Over the past three years, the vaping industry has seen exponential growth in both size and revenue. Aided by the parallel progression in the technology of vaping and the diversity of the marketplace, bolstered by the setup of numerous independent manufacturers, as consumers, we’re pretty spoilt for choice.
Whether you’re a beginner vaper looking for your first vape mod, or an experienced vaper looking to level up into the next strata of modding or just looking for a vape that’s gonna impress, we’ve picked out 9 of the best vapes on the market in 2017.
Our comprehensive comparison list covers the leading customisable vape mods, across categories like design, aesthetics, control and high-end vape mods.
After much consideration, community feedback and extensive testing, these are our top 9 vapes of 2017. And the awards go to...
Best Competition Vape Mod
Twizted Mod, Purge Mods
This award winning unregulated mod comes from the powerhouse Purge mod team. A stunning piece of hardware, this hybrid mod features exquisite CNC machine work, containing flawless threading and a 3 magnet button housing for a super comfortable throw. This mod hits hard with the best of them.
Specifications & Features
- 26mm body that tapers to 25mm at the tip
- Unique sleeve design
- Adjustable button that compensates for battery rattle
- Serialised
- Hybrid top cap
- All made in Orlando USA
- Best Unregulated Mod at VapeJam UK 2017
Best Mini Vape Mod
Target Mini, Vaporesso
The Vaporesso mini mod might be small in size, but it’s jam packed full of features.
A downsized version of their popular Target mod, it’s manufactured from the same zinc alloy and stainless steel. It still has temperature control support, covering the popular Ni200, Titanium and Stainless Steel wires, and a custom TCR input to control the TCR value of specific wires.
The 1400 mAh, with a 40w power output, can handle low ohm resistances down to 0.15ohm in variable wattage mode and 0.1ohm in TC.
Specifications & Features
- 58x36x24mm dimensions
- Weighs 200g
- Custom TCR input
- 5-40 watt output
- Solid zinc alloy and stainless steel construction
- In built 1400 mAh rechargeable (via USB) lithium battery
Best Box Vape Mod
Reuleaux RX200, Wismec
Slightly cheaper, but equally as awesome, as the Reuleaux DNA200, is one of the most unique vapes on the market. Designed by fashion designer Jay Bo, this mod is eye catching for all the right reasons, although it’s hexagon like shape isn’t just for aesthetic appeal, allowing it to take three 18650mAh batteries. This gives the Reuleaux excellent unit performance and around a 3-4 day lifespan (depending on wattage).
The 0.91 inch OLED panel displays battery, temperature, power control modes and coil settings, and allows you to switch between various coil modes using a simple up and down toggle. This is a high-performance mod, giving great flavour and clouds.
Specifications & Features
- 50 x 40 x 84mm
- Takes 510 thread
- 1-200w output
- Temperature range of 100-300°C
- 0.91 inch OLED screen
- Optimized Heat Dissipation Design
- Three Replaceable Cells & Magnetic Back Cover
- Multiple Ventilation Holes
Best Aesthetic Vape Mod
Suicide King Diamond Mod, Purge Mods
Purge mods have really outdone themselves this time. The Suicide King mod, with its sisters the Serenity Mod, Executioner mod, Karma mod, and, Speak No Evil, See No Evil and Hear No Evil mods, are beautiful examples of good collaboration.
The revolutionary sleeve-top design, silky threads and flawless engineering of the standard setting Purge mods is now joined by exclusive CNC machined artwork by artist Matthew Hargermann. Drawing from flash tattoo culture, the design work on the weighty tubes are impeccable down to the micro details, including an engraving on the bottom of the mod.
Specifications & Features
- 26mm body
- Unique sleeve design
- Adjustable button that compensates for battery rattle
- Serialised
- Unique CNC engravings
- Hybrid top cap
- Locally made in Orlando USA
- Exclusive Matthew Hagermann artwork
- Certificate of Authenticity
Our runner up was too good not to include an honorary shout out. So, second place goes to the newly dropped, limited edition Glow in the Dark Mods by Comp Lyfe for their impeccable paint splatter and engraved designs.
Best Custom Set-Up Vape Mod
Timekeeper Mod Custom Setup, Avid Lyfe
The Timekeeper from Avid Lyfe elevates their usually hard hitting mech tubes to a whole new level. Made exclusively with state of the art CNC machines and naval brass, this uniquely shaped tube mod comes with an adjustable magnetic brass firing switch and an unbelievable design.
Narrowly losing out to the Suicide King Diamond Mod for best aesthetic, this mod is as hard hitting as it is beautiful.
Specifications & Features
- Competition mod
- 24 mm diameter
- Unique hourglass body
- Heavy knurl top cap and bottom
- Adjustable magnetic brass bottom firing button
- 18650 high drain battery
- Hybrid connection
Best Tube Mod
Rig V3 and Roughneck V3 Setup, Vamp
Not one for beginners, the Rig V3 and Roughneck V3 needs some expertise to put together, but boy is it worth it. One of the most innovative vapes on the market right now, the airflow, coming from underneath the coil, is phenomenal. With a hybrid dripper, this solid copper mod hits like Mike Tyson.
This mod is extremely efficient; the threads are perfect, the spring has just the right amount of tension and the switch - which is comfortable no matter your firing style - hits the mark every single time.
Specifications & Features
Rig V3 Mod
- Lowest voltage drop
- Hard hitting
- 25mm wide
- Made from high-grade Copper
- Automotive grade 4lb spring
- Anti-rotational button
- Hybrid 510 cap
Roughneck V3 RDA
- Stainless steel body
- Insulated copper contact
- Insulated wide mouth piece
- Two posts, side clamp design for easy on the go builds
- 25mm to support any intricate series build
- Adjustable, bottom air flow for max flavour
- Deep juice well
- Rugged Craftsmanship to last a lifetime
- Hardest hitting Roughneck to date
Best Series Mod
Stratus Series Mod, Vaperz Cloud
Aimed at advanced users, this compact mechanical series box mod, with dual 18650, generates some serious voltage - 8.4 to be exact. As the first series box mod with a VC tech switch and a powerful throw guaranteed every time, this mod is really something special. Made from high-quality copper and brass, and wrapped with acrylic resin, this mod is as feels as good in your hand as it looks.
Specifications & Features
- Your choice of copper or brass
- Dual 18650 in series
- First VC series mod with VC Tech switch
- Non-hybrid
- Serialised
- Vent holes
- Gold plated battery doors
Best Squonk Vape Mod
Halcyon Squonker DNA200, and Malstrom Squonk Set, Lost Vape
Squonking is when your e-liquid is sucked directly into your tank from inside the body of the mod. All you have to do is squeeze the sides and e-liquid flows directly into your tank, saturating the wick, saving you the hassle of constantly refilling and making that famous squonk sound.
The Halcyon is the pinnacle of squonking. This fully enclosed vaping kit, shipped with the Malstrom RDA, is bursting with useful features and specifications. A squonk and solid pin 510 connection, stainless steel chassis and an integrated Evolv DNA200 chipset, offers up a multitude of airflow and drip tip choices and a fully customisable vape experience.
Specifications & Features
- Evolv DNA200 chip’s temperature and wattage control
- Evolv's Escribe software, over 93 vape options
- CNC milled 6061 T6 aluminium body
- Polished Anodized gloss finish
- Nickel plated phosphor copper battery contacts
- Micro-USB onboard charging (cord included)
- Pass-thru charging functionality
- Stainless steel 510 atomizer connector
- Ultra responsive custom milled stainless steel buttons
- Spring loaded nickel plated brass centre pin
- FullyMax 900mAh 3S battery
- User serviceable LiPo battery
- Feeds from bottom
- Carbon fibre cover
Best DNA 200 Mod
Tugboat DNA250, Flawless
Since it arrived on the market, the Tugboat DNA250 by Flawless has been a runaway hit, exemplifying the highest achievement of vaping innovation. Flawless ain’t called flawless for nothing, and this mod, combining their premium materials and impeccable build design with Evolv’s advanced DNA technology, is about as close to perfection as any one mod can get.
Just like that one kid everyone knew in school that was good at everything, this isn’t just the world’s most advanced personal vapourised controller, but one of the most stylish too. Manufactured from aluminium with a two piece construction, sealed for water resistance, this mod features an eye catching design, signature Tugboat engraving, and a baked ceramic finish.
Specifications & Features
- Hard anodised aluminium chassis
- Durable and light
- Long lasting
- 1250 mAh 3S lithium polymer battery
- Water resistant buttons
- Juice resistant
- Classic 3 button arrangement
- Micro USB charging port
- 22mm spring loaded brass 510 connection
- Non-conductive spring mechanism
- Evolv chipset
- OLED Screen
- Synchronous rectification
- Wattage control