Electronic Cigarette Review

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A new U.S. company called Red Dragon Products has joined suppliers world-wide to market and sell a new type of mini electronic cigarette.

So what’s different about this mini electronic cigarette?

A fresh new atomizer is built-in to every Red Dragon cigarette refill cartridge. Kiss atomizer failure woes good-bye! This mini cigarette is also the smallest one I have seen so far.

The new Red Dragon mini electronic cigarette is not perfect though as new product offerings typically trade one set of problems for a slightly smaller problem as you find out by reading the rest of this review.

Overall, the new Red Dragon mini electronic cigarette left a very positive impression and this company seems to be the most economical supplier of this exciting new e cig at the time of writing this article.

Mini Electronic Cigarette Review:

  • Manufacturer / Supplier: Red Dragon Products, LLC.
  • Country: U.S.A.
  • Model: 8 piece kit
  • Style: Mini
  • Starter Kit Price: $39.95 – $79.95
  • Cartridge Price (4-Pack): $11.95
  • Number of flavors: 6 (Stock), 25 (Speical Order)
  • Nicotine Levels Offered: High, Medium, Low, Zero
  • Nicotine Solution for Dripping: No
  • Draw: Easy to Medium
  • Warranty: Yes 1 year (and 30-day money back guarantee)

Starter Kit Contents:

2 Red Dragon mini electronic cigarettes / lithium batteries, 1 USB charger, 1 USB wall adapter, 5 nicotine cartridges (customer selects flavor / strength) instruction manual.

a picture of the 8 piece red dragon starter kit

Rating Scale:

Average

Poor 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 Excellent

  • Ratings and Score:
    • Batteries and Charger: 3.5
    • Atomizer: 4.5
    • Cartridges: 3.5
    • Construction / Quality: 3.0
    • Cost: 4.0
  • Overall: 3.7 (above average)

Cartridge Rating = 3.5

The replacement cartridges with built-in atomizers come 4 in a pack. Four levels of nicotine concentration are available: high (16mg), medium (11mg), low (6mg) and zero (0mg). These mini electronic cigarette cartridges also come in 4 different colors including white, gold, green and brown.

Red Dragon regularly stocks white and gold colored cartridges in 6 different flavors at the time of this review including Regular, Light, Cherry, Marlboro, Menthol and Vanilla.

The green and brown cartridges as well as the other 19 cartridge flavors are special order.

Each Red Dragon cartridge is supposed to last as long as 20 traditional cigarettes (1-pack), but this will depend on individual smoking habits. The “high” nicotine cartridge only contains 16mg but it seems to actually deliver a good nicotine hit.

Ok, and now for the complicated part! The atomizer is built into the cartridge, BUT I am still going to do my best to separate the two for purposes of this review. Weighing the trade-offs isn’t that hard when you break it down so here goes:

First impressions of the cartridges were pretty good. They last much longer than the other mini electronic cigarette models I have tested probably even longer than 20 cigarettes in most cases, but they only come 4 in a pack whereas other brands package 10 refills in a pack so the tradeoff is more or less even there.

It is a huge convenience to be able to swap different flavors and strengths without any taste lingering in the atomizer and without having to worry about getting nicotine solution on your hands. Each refill is packaged in form fitting silicone end caps that you can actually put back on to maintain freshness.

I like the fact that they stock 3 different tobacco flavors: light, regular and Marlboro. They all had a very subtle taste that was true to their name. All the flavors tested were quite tasty but I would say the taste is not as flavorful as other brands, but the vapor also carries less odor as well.

There are a couple tradeoffs that should be noted though.

Like I said the cartridges seem to last long in most cases so that means there is an exception. Out of the 9 cartridges I tried 1 of them was actually faulty in some way. I got a few decent puffs and then it started to get harsh on me. It was actually the first cartridge I tried so I thought it was supposed to be that way.

After I took a few more drags it got very harsh so I decided to try the other flavors. None of the other cartridges produced this harshness until maybe a little bit at the end when they went empty.

So it seems that there are still some kinks to be worked out in the manufacturing of these new cartridges. Until then it is fortunate that it is quick and easy to screw on a new cartridge if you happen to get a bad one.

Finally, it seems like dripping these cartridges may be a little more difficult than the other mini electronic cigarettes out there. I e-mailed the folks at Red Dragon asking them if it is even possible to refill the cartridges and they sent me a procedure on how to do it that I will share with you in another post.

Atomizer Rating = 4.5

Building the atomizer into the cartridge proved to be a great idea in the testing of this mini electronic cigarette.

You can switch between and compare flavors very quickly because the solution flavor from the previous cartridge doesn’t linger in the atomizer between switches since it is a completely different atomizer!

Testing different flavors has been a challenge with the other brands especially menthol because it is such a strong flavor.

Some people are probably wondering if the atomizers are cheap since the replacement cartridges are only a few bucks each.

I know I certainly did.

I can confidently say the atomizers seem to be high quality and that they perform very well producing the most smoke vapor of the mini electronic cigarettes I have tested so far The atomizer only requires an easy to medium draw strength to get this impressive amount of vapor.

Even after inhaling deeply the volume of smoke produced on the exhale was good.

The smoke produced is not only abundant, but also warm especially after a couple primer puffs. The smoke was also fairly consistent in its abundance right up until the end when the cartridge ran dry.

Every cartridge tested had a functional atomizer and I believe the bad cartridge I had just didn’t get filled with the proper amount of nicotine solution.

The bottom line is even if you have an atomizer problem with this mini electronic cigarette you can replace it by replacing the cartridge and you will be the envy of your e-smoking friends when their atomizer craps out and they left their spare at home.

I am still not giving this mini electronic cigarette a 5 for its atomizers because I consider 4.5 excellent anyway with a 5 being perfect with nothing to be desired.

Everyone reading my reviews has probably noticed I am very conservative with my ratings and can bring myself to give out 5′s especially when I could split hairs and say things like, “well the atomizer still performs best when it is warm.. etc. etc.”

I don’t like to split hairs so I will just leave the atomizer score alone for now.

Batteries & Charger Rating = 3.5

Like many electronic cigarettes this 8 piece starter kit comes with 2 batteries so that you can enjoy uninterrupted use by charging one battery while you use the other.

The charging system comes with a USB travel charger that can be plugged into almost any USB port and a wall adapter than has a USB port to provide power for the USB charger.

Originally I thought the kit came with 2 chargers, but I found you do have to plug the USB charger into the wall adapter in order to use it. The chargers do have indicator LEDs that turn green when the charging cycle is complete.

The wall charger doesn’t have a cord which may be a positive for some who hate extra cords or a negative for others who don’t have room to plug the flip out charger into an outlet flush against the wall.

The DC car adapter for the Red Dragon mini electronic cigarette can be purchased separately and requires that you have the USB charger as well because the Red Dragon car charger just converts the car power outlet to a USB port.

The batteries take 3-4 hours to charge and will then last for almost 1 cartridge so you will need to swap the battery to finish off a cartridge.

This battery life tends to be on the short side compared to other mini electronic cigarettes and is probably due to the fact this mini electronic cigarette’s battery is very small. It is the smallest of all others reviewed so far.

The battery has no problem getting the atomizer good and hot to produce huge amounts of smoke but I did notice that the “cut-off” switch cutting power to the atomizer a little too soon for my taste.

After a few charges the batteries did seem to have a longer cut off but another thing I noticed is that if you try to draw too quick or hard the battery may start blinking and not activate the atomizer.

The brand is too new to find complaints of excessive battery failure out there but I didn’t personally have any problems. Overall the batteries and charging system seem fairly robust.

Construction / Quality Rating = 3.0

The first thing you notice when you put the Red Dragon together is the thing is pretty light weight, but not in a bad way. The construction is actually surprisingly well done for the weight and makes it feel more like a real cigarette when holding it in your hand.

You still will not be able to dangle it from your lips but I would say holding it in your teeth is comfortable.

The finish on the battery is very durable and the Red Dragon branding doesn’t easily flake off. The cartridges are wrapped with paper adding to both the appearance and feeling of a real cigarette on your lips.

The only problem I noticed with the construction is that 1 of the batteries exhibited a faint “rattle” when you shake it. The battery itself still works great and I don’t know if this is a fluke or if the problem will be typical of this brand, but I thought it at least worth mentioning.

Finally, the occasional unfilled cartridge seems to fall under the quality but maybe these can be drip filled. I don’t know.

Cost Rating = 4.0

You may think the cost of the Red Dragon seems a little high at first. I thought the same thing, but when I started to break it down I realized that Red Dragon is offering a good value for several reasons.

First, since the atomizer is built into the cartridge and the 8-piece starter kit includes 2 batteries this means in essence you get 2 electronic cigarettes. By simply screwing a cartridge into each battery I was able to sit there and smoke with a friend when doing research for this review.

I also just remembered that I got a “bonus” cartridge with the 8-piece kit technically making it a 9 piece kit. I don’t know if this is usual practice for the company or a special promotion, but a bonus is a bonus!

Second, while the refills cost about the same or slightly more than the competition you don’t have to worry about replacing the atomizer. Also, the convenience of being able to switch cartridges without lingering flavor and the time saved cleaning atomizers adds value.

Finally, Red Dragon offers several price points with their 1, 2, 3 and 8 piece kits which makes is cheap enough for anyone who is curious to give the brand a try. If a person doesn’t like it there is a 30-day money back guarantee and they don’t have a lot of money tied up in the transaction.

Red Dragon also offers a 1 year warranty on their mini electronic cigarette.

Style and Extra Features

The battery finish on this mini electronic cigarette is attractive with gold bands all along the white body. The Red Dragon logo on the battery also looks good and goes well with the style.

The only battery color available for this mini electronic cigarette is the white with gold bands, but the cartridges are stocked in either white or gold and can be special ordered in green or brown.

The Red Dragon web site is currently advertising “Dragon Skins” as a style feature that is coming soon. There is no word when these will be available, but I am assuming the dragon skins will basically be a sticker that can be applied to the battery.

The battery does have an orange tip and is not offered in any other colors but the unique thing about this mini electronic cigarette is that when the tip lights up it has the company logo (a dragon’s eye) super imposed kind of like the bat signal at the end of your cigarette which everyone I showed thought was pretty cool.

The other nice feature about the Red Dragon mini electronic cigarette is the carrying case. It is compact, comes in several colors and protects your investment.

Despite the fact the carrying case doesn’t have form fitting foam it is still snug enough that the mini electronic cigarette doesn’t slide around inside at all.

Overall Review Rating = 3.7

Right now there is a 5% discount “coupon code” next to the Red Dragon link on my “Where-to-buy” page…

FTC Disclosure

69 Comments

  1. Josh says:

    This was a great review. I was wondering though, in your opinion, if someone where trying to replace at least most of their smoking with an e-cigarette, from the ones you’ve tested, which provides the closest smoking sensation? The Red Dragon sounds like the one I would want to go with so far.

    Also, when are you testing out the Smoking Everywhere? I read a lot of problems with failures, but was curious to get a your take on the product in it’s fully functioning state

    • cris says:

      i got my red dragon yesterday…first couple charges dont last long,but after charging a couple times it seems to last quite a bit longer….i really, really like the red dragon,and i do believe it will replace my pall mall lights…hope this info helps.

  2. Brian says:

    Hey man, your blog is awesome. I was considering buying an e-cig but comprehensive reviews, especially in one place, are few and far between. I looked over all of them and the Red Dragon seems like it’ll work great for me. When I receive it, I’ll let you know if my experience is similar to yours. Thanks again!

  3. alex says:

    Just want all to know that based upon the review here I purchased the Red Dragon e-cig and have been very impressed with the product. The battery lasts (not all day if you are a heavy smoker) but long enough for most of us. I have been smoking for about 20 years and the Red Dragon produces a good deal of vapor which is most pleasing and closely simulates the amount of smoke from a regular cigarette. The flavors will take some time to get used to however. The best thing about Red Dragon other than the product is their customer service, truley top notch.

  4. Glenn says:

    Any more new information on dripping and or refilling these cartridges?

    • Sparky says:

      Sorry, not yet. I have some more liquid on order to try the procedures I have read about. I don’t like to post anything I haven’t tried myself..

    • Jamie says:

      I don’t see how you could top off these cartridges with eliquid, since the atomizers are sealed in. I’m sure some genius will figure it out. As for me, I’ll never touch eliquid again. I refilled a cartridge (it seemed like two drops) and nearly called 911 on the first puff. It was way too strong.

  5. Jamie says:

    Red Dragon is what I am on now, mainly because of your review. I bought enough product from them that a bum cartridge is not a big deal, I just load another; but yes, I do have problems with some of their cartridges.

    • Sparky says:

      Yes, I don’t see how any company could perform quality control on the cartridges. That has to be done at the factory. Testing the batteries and chargers helps alot.

  6. Doug says:

    I’m finding your reviews very helpful in purchasing my first e cigarette

  7. Jay says:

    Sparky,

    Thanks so much for taking the time to write these reviews. I’ve been looking for a good substitute for cigarettes and just got my Red Dragon today. Charged it up, screwed on a cartridge, and the damn thing works. Truly amazing.

    I did a lot of looking around before I found your review and it was, by far, the most informative.

    Thanks again!

    • Sparky says:

      Thanks for the complements. I am always looking for ways to improve so also feel free to drop me a line if you have feedback. I have 4 more reviews coming very soon!

  8. louis says:

    Great website!

    I have now tried both the Njoy and the Red Dragon electronic cigarettes (I tried the Red Dragon based on the review herein). My opinion: the Red Dragon simply gives much better ‘smoke’ and a more fullfilling ‘smoking’ experience. However, the Njoy (NPRO) seems to taste a little better, although I have much more difficulty in getting adequate smoke.

    I am using the Njoy e-cigarettes for the occasional puff during the day. I pull out the Red Dragon for when I am having coffee in the morning, or an adult beverage at night.

    In both cigarette brands I am using the ‘high’ nicotine (called regular Marlboro for Red Dragon).

  9. Chad says:

    I just ordered a 8pc kit with Cherry and a 4 pk of the Marlboro. I was just curious, if you get bad cartridges will Red Dragon replace them ?? Anyone tried yet ?? 1 here or there over months wouldn’t be too bad I guess (at $11 per 4). Just curious if I sent them back 4 would they send me a replacement “pack” ??

    Look forward to trying this. Smoked 20yrs and tried dip too. Don’t like the nasty side effects of either and these new E-Cigs sound like just the fix. Not to mention cheaper than gum and patches. I would like to quit but the amount of stress I deal with I don’t think I could. I am not a happy camper without my nic fit :)

    Thanks for the blog and reviews. Great site !!

  10. Sandi says:

    Sparky,
    Enjoyed your review of the red dragon e-cigs but now, after a few months, what is your opinion of the red dragon vs skyrl?
    Thanks

    • Sparky says:

      Jury is still out on that one. I don’t like to comment if I haven’t tested. I bookmarked the website for a later review.

  11. rIcKyZ says:

    I just received my Red-Dragon 8-pc kit yesterday and love it. i got the Marlbolo flavor and like Sparky says, it is true to it’s name. The Dragon Skins became available this week and i ordered a black and a red one. i also ordered some differant flavors to try out. i got the Green Apple, the Cherry, and Menthol to test. Thanks Sparky!!!!

  12. Andrew says:

    For those of you out there still trying to decide…..!

    Bought the Red Dragon kit based on this website review and started using it 2 days ago….Quality just as I was led to expect in the review. I am very happy with the Red Dragon – smoke volume very good and full. taste (ok to good), battery life a little short – but I got 2 battery packs in the starter kit – so no big deal. Smoker for 25 years…have not smoked a “real” cigarette since I got the Red Dragon – (2 days ago). This e-cig. simulates real smoking about 90% to 95% for me, enough to not make me miss the real thing – ever. Real cigarettes – over 4000 chemicals, easy decision for me. I will update this after several months of use to see if their quality holds up.

    • Andrew says:

      Ok – It’s been over a month now – here is my final review. (25 year smoker – ½ to full pack a day)

      I have not smoked a “real” cigarette since I received the Kit. At times – I get a real strong urge to smoke and I hit the electronic one for several minutes straight, which cures my fit. I don’t think the cartridges are equal to a pack though – more like 1/2 to 3/4 a pack. The first set of cartridges lasted longer or I am smoking these more (I really don’t think this is the case). Is anyone else experiencing the same thing?
      I have noticed that I will go a lot longer without wanting to smoke – usually in the mornings. I am enjoying the stink less life, I feel better about spending my money on something that will not kill me. Has anyone tried to refill these cartridges yet?
      Overall, I am very happy with the product and having the atomizer in the cartridge was the best way to go…..
      The heavy smokers that I have recruited do not seem to stay with the electronic cigarette. They miss the ease and fullness of real smoke – and the urges come more often and stronger, these batteries will not keep up. I would recommend that (serious) heavier smokers try using the patch WITH the electronic cigarette. The patch should smoothen out the urges and allow the Red Dragon e-cig to handle the motion habit. Good luck.

      • louis says:

        My brother-in-law and myself have refilled the Red Dragon cartridges/atomizers. Indeed, my brother-in-law has used the same single atomizer for over a month. Of course, he still smokes real cigarettes, but he has cut down by puffing on the Red Dragon during the day.

        The method: you are prying off the small plastic plug, with the small hole in it, that it is at the end of the cartridge (the end that goes into your mouth). I use a toothpick: I insert the toothpick into the hole (just a tiny bit) and then pry the plug off.

        Now, looking into the cartridge you will see tightly wrapped wadding with a small hole in the middle, with a small wire running into the hole.

        Take your favorite e-liquid and carefully drip one to three drops along the inner side of the cartridge; why the inner side? YOU DO NOT WANT ANY LIQUID TO GO INTO THE SMALL HOLE WITH THE WIRE. If you do, then when you take your first puff, you will get a mouthful of liquid fire.

        So, after carefully dripping a few drops (letting each drop be absorbed before adding the next), insert the plug again. I usually let my cartridge sit for a few minutes to give the liquid time to be fully absorbed. Should be good for another 10 or so puffs.

      • J.Ray says:

        I will agree with the 1/2 to 3/4 pack instead of a full one. I am a former clove smoker and took my sweet time enjoying one – usually I was still smoking while my friends were on their 2nd regular.

        I think it depends on the type of smoker –
        I was using the e-cig brand out of China until I stumped upon this review. I have just ordered a one piece kit with vanilla to test the difference. will try and use the e-cig battery with red dragon cartridges.

  13. rIcKyZ says:

    ok, after 2 days of having the black dragon skin on my battery, it looked like it was put through a war. the color of the skin is VERY easily scraped if touched by anything like a finger nail, key in you pocket, etc. i just took it off and had to use fingernail polish remover to get the glue off of the battery. the stripes and the red dragon logo vanished with the glue. if anybody has better luck with another skin or idea please let me know.

  14. kim says:

    just received my first e-cig. I’ve never bought any other kinds besides the red-dragon so I have nothing to compare it with.

    wondering, is the cigarette suppose to make a crackly sound while you’re puffing?

    other than that, it’s pretty. I guess it works. I can see quitting/replacing regular cigs with the e-cig.

    thanks for your very helpful review!

    • Sparky says:

      You are welcome.

      Yes, crackling and gurgling are among the sounds that several brands make. This is usually normal while taking a drag or immediately after a drag. It is a problem if the sound continues for longer than a second or two after you take a drag. If the sound persists longer than a second or two your switch may have gotten stuck “on” and you should remove the battery to try to figure out what’s wrong.

  15. Keoni says:

    Hi, I have been trying to order from the buyreddragon.com website for about a week and cannot get through the checkout process. Its says Done, but with errors on page in the bottom left corner and I cant click on anything on the page. So I am asking since you are familiar with the checkout if anything like this happened or if you have any suggestions. I think it may be a problem with the website as ive tried it from several computers with the same results. And I havent gotten any response back from my emails, any help would be greatly appreciated.
    Thank you

    • Sparky says:

      I would suggest be persistent with customer support. I have reason to believe other people are placing orders successfully at the same time you are having problems.

    • kim says:

      try again. I’ve ordered twice from them and they have been pretty fast. I’ve emailed them to ask questions and they have replied within hours.

      I should have gotten the 8 piece kit though. such a dummy. I bought it separately, but, now thinking about it, the 8 piece kit was a better value

  16. Christina says:

    I just ordered this based on your review… I’ll check in later and let you know what I think.. I was also looking at a brand called White Cloud but it was considerably more money. The biggest difference was they give you 5 cartridges for $14.95 versus the 4 from red dragon…

  17. Brett says:

    Based on your review I have ordered the Red Dragon and I am looking forward to to trying it.
    I have been a smoker for many years and enjoy smoking but this bad habit is taking it’s toll on me and this seems to be the perfect solution.

  18. Elizabeth says:

    Hmmm….thought I’d relate my experience so far. I ordered Red Dragon (first time) last week. I placed my order before 1:00 p.m. and paid for 2 day shipping. Their shipping policy is VERY misleading and can be found here: http://www.buyreddragon.com/shop/index.php/shipping-explained?___store=default

    Based on their language, you would expect that placing the order Wednesday before 6:00 pm would ensure that you would get the package by Friday, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. It is Monday afternoon and I still haven’t gotten my package. After multiple emails back and forth with customer service, I was told that the product has to be processed before the 2 day shipping period starts (it doesn’t ship for at least 1 day) and, therefore, 2 day shipping IS NOT 2 DAY SHIPPING AFTER ALL. It turns out that I actually paid a fortune ($17.85) for 2 day shipping that is actually 5 DAY SHIPPING! Feeling that their language is misleading and that they should change their language to be more specific, I asked for a refund on the shipping (the difference between the 2 day shipping and the regular shipping) or a credit to my account. I was refused both and offered a 5% discount, which I can get all over the internet anyway.

    Even though I haven’t received the cigs yet, I feel like my experience to this point has been terrible. My advice to you? Don’t pay for their expedited shipping as it seems to be just a way for them to get extra money. Pay for regular shipping because that’s what you’re going to get.

    I’ll do a follow-up review after I get the cigs and let you know my view on the actual product. Seriously, though, they’re going to have to be VERY superior for me to deal with Red Dragon again.

  19. kim says:

    follow up – it’s been about a week or so and I’ve had….maybe 1 ‘real’ cigarette a day now. amazing!

    the red dragon looks and feels pretty much like a ‘real’ cigarette. a tad bit heavier and a little longer, but basically like the real thing.

    what I like most about the e-cig is the amount of smoke/vapor that’s released. pretty much like the real thing. so far, I’ve noticed that the urge for a real cig has dropped dramatically.

    my only problem so far is the batteries. it sucks. maybe I got a bad one, but it’ll last about….maybe 15 puffs…equivalent to 1 ‘real’ cig before it dies on me.

    btw, does anyone know….when you charge using the wall charger with the USB charger…when the USB charger turns green, and the wall charger is still red, do you wait ’til the wall charger turns green too? or, when the USB light turns green, then it’s already charged? wondering….

    thanks

  20. Brett, Update. says:

    Ok I have received my Red Dragon.
    Opened package, Read all documentation, Charged batteries.
    It took a short time to get used the difference in the Hit or (drag) between a regular cigarette and the Red Dragon.
    Something else I did not think about but became apparent very quick is how many cigarettes I would waste just to get a couple of puffs when I would run from the car to the mall for example but now I can just take a puff or 2 and then slip it in my pocket.
    I am longer restricted to smoking in a certain area of the house or outside and after only a couple of days use my smoking habits have changed from neglecting family or chores to smoke, I just take a puff as needed or better yet “as wanted”
    I also want to give a big thanks for the extra cherry flavored cartridge as I am not one who was ever into flavored tobacco the flavor is so mild and pleasant and surpasses any flavored tobacco I have ever had.
    Thanks for the great product.

  21. kameko says:

    does anyone know how to get red dragon products in canada? i tried ordering from their site but it completely fails when i use my canadian address. i emailed them almost over a week ago with NO response which is kind of weird considering everyone else seems to be pretty happy with their customer service?

  22. Donna M says:

    Anyone have a phone number to contact the Red Dragon co?

    • Lynn L says:

      I had some questions about my Red Dragon I just received, and emailed them. They answered promptly and so professionally, I must say. But since I was dying to speak with someone there on the phone, I begged for a contact number. They politely responded (via email) that they were getting so many calls they couldn’t respond to them all and give them the proper individual attention, so it was easier to eliminate the phone contact option…too bad for us…but I myself would come up with several questions from time to time, so I’m probably an example of why they wouldn’t have enough man power/time to speak with everyone!

      • Diana says:

        I’ve emailed Red Dragon countless times with questions, and they always responded within 24 hours. Nice bunch of people.

  23. Becca says:

    Thanks to this review I purchased a Red Dragon and it arrived today! I made sure the battery was fully charged and tried the low cartridge. I for one like flavored smokes but if you’re looking for a “real” cig flavor I think you’ll be disappointed with the lows and regulars. I was surprised that they were slightly sweet and had a coffee taste even after several puffs. I then tried the bonus cherry cartridge and it was quite flavorful (Perhaps why the lows in the kit tasted so sweet too).

    For the most part the flavors in the mixed pack seemed to have blended together as there was not much distinction between flavors. The menthol were extremely weak in menthol flavor.

    The apple pack was just overly sweet with no real decernable apple flavor which was surprising.

    I’m seperating the cartridges to see if maybe that will help them take on their natural flavor and air out a bit.

    I smoke Capri and Marlboro Ultra Lights and can still manage a slight buzz from one. This was not the case with the lows. Even after trying all the different flavors and taking 5-6 puffs of each I never got a hint of a buzz. I will have to try sticking with the regular and see what that does for me.

    Overall, I’m happy with it! It will replace my cigs so that’s all that matters. The vapor amount was nice even without puffing hard. There was no burn in the back of the throat which is a plus and made it easy to smoke.

    Keep in mind that the product insert says not to take more the 14-16 puffs in 30 minutes. So if you are a heavy smoker you will definately want to get the 8 piece kit so you have an extra one for back up.

    It is close enough in size to a regular cig that you won’t even notice the slight difference. It is a little too heavy to hold like a regular cig without it slipping around. I’m sure it just takes some getting used to but they need to distribute more of the weight to the middle of the cig to balance it better.

    Keep in mind this is my first encounter with my new “toy” so this review may improve upon closer examination! Ha! I’ll keep ya posted!

    • Becca says:

      Ok so I’ve been smoking my Red Dragon for a day now.

      I still find that the low nic cart tastes coffeeish. It will have to be my Imtoodrunktocare smoke. The regular nic cart however did improve in taste but neither one packed a buzz at all.

      The menthol was smooth but still not strong enough to be considered a menthol by any stretch of the imagination.

      The cherry remained flavorfull and actually wasn’t too bad.

      The vanilla turned out to be very smooth. I like this one!

      Apple ones were horrible! I’m throwing them away! I don’t think I’d even want them after a few drinks.

      What I learned was you need to take a slower/longer drag than you would on a real cigarette for the flavor to come through. Also, separating the flavored carts helped to clarify their flavors a bit!

      Also I found an empty Altoids tin case with some of the packing foam cut out to be a perfect fit for both batteries, 6 carts and the USB charger. Made it all easy to carry! :)

  24. Paul says:

    Hi all. Ordered RedDragon today based on review which I felt was thorough and well done. 40 year smoker of Marlboro reds…..My grandchildren want me to quit. Will let all know how it’s proceeding.

    • Flenny says:

      Hey Paul, I’ve been smoking Marlboro Reds for years now too and just discovered the existence of e-ciggs. I was wondering if you can still feel the vapor in your throat like a red? I assume your using the Marlboro flavor, and since I want to quit, I was going to go for the Marlboro high nicotine cartridge and then back down bit by bit. Is it working for you?

  25. Nick Black says:

    Hrmmm, I too have been swayed by the Red Dragon review. I appreciate the service you’ve provided here.

    The variety of reviews and age of your blog lends it credence, but it would be nice if you had your real name, preferably with links to social networking sites making it easier to confirm your employment doesn’t present a conflict of interest. :/

    • Brett says:

      Nick.
      I am a real person who owns a Red Dragon and was purchased after hours & hours of research on E-cigs.
      You can find me at http://www.facebook.com/brett.donald.

    • Sparky says:

      What and become less mysterious?

      I have many reasons for choosing to be discrete with my identity at this time. For one, I’m sure some people are familiar with stories of people being fired / not-hired (like that teacher) because of an innocent photo or a misplaced comment from a friend on a my space page.

      I am a professional electrical engineer and people will just have to trust me on this one for now.

  26. Stephen S says:

    After reading the reviews here, I purchased the 8 pack starter kit with cherry cartridges, and 2 sets of vanilla cartridges. I intend to stop smoking by switching to this less harmful alternative.
    Ordered it with 2 day shipping, which was still a little painful. In the future I’ll likely buy 4 or 5 cartridge replacements because of this.
    I’ll repost in the future with my thoughts.

  27. Dee Reed says:

    Hi….
    I just joined this blog. My husband has been a smoker for about 40 years (he’s 59). Ten years ago, he had vascular surgery because of blockages in his aorta, and in the arteries in one of his legs, caused solely by smoking. Now, he can hardly walk, since he is in so much pain. He’ll be needing another surgery in a few weeks to blow-out more blockages, and replace the stent in his aorta, and possibly, he may need a by-pass to be done in his leg artery. Hopefully, with this surgery, he’ll be able to walk normally again.

    He has been having a terrible time trying to quit smoking. I recently bought him the NJOY-NPRO, and he’s loving them, BUT, I’ve had a hard time trying to find a replacement atomizer for it. Today, my husband and I read about Red Dragon, and the fact that each cartridge contains its own vaporizer. We liked what we read, and saw your video review. My husband ordered the 8-piece kit for himself with nicotine.

    I stopped smoking cigarettes a few years ago, therefore kicking the nicotine habit, but I gained some weight, even though I am very active and ride my horses everyday. I found that I was eating more, since I quit cigarettes. I was replacing the oral gratification of smoking with food. I’m hoping that with this wonderful new tool, I won’t want to overeat. I ordered a kit for myself, but my kit will not contain nicotine.

    As for the health problems that tobacco smoking causes, it not only causes lung cancer and heart problems, but I have seen what my husband has gone through with blockages in his arteries in his leg. My husband’s surgeon explained it all to me, that with even only one puff of a tobacco cigarette, the brain is alerted that foreign bodies, such as tar, smoke and the other thousands of carcinogens, are entering the body. The body, in its effort to protect itself from these harmful compounds, releases a rubbery substance to block the carcinogens. Unfortunately, it also blocks blood flow to the arteries and veins, causing numbness and terrible pain,and the possibility of a heart attack. These blockages can occur int he brain, as well, causing a stroke.

    In my opinion, these E-Cigs may be a great, safe way to kick the tobacco-smoking habit. I do hope they aren’t banned. We’re looking forward to the arrival of our kits.

    I truly hope this will help my husband kick the tobacco habit.

    • Sparky says:

      Hey thanks for the comment. Best wishes to you and your husband. I sincerely hope the ecigs help.

  28. Stephen S says:

    Bought the Red Dragon and only two complaints: one, one of the first cartridges I tried was defective, it literally fell apart when I screwed it on the battery. Second, the battery life is short, really short. Get the two piece kit for sure, and maybe a 2nd USB charger. These batteries, I’m telling ya, are weak. Or I’m puffing away too much. lol

    • Brett says:

      When I first received my kit I also noticed the battery life seemed a little short but after the second or third charge they seem to last a little longer, I would also like to say I found out that when the vapor becomes less from the cartridge don’t assume it’s empty. change the battery even if the light isn’t flashing indicating it needs a charge and you’ll be surprised how much is left.

  29. Wes says:

    Ugh..you make me wanna puke. There has NEVER been a conclusive test regarding the effects of second-hand smoke. NEVER. Any claims to this effect are either greatly exaggerated or outright lies. The only tests that provided conclusive evidence were done with such high quantities of smoke that the tests were invalid. I’m talking about they filled a chamber with smoke and put test subjects in it. Unless you’re in a closet with at least two smokers, second-hand smoke will NEVER cause any harm. I &$@!?! hate all this anti-smoking propaganda.

    • Brett says:

      It doesn’t take a genius or any sort of “conclusive test” to figure it out.
      Just start cleaning in a room or a vehicle where you smoke regular cigs and you will see the effects of second hand smoke on the walls, furniture, lamps, windows etc.
      with that in mind how could it not effect another person?

  30. Sparky says:

    I’ve noticed that a few people commenting here have had some complaints. That is understandable since nothing or no-one is ever perfect. Please keep your comments fair and free of profanity. I hate to have to edit or outright delete comments.

    One of the reasons I started this site was to help people understand the ins an outs of these products which includes dealing with these companies. Sometimes switching can be a challenge or at least an inconvenience that has to be justified by the benefits you desire.

    Folks, whatever benefit you are trying to get from the use of these devices please be patient. If you are one of the unlucky ones that gets a battery or charger that is DOA, please be patient with these e-cig companies because they are all start-ups and are prone to periodic growing pains. Once you are sure you like it and it will help you, order an extra charger and a supply of extra batteries, atomizers and your favorite cartridge flavors. After you have diminished half your supply, order more. This will help in dealing with companies on warranty replacements.

    E-smoking, just like regular smoking, will be a continuous expense.

    • Andrew says:

      I have had several problem batteries (due to a faulty charger)that were purchased from RD. I contacted them and they were very prompt and offered no resistance when I requested replacements. I had to do this twice – but they came through twice; so they have passed the customer service test….so far. E-cigs costs a little more and are more of a hassle than smoking death sticks; but it is well worth it in the short and long run. It has been over 2 months since I have smoked the real thing, and I feel so much better. The longer I go without real cigs, the less I am attracted to them. The only issue now is that apparently I am allergic (itching and irritated skin) to the PPG in them. I am looking for a PPG free solution.

  31. Toni Marie says:

    Hi I am new to this – just heard about electronic cigarettes yesterday. Needless to say I am excited as I have been praying that God will take the cigarettes away from me. I think this is an answer to our prayers.

    My first reaction was “wow, what a simple idea, why didn’t I think of that!!!”

    Thank you so much for your reviews and time and effort in helping choose the best brand.

    I am hoping to become a distributer as well. I know so many people who would benefit from smokeless cigarettes.

    I can’t wait to spread the word!!!

    Love
    Toni Marie

  32. Pete & Julia says:

    We’ve had a RD for almost two weeks and will probably be sending it back.The cig itself works fine. BUT The cost of the prefilled cart/atty will make vaping cost more than smoking. It seems that “dripping” is a way of life with e cigs and there’s no great way to do that(neatly & nicely) with Red dragon.
    So, they taut no extra atomizer but to drip you really need a three piece unit—which are available at a lower price to begin with.
    If the carts were $6 a pack instead of $12–maybe we’d stick with it.
    You can vape a lot less expensively with a three piece e cig.

  33. jason says:

    i ordered this e cig cause of your review and i got to tell you its soooooooo awsome!!! so much vapor fells like im smoking.this is my 2nd e cig i got a cheap one that didnt even work when i got it and cant seem to get my money back and its a big problem but when i got this little baby it was great. so you wont be upset if you buy this e cig. hope this helps at all.

  34. David says:

    As a smoker for 35 years I was excited to find a site to read about the various products, Thanks Sparky.
    I “tried” to order from RD today and to also establish an account, but with no luck. Seems they also need some web help. O-Well, maybe later today.
    David

    • Sparky says:

      Someone else said they had problems with the page and they were able to fix it by enabling cookies so you may want to check that.

    • Brenda says:

      David,
      Solution: check out as Guest instead of signing in.
      I too had the same problem when I tried to establish an account. It’s a little more time consuming to check out “as a guest” each time I order but it works for me. FYI.. This product is GREAT! I’ve smoked a pack + a day for 25+ years. I have had my Dragon for 2 weeks and I now average about 3 real cig.’s a day and that’s only when my RD is charging.I’ve ordered another RD to fix my waiting on it to charge problem.
      Brenda

  35. Wayne says:

    I just purchased an 8-piece kit based on your review and the positive postings. I appreciate the reviews greatly. I noticed on the red Dragon website under the special flavors they have a 24mg strength, in all of the regular flavors and the extra flavors. I thought a previous post or perhaps your review stated that the highest strength was 16 mg. just thought I would bring it to your attention if you were not already aware. Thanks for the great blog.

    • Sparky says:

      Hey thanks for the comment and posting the update for everyone. Those 24mg carts weren’t there before I am sure of it. I will probably order some to see what kind of punch it packs.

  36. Beanie Baby says:

    I am waiting for my RD. Never tried an e-cig but I am excited. I have heard that you can use e-liquid with the cartridges. It is the only way I will be able to afford this. RD seems alittle more expensive than other brands but looks as if it is a better product. has anyone attempted to refill the cartridges? I am unsure how long a refill or cartridge will last. I am also unsure of what kind of liquid to buy and from where. Anyone know of any other mini cigs (2 piece) that can be refilled with liquid?

  37. Stevog says:

    Thank you for all your efforts with the in depth reviews. After bouncing around several blogs the past couple of day’s in search of a rating system on the brands, I finally came across your site.
    I just ordered the full kit from RD w/ a couple of extra cart. paks.
    This is all new to me. Just heard of EC’s a week ago.
    35 year pak a day smoker. Father of 3, all teens. Two already smoking in their late teens. Who’s to blame? Tiss I!
    With the CA taxes kicking into overdrive, my 15 years of smoking Shermans became cost prohibitive, I went to roll your owns for the last 4 months. Now I have a bad hack, rougher then normal voice and they just taste like poo.
    Really hope to kick the tobacco with this device. I’ve blown $100 in worse way’s.
    Thanks for the 5% discount code. I’ll take it.

    Wish me luck folks! Again, many thanks for all you time and effort of the information provided.
    I’ll get back to you………

    • Stevog says:

      My Red Dragon kit arrived in just 3 day’s from order. (upgraded to 3 day shipping)
      1st full day of use I had 1-1/2 ciggys.
      That’s been it! I can dispense my nicotine as needed via my e-cig.

      The family is very stoked as am I. I gave my youngest (nearly 15) our 1st, non-tobacco hug, of her life, from me.

      Although this is still a pacifier to my nicotine habit, I can step back and see this when the urge occurs.

      So after earlier attemps in life to get this far (beyond 24 hrs. smoke free) I’ve reached a huge mile stone.

      Hypnosis- Been there, done that.
      Accupuncture- Been there, done that.
      Nicotin gum, patches- ditto, ditto.

      Coughed up something today that resembled golden gooo.
      Sinus clearing up steadily.
      No urge to eat everything in sight.

      Found myself puffing pretty hard the 1st day and a half. The cartridges would last 1/2 a day. I’ve settled down a bit now. On a fresh charge the Red Dragon will give you some pretty intense hits/drags. Well enough to cure anyone’s craving. I went with the high dosages.

      Thanks again from those here at ECR for your in depth guidance.

  38. Madelynn says:

    Hi Sparky. Thanks for the review. I am hoping to buy my first electronic cigarette soon. I am a real smoker (at least a pack a day). This review makes the RD mini look like a good product for me. Do you have another product that you greatly prefer at this time? My main concern is to have the most realistic feeling possible. I am less concerned with taste. (Though, of course no taste or really bad taste won’t do.) Input from any and everyone is appreciated!

  39. Bad Dawg says:

    I have been a heavy smoker for 40 + years and knew I had to quit. I read this review and bought the Red Dragon. I have had it for 2 weeks now and have not smoked a regular cig since. I LOVE the red Dragon! It feels like you are smoking a real cig, tastes like it too only better and if you use drip you can save a lot of $$ over regular cigs. I feel better, and I’m starting to get my sense of smell and taste back. What a great invention! Thanks so much for your review and helping me decide to quit smoking!

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About Me

The Electronic Cigarette Review is NOT about me.

Its here for millions of people in America and the rest of the world who smoke and may be considering electronic cigarettes as an alternative for their health, smoking bans, outrageous taxes and other costs.

When I went to the web searching for GOOD information on electronic cigarettes it was difficult to find.

This site will have something useful here for everyone thinking about trying electronic cigarettes or those who are looking to take their new found joy of smoking the e cig to the next level!

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