RDA Tanks

If you like BIG COILS, BIG DECKS, and BIG FLAVOR, the Augvape Occula RDA is definitely worth a look. Why? It has a massive deck and is the brainchild of coil-maker TwistedMesses…

Augvape Occula RDA Quick Verdict (80%)

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Augvape Occula RDA Pros:

• Enormous Build Deck
• Industrial Styling
• Big Flavor
• Excellent Clamp System
• Will Run In Single Coil Mode
• Simple Enough To Set Up
• Ideal For Exotic Builds

If you use crappy coils, the Augvape Occula RDA will not perform. I learned this the hard way. In order to get the maximum performance from this rebuildable atomizer, you need high-quality coils – and the bigger the better.

When you’ve got a sizable pair of coils installed and it’s wicked correctly, the Augvape Occula RDA really comes into its own. You’ll need a powerful vape mod to run it though; anything below 100W hardly even registers. Ideally, you rock it around 120W. Here, it performs like a monster.

Obviously, this won’t be to everybody’s tastes. I know it isn’t my usual bag, but it was definitely enjoyable to use for a few weeks. I’m more of a flavor-chaser, so I don’t mind using single coil RDAs at lower wattages, but rocking this beast for a while was definitely a nice change of pace.

If you like vaping at insanely high wattages, huge clouds, and decent flavor, the Augvape Occula RDA comes highly recommended. And at just $39.99, it’s cheaper than a lot of other “performance RDAs”. Ideal, if you’re the kind of vaper that likes to have one mega-powerful RDA in their rotation.

Full Augvape Occula RDA Review

Created by TwistedMesses, the Augvape Occula RDA is a fairly industrial-looking RDA. Mine’s black, though I think I prefer the silver variant. Oddly, the Augvape Occula RDA does not come with any coils in the box; weird, because the dude that designed it is a well-known coil builder.

Aside from this, the Augvape Occula RDA is a well put together atomizer. It’s relatively small (24mm) and relatively innocuous. You have a hardly-there logo on the side and a dual three-slot airflow on either side of the tank. And that’s about it for physical styling.

The 810 wide bore drip tip it comes with is very squat, more so than I usually like. I also don’t like the gold ring on it; it makes the RDA look tacky. You have full support for squonking with an included squonk pin, as well as the usual bits and bobs (o-rings, hex Allen key).

Again, the RDA looks a lot better in silver; my review unit was black, and the difference (meaning: aesthetics) is like night and day. The silver unit is 100% the one to go for if looks are important. It just looks way more premium.

The Deck

The deck is the star of the show here. It’s massive. It also features some of the best clamps I’ve come across all year. Everything about this deck can be summed up in one word: big! From the screw heads to the posts, everything is mega big.

The size of the deck means you can install HUGE coils in this RDA. Clamping them down and installing them is a cinch, thanks to Augvape’s easy-to-use clamp system. And this makes the Augvape Occula RDA a solid choice for people that like messing around with exotic builds.

The Augvape Occula RDA is a BF squonk RDA, but it is also a very competent dripper as well. You have a 5mm juice well to play with and tons of room for your wick. You can drip straight down the drip tip without too many issues, though it will seep through the AFC if you go overboard.

Overall, the deck is very impressive. It’s big, it’s easy to work with, and you have room for all kinds of builds. The clamps are epic, again, with lots of room for your leads. And, thanks to the AFC, you can run it in single coil mode, though I wouldn’t bother – it lacks both flavor and performance.

How’s It Vape?

Like a fission reactor! As noted earlier: the Augvape Occula RDA is all about power. It demands large coils. It wants high wattages. For this reason, it won’t be to all tastes. If you prefer vaping around 60-80W, the Augvape Occula RDA is not for you…

I usually vape around the 80W mark, so pushing 130W to get the Augvape Occula RDA lit-up was quite an experience. You get a lot of flavor, a lot of heat, and a lot of clouds. But for me this isn’t always ideal; it rinses your mod’s battery life, and it burns through vape juice too quickly.

The flavor is excellent, though, once you find the sweet spot – around 120-150W. If you can handle this level of power, and you don’t mind the negatives that come with it, the Augvape Occula RDA is one of the cheapest “power RDAs” on the market right now. Just be warned, though: it only has one speed – hard and fast.

Setting up the Augvape Occula RDA for squonking is simple too. Remove the 510 pin, then and swap it for the squonk pin. It takes about 10 seconds. As for performance, it’s decent enough, though I do prefer Augvape’s BTFC RDA (for looks, performance, and overall flavor).

Should You Get This RDA?

Tough call. On the one hand, I do really like this RDA. It’s all about power – and this is great. You can install exotic builds and push the envelope, creating large, flavor-packed clouds in the process. And this is all great, so long as that’s what you want?

For my tastes, it’s too much. That’s why I prefer the BTFC RDA; it’s happy at lower wattages, and it delivers better flavor. I also prefer the way the BTFC RDA looks. Again, though, they’re two very different RDAs. The Augvape Occula RDA is all about power and not much else.

The Occula RDA is relatively cheap though, and this combined with its fiery nature will turn a few heads, especially among vapers looking for something that can handle masses of power and super-large builds. If that’s you, the Augvape Occula RDA is well worth a look.

I prefer Augvape’s BTFC RDA over the Occula RDA. It’s more my style. I like having the ability to go high-wattage with my RDAs, but what I don’t like is when that is all it can do – I want to chill sometimes. And the Augvape Occula RDA does not know the meaning of the word chill.

It likes one thing and one thing only: big ass coils and lots of power.

The Wotofo Elder Dragon RDA is now available, following hot on the heels of the excellent Recurve RDA and Flux Kit.

The Wotofo Elder Dragon RDA is yet another single coil RDA from one of the vape market’s best brands, Wotofo.

It’s also another collaboration too; this time the company teamed up with Japanese YouTuber, Ryusei Sakaue.

So, does Wotofo have another classic on its hands? Let’s take a look…

Deck & Atomizer Design

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As noted above, the Wotofo Elder Dragon RDA is a single coil rebuildable atomizer. It features a postless deck with screws mounted on four sides. This means you can install coils in different ways. Handy.

The big idea here is flavor: the deck is squat, so the coils are closer to the drip tip which usually translates into more intense flavor delivery.

On top of this, you have a tube-based airflow system which, again, can be augmented to alter the performance of the tank.

These “tubes” can also be removed in order to make cleaning the tank easier.

You also have full squonk capabilities, support for standard dripping with a 510 pin, and a 510 drip tip adapter as well. As always, Wotofo includes plenty of gear in the box.

Wotofo Elder Dragon RDA Colors

You have the following options when it comes to color hues for the Dragon RDA:

• Stainless Steel
• Black
• Blue
• Gunmetal
• Gold
• Rainbow

What The Dragon RDA Kit Includes:

• Wotofo Elder Dragon RDA
• Coil trimming tool
• Extra drip tip
• 510 drip tip adaptor
• Tri-Core Clapton coils – 0.17ohm
• 3mm agleted cotton
• Spare screws and O-rings
• User manual

Wotofo Elder Dragon RDA Specs

Here’s a quick breakdown of the specs for the Wotofo Elder Dragon RDA:

• Size: 22×34.5mm
• Detachable air inlets for easy cleaning
• Postless single coil build deck
• Focused airflow supply
• Deep juice well
• Squonk and solid 510 pins included
• Body material: stainless steel
• Insulator: German PEEK
• Adjustable airflow

As you can see, the Dragon is fully kitted out for squonking. But, thanks to its deep juice well, you can use it as a dripper too. And this is good because lately, I’ve been doing way more dripping.

I still squonk, so it’s good to have the option, but I do like that Wotofo has thought of both squonkers and drippers when designing this tank.

Initial Thoughts (And Why I’m Buying One)

As most of you will well know, I am a huge fan of Wotofo. In the past couple of years, the vape company has consistently pumped out great hardware – especially rebuildable atomizers.

The Wotofo PROFILE and Recurve RDA were two of my favorite RDAs from the past 18 months, so I have high hopes and a lot of expectation for the Wotofo Elder Dragon RDA.

I really do like single coil RDAs for a couple of reasons. The biggest, however, is that they’re kinder to your mod’s battery life which means more uptime and less charging. All while still getting mega clouds and huge, intense flavor.

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I like what Wotofo has done with the deck. The simple design, with postless installs, will make this RDA great for beginners and seasoned vapers alike. The augmentable airflow is also another nice touch, as it will let you seriously alter how the RDA hits.

Wotofo, as always, also includes a butt-load of gear in the box too. You get cotton, coils, spares, a squonk pin, and a 510 drip tip adapter. Chuck in all the latent performance and a great price tag – it retails for just $29.99 – and you’re looking at a very compelling single coil RDA.

All told, the Dragon RDA has all the makings of picking up where the Wotofo Recurve RDA left off. Initial word on the street suggests it is very, very good indeed. Grimm Green loves it (always a good sign) and I cannot wait to get my hands on one!

The Wotofo Profile RDA is yet another squonk-focussed RDA from Wotofo, only with a little twist… And that twist is this: it can (and does) run mesh coils (as opposed to a standard, wire coils), though it can also run standard wire coils too. So is this squonk RDA legit?

Quick Verdict: Wotofo Profile RDA

If you like squonk RDAs and you’re a fan of BIG flavor, then the Wotofo Profile RDA comes highly recommended. This low-maintenance rebuildable deck atomizer is a breeze to set up and a joy to vape with.

Installing the mesh coils is super-simple, thanks to the included mesh-bending tool, and, unlike some mesh, Wotofo’s never generate hot spots. This means your builds deliver consistent, predictable hits.

I adore the look of this tank, mine’s gold, and the sheer volume of vapor it kicks out. Chuck in some of the best flavor of any RDA I have tested in the past 12 months and it is easy to see why the Profile RDA is one of the most popular RDAs of all time!

Wotofo Profile RDA Pros

• Excellent Design, Finish
• The Deck is Superb & Super-Simple To Work With
• Wotofo’s Mesh Coils Are Awesome
• Amazing Vapor Production and Flavor
• Awesome For Squonking

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Full Review of The Wotofo Profile RDA

The Wotofo Profile RDA is yet another squonk-focussed RDA from Wotofo, only with a little twist…

And that twist is this: it can (and does) run mesh coils (as opposed to a standard, wire coils), though it can also run standard wire coils too.

It’s also a very good looking tank, not that you’d expect anything less from Wotofo; the company has had a fantastic run in 2018 with mods and tanks., with the Wotofo Recurve RDA and the later-released Recurve squonk mod being the latest of note.

So… how’s the Wotofo Profile RDA?

Good enough to make our Best RDA List for 2018?

Should you be adding it to your collection?

As always: read on to find out.

Wotofo Profile RDA Review

The Box

Design

I just want to say a couple of words about the sheer amount of stuff you get with the Wotofo Profile RDA. You get mesh coils, standard coils, 6mm, specific cotton for wicking the tank, and a bunch of tools as well.

It is an EPIC haul of goodies, and it means setting up the tank is super-simple. Even if you’ve never set up a mesh RDA tank before, you will not struggle with this one – it’s just so intuitive.

The Haul

The tank itself is a beauty; mine’s the gold version and I think it looks badass. It measures in at 25mm and has a small(ish) logo on the side which reads “Profile” in a graffiti-like text.

The airflow, which is situated on both sides, is INSANELY smooth when fully open (but more on that later). You basically have 19 holes on either side and you close them off by turning the top cap to cover them off in sections.

The Tank + Deck

The mechanism, once lubed, is silky smooth and fairly easy to see on the gold version; though Grim Green did make a point about the AFC being difficult to see on the black model, so that’s definitely something you should keep in mind.

The drip tip is an 810 wide bore setup that looks and feels great to use. Normally, I tend to switch out drip tips for my preferred, custom setups but on the Profile RDA, I didn’t do this. Good work, Wotofo!

The “Profile” Logo

The big thing here, however, is the mesh coils it runs. Normally on RDAs, mesh coil performance can be a bit… wonky. Dry hits are common as is uneven heating.

So has Wotofo fixed this with the Wotofo Profile RDA?

The Deck

In a word, yes – I haven’t had a single dry hit from this RDA in the time I’ve been using (and 14 days now).

And the reason for this is that Wotofo’s mesh coils are VASTLY superior to much of the third-party crap most people use when running mesh on an RDA.

The Spring-Loaded Ceramic Plug

The edges of the coil are completely flat and finished; there is no wire sticking out, and this ensures the coils burn evenly and consistently.

I’ve had the same coil in for two weeks now, and despite riding it like a porn star on meth, the coil looks pretty much as good as new.

And this is significant: Wotofo has built itself a great tank and, by a stroke of genius, has also created the perfect mesh coils to run on it.

Top Cap

The deck itself is also masterful too; there’s a spring-loaded ceramic platform in the middle that pushes up against you wick and ensures that it presses tightly onto the mesh.

This aspect, combined with the great mesh coils, ensures an even, flavorful vape that is 100% free from dry hits and uneven heat-up.

Wotofo built the Profile RDA in cahoots with MrJustRight1. Now, I’m not familiar with this guy, but I will now forever remember his name because he has designed a truly stunning deck. So, kudos on that, MrJustRight1!

Installing The Mesh Coil

Again, it’s really simple: just unscrew the clamps, insert on end into the clamp, tighten it down, then do the other. The entire process takes about 30 seconds.

In order to get the perfect arch for your mesh coil, make sure you use the provided tool from the box; with this, you can get the exact curve for the coil so that it sits perfectly between the clamps.

Once you’ve done this, take your 6mm cotton and bash it through. Snip the ends off it, fluff it, tuck it, and, BOOM, you’re done.

Wotofo Profile RDA Flavor Performance

Flavor performance is highly subjective; some people love certain tanks that I positively despise, so I’ll try and be as frank as possible in the regard, but please remember that much of this section is dependant on opinion.

The flavor on this tank is very decent, but the airflow, which is very, very, very, very smooth, I feel, does detract from it somewhat. How’s that, you ask? I just tend to prefer a slightly more restricted airflow on my RDAs.

Love That Drip Tip!

And the AFC here is basically smooth all the way down. If you like smooth RDAs, this is a huge boon, as it doesn’t really get much smoother than the Wotofo Profile RDA.

If, like me, you prefer a little bit of resistance, well, it might not be ideal. Personally, I’ve grown to really like this RDA. Over the two weeks, the flavor profile has developed and changed. I get it more now than I did last week if that makes any sense!?

I do think my personal sweet-spot, however, is with the airflow closed off by about 50%. At this setting, you get a smooth-but-slightly-restricted airflow that suits my style of vaping right down to the ground. I do keep it wide open for when I’m vaping at higher wattages though.

Wotofo Profile RDA Performance + How’s It Squonk?

You can run the Wotofo Profile RDA as a dripper, though I didn’t bother, as I’m more or less 100% squonking these days.

It is designed predominantly to be a squonker, and it really does perform in this context. The juice is directed right onto the bottom of the wick, so it ensures everything is saturated all the time.

I also found it kind of impossible to over-squonk on this RDA too; no matter how much you push it, it just doesn’t leak. Obviously, being completely stupid with your squeezing will cause leaks, but for most people, you can squonk hard and not have to worry about any leaks.

As for overall performance, I do really like this RDA. It does everything it does very well, and without any fuss or hassle. It’s the kind of tank you install and just forget about; it just hits consistently, with great flavor, and it squonks great.

For me, this is a big USP. I hate having to fiddle with my tanks once they’re set up, so when I install a tank and then hardly ever touch it, this is always a good sign for me.

Another very solid offering from Wotofo.

What I Liked

• The Deck is Superb
• Great Overall Design & Finish
• Perfect Mesh Coils
• Easy To Set Up
• Great Flavor
• Smo0o0o0o0o0o0oth Airflow

Things To Keep In Mind?

• Airflow is Difficult To Gage on Black Model
• You Have To Buy Mesh Coils Via Wotofo

Best Place To Buy?

VaporDNA | $29.99 (Down From $39.99)
ECIG ONE | £24.99 

The Hermetic RDA by Blitz and SuckMyMod is a single coil RDA that squonks. It’s also one of the tightest, most restricted lung hit RDA tanks I have ever come across. Is it any good, though?

SuckMyMod, or SMM, as he’s also known, is a busy dude.

He does a YouTube channel and, in his spare time, designs atomizers.

SMM was the guy behind Wotofo’s thoroughly excellent Serpent RTA.

The Hermetic RDA is his latest collaboration, this time with Blitz Industries, and once again we’re looking at a single coil atty.

This is an RDA, however, and is designed for use with squonk mods, though you can, of course, use it as a dripper too.

I just spent the best part of two weeks using this mod.

Read on for my full report.

Hermetic RDA Review

Atop The Vandy Vape PULSE 80W

Design

Old school RDAs were kind of long and big and utilitarian-looking.

I liked the way they looked, and it appears SMM shares the same opinion.

The Hermetic RDA is a straight-up, traditional looking RDA dripper-style tank. You have a fat drip top (810) up top, a solid top cap under it (22mm), and a ceramic clamp for securing the coil.

Blitz has included a beauty ring too, but I never bother with these.

The Logo

The tank is old school-looking and this for me is a big plus, it harks back to the RDAs of yesteryear, and it looks all the better for it.

It’s available in silver or black (mine’s silver) and the only branding you’ll see on the tank itself is a Hermetic Seal – a logo used often in occult texts and things of an esoteric nature.

I like the name and I love the way it looks. The size, finish, and minimal branding are all big plus points for me. Far too many OEMs get too bogged down in fancy bullshit that really doesn’t matter. Simple is always best.

The Deck

The main event here is the airflow; it’s tight and focussed. And you can’t really do anything about it. Even wide open, it’s still a restricted lung hit.

The net result of this is that you get intense, dense vapor production. If you like swooshy airflow, this might not be one for you. It took me a while to get used to it; now, I’m 100% smitten.

The Clamp & Deck

The AFC is set very low, and so too is the squonk port, so air comes in and down at the coils. It’s a weird system but it works beautifully.

When you squonk, the juice comes out through a hole just below the airflow hole. The juice well is pretty deep too, so you can REALLY squonk this hard and not get overspill.

 

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The surface tensions present in the tank pretty much remove any leaking, though if you get too squonk happy and keep on hitting it over and over again, you will get some leakage from the AFC.

It’s a single coil atty, as mentioned before, and that coil is held in place by a ceramic clamp. Installing coils and wicking is very straightforward, an idiot could do it blindfolded.

You have plenty of room on the deck too, meaning you can install coils of all shapes and sizes. I used a few different types, but found larger coils tended to perform better – they just suited the tank’s airflow better.

Hermetic RDA Flavor Performance

Once you get used to the draw, which is VERY tight, you’re in for a world of flavor. I’ve run multiple E Juice lines through the Hermetic RDA and it has found flavors in them that I never noticed before.

To me, this is a sign of an RDA that is special. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does I know I got myself a keeper.

The Top Cap & Airflow Hole

The Hermetic RDA is definitely a keeper.

And it is so easy to wick and setup that even the most inexperienced builder could do it with very little instruction. I think I had my first build in and installed in less than 60 seconds.

Hermetic RDA Performance | Better Than The Recurve RDA?

This is a tough one to call. Both are solid performers; they also both look great, squonk brilliantly, and kick out intense, precise flavor. I have both and I use both – so which do I prefer?

Honestly? I think I prefer the Hermetic RDA. Once you get used to its tight, restricted lung draw the tank just comes into its own, revealing flavor notes that previously just weren’t there.

I also like the way that it can perform well at any given setting from 45W to 70W; it fires up quick and it never gets hot.

The Recurve RDA

Personally, I like to do my vaping in and around 60W with this RDA – any more and it starts to lose some of its magic.

The main difference between the two RDAs and most other rebuildable in this class is the airflow.

With the Recurve RDA, which is listed inside our Best RDA Guide For Late 2018, you have some room to play with; the Hermetic RDA is straight-up tight pretty much across the board.

Whether this is your kind of thing will depend on what kind of draw you like from an RDA.

I’m always open to new things, so I like having the Hermetic RDA in my collection, as it is unlike anything else I own.

If you prefer restricted lung hits, this tank is one of the best options around right now. If you like airy, swooshiness that is more common on larger, dual-coil RDAs, then you will not dig it one bit.

What I Liked

• The Design is Old School, And I Love It.
• Minimal Branding, Save For A Cool Logo
• Big Deck, Easy To Build On
• Great For Squonking
• Nice-Sized Juice Wells
• Beautiful, Restricted Lung Hit Draw

What I Disliked

• It Only Has One Style of Draw: TIGHT
• Not Everyone Will Like This

Best Place To Buy Hermetic RDA Online?

HeavenGifts | $32.99 (24 Hour Delivery Guaranteed)

(UK) HeavenGift | $26.99