameter

26 mm diameter at widest point

4.5 mL maximum juice capacity

Stainless steel construction

Bulb glass pyrex glass – food-grade

High-grade glass reinforcement

High-temperature resistant

Convenient top-fill rotary design – lock button mechanism

Dual adjustable airflow control at base

Compatible with TFV8 Baby Beast coils

0.4ohm V8 Baby-Q4 quadruple coil – rated for 30-65 W

0.15ohm V8 Baby-T12 red light – rated for 50-90 W

0.15ohm V8 Baby mesh – rated for 40-80 W

810 cobra resin ultra-wide drip tip

510 connection

Available in stainless – black – purple – white – auto pink – gold – green – red – prism blue – rainbow (7-color)

The beast is back! If you’re all about flavorful clouds, then this tank is for you. SMOK took some of the best features from the Prince and put them in a reimagined Baby Beast. It now features locking top-fill, a cobra drip tip and uses a low-profile bubble glass that holds 4.5 mL of juice.

The Baby Prince utilizes the standard TFV8 Baby Beast coil heads. The tank comes with three. You receive a standard 0.4-ohm Q4 coil, a red LED 0.15-ohm T12 coil and a new 0.15-ohm mesh coil head! It gives you the performance of a Prince tank, in a smaller baby-sized package.

Freemax Fireluke Mesh

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Pros

Good build quality

Smooth and clean threads

Large fill ports

No Leaks

Wide variety of color options

Resin/steel/carbon fiber options

Excellent flavor and vapor production

Long-lasting coil heads

Includes matching 810 resin drip tip

Cons

Tank must be empty to replace coil heads

Coils not currently for sale in matching colors

Specifications

Size: 24 mm (D) x 46.5 mm (L)

Material: 316L stainless steel + pyrex glass

Stylish knurled surface to replicate the appearance of mesh

Thread: gold-plated 510 connection

Diameter: 24 mm

Juice Capacity: 3 mL max capacity

Fill: threaded top fill

Airflow: dual bottom adjustable airflow

810 drip tip

Mesh is the new wave. Freemax is leading the mesh revolution with their latest sub ohm tank. It’s available in a wide range of colors and styles. The Fireluke Mesh uses mesh kanthal coil heads to provide more surface area and flavor. They also last longer than your typical coil.

The tank has a smooth airflow system and puts out tons of thick clouds. It is 24 mm in diameter and it holds 3.5 mL of e-juice. The Fireluke Mesh takes sub ohm vaping to a new level with its mesh coil heads. It has a unique look that sets it apart from the sea of sub ohm tanks out there.

Vape tanks explained

Different types of vape tanks

There are many different types of vape tanks but fortunately they can all be broken down into two main categories: mouth-to-lung and direct-lung. This refers to the type of draw you can take off them.

A mouth-to-lung tank resembles the type of pull that you would get off a cigalike or an actual cigarette. A mouth-to-lung, or MTL draw typically involves two steps: taking a pull, and inhaling, just like you would with a traditional “analog” cigarette.

A direct-lung inhale is when you pull vapor directly into your lungs in one single motion. Direct-lung tanks have bigger air holes, called air flow, which creates that looser draw.

Many vape tanks have adjustable airflow, however, it is hard to make a tank that satisfies both the MTL and DL vapers. Although it can be done, most of the tanks are marketed to either one of the two. Read on to learn about the differences between these MTL tanks.

Mouth-to-lung vape tanks

Mouth-to-Lung, or MTL tanks were found at the onset of vaping and had a purpose, which was to help simulate the experience of a cigarette. MTL vape tanks have a tighter draw and require a two-step inhalation process. MTL vape tanks are not geared for gigantic clouds.

MTL tanks were becoming endangered at some point but are not yet extinct. Many companies realized that they were missing out on a huge portion of the market and since then have revisited making products geared towards Mouth-to-Lung vaping.

A common misconception about mouth-to-lung vaping is that they are only for new vapers. Although suitable for beginners and transitioning smokers, MTL vaping is a preference. Many vapers are satisfied with this method over the other popular style.

Another important thing to note about mouth-to-lung vape tanks is that they typically do better with e-liquids that are thinner in viscosity. For this reason, it is recommended that you use e-liquid that is no more than a 60/40 ratio of VG to PG.

Click for more information on the differences between PG vs VG.

Direct-lung (sub ohm) tanks

Direct-lung, often abbreviated as DL, evolved from the previous form of vaping that we spoke about, MTL. In DL vaping, vapor is pulled directly into the user’s lungs, without a step in between, unlike a mouth-to-lung inhale which is a two-step-process.

Whereas the MTL inhale is closer to a cigarette, the direct lung inhale is more similar to the way people take “bong rips”. These vape tanks usually provide a looser draw, due to having more airflow, much like when you release the carburetor on a bong or a water pipe.

Direct lung tanks are often referred to as “sub ohm tanks”. Sub ohm refers to the resistance of the coil which is less than 1 ohm. This translates into more vapor, flavor and a warmer, denser cloud. The airflow found on a sub ohm tank is typically suitable for DL vaping.

Last but not least, direct lung vape tanks are able to handle thicker e-liquids than MTL tanks. Although thinner liquids may also work in them, you may experience some leakage. This is due to sub ohm vape tanks having bigger airflow and juice flow holes, and are geared for clouds.

RTA’s or rebuildable tanks

An RTA, or rebuildable tank atomizer, is simply a vape tank that can be rebuilt. In other words, it has a deck where coils can be installed versus having to purchase pre-made coils. It is marketed more towards advanced vapers and isn’t very practical for beginners.

An RTA can be made for both mouth-to-lung vaping, direct-lung vaping, or both. It can be easy to switch between the two simply by changing the coils and airflow control. In 2016 we started seeing many sub ohm RTAs due to the popularity of DL vaping.

One of the best parts about using an RTA is the ability to save money. Wire and cotton can be bought in bulk and comes out a lot cheaper than buying pre-made coil heads. This makes rebuildable tanks the perfect option for the vaper who wants to save dough.

[ellapurnelltextiledesign-blog]

Once we’d given ourselves a week to focus on our individual sketchbook work, we agreed to meet up on the Monday of the second week and compare drawings. We gathered all of our drawings together on a large table and began playing around with compositions and prospects of colour within them. We made the drawings behave some what more physically, as we placed those which were similar next to each other. Furthermore this gave us an opportunity to experiment with layering images on top of each other, all the time whilst trying to figure out how all of these different drawings, from seven individuals could be merged into digital designs that would fit the brief we had been given. The image attached to this post is a photograph of an example of piecing different images together, which I took during this group decision-making activity. These particular concepts of design which were created by myself and Amalia were easy to pair, simply due to the colours we’d both used and also because of the similarity between the marks. Actually, as a whole, it wasn’t difficult to determine the similarities between our work, as we’d all focused on drawing inspiration from the same subject. Therefore once we’d spent some time thinking about the similarities and differences between the images, we knew that we could make them work well as collaborative designs, whilst still letting our individual drawing styles show. 

As a group, we were determined to show our tutors our full potential and how well we could work as a group, and part of this meant sticking to a schedule so that we didn’t fall behind, considering the project didn’t lend us much time. We decided that we needed a colour palette so that we could continue creating sketchbook work throughout the next three weeks, whilst only using the colours from the chosen colour palette. This would ensure that we were taking working as a group seriously, as we wanted to maintain some similarities between our individual work. This was also a step towards refining some digital designs as it gave us something basic to consider. 

We concluded our colour palette through researching Patagonia’s most commonly used colours. They tend to use primary colours within their designs, so we decided we’d do the same but change the shades slightly so that they would fit the brief of S/S17, and also because our aim was to create a brand new collection for the company, which for us meant a fresh set of new colours! The purpose of the grey shades is to provide an undertone, and we also thought that they would even out the designs if we were to use them as background colours, as they would contrast well with the brighter colours. To give us more to work with we also decided to include two pastel shades of pink and blue, just so we had something to work with on a gradient level which would contribute to levelling out a design if that’s what it needed. We each contributed our thoughts throughout this conversation and everyone had equal opportunities to discuss their ideas, therefore we all left knowing that we had collectively concluded our group colour palette. 

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Best Vape Pens for E-Liquid, Dry Herb and Waxes in 2018

Best vape pens of 2018

Halo Triton II

JUUL

JAC Vapour S17 TF

Innokin Endura T20-S

Kandypens Rubi

V2 Pro Series 3X (3-in-1 vaporizer)

Kandypens Prism Plus

Kandypens Galaxy

What is a vape pen?

Vape pens, also referred to as vaporizer pens, vapor pens or vape pen mods are tiny pen-shaped vaporizers. Originally vape pens were made to look like cigarettes but since then have evolved into their own thing. Vaporizer pens are typically powered by a small battery that screws onto a tank or atomizer that contains a heating coil system. The vaporizer pen is then loaded up with nicotine-containing liquid and when the button is pressed, the battery engages the coil and vapor happens.

In the most recent data, British health officials have found that vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking. They say it is the nicotine addicts, but smoking kills. For that reason alone, many people are making the switch. Vaping is not 100% safe but the name of the game is harm reduction.

Even cannabis users have been switching over to vaping to avoid the harmful side-effects of combustion. Today they have vaporizer pens made for wax and dry herb. The dry herb vape pens utilize a heating chamber to vaporize your herb.

The first vaporizer pens looked more like a cigarette. They are often referred to as cigalikes or e-cigarettes. Eventually, manufacturers started making these devices bigger to incorporate more powerful batteries and eventually they looked more like pens than cigarettes. Vapor pens are used for vaporizing vape juice, wax and dry herb.

Contrary to their name, they have yet to make a vape pen that you can actually write with.

Best vape pens for e-liquid

Halo Triton II

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Pros

Portable size

Kits comes with 2 x pens and tanks

Flexible draw style

Affordable and great value for money

Easy to use

Cons

No top-fill

Specifications

700 mAh battery

2 mL tank

MTL and DL capable

Adjustable airflow

The Halo Triton II is an outstanding device for beginner vapers and experienced vapers a-like. The Triton II provides everything a vaper could want from their e-liquid vape pen. This vape combines flavor with plumes of vapor, all in a small, affordable package.

For $45, users receive two Triton II vape pens, 3 coil heads and two tanks, as well as chargers and a wall adapter! The airflow can also be adjusted to cater for both MTL and direct lung style draws allowing vapers to choose the right vaping style for them. Combine the Triton II with some great Halo e-liquid and you are onto a winner.

JUUL

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Pros

Smallest vape pen on the market

High nicotine perfect for smokers

Super easy to use (uses pods)

Similar in size to normal cigarette

Amazing quality and innovation

Cons

Battery life (given its small size)

Specifications

Battery capacity: 200 mAh

Battery type: automatic lipo

Nicotine choices: 50 mg

Flavor choices: Cool Mint / Fruit Medley / Creme Brulee / Virginia Tobacco

Clearomizer option: N/A

Portable charging case: N/A

Warranty: 1 year

The JUUL is a pod style vape pen. It is by far and away the easiest vape pen starter kit to use on the market. If you don’t want the hassle of coils and filling tanks then the Juul is for you. The JUUL is a pod vape, meaning it uses a super simple pod system. The pods are prefilled cartridges that slot into the device and can be immediately vaped on.

The JUUL is also the smallest vape pen on this list and is roughly the size of a medium-sized USB stick. The Juul can only be vaped MTL and features a very high nicotine e-liquid which is well suited to smokers looking to switch to vaping.

JAC Vapour S17 TF

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Pros

Well constructed

Simple to use

Top fill

Stylish

Affordable

Suitable for DL and MTL

Lightweight

Cons

Glass not removable

Specifications

900 mah battery

Quick top fill tank

Mouth to lung and direct lung capable

Compact cylinder form

USB passthrough charging

High build quality

Simplified high-end performance

JAC Vapour is a trusted brand in Europe. They were some of the first companies to make e-cigs and vape pens. The S17 TF is a practical vape pen that offers a great experience for both mouth to lung and direct lung vapers. New TF version features a convenient top-fill option.

This vape pen is made with the beginner in mind. It’s simple, easy to use and dependable. With the included 1.0-ohm coil, the experience is similar to that of a cigarette. If you’re interested in blowing bigger clouds, there are sub ohm direct-lung coils available for the S17 TF as well.

Innokin Endura T20-S

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Pros

Looks good

Small

Easy to use

Good MTL draw

Easy to clean

Good coil life

Variety of colors

Durable rubberized finish

Good build quality

Cons

Not compatible with older Prism coils

Non-adjustable airflow

Can’t change coil with liquid in tank

Specifications

Battery capacity: 1500/2000 mAH

Maximum output wattage：18 W

Maximum output current：6 A

Maximum output voltage: 3.85 V

Clearomizer resistance: 0.6 ohm (min.)

Charging: micro USB DC 5 V/0.5 A

The Innokin Endura series focuses on flavor and throat hit over big clouds. The T20-S is a vape pen that anybody could appreciate. It uses coils that pop in, and don’t need to be screwed in. The tank provides a mouth to lung draw that is perfect for somebody just transitioning to vaping.

The T20-S battery is available in either 1500 or 2000 mAh. It’s 20 mm in diameter to match the width of the tank and comes in a matching rubber finish. The kit is durable and dependable. For the price, it’s easily one of the best vape pen starter kits on the market right now. The T20 tank utilizes two different types of coils. One of them is 0.8-ohm coil and the other one is 1.6 ohms.

Kandypens Rubi

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Pros

Impressive vapor production

Good flavor

Consistent performance

No leaking or spitback

Refillable pods

Lifetime warranty on battery

Suitable for MTL vaping

Cons

No pass-thru charging

No visible liquid monitoring

Specifications

Super compact: 100 x 17 x 8.5 mm (Only 4 inches tall)

Universal micro-USB charging port

LED battery indicator

Developed & designed in the USA

Refillable 1 mL capacity pod

Leak-proof pod design with air carb

Lifetime warranty (battery)

Draw activated (no power button)

Ceramic coil with Japanese cotton

Charges in under 1 hour 20 mins

The RUBI is not your average vape pen. It looks like your typical pod vape, but it puts out a bigger cloud than most. The best advantage is the freedom to use any e-liquid of your choice. Its 1 mL pods are refillable, The performance is consistent and surprisingly awesome.

Kandypens has a great reputation based on their wax pens. Only recently did they start making products for use with e-liquids. They have managed to develop one of the best refillable vape pens, which is why it is on the top of our list. Its 280 mAh battery comes with a lifetime warranty!

Best weed & oil pen

V2 Pro Series 3X (3-in-1 vaporizer)

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Pros

Variable voltage

Good flavor

Good mouth to lung draw

Magnetic charging system

Vaporizes e-liquid / wax and dry herb

Improved battery life

Pass-through charging

TPD Compliant

No leaking

Compatible with Series 3 pods

Cons

Uses a proprietary charger

Some gurgling with non-disposable pods

Tighter draw

Herb/wax pods sold separately

The Series 3X is everything you need to start vaping, whether you are just quitting cigarettes or want a new way to enjoy your dry herb or wax. This powerful and versatile vape pen allows you to switch between all three easily and quickly by utilizing a secure magnetic connection.

The Series 3X has made significant improvements to the Series 3 including increased battery life capacity, variable voltage options, battery indication and an improved e-liquid system. Both pens are cross compatible with each other so you can use your existing herb/wax/e-liquid pods.

For dry herb, the Series 3X is one of the few vape pens on the market right now that can actually vaporize without combustion. For wax, it works just as well, giving you a strong and flavorful hit. Not to mention the option of being able to vape some e-liquid too if you want. V2 proudly stands behind all of their products and provides a lifetime warranty on all purchases.

Best vape pens for wax and concentrates

Kandypens Prism Plus

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Pros

Ultra compact design

Micro USB pass-through charging

Easy access to chamber

Good battery life

Decent airflow

Easy to clean and maintain

Ceramic/quartz coil options available

Cons

Pricey (Get a discount with our coupon code)

Specifications

Ultra compact design (Only 10.5 cm tall)

Medical grade electro plated stainless steel construction

All-ceramic heating chamber with ceramic plate

Dual quartz rods with titanium coils atomizer included

900 mAh sub ohm battery

No glues / wicks or dyes

Glass mouthpiece with splash guard

MicroUSB passthrough charging

Lifetime warranty (battery)

Handmade

Developed & Designed in the USA

If you’re looking for a wax vaporizer pen that is small, but packs a mean punch, check out the Prism Plus. It takes all of the great features of the Kandypen Mini to the next level. The 900 mAh battery has micro USB pass-through charging plus you can attach it to your regular 510 mod.

Trying to find for your first wax vaporizer pen? The Prism is a great place to start. If you already own a Kandypen and you are tired of the tight airflow and eGo charging, it may be time to upgrade. This wax pen hits like a train, especially when using those dual-quartz coils.

Kandypens Galaxy

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Pros

Powerful hit

Awesome flavor

Reliable

Sexy

Good battery life

Three “heat settings” (aka variable voltage)

Kandypens lifetime warranty on battery

Cons

Tight draw

Not cheap (But you can use our coupon code to save 20% and get a free spare coil-head!)

Specifications

Satin rubber finish with gold accents

Quartz crystal chamber

Dual quartz rods

Titanium coil

Elevated air flow system

10-second auto shutoff

Deep chamber

510 threaded

Wickless

No glues

No dyes

Hardshell carrying case included

Lifetime warranty (battery)

Get full control of your dabs. Titanium coils and quartz wicking provided a big and powerful hit on the highest setting, and a smoother, more flavorful draw on the lower settings. A hard hitting pen with awesome flavor. What separates this one from the similar-looking clones out there?

Reliability. Kandypens make some serious “daily-driver” pens that just work real well every time, without clogging up. The battery comes with a lifetime warranty. By using our code, you will not only get a discount, but a free spare coil head. One puff will transport you to another galaxy.

Why would I choose a vape pen?

Although box mods and sub ohm tanks are all the rage right now, vaporizer pens still have a purpose in this world. Here is a list of why somebody would choose an vape pen.

Inexpensive way to “try vaping” – Vape pen mods may not be the end-all-be-all, however, they are a great cheap way for people to get their feet wet. They can see what vaping is all about by purchasing a cheap vape pen for under $20 before they invest $100 into an advanced vape starter kit.

Convenience – Even vapers that own heavy boxes and mods might find themselves puffing on a vape pen when they are on-the-go, or vaping in a public place.

Endless Flavors – E-liquid vape pen starter kits are an upgrade from cigalikes because they allow the user to choose from virtually any e-liquid flavor they want. Many users also enjoy mixing flavors together creating endless possibilities of new flavor combinations.

Rechargeable – Unlike disposable cigalikes, vape pens are rechargeable which can save the user some money in the long run.

Stealthy – Some vapers don’t want to blow huge clouds when they are in public. Even if they are a direct-lunger, they might still carry a discrete MTL vape pen starter kit. If you’re using a dry herb vape pen, most people will probably think it is just an e-cigarette

The different types of vaporizer pens

E-liquid vape pens

These are the type of pens used to vaporize e-liquid, which is a liquid that contains nicotine, commonly referred to as an e-cigarette. They are not cigarettes! Many smokers have been switching over to vaping with vaporizer pens because they find that it satisfies their nicotine craving, and is a much healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes.

They say nicotine addicts, but tar kills. Fortunately vapor is tar-free.

Oil vaporizer pens

The same type of vape pens are also used for cannabis concentrates, usually referred to as “oil.” These pens are used by medical cannabis patients and people who want to be ultra discreet. They usually come in cartridges with the atomizers and thc-containing e-liquid.

Recently there has been a new type of oil called CBD. This stuff is also made from cannabis, and is completely legal, since it does not contain the active compound THC. CBD is perfect for those who want to reap the medicinal benefits of cannabis, but don’t want to get high.

For more information on oil vape pens check out our best wax and oil pen guide.

Wax vape pens

The main difference between this type of vaporizer pen is that this is used for getting high. Wax is a highly concentrated cannabis product that contains tetrahydrocannabinol aka THC. These pens usually contain a coil that comes in contact with the wax and turns it into vapor.

For more information on wax/dab pens check out our best wax and dab pen guide.

Dry herb vape pens

Some vaporizer pens are also capable of vaping dry herbs. The first dry herb vape pens were extremely ineffective. However, these days there are a few weed vape pens on the market that perform close to that of an actual cannabis vaporizer.

Dry herbs have been used for centuries for meditation, relaxation and medicinal purposes. Certain flowers and herbs can be dried and crushed and then inserted into a vape pen that is capable of vaping them. The vape pen chamber will heat up the dry herbs which will release a vapor which can be inhaled. Certain flowers and herbs have different aromatherapy properties. Vaping marijuana through a vaporizer pen has become extremely popular, as you don’t need to burn the leaves as you would by smoking a joint. A 2007 study published in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics showed that vaping cannabis is a safer and more effective method of THC delivery than the traditional joint or bong smoking. However the same study indicated that many users reported that vaporized marijuana felt much more potent, so do be careful.

3 in 1 vape pens

You may have seen a device claim to be a 3-in-1 vape pen. Do they really vaporize oil, wax and e-liquid? Yes. There is a company called V2 that is best known for making e-cigarettes. They have two products available that are true 3-in-1’s allowing you to vaporize anything.

The V2 Series 3 is a vape pen starter kit that uses three different cartridges that can be attached easily by just popping them in. They have one for dry herb, one for waxy concentrates and last but not least one for e-liquid. They also make a Series 7 which is a more powerful version of this.

For a three-in-one device, the performance is solid. This is a perfect device for beginners who want to try vaping but don’t know where to begin. With one unit, you have the ability to vape just about anything you can get your hands on whether it be weed, dabs or plain old e-liquid.

For more information on the V2 Series 7 check out our full Series 7 review.

How do vape pens work?

All vape pens contain some kind of battery that powers the device. Next there is either going to be either an herb chamber for cannabis, or a coil that vaporizes e-liquid or wax. When the user engages the battery, it sends power to the heating coil or heating chamber.

What does mAh mean?

Simply put, mAh is an abbreviation for milliamp hours. All you really need to know is the higher mAh a battery has, the longer it will last before needing to be charged. Although vape pens have evolved, many vapers eventually end up turning to box mods with superior battery life.

What The !@#$ is a 510 connection?

You might notice that many of these batteries contain two sets of threads. One of them is compatible with eGo-style atomizers, while the other set is for a “510-connection”. Most 510 atomizers work with an eGo battery, however not all eGo’s work with 510 batteries.

There are however adapters that will allow you to put an eGo-device on a 510 connection.

808’s, heartbreak and 601 connections

Although eGo’s and 510’s are the universal standard, you might find a vape pen that uses a different connection. Since many people were buying parts for their vape pens from various manufacturers, some companies use unique threading to prevent this from occurring.

Some of these include 808 or 601 threading also known as the 710 connection. If this stuff is too confusing for you, all you need to know is to buy only eGo and 510 threaded devices, if you want the most options for upgrading. 510 threading is the most popular to date.

Some vapor pens use magnetic connections which completely eliminates a need for threading.

Anatomy of a vape pen

Battery – The battery provides power to the coils of the atomizer, which is what allows it to heat up and vaporize e-liquid, wax or dry herb. This is the power supply for your vape pen.

Coil – This is a piece of wire that has been wrapped around a small cylinder to create a coil that vaporizes e-liquid or wax. They usually contain some kind of wicking material.

Wick – This is the material found in a coil that absorbs e-liquid and wax thus optimizing vaporization. For e-liquid, this material is usually silica or cotton and for wax, quartz and ceramic it is quite common.

Atomizer – The atomizer is the part of a vape pen that contains some kind of coil that will heat up when the power button is engaged.

Power button – The power button, also called the fire button, is used to engage the atomizer. It is typically also used to turn the battery on and off by pressing it five times. Some batteries also allow the user to adjust their voltage by pressing the Power button three times.

Mouthpiece – This is the part of the vape pen that you put your mouth on and inhale from. You might hear someone refer to this as the drip tip, even if you are not dripping your liquid into it.

Fill port – Some vape pens might have what we call a fill port. This allows you to easily fill up while on the battery, instead of having to take it off and unscrew the whole thing apart.

Charging port – Some vape pens may contain a micro-USB charging port on the bottom or side. This usually allows for pass-through charging, meaning you can vape while it is charging.

Airflow control – Some vape pens may have airflow control, also referred to as an AFC ring. It allows you to customize the draw resistance to either Mouth-to-Lung or Direct-Lung vaping.

Threading – These are the threads on the top of the battery in which you screw on your atomizer. Most vape pens have some kind of threading, usually 510, eGo, or both. There are some rare alternatives that we will discuss later.

Choosing the best vape pen for you

The first step to choosing the best vape pen is to ask yourself, “what will I be vaping?”. (If you don’t know the answer to that question, you might want to look into a 3-in-1 device.)

Here are some other important factors to consider when purchasing your first vape pen:

Do you want a big vapor pen with a lot of battery life, or an ultra-portable one with less battery life?

Does it use micro-USB charging or will you have to carry a proprietary charger for it?

Does it have a lot of airflow or is it a mouth-to-lung pen with a tight draw?

How much dry herb/e-liquid/wax can this vape pen hold?

Does the quality match up with the price tag or are you looking for a cheap vape pen?

Does this best vape pen have good reviews?

E-cigarettes – Do I want a normal amount of vapor, or do I want to blow humongous clouds? (direct-lung or mouth-to-lung vaping)

Wax pens – Is it more of a flavor-pen or a hard-hitting pen? (Does it use coils or is it a coil-less vape pen?)

Dry herb pens – Does this pen actually vaporize dry herb or will it combust my material?

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Best Vape Tanks 2018

Best vape tanks 2017

Aspire Nautilus 2

Vapefly Nicolas

Halo Triton II tank

Innokin Prism T20

Innokin Zenith MTL

Eleaf GS Juni

JAC Vapour S17 TF

Uwell Crown III

Aspire Cleito EXO

SMOK TFV8 X-Baby

SMOK TFV12 Baby Prince

Freemax Fireluke Mesh

This is the Vaping360 best vape tank page. We explore the best vape tanks on the market to help you find the best one suited to your preferred vaping style. The below vapor tanks are the top rated ones across different categories (MTL clearomizers, sub ohm tanks and RTAs).

Our picks are based on our team’s many years of combined of vaping experience. If you are unsure which type of vape tank is for you, then be sure to check out our vaping tank information section at the bottom of this page. We hope you find the best tank for your vape.

Best mouth-to-lung vape tanks

Aspire Nautilus 2

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Pros

Compatible with original Nautilus BVC coils

Durable construction (protected glass)

Satisfying mouth-to-lung draw

Flavor on par with original Nautilus series

TPD compliant

Top fill

Cons

Stiff airflow adjustment

Specifications

Capacity: 2 mL

Size: 22 x 53 mm

Thread: 510 thread

Material: aluminum / pyrex glass tube

Aspire has gained quite a reputation from mouth to lungers with their Nautilus line. The Nautilus 2 takes the best features from each product in this line, to create the ultimate MTL device. They have also made some improvements such as top-fill, pinpoint airflow and a futuristic aesthetic.

The Nautilus 2 comes with 1.8 ohm BVC coils pre-installed, much like the original Nautilus tank. There is also an option to use 0.7 sub ohm coils. The maximum capacity is 2 mL, making it TPD compliant. The draw simulates the sensation of smoking with a restrictive draw, even wide open.

The tank is 22 mm and reminiscent of the old Nautilus Mini, with a new modern twist. The outer shell also helps to protect the glass against bumps and scratches. Perfect for mouth-to-lungers.

Vapefly Nicolas

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Pros

3 mL capacity

Plug and pull coil replacement

9 precise airflow options

Smooth restrictive draw

Sub ohm MTL tank

Flavor is on point

1.8 ohm coil option

Cons

Not TPD compliant

Specifications

Diameter: 22 mm

Height: 46 mm

E-liquid capacity: 3 mL

Thread type: 510 thread

A company by the name Vapefly has recently fulfilled a need for a mouth-to-lung tank for sub ohmers. Enter Nicolas. Similar to the Nautilus Mini, but with notable improvements. A valid MTL option. It has 9 precise adjustable airflow settings and a convenient plug and pull coil system.

The Nicolas is 22 mm in diameter and holds 3mL of e-liquid. It comes in black and stainless steel options. Suitable for flavor chasers who enjoy a tight draw or a nice, restrictive lung hit. The flavor, build quality and overall design is up there with the best MTL tanks on the market.

Halo Triton II tank

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Pros

Tiny and discrete

Replaceable 0.75 sub ohm coils

TPD compliant

Adjustable airflow

Multiple coil options

Two included in kit

Nice value

Trusted name

Cons

Suitable only for low-wattage vaping

Specifications

Color: stainless steel

Tip Color: standard / widebore

Capacity: 2.0 mL

Resistance: 0.75 ohms

Tank Length: 70 mm

Width: 14 mm

Thread: No

If you are looking for a simple, inexpensive sub ohm vape tank, this is it. The Halo Triton II takes replaceable coils and fits up to 2 mL of juice. It has adjustable airflow, 0.75 sub ohm coils. Each pack includes two tanks, an excellent value from a trusted name in the vape industry.

Halo also offers multiple replacement coil options for the Triton II and juice to refill it with. They are slim and discreet, but produce a flavorful cloud. It will be your go-to sub ohm clearomizer. It puts out a satisfying puff of vapor while providing the perfect MTL or restrictive direct lung draw.

Innokin Prism T20

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Pros

Good flavor for a MTL tank

No-spill coil swap system

Easy to use top-filling method

Slim design (20mm)

TPD compliant

Coils use organic cotton

Cons

Doesn’t perform as well with high-VG liquids

Specifications

Diameter: 20 mm

Capacity: 2 mL

Coil: 1.5 ohm

Material: SS + pyrex

Thread: 510

Innokin delivers everything a mouth-to-lung vaper could hope for with their new Prism T20. It is a top-fill 2mL tank that is 20 mm in diameter. The coils use organic cotton delivering huge flavor for a tiny, MTL device. It also utilizes a special coil-swap system to eliminate any spillage.

A solid option for those who want a slim mouth-to-lung tank with great flavor and performance.

Innokin Zenith MTL

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Pros

Easy to use

Good coil performance

Good coil longevity

Good flavor

No leaking/flooding or gurgling

Easy to swap coils without emptying the tank

4 mL capacity (non-TPD version)

Competitively priced

Tutorials from Phil Busardo will help new vapers

Cons

No super-tight airflow option

A bit of whistling on some airflow options

Can’t take apart to wash

Can’t replace glass

Specifications

Size: 24.7 mm (D) x 53.2 mm (L) (4 mL version) | 24.7 mm (D) x 48.9 mm (L) (2 mL TPD version)

Material: 303 stainless steel

Fill: easy-twist top fill

Airflow: bottom-adjustable five-hole airflow

510 drip tip

The Zenith MTL provides a satisfying experience for beginners and MTL vapers. Designed by two of the most well-known vaping YouTube reviewers, the tank uses pre-made coil heads that slide right in for extra convenience. The Zenith doesn’t flood, leak or give any dry hits.

Measuring in at 23 mm in diameter, the Zenith holds 4 mL of e-liquid. It has an adjustable airflow system that can be adjusted for either MTL vaping or a restrictive lung hit. The tank features one of the easiest to use top-fill systems that can be accessed by slightly turning the top cap.

Eleaf GS Juni

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Pros

Nice MTL draw

Multiple coil options

Low profile tank

Good flavor

Nice airflow system

Affordable

Cons

Coil material not specified

No top-fill

Specifications

Diameter: 20 mm

Height: 42 mm

Weight: 19.4 g

E-liquid capacity: 2 mL

The Juni GS is a simple and affordable tank. It has a precise adjustable airflow system for a wide array of vaping styles. The entire tank comes apart for easy cleaning. Two different coil heads are available. One for mouth-to-lung (cigarette-style) vaping and one for sub ohming.

The Juni measures 20 mm in diameter and holds 2 mL of juice. It has a simple yet refined look. It only stands at 42 mm in height. For the price, the Juni GS is a versatile option for a new vaper on a budget. It’s also a solid backup or companion tank even for the most experienced vaper.

JAC Vapour S17 TF

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Pros

Good coil longevity

Three coil options

Solid flavor

Good build quality

Durable

Top-fill

Cons

Uses proprietary coil heads

Non-removable glass

Specifications

Dimensions: 17 x 51.5 mm

Stainless steel and glass

Resistance range: ≥ 0.5Ω

Adjustable airflow

Capacity: 1.8 mL

Removable drip tip/top fill cover (adapter available to convert to standard 510)

JAC Vapour specializes in creating starter kits geared towards beginners. Their products are dependable enough for every vaper. The S17 is their latest tank, based off their past success. It utilizes the same coil heads but now features top-fill, so it’s easier to use than ever before.

The tank is 17 mm in diameter and holds 1.8 mL of e-liquid. It uses either 0.5 or 1.0-ohm direct lung coils or 1.0-ohm MTL coils. The flavor is comparable to some of the best tanks out there like the Nautilus 2. The coils are tiny but provide big flavor and have a rather long life span.

Best vape tanks for clouds (sub ohm tanks)

Uwell Crown III

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Pros

Great overall performance

Locking top mechanism

Convenient half-twist top fill

Coils break in fast

Can handle a lot of power

Smooth quiet airflow

Good build quality

Cons

Doesn’t perform as well when tank is half full

Tank gets hot after chain vaping

Condensation build ups in drip tip

Specifications

24.5 mm diameter base

5.0 mL max capacity

Anti leak threaded top fill method

3.5 x 6 mm dual-fill Ports

Crown 3 plug and pull replacement mechanism

0.25 ohm SUS316 parallel coil 80 to 90W

0.5 ohm SUS316 parallel coil 70 to 80W

Vertical coil design

Plug and pull design

Threadless design

Convenient and fast coil installation and replacement

Crown 3 key tool

Coil changing and tank cleaning

Precision triple adjustable bottom airflow

11 x 2mm each

Stainless steel construction

Available in other finishes

Quartz glass

Stainless steel 510 threading

24 K gold-plated contact

The Crown is back! One of the most popular tanks ever made is now better than ever. The Uwell Crown III is a 24.5mm tank that holds 5 mL of e-liquid. It features an anti-leak threaded top fill with large fill ports. The Crown II utilizes a smooth bottom airflow design.

The coil heads have been redesigned with a new plug and pull system. Instead of having threading like most coils, you simply just pop them in. Crown III coils come in 0.25 ohms that run from 80 to 90 W and 0.5 ohm coils good for 70 to 80 W. Both are made of 316 stainless steel. Enjoy crisp flavor in both wattage and temperature control mode with the Uwell Crown III.

Aspire Cleito EXO

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Pros

Resilient tank design

TPD compliant (when using EXO coils)

Big airflow slots

Resistant to leaking due to gasket seal

Still accepts original 0.4 and 0.2 ohm Cleito coils

Huge vapor/flavor production for a sub ohm tank

Includes spare drip tip

Cons

Non-adjustable airflow

Need to refill often when using EXO coils

Specifications

Size: 23.5 x 57 mm

Capacity: 2 mL (TPD version) / 3.5mL (standard version with 0.4 ohm coil)

Coil: 0.4 ohm (40-60 W) / 0.16 ohm (60-100 W)

Thread: 510 thread

The Cleito is back and stronger than ever. It still accepts the original Cleito 0.4 ohm coil heads in addition to the new EXO coils, which convert it to a TPD-compliant (2 mL) device. Expertly machined using stainless steel and durable PCTG technology. Dual top air slots deliver more than enough airflow for mid-wattage vaping.

The Aspire Cleito EXO is 23.5 mm large and holds 3.5 mL with original 0.4 ohm coils rated from 40-60 W. The EXO coils are 0.16 ohm claptons good for 60-100 W. The top cap has convenient knurling and a full gasket seal. Last but not least it has a 24 K gold-plated 510 connection.

SMOK TFV8 X-Baby

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Pros

Convenient top fill system

Big dual 16 mm by 2 mm airflow holes

Beastly clouds and flavor production

Two types of coils available (0.4 and 0.5 ohm)

Good build quality

Cons

Not compatible with original Baby Beast coils

Specifications

Size: 24.5 x 59 mm (standard edition) / 24.5 x 57 mm (EU edition)

Capacity: 4 mL (standard edition)/ 2mL (EU edition)

Coil: X Baby Q2 dual coil – 0.4 ohm (40-80 W)/ X Baby M2 dual coil – 0.25 ohm (3.7 V mech mod)

Material: stainless steel

Thread: 510

Introducing the Baby Beast Brother! SMOK has reimagined the TFV8 into a new 4 mL device. Sizing in at 24.5 mm in diamter, it features the same top filling method that made the TFV8 popular. It also has two huge 16 mm by 2 mm airflow holes suitable for a nice direct lung draw.

The build quality on the X Baby is pristine, as you would expect from SMOK. The tank was designed not to leak, due to its top hinge locking system. It takes M2 0.5 coils (30-50 W) and Q2 0.4 ohm coils (40-80 W). An excellent choice for those who love a flavorful mid-wattage vape.

SMOK TFV12 Baby Prince

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Pros

Mesh coil included

Easy top fill with lock

Spare glass included

Uses Baby Beast coils

Cobra resin drip tip

Perfect for direct lung vaping

Good tolerances

Cons

Coil material not specified

Specifications

23 mm base diameter

26 mm diameter at widest point

4.5 mL maximum juice capacity

Stainless steel construction

Bulb glass pyrex glass – food-grade

High-grade glass reinforcement

High-temperature resistant

Convenient top-fill rotary design – lock button mechanism

Dual adjustable airflow control at base

Compatible with TFV8 Baby Beast coils

0.4ohm V8 Baby-Q4 quadruple coil – rated for 30-65 W

0.15ohm V8 Baby-T12 red light – rated for 50-90 W

0.15ohm V8 Baby mesh – rated for 40-80 W

810 cobra resin ultra-wide drip tip

510 connection

Available in stainless

black

purple

white

auto pink

gold

green

red

prism blue

rainbow (7-color)

The beast is back! If you’re all about flavorful clouds, then this tank is for you. SMOK took some of the best features from the Prince and put them in a reimagined Baby Beast. It now features locking top-fill, a cobra drip tip and uses a low-profile bubble glass that holds 4.5 mL of juice.

The Baby Prince utilizes the standard TFV8 Baby Beast coil heads. The tank comes with three. You receive a standard 0.4-ohm Q4 coil, a red LED 0.15-ohm T12 coil and a new 0.15-ohm mesh coil head! It gives you the performance of a Prince tank, in a smaller baby-sized package.

Freemax Fireluke Mesh

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Pros

Good build quality

Smooth and clean threads

Large fill ports

No Leaks

Wide variety of color options

Resin/steel/carbon fiber options

Excellent flavor and vapor production

Long-lasting coil heads

Includes matching 810 resin drip tip

Cons

Tank must be empty to replace coil heads

Coils not currently for sale in matching colors

Specifications

Size: 24 mm (D) x 46.5 mm (L)

Material: 316L stainless steel + pyrex glass

Stylish knurled surface to replicate the appearance of mesh

Thread: gold-plated 510 connection

Diameter: 24 mm

Juice Capacity: 3 mL max capacity

Fill: threaded top fill

Airflow: dual bottom adjustable airflow

810 drip tip

Mesh is the new wave. Freemax is leading the mesh revolution with their latest sub ohm tank. It’s available in a wide range of colors and styles. The Fireluke Mesh uses mesh kanthal coil heads to provide more surface area and flavor. They also last longer than your typical coil.

The tank has a smooth airflow system and puts out tons of thick clouds. It is 24 mm in diameter and it holds 3.5 mL of e-juice. The Fireluke Mesh takes sub ohm vaping to a new level with its mesh coil heads. It has a unique look that sets it apart from the sea of sub ohm tanks out there.

Vape tanks explained

Different types of vape tanks

There are many different types of vape tanks but fortunately they can all be broken down into two main categories: mouth-to-lung and direct-lung. This refers to the type of draw you can take off them.

A mouth-to-lung tank resembles the type of pull that you would get off a cigalike or an actual cigarette. A mouth-to-lung, or MTL draw typically involves two steps: taking a pull, and inhaling, just like you would with a traditional “analog” cigarette.

A direct-lung inhale is when you pull vapor directly into your lungs in one single motion. Direct-lung tanks have bigger air holes, called air flow, which creates that looser draw.

Many vape tanks have adjustable airflow, however, it is hard to make a tank that satisfies both the MTL and DL vapers. Although it can be done, most of the tanks are marketed to either one of the two. Read on to learn about the differences between these MTL tanks.

Mouth-to-lung vape tanks

Mouth-to-Lung, or MTL tanks were found at the onset of vaping and had a purpose, which was to help simulate the experience of a cigarette. MTL vape tanks have a tighter draw and require a two-step inhalation process. MTL vape tanks are not geared for gigantic clouds.

MTL tanks were becoming endangered at some point but are not yet extinct. Many companies realized that they were missing out on a huge portion of the market and since then have revisited making products geared towards Mouth-to-Lung vaping.

A common misconception about mouth-to-lung vaping is that they are only for new vapers. Although suitable for beginners and transitioning smokers, MTL vaping is a preference. Many vapers are satisfied with this method over the other popular style.

Another important thing to note about mouth-to-lung vape tanks is that they typically do better with e-liquids that are thinner in viscosity. For this reason, it is recommended that you use e-liquid that is no more than a 60/40 ratio of VG to PG.

Click for more information on the differences between PG vs VG.

Direct-lung (sub ohm) tanks

Direct-lung, often abbreviated as DL, evolved from the previous form of vaping that we spoke about, MTL. In DL vaping, vapor is pulled directly into the user’s lungs, without a step in between, unlike a mouth-to-lung inhale which is a two-step-process.

Whereas the MTL inhale is closer to a cigarette, the direct lung inhale is more similar to the way people take “bong rips”. These vape tanks usually provide a looser draw, due to having more airflow, much like when you release the carburetor on a bong or a water pipe.

Direct lung tanks are often referred to as “sub ohm tanks”. Sub ohm refers to the resistance of the coil which is less than 1 ohm. This translates into more vapor, flavor and a warmer, denser cloud. The airflow found on a sub ohm tank is typically suitable for DL vaping.

Last but not least, direct lung vape tanks are able to handle thicker e-liquids than MTL tanks. Although thinner liquids may also work in them, you may experience some leakage. This is due to sub ohm vape tanks having bigger airflow and juice flow holes, and are geared for clouds.

RTA’s or rebuildable tanks

An RTA, or rebuildable tank atomizer, is simply a vape tank that can be rebuilt. In other words, it has a deck where coils can be installed versus having to purchase pre-made coils. It is marketed more towards advanced vapers and isn’t very practical for beginners.

An RTA can be made for both mouth-to-lung vaping, direct-lung vaping, or both. It can be easy to switch between the two simply by changing the coils and airflow control. In 2016 we started seeing many sub ohm RTAs due to the popularity of DL vaping.

One of the best parts about using an RTA is the ability to save money. Wire and cotton can be bought in bulk and comes out a lot cheaper than buying pre-made coil heads. This makes rebuildable tanks the perfect option for the vaper who wants to save dough.