Elf Bar FB1000 Pod Kit Review – Here’s To Your Elf!

In for review is the Elf Bar FB1000 Pod Kit…

Elf Bar don’t believe in doing things by half. One look at their website will show just how many types of disposable pod kits they’ve released. It’s quite mind boggling with the amount of Elf Bar flavours but their focus is crystal clear.

Since 2018, Elf Bar have been discovering the need for natural based taste. They fully appreciate how healthier ways of vaping are thriving year after year.

Their goal is to produce better vaping experiences. Healthier vaping experiences.

With the Elf Bar FB1000 Pod Kit we’re witnessing a change of direction. This is their first refillable pod system.

Thank you to Vape Club for sending this to me to review and I will report back honestly on my findings of this kit!

Elf Bar FB1000 Pod Kit – What Can We Expect?

For anyone used to pod kits expect more of the same.

For the purposes of today’s review let’s assume you’re used to disposable e-cigs such as the Elf Bar 600, T600 or CR500. We’ve looked at those in a previous review as well as the new Elf Bar ELFA which has a rechargeable battery.

The Elf Bar FB1000 makes use of a dedicated, refillable pod so expect a radical change. You’ll be maintaining it instead of disposing of it.

Once the juice runs dry, expect to refill the pod. You can do this with any e-liquid flavour of your choice. You’re not limited to what’s sealed inside a disposable e-cig.

It uses a “plug and play” mesh coil. Expect to replace it as soon as it stops delivering adequate flavour or cloud production.

The integrated battery is no longer ‘one time’ use. Expect Type C charging to breathe new life into it after an hour or so.

Elf Bar FB1000 Pod Kit – What’s In The Box?

The Elf Bar FB1000 comes in a strong, cylindrical box. The lid pulls off to reveal the contents.

• FB1000 Pod kit
• EBC M1 mesh coil (0.8ohm)
• Type C USB charging cable
• User Manual
• Lanyard
• Warranty Card

Unfortunately there was no warranty card with the sample I received. The packaging and official site also omits the inclusion of a type C USB charging cable – Don’t worry. It is in the box.

Elf Bar FB1000 Pod Kit – Features

The EBC M1 mesh coil is plug and play. It’s been specially designed for improved flavour performance and multiple use requirements.

There are two ways to vape. Button activated or by auto drawing. A single colour LED informs of functionality and battery status.

The Elf Bar FB1000 pod kit uses a quick and easy bottom fill system and is capable of handling 50VG/50PG e-liquid ratios as well as nic salt e-liquids.

It’s available in four colour schemes – Forest Green, Illusion Purple, Dark Blue or Sunset Yellow. It wasn’t stated on the packaging so I’m assuming I got the Sunset Yellow one.

Because the pod kit is so light, a lanyard has been included to extend portability.

Elf Bar FB1000 Pod Kit – Specifications

• Dimensions: 87 x 28.4 x 28mm
• E-liquid capacity: 3.5ml/2ml (TPD)
• Battery capacity: 1000mAh
• Maximum output wattage: 30W
• Output voltage: 3.7V
• Resistance: 0.6 – 3.0ohm
• Charging current: 0.5A
• Coils: EBC Coil – also compatible with Voopoo PnP coils over 0.6ohm

The pod kit is said to be compatible with the Voopoo PnP range of coils. Coil resistances of anything less than 0.6ohm are not recommended as the device may not function.

Elf Bar FB1000 Pod Kit – Design and Build Quality

It certainly doesn’t weigh much more than a traditional disposable e-cig. It’s made entirely from plastic including the PCTG pod. Does that cheapen the appearance? Not really.

Battery Section

You can see a couple of joins created during the manufacturing process but the actual design is OK.

The colour scheme is obviously created using a piece of coloured card which sits behind the clear plastic front panel.

The fire button protrudes slightly and has a solid reassuring click when pressed.

The rear of the battery section has a moulded ribbing. It does actually serve a purpose and prevent fingers from slipping so it’s not all about aesthetics.

It’s great that Elf Bar have included battery venting on the flattened base. The type C USB charging port is slightly recessed. It needs to be, given that the device sits comfortably in a vertical position.

With an overall circumference of 28mm there’s very little chance of the Elf Bar FB1000 toppling over.

A soft silicone lanyard band wraps around the top of the battery section. It does jut out slightly but full kudos to Elf Bar for allowing the option to remove it.

..It’s always the little things with me! lol

Two spring loaded coil contacts and a fully magnetised inner circumference ensure strong connectivity between battery and pod.

Battery Functionality

There’s nothing in the instruction manual about how to operate the device, which is worrying. Here’s what I’ve been able to uncover.

• Press the fire button five times to turn the pod kit on or off. The LED will flash white three times
• While vaping (auto draw or manual) the LED will display the current battery strength.
• Battery strength is denoted by a green LED (full to mid charge), blue LED (mid to low charge) or red LED (low charge)
• The LED flashes a single time when the pod is connected but does nothing when it’s removed

The only safety feature I discovered while testing was auto cut off while vaping. It’s set to ten seconds and the LED blinks red six times.

Pod Section

The circumference of the pod measures 25.8mm. From the underside to the top (and including the mouth piece) it measures 31.3mm.

I’m surprised that the Elf Bar FB1000 is being touted as a MTL (Mouth To Lung) pod kit. At 8.8mm the bore of the mouthpiece suggests more of a restrictive DTL (Direct to Lung) vape. We tell you what MTL and DTL mean in our Guide To Vape Styles.

I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

The airflow is fixed and hits the coil underneath.

Inserting and removing the plug and play coil itself couldn’t be any easier. Simply push it up into the pod and job done.

There’s no messing around with flat edges so there’s no wrong way of doing it. The same applies when connecting the pod to the battery section. Three small magnets ensure a firm connection and there’s little to no movement.

How To Fill The Pod

With the coil already installed…

• Remove the pod from the battery section
• Locate the silicone stopper on the bottom of the pod. Pull it open

• Gently squeeze e-liquid through the fill port taking care not to overfill the pod

• Push the silicone stopper back into place ensuring a firm seal
• Drop the pod back into the battery section

Leave the e-liquid to soak into the cotton for around five minutes before vaping a new coil.

Elf Bar FB1000 Pod Kit – How Does It Perform?

All I know is this is the proprietary Elf Bar EBC 0.8ohm mesh coil. Their first but hopefully more will follow soon.

It’s suggested the power from a fully charged battery is 3.7V. I’ll be going from personal experience while vaping and let you know my thoughts.

EBC M1 Mesh Coil – Flavour and Vapour Production

The four wicking ports are a clear indication the coil is capable of more than just a MTL vape.

I used Riot Squad Cherry Fizzle, a 50VG/50PG e-liquid ratio with 10mg hybrid nic salt strength to test the coil.

Using a manual draw the fire button response was instantaneous. No ramp up time from the brand new coil from Elf Bar. That’s just one of the things that impressed me.

The flavour quality was amazingly good. The mesh coil produced all the zingy quality I’ve come to know and love from this Riot Squad e-juice.

The sherbet was bright and popping, the cooling agent soothed the rear of the throat and the sweet cherry performed excellently throughout the exhale.

Vapour production from a fully charged battery is more than the average MTL starter device. There’s more than enough to satisfy either a new vaper or someone delving into the realms of sub ohm vaping.

For this reason I believe the coil was pumping out at least 25W from a fully charged battery.

Mouth To Lung and Semi Restrictive Vaping

Although it’s too loose for a MTL vape in my opinion, flavour quality doesn’t really suffer – another thing that impressed me about the EBC M1 mesh coil.

I really had lots of fun using the pod kit as a restrictive direct lung vape. The airflow restriction was bob on to my personal style of vaping. It felt comfortable, I got the smoothest of inhales and very little noise or turbulence was generated.

Auto Draw Vs Manual Vaping

Both work exceptionally well. I used a manual draw simply because that’s what I’m used to. As the battery depletes a manual draw will offer a little extra clout but the difference is negligible if a MTL vape is your bag.

The auto draw worked tirelessly and again, it impressed. It’s super responsive and sensitive to the weakest of lung pulls. As an example, it came in very useful when negotiating through heavy traffic on a push bike!

You’ll no doubt find circumstances of your own that will favour an auto draw.

Pros

• Fantastic flavour and great vapour production
• Smooth, quiet and turbulent free vape
• Stocky yet light weight and pocket friendly
• LED is bright and clear even in direct sunlight
• Ability to remove the silicone lanyard band

Cons

• Poorly conceived instruction manual lacks operational details
• Doesn’t pass the drop test. Pod separates from the battery (subjective)
• Mouthpiece can feel cumbersome
• A loose MTL vape (subjective)

Elf Bar FB1000 Pod Kit – Final Review Summary

Neil’s Negative End

Let me get my major gripe out of the way first. The instruction leaflet is poorly conceived. Despite being asked to ‘carefully read’ the warning section there’s no mention of functionality or battery safety.

The device uses a colour LED to represent various stages of battery drain or failure. What do the flashes and colours represent and how potentially dangerous is this to the user?

Particularly a new vaper..

There are even a few basic spelling mistakes (quite funny!) but in general, Elf Bar need to raise their game on battery safety and awareness.

For example, the LED remains lit even when the battery has been fully charged.

Because the Elf Bar FB1000 pod kit doesn’t offer a true MTL vape (in my opinion) it may not be suitable for the fledgling vaper. They will be seeking out the much tighter draw commonly associated with traditional cigarettes.

Since I’ve aimed the review at those vapers, it could be hit or miss.

It’s more of an intermediate device, designed for someone looking to branch out into sub ohm vaping in a subtle and grounded way. That’s because it doesn’t chuck massive clouds. It’s more representative of the transition between mouth to lung and restrictive direct lung vaping.

Neil’s Positive End

The flavour quality is so damn good! It was extremely impressive how it handled all the notes and tones in a bright, clean and crisp way. The flavour seemed more concentrated than many mesh stock coils. At times it did taste a bit wet but not at the expense of spit back or juice in the mouth.

Even with a 50VG/50PG juice and restrictive lung vaping, cloud production is quite dense and more than satisfies.

It’s very quiet and noise free during the inhale which makes it perfect for discreet vaping during social gatherings.

All this leads me to believe Elf Bar have got the balance of coil performance to battery capabilities just right.

The coil doesn’t leak. Even condensation levels were at a minimum.

The battery held up for 8 hrs and it took one hour to recharge. I harvested four hours from green to blue status. A further four between blue and red status.

Be advised! Once the LED turns red you’ll only get another few minutes worth of vaping. The LED then blinks red five times and ceases to function.

Note on charging: The LED remains red throughout the duration of the charge. Once it turns green, it’s fully charged.

I have to say for a first effort with an open pod system, Elf Bar have nailed it. Its early doors but the Elf Bar FB1000 pod kit is shaping up as a contender for my pod kit of the year!

Yes – I’m very impressed.

Have you had a go on the Elf Bar FB1000 pod kit? If so let us know what you think in the comments below!