Aspire Gusto Mini Review – Got the Gusto!
Review: Aspire Gusto Mini
Manufacturing Quality
There are two opposite trends in the vape and e-cig world right now. One is to make mods that are increasingly big and powerful. The other is to make vapes that are almost microscopically small, while still delivering good performance.
Either option can be done well, and both types of vapes serve important functions. In my opinion, its worth it to have at least one option in each category.
The Gusto Mini, like the name suggests, is in the second category. This is one of the smallest vapes that Ive ever used, and everything you need sits inside. It doesnt use a traditional tank, instead it has a special pod system.
These pods come pre-filled, and theyre also disposable, meaning you throw the whole thing away when you run out of liquid. There are two versions, one that is TPD compliant and one that has a 4.2ml capacity. Im not sure if the 4.2ml pods are actually being sold yet though.
The pod area is accessed by removing the side, which slides right off. You cant access the battery though, because the 900mAh battery in this is internal.
This is a simple vape, but it is built well.
Flavor Quality
Like I mentioned above, this works off a pre-filled pod system. The only pods that we were able to actually get are the the TPD compliant ones, which are made by Element E-Liquid. From what I can tell, the 4.2ml pods will be made by Halo.
I really like the Element pods. They are made with their Ns-20 liquid, which is e-liquid made with nicotine salts with a 20mg concentration. The flavor is excellent, and there are several options. One that I really enjoy is the pink lemonade, but they also have good classic tobacco flavors as well.
The cloud size was respectable, especially for something so small and 17W. The draw resistance allowed for a slightly restricted direct lung or a slightly open mouth to lung.
I can only find two current flavors for the 4.2ml pods, with 12mg and 6mg options for each. I dug around a bit, but didnt find anyone online that is selling either yet. My initial impression is that the UK version with the Element collaboration will be better because of the 20mg liquid. This allows you to get more nicotine with less draws, which plays into the portability aspect of this and makes the small battery less of a hassle.
Power Flexibility
There is no power flexibility at all. The Aspire website indicates that all the pods will have a 1.5ohm resistance, so for now it looks like you wont even be able to adjust that. The wattage output is around 17W when fully charged.
This is extremely easy to use. You click the single button five times to turn it on, then press and hold the button to engage the power and take a draw. To put on a new pod, you slide the side off and put the pod in place.Before doing so, there are two silicone plugs that hang out the bottom of the pod that must be removed. When you first remove the plugs, allow about 5 minutes for the wicks inside the pod to become saturated.
Portability
The portability of this is fantastic. Its exceptionally small, and it is comfortable to carry in a pocket. Its all self contained as well, meaning you can put this in a bag without worrying about it breaking. I didnt have any problems at all with leaking.
The ease of use is also nice. While the battery size is relatively small, this is offset when using a higher nicotine liquid because you dont have to take as many draws. Less draws means less power usage.
Overall Experience
I really like the Aspire Gusto Mini.
If youve been reading our reviews for a while, then it should come as no surprise to hear me say that I love AIO vapes for portability purposes. Im all for big, powerful box mods, but they arent appropriate for all situations. Theyre great when at home or hanging out with friends, but not so good for work, events, or being out in public.
Thats where these tiny AIO vapes come into play. Theyre absolutely perfect for situations where you dont want a big box mod. You can slip this in your pocket and discreetly take a few puffs here and there to get your nicotine fix. Theres another advantage of the higher nicotine options: you dont have to take as many draws, which is usually a big plus in the same situations where portability is also important.
This would be a great beginners vape, but I also really like it as a portable complement to your bigger mods.
If you want something extremely simple, check out the Kandypens Rubi and if you are looking for a mod style kit to start with we recommend the SMOK Procolor.