How to use the Eleaf iStick T80: your first variable wattage mod

The Eleaf iStick T80 comes with the T80 80W vape device, a USB charging cable and a user manual. There is no tank, so you will need a 510 tank and coils.

The battery is a built-in 3000mAh cell, which Eleaf says gives up to a full day of vaping between charges. Output runs from 1 to 80W, covering both MTL and DTL depending on the tank. It weighs 119g and is only 7.8cm tall.

Eleaf pitches it at newer users moving to their first variable wattage device, and it is simple enough for that job.

The standard 510 connection means the T80 pairs with a wide range of tanks and rebuildable atomisers. Screw the tank on gently until it stops; overtightening can damage the 510 pin.

For sub ohm DTL, a tank like the Voopoo Uforce-X works well, as long as you pick coils whose range sits inside 80W. Its included 0.15 ohm and 0.3 ohm PnP X coils suit 70% VG liquid.

For a budget option, the Innokin Go Max disposable tank is a 2ml sub ohm tank with a built-in mesh coil and a 510 connector.

Variable Wattage is the classic mode: set the wattage to suit your coil. This is where most T80 owners live.

Temperature Control caps the coil temperature, useful with suitable coil wire types for experienced users. Bypass sends the battery's available power straight to the coil. Memory mode lets you store settings for quick recall.

Start in Variable Wattage at the bottom of the range printed on your coil, take a few puffs, and step up a couple of watts at a time. When the flavour peaks, stop. When it turns harsh, step back.

Eleaf's sub ohm advice is clear: use e-liquid that is 60% VG or higher, and a nicotine strength lower than 6mg. Sub ohm coils produce a lot of vapour, and higher strengths become harsh fast.

A shortfill with a nic shot, or a ready-made 70% VG liquid, is the usual choice. Nicotine is addictive, and the vapour volume of DTL means more nicotine per puff than a pod.

If you fit an MTL tank with a coil above 1.0 ohm instead, a 50/50 or nic salt at higher strength becomes appropriate. Match the liquid to the coil, not the mod.

The T80 charges fully in about an hour and a half thanks to its 2A current. Use the included cable and a decent plug.

• Atomiser warning on the screen: the tank is loose or the 510 pin is dirty. Reseat the tank and wipe the pin.
• Burnt hits: wattage above the coil's rating, or the coil was not primed. Drop the power and prime properly.
• Battery not lasting: high wattage DTL uses more power. Lower the watts or charge mid-afternoon.

Keep it out of hot cars, and avoid draining the built-in cell to zero every day.

The iStick T80 suits vapers who want their first variable wattage mod without dealing with removable batteries. It is light, compact and works with almost any 510 tank, from MTL to DTL.

If you want more power and modes with removable 18650s, the Voopoo Drag 5 and Aegis Legend 5 are the step up. If you mainly vape MTL, the Vaporesso GTX One Pro is a slimmer 40W option.

For a first mod, the T80 is a sensible, simple choice: one battery you never remove, four modes and a screen that tells you what it is doing.