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Istick TC 100W by Eleaf
Istick TC 100W by Eleaf

Istick TC 100W by Eleaf

Commercial characteristics

  • Sponsor having loaned the product for the magazine: Tech Steam
  • Price of the tested product: 54.90 Euros
  • Product category according to its selling price: Mid-range (from 41 to 80 euros)
  • Mod type: Variable power electronics and temperature control
  • Is the mod telescopic? No
  • Maximum power: 100 watts
  • Maximum voltage: Not applicable
  • Minimum value in Ohms resistance for a start: Less than 0.1

Reviewer comments on business characteristics

For less than a year, Eleaf has been struggling to develop its Istick range according to the same theme: ease of use, low price and good quality of vape. And each of the brand's products meets with a nice deserved success with vapers of all styles as the business is good to do by procuring this type of material.

However, some references have been able to experience reliability concerns relayed by forums and social networks. The brand reacted soundly by increasing the quality of its products and returning to boxs using external batteries to deal with some well-known LiPo failures.

The all new Istick TC 100W follows on from the TC 60W which represented a fine example of rediscovered reliability and therefore arrives with renewed confidence. Beautiful, especially in a crisp white livery (also available in black and gray), it is an average size for a double battery and looks good. Sold at a very low price, like its sisters, it could be likely to appeal to lovers of strong powers who do not wish to invest more than necessary to obtain them.

Upgradable, the firmware belies the name of the box since the very latest version V1.10 allows access to 120W. there, it becomes serious, especially for 54.90 €. 

Eleaf Istick 100W TC Back

Physical characteristics and felt quality

  • Width or Diameter of the product in mms: 23
  • Product Length or Height in mms: 94
  • Product weight in grams: 272
  • Material composing the product: Aluminum, Brass
  • Form Factor Type: Classic Box - VaporShark type
  • Decorative style: Classic
  • Quality of decoration: Good
  • Is the coating of the mod sensitive to fingerprints? No
  • All components of this mod seem well assembled? Yes
  • Fire button position: Lateral near the top cap
  • Fire button type: Metal mechanics on contact caouctoucouc
  • Number of buttons making up the interface, including touch zones if they are present: 3
  • Type of user interface buttons: Mechanical plastic on contact rubber
  • Quality of the interface button (s): Good, not the button is very responsive
  • Number of parts in the product: 3
  • Number of threads: 1
  • Quality of the threads: Average
  • 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: 3.9 / 5 3.9 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on physical characteristics and perceived quality

It is by comparing the incomparable, namely the very first Istick 20W and the very last Istick TC 100W that we can see how far Eleaf has come in so few months. While other manufacturers cyclically encounter the same finishing or reliability problems despite rapid versioning (Pioneer For You for example), Eleaf shows us the extent of its questioning here.

The box is of good quality, well machined, well finished. All in aluminum of a good thickness, it is covered with a satin paint which will not catch your fingerprints and will therefore prevent you from having problems with the NCIS or the Experts. The aluminum is aviation grade but be careful, the box does not fly. 

The fairly standard screen is located in the center of the box on a black strip and three buttons of the same color are placed at the bottom of this strip. There are the eternal buttons [+] and [-] which are therefore used to increase or decrease power and temperature and the third button (which I really like so much it makes the manipulations practical) used to switch between the different modes offered by the TC 100W: variable power, Temperature control in Ni200, Ti, SS316 AND TCR configurable according to your choice of resistive (3 locations), plus a Bypass mode that transforms your electro box into an unregulated mod, like a little mechanical of things close. 

The offer is therefore very broad and does not overlook the latest generation innovations.

But the physical characteristic that definitely catches the eye from the start is the absence of a switch! Damn, I already imagined myself unplugging the cables to power the ato but luckily, a miracle happened and my brain started to function normally (or more or less). The switch is present, it is constituted by one of the covers which contain the batteries on which it is enough to press, rather upwards, to trigger the firing! 

In short, impressive quality if you compare it to the price and some innovations that are worth seeing. It's a hell of a good start!

Eleaf Istick 100W TC Top Cap

Functional features

  • Type of chipset used: Owner
  • Connection type: 510, Ego - via adapter
  • Adjustable positive stud? Yes, through a spring.
  • Lock system ? Mechanical
  • Quality of the locking system: Excellent, the chosen approach is very practical
  • Features offered by the mod: Switching to mechanical mode, Battery charge display, Resistance value display, Protection against short circuits from the atomizer, Protection against reverse polarity of batteries, Display of the current vape voltage, Display of the power of the current vape, Temperature control of the atomizer coils, Support the update of its firmware, Clear diagnostic messages
  • Accusability: 18650
  • Does the mod support stacking? No
  • Number of batteries supported: 2
  • Does the mod retain its configuration without batteries? Yes
  • Does the mod offer a recharge feature? Charging function possible via Micro-USB
  • Is the recharge function pass-through? Yes
  • Does the mode offer a Power Bank function? No power bank function offered by the mod
  • Does the mode offer other functions? No other function offered by the mod
  • Presence of air flow regulation? Yes
  • Maximum diameter in mms of compatibility with an atomizer: 23
  • Accuracy of the output power at full charge of the battery: Good, there is a tiny difference between the requested power and the real power
  • Accuracy of the output voltage at full charge of the battery: Good, there is a tiny difference between the requested voltage and the actual voltage

Vapelier's note regarding functional characteristics: 4.5 / 5 4.5 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on functional features

The details were particularly cured by Eleaf.

First of all, we have a mechanical locking system consisting of a two-position button on the top-cap which allows the switch to be locked and unlocked. It's ultra-simple, easy to implement and you will therefore stop counting your clicks once and for all. I would add that the button is rather “hard” type so no risk of untimely triggering. It's solid.

We come back for a moment to the switch which is in fact simple like the egg of Christopher Columbus. One of the two hoods is movable, and when you press it, it presses an interior metal button that takes care of firing. It's immediate, no latency, no missfire, well thought out, well done, nothing to criticize! And one of the nicest switches I've ever seen. Even if the concept had already been developed before, as at Smok for example, here it is especially well done. The hood does not move, everything stays in place, there is a reassuring little click on pressure, it's perfect. Be careful, however, this is not a trigger switch whose entire length is usable. The switch part is located at the top of the mod even if, test done, it can also be triggered by other places by putting the adequate pressure there.

I will not come back to the presence of the famous third button which allows to switch between the different modes and which, by itself, justifies the presence of this box on the market as the ergonomics gain in simplicity.

The TC 100W is used with two batteries and will therefore provide a comfortable power of 120W in this case. But you can also use it with a single battery, which is interesting. In this case, it will be limited to 75W, necessarily. You are going on a trip with two batteries. One of them breaks down, who stays? Well, there is the other one that will allow you to continue vaping quietly. Not stupid at all.

Eleaf Istick 100W TC Eclate

In temperature control, we find now standardized values: from 100 ° to 315 ° C, between 0.05Ω and 1.5Ω. In variable power, the box takes resistances from 0.1Ω up to 3.5Ω. Something to see coming widely, both in the power-vaping on a clapton coil dripper and in the power supply of an old genesis mounted in 0.20mm from Kanthal (for the youngest vapers, I would point out that this is not a joke , the Kanthal in 0.20 does exist. 😀)

Another little devil magic but very useful: if your resistance is greater than 1.5Ω, the box goes directly into WV mode. 

All the useful protections are available, of course, and there is a cut-off which occurs after 10 seconds of pressing the switch.

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? Yes
  • Does the manual explain ALL features? Yes

Vapelier's note on packaging: 5 / 5 5 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on conditioning

A multilingual manual that includes French, which is even understandable by a French speaker ophone! It's written in good French and what's more, it's complete. Well done ! 

The box is delivered in a classic white cardboard box and includes, in addition to the box, a USB / micro USB cable and the manual. I pass on the rest of the animations like the possibility of scratching if you want it, of QR coding like a phew and all the usual elements as useful as a stethoscope to a duck.

Eleaf Istick 100W TC Package

Very consistent packaging for the price. I note that Eleaf specifies that, despite the presence of a micro USB port, it is preferable to recharge its batteries in a dedicated charger. And how right they are! I strongly recommend it to extend the life of your batteries and keep them in good health. The micro USB port is only really present for the firmware upgrade or to help you out in nomadic mode for recharging. Of course, you will make sure to use batteries with a minimum CDM of 25A unless you want to go to 20h of TF1. 

Appreciations in use

  • Transport facilities with the test atomizer: Ok for Jean's back pocket (no discomfort)
  • Disassembly and cleaning facilities: Easy, even standing on the street, with a simple Kleenex
  • Easy to change the batteries: Super simple, even blind in the dark!
  • Did the mod heat up? No
  • Has there been any erratic behavior after a day of use? No
  • Description of situations in which the product has experienced erratic behavior

Vapelier's rating in terms of ease of use: 4.5/5 4.5 5 out of stars

Reviewer's comments on the use of the product

I will try not to dwell on the use which is after all simple and common to many boxes.

There are the highlights: 

  • The Istick fits well in the hand.
  • The vape is stable, with all power.
  • The change of the batteries is childish.
  • The switch is terrible!
  • The settings are easy to do, almost without thinking, naturally.
  • The versatility of use is impressive.

 And there are the weak points:

  • The micro USB port is placed under the bottom of the box.
  • The beginning of the thread of the 510 connection is not intuitive to find.

Eleaf Istick 100W TC Bottom Cap

The most important thing therefore remains: the quality of the vape due to the regularity of the signal and the computing capacities of the chipset. The vape is very smooth and very constant. We can say without hesitation that we are not on a cheap chipset and that it thus joins much more “side” chipsets. There are no operating problems and the use is greatly facilitated.

I note, however, two points that may be important to some:

The screen displays approximately 10-12% lower resistance compared to reality. This does not affect the quality of the signal in classic vape, but can be annoying if a high degree of calculation precision is required for power-vaping for example.

The other point concerns a slight boost effect when starting the signal during firing. This is a flaw that is not really one, shared by many mods, but which can also be disabling as soon as you vape within the limits of your atomizer and your assembly. In this case, in variable power, the boost effect could be able to generate a taste of hot at the start of the puff, while the heat and your suction attract the liquid on the capillary.

Nothing prohibitive but we are not there to hide things.

Recommendations for use

  • Type of batteries used during the tests: 18650
  • Number of batteries used during the tests: 2
  • With what type of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? Dripper, Classic fiber, Sub-ohm assembly, Genesis-type rebuildable
  • With which model of atomizer is it advisable to use this product? All
  • Description of the test configuration used: Taifun GT2, Avocado, Mini Royal Hunter, Mutation X V4
  • Description of the ideal configuration with this product: Any atomizer whose diameter is less than or equal to 23mm

was the product liked by the reviewer: Yes

Overall average of the Vapelier for this product: 4.5 / 5 4.5 5 out of stars

Link to a video review or blog maintained by the reviewer author of the review

The mood ticket of the reviewer

It's another good number that comes out of the hat of Eleaf who does not miss here his entry into the high powers in TC mode. 

The rare defects noticed are very slight and do not influence the quality of the vape or the use. The qualities on the other hand are numerous and allow to appropriate the mod very quickly and to be in total confidence. 

The build quality, already noticed on the TC 60W, makes another leap forward and the Istick TC 100W joins here the most beautiful Chinese productions without having to be ashamed of a possible comparison.

Simple, beautiful and inexpensive, this is typically the nomadic box for heavy vapers. The one that sends without kicking and whose price eliminates too much attention in the movements of everyday life. It is there to vape with you and not to mobilize your concentration at all times to avoid dropping it on the tarmac. That's not bad.

(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.

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About the Author

59 years old, 32 years of cigarettes, 12 years of vaping and happier than ever! I live in Gironde, I have four children of whom I am gaga and I like roast chicken, Pessac-Léognan, good e-liquids and I am a vape geek who takes responsibility!