I’ve reviewed a lot of eGo kits that include CE4 and CE5 clearomizers in my day. I will probably continue to do so in the foreseeable future. But, I’ve never actually written a dedicated review for these clearomizers. Ron, of Ron Reviews fame sent me a CE5 several months ago, which I promptly lost until recently. This one comes from the EU by way of eCig-Vapo.com.
CE-5 Clearomizer Design
There are a few variations within the CE clearomizer family. Typically, CE5’s feature replaceable heads vs. the 4’s fixed head. That is the case with this version as well.
The only difference is that it is a hidden wick design. An outer tube perforated with a couple rows of holes covers the head and wick assembly. The whole tube unscrews for replacement. To do so, simply unscrew the base and then unscrew the inner tube assembly to replace.
One of the best things about this clearomizer is the way it’s designed to match up with eGo style e-cigarettes. I like to run mine on my growing collection of Vision Spinners. The voltage adjustment really brings out the profile of the device by being able to crank up the voltage a little.
I’m not exactly sure the appeal of the hidden wick setup beyond pure aesthetics. While it is possible to coax that protective outer shell off, rebuilding these coils is probably not in the cards, though rewicking with cotton is an option if you’re adventurous.
On the outside of the tube, you won’t find any real surprises. You have the same tapered body and graduation markings. The plastic does feel a little more sturdy than some other models I’ve used. However, being the hard clear plastic, this clearomizer will be susceptible to tank cracking with cinnamon or citrus e-liquids. This rules out my regular liquid I use in most reviews.
I’d really like to see a Pyrex glass CE style tank one day, but I imagine the thickness of the glass would greatly reduce the already small 1.5 – 2.0 ml capacity of most of these series. That’s probably why the pyrex tanks tend to be a little larger I suppose.
Using the CE5
Save for the plastic cracking potential, this style of clearomizer is generally a pretty good performer. This CE5 is no exception to that rule, although as far as I can tell, the covered wick design doesn’t make that much of a difference.
Wicking keeps up fairly well, though I find I can’t run them as hot as something like a ProTank. I can still run these toward the higher end of the dial of my spinner. Running the clearomizer on the MVP or other variable wattage device, I find this one likes to be in the 8 or 9 watt range.
That will produce some healthy clouds of warm vapor. This clearomizer does a good job in the flavor reproduction department. Perhaps that’s a result of the unique design, I’m not completely sure.
Filling is typical for this style of clearomizer. Just unscrew the tip and pour e-liquid in. Fine or needle tip bottles work the best. Protip: you can pick up this type of bottle as well as cooler CE4/5 drip tips from MadVapes.
If you’re looking for a simple and easy-to-use clearomizer, this would be a very solid choice. If you’re in the EU, you can grab this particular model at eCig-Vapo.
Disclosure: I received this product from eCig-Vapo by way of Ron (who is in no way at fault for my taking forever to finally review this thing). That MadVapes link is an affiliate link.