>

As the year winds down, it's time to take a look back, sifting through the plethora of new goods vapers have been bombarded with over the course of the last 12 months. Over the next week, we'll take a look at products that have been either best sellers, strong performance standouts, or that have otherwise added something unique and valuable to the vape scene. Today, let's talk about the box mods of 2016.

Smok Alien 220 Kit - Though it's one of the newer mods to hit the scene, the Alien has already made waves in a big way and it's been flying off the shelves (literally – we're shipping them out almost as soon as they hit the warehouse). This dual-18650 mod has a smaller form factor than comparable devices, but still manages to fit in an oversized side-mount LCD screen, a unique firing bar that occupies the bulk of one side of the mod, and plenty of power to drive any build you might pair it with in wattage or temperature control mode. On top of that, included with the mod is the miniature version of Smok's flagship clearomizer, the TFV8 Baby Beast. As impressed as we were with the TFV4, last year's Guide to Vaping Clearomizer of the Year, the TFV8 goes even further toward creating the closest thing to a hand-built coil you'll be able to find.

Smok G-Priv 220 Kit - Stepping up from the Alien, the G-Priv includes the same set of features – twin cells deliver up to 220 watts of power or 600 degrees Fahrenheit in temperature control mode, with a micro-USB port for charging and firmware updates and a host of power modes to deliver varying cloud intensity. What sets the G-Priv apart is the touchscreen control that occupies a full side of the device, offering a classy, high-tech appearance in a variety of color schemes. It can be paired with the TFV8 Big Baby Beast tank or purchased as a solitary mod for use with an atomizer of your choosing.

Kanger Dripbox 160 Kit - The original Dripbox was a revolutionary device in that it brought the cultish practice of 'squonking' into the mainstream. For the uninitiated, squonking involves the use of a rebuildable dripping atomizer with a hollow firing pin – instead of removing the atomizer cap to drip liquid on top of the coils every few draws, one simply squeezes, or 'squonks,' on a bottle built into the mod to wet one's wicks from beneath – this lends the term 'bottom feeder' to such devices. Once Kanger saw the demand for such a product, they beefed up the design significantly. With a design resembling the triple-cell Reuleaux, the Dripbox 160 Kit is powered by two 18650 batteries with a 7 ml squonk bottle occupying the space for the third cell. With the addition of variable power (the original Dripbox worked on a semi-mechanical format with regulated maximum voltage), this mod delivers all the power of a traditional device along with the unmatched flavor and cloud production from dripping in a simple, user-friendly format.

eLeaf iStick Pico - This compact mod operates on a single 18650 battery to keep the weight and size down, and comes in a variety of colors. While power is limited to 75 watts based on the single cell design, this mod still delivers plenty of punch for nearly any vaper's everyday needs. Paired with eLeaf's Melo sub-ohm clearomizer tank it's a steal at $41.99, and also available in a bulked-up Mega version that comes as a bare mod capable of accepting an 18650 cell or a 26650 for longer battery life for just $34.99.