Commercial characteristics
- Sponsor having loaned the product for the magazine: MyFree-Cig
- Price of the tested product: 129.9 Euros
- Product category according to its selling price: Luxury (over 100 euros)
- Atomizer Type: Clearomizer
- Number of resistors allowed: 1 permanent CVU chip
- Type of resistors: Non-rebuilding owners
- Supported Bit Type: Cotton, Fiber Freaks Density 1, Fiber Freaks Density 2, Fiber Freaks Yarn 2 mms, Fiber Freaks Cotton Blend
- Quantity in milliliters announced by the manufacturer: 3.5
Reviewer comments on business characteristics
The Altus is a small alien in the world of the electronic cigarette. No need to change your resistance since it is equipped witha CVU chip (Center Vaping Units). It's a thermo-conductive ceramic which is believed to conduct heat as fast as aluminum.
My curiosity was great and I wanted to test this novelty to give you my impressions. At first glance, the look is quite nice, although classic. The vision of the wicks protruding from the bell makes it original. On the other hand, for a diameter of 23mm, I regret a little its liquid capacity of 3.5ml. But if innovation comes at this price ...
Let's continue a little to discover more.
Physical characteristics and felt quality
- Width or Diameter of the product in mms: 23
- Length or height of the product in mms as it is sold, but without its drip tip if it is present, and regardless of the length of the connection: 48
- Weight in grams of the product as sold, with its drip tip if it is present: 58
- Material composing the product: Stainless steel, Pyrex
- Form Factor Type: Kayfun / Russian
- Number of component parts without screws and washers: 7
- Number of threads: 5
- Quality of the threads: Good
- Number of O-rings, Drip-Tip excluded: 5
- Quality of O-rings present: Very good
- O-ring positions: Drip-Tip Connection, Top Cap - Tank, Bottom Cap - Tank, Other
- Capacity in milliliters actually usable: 3.5
- Overall, do you appreciate the quality of manufacture of this product with regard to its price? Yes
Rating of the vapelier as to feelings quality: 4.1 / 5 
Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality
In terms of quality, we are on stainless steel like most atomizers, with a high resistance to corrosion. The tank is Pyrex a good thickness to not slam the first wash. And fingerprints do not particularly mark.
The CVU chip is an advanced ceramic composite that does not oxidize (up to 1000 ° F) and is an excellent thermal conductor. This special ceramic is fused with a tungsten circuit, thus conducting heat evenly over the chip and not cracking even after a rapid temperature change. The surface should also not oxidize or degrade with regular use. This chip is designed to last for years.
Regarding the threads, they are flexible and fit together. All parts ensure proper contact for proper operation.
The ring airflow pivots correctly, with good hold to have a maximum or minimum air flow variation on the four openings.
Functional features
- Connection type: 510
- Adjustable positive plot? No, a flush mount can only be guaranteed through an adjustment of the positive pad of the battery or the mod on which it will be installed
- Presence of air flow regulation? Yes, and variable
- Diameter in mm maximum of the air regulation possible: 10
- Minimum diameter in mm of the air regulation possible: 0.1
- Positioning of the air regulation: From below and benefiting the resistances
- Spray chamber type: Chimney type
- Heat dissipation of the product: Insufficient
Reviewer's comments on functional features
We begin to get to the heart of the matter with good and bad points.
Regarding the 510 connection, the pin is not adjustable. Although I hadn't encountered any difficulty in matching it to a mod, I find it really does not stand out. I still remember that this atomizer is bought at a price of € 129,90. So in the long run, with a resistance that should be able to hold up for over a year, I hope the pine can do the same without sinking.
The air flow is variable and the suction goes from very air to very tight and although the holes are positioned on the sides of the atomizer, it is from below that the resistance is regulated in air. Nevertheless, I did not find that the heat dissipation is particularly successful, with an atomizer that heats up quite a bit during use at 51W.
But the main function of the Altus is to use a chip as a resistance in order to avoid us having to remake our coils (by changing the wick all the same regularly) but also to avoid any slag resulting from the degradation of the wires. metals and their absorption by the body. Obviously the bet is successful and the wear of the wick is substantially the same as that of a conventional atomizer wick.
Filling is easy except that every time I want to unscrew only the tank, systematically it is the base which unscrews in priority.
The Altus cannot run on a mechanical mod under any circumstances as it requires the ability to tune. It is made to operate with high powers: between 30 and 75 Watts without limitation of the temperature or by using the temperature control by choosing Nickel for the resistive of reference and on a temperature range between 175 ° and 240 ° C.
Drip-Tip Features
- Drip tip type: 510 Only
- Presence of a Drip-Tip? Yes, the vaper can immediately use the product
- Length and type of drip-tip present: Short
- Quality of the present drip-tip: Good
Reviewer's comments on the Drip-Tip
The drip-tip is stainless steel, medium size. It has a large internal opening that allows powerful aspirations in direct inhalation.
Without any particularity, it is sober, simple and goes very well with the whole body of the atomizer.
Evaluation of the packaging
- Presence of a box accompanying the product: Yes
- Would you say that the packaging is up to the price of the product? Yes
- Presence of a user manual? Yes
- Is the manual understandable for a non-English speaker? No
- Does the manual explain ALL features? Yes
Vapelier's note on packaging: 4 / 5 
Reviewer's comments on conditioning
A beautiful packaging for this product that honors its price.
The box is very rigid cardboard in which we find the atomizer lying on a protective foam red velvet.
Under this foam, we discover a small bag that contains a large number of replacement wicks and many silicone seals of two different sizes to use your atomizer very long.
We also have an extremely detailed 34-page user manual. Even if you do not understand English, each page is illustrated with a photo scrupulously detailing each step, making everything understandable even for a French speaker.
The only things missing are an extra tank and information about the resistivity value of the chip delivered in the pack.
Appreciations in use
- Transport facilities with mod of test configuration: Ok for an inside jacket pocket (no deformations)
- Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Easy but requires a workspace
- Filling facilities: Easy, even standing in the street
- Easy to change the wick: Easy but requires a workspace
- Is it possible to use this product throughout the day with several vials of EJuice? Yes perfectly
- Was there leak after one day of use? No
- In the event of leaks during the tests, descriptions of the situations in which they occur:
Vapelier's note on ease of use: 4.6 / 5 
Reviewer's comments on the use of the product
It's a new product that gave me a hard time, not through its assembly but to find my bearings.
The change of the wick is very simple, does not require emptying the tank, but remains slightly more restrictive than a wick in a conventional atomizer. However, not rebuilding its strength remains an asset and an undeniable time saver. So the advantage remains in favor of the Altus.
After mounting my wick, I soaked it and filled my reservoir with e-liquid. Then, I mounted the Altus on my box and set my power to 30W (manufacturer's recommendations on his site: between 30 and 75W). And there, surprise ... no steam. I had to raise the power up to 46W (with a resistive value of 0.44Ω) to start having a little weak vapor with some blockages of the chip. In addition, the reaction to the "heating" of this chip suffers from a fairly high latency.
As an illustration, it reminds me of light bulbs. Classic atomizers are incandescent bulbs which react immediately, the chip is a bit like a compact fluorescent bulb which takes time to start. At 51 watts, it took me almost half an hour of difficult vape to have something approximate and stable settings, which oscillate between stability of the heating time, adequate power, end of the engorgement and vapor correct.
At the end of a day of use, the behavior of the chip stabilizes by becoming more reactive to heating, with the first puffs which remain weak despite the power of 50W, but which subsequently gives a more dense vapor, a more linear reactivity but an atomizer which heats up quite a bit and an accumulator which empties at high speed "V".
Following the instructions given by the manufacturer, I used this atomizer with the temperature control on an NI200 setting between 175 and 240 ° C.
I must say that the operation was much more convincing despite excessive heating of the Altus to 300 ° C, temperature at which I was able to obtain a normal vape and a dense vapor. Then, gradually, I lowered my temperature to 250 ° C for the same result to finally arrive at 230 ° C.
Rather disappointing tests overall which convinced me that this atomizer was only a prototype at an excessive price but which nevertheless deserves that we linger a little more for those who bought it and also for its designer.
My perseverance got the better of the Altus (unless it was the opposite) and after two days of use, the chip corroded a bit. In temperature control mode, it still takes two or three aspirations for the chip to behave correctly and heat enough to give the desired vapor at only 170 ° C. A simple and acceptable use which finally delights me.
In power mode it is a little more difficult because, to get a good steam, it is still necessary to go up to 50W and at this temperature the atomizer heats a lot and the battery is emptied very quickly. I remain rather disappointed by this mode of operation.
On the third day, the chip's break-in is frankly effective, with a more reactive and constant vape in CT mode but which in WV mode, is still too energy-consuming not to mention the heat dissipation which remains to be improved.
For flavors, of course, this goes hand in hand with how the chip works. When the liquid is overheated, the flavors remain average, nothing to rave about. On the other hand, they are more promising in CT mode but still not enough for my taste.
I advise all users disappointed by the Altus to use it mainly in temperature mode to have maximum satisfaction and especially to run the chip that works better and better with time.
For the wick, I tested the Fiber Freaks instead of cotton. With a square of 2cm aside to replace the bits provided, the result is identical and allows to have a quality substitute.
Recommendations for use
- What type of mod is it advisable to use this product with? Electronic
- What mod model is it recommended to use this product with? any electro mod with CT that can have a power greater than 50W
- With which type of EJuice is it advisable to use this product? All liquids without problem
- Description of the test configuration used: Box electro to 170 ° C in CT mode setting with Ni
- Description of the ideal configuration with this product: the ideal is the configuration with temperature control in 170 ° C after running in 2 days
was the product liked by the reviewer: Bof, it's not the craze
Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 3.7 / 5 
Link to a video review or blog maintained by the reviewer author of the review
The mood ticket of the reviewer
The Altus looks a lot like a subohm clearomizer with a permanent resistance that simply requires changing the wick. A purchase price that seems expensive but which is amortized over the long term as long as the chip has a lifespan of more than a year. Obviously we will have to wait to confirm this promise.
The quality of the product is there with correct materials. The innovation of the atomizer is based on this ceramic plate, designed in a special alloy for exclusive use by the Altus. Note that this chip requires a break-in of at least one day to provide normal operation.
In power mode, it is imperative to use an electronic mod, the only one capable of providing the 50 watts that will be necessary for a classic vape (below 50w I have not managed to make it correctly restore the flavors). At this power the drawbacks will be twofold: An ato body which will heat up a lot and a (much) more restricted autonomy, because at 50w permanently a battery drains very quickly.
In temperature control mode, on the other hand, after two or three puffs, you end up quickly finding correct settings around 170 ° C accompanied by a nice vapor.
Something bothers me however, because the temperature control on a resistive wire in Ni200 has a basis of calculation made for this material; So that the resistance does not overheat, and allows the liquid to evaporate without being excessively heated. However, with the chip, this reference to Ni200 is biased since the resistive is made of tungsten and the temperature control therefore loses its reliability or even its primary interest (I am curious to know your impressions). However, in fact, this is the mode that best suits this chip, which remains for me and despite everything, a small revolution in the world of e-cigs. Revolution synonymous with a cheerful future for an even healthier vape.
It is a very promising innovation which will certainly be copied and improved by other manufacturers. I therefore look forward to the next challenger on the same concept.
A concept that could well endorse this revolution now underway.
Sylvie.I
(c) Copyright Le Vapelier SAS 2014 - Only full reproduction of this article is authorized - Any modification of any kind is totally prohibited and infringes the rights of this copyright.
