Lost Vape Skar DNA75 Review

I’ve been extremely impressed with the hardware releases from Lost Vape camp over the course of 2016.

There’s been a plethora of devices ranging from the compact Efusion Mini DNA200 & Efusion Duo DNA133/200, the powerhouse device that is the Triade DNA200 (recently released as a DNA250 also) and the elegantly formed Therion DNA75 and BF Therion DNA75 squonking version.

Is that all I hear you cry!! Well no, it isn’t!!

In conjunction with their release of the Therion device, Lost Vape also release a second mod in the form of the Skar DNA75, which personally I feel may have slipped under the radar slightly but is most certainly worthy of a review. They do after all make some of the best looking vape mods available.

This is solely a look at the Lost Vape Skar mod and not the Evolv DNA75 board or the Escribe software.

What’s In The Box

• Skar DNA75 device
• USB cable (charging & data)
• User Manual

Features

• Wattage Output Range: 1.0 to 75W
• Voltage Output Range: 0.5 to 6.0V
• Single 26650 High Amp Battery Compatible (not included)
• Optional 18650 High Amp Battery (not included) with adapter
• Minimum Kanthal Resistance: 0.25 ohm
• Minimum Temperature Resistance: 0.15 ohm
• Temperature Range: 200°F to 600°F / 100°C to 300°C
• Supports Ni200 Nickel, Titanium, and Stainless Steel
• Intuitive OLED Display
• Die Cast Zinc Alloy Chassis Construction
• Ebony Wooden or Carbon Fibre Panel Inserts
• Three-Button Operation
• Patented Evolv DNA75 Board
• Upgradeable via Escribe Software
• Cell-by-Cell Monitoring
• Cell Balancer
• Atomizer Protection
• Low Resistance Protection
• Short Circuit Protection
• Overheat Protection
• Low Voltage Step Down Protection
• Micro USB Port – Firmware Upgrades
• Stainless Steel 510 Thread Point
• Spring-Loaded Nickel Plated Brass 510 Connection
• Dimensions: 90mm x 45mm x 30mm (HxDxW)
• Weight: 244g with 18650 cell, 280g with 26650 cell

Build Quality & Design

The body of the Skar DNA75 is solely constructed from die cast zinc alloy and, like the previously reviewed Lost Vape hardware, is exceptionally well built.

The die cast body provides a very weighty & incredibly sturdy feel to the device. The Skar measures 90mm tall x 45mm deep x 30mm wide, so not a small device but it still feels very comfortable in the hand.

At the top there is our standard 510 connection constructed from stainless steel with a firm spring loaded nickel plated brass centre pin.

Due to its dimensions, the Skar can quite happily accommodate atomizers up to 30mm in diameter, which covers a good proportion of RDA’s and RTA’s out there.

Down the front section of the mod we have the fire button, OLED screen, the “+” & “-“ buttons and the USB charging/upgrade port.

The buttons appear to be constructed from a brushed finish zinc alloy and are a good contrast to the main body of the device.

Button press is soft with a very faint click but are all very comfortable to use.

On both side panels of the mod there are slight indents which have been finished off with carbon fibre effect inlays which give the device a nice styled finish.

The OLED screen, similar to many other recently released DNA devices, provides a wealth of information!

Battery level meter, coil resistance in ohms, TC temperature, voltage and wattage however, with the Escribe software this is completely customisable.

In addition to this customisation also extends to screen time-out, brightness and screen graphics, which are made up from a series of replaceable monochrome bitmap files.

Alternative screen display items customisable through Escribe include:-

As with the “fire” button, the “+” & “-“ buttons are brushed finish zinc alloy. Button press again is relatively soft with a very faint click.

Typical button actions and combinations include:-

• Wake device from power off state: Tap the Fire Button
• Lock the device: Pressing the fire button five times
• Stealth Mode: With the device locked, holding the fire and down (-) buttons together for five seconds
• Power Locked mode: Holding down both the up (+) and down (-) buttons for two seconds
• Resistance lock: With the device locked, hold both the Fire and Up (+) buttons for two seconds
• Temperature Adjust: With the device locked, holding down both the up (+) and down (-) buttons for two seconds. Use the up (+) and down (-) buttons to adjust the temperature. To save temperature setting and exit, press the Fire button.

And below the ‘up’ (+) and ‘down’ (-) buttons we have a USB charging/upgrade port.

On the rear of the devices we have a battery compartment door covering a good sized battery compartment which accommodates either a single 18650 battery, with included adapter, or a single 26650 cell.

As with the Lost Vape Triade, tolerances when using 26650’s are incredibly accurate and the batteries sit inside the mod very snugly with just enough space remaining to fit the door back onto the mod.

Battery contacts both appear to be gold plated and are spring loaded to ensure good contact.

How Does The Lost Vape Skar DNA75 Perform?

The performance of the Skar mod was extremely good, as you would expect from a DNA device.

With the menu system on the DNA board intuitive and simple to navigate.

Temperature Control performed absolutely flawlessly from the Evolv DNA board!

As with pervious Lost Vape devices, The Skar comes pre-loaded with a good array of wire profiles including Kanthal, Ni200, SS316, Titanium, SS304, SS316L, SS430, making the device ready to go straight out of the box.

As mentioned in my previous Lost Vape reviews, the Evolv DNA boards can also supports other wires types through custom TCR (Temperature Coefficient of Resistance) settings which can be configured through online resources.

Battery Life

Being a 26650 or 18650 device, battery life was good.

On average I was getting almost a full day out of the Skar on an 18650 and slightly over a day with the 26650 battery on-board which I would say is quite respectable by today standards.

What I Liked

The Lost Vape Skar DNA75 is yet another great piece of vaping hardware from Lost Vape.

Combined with the upgradable & customizible DNA board has future proofed this device for a very long time.

Aesthetically, the Skar is not going to be every vapers cup of tea. Beauty is after all in the eye of the beholder.

However, there’s something about the Skar that gives it a real workhorse look & feel, which I personally like.

All in all a very well designed and constructed device.

What I Dislike

Ummm! I’m struggling to find anything that I disliked about the Skar.

I suppose if I have to mention something, it would be the fact that it’s not too friendly on the pocket.

Subjective I know, but honestly I can’t find anything that I really dislike about the mod!!

As I pointed out in my previous review of DNA devices, before you dive head first into the Escribe software I would seriously recommend that you check out our DNA Guide where we have links to some helpful tutorials.

This can help with any initial problems like connectivity and adjustment of the Evolv DNA board settings.

Final Review Verdict

Great design, superb build quality, very easy to set up and use. Another great DNA75 device from Lost Vape.

Pros

• Superb build quality
• Pre-loaded wire profiles makes the Skar ready to go straight out of the box
• Excellent performance from the DNA75 board in TC & Wattage mode
• Upgradable Firmware
• TCR Customization
• 18650 or 26650 battery compatible

Cons

• Not particularly pocket friendly (subjective)