Well the time has come, Elf Bar have released a non-disposable, refillable vape kit. It’s either a stroke of genius, or it will lead to huge disappointment for Elf Bar disposable lovers. It makes sense for Elf Bar to release a pod kit, more sustainable, bridge the gap between disposables and refillable kits, but is it actually any good? We’ve extensively tested the Elf Bar FB1000 and collated our thoughts and opinions in the following review.
Elf Bar FB1000 Key Features and Specifications
Your first question about the FB1000 may well be, why on earth is it called FB1000? Well, as it turns out the 1000 is named after the built-in battery, which is 1000mAh in capacity. The FB? That’s anyones guess I’m afraid. This battery will comfortably give you all day / night vaping though, without trouble and is a large battery for a kit of it’s size. Speaking of size, the FB1000 sits at 8.5cm tall (with pod installed), 2.5cm wide and weighs just 55g (pod installed). This makes it unbelievably pocket sized with it not being much wider than your hand laying horizontally. Despite this, it is still a bit chunky so isn’t the comfiest kit for the pocket and certainly not suitable for a back pocket.
The FB1000 is both draw activated and button activated. This means if you like the way you inhale an Elf Bar without pressing any buttons, you can do so with the FB1000, as well as being able to button activate it. This may be placebo, but I felt you got better flavour from the button activated draws than you do with the auto-draw, but there appears to be mixed opinions on the truth in this. The FB1000 has the classic 5 clicks on and 5 clicks off feature, with no ability to vary the wattage unfortunately but that’s pretty standard for a simple starter kit. You’ll find type-c charging, which is again the standard of today’s vape kits, you’ll be able to comfortably recharge the FB1000 in under an hour which is great if you’re on the move a lot.
Specifications
Size: 87 x 28.4 x 28mm
E-Liquid Capacity: 2ml
Battery: 1000mAh (Built-In)
Restricted Direct To Lung (RDTL) style
Max Output Wattage: 30W
Charging Current: 500mA
Button & Draw Activation
Type-C Charging Port
Magnetic Connection
Output Voltage: 3.7V
Resistance: 0.6 – 3.0Ω
What’s in the box?
Before we go onto what’s in the box, let’s mention how cool the little cylinder box is first. It pops open with an extremely satisfying noise as you’d expect. It’s really cool and unique packaging from Elf Bar, something we haven’t really seen before.
Inside you’ll find (thank god) the Elf Bar FB1000 itself, plus the pod that goes in the kit. It’s a shame Elf Bar haven’t included either a spare pod or at very least a spare coil, this seems cheap considering kits around the similar price point do usually include this. Also in the box is of course the USB C charging cable which allows for rapid recharge and is the standard for most electronic items these days. You’ll also notice the instruction manual and the relevant warning card. Unfortunately on the card there is no mention of priming coils, we’re not sure if Elf Bar don’t recommend it or if it’s just been overlooked, our guess is the latter. We would recommend priming your coil with e-liquid for 15 minutes before using the FB1000. For info on how to prime your coil, follow this link.
The final thing in the box is the lanyard/blingy chain that comes included. Presumably this is there to attach your Elf Bar either to a pocket or hang it round your neck. Not the most stylish of looks, but whatever floats your boat.
Colours, Design and Build Quality
The FB1000 is currently available in 4 different colours, in a faded blend colour scheme which is a little more discreet than the original Elf Bars.
Dark Blue
Green
Purple
Yellow
From a design perspective, the FB1000 is extremely comfortable in the hand. There’s no doubt it’s a short and stumpy kit, which isn’t the first of it’s kind but does make it fairly convenient, particularly in a handbag or purse for example. The pod is completely magnetic, which I feel always adds a touch of class to a kit. One thing I will say is it definitely has a bit of a cheap feel to it, it isn’t particularly heavy and it feels like if you dropped it on concrete, let’s just say the concrete wouldn’t be coming off worse.
Another slight criticism is the mouthpiece. If you’re used to a regular Elf Bar mouthpiece, this quite literally could not be further from that. Whilst it’s not the most comfortable mouthpiece in the world, it does allow for a steady airflow and a mouth-to-lung vape with a good amount of vapour production, although again it’s not at all similar to the regular Elf Bar.
How to refill the Elf Bar FB1000
Refilling the FB1000 is (should be) very simple. There is a silicone stopper at the far side of the pod in my hand below. Simply pop this open and stick your e-liquid bottle nozzle in to refill. This may have just been me, but we found that actually a strange air bubble was created each time we refilled the FB1000, which prevented it from being refilled quickly. This may be due to a lack of space for the nozzle. Once refilled, the FB1000 remained pretty much leak free, we tested it in a pocket for the day too and the same thing, no real leaking except a slight bit of residue which is to be expected from any kit that isn’t top fill.
Flavour Quality
The first thing obviously to address when it comes to flavour is – will this taste anything like my regular Elf Bar? In short, no. Why you ask? Well, put simply, you can’t buy Elf Bar’s liquid, so you won’t get the exact same flavour. The Elf Bars use a mesh coil and so does the FB1000, but I am confident this isn’t the exact same coil. When you couple that with the liquid, the nature of refillable kits with regards to airflow etc, you simply won’t get the same flavour.
Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about how good the flavour actually is. With any refillable kit, it is important to remember that in almost all (but not every) cases, cheap or poorly produced e-liquids do not deliver excellent flavour. There is a great 0.8Ohm Mesh coil which does produce excellent flavour with the right liquids. We recommend using Nic Salt e-liquids with the FB1000.
The flavour production is definitely of high quality in the FB1000, the mesh coil works wonders. We tried it out with some Fizzy Juice and some IVG e-liquids, two of our favourites. You get a full yet smooth vape with the FB1000, with a nice lingering flavour on the exhale. As a mostly mouth to lung (MTL) vape, this is perfect for people transitioning from smoking. Sadly you won’t get disposable level flavour with this kit, but you will get just as good as any popular starter kit on the market.
Is the Elf Bar FB1000 a good replacement for disposables?
There is no doubt the Elf Bar FB1000 is a good replacement for disposable vapes. This is because it is going to be significantly cheaper to refill the liquid, with an average Nic Salt 10ml costing £3 and this will last 3-7 days as opposed to one disposable which is around £5 and may only last a couple of days. The FB1000 is also a much more sustainable option, it requires far less waste than most disposables that cannot be recycled.
Pro’s and Con’s of the Elf Bar FB1000
Pro’s
More sustainable than disposables
Good flavour production
Refillable
Mouthpiece is similar to bigger kit, suits a sub-ohm vaper
Mouth To Lung vaping style
Good battery size and life
Fast recharging
Con’s
Not as good flavour as disposable
No top-fill design
Refilling can be awkward
Final thoughts and comments
The Elf Bar FB1000 is a good kit, it’s not a great kit. Elf Bar are new to the refillable market, despite their disposable game being so strong. This means that in time, Elf Bar will likely receive mixed feedback and work on a product that is potentially one of the best on the market. The Elf Bar FB1000 isn’t the cheapest refillable pod device you can buy, for it’s money it’s, well…meh. It certainly didn’t blow us away and the flavour is nothing like an Elf Bar. However, if you’re looking for a solid and portable small kit, it will do the job.
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Disclaimer: Look, we know what you’re thinking. How can a retailer publish a review and expect us to take it as gospel? The truth is we don’t expect you to. We’re here to help you make better, more informed decisions to help you quit smoking. To accomplish this we pledge to offer you absolute honesty in all products we review and content we publish. Keep your eyes peeled for more vape kit and E-liquid blogs coming soon! Elfbar have not sponsored this post and were not involved with any of the opinions formed.
Elf Bar FB1000 Vape Kit Review
Well the time has come, Elf Bar have released a non-disposable, refillable vape kit. It’s either a stroke of genius, or it will lead to huge disappointment for Elf Bar disposable lovers. It makes sense for Elf Bar to release a pod kit, more sustainable, bridge the gap between disposables and refillable kits, but is it actually any good? We’ve extensively tested the Elf Bar FB1000 and collated our thoughts and opinions in the following review.
Elf Bar FB1000 Key Features and Specifications
Your first question about the FB1000 may well be, why on earth is it called FB1000? Well, as it turns out the 1000 is named after the built-in battery, which is 1000mAh in capacity. The FB? That’s anyones guess I’m afraid. This battery will comfortably give you all day / night vaping though, without trouble and is a large battery for a kit of it’s size. Speaking of size, the FB1000 sits at 8.5cm tall (with pod installed), 2.5cm wide and weighs just 55g (pod installed). This makes it unbelievably pocket sized with it not being much wider than your hand laying horizontally. Despite this, it is still a bit chunky so isn’t the comfiest kit for the pocket and certainly not suitable for a back pocket.
The FB1000 is both draw activated and button activated. This means if you like the way you inhale an Elf Bar without pressing any buttons, you can do so with the FB1000, as well as being able to button activate it. This may be placebo, but I felt you got better flavour from the button activated draws than you do with the auto-draw, but there appears to be mixed opinions on the truth in this. The FB1000 has the classic 5 clicks on and 5 clicks off feature, with no ability to vary the wattage unfortunately but that’s pretty standard for a simple starter kit. You’ll find type-c charging, which is again the standard of today’s vape kits, you’ll be able to comfortably recharge the FB1000 in under an hour which is great if you’re on the move a lot.
Specifications
What’s in the box?
Before we go onto what’s in the box, let’s mention how cool the little cylinder box is first. It pops open with an extremely satisfying noise as you’d expect. It’s really cool and unique packaging from Elf Bar, something we haven’t really seen before.
Inside you’ll find (thank god) the Elf Bar FB1000 itself, plus the pod that goes in the kit. It’s a shame Elf Bar haven’t included either a spare pod or at very least a spare coil, this seems cheap considering kits around the similar price point do usually include this. Also in the box is of course the USB C charging cable which allows for rapid recharge and is the standard for most electronic items these days. You’ll also notice the instruction manual and the relevant warning card. Unfortunately on the card there is no mention of priming coils, we’re not sure if Elf Bar don’t recommend it or if it’s just been overlooked, our guess is the latter. We would recommend priming your coil with e-liquid for 15 minutes before using the FB1000. For info on how to prime your coil, follow this link.
The final thing in the box is the lanyard/blingy chain that comes included. Presumably this is there to attach your Elf Bar either to a pocket or hang it round your neck. Not the most stylish of looks, but whatever floats your boat.
Colours, Design and Build Quality
The FB1000 is currently available in 4 different colours, in a faded blend colour scheme which is a little more discreet than the original Elf Bars.
From a design perspective, the FB1000 is extremely comfortable in the hand. There’s no doubt it’s a short and stumpy kit, which isn’t the first of it’s kind but does make it fairly convenient, particularly in a handbag or purse for example. The pod is completely magnetic, which I feel always adds a touch of class to a kit. One thing I will say is it definitely has a bit of a cheap feel to it, it isn’t particularly heavy and it feels like if you dropped it on concrete, let’s just say the concrete wouldn’t be coming off worse.
Another slight criticism is the mouthpiece. If you’re used to a regular Elf Bar mouthpiece, this quite literally could not be further from that. Whilst it’s not the most comfortable mouthpiece in the world, it does allow for a steady airflow and a mouth-to-lung vape with a good amount of vapour production, although again it’s not at all similar to the regular Elf Bar.
How to refill the Elf Bar FB1000
Refilling the FB1000 is (should be) very simple. There is a silicone stopper at the far side of the pod in my hand below. Simply pop this open and stick your e-liquid bottle nozzle in to refill. This may have just been me, but we found that actually a strange air bubble was created each time we refilled the FB1000, which prevented it from being refilled quickly. This may be due to a lack of space for the nozzle. Once refilled, the FB1000 remained pretty much leak free, we tested it in a pocket for the day too and the same thing, no real leaking except a slight bit of residue which is to be expected from any kit that isn’t top fill.
Flavour Quality
The first thing obviously to address when it comes to flavour is – will this taste anything like my regular Elf Bar? In short, no. Why you ask? Well, put simply, you can’t buy Elf Bar’s liquid, so you won’t get the exact same flavour. The Elf Bars use a mesh coil and so does the FB1000, but I am confident this isn’t the exact same coil. When you couple that with the liquid, the nature of refillable kits with regards to airflow etc, you simply won’t get the same flavour.
Now that’s out of the way, let’s talk about how good the flavour actually is. With any refillable kit, it is important to remember that in almost all (but not every) cases, cheap or poorly produced e-liquids do not deliver excellent flavour. There is a great 0.8Ohm Mesh coil which does produce excellent flavour with the right liquids. We recommend using Nic Salt e-liquids with the FB1000.
The flavour production is definitely of high quality in the FB1000, the mesh coil works wonders. We tried it out with some Fizzy Juice and some IVG e-liquids, two of our favourites. You get a full yet smooth vape with the FB1000, with a nice lingering flavour on the exhale. As a mostly mouth to lung (MTL) vape, this is perfect for people transitioning from smoking. Sadly you won’t get disposable level flavour with this kit, but you will get just as good as any popular starter kit on the market.
Is the Elf Bar FB1000 a good replacement for disposables?
There is no doubt the Elf Bar FB1000 is a good replacement for disposable vapes. This is because it is going to be significantly cheaper to refill the liquid, with an average Nic Salt 10ml costing £3 and this will last 3-7 days as opposed to one disposable which is around £5 and may only last a couple of days. The FB1000 is also a much more sustainable option, it requires far less waste than most disposables that cannot be recycled.
Pro’s and Con’s of the Elf Bar FB1000
Pro’s
Con’s
Final thoughts and comments
The Elf Bar FB1000 is a good kit, it’s not a great kit. Elf Bar are new to the refillable market, despite their disposable game being so strong. This means that in time, Elf Bar will likely receive mixed feedback and work on a product that is potentially one of the best on the market. The Elf Bar FB1000 isn’t the cheapest refillable pod device you can buy, for it’s money it’s, well…meh. It certainly didn’t blow us away and the flavour is nothing like an Elf Bar. However, if you’re looking for a solid and portable small kit, it will do the job.
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Disclaimer: Look, we know what you’re thinking. How can a retailer publish a review and expect us to take it as gospel? The truth is we don’t expect you to. We’re here to help you make better, more informed decisions to help you quit smoking. To accomplish this we pledge to offer you absolute honesty in all products we review and content we publish. Keep your eyes peeled for more vape kit and E-liquid blogs coming soon! Elfbar have not sponsored this post and were not involved with any of the opinions formed.