My Cart
You have no items in your shopping cart.
The Core 2 & 2.1 E-Rig: What Makes The 2.1 The Best Choice?
By
Varman Navaratnam
The Core 2 & 2.1 E-Rig: What Makes The 2.1 The Best Choice?
March 26, 2024
on
Reviews, Wax Pen, E-Nail, & Dab Pen Reviews
Updated: March 26, 2024
The original ShenZhen Crossing Core E-Rig provided an easy, no-frills option for wax enthusiasts, at a fraction of the cost of traditional devices. To learn more about the original Core device for comparison, check out our Core E-rig review. But for now, we’re excited to break-down the many upgrades that were made to the original unit to get us where we are now, The Crossing Core 2.1, to see if the extra bucks are worth spending on the upgrade!
First, its important to note why Shenzhen created the 2.1. The Core 2.0 and the 2.1 share many similarities but the one thing that makes them different is the 3D Atomizers that they both feature. The Core 2.1 features a non-rebuildable Atomizer, meaning that you won’t need to dismantle and put the atomizer back together as opposed to the Core 2.0 rebuildable atomizer which also comes with the need to purchase the tools necessary to work on the 2.0 Atomizer.
Table of contents
Dr. Clemens Tscheka
I have a PhD in Pharmaceutical Technology & Oversee the Quality & Safety of all products that we carry
How it Works
Before your first use, we recommend fully charging your devices to ensure a seamless first use of your device. Then, fill the glass bubbler from the top with water about ? of the way in the percolator. Press the power button 5 times rapidly to turn it on.
Press the button 3 times to switch between temperature settings, and fast press it twice, or hold, to start a new heating cycle. The unit will vibrate once heated, and it will stay at that temperature for 80 seconds before cooling down. But if you aren’t finished with your session, you can hold the button for your desired amount of time to activate manual heating.
Temperature Flexibility
The Core 2 comes preloaded with 4 temperature settings that operate using a color system similar to that of a 510-battery. Blue is 400°, Green is 425°, White is 465°, and Red is 500°.
Users looking to optimize flavour from their waxes should cold load, meaning you fill the chamber with your wax before heating the device. Hardcore wax users clean their chamber before each load, so you should check this post out to find out about the best way to go about cleaning your wax pen. On the other hand, users looking to maximize cloud production should hot load, meaning you heat the bowl ahead of time, and use a wax tool to place resin in the heated chamber.
Its important to mention that with the Core 2.0 rebuildable atomizer you will have to go through a more tedious process to clean it as opposed to the non-rebuildable atomizer on the 2.1.
Vapour Quality
The vapour quality when using the provided ceramic bowl was extremely enjoyable. The Core can pump out serious vapour, with the added benefit of water filtration from the bubbler. So not only can you melt your face off at a moment’s notice, you can also enjoy the taste of melting your face off too.
The 80 second session time is an upgrade from the original Core’s 60 second heating time, providing even more of a good thing. The Ceramic V5 bowl is compatible with all four heat temperature settings, which is an upgrade from the original core that required specific temperature settings with specific bowls. Compared to other Erigs out there, the Core 2 has a heater that heats on all sides instead of just from the bottom, which could leave wax accumulating in the corners. This improved heating element results in a more even heating experience. For those who are searching for a device that can efficiently vapourize your high-quality concentrates while allowing you to taste the nuances of your flavours, we recommend the Utillian 8, which also comes packed with features to reduce wax puddles such as terp pearls.
Manufacturing Quality
While a lot of the design remains unchanged from the original Core, that’s not to say the build quality suffers by any means. Much like its predecessor, all of the Core 2’s parts feel even more sturdy and durable this time around. The old glass bubble carb cap has been replaced with an aluminum carb cap, which fits over the bowl to an almost satisfying degree. Shenzhen also has a side mouthpiece glass bubbler to help with some of the issues that the old bubbler faced. (Sold separately)
The ceramic and three-coil bowls found with the original Core have been replaced with one Ceramic bowl, intended to work with all temperature settings. Users looking to upgrade from the original device will be happy to find that both the OG ceramic bowl and coil bowl are backwards compatible with the new core, meaning you can still make use of your old bowls when upgrading. And big points for the USB-C port as well, which conveniently segues us into our next section. The Core 2.1 features a non-rebuildable 3D atomizer which as explained before elevates the overall quality of the Core 2.1 in comparison to the 2.0 and much more than the OG Core 1.0.
Battery Life
The battery in the Core 2 has been upgraded to 3150mah, a step up from the 3000mah battery in the original core. I was personally able to get anywhere from 20-25 sessions with this device, which translated to a little over 3 days of semi-frequent usage. The faster heat up time also serves as a battery lifesaver, as the device spends less time using up its charge to heat up.
The USB-C port is also a great touch, giving this device the edge over devices with a more dated micro-USB port. The Core 2 is able to get up to charge in about 1 hour and 45 minutes, which is very respectable given the lifespan of the charge. The Core will display its battery life upon turning the unit on, and the indicators are as follows:
Green = Full, White = Medium, Blue = Low, Red = Very Low.
Portability
By virtue of the glass bubbler and water, I’d personally caution against using this as a portable device. While the carrying case is more than good enough to carry all of the parts from place to place, I’d recommend mostly using this device in controlled environments.
It doesn’t at all knock points off of this device for me, as any water based device will be more difficult to transport than a device that was designed with a commuter in mind. If you’re looking the best of both worlds, I’d recommend the Utillian 5 V3 and Utillian Glass Bubbler attachment, which provides a better balance of portability and water filtration.
Ease of Use
The experience using the Core 2 has been pretty seamless with little to no learning curve. That said, my experience was aided by the manual provided by Crossing Core, which is pretty detailed.
If I’m gonna split hairs, my only complaint is that certain parts of the device felt a little too snug at times? Which is both a positive and a negative seeing as you wouldn’t want anything to be loose when mixing water and electronics? But had I not seen videos of the bubbler removed from the base, I probably wouldn’t have guessed that they come apart on my own, given the amount of force needed to separate them. Again, splitting hairs.
Overall Experience
Overall, I really really recommend the Core 2 E-Rig. Not only does the backwards compatibility make upgrading a worthy option for users of the original Core, but the simplicity and general lack of learning curve make it a great option for complete newbies who are looking to get their feet wet in the world of waxes. All of the improvements made to the build quality and battery life will serve to keep Core 2 users happy in the long-term. Follow our blog if you want to see a full list of the Best Electric Dab Rigs And E-Rigs. And as always, keep vapin’.
Score
Very Good
Share.
