The Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO kit is the latest from a brand that various reviewers at Ecigclick have had mixed results with in the past.
Based in Shenzhen, Hugo Vapor has released 10 different devices, starting with the box mod style and have now moved into the pod and AIO world.
Some of their mods are remarkably interesting looking, such as the Ranger GT234 which has a humongous screen and looks like a Lego box. The Orditer GT230 has a high-end look to it and then the BF Squeezer which is a squonker looks likes it could be a 3D printer device.
It is worth going and having a look on their website as some of the mods are unique in appearance.
What Can We Expect From the Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO Kit?
The Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO kit is a cylindrical palm sized set-up that has variable wattage and is extremely lightweight, with a simple easy to use menu system for functionality.
The mod offers a 5W to 40W range which is more than enough for the coils that can be used on this device.
With the Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO 1500mAh internal battery, it’s more than enough to run your device all day without having to run into a dead battery before your day is over.
Inside the Box
- Boxer AIO 40W Device
- Boxer AIO Pod 3.5ml (BX Mesh 0.4ohm coil pre-installed)
- Extra BX Mesh 0.4ohm coil
- USB Type-C Charger
- User Manual
Specs & Features
- Size 26x105mm
- Output: 5-40W Variable Wattage
- Battery: Internal 1500mAh
- Display: 0.91inch OLED Screen
- Liquid Capacity: 3.5ml /2ml TPD Regulation
- USB Type-C with 1A Charge Rate
- Adjustable Airflow
- Side Fill Port
Build & Design Quality
Overall Look & Feel
I am normally upbeat about looking at the build and design of vape products but I am really disappointed at the way the Boxer AIO Kit has been designed.
Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO Battery/Mod
The metal used feels cheap and flimsy.
I have a strong suspicion it’s to try and keep the product as lightweight as possible, but I feel they have skimped on the quality and gone with cheap and lightweight.
Hugo Vapor has decided to wrap the devices in stickers with different designs.
It feels unbelievably cheap as my sticker has already started to peel off the side. The stickers do not line up and has a hard stop so there is no continuity in the flow of the artwork.
However, my biggest gripe with the design of this product is the actual artwork that Hugo Vapor has decided to go for, especially the one I received. It looks like it has been made for a teenager as its got cartoon skulls, converse, headphones, spray cans etc all over it.
Currently in the USA as well as other countries, there are talks about vapour products being advertised for minors and this artwork fits the bill. I feel it was an extremely poor judgement call by Hugo Vapor to choose such images when the vape industry is fighting for the rights of vapers.
I have looked at the other designs available for the Boxer AIO Kit and there are 5 available. I would say only 2 out of the 5 are not inadvertently aimed at teenagers.
This has saddened me, and I feel that if Hugo Vapor would even just do different colour combinations or plain colours it would have been a better choice than what they have gone for.
The buttons on the mod are ‘clicky‘ which is a plus in my book, but they are made from extremely cheap plastic. If you do not hit the button smack bang in the middle it will not fire.
I have lost count of the number of times I thought my battery had died and then realised it was just the button not firing. I feel this is another design flaw that Hugo Vapor has made in the best intention of either cutting costs or weight in my opinion.
Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO Button Functions
- 5 Clicks for on and off.
- Hold power button and + to rotate the screen.
- Hold power button and – to lock the device.
The mod is extremely simple to use, which is great, as there is no need to worry about any other function.
When you insert the pod it sets to 25W which is the recommended wattage, so you don’t accidentally fire on 40W, this is a good safety feature for your coils.
The pod sports a USB Type-C charging port and charges in 90 minutes which is another plus for the Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO. Sadly, it’s on the bottom of the battery so you will have to lie the mod down to charge it.
Mine fell off the table and dented the body of the mod which was not surprising due to the thin metal used in the production of the device.
I am a very clumsy person and I do drop my devices, but none of my other mods have come close to receiving the damage the mod received from dropping not even a foot off the table.
Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO – Airflow
The airflow slots are poorly placed, one just above the fire button with the second on the opposite side of the battery. As the pod is recessed into the mod therefore the airflow ports are located where they are.
When you hold the device your index fingers will instantly find the most comfortable position to sit which happens to be right over the rear airflow slot.
To reduce or open the airflow all you need to do is twist the drip tip and then whole pod turns. The bottom of the pod has slots which will then cut off or open it up.
There is no real difference in either of the airflow settings, it’s either open or closed. There is also no restriction when closing the airflow. Hugo Vapor should have made it a fixed airflow or spent more time designing a functioning airflow system.
Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO – the Pod
The pod used in the Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO kit is basic when it comes to pod systems.
It uses a magnetic system to secure the pod to the connector within the mod.
The only real difference is that the magnets on the mod are shaped like a ring that goes all the way around the circumference of the pod. This is so you can adjust your airflow with the pod still making full connection with the mod.
This, I feel, is a great little feature.
It is made out of a hardened plastic that is frosted enough that you can easily see your liquid level when the pod is removed from the mod. When the pod is within the mod, it is impossible to see your level.
I feel Hugo Vapor should have at least put a viewing window along the side of the mod, dry hits are a real risk with this device. I have had to throw a coil away due to not being able to see my e-liquid level.
I was driving from work and vaping away when I got hit with a burnt cotton taste. As the Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO uses pre-made coil heads, it cannot be re-wicked and had to go straight into the bin.
The pod itself feels sturdy and well made. The rubber gasket on the side is easy to open and close, just be careful not to pull the whole rubber gasket off as it is ridiculously hard to reattach but not impossible.
Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO – Leaking?
The pod I received in the package does like to leak rather frequently.
Every time I remove the pod to refill there is always a film of liquid around the pod walls as well as a small puddle of liquid at the base around the connector.
I know this is not condensation, which is inevitable when heating a liquid, this is actual leakage.
It can also be found around the airflow slots within the coil head as well. This can be catastrophic if the liquid seeps into the chip within the mod as it will stop the mod working all together.
The picture is after only having a filled pod within the pod for approximately 10 minutes, as you can see the base has already started to rust as well as there being a fair amount of liquid.
On a personal note, there is nothing worse than having liquid on your hands as it is a nightmare to get off if you are not next to a sink with soap and running water.
When you must refill and pull the pod out, your hands get covered in e-liquid when trying to remove the gasket, this then transfers onto your liquid bottle when filling.
It becomes a mess and everything needs to be cleaned off. This is not good for someone outside who needs to refill and then has to find a bathroom to clean the device, e-liquid bottle and their hands.
How to Fill the Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO Pods
The pod filling system is extremely simple and easy to use, I have included a Quick Guide on how to fill your pod.
- Take your pod out of your battery.
- Turn pod so the rubber gasket on the side is facing straight up.
- Use your nail to pull the side closest to the mouthpiece end to expose the fill hole.
- Fill the pod using your e-liquid bottle whilst tipping the mouthpiece towards the floor. This will ensure your pod is completely full.
- Reattach the rubber gasket, making sure the rubber is flush with the pod.
- Place the pod back onto the battery and wait 5 minutes for the e-liquid to saturate the cotton.
How Does the Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO Kit perform?
Unlike other pod systems and AIO I have received, this kit only came with one type of coil head so I cannot compare it to any other Hugo Vapor manufactured coils.
This portion of the review will be shorter than previous reviews.
Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO – Pod Performance
Firstly, I am just going to outline the types of e-liquid that I use to test the performance of these coils. I only use e-liquids that I have been vaping on for many years so I have an excellent working knowledge of the notes I should be getting from the e-liquid.
I used Limey Slush by Joe’s Juice which is a 70VG/30PG at blend for both pods, this gives me a great base to work out the flavour differences.
Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO – BX 0.4ohh Mesh Coil
The coil uses the plug and play system with no threads which makes it super easy to install within the pod. This plug and play system has been adopted by lots of companies including Hugo Vapor.
No issues were found priming and installing the coils, this is then when the major issue came to light.
Most coils take an average of 5 to 10 minutes to fully saturate and for the coil to be broken in enough in order to get the full flavour of the liquid you have chosen to use.
Muted Flavour…
Within the first two hours I was still getting extremely muted flavours and a cotton taste on the inhale. I decided to just leave it until the evening, so a good five hours to be 100% sure the liquid had completely saturated the coil head.
When returning to the Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO, thankfully it was vapeable. I would say I got roughly 60% of the overall flavour from my liquid. I have continued to use the device for well over a week and it has not improved in flavour.
The vapor production from this coil head is low. I also have an issue with getting a bit of spit back from the pod which is not the best.
If I am completely honest, I am struggling to pick up the device and I am forcing myself to choose the Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO when trying to choose what device I want to use at that particular time.
Battery/Mod
The mod being a 1500mAh battery means that battery life is not an issue.
It holds it’s charge well even if you are a low user and maybe only use it a couple of times in the morning and then not again till the afternoon, you will not lose a lot of battery life if you do not turn it off.
The screen has no issues whatsoever it’s clean, simple and extremely accurate. I have no problems being able to see the screen in direct sunlight or the dead of night.
I feel the corners cut when designing this pod system have had a detrimental effect when it comes to the performance of both the mod and pod.
My Test for Usability Appeal
I have a test process to see if I genuinely like a device.
I have 6 set ups on my coil building table, when I want to vape I go to my table and pick which one I want to use at that time.
In my previous reviews, I loved the devices I was reviewing and would be using them more than my every day set up. The Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO has never been picked out of the group.
I have had to make myself pick it up at least twice a day to give it a fair shot.
Pros
- USB Type-C
Cons
- The Design
- Build quality
- Coils provided
- Leaking pod
- Fire button
Final Review Verdict
Can I first start by saying when deciding to start reviewing vape products I made it my motto to always be honest and aboveboard with my thoughts and feelings about a product.
I genuinely thought the Boxer AIO Kit had a lot of potential to be great. I can see what they were trying to achieve when designing it.
Hugo Vapor was trying to make a cheap affordable AIO kit with basic functions so anyone transitioning from cigarettes to vaping could get their hands on and be able to master it quickly.
I feel that if Hugo Vapor had made the coils cross-compatible like other companies have then that could have opened a bigger market for them.
That Art Work Though…
If they wanted to produce a cheap product, they should have gone down the disposable route using the same build materials.
I can honestly say had they just stuck to making a good quality and a versatile AIO kit my review would have been completely different.
The issue that keeps playing on my mind is the artwork that Hugo Vapor have decided to go for.
I feel that the poor judgment call they have made makes me feel that they are not concerned about the issues that are plaguing the vaping world, and which have been going on for a number of years.
Have you used the Hugo Vapor Boxer AIO?
I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
