The Lost Vape Orion Bar 7500 represents a new direction in the high-puff-count disposable space. Aesthetically pleasing, with an impressive array of features such as adjustable airflow and USB-C charging, it aims to live up to the standards of the well-respected Lost Vape name. But after extensive use, I have come to the conclusion that while the Orion Bar is a device of contrasts, it shines in some areas, and stumbles in others.
Product Introduction and Specifications
The Orion Bar 7500, (also referred to as the OB75) is Lost Vape's first entry into the high capacity disposable market. When you look at the specs, they appear to be comparable to those of other devices in the same category:
- Puff Count: 7,500 puffs
- E-Liquid Capacity: 18mL of 5% (50mg) salt nicotine liquid
- Battery: 650 mAh rechargeable battery built-in
- Charging: USB-C Port
- Key Features: Adjustable Airflow Slider, Draw-Activated Firing, Mesh Coil
As stated, it was intended to be a durable, long-lasting disposable option, however, I questioned how long-lasting it actually is later.
Size, Look, and Feel
The Orion Bar 7500 is a visually unique, bulky device. At approximately 84mm x 48mm x 25mm, it is noticeably thicker than the majority of popular disposables, such as the Elf Bar, weighing in around 70 grams. It feels heavy and thick, like a compact box mod.
One of the most striking visual elements of the device is the transparent plastic outer casing, similar to the casing of a GoPro Action Camera Case, which shows vibrant colors from the inside artwork that covers the tank and the battery. The design on the front of the device is a stylized illustration of a creature that has mechanical parts incorporated into the drawing; unfortunately, I could not discern what the meaning behind the illustration is. Each of the various flavors offered has its own color scheme (for example, the pineapple lemonade has a yellow color scheme). Therefore, you can easily tell which flavor you are using based on the color.
While the plastic casing appears to be sturdy and likely protects against drops, some reviewers have mentioned that the internal components are secured to each other by small tabs that could potentially break under pressure. The Orion Bar 7500 feels somewhat awkward in the hand due to its flat sides and smooth finish, and it is not as pocket-friendly as more rounded designs of competing products.
How to Use, Basic Operations, and Functions
Since the Orion Bar 7500 is completely draw-activated, there is no power button to press.
- Turning On: Simply take a drag on the mouthpiece, and the small blue LED light located at the bottom of the device will illuminate and show that it is firing.
- Adjusting the Draw: The main feature of the Orion Bar 7500 is the adjustable airflow control located on the bottom of the device. By adjusting the airflow control slider, you can adjust the amount of airflow to allow for either a tight, restricted Mouth-to-Lung (MTL) hit, or an airy, loose draw.
- Recharging: Recharge the Orion Bar 7500 by plugging a USB-C cable (which is not included) into the charging port located on the bottom of the device.
One minor but noticeable oversight is the lack of documentation for this product, specifically a manual for the product. Documentation would help explain the meanings of the LED light codes.
How Does It Hit?
The vaping experience is a mixed bag, greatly affected by the airflow setting. When the airflow slider is adjusted so that it is only partially opened, the Orion Bar 7500 produces a satisfying and consistent MTL hit, along with a strong throat hit from the 5% nicotine. The mesh coil provides good flavor reproduction and immediate vapor creation as soon as you inhale, with no delay.
Unfortunately, I have discovered a major inconsistency. When the airflow slider is set to fully open, the auto-draw sensor becomes unreliable, and the device fires sporadically unless you take a very forceful, direct-to-lung-style drag. Closing all but one of the three holes fixes the problem, but it limits the full functionality of the advertised airflow adjustment.
The throat hit and vapor production of the Orion Bar 7500 are both satisfactory, although some users, including myself, noticed that the flavor quality could decrease over time even when there was still a considerable amount of e-liquid left in the device, and a considerable amount of battery life left.
What Are the Best Flavors?
Lost Vape has a wide variety of over 25 different flavors available for the Orion Bar 7500. After testing the product myself and consulting reviews from other testers, the following flavors stood out as being the best:
- Pineapple Lemonade: A fan favorite. It is a sweet and zesty combination where the pineapple is the dominant flavor, and the lemonade adds a nice tangy flavor.
- Lush Ice: A consistently reliable sweet watermelon flavor that has a nice balance between sweetness and coolness. Unlike other brands, Lush Ice does not have a fake candy taste.
- Mango Ice: A true winner. Mango Ice has a rich and authentic mango flavor, unlike many other brands that produce an overly sweet candy flavored version of mango. The ice in the flavor adds a perfect cooling sensation without overpowering the mango.
- Blueberry Raspberry: Has true raspberry and blueberry flavors instead of a generic blue-raspberry candy taste. The blueberry flavor is prominent on the exhale.
- Banana Cake: An unexpected winner. Banana Cake tastes more like banana cream pudding than cake, and has a nice, subtle cooling sensation that doesn't overpower.
A common complaint among several flavors across multiple reviewers (including myself), is that Lost Vape overuses cooling agents (koolada/menthol) in their flavors, which detract from the primary flavors, and create a harsh feeling in the throat, especially when continuously vaping.
Battery Performance and Charging
At 650 mAh, the battery is typical of a disposable of this size. In practice, it typically lasts a full day of moderate usage, but can drain quickly. One of the most frequent complaints I and other reviewers have had regarding this device is that the battery performance becomes unreliable when it is low, and can go from producing a strong hit to a weak hit—and the red warning light —very quickly.
Charging via USB-C is convenient and faster than previous Micro-USB charging. The Orion Bar 7500 takes about 1 hour to fully charge from zero. It needs to be charged multiple times until the 18mL of e-liquid is exhausted to reach the advertised 7,500 puffs.
LED Light Meaning?
The LED light located at the bottom of the Orion Bar 7500 is your only source of information to determine the status of the device, but Lost Vape has failed to provide an official code sheet. Through extensive use and researching online user forums, we have been able to develop the following general meaning for the light codes:
- Solid Blue: Indicates normal operation and firing during a puff.
- Solid Green: Fully charged.
- Solid Red/Flashing Red: Battery is low. Time to recharge.
- Blinking Three Times (Any Color): Usually indicates an error. I've experienced and seen in forums many cases of the "three red blinks" when attempting to connect to a charger, indicating that the battery is too drained to begin charging. Some have reported a fix is to unplug and replug the USB-C cable rapidly before the third blink, which may sometimes trick it into beginning to charge.
Verdict
The Lost Vape Orion Bar 7500 is a disposable vape that clearly has ambition. The unique and durable build of the Orion Bar 7500, the exceptional adjustable airflow (as long as it is used correctly), and some of the highest-quality flavors available on the market makes the Orion Bar 7500 a desirable option.
That being said, the Orion Bar 7500 is plagued by a number of issues. The estimated 7500 puffs appear to be overly optimistic for an average vaper; the amount of e-liquid available can run out far sooner than anticipated. The battery can be unpredictable and has a tendency to drop off suddenly and cause frustration with the charging process. Finally, the excessive reliance on cooling agents in many of the flavors will be a drawback for vapers who prefer pure fruit or dessert notes.
Recommendation: If you are looking for a device with adjustable airflow and you enjoy the unique look of the Orion Bar 7500, then it is worth a try, especially in the flavors I recommended. For a price range of $13-$17, the Orion Bar 7500 is a good value. However, if your main concerns include having a reliable battery that works consistently, a consistent vaping experience, or a flavor profile that is not too cool, then you may want to consider another option.