Innokin RipTide Crios Starter Kit Review – What A Ripper!

The Innokin RipTide Crios starter kit is a Sub Ohm vape pen style device with a hefty 3000mAh battery and a fixed output wattage of 68W.

The tank which comes with the kit is the Innokin Crios tank – which was also included with the Kroma-A which we reviewed.

Introduction: The RipTide Crios from Innokin

Innokin are one of the most famous vape brands of recent years so we’ll save a full on introduction and get stuck right into the review.

By the way I have added some updates to this review – after using the Riptide for almost 2 months…

What’s In The Box

• RipTide Battery
• Crios Tank 2ML/4ML (0.25 Ohm coil pre-installed )
• Extra Coil 0.25ohm
• Micro USB Charging Cable
• Quick Start Guide

Features

• Battery capacity: 3000mAh built in
• Constant wattage fixed output
• Tank capacity: 4ml (2ml for EU)
• Airflow adjustment
• Rubberised body
• Colours Available: Black, Green, Purple, Red, Yellow, Blue

Build Quality & Design

The Innokin Riptide and Crios tank combo is a stunner!

There are coloured accents on the tank, fire button and LEDs.

I received the Blue version to review.

There are some really lovely details on this. The battery has some tidy artwork, even on the top of the battery where the tank sits. You won’t see this most of the time but again this is attention to detail – which is beautiful.

The body has a black rubber finish which is lovely to hold.

The tank looks perfect for this mod, the colour accents on the tank O-rings match the blue accents on the battery.

The packaging and kit is just excellent, all you need to get started (apart from e-liquid) and some spares – glass and coil heads – little touches which always win me over.

How Does the Innokin RipTide Crios Perform?

Basic operation

To turn on or off press the fire button 3 times.

To vape press the fire button.

The battery charge indicator lights illuminate to show the charge remaining:

• 3 lights lit = 31-100% charged
• 2 lights lit = 11-30% charged
• 1 light lit = less than 10% – recharge now!

How To Charge The Innokin RipTide

Attach the large end of the supplied USB cable to a suitable USB outlet. Attach the small end to the bottom port on the battery.

As the battery is charging the indicator lights will follow the same pattern as the battery capacity in use.

When fully charged all the lights will go out.

Innokin Crios Tank

The tank is a beautiful addition to the battery.

You have an easy to use and smooth airflow ring below the glass section which you can turn to adjust to your preference.

This is a top filling tank which always makes life easier!

This has a large drip tip so will feel odd to people used to MTL tanks. But you can change the drip tip as long as you buy an 810 tip.

The airflow can be closed completely and opened up very wide and airy – so this works well for DTL and MTL vaping styles – very versatile.

How To Fill The RipTide Crios Tank

• Unscrew the top cap from the tank.
• Squeeze liquid into the side ports as shown – do not add liquid to the centre tube or it will spit fire!
• Replace the top cap.

How To Change The Coil Head

At some point you will need to replace the coil head.

As with all coil heads they don’t last forever and the cotton inside can become burnt over time or simply return a muted flavour. Also if you accidentally fire the device with no E-liquid the coil will likely be damaged. So try not to do that 🙂

You can change the coil when there is liquid in the tank if you are careful!

I have been using this for over a week and got through 1 coil head. So it is pretty good for a low resistance coil. Some devices burn through the coil heads much quicker!

• Remove the tank from the battery.
• Turn the tank upside down in order to not spill the liquid.
• Unscrew the bottom of the Crios tank
• The coil head simply screws and unscrews into the airflow base.
• Pop a couple of drops of e-liquid onto the bits of cotton showing on the side of the coil.
• Replace the tank base and fill the tank.
• Leave this for at least half an hour – I found I had to leave it overnight!
• Take a few inhales on the mouthpiece without pressing the fire button to draw the liquid through to the cotton.

Flavour & Cloud Production

I am using a 6mg nicotine E-liquid in this. If you are new to vaping keep in mind these are Sub Ohm coil heads so stronger nicotine liquid will give you a really harsh throat hit so not recommended!

The e-liquid I use is a 80% VG / 20% PG mixture. I love this liquid it is called Cloud No. 5 and I use it when reviewing devices that are capable of using it as I love the flavour and I know what to expect. This way I can compare how this liquid performs in different devices.

Further Reading: What is PG and VG in E-liquid?

0.25ohm Crios Coil 

If you’ve read the Kroma-A review by our lovely reviewer Neil he found that the Crios tank coils needed a bit of time to “bed in”. I.e. they didn’t perform at their best straight away.

I do agree with this. I set the Crios up yesterday – filled tank and charged it up. Left it for about half an hour and frankly the performance wasn’t good.

I got spitting, dry tasting vapour and I didn’t enjoy it.

I picked this back up the next day and it’s improved no end!

It must need quite some time for liquid to soak into the cotton on the coil head. It could also be a case of my 80VG liquid being a little too thick for the Crios coils.

But now it’s lovely, a gorgeous flavour and no spitting or misbehaving at all!

The throat hit is immense, a little much for me with the airflow fully open! Cough cough…. Maybe I need to down my nic strength to 3mg as well!

The flavour and vapour are great and it isn’t greedy on the e-liquid.

Innokin do recommend you only use the 0.25ohm Crios coil with this tank and battery.

Update 13-1-18

I have been using this little beauty for about 2 months now.

Am finding a coil head lasts about a week. I am on my 3rd pack of coil heads – 4 per pack!

Also you really have to prime these a lot, as I said above it seems to take time to get the liquid to wick properly. I am no longer having to leave this for hours, but I add liquid to all the side wicking slots, the top mesh bit of the coil and a couple of drops on the inside too. I found about 30 minutes and a few draws on the tank without pressing fire do the trick.

Battery Life

Altogether I got just over 7 hours from the battery – which is pretty good with an 0.25ohm coil. Very happy with this!

What I Like

Stunning well designed beauty! I really want to take this everywhere with me now!

Excellent and satisfying vaping experience.

13-1-18: The tank in particular is in use daily. I use the battery but when it runs out I put this wonderful 0.25ohm tank on a mod to keep using.

The flavour and vapour beats some RTAs I have tested recently it is that good.

No leaks and the tank is showing no signs of wear after rattling about in my car and handbag.

What I Dislike

One the first day of use this didn’t perform well at all – it appears the coil heads need a bit of time to soak the liquid up – not much fun if you are excited to get up and using this! It may be better for those who vape 70VG/30PG or 60VG/40PG e juice.

13-1-18: In reference to the above point about priming and wicking on these coils I have found to try and add liquid to every bit of cotton which is showing. It still takes about 30 mins and a few draws on the tank to get the liquid through.

Also it does take forever to charge! There is no mention anywhere on the Innokin website or instruction manual as to whether this has a quick charge function. I get so fed up waiting for it to charge I pop that wonderful Crios tank on a mod so I can keep using it!

Final Review Verdict

The Innokin Riptide Crios is a cracking device!

I wouldn’t say it was for real starters who use the default MTL vape style – it’s more of a step up from gentle vape pen devices.

This gives a warm vapour with a huge throat hit so very satisfying. To tone down the throat hit start on a lower nicotine ratio!

I have today for the first time in ages put out a ciggie half way through (I’m still a dual user) as I wanted to vape on this instead – it’s been a hard couple of months so this really is a big deal!

Now the lack of customisation and adjustment can be a Pro or a Con. I have found that the coil head and power output are really spot on for me. If they do not suit you however you can only adjust the airflow and nothing else. But for someone wanting a simple fuss free vape this is ideal.

I think for the price and compared to similar devices this is a total winner. Well done Innokin!

13-1-18: This is in use daily and the best stock coil tank I have so far reviewed since joining Ecigclick. It really is a beauty – in fact just ordered another so I can have one for going out and one at home!

Pros

• Beautiful design.
• Lovely feeling to the rubberised finish.
• Simple to fill.
• Simple coil change.
• So easy to use.
• Lovely LED display of battery life.
• Great tank – good airflow adjustment for MTL and DTL.
• Huge throat hit!
• Excellent kit contents including spares.

Cons

• On the first day performance was poor – so do yourself a favour if planning on using a higher VG e-liquid – charge it up, fill it up and leave it for a day!
• The vapour and throat hit may not suit vapers used to a more gentle style of vaping – this did make me cough a few times! (I am a wuss I admit!)