Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force Kit Review – More style than Phil and Dimitri?

The Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force Kit represents my very first written review with this particular Chinese vape manufacturer but that’s not to say I’m unfamiliar with them.

They’ve been on the scene for over a decade and continue with their mission to research, develop and create effective alternatives to cigarettes.

From my own experiences, I’d say the mission continues to be something of a success.

I was (and still am) an avid fan of their Cool Fire series of Mods. I owned an Innokin Cool Fire IV and loved the simplicity as well as its incredible ergonomics.

It remains one of the most comfortable Mods I’ve ever held.

I also had an Innokin T18 starter pen kit. It never failed to deliver a rich and satisfying vape experience and those press fit MTL coils seemed to last an eternity.

Reminds me. It’s been upgraded a few times since – time I checked it out again.

With the release of the Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force Kit I’m entering unchartered territory.

The only thing I’m familiar with are the two designers, Phil Busardo and Dimi Agrafiotis.

They’re well known for their association with Innokin and their unwavering advocacy within the vaping industry. I can only respect them for that.

They’re non to shabby when it comes to product reviews, either.

Phil’s better at it though. Just saying, Dimi! lol

So will the Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force Kit gain the same level of respect? We’ll know by the end of the review.

Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force Kit – What Can We Expect?

As with most upgrades to a series we can expect a hike in power capability. The Innokin Kroma A featured a 2000 mAh internal battery providing enough clout to support up to 75W.

The Innokin Kroma R Kit used a single 18650 external battery to deliver more or less the same wattage. There was also a Kroma Z kit!

The Kroma 217 Z Force Kit offers more versatility. Additional power? Throw in a single 21700 for the full 100W. Alternatively, use the included adaptor with an 18650 for anything up to 80W.

A new kit, a new Mod so it seems logical to expect a new tank – and that’s what we get.

There are no surprises to learn its known as the Z Force. It’s a classic sub ohm tank featuring low resistance coils suitable for thicker juice ratios. A far cry from the Zenith MTL tank (again designed by Phil and Dimi) that came with the Innokin Kroma A Kit.

So as much as Phil Busardo is a big fan of MTL tooting we can expect more of an extended, airy direct lung vape from the Z Force tank.

Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force Kit – Inside the Box

Top marks to Innokin for their use of 100% recyclable packaging. If anything I think it adds to the overall presentation. It’s a refreshing change from pulling out pieces of foam and plastic trays that merely serve to cheapen the appearance of the contents.

• Kroma 217 Mod
• Z Force Tank (0.2ohm ZF coil pre installed)
• 0.3ohm ZF coil
• Spare O rings
• Type C USB charging cable
• Quick start card
• Instruction manual
• Warning booklet

The instruction manual contains some of the best illustrations I’ve seen in a while. There are large colour diagrams and clear text which makes things very readable and easy to understand.

Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force Kit – Key Features

When using a single 18650 battery the Mod will power up to a maximum of 80W. By removing the battery adaptor and replacing with a 21700 the power increases to 100W.

The Innokin Kroma 217 Mod retains its sleek, compact form factor regardless of battery type.

Fast Type C USB charging is included and all relevant safety features are incorporated into the chip.

The new Z Force tank is designed to cater for either a restrictive or full blown direct lung vaping experience.

A spring loaded automatic juice flow control prevents e liquid from escaping when replacing coils. That may be why Innokin tell us that ‘leaking is a thing of the past’.

Hold that thought! I’ll be the judge of that..

A top cap slide mechanism is used on the tank to allow swift refilling. An air release valve also prevents e juice from overflowing.

The Z Force tank uses two new ZF coils. They include two layers of mesh designed to create a more saturated and flavoursome vape. It’s what Innokin refer to as their Duo mesh system.

The Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force kit is available with a 2ml TPD compliant tank or a 5ml standard edition for those outside of the EU.

There’s a choice of five colour schemes. Mariana Blue, Stealth Black, Carbon Fiber, Glass Fiber or River Wood (under review).

The drip tips and O rings of the tank appear to be colour co-ordinated to the scheme of the Mod. Unfortunately that’s not really the case with River Wood. The choice of colour used isn’t to my taste to be honest.

Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force Kit – Specifications

• Dimensions 132 x 45 x30mm (including Z Force tank)
• Material Zinc alloy
• Coil material Kanthal A1
• Battery mAh Replaceable external battery
• Tank capacity 2ml/5ml
• Resistance range 0.1ohm – 3.5ohm
• Charging indicator Display screen shows charging status
• Charging current 5V/1.7A
• Cut off time 3s – 18s adjustable

Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force Kit – Design and Build Quality

The Kroma 217 Mod is comprised of zinc alloy which helps to keep the overall weight down even when taking into account battery types.

Without the tank it measures 86mm in height.

There are a mixture of finishes. The top plate and battery door have a glossy black appearance. My initial concern is with how prone it will be to scratches.

The C shaped frame has a black matt finish which looks quite stylish and helps with grip while the screen area/fire button looks much cheaper being comprised of plastic. It can also be something of a finger print magnet.

A colour sticker wraps around the front of the Mod. It’s very random and a bit trippy. No doubt it’s been designed to emulate genuine stab wood but doesn’t quite pull it off.

I was able to leave a lasting impression with a finger nail.

The spring loaded 510 connector is mounted more towards the front of the Mod. So if you’re planning on using an alternative tank don’t expect to get away with anything over 25mm without overhang.

The rear of the top plate slopes at a 45 degree angle adding some aesthetic quality but generally more for ergonomics. It feels quite natural to rest a pinkie there if thumb firing is your persuasion.

Battery Door and Housing

It’s always nice to see sufficient battery venting and that’s what you’ll find on the hinged battery door. An arrow shows the direction in which to push and the door snaps open easily enough.
With a thickness of 5mm it’s quite strong although there’s still some side to side movement in the absence of a battery.

The inside of the battery door has quite an ugly appearance and looks unfinished. It could do with some form of covering around the negative contact.

There’s a distinct red positive marking at the base of the sled to indicate that batteries are inserted positive end down.

I initially used an 18650 battery with the included adaptor and everything fitted snug as a bug in its proverbial battery compartment.

..Does that even make any sense? lol

How To Operate the Kroma 217 Z Force Mod

You’re given the entire length of the main display to fire the device. Such are the ergonomics that multiple finger firing is possible, adding to the comfort factor while vaping.

• Press the fire button three times to switch the device on/off

Even when the device has been switched off, residual power is still being pulled. A single press of the fire button will prompt the user to click 3X.

After the Innokin splash screen we are presented with the following screen information.

From left to right, top to bottom. Device lock/unlock status, current battery strength, power output (wattage), wattage/voltage mode indicator, puff duration, coil resistance, puff counter and voltage output.

Real time voltage is only displayed while vaping.

• Hold the fire and – buttons together to lock/unlock the device.

Note! Although buttons are disabled it is still possible to vape while the device is locked.

• To access the menu hold the + and  – buttons together.

Select from Coil + mode, Power mode, Refresh, settings and exit (to the main screen).

Use the + and  – buttons to navigate the options. The fire button selects/activates the mode or setting.

• Coil + mode sends a pulse of current through the coil at the end of every vape, designed to extend its lifespan
• Power mode gives the user the ability to switch from wattage to voltage mode. At the same time the initial vape can be set to soft, normal or hard
• Refresh mode can be used when flavours become muted or dull. The coil is pulsed at 40% of the current power, drawing liquid in to prevent residue build up
• The settings Menu gives access to the screen time out period (between 5-180 seconds) and the duration of the vape (between 3-18 seconds). There’s also the option to apply a system reset and to exit to the main screen

Innokin Kroma 217 Mod – Adjusting the Wattage

To make wattage adjustments press and hold the up or down menu button. Between 6-20W it will alter in half watt increments. Beyond 20W it alters by single watt values.

Once the maximum of 80W (18650) or 100W (21700) is reached the device will reset to the minimum of 6W.

Be aware the chip will reset wattage and number of puffs if an 18650 battery is replaced with a 21700.

Innokin Z Force Tank

I think the Innokin Z Force tank is solidly built. I received the 2ml straight glass version so the coil and inner chimney take up the majority of space, unfortunately.

Starting at the top, the Delrin 810 drip tip can be switched out for others. Keep in mind there are no O rings inside the catch cup. Select drip tips that include O rings for a better fit.

Slide the top cap in the direction of the arrow to expose the silicone fill port. I was pleased at how far the cap slides back. Did it improve the filling procedure? Yes with 10ml TPD bottles. A resounding no with stubbier short fill bottles.

To prevent unnecessary spillage I would recommend removing the drip tip first for better clearance. Curiously, I couldn’t find the air release valve Innokin mention so that compounded matters.

At the base of the tank there are dual adjustable airflow ports. Any adjustment to one is reflected on the other. The tolerances on the AFC ring were quite slack, even before the presence of e liquid.

Innokin Z Force Tank – Installing A Coil

The new ZF coils are plug and play making the whole process a doddle.

• Unscrew the base clockwise to remove
• Push the coil up inside the tank
• Screw the base back onto the tank section

If you are using a new coil, prime the four cotton ports and/or add a few drops of e liquid onto the inner mesh prior to installation. It just helps with the wicking process.

I did notice air becoming trapped inside the chimney when using the spring loaded juice flow control mechanic. Unfortunately it has a habit of forcing the coil back out during the install process.

The best advice I can give is to slow the whole plug and play process down, allowing air to escape while fitting.

After filling the tank, leave the juice to soak into the cotton for around five minutes before taking your first vape.

How Does the Innokin Z Force Tank Perform?

Both coils were tested using coil + mode in wattage mode.

The first test was carried out using the ZF 0.2ohm mesh coil. It has a height of 18mm and a circumference of 10mm, with four sizeable wicking ports and an abundance of mesh within the 6.3mm inner diameter bore.

Rated between 50-80W, it certainly has all the attributes for a decent direct lung vape.

I used Double Drip Cherry Bakewell Tart, a bakery profile with 3mg freebase nicotine included in the short fill bottle.

Running initially at 50W with airflow wide open some noise is generated but very little turbulence. So the vape is generally smooth on the inhale.

Cloud production is very satisfying but it’s a very cool vape thus having an impact on overall flavour quality. Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely there but pushes out a degree of wetness on the exhale.

I don’t feel the coil is ready to party at this wattage.

Feeling the Z Force of Higher Wattage

Things have an immediate impact when stepping up to 65W (3.6V) and cutting airflow in half. The vape now becomes semi restrictive and pretty much around the level I personally prefer.

Flavour properties begin to shine and the bakery/pastry notes are more pronounced. The level of sweetness is elevated and livens up the profile while any previous wetness is left behind.

Clearly at lower wattage the mesh isn’t getting the opportunity to heat the e liquid efficiently.

Under this restriction vapour production builds in the back of the throat to the extent of producing a nice little throat hit before exhale – something I always welcome.

It’s also possible to chain vape at the maximum power setting of 80W (4V). That is impressive because I’ve had issues in the past when testing mesh at these levels. No dry hits here, folks!

A wide open vape will give similar experiences to those found when vaping 65W. Curiously though, flavour production wasn’t as good when placed under any kind of restriction.

So the ZF 0.2ohm mesh coil clearly favours power and airflow.

ZF 0.3ohm mesh coil (Rated 30-45W)

I used Dripping Desserts Gingerbread Custard to test the less powerful 0.3ohm mesh coil. As before it contained 3mg freebase nicotine.

The mesh on the coil isn’t as compact but the size of the wicking ports appear to be the same.

I started with airflow wide open at the minimum recommendation of 30W. The coil certainly doesn’t loose any clout against its 0.2ohm alternative with ramp up time being minimal.

Cloud production is once again insane –  an impressive attribute with both coils and the inhale generates the same level of turbulent free noise. I’m definitely aware of it but not to the point of being bothersome, if I’m honest.

However, it is a cold vape on this power level and doesn’t quite do the bakery profile the justice it deserves. The gingerbread and minimal traces of spice are present but that’s about it.

Restricting airflow doesn’t seem to impact the flavour in any way and remains about the same.

Vaping the ZF 0.3ohm Mesh Coil At Higher Wattage

I ramped wattage up to the maximum recommendation and discovered a noticeable difference to flavour properties. The cream in the custard was now blending with the gingerbread and much more sweetness was filtering through.

Still, the mesh coil struggles to generate the level of warmth I crave from the E juice. That’s a bit of a disappointment. Does it spoil the vape? Maybe, a little but I feel it’s acceptable because of the consistent overall quality I received.

I got the same vape experience when restricting airflow but with the added bonus of finding my preferred semi restrictive lung hit.

Yet overall, the ZF 0.3ohm coil isn’t quite as good at defining all those flavour notes. They are there but just not at the intensity of the 0.2ohm. It’s not quite as good at handling the subtle nuances that should be weaving around in Gingerbread Custard.

Pros

• Ergonomic, comfortable design makes finger firing a doddle
• Bright, clear screen with wattage or voltage prominently displayed
• Easy to navigate menu screens
• Great flavour from both ZF mesh coils
• No leaking from the airflow ports

Cons

• Filling with short fill bottles can be difficult
• Low profile drip tip may be uncomfortable for some (subjective)
• Coils tend to lack warmth (subjective)

Final Review Summary

I’m very impressed by the versatility of both coils in handling their wattage parameters.

Chain vaping mesh at 80W is always a positive sign. Maybe the extra layer of mesh helps.

It may also be why I never encountered a single dry hit.

Don’t expect to receive anything other than a warm vape at best regardless of wattage level. I just about got away with it with bakery and dessert profiles but menthols, fruits and beverage flavours are likely to perform better.

Both coils will guzzle the juice from a 2ml TPD tank but that’s the sign of an efficient, hard working coil. I’m not marking the tank down for that, neither am I suggesting it’s a con.

Mesh coils seem notorious for lacking warmth. That just seems to be the nature of the beast, but it may influence the flavours you end up vaping.

Refresh and Coil + Mode

Refresh mode seems nothing more than a gimmick. It simply asks you to hold the fire button for an extended period while reducing current wattage to 40%. Since E liquid is present it cannot function in the way of dry firing gunk off an RDA coil, for example.

Coil + mode is definitely more consistent and effective than power mode’s initial boost. I could tell the difference to flavour quality while using Coil + mode over standard wattage or voltage settings.

Consider using juice ratios of 70VG/30PG and upwards for best results, especially if you’re a cloud chucking monster!

Battery Performance

The 21700 external battery obviously steals the show when it comes to performance, lasting an impressive nine hours. This was while experimenting with different power settings as well as chain vaping.

However, it’s obviously a different story with the single 18650. I didn’t get much change out of four hours when used across various power settings with either mesh coil.

I feel it’s important to mention battery performance over time. It was quite impressive only having a detrimental effect on flavour towards the end of the charge, regardless of battery size.

Simply put, the Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force kit doesn’t disappoint. It’s comfortable in the hand, has simplistic menu functionality and offers very consistent flavour and cloud production. The Kroma 217 Mod is tailor made for the Z Force tank it comes with.

..Just like Phil and Dimi, compatibility between the two is excellent.

If it’s not too late, the Innokin Kroma 217 Z Force kit may be one to consider asking Santa for.

You could always tempt him with a mince pie flavoured e liquid..

Did you buy the Innokin Kroma 217 kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.