The Ultimate Guide to Squonk Mods in 2023. Is Squonking Right For You?
Covid-19 rages on outside, but there’s some good news for us vapers who use nicotine. A preliminary study conducted in March by e-cigarette researcher Konstantinos Farsalinos shows a correlation between nicotine use and lower rates of infection from COVID-19, so it’s not all doom and gloom! What better way to celebrate than by taking the dive into the vape-tastic world of squonking?
Various forms of squonk mods have been around for years, but it is only recently that the quality of squonking devices has improved to the point where seeing them is common.
Many vapers swear by squonk mods, citing a better vaping experience and unbeatable flavor compared to using a tank mod. Despite their rising popularity, a considerable number of vapers are still reasonably clueless when it comes to squonkers.
What is a squonk mod?
Most of us are familiar with RDAs (rebuildable dripping atomizer). Still, people are often left scratching their skulls when they hear the term “squonking.” So what exactly is it?
A squonk mod is a vaping device with an in-built e-liquid bottle, meaning that the user has control over the flow of juice to the coils. Squonking provides the ease and convenience of a traditional tank mod with the unparalleled flavor intensity and satisfying clouds of a dripper. It’s the best of both worlds!
The good news is that squonkers are finally hitting the mainstream! Developments in technology mean that after years of dealing with sub-standard mods and a less than perfect squonk experience, there are a considerable number of well-built devices hitting the market in 2023.
With so many new choices, picking the mod that is right for you can be a minefield. Fortunately, we’re here to help.
What are the best squonk mods for 2023? We've conducted in-depth market research to find out
Our process
We want our readers to be the best informed in the world when it comes to vaping, which is why we have personally tested all of the devices listed below.
The areas that matter most to most vapers are build quality, ease of use, features, and overall look, so these are the areas concentrate on in our reviews.
For the sake of consistency, the same e-liquids (charlie’s chalk dust 3mg and Space Jam Electrolar 3mg) were used across all devices. And unless otherwise stated, the dripper we used was the Hellvape Passage RDA.
Different vapers have different needs and priorities. Rather than try and find the best squonk mod overall, we’ve looked for the best vape mod in several particular categories.
To save you time, effort, and money, we’ve tested an array of the latest and greatest squonk mods on the market in 2023 to find the best offerings. So without further ado, let’s jump into the list of our top 7 squonk mods for 2023.
Dovpo X TVC Topside Dual 200W Squonk Box Mod
Best Dual Battery Squonk Mod
Shenzhen Vapesourcing Electronics Co.,Ltd.
vapordna.com
We have to be honest here – as visual first-impressions go, Dovpo‘s latest foray into the squonk game leaves a little bit to be desired. That’s not to say that the Topside Dual is an ugly piece of kit, but the blocky shape and brushed steel finish are not the most attractive we’ve seen on a vape.
As soon as you pick the device up, none of this matters. The Dovpo Topside Dual is a particularly comfortable dual battery squonk mod, and it feels far sturdier than it looks. The exterior of the Dovpo Topside Dual is sturdily constructed from zinc alloy. It is well put together, if a little bulky.
The 0.96 inch OLED screen is well lit and makes using the device a breeze.
One of the defining features of the Topside Duo is its 10ml top-fill squonk bottle, which makes refilling this device an easy affair. Some larger nozzles such as those found on short fill bottles may be a bit trickier, but overall it’s a one of the best squonk mods on the market right now.
The Dovpo Topside Dual fires up to 200W, so even the most power-hungry of dripper enthusiasts should be satisfied.
A nice bonus with this regulated squonk mod is that you get a “spare” squonk bottle with this device, meaning you can swap your flavors out on the fly. Perfect for people who like to mix things up.
What we like:
- Top-fill bottle
- Dual 18650 batteries
- 10ml bottle (larger than most)
- All the advanced features you would expect from a regulated squonk mod
What we don’t like:
- Not the most exciting device to look at
- Not particularly pocket friendly due to weight and size
YiHi SXmini X Class 200W Squonk Box Mod
Best Auto-Squonker
One of the newest innovations to hit the squonking scene is mods capable of “auto-squonking.” As the name suggests, these devices automatically detect when your wick is starting to dry out and pump your e-liquid to the coil without any action from you. As long as you keep the bottle filled, you shouldn’t get any dry hits. As well as convenience, we’ve found that auto-squonking delivers a much more consistent vape. This is because you never have to worry about over-squonking.
A solid entry to the auto-squonker ranks for 2023 is the YiHi SXmini X Class 200W Box Mod. Like the Dovpo Topside Dual, this is a dual battery squonk mod that takes two 18650 batteries and is capable of firing up to 200W.
The outer shell of this autosquonking mod is made from high-quality zinc and stainless steel with carbon fiber inlays. It feels sturdy but lightweight, and I personally love the classy design.
This is an excellent device for the money, and a fantastic way to get into auto-squonking. The main downside of this mod is that there is no joystick, and this makes using it a bit tricky. The only way to navigate the menus is via the touchscreen, and this can be a little janky from time to time.
What we like:
- Autosquonking works great
- Smooth, consistent hits
- Lightweight carbon fiber design
What we don’t like:
- On the more expensive end of the spectrum
- Menu system can be hard to navigate
- Touch screen is inconsistent
Geekvape Aegis Squonk 100W Squonk Mod
Most Durable
ALIVAPE
Some vapers lead relatively sedentary lives, spending most of their time comfortably indoors and protected from the worst that mother nature has to offer. For those of us that like to grab life by the horns, though, a lot of vapes on the market simply aren’t durable enough to stand up to the kind of abuse our lives, jobs, or hobbies can inflict on them.
Whether you’re working on a construction site or scaling a mountain, the technicians at Geekvape have got you covered with their latest offering, the Geekvape Aegis Squonk 100W Box Mod.
As with other devices in Geekvape’s Aegis series, this regulated squonk box can claim some seriously heavy-duty protection. It is waterproof (ip67, meaning it can be dropped into a body of water up to a meter deep for half an hour), shockproof, dustproof, and rustproof. This is one of the most rugged feeling vapes I have laid my hands on. If you are the kind of person that goes through vape mods like socks, this could stop you from having to replace your device quite so often.
An exciting feature of this squonker is that you can convert it into a non-squonker reasonably quickly. All you have to do is detach the squonk section by removing four Allen screws and replace it with a dummy backplate (purchased separately).
As a standard regulated mod, the Aegis Squonk works reasonably well, but you will have to swap out the RDA for one without a BF pin in this mode. This makes the whole thing seem somewhat gimmicky. Unless you have a particular reason for needing the dual capability that the Aegis offers, don’t consider this too carefully when deciding whether or not to buy.
What we like:
- Heavy-duty construction. This thing is built like a tank
- Large 510 connector means no overhang with 28mm atomizers
- Can double as a regular mod if you remove the squonk tank
What we don’t like:
- The fill port is quite small and can get messy, especially when using shortfill bottles
- Swapping out the squonk bottle is not that easy
asMODus Luna Squonker Box Mod
Best for the Purist
FireVapor.com
The Ultroner x Asmodus Luna is an unregulated squonk mod that uses a single 18650 battery, firing up to a maximum of 80w.
Probably the most impressive feature, and the one that most buyers will be purchasing this for, is the absolutely fantastic design of this squonk vape.
The shell of the Luna is made from an aluminum alloy wrapped in stabilized wood and accented with various colors of resin. Because of the way that they are made, no two of these devices are the same. The stab-wood is uncoated and feels lovely to hold, and the resin is subtle but adds a real visual zing.
This is undoubtedly one of the best-looking devices on the market, and at under $50 is an absolute bargain. Unregulated mods aren’t for everyone, though, so make sure you know what you’re getting into!
What we like:
- Stunning design
- Every piece is unique
- Feels lovely to hold. The most ergonomic button placement for thumb-firers we’ve used
- Seriously good value for money
What we don’t like:
- 6ml squonk bottle can feel quite small
- Unregulated, so better for more advanced users
Uwell BLOCKS Squonk 90W Box Mod
Biggest Capacity
Like the Ultroner x asMODus luna, this offering from Uwell is an unregulated squonk box mod. Unlike the luna, however, this device really isn’t much to look at. You can only buy this device in 3 designs, and all of them are pretty questionable. If you can overlook the garish stylings, you’ll find a durable squonk mod with a quick firing speed, huge 15ml squonk bottle, and a pump system that works pretty well.
Unlike the other mods in this article, the Uwell BLOCKS doesn’t rely on the user to pump liquid from the bottle by squeezing it. Instead, it uses a pump system with a button on top. This takes a bit of getting used to, but I found it made not over-squonking a lot easier.
Unfortunately, this mod doesn’t come with a spare bottle. Still, it is a compact and well-built offering with a massive e-liquid capacity, so you might not need one – A blessing for juice-thirsty vapers such as myself.
What we like:
- Pretty Solid Squonk Mod
- Good Priced
- Huge 15ml squonk bottle
What we don’t like:
- It’s hard to find a raplecement bottle’s for it
- Not for beginners
Vandy Vape Pulse X BF 90W Squonk Mod
Best on a Budget
If you’re looking for a single battery squonker that is an excellent option for people on a budget, or if you don’t want to commit too much cash on your first foray into squonking, the Vandy Vape Pulse X could be a good choice.
This neat little device is compact, ergonomic, and lightweight. The fact that it can use a single 20700 or 21700, as well as the more common 18650 battery, makes it a pretty versatile option.
The plastic shell on this squonk vape does feel a bit cheap, and doesn’t offer much protection from the elements. Despite that, it does feel solidly built, with no rattling or ill-fitting components.
This mod feels comfortable in the hand whether you are a thumb or finger firer, and you can mix and match the inlays (although some color choices are pretty loud).
One distinctive feature of the Pulse X RDA that comes with the kit version of this squonker is that it is designed to suck down excess e-liquid from your deck after squonking. This keeps your cotton wet without the risk of leaks.
What we like:
- The best value for money when it comes to regulated squonk mods
- Highly versatile – It can use multiple battery types
- Solid build quality when you take the price into account
What we don’t like:
- The plastic shell feels cheap
Lost Vape Drone BF DNA250C Squonk Mod
The Lost Vape Drone BF is an absolute screamer of a device. It’s simple to use, gorgeous to look at and hold, and full of fantastic little features that make using this squonk mod an absolute joy.
This vape is powered by the DNA250C chip, and while the screen might not be the prettiest on the market, it remains one of the most usable menus around.
Like most dual battery squonk mods, this vape is a bit of a beast in terms of its size. However, thanks to it’s smooth, futuristic design and central thread placement, it manages to feel robust rather than bulky. It fits comfortably in hand, and can even fit tanks as big as 41mm.
What we like:
- The DNA chip gives you extra power
- Nice built quality
- This thing fits 41mm Tanks
What we don’t like:
- Bulky device beacuse of dual 18650 batteries inside
- Hard to find on the market
The Best Squonk Mods - Specifications
| Squonk Mod | Wattage | Bottle Size | Dual/Single Battery Mod? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dovpo X TVC Topside Dual 200W Squonk Box Mod | 200W | 10mL | Dual Battery | |
| YiHi SXmini X Class 200W Squonk Box Mod | 200W | 3.9mL | Dual Battery | |
| Geekvape Aegis Squonk 100W Squonk Mod | 100W | 10mL | Single Battery | |
| asMODus Luna Squonker Box Mod | 80W | 7mL | Single Battery | |
| Uwell BLOCKS Squonk 90W Box Mod | 90W | 15mL | Single Battery | |
| Vandy Vape Pulse X BF 90W Squonk Mod | 90W | 8mL | Single 20700/21700 Battery | |
| Lost Vape Drone BF DNA250C Squonk Mod | 200W | 8mL | Dual Battery |
What are Mechanical / Unregulated Mods?
Most vape mods available for purchase today are regulated mods. This means that a chipset sits between the battery and the coil, allowing you to select the wattage, as well as a bunch of other parameters.
On the other end of the spectrum are mechanical devices, which have no chipset in them and have to be built around the specifications of your battery. Mechanical devices are essentially just a tube that holds your battery and will always fire at full power. Mechanical mods are not recommended unless you really know what you are doing. Sat in the middle of these two types are unregulated mods.
With unregulated squonking mods, you can’t vary the wattage, but unlike mechanical mods, they do have a chipset. This provides some essential safety features, such as short circuit protection, as well as an LED indicator light, so you know what your mod is doing.
Wrapping up
Hopefully, you’ve seen that the squonk market looks very different than it did a few years ago, with devices catering to a variety of different needs.
That being said, squonking isn’t for everyone. It does require a little bit more effort than using a traditional tank to get the best experience. You can’t attach an RDA that has a standard 510 connector to a squonker as there will be no way to pump the e-liquid from the mod to the atomizer. Using an RDA with a bottom feed pin on a standard mod is also a bad idea as juice will leak down into the mod through the connector.
Not a good look.
Only use an RDA with a bottom feed pin for squonking.
If you’re reading this, however, you’re probably like us. If you prioritize flavor intensity and cloud quality when choosing a new vape, squonking really does come out on top in those departments.
If you are already someone who uses drippers regularly, and you are in the market for a new mod, you should definitely give squonking a try.
Samuel Roberts
Sam is a vaping enthusiast and professional writer from London, UK. After smoking for 15 years he took up vaping in 2015 and hasn't looked back once. There is a lot of disinformation around e-cigarettes these days, and Sam is dedicated to debunking the many myths and falsehoods about vaping that populate the internet. When not geeking out on the latest vape tech, Sam can normally be found cooking, camping or on the BJJ mats.