A vape mod is at the top of the range in power and control. High wattage, a sub-ohm tank, removable cells and a wide direct-to-lung draw. It is not a first device, and we would rather say so than sell you one.
We stock two, both from brands with real service records: the VOOPOO Drag 5 at up to 177W on two 18650 cells, and the VAPORESSO Armour Max at up to 220W on two 21700 cells, or two 18650 on the adapter supplied in the box. Both charge over USB-C and both have colour screens.
Coils: the mistake that costs the most
The two devices take different coil platforms, and the names are close enough to be easy to confuse.
GTX and GTL are real VAPORESSO platforms for other devices, which is exactly why the Armour Max gets the wrong coil bought for it. If you own one, GTi is the only answer.
Tanks are a separate choice. The Uforce-X and the PnP X pod tank both take the PnP X platform.
Batteries, and one thing we will not pretend about
Both devices take two removable cells, sold separately. The Drag 5 takes two 18650s. The Armour Max takes two 21700, or two 18650 using the adapter it ships with. In either case, the number that matters is the continuous discharge rating in amps rather than the capacity in milliamp-hours. A high-capacity cell with a low discharge rating will sag under load and will not deliver what the screen says.
On the Armour Max, check the cell requirement before you buy. The VAPORESSO manual states that high-rate discharge batteries of 25A or better should be used. That is higher than the cells we currently stock are rated for, and it is the manufacturer's minimum rather than the figure for running flat out: at the full 220W, the mod draws roughly 38A from each cell. Our 18650 and 21700 cells suit lower-draw use and moderate-wattage running.
Cells should be bought in matched pairs, kept in a case rather than loose, and retired when the wrap is damaged.
What to run in it
70/30 high-VG freebase e-liquid at 3mg or 6mg. Every freebase bottle we stock is mixed at 70/30, thick enough to wick through a mesh coil under one ohm.
Not nicotine salts. A high-strength salt through a sub-ohm coil delivers several times the nicotine the liquid was formulated around. Salts belong in a pod kit.
For regular users, the larger bottles on this shelf generally work out at a lower cost per millilitre than pre-filled devices, which is a large part of why people move to this class.
Is a mod right for you
A mod suits you if you want maximum vapour and full manual control, you are comfortable buying and caring for cells, and you already know that you prefer a direct-to-lung draw.
A mod is the wrong starting point if this is your first refillable device. Start at a pod kit or a pod mod and move up if you find you want more. The 2026 refillable buying guide sets the three classes side by side.
Delivery
Nairobi and nearby towns, same day on an early dispatch. Many central Nairobi orders arrive in around 15 to 90 minutes, though this depends on location, traffic and rider availability. Next working day by courier to Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru and Naivasha, and 1 to 2 business days elsewhere in Kenya. A bus-office collection is often quicker than a doorstep drop. M-Pesa or cash on delivery, and free delivery in Nairobi on orders over KSh 2,000. Age verified before dispatch. Delivery policy.
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