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The Golden Greek Ithaka

After a wait that’s kept people in anticipation since December, the latest Golden Greek atomizer has arrived: the GG Ithaka, but not without it’s share of controversy.  Was it worth the wait, and the frazzled nerves?

The Ithaka, or The Odysseus Improved

Ithaka on GGTS

The Ithaka, like other Golden Greek offerings such as the iAtty, Odysseus and Penelope that preceded it, is a silica-based atomizer. While the setup of the Ithaka is quite similar to those other atomizers, there are significant differences.  This time around, for example, support for dual coils has been significantly improved, greatly increasing the potential output of this atomizer in comparison.

With two coils, the Ithaka is a powerhouse.  In a video tutorial about the Ithaka, maker Imeo Thanasis warns that if the Ithaka is set up this way, you may need to reduce your usual nicotine level a notch or two.  Knowing Imeo’s penchant toward overstatement, we were a bit skeptical, but after giving it a shot ourselves, we have to admit he may be right. After a little chain vaping, we’re definitely feeling the effects of the 12mg juice we filled it with for the first run.

The dual-coil configuration is supported by a fairly major change in the rebuildable part of the atomizer from the earlier GG atomizers: rather than having channels for a single wick, the Ithaka has two. Not only does this make it easier to set up two wicks with one coil per wick, but even in a single coil configuration we’re finding that the Ithaka wicks juice extremely well, and this becomes even more important with multiple coils.  While we did experience some dry hits with two coils, we suspect that with slightly thicker wicking material than the small strand included with the atomizer, this problem could be easily eliminated.

GGTS Performance without the GGTS

Ithaka on Poldiac

Another new feature of the Ithaka in comparison to other GG atomizers is its support for multiple PV types without needing to buy a special adapter.  Every Ithaka is capable of being used not only natively with a GGTS by threading directly onto the collector tank, but it has its own airflow control, identical in design to that of the GGTS, even when used with the included 510 base.  This means the Ithaka can be used on any PV the same way as on a GGTS, complete with GGTS-like air control. An adjustable center pin ensures the Ithaka will sit flush with the PV, even on mods without adjustment of their own.

The Scores

Build Quality: 9/10

The Ithaka, unsurprisingly for a GG atomizer, is a beautifully made device. The threading is smooth as can be, the finish is flawless, and it feels like a piece that could last a lifetime.  Our only reservation about it is the plastic tank common to other windowed GG atomizers.  Given the current lack of an available stainless steel replacement tank, a particularly hostile juice could potentially render the Ithaka unusable until a replacement can be obtained, and right now replacement tanks don’t appear to be available anywhere.  A stainless tank would provide a bit of peace of mind.

Looks: 10/10

If you’re a fan of the GG look, you’ll probably love the Ithaka.  It is styled very similary to the UFS or Odysseus (and, by extension, Odysseus clones like the Terminator-C) and looks right at home on top of a GGTS, though it’s also stunning on other PVs as well.  The added engraving of the GG wings and a serial number are crisp and deep, and add a little flair to the Ithaka.

Flexibility: 9/10

The Ithaka is easily the most flexible of the GG silica-based atomizers built to date.  With its built-in support for the GGTS, and any 510-based mod, it’s ready to use out of the box with whatever you want to use it on.  In addition, the Ithaka includes an overhauled rebuildable part that can easily support dual wicks if desired, in a couple different configurations. Further adding to the Ithaka’s options, an optional mouthpiece is available (though out of stock everywhere we’ve checked) that allows the use of any 510-based drip tip.  We’d probably give the Ithaka a 10 here, but it does not yet have all of the various configuration options of its predecessor, the Odysseus.

Performance: 9/10

We have been extremely impressed with the performance of the Ithaka. Particularly in dual-coil mode, it cranks out massive clouds of vapor and the flavor is excellent.  One caveat here: the use of silica wicks does affect flavor somewhat. This isn’t going to bother a lot of people, but some will surely not be fans.

Price: 7/10

At nearly $200 from Clouds of Vapor, the Ithaka is an expensive atomizer, and the spurts in which GG items are produced ensures this atomizer will be relatively hard to acquire, except in the second-hand market. However, GG devices are known to hold their value rather well, and we don’t doubt the Ithaka will be no exception to the rule, making it easy to get back the investment should you choose to sell your Ithaka.

New Post has been published on http://www.vapesquad.com/clouds-of-vapors-justin-responds-to-customer-backlash/

Clouds of Vapor's Justin Responds to Customer Backlash

Justin from Clouds of Vapor has posted on ECF, admitting that they were selling Ithakas at the meet. There was no explanation for why customers had not been notified of this decision or the status of their orders, nor was any justification given for why Ithakas were being sold by Clouds of Vapor before shipping pre-orders. While the post explains that pre-orders could be picked up in person at Vape Bash, no notification has gone out to customers informing them of this, and the number of Ithakas available for pickup was left vague.

“The… 20 Ithaka we did have to sell at the meet were at the price Imeo specified.”

There are questions about the number of Ithakas available for sale, which Clouds of Vapor has claimed to be 20. Some attendees at Vape Bash have reported seeing many more than that, and we here at Vape Squad have been able to confirm the names of at least four buyers, and have to assume we only know of a small fraction of the sales made.

New Post has been published on http://www.vapesquad.com/clouds-of-vapor-sells-ithaka-while-pre-orders-still-wait/

Clouds of Vapor Sells Ithaka While Pre-Orders Still Wait

We’ve received news that the new Golden Greek Ithaka atomizer, for which people have been waiting since pre-orders in December, is being sold at Vape Bash by Clouds of Vapor.

Clouds of Vapor is the only U.S. reseller for Golden Greek products, and many people have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Ithaka atomizer on U.S. shores, while it has been available in Europe for over a week.  In a message on Facebook, Clouds of Vapor had indicated the the atomizers were stuck in customs.  However, we’d heard sporadic reports that the atomizers were being sold at Vape Bash for less than the price paid by those still waiting, and these reports were confirmed when Bruce from Clouds of Vapor sold one of the units to Phil Busardo live on VPLive.

We anticipate a major backlash from this move, as those who pre-0rdered have yet to receive shipping notices from Clouds of Vapor, or even confirmation that their orders have arrived in the U.S.  We’re already seeing quotes like this one from ECF in the forums for Golden Greek:

New Post has been published on http://www.vapesquad.com/sailing-a8/

Sailing A8

The Box of Shame

This April 1st, the Joke Was on Us

Hidden away in the back of a dark closet, deep in the bowels of Vape Squad HQ, sits the Box of Shame.  It is the final resting place for co-op buys, impulse purchases, and badly considered trades that have gone horribly wrong.  On this April Fool’s Day, somewhat appropriately, a new atomizer was added to the Box of Shame: The Sailing A8 atomizer.

The Sailing A8 is a sort of Phoenix-style rebuildable atomizer with a tank. A cotton wick is strung between two posts, where a coil is wrapped, and the end tucked through a hole in the bottom of the atomizer section into a tank below.  It’s a well-tested and proven type of setup, so where did Sailing go wrong?

Garbage In, Garbage Out

In the case of the A8, it’s all about the build materials.  Specifically, it’s about the materials used for the tank, which appears to be a kind of polycarbonate.  Unfortunately, it also appears to be a very brittle kind of polycarbonate. Take a close look at the photo at the top of this article (click it to zoom), particularly where the tank screws onto the top threads.  See those cracks? There are no less than eight of those cracks circling the top of the tanks.  By all reports, we got a good one — many others who received Sailing A8′s in the same shipment have reported that their cracks were split right in half when they received them.

Normally, we try to do rather extensive testing on equipment we receive here, but frankly, we’re not going to bother with the A8.  We can tell just looking at it that it’s going to drain liquid faster than a drunk at an open bar, and we’re just not that willing to throw away good juice.

We had high hopes for the A8.  While early adopters had complained of quality issues, it was long enough ago that we’d hoped Sailing had made improvements by now.  Obviously, they have not.

The Scores

Build Quality: 1/10

We have given the Sailing A8 our lowest possible score when it comes to build quality.  We normally shy away from the extreme ends of the scale, but in this case we didn’t even want to put juice into the tank since it was obviously just going to leak back out.

Looks: 7/10

It’s a shame the tank on this atomizer is such an utter piece of crap, because it’s rather nice-looking. The integrated mouthpiece and slim profile give it a clean, attractive look that made us want to buy it just from the pictures of it.  However, in this case function does not come anywhere following form.

Flexibility: 6/10

As a rebuildable atomizer, there is some flexibility here,  You can use the built-in coil and wick, or your own, for a broad range of possible setups.

Performance: 1/10

While it may be unfair to score a device low on performance when we’ve never even filled the tank, in this case we feel justified.  If all your atomizer can do is sit collecting dust along with all the other junk you just refuse to ever use, we’d call that pretty rotten performance.

Price: 1/10

We’ve seen the Sailing A8 at U.S. retailers for around $25.  However, and this is probably to the credit of those retailers, we’re having a very hard time finding any retailers selling it right now.  It seems likely they sold, sent back, or threw away their initial stocks of this lemon and aren’t ordering them from Sailing any more.  We’ve seen a few places still carrying them overseas, however.

In any case, $25 for this steaming pile is about $25 too much.