Today we’re taking a look at Yocan’s first foray into the world of electronic dab rigs (E-rigs) with the release of their highly anticipated Yocan Pillar.
If you’re unfamiliar with the Yocan brand they’re a Chinese based company with years of experience in producing affordable, reliable vaporizers for use with dry herb or wax concentrates. They’re renowned for offering products that perform as well as the competition (sometimes even better!), for a fraction of the price.
The Yocan Pillar we’re looking at today is a portable E-rig with a very budget friendly price tag of $119.99. It features a 1400mAh internal battery that should provide you with enough power for several sessions and adjustable airflow to tailor your vape experience. There are also 3 pre-set temperature levels and two operating modes to experiment with!
On top of this the Pillar features an intuitive water filtration system to cool your vapor and deliver silky smooth dabs. And as if that wasn’t enough, the Yocan Pillar also features TGT coil technology for increased vapor production and the release of those delicious terpenes we all crave!
Whether you’re a veteran user looking for an affordable portable E-rig or a complete beginner looking to dip your toes in the water, the Yocan Pillar might just be the perfect option for you! But, that’s enough for the introduction….time to put this thing to the test!
Read on to see what we discovered while using the Yocan Pillar E-rig…
Yocan Pillar E-rig Review
Contents
- Features and Specifications
- What’s in the Box?
- Yocan Pillar | Design & Build Quality
- Yocan Pillar | How to Use
- Yocan Pillar | Performance, Vapor & Flavor Quality
- Yocan Pillar | Battery Life & How to Charge
- Yocan Pillar | Cleaning & Maintenance
- Yocan Pillar | Price & Where to Buy
- Verdict
Features and Specifications
Dimensions: 183mm (height) x 40mm⌀ (diameter)
Weight: 286g (with glass bubbler attached)
Compatibility: Concentrates (wax / dab)
Material: Zinc Alloy (body) & Borosilicate Glass (bubbler)
Battery Capacity: 1400mAh Internal Rechargeable Battery
Charging: USB Type-C (5V/0.8A)
Charge Time: 2 Hours
Coil Type: TGT (Target Tech) Coil Technology
Coils Included: TGT Coil / TGT QUAD Coil
Coil Resistance: 0.4-0.5Ω
Operating Modes: Auto-Mode & On-Demand Mode
Temperature Settings: 3 Preset Temperatures (3.2V / 3.7V / 4.2V)
Adjustable Airflow Control
Safety Features: 30 Second Cut-off
Display: LED Indicators
5 Colors Available
3 Month Warranty
What’s in the Box?
- 1 X Pillar Device
- 1 X Glass Bubbler
- 1 X Coil Adaptor (Pre-installed)
- 1 X TGT Coil
- 1 X TGT QUAD Coil
- 1 X Dab Tool
- 1 X Type-C USB Cable
- 1 X Instruction Manual
The Yocan Pillar comes packaged in a rigid cardboard box with a cardboard sleeve and foam insert. The foam insert ensures that fragile components like the glass bubbler remain protected during transit.
On the front of the box you’ll see an image of the Pillar in the color option you’ve chosen and on the back there’s a ton of handy information. There’s also an authentication scratch code that lets you check the Yocan Pillar you’ve purchased is the real deal!
Once you slide off the cardboard sleeve and open the box you’ll see the Pillar, glass bubbler and the two included TGT coils in a foam insert. Underneath the insert you’ll find the dab tool, Type-C USB cable and an instruction manual.
There’s also a clear sticker attached to the glass bubbler with a recommended fill line. You should remove this sticker before using the Pillar for the first time but be warned, there’s no recommended fill line etched onto the glass so make a quick mental note of the fill line before you remove the sticker.
Overall Yocan have done a great job with the design of the packaging. It’s clear and informative and feels sturdy enough to protect any fragile components inside. With the Yocan being a budget E-rig I expected the packaging to reflect this, but Yocan have made sure the Pillar feels like a premium product before you’ve even taken your first hit!
Yocan Pillar | Design & Build Quality
In terms of design the Pillar is cylindrical and measures 68mm in height and 40mm in diameter, with the glass bubbler attachment increasing the overall height to 183mm. This makes the shape of the Pillar quite unique and much more streamline than your typical E-rig.
For me the Pillar has a similar feel to a wax pen like the Utillian 5 with the water bubbler attached, just slightly chunkier. As a result it’s much more portable than the majority of E-rigs currently available.
The diameter of the Pillar base unit and glass bubbler are also exactly the same from top to bottom, making it far easier to carry in a pocket and take with you on the go. The small diameter of the Pillar also makes it super easy to hold and lets you take hits with just the one hand.
With a weight of 286g the Pillar also feels incredibly sturdy and well built. The body’s made from zinc alloy and the glass bubbler from borosilicate glass, a material that’s particularly well suited to high temperature applications.
The materials used result in a device that feels a lot more premium than you’d expect. Again I assumed the Yocan Pillar would have to compromise on quality because of the comparatively low price tag. Instead the Pillar feels solid and well put together.
While I was luckily enough not to drop either of the Yocan Pillars we received, I got the impression the body of the Pillar could take a fair amount of damage. And while the glass bubbler attachment is obviously more fragile, you can buy a replacement glass from Yocan should the need arise.
Incidentally there’s also a rubber anti-slip ring on the bottom of the Pillar base to reduce the risk of it tipping over. As someone who’s prone to regularly knocking off wax pens, vapes, E-rigs (and occasionally even the cat!), the anti-slip ring is a simple but useful addition. On top of this the hefty weight of the base anchors the Pillar and makes it even more unlikely to fall over.
In terms of the aesthetics and branding Yocan have also done a great job! The Pillar’s currently available in 5 different colors: Pearl Black, Pearl White, Pearl Orange, Pearl Teal and Pearl Green. We were lucky enough to receive two Yocan Pillars in the Pearl White and Pearl Green options and as you can see, they look fantastic! The colors have a beautiful metallic shine and give the Pillar a real luxury look.
There’s also a small, subtle ‘Pillar’ logo located under the Type-C USB charge port, which is engraved into the metal casing at the bottom of the body. I think the colors and branding on the Pillar are understated but effective, and work well with the overall design. Again it feels like a much more premium device!
Above the Pillar logo and USB charge port you’ll find the LED display. When you first turn on the Pillar you’ll see the Yocan logo flash white five times. Whenever you press the power button on the Pillar the logo shows up again alongside a combination of three large, white dots. These dots are used to designate the 3 different temperature settings:
| Number of Dots | Temperature Setting |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.2V (Low temperature) |
| 2 | 3.7V (Medium temperature) |
| 3 | 4.2V (High temperature) |
The LEDs are also used to display the several included safety features:
| Safety Feature | LED Response |
|---|---|
| Safety cut-off | The LEDs will flash 10 times whenever the Pillar is heated continuously for 30 seconds |
| No coil | The LEDs will flash 3 times when no coil is detected |
| Short-circuit | The Yocan logo LED will flash red 5 times if the Pillar short-circuits |
| Low battery | The LEDs will flash red 10 times when the Pillar needs recharging |
The fire button is then located just above the LED display and is used to turn the device on or off, change the pre-set temperature levels and activate the auto-mode or on-demand mode. The different functions work as follows:
| Number of Clicks | Function |
|---|---|
| 5 | Turns the Pillar on/off |
| 3 | Cycles through the voltage levels (3.2V, 3.7V & 4.2V) |
| 2 | Activates auto-mode (30 second heating cycle) |
| Press and hold | Activates on-demand mode for manual heating |
Overall I found the button combinations simple to remember and straightforward to use. I also thought the LED display worked well to give a quick, easy indication of what’s happening.
In fact, one of the things I love most about the Yocan Pillar is just how simple it is to use! After only a couple of sessions you feel like you’ve been using the Pillar for years! It’s definitely a user-friendly E-rig and ideal for beginners.
On the reverse side of the base unit you’ll find the adjustable airflow slider that allows you to play around with the tightness of the draw. With the combination of pre-set temperature levels and adjustable airflow you can easily fine tune the setup and find that perfect sweet spot for long, lazy sessions on the sofa!
Quick Tip: I found the adjustable airflow slider can work almost in the same way as a carb cap to help restrict the airflow at the optimal time. I’d recommend playing around with the airflow during a session and seeing what works best for you!
At the top end of the Yocan Pillar the glass bubbler sits directly on top of the base unit and has a quick-connect magnetic attachment that feels incredibly strong and sturdy. As the magnetic ring on the bottom of the bubbler approaches the top of the base you’ll feel the bubbler being sucked from your hand and sealed in place with a satisfying ‘clunk’.
I personally loved the design of the glass bubbler and it reminded me of using a more traditional bong setup. The top of the glass features a rounded lip for comfort and the magnetic attachment feels completely secure with no wobble or movement whatsoever.
On top of this the 40mm diameter of the bubbler makes it much easier to clean and maintain than the majority of glass attachments I’ve used in the past. The quick connection also makes it far easier to reload some concentrate if you’re looking to extend the session.
Last but no means least, I was also suitably impressed with the design of the TGT coils. The TGT technology is exclusive to Yocan and basically means the coils combine a ceramic donut and quartz XTAL rod for increased vapor and flavor production.
The coils are 510 threaded and sit inside a coil adaptor that comes pre-installed in the box. The threading’s incredibly smooth and it takes literally seconds to swap a coil in and out. Just be warned, the coil gets super hot during a session and it’s probably wise to give it a few minutes to cool down first.
With the Pillar you have the option of using either the TGT coil or the TGT QUAD coil. In terms of flavor you’re better off opting for the TGT coil with its ceramic bowl. The TGT QUAD coil is also ceramic but features four exposed coils wrapped around quartz rods. For heavy hits and dense vapor the QUAD coil is definitely the way to go!
Overall the design and build quality of the Yocan Pillar blew me away! It’s incredibly easy to setup and feels like a solid, well-built device. It’s clear that Yocan have put a great deal of time and effort into making a user-friendly device with a design that far exceeds the modest price tag!
Yocan Pillar | How to Use
For a complete beginner, using an E-rig for the first time can often feel a tad bit daunting! Even for experienced users, getting to grips with a new E-rig can take a little time and a few sessions of trial and error.
Luckily with the Yocan Pillar it feels like ease-of-use was a priority during the design stage. Setting up the Pillar and loading up new concentrate takes literally a minute and is virtually idiot proof (essential after you’ve taken a few hits!).
Following the steps outlined below will have you dabbing on the Yocan Pillar in no time:
- Attach coil adaptor – If not already installed make sure the coil adaptor is threaded onto the 510 connection at the top of the base unit.
- Pick a coil – Choose one of the two coil options and thread this into the 510 coil adaptor.
- Load your concentrate – Using the supplied dab tool load your chosen concentrate into the bowl. I personally found the Pillar vapes best when loaded generously.
- Fill the bubbler – Fill the glass bubbler with water to the recommended fill line. The ideal fill line is just above the four slits that are visible near the base of the glass attachment. Adding in too much water will result in water splashing into your mouth.
- Fire away – After connecting the bubbler turn the device on and select your temperature level. Next choose either the auto-mode or on-demand mode and dab to your hearts content.
Yocan Pillar | Performance, Vapor & Flavor Quality
If I’m being totally honest I fully expected the Yocan Pillar to struggle in terms of performance. To my surprise what I found was the exact opposite…the Pillar far exceeded almost all of my expectations!
Possibly the best thing about the performance is the sheer plumes of vapor this thing chucks out! Even on the medium heat setting I was drawing down thick, satisfying clouds. I’ve tried a couple of the more premium E-rigs in the past and I have to say the Pillar produces just as much vapor, if not more!
I was also pleasantly surprised at just how cool the vapor was. The glass bubbler does a fantastic job of filtering and cooling the vapor before it hits your lungs and also adds that extra fun factor over using a more traditional wax pen.
The magnetic attachment on the bubbler also takes away a lot of the hassle of reloading your concentrate mid-session and makes the glass bubbler much easier to clean. I’ve used devices in the past that have a threaded or push-fit style connection and it becomes much more difficult to maintain.
Another thing that surprised me about the Pillar was just how differently the two coil options perform. The TGT coil (ceramic bowl) is more aimed at extracting flavor from the concentrate, but still produces surprising amounts of vapor. What I would say is the TGT coil isn’t particularly economical on the concentrate, especially thinner oil-based concentrates.
I started off using hash oil with a reasonably thin consistency but found the TGT coil quickly burned through it. Once I switched over to a crumble wax with a much thicker viscosity the TGT coil came into its own and produced a much more satisfying dab.
While the TGT coil still used up the crumble wax quicker than other E-Rigs I’ve tried, it lasted much longer than the hash oil and produced really satisfying hits. I also found that loading larger amounts of concentrate into the bowl gave a much better result.
The TGT QUAD coil on the other hand gave a totally different experience. I again started with the hash oil concentrate and found the result was much better than the TGT coil! While the wax crumble still performed well in the QUAD coil it’s more suited to a thinner, less viscous concentrate.
The TGT QUAD coil was also a bit more economical on the concentrate and definitely produced the bigger hits! If you’re looking for a heavy session on the sofa then the QUAD coil is the way to go.
In terms of the life expectancy of the two coils I was also pleasantly surprised. After the first few sessions I exclusively used the TGT QUAD coil and a whole month later it’s still going strong. I’ve cleaned the coil using Isopropyl alcohol on a couple of occasions and I’m pretty sure I can squeeze another week or two out of it before it needs discarding.
When it does come to buying replacement coils for the Pillar they’re also just as reasonably priced as the device itself. Yocan are currently offering a single TGT coil for $9.99, a 5 pack of coils for $34.99 and a 10 pack of coils for $59.99. This makes the TGT coils one of the cheaper coil options I’ve come across. Because they’re 510 threaded they can also be used in other compatible vaporizers.
The only slight downside I found in terms of Pillar’s performance was the flavor. While the TGT coils certainly don’t produce a bad flavor, that delicious terpenes flavor that goes hand in hand with dabbing was a bit harder to extract compared to other more expensive E-rigs.
I think this was mainly due to the temperature control on the Pillar. While I found that changing between the 3 temperature settings did result in a different experience, it’s incredibly hard, if not impossible to maintain a constant heat.
The longer your session goes on the hotter the internal coil temperature gets. While some of the more premium E-rigs out there can offer a consistent temperature control, the Pillar can’t maintain a constant extended temperature in order to efficiently extract the most from your concentrates.
I did set the temperature to the lowest setting on a couple of occasions and found the Pillar did a much better job at extracting flavor, especially with the TGT coil (ceramic bowl) option. With that being said I preferred using the QUAD coil on a medium heat setting. I’m generally happy to sacrifice a little flavor in favor of bigger hits!
Yocan Pillar | Battery Life & How to Charge
The Pillar comes with a non-removeable 1400mAh battery that should give you around 6-10 sessions from a full charge. Of course the number of sessions you receive depends on several factors like your chosen temperature setting, how hard you like to hit your concentrate and how often you change settings. I found the medium temperature setting and the on-demand mode gave me about 7-8 sessions from a full battery.
When the Pillar does run out of battery the LED display will flash red 10 times to let you know it’s time to recharge. Simply plug in the provided Type-C USB cable and the LED will start to pulse red. All told it takes around 2 hours to fully charge, at which time the LED remains a solid red.
Unfortunately there’s no battery level indicator so you’re a bit in the dark with how much battery is left at any given time. With that being said I quickly got used to how many sessions I could squeeze out of a full charge with my preferred settings. There’s also no pass-through functionality so you can’t use the Pillar while it’s charging.
Yocan Pillar | Cleaning & Maintenance
As with any vaporizer that uses concentrates, cleaning and maintenance is a fairly essential step. I tend to prefer vaping dry herb and one of the reasons is it’s much less hassle in terms of clean up. I’ve had dab pens and E-rigs in the past that perform brilliantly but quickly become gunky after only a couple of sessions.
Fortunately when it comes to maintenance, the Pillar is one of the easiest devices I’ve owned! With frequent consistent use the Pillar becomes a bit too dirty after about a week. If you’re a casual user you could probably get away with only cleaning the Pillar thoroughly once a month, maybe even less.
The coils do a great job of containing the concentrate and don’t spit out too much gunk, but there’s clear evidence of burnt out dabs gathering on the bottom and the edges of the bowl.
At the full week mark the glass also starts to mist and you’ll get that typical used bong smell. Like I mentioned earlier though, the wide opening of the glass bubbler makes getting a cleaning brush or old toothbrush in for scrubbing incredibly easy.
I’d recommend using Isopropyl alcohol (ISO) at a 99.9% strength with a combination of a cloth and brush to clean the inside and outside of the bubbler. It only takes a couple of minutes to restore it to its former glory. In cases where you haven’t cleaned the glass for a while you can submerge it in ISO in a sealable bag and leave for five minutes.
For the coils I’d use a trusty Q-Tip dipped in ISO to clean off any light mess. Unfortunately though the opening on the coils is a little on the small side and it can be hard to fully clean out the inside of the bowl. Again, in cases where the coils need a thorough clean I’d soak them in a sealable bag with ISO for about 5 minutes.
After you’ve soaked the glass and coils in ISO always rinse them with warm water and leave them to fully dry before using again. This can massively increase the lifespan of your coils and save you money in the process!
Yocan Pillar | Price & Where to Buy
Obviously one of the best things about the Yocan Pillar is the insanely cheap price. These days a premium E-rig will set you back anywhere up to $400, sometimes even more! With the Yocan Pillar you get an E-rig that feels premium without the hefty price tag.
At the time of writing you can pick the Pillar up for as little as $119.99 directly from Yocan. As it’s a Yocan product you can also expect it to be widely available in online headshops and vape stores and I’m sure there’ll be some generous discounts available, making the Pillar even more budget friendly!
Considering the fantastic design and build quality and the admirable performance I’m genuinely shocked that the Pillar doesn’t cost more! It’s incredibly user-friendly and I’d highly recommend it to anyone looking to get in to dabbing. I’d also recommend it to experienced users looking for a more portable, straightforward device to dab with.
While the flavor might not taste as great as some of the more expensive E-rigs out there, it definitely hits just as well and certainly gets the job done! It’s also worth remembering how simple it is to use and how straightforward it is to clean.
If you are looking to purchase the Pillar I’d recommend buying it directly from Yocan. In my experience they give great customer service and also offer free shipping on orders over $50. Clicking the link below will take you directly to the Yocan online store.
Verdict
Overall I was completely blown away by the Yocan Pillar! Yocan have a bit of a reputation for producing cheaper products but the Pillar feels anything but. It hits heavy and throws out thick, foggy plumes that’ll have you couch-locked in no time!
Pros
- Excellent price
- Amazing vapor production
- Super smooth vapor
- Effective heavy hits
- Excellent build quality
- User-friendly
- Ideal for beginners
- Great battery capacity
- Relatively quick recharge time
- Adjustable airflow works well
- Temperature levels to tailor your session
- Choice of auto or manual modes
- Portable and easy to carry
- Super easy to clean
- Strong and sturdy magnetic attachment
- Excellent display and functionality
Cons
- No battery level indicator
- No pass-through option
- Average flavor
As you can see from the lists above, there wasn’t much I could find wrong with the Yocan Pillar. Even the negatives I did put down are pretty minor affairs. The flavor is probably the biggest difference between the Pillar and a more premium device like the popular Puffco Peak, but the flavor produced by the Pillar is still really decent.
Personally I’m happy to sacrifice a little flavor in favor of a cheaper price tag and a more portable, user-friendly device. As well as this the Pillar actually outperformed some of the more premium devices I’ve used in terms of vapor production.
Add to that the easy maintenance, great battery capacity and the super cool vapor released by the bubbler and personally it’s a no-brainer for me! I’ve used the Pillar solidly for the past month and I can safely say I’ll be using it for many months to come.
And that’s it folks! We hope you enjoyed our review of the Yocan Pillar and feel free to leave us a comment below with your thoughts… Happy Dabbing!