Best RDTAs 2018
What is an RDTA?
One of the things that can make vaping pretty confusing when you are starting out is all the different names for the devices. RDA’s, RTA’s and more recently RDTA’s have been building in popularity. Do rebuildable dripping tank atomizers really give you the “best of both worlds?”
Think of an RDTA atomizer as a cross between a tank and an a dripper. Instead of only holding juice within the cotton and juice wells, it’s essentially a dripper sitting on top of a reservoir of e-juice. The wicks hang down into the tank and feed the juice to the coil as you are vaping.
RDTA’s are based off the genesis style of atomizers which were popular for their flavor. Traditionally stainless steel mesh was used for wicking, but since has been replaced primarily with organic cotton. RDTA’s are a throwback, but at the same time, they are also cutting edge.
Another advantage of using RDTA’s is that they are often times easy to fill, despite not holding a ton of liquid. Instead of unscrewing it apart like a tank, most rebuildable dripping tank atomizers pop open like a dripper (by pulling off the top cap) so that you can fill it up or use it as an RDA.
Let’s take a look at some of the best RDTA atomizers available on the market today…
Best RDTA's of 2018
- Low profile design
- Intense flavor for an RDTA
- Extremely easy to build and wick
- Attractive aesthetics
- No nonsense filling method
- Machining on point
- No 510 drip tip adapter
- No single coil option
- 2 mL capacity
Specifications
- Dimensions: 25 mm diameter / 46 mm height
- 2 mL tank capacity
- 2 colors: stainless steel and black
- 2-post build deck w/ 3 terminals on each post
- Unique spring-loaded center refilling post to prevent leaks & easy juice refill
- Adjustable side airflow
- Bottom open airflow
- Stainless steel construction
- 2 drip tips included (ULTEM & etched metal)
- Knurled drip tip design
- 510 gold-plated threading connection
Sometimes building can be frustrating, but it could also be lots of fun. Building on the Dejuvu RDTA is a joy for builders. It features a dual-post design with 3 terminals in each post. It gives you the freedom to build any type of coils, any way you’d like. The possibilities are endless.
The Dejavu is 25 mm in diameter and holds 2 mL of juice. It uses a unique spring-loaded center refilling post to prevent leakage and make filling easy. It is similar to the filling mechanism found in tanks like the Aspire Revvo. The Dejavu comes standard with a beautifully knurled drip tip.
- Unique aesthetic
- Great flavor
- Locking mechanism
- Large posts/solid screws
- Well machined
- Short drip tip
- Threading on mouthpiece isn't great
- Won't fit all 510 drip tips
Specifications
- Type: rebuildable atomizer
- Material: acrylic
- Stainless steel
- Tank capacity: 3 mL
- Thread: 510
- Overall diameter: 25 mm
The Medusa RDTA by Geekvape is more deceiving than the goddess herself. When you first look at her, she looks like a dripper, but is actually an RDTA. Instead of having a glass tank, the Medusa utilizes a large reservoir, underneath the deck, that can hold up to 3 mL of juice.
The Geekvape Medusa RDTA is 25 mm in diameter and features side airflow control. It’s low profile design gives it a unique aesthetic, and helps to condense the vapor which contributes to its great flavor. Other notable features include a velocity style deck with huge post holes and a locking mechanism that holds your top cap in place.
Think of the GeekVape Medusa RDTA as an RDA on steroids, that can hold a boat load of juice, making it their most innovative and best RDTA since the Avocado…
Price
~ $20
- Huge 28 mL capacity
- Interchangeable build decks
- Big and smooth airflow
- Stellar build quality
- Convertible to different sizes
- Can be used as an RDA
- Good flavor for such a big tank
- Juice flow control
- No leaking issues
- Overhang on most mods
- Uses a lot of o-rings
- Proprietary drip tip
Specifications
- Size: 41 x 71 mm (without 510 pin)
- Capacity: 28 mL / 18 mL (with extra glass tube)
- Tank Type: RDTA (28 mL / 18 mL) / RDA
- Drip Tip: 810
- Color: black / steel / gun metal
The Aromamizer by Steam Crave was one of the first RDTAs on the market. Now it’s back in a big way. The Aromamizer Titan is a massive tank that is 41 mm in diameter! This allows you to hold 28 mL of e-liquid! Now you can chuck clouds all day long without wasting time refilling.
The Aromamizer Titan is geared towards high-wattage vapers who want more capacity. Despite its size, the flavor is nothing less than what you would expect from Steam Crave. The Titan has ultra smooth airflow and interchangeable build decks. Ideal for cloud chucking chain vapers.
- Good flavor/vapor production
- For single coil use
- Fits larger coils
- Drip tip adapter included
- No dual coil option
- Not easy to fill with a dropper bottle
Specifications
- Available Color: black/silver
- Material: glass/stainless steel
- Tank capacity: 2.5 mL
- Thread: 510
The original Wotofo Serpent make quite a splash by striking the perfect balance between flavor and cloud production. The Serpent RDTA brings that same great flavor in an RDTA-style device. Made of stainless steel, the Wotofo Serpent RDTA uses Goon-esque clamps on your coil build.
Just like the RTA version, the Serpent RDTA is specifically designed for single coil use only. You can fit macro coils with an inner diameter of up to 3.5 mm inside. The vapor production is also quite impressive for a single coil atomizer. The Serpent RDTA is for flavor chasing single coilers.
The Wotofo Serpent is a 22 mm device, which are becoming extinct these days. The dual fill ports are very easy to use. The side airflow design feeds air straight down to the coils which maximizes flavor. Last but not least, the Wotofo Serpent RDTA is extremely resistant to leaking.
Price
~ $20
- Good flavor
- Self-sealing design
- Comfortable mouthpiece
- Supports larger coil builds (3.5 mm)
- Good machining quality
- 5 mL capacity
- Condensation (from sealing rod)
- Juice flow slots require a lot of cotton
- Spare glass and extra screws not included
- Not ideal with coils smaller than 3.5 mm
Specifications
- 304 SS
- Diameter: 24 mm
- Capacity: 3.5 mL
- Height: 48.5 mm
- Delrin top cap and drip tip
- Peek insulator
- Borosilicate glass tube
- Elegant hollowed-out logo
- Easy to wick and refill
The Augvape Merlin RDTA is a 24mm RDTA that does exceptional in the flavor department. It has a large, two-post deck so it can fit coils with an inner diameter larger than 3.5mm. The Merlin RDTA gives you the option of pulling the top cap off, or unscrewing the whole top portion.
The most unique feature is the Augvape Merlin RDTA’s self-sealing design. It uses a sealing rod which is connected to the top piece, which seals off the device when it is closed. You will get little to no leakage, provided that you use a generous amount of cotton in its large juice wells, despite that it uses a bottom-airflow system.
The Augvape Merlin RDTA is for flavor chasers who want something classy, but built like a tank.
Price
$34.99
- Smooth airflow
- Great flavor/vapor production
- Nice throat hit
- Easy to fill
- Includes squonking pin
- Locking top cap
- Single-coil option
- Gold-plated contacts
- Not ideal for MTL vaping
- Plastic tank
Specifications
- Weight: 80 g
- Dimensions: 7 x 7 x 3.5 cm
- Color: black/steel/ULTEM
The Bombertech Driptank aka the Pindad is a 22 mm RDTA with features that make it stand out from the many other RDTA’s out there. For example, it has a liquid injection fill port that is a breeze to use and comes squonk-ready, so there are two different ways to fill the 2 mL tank.
The gold-plated velocity style deck with large post holes makes for easy building. The top cap is secured by a unique locking mechanism. The Bombertech Driptank is a flavor machine for lovers of rebuildable dripping tank atomizers, whether they want to build single or dual coils.
Price
$55
- Great flavor
- Bottom and side airflow
- Well machined
- No frills design
- Velocity-style deck
- Squonking pin included
- ULTEM drip tip
- No single coil option
- Harder to fill with dropper
- 2 mL capacity
- Tank may get hot
Specifications
- 24 mm diameter
- 2 mL juice reservoir
- Superior stainless steel construction
- Pyrex glass reinforcement
- Spacious flavor-orientated chamber
- Two-post dual-terminal side-secured
- PEEK insulator
- Four wicking ports
- Dual-adjustable bottom airslots
- Dual-adjustable side airslots
- Central filling port - exposed via removing top cap
- Flavor widebore drip tip
- 510 squonk-ready pin - optional
- 510 connection
When Cthulu Mods developed the Gaia, their goal was to achieve the best RDTA atomizer that strikes a perfect balance between clouds and flavor. Using both side and bottom airflow, the Gaia RDTA can be adjusted to your vaping style. The kit includes an extra 510 squonking pin.
The Gaia has a velocity-style deck, in addition to a velocity-style side airflow system which you turn to achieve your preferred airflow setting. It’s 24 mm in diameter and holds 2 mL of e-liquid. Last but not least, the Gaia has four large wicking ports, and a fill port right in the center of the deck which is very easy to use.
Price
$34.95
- Smooth airflow design
- Great flavor for an RDTA
- Converts to 2 mL for TPD
- Easy filling system
- Unique anti-leaking design
- Single or dual coil compatible
- Postless build deck
- Slight airflow whistle when closed off
- Not a true 4 mL capacity
Specifications
- Length: 34.5 mm
- Diameter: 24.4 mm
- Capacity: 2.0mL / 4.0 mL
- G.W (included package): 120 g
The Pyro is one of the hottest RDTAs out there right now. Vandy Vape put a lot of innovation into this device. It has a unique system that seals the juice off when it is closed so it won’t leak. The flavor on this one is up there with some of the best RDTAs on this list such as the DJV Dejavu.
The Vandy Vape Pyro is 24.4 mm in diameter and can hold 4 mL of e-liquid. It can also be converted into a 2 mL, TPD compliant version. The mixed air intake system directs airflow to your coils for maximum flavor. Filling and building is easy. For the price, it’s an incredible value.
The problem with RTA's
Many rebuildable tank atomizers, aka RTA’s are great, but you’ll never get the same experience on one versus that of a dripper because of the few extra millimeters that the vapor has to travel through the chimney. This can make a world of difference, believe it or not. Hence the RDTA…
Let’s rewind a few years back to when you could only get this type of performance from a vape tank. Since then, some impressive RTA’s have come out, but are still outshined by most RDA’s. For years, vapers have strived to attain that seemingly impossible “dripper in a tank” experience.
Rebuildable dripping tank atomizers were the industry’s answer to this desire. On an RDTA, the mouthpiece sits right on top of the coils, just like an RDA. Unlike a tank, the vapor doesn’t travel through a chimney, it’s the same proximity to your mouth as it would be on an average dripper.
The Genny lean?
Many RDTA users have found themselves doing this, and no it isn’t a new hip-hop dance craze. The Genny lean, is tilting your RDTA on an angle when puffing on it, to ensure that the cotton gets saturated, especially when your tank is running low. Back when Genesis atomizers were more popular, this was a common tactic used to combat those dry hits you would otherwise get.
5 Tips for building/wicking RDTA's:
1. Comb and fluff your wicks before vaping
2. Don’t be cheap, use a good amount of cotton
3. Don’t use too much cotton or dry hit city
4. Experiment with where you like to cut your wicks
5. Don’t build your coils too high or too low
Even the best RDTA tanks require some trial and error to attain the perfect build and wicking. Experiment with different builds and techniques to find out which one is best for you.
Conclusion
Now that you have seen some of the best RDTA vapes and have a basic understanding of how they work, we want to know what you think. Do rebuildable dripping tank atomizers really give you the “best of both” worlds? Technically speaking, they do.
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