Eleaf iTap Pod System Review – Warning! It Taps on its own!

The Eleaf iTap is from a brand that have been in this game a long time. Over the years I’ve used many Eleaf products, the iStick mods in particular, which in my experience have been generally well made, trustworthy and do the job really well.

The iTap is the latest pod system to come out of Eleaf, featuring a 800mAh battery, 30 watts of vaping power, a refillable pod, ‘Dry-Burn Protection’ and an option of a Temperature Controlled, or wattage mode coil.

So what’s so special about their latest kit? Let’s have a look!

This Kit was sent to me for the purpose of review. All views and opinions are solely those of my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of others.

What’s in the Box:

• 1 x Eleaf iTap Battery
• 1 x Refillable Pod (Cartridge)
• 1 x 0.75Ω Kanthal Coil (GS Air)
• 1 x 1.6Ω Stainless Steel Temp Control Coil (GS Air S)
• 1 x Micro USB Cable
• 1 x User Manual

Specs and Features

• Size: 20.0 x 16.0 x 102.3mm
• Weight: 42.7g
• Battery: 800mAh
• E-Liquid Capacity: 2.0ml
• Power Range: 30w Max
• Suitable Resistance: 0.4 – 3.0Ω
• Charging: Via micro USB
• Available colors: Blue | Black | Silver

Design and Build Quality

The Eleaf iTap is a very slender looking device, but with all pod systems there is only so much they can do to make theirs unique. Eleaf look to have gone down the smart, discreet look type style as opposed to something unusual and eye catching. It’s just a simple looking device with a few neat touches.

In the Hand

Measuring only 20cm in height, you can pretty much palm this device. And although its a square device, its curved which makes it very comfortable in the hand. It tucks perfectly in the hand and the fire button is in the perfect position for a comfortable thumb fire.

The Pod/Cartridge

Eleaf’s pod has a lovely shape to it and sits beautifully inside the device itself. Made from a thick polycarbonate/plastic it feels well built and extremely durable.

The mouthpiece is a little large in my opinion and this is where you need to keep your mind clean, because in order to get good suction, and a decent Mouth to Lung (MTL) vape, you really have to get your lips round the majority of the cartridge as opposed to just resting your lips over the tip… Glad thats over.

Features

The iTap offers two options with their coils, basically the 0.75Ω coil offers the usual wattage mode, and the 1.6Ω coil offering a temperature controlled mode, meaning almost no chance of a dry hit or overheated coil thanks to the ‘Dry-Burn Protection Technology’. But we’ll talk more about that coil in particular, a little later.

To switch her on and off, simply click the button 5 times.

A lot of Pod style devices rely on your inhale/drag to initiate the vapour, this one makes use of the fire button which you press and hold whilst taking a pull.

The LED fire button will glow green throughout your puff until your battery goes below 60%, at which point it will glow Blue (59%-20%) And if you’re battery is getting low, the Led will glow Red.

Filling the Pod

To fill the pod with e-liquid you firstly remove the pod from the battery part of the device, then:

• Remove the Rubber Bung completely, allowing air to escape from the secondary hole a you fill.

• You’ll find the bottle with the bigger tips won’t be easy to use with this pod as the holes are a little on the small side – But using a standard 10ml Nic-Salt bottle, you won’t have a problem.

• Once full replace the bung

Fitting/Replacing the Coil

Replacing the coils is simple enough:

• Take the pod section off the mod
• Unscrew the adaptor and unscrew the coil from the adaptor
• Fit your new coil in the reverse order
• Just make sure you alter your airflow on the base of the coil to your preferred setting before fitting the pod back into the device.

How Does the Eleaf iTap Perform?

I’m not a big fan of temperature control, it just doesn’t appeal to me and as big headed as it sounds I feel I’m experienced enough to have a good gauge on how and when I may experience a dry hit, which of course I avoid like the plague.

But I wanted to test out the ‘Dry-Burn Protection’ first – So I went straight in with the 1.6Ω SS coil

The 1.6Ω Temp Control Coil

Quite simply – It’s awful. And i’m not just talking about flavour and vapour production, I’m talking about functionality, it just doesn’t work!

If you get 2 pulls out of this coil before the LED indicator starts flashing, you’ve done well!

Why would it start flashing? Well it’s that good ol ‘Dry-Burn Protection’ kicking in… After 2 vapes?

Now maybe I’ve got a dodgy coil here, or maybe it’s just a good idea that’s been poorly implemented. Nonetheless within 2 hours of attempting to work it out. This coil was removed.

The 0.75Ω Power Coil

Thank goodness they included a second option. The 0.75Ω coil performs much much better. Vapour production is what you would expect from a pod system, it’s a gentle vape that disappears within a second or two, but it’s enough.

The coil has lasted me a number of days now and continues to shine, so I have no concerns over the durability and life of the 0.75Ω coil.

Flavour is acceptable, this kit isn’t going to deliver every note and nuance from a gourmet e liquid, but there’s enough flavour there to tickle your taste buds, and with this coil, you get a lovely, slightly warm vape that gives you a nice gentle throat hit when you have the airflow on a minimum.

So let’s talk a little more about airflow.

Airflow

Airflow is controlled via the base of the coil, and is pulled in via the 2 small slots on either side of the device.

When fully open, it delivers a very very tight restrictive Direct to Lung vape experience, and on the bare minimum (Half of a single hole open) – It delivers a fairly loose Mouth-To-Lung vape.

No matter where the airflow, it’s nice and quiet, no whistle, no turbulence. And the vape is very smooth. When the airflow is completely shut off, its way too tight!

In all honesty the ‘experience’ i’m looking for with this pod system, just isn’t there. The airflow is just not restrictive enough to make you ‘feel’ like you’re smoking a cigarette –

And isn’t that really the idea of a Pod System? To be used as a starter kit to help smokers get off the cigarette?

Battery Life

Boasting a 800mAh battery, I’ve managed to use this device for 2 days running without charging, and in most cases, it’s easily lasted me the day. Just out of habit I’ve stuck it on charge at some point in the evening to get it back up to 100%. But generally you shouldn’t have a problem.

Any Other Business/Concerns

OK so now I understand where the name ‘iTap’ comes from.

Something odd i’ve noticed, it’s actually quite concerning, by chance I happened to hold this device near my ear and I noticed a quiet tapping noise coming from the device!

At first I thought maybe it was me, so I removed the pod, switched it off, then put it all back together again. And the tapping came back!

When you take a draw, it goes away, but quickly reappears. It’s a 240bpm tap, coming from somewhere inside the pod. Turn the volume up and have a listen!

I have no idea what it is and why it makes this sound. But It’s a concern that I have raised with Eleaf. As soon as I get a response, I will let you know below.

Pros:

• Decent 800mAh Battery
• Very well built and looks quite smart
• LED indicator is bright and bold
• Fairly decent flavour for a pod

Cons:

• The 1.6Ω coil doesn’t work. I binned immediately
• Airflow isn’t restrictive enough for a nice Mouth to Lung (MTL) vape
• Airflow isn’t loose enough for a restrictive Direct to Lung (DTL) vape
• Random constant tapping noise when On.

Final Verdict

Let’s ignore the random tapping sound for now, until I get an answer from Eleaf I can’t comment any further on that. So let’s talk about everything else.

There’s a number of features that I look at when trying out a device, and for something to score highly, it needs to meet certain demands.

‘Would this device be long lasting and still work 3, 6 or even 12 months from now?’

The Eleaf iTap absolutely would, its build quality, design and finish are excellent, the battery is large enough that even 6-12 months down the line I’m pretty sure it will hold enough power to last the day.

Does this device deliver the flavour, vapour and general experience I require, in order to be enjoyed?

Quite frankly it doesn’t. Especially with the 1.6Ω coil. But the 0.75Ω coil does ok, it’s probably more the airflow that lets the kit down IMHO. At Max its too tight for a DTL, and minimum its too loose for a MTL, and shut off completely its like sucking on a blocked drain pipe – No pun intended.

Is this device versatile to suit a new vaper, and an experienced one alike?

I’m not sure who this kit would suit. I’m trying not to be too harsh on this because its so excellently put together. But it just doesn’t perform as it should.