The Captain 2 from one of the vaping industry’s oldest manufacturers, iJoy, is a dual 18650 mod that looks to replace the original Captain.
iJoy has been in the business for a long time now though they aren’t really known for innovative products. The Captain 2, however, is being marketed as a rugged device with shock and dust-resistance, which does give it an edge on several similar devices available today.
If you’ve been vaping since around 2017, you’ll probably remember the original Captain, which did get some mixed reviews, but overall, it was a well-received device and quite popular.
In this review we’ll take a closer look at the Captain 2 and let you know whether it’s as good of a purchase today as the original was a few years ago…
PRICE (US): ~ $60.00 available from VapeSourcing
PRICE (UK): ~ £45.00 available from VapeSourcing
KIT CONTENTS
- 1 x iJoy Captain 2 Mod
- 1 x iJoy Captain V Tank
- 1 x 0.15ohm X3 Mesh Coils
- 1 x 0.4ohm X3-C1 Coils
- 1 x MicroUSB Charging Cable
- 1 x Instruction Manual
- 1 x Warranty Card
SPECS
- Size: 136.8 mm x 52.2 mm x 33 mm
- Battery: Dual 18650 batteries
- Output Power: 5 – 180 watts
- Resistance Range: 0.05 – 3.0 ohms
- Screen Size: 0.96 inch
- Material: Aluminum Alloy & Silicone
- E-Liquid Capacity: 5 ml / 2 ml
PACKAGING & DESIGN
The Captain 2 looks eerily similar to the original Captain. However, it is a smaller device since it now takes two 18650 batteries instead of the big 20700 that came in the original.
Holding the mod, you will find that it feels solid and well-built and it’s really ergonomic and comfortable to hold.
It has a really nice rectangular fire button on the side with the navigation buttons situated just below the screen.
They’ve also added a piece of rubber under the navigational buttons, which acts as a protective cover for the USB port. The buttons have a little rattle in them though. It’s not much, and certainly wouldn’t be enough to put me off buying it, but it’s there.
The 510 connector is situated in the center on top of the mod. This gives it a balanced look and has plenty of room to accommodate tanks up to 30mm in diameter before you experience any overhang.
The Captain 2 comes in five colors, all of which are predominantly black with the color options differing on the side panels.
Silicon lines the sides to offer extra protection if dropped, and there are strips of black leather on both sides of the mod that gives it a touch of sophistication.
Batteries are easily replaceable via battery door with a latch system that is so secure it can be a little difficult to close at times. At least it was for me. Once it is closed, it does feel as though it won’t open easily, even if dropped, which can only be a good thing.
The kit comes in a standard box with a picture of the mod on the front. Inside, you will find the mod itself, a Captain V tank with a 0.15 ohm coil installed, an extra 0.4 ohm coil, a USB cable, a manual, and a warranty card.
FUNCTIONALITY
iJoy is not known for breaking any barriers and it shows in the Captain 2.
The modes and functions in the Captain 2 are the same with any iJoy product the past few years. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There may not be anything innovative here, but you still get all the functions you would expect and need.
For instance, you have Power Mode, where you can choose soft, normal, hard, or user (which you set according to taste) as well as Temp Control Mode that supports SS, Ti, Ni200, and TCR.
It may not seem much, but truth be told, most vapers will be satisfied with these settings.
Using the Captain 2 mod is fairly simple. To turn on/off the mod, you click the fire button five times. Three clicks will take you to the menu, while the navigational buttons will let you select which mode to choose.
The fire button will confirm your selection. When you are in TC mode, if you press the up button first, you are able to adjust the watts. But if you press the down button first, the power adjustment menu will appear instead.
Finally, if you press both navigational buttons at the same time, this will lock all buttons except the fire button to prevent unwanted changes to your settings.
In terms of performance, the Captain 2 shines in power mode. It heats up well and produces consistent power all the way. However, the temp control performance leaves something to be desired.
iJoy has never been known for its stellar temp control, and the Captain 2 reinforces this. It isn’t consistent, and if you are looking for a mod with impeccable temp control performance, the Captain 2 isn’t going to be the one for you.
CAPTAIN V TANK
The Captain 2 kit comes with the aptly named Captain V tank.
It comes with a pre-installed 0.15 ohm mesh coil which is rated for use at 40 to 90 watts. A spare 0.4 ohm coil is also included, which is rated at 60 to 90 watts.
You can choose from a wide range of coils that are compatible with the tank, including an RBA option.
There are also two glass tubes included, a straight 2ml glass and a 5ml bubble type. The tubes are screwed on and off and are easily replaceable.
The top cap is easy to remove for top filling. There are two fill holes that are large enough to easily fit most nozzles, and an air flow ring that is smooth to adjust.
The tank performs well, though not excellent with the coils they include. The coils are…well…just ok. They’re not terrible, but they could be so much better.
The pre-installed 0.15 ohm performs much better than the spare ones, though both wore out pretty quickly in comparison to most other coils I use.
You do have the option to use one of the many alternative coils by iJoy, and I’d recommend doing so once these burn out.
HOW MUCH DOES THE iJOY CAPTAIN 2 KIT COST?
In the UK, you can expect to pay around £45.00 from VapeSourcing for the Captain 2 Kit. In the US, the going rate is around $65.00, also from VapeSourcing.
Is it worth it? This is a bit of a tricky one for me. I don’t think it would be a bad purchase considering it is a full kit, but I do think there are better alternatives on the market at this price.
DISLIKES
- TC mode is inconsistent
- Coils didn’t last very long
- Slight rattle on buttons
- Battery door can be a bit of a pain to close
- No IP67 rating
- No Type-C USB
- Display hard to see outdoors
- No adjustable brightness
LIKES
- Ergonomic & very comfortable in the hand
- Power mode works great
- Nice clicky fire button
- Can handle up to 30mm tanks without overhang
- Easy to use
- Affordable
CONCLUSION
The Captain 2 is not a perfect mod. For the price, it can be a decent backup. As a main mod, you can find better performing mods in the price range. Though if you are a strictly power mode user, the Captain 2 is still a solid choice.
The tank is okay, but I found my coils lacking. Good thing iJoy offers around 17 other coils to choose from that are compatible, including an RBA deck if you want to build your own so it’s not all bad news in this department.
As a rugged mod, it does look like it can withstand hard knocks and minor falls. I don’t think the dust-resistance really sells this device to me. I’ve never really had much of an issue with dust particles, but I can see this device having its place for you if you work on a building site or something similar.
That said, despite its flaws, the Captain 2 Kit does some things really well that make it worth a second look.