RTA Tanks

The Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA is a unique twist on an already much-loved RTA, only this time it’s packing mesh coils – so how does it perform?

Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA Quick Verdict (70%)

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Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA Pros:

• Super Simple To Wick, Thanks To Mesh Coils
• Superb Clouds
• Gorgeous Design
• Comes With 4x Mesh Coils & Cotton Laces
• Mega Flavor

Quick Verdict (TL;DR) – The Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA is VERY similar to the Wotofo Profile Unity RTA in how it works, a point that many vapers aren’t too happy about. But this isn’t something to concern yourself with; all you should care about is whether the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA is actually any good…

And the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA is decent, but it is NOT a simple RTA to live with. You have to get your wicking spot on. And I really do mean SPOT ON, or else you’re going to experience a dry hit. For me, this is a big negative – I like my RTAs to work simply.

When it’s playing ball and your wicking is on point, the clouds and flavor are brilliant. Get it wrong, though, and you’re in a world of pain. For this reason, I would probably still go with the normal Kylin Mini RTA over the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA, as it’s easier to wick and it doesn’t dry-hit anyway near as much.

Bottom line: if you’re going to run the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA you definitely have to know what you’re doing when it comes to wicking. This tank DOES NOT take any prisoners; you’re either vaping perfectly with epic flavor or coughing your guts up following a massive dry hit. There is nothing else in-between…

Full Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA Review

Design

The Kylin M is a very good-looking tank. But that’s kind of a given; Vandy Vape makes great looking tanks. And the Kylin stable of RTAs has always been fairly beautiful. The Kylin M carries all the usual design language from its stablemates, and it looks great. Nice and premium.

The machining, knurling, and overall finish of the tank’s exterior and its deck are superb. It all fits together nicely and the box contains plenty of goodies to get your up and running properly. For instance, it includes four mesh coils in the box – 2x 0.2ohm strips and 2x 0.15ohm strips, as well as cotton laces for wicking.

If it wasn’t immediately apparent, the “M” stands for mesh, which is the “coil” material for which the Kylin M was specifically designed to take maximum advantage of. So why mesh? Why now? Is mesh better than wire for RTAs?

Mesh coils offer the potential for even better flavor and greater performance than traditional home-built coils, they’re also much simpler to work with and this makes it much easier to obtain the desired (and delicious) fruits of your labor. This is why mesh is popular. But it’s not all as black and white as it may seem.

Theoretically, mesh actually makes creating a custom build more straightforward than ever before. I say, theoretically, because the install is very simple, but getting the wicking right is no cakewalk. You have to be SUPER precise, otherwise, you’re going to be getting a lot of dry hits. And if you don’t know what you’re doing, the Kylin M is one hell of a cruel mistress. You HAVE to wick it just right in order to get the best performance; there is no room for error.

The Kylin M has some other features beyond the main mesh showpiece. Harnessing the power of geometry with a series of air holes in a roughly hexagonal (or honeycomb) arrangement feeding air into the trapezoidal air intake channel.

Combine the previously discussed points with a generous 4.5 ml liquid capacity, 24 karat gold-plated contacts, and top-quality construction from 304 series stainless steel, and top-mounted airflow for fewer leaks and, on paper, at least, the Kylin M looks like something of a monster.

Specs & Features

• Length: 34mm
• Diameter: 24mm
• Capacity: 2ml (TPD) – 3ml and 4.5ml bubble glass
• Thread: 510
• Colour: SS, Blue, Gunmetal, Gold, Frosted Grey, Rainbow, Matte Black

Inside the Kylin M box, you also get the following accessories:

• 1 x Kylin M RTA
• 2 x Mesh Coil(0.2ohm)
• 2 x Mesh Coil(0.15ohm)
• 2 x Coton Laces
• 1 x Extra Glass
• 1 x Resin Drip Tip
• 1 x User Manual
• 1 x Accessory Bag

This is a pretty good haul of gear; Vandy Vape includes everything you need to set up and run the tank for a solid month or two. You have plenty of cotton, plenty of mesh coils, and Vandy Vape even includes a handy mesh coil shaper which you 100% have to use when installing the mesh coil.

The Deck & Mesh Coils

The deck itself on the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA is very simple to work with; it uses a spring-loaded platform that pushes up the cotton into the mesh coil. Again, this is pretty much exactly how the Wotofo Profile Unity RTA works – and that RTA is tricky to wick as well…

Installing a mesh coil in the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA is simple; you bend the mesh and secure it in place. Once you’ve done this, and the coil is properly shaped, you then proceed to wick it, using the provided cotton laces. And it is here where all the fun starts…

In order to avoid dry hits on the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA, you have to trim and thin your wicks just so; if the wick is too thick, too thin, or too long, it simply will not vape properly. I tried and failed about eight times to get it right. In the end, you need a fairly thick wick that is thinned out and placed just above the juice ports. You don’t want thick wads stuffed in the juice ports.

You want to make sure the wick under the mesh is nice and packed, then thin it out on the legs (where it connects to the juice ports). This is the #1 method for avoiding dry hits on the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA, but it isn’t 100% fail-safe – you have to be ultra-precise and you have to trim the cotton a lot. And for me, this is simply too much work.

Overall Performance

When you get the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA working optimally, it is a fantastic RTA. The flavor is great and the clouds are dense. The airflow, while a tad noisy for my tastes, delivers a stuffing vape and is fully adjustable. I like it half-way open.

As always, I’ve been running TrailBlazer from the VapeBeat E Juice Store in the Kylin M and it’s never tasted better. The Kylin M does not have any issues with flavor, but it does require a lot of precision from you to activate it – there is a sweet spot for the wicking and it is very difficult to find, meaning this RTA is NOT ideal for beginners.

I like the way it looks, I like the way it vapes when it’s wicked correctly, and I like the airflow. But you have to do A LOT of stuff to get the Kylin M working correctly and, for me, that’s not ideal. I freakin’ hate high maintenance RTAs, especially when there is so many GOOD, simple to use RTAs out there. Don’t believe me? Check out our Guide To The Best RTAs Right Now.

All of the RTAs in that list post are simple to wick, simple to set-up, seldom leak, and kick out immense flavor. I’d take any one of the RTAs on that list over the Kylin M. I’ve also included the table from our Best RTAs post below, so you can quickly see the options.

Should You Buy The Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA?

If you like a challenge, then, yes, you should 100% buy the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA. If you know what you’re doing with your wicking and are confident you can wick anything, then, yes, the Vandy Vape Kylin M RTA might be a good option for you…

But if you’re anything like me, and you cannot stand hard-to-wick RTAs, then you will avoid this tank and go with something that is simple to wick, easy to use, and a solid all-round performer. And if you want my ¢2, that tank, if you want an RTA, is easily the GeekVape ZEUS X because it is easy to wick, it doesn’t leak, and it delivers totally amazing flavor – it’s also cheaper than the Kylin M too.

Best Price | $37.95 | DirectVapor (FREE SHIPPING)

The Wotofo Profile RDA landed in 2018 and proved very popular. For this reason, Wotofo has decided to bring its mesh coil idea to an RTA which goes by the name of Wotofo Profile Unity RTA.

I literally just unboxed and set this tank up, so this is very much a preview. Why so fast? Because the Profile Unity RTA is a pretty unique RTA. In addition, I think a fair few of you might be interested in how it works (regarding wicking and building) right out the box.

As far as I’m aware, it is the only mesh coil RTA you can buy right now. I could be wrong, of course, but I don’t recall ever hearing of and/or using a mesh coil RTA before, so, yeah… it’s pretty unique!

Wotofo Profile Unity RTA Design

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I really, really liked the Profile RDA. It was different, it vaped great, and it was relatively easy to set up. For this reason, I was pretty excited when I heard about the Wotofo Profile Unity RTA.

But, knowing RTAs, I did have my reservations. RTAs are tricky to wick at the best of times. Chuck in some mesh coil and, well, things could get dramatically more problematic. More on this later though…

In terms of overall design and finish, the Wotofo Profile Unity RTA is a very handsome chap.

It’s big. Very big in fact. And tall. It kind of looks like the Zeus RTA and it’s available in a range of colors (mine’s blue).

Exact dimensions are as follows: 25mm x 48mm. You also have an 810 drip tip, a 3.5ml, and 5ml tube, adjustable side airflow, and top-mounted juice fill holes. So far, so good.

The tank comes apart pretty easily: unscrew the bottom to access the deck. The top of the tank comes off easily enough to reveal the juice fill ports. The drip tip is removable and you have a super-smooth airflow control on the side of the tank right next to the “PROFILE” logo.

Visually, it’s a very good looking tank. It is about on the tall and chunky side, but that’s fine with me – I don’t mind my RTAs lookin’ a bit swole as long as they vape great.

What’s In The Box

As usual, Wotofo includes a boat-load of accessories in the box. You get everything you need – including two mesh coils – to start vaping right away. Here’s a full list of the Wotofo Profile Unity RTA box contents:

• 1x Profile Unity RTA
• 1x 5ml Glass Tube
• 1x 5ml Tube Adapter
• 1x User Manual
• 1x Bending Tool
• 1x Screw Driver
• 1x nexMesh Coil (0.13 ohm)*2
• 6mm Agleted Cotton*1
• Extra O-rings & Screws, Springs
• Agleted Organic Cotton

You’ll need to make sure you use the curving tool as well. This ensures that your mesh coil is curved properly for the deck. It also ensures you have enough room to get your cotton installed properly.

Wotofo Profile Unity RTA Deck

The deck on the Profile Unity RTA is much the same as the one aboard the Profile RDA. It has the same clamp-based system that holds your mesh coil in place and the same spring-loaded, plastic platform that pushes up your wick into the mesh coil.

The deck is simple enough to work with; just curve your mesh coil, place it, screw down the clamps, and add your wick. In principle, it is very straight-forward. But where things get a little trickier is the wicking. You have to do plenty of trimming in order to get it just right.

Wotofo Profile Unity RTA Wicking & Build

A lot of RTAs are fiddly to wick, and sadly the Profile Unity RTA is not an exception. This is partly down to the show-lace-tip cotton Wotofo includes; it’s WAY too thick. You basically need to pull it in half and then trim it down some to get it just right for the installed coil.

Once you’ve got the wick to the desired thickness, you have to trim down the ends (again, quite a bit), as they need to go through the little slots on the side.

Leave it too thick and you’ll get dry hits. Too thin and it’ll leak.

Case in point: I messed up my first attempt and had to do additional trimming to get it working properly. If you’re brand new to RTAs, I think this one might be a little too tricky for most. I’m pretty much a veteran with rebuildable tank atomizers, for instance, but I struggled to get it right first time.

How’s It Vape?

Because the mesh heats up more or less instantly, there is little to no delay between hitting the fire button on your mod and getting a mouth-full of vapor. I don’t know if I like this; I think I prefer the more gradual heat-up you get with wire coils. Obviously, this is a personal preference.

The flavor is very good, though, once you get the wicking exactly right. As noted above, my first attempt failed. It got a couple of hits and then, BOOM, a nice dry hit that made my eyes water. The key thing here is the wicking. You’re probably best using your own cotton over the stuff that’s included in the box.

If you do use the included wick, make sure you reduce its size by about 50-60% as it is far too thick for the deck and mesh coil as is.

When I got it working properly, the flavor was great. And I really like how much difference the AFC on the side makes to the overall vape. I found my personal sweet-spot with three holes open. You need to have a play around with it and find what works for you, basically.

Overall, this RTA is not that easy to set up. It requires precision with wicking and there really isn’t any room for error, sadly. And this means it probably isn’t a good option for anyone that is relatively new to RTAs, not when there are so many simple to use RTAs around right now.

Initial Impressions?

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I like the idea and the philosophy behind the Wotofo Profile Unity RTA but I am not immediately sold on it as a whole (right now). The main reason for this is that it is incredibly tricky to wick correctly. And when you’re talking about an RTA tank, this is exactly what you don’t want to be dealing with…

The flavor it delivers is superb. That much is true. But it took me at least three attempts at the wick to get it “just right” – and that’s two attempts too many in my book. Even more so when you factor in the sheer number of RTAs that are incredibly simple to wick. Even for newbie vapers.

As I said, this is an “immediate, out the box impression” post – it’s not my full verdict or review. That will come in a couple of weeks, once I’ve had a chance to get to know the tank a little better.

Initial impressions, right now, aren’t great if I’m 100% honest. It just feels like it’s going to be a pain in the ass to deal with at the moment, and this, for me, is never usually a good sign. For instance, when I tested the Intake RTA, it worked perfectly from the get-go. No messing around, no nothing. Just great flavor, simple wicking, and no leaking.

And that is exactly what using a modern RTA should be like…

The Wotofo Serpent ELEVATE RTA just arrived in my office and, after using the original SMM Serpent RTA quite extensively, I was obviously super-keen on seeing how the new model compared.

The Wotofo Serpent ELEVATE RTA is, once again, the brainchild of Suck My Mod – a very good, very popular YouTube reviewer.

Once again, the Wotofo Serpent ELEVATE RTA is a single coil RTA with a deck that reminds me a lot of the Recurve RDA.

It has a top-mounted airflow and is larger than the Serpent SMM RTA.

I loved SMM’s work on the Serpent SMM RTA. It kicked a lot of ass in the flavor department. But will lightning strike twice? Is the Wotofo Serpent ELEVATE RTA a legit new contender for best RTA of 2018?

This post is essentially an unboxing and setup. I literally set up it up as I wrote each section to give you a blow-by-blow account of how it works out the box…

Let’s take a gander at what you get with this sweet little number…

Wotofo Serpent ELEVATE RTA | What You Get In The Box

One thing I really dig about Wotofo is its packaging. It packs in loads of goodies and the box design is always very cool.

I love the green and black color scheme and the fact you get cotton and coils in the box. And not just any old cotton either; no, here you get shoe-lace style cotton for super-easy wicking.

Wotofo also includes a spare drip tip, a 510 adapter, Clapton coils (2 of them), an extra tube, extra O-Rings, and extra screws. Bottomline? This is an epic haul of gear.

But then, I wouldn’t expect anything less from Wotofo!

It always provides tons of accessories with its vape products, be they mods or tanks.

Wotofo Serpent ELEVATE RTA Deck

The deck is pretty straight-forward. It’s very similar to the Recurve RDA’s in that its housed inside a half-cylinder-style structure.

The airflow comes from the sides and you have to pre-clip your leads. Nothing out of the ordinary here, just another solid, easy to use Wotofo deck.

Once you’re pre-clipped, installing the coil is a cinch; just place it, tighten the screws, position it correctly, and you’re done.

Again, this is a very simple deck. There’s no learning curve, save for the pre-clipping of the leads, and the install went smoothly for me on the first go. Just make sure you don’t cut your leads too short.

As you can see in the images, the deck is slightly elevated off of the bottom of the tank. This is because you need to wick your cotton downwards into the juice holes.

The deck is quite high up when you’re complete and there is a sheer drop from it right down to where it meets with the E Juice. But because the airflow is at the top, there is ZERO leaking.

Wotofo Serpent ELEVATE RTA Wicking Tutorial

Because of the nature of the deck; the coil is located high-up and the cotton has to drop down to wick, I was kind of worried about how this would work in practice.

When distances are involved, wicking can be tricky, as the juice has got to meet the cotton, soak the cotton, and make its way up to the coil so as to ensure it stays nice and juicy.

My first attempt didn’t go very well; I got a dry hit once the initial juice had burnt off the coil. I then proceeded to trim down the cotton, making it thinner and less bulbous over the juice ports.

This seems to have done the trick, but I still get that sneaking suspicion that I haven’t got it quite right just yet. I think this one will take some finesse before I 100% nail it.

First Vape

The first vape was decent enough, but then I’d already primed the coil with E Juice, so that’s to be expected.

I did get a dry hit after the seventh or eighth one, though, as mentioned above. This required me to go back and take a look at my wicking. I used too much, essentially, and once trimmed down it vaped better.

That was about two hours ago, and since then it’s been vaping OK but I still haven’t got the wicking down 100% – though I will figure it out!

Initial impressions? This isn’t an RTA for newbie users; the wicking takes precision to get right. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend this to inexperienced RTA users right now.

The Single Coil Wotofo Serpent ELEVATE RTA Picks Up Where The Serpent Left Off And Adds In More Flavor And Improved Airflow. Really Impressive Stuff Once Again. VaporDNA is Retailing It For $34.99

Wicking is always tricky on RTAs, but some are better than ours – these RTAs are the easiest to wick, for instance.

I’d say I have the wicking about 75% right, and even with that discrepancy in mind the vapor is great and the flavor is very impressive. I can’t wait until I get it right, as the flavor should be superb!

Will it make it onto our Best RTA Tanks 2018 Guide? Hard to say right now, I need to spend more time with it.

Once I’ve done this, I’ll review it and update this post with a full verdict.

Until then, here are the key specs and details for the Wotofo Serpent ELEVATE RTA.Diameter: 24mm

Wotofo Serpent ELEVATE RTA Specs & Features

Threading: 510 thread

E-liquid Capacity: 3.5ml

Filling Method: Top filling

Airflow Type: Adjustable top airflow

Insulator Material: German PEEK

Extra Accessory: 4.5ml bubble tube, Coil trimming tool

Best Price: $34.99 via VaporDNA (Use Code: “DNA10” To Get 10% OFF)

There are a few RTA tanks around that claim to be leak-proof, and the AUGVAPE Intake RTA has just joined the fray – but is it any good?

The biggest thing about RTA tanks that puts people off is that they leak – or they’re fiddly to wick. Or, sometimes… BOTH!

There are definitely a few beginner-friendly options around right now, and the AUGVAPE Intake RTA, with its unique airflow system, is yet another option.

This tank, like a couple on the market right now, claims to be 100% leak-proof, so even the n00biest of n00bs can work and live with it.

It’s also pretty darn cheap too (just $29.99).

So how does it stack up in reality? Let’s bloody well find out, shall we?

AUGVAPE Intake RTA Design

Fully Loaded On Top of The GeekVape AEGIS Mod

The Intake RTA is certainly a handsome chap. The bulging glass tank, the knurled effect around the drip tip, and the blue resin drip tip all make for an aesthetically pleasing tank.

As soon as I unboxed it, I knew I liked it. It just has “that” look about it – Vandy Vape is good at achieving this kind of thing. And so too is AUGVAPE it seems.

It’s a big boy, though. Chunky, solid, robust – and it’s also a single coil RTA which I found kind of bizarre. Normally, single coil RTAs are a little more svelte and slimmed down.

The Top-Mounted Airflow (Which Links Up With The Internal Tubes)

Not that this is a bad thing. I like my tanks with a bit of muscle, and the AUGVAPE Intake RTA has it in spades.

But what makes the AUGVAPE Intake RTA so unique in the RTA space is its airflow, which is placed at the top.

This is why it NEVER leaks. It literally CANNOT leak!

Why? Simple: gravity just won’t let it happen.

This is a clever move, and I expect to see A LOT more RTA tanks using a similar system in the coming months.

All you have to do when setting it up is ensure the airflow posts, these are found inside the tank, are lined up. That’s literally it. Bang the coil in, wick it, and you’re good to go.

A Handsome Devil!

The airflow control is located just below the drip tip. You can have it wide open, partially closed, or whatever suits your style best. Personally, I prefer it wide open.

To refill with E Juice, simply turn the top cap counter-clockwise and it pops off, revealing large(ish) kidney-shaped fill ports.

All told, this RTA is INSANELY easy to set up and live with.

AUGVAPE Intake RTA Deck

This is a single coil RTA, and that means you can run it pretty economically without degrading the flavor or performance.

During my stint with this vape tank, I’ve been running it in and around 45W to 60W, and it seems perfectly happy at either increment.

Setting the coil is also really simple on this deck too; you gave two Philips screws that secure it in place, and lining it up with the airflow is as easy as can be.

The Deck And Those Unique Airflow Tubes

This, for me, is what makes the AUGVAPE Intake RTA so special. It’s been made with new users in mind, those that might not be used to an RTA or rebuildable deck.

And it has done ALL it can to make it as painless as possible.

The airflow system is also kinda unique too; the tubes circulate the airflow to the bottom of the tank and onto the coil, and you also have that side airflow at the top as well.

This is partly why you do not get any leaking, as there are no exposed airflow ports at the base of the device. The tubes do all the internal airflow work.

The machining and connections are all very much on point too; everything connects and comes apart in a buttery smooth fashion.

The Large Kidney-Shaped Juice Fill Ports

There are no stiff components or wonky screws. Once everything’s set, the tank fits together perfectly and feels incredibly secure.

I’m a huge fan of single coil RTA tanks, as they use less power yet still provide great flavor and clouds. The AUGVAPE Intake RTA is no exception to this rule.

Chuck in ZERO leaking and AUGVAPE could well have a winner on its hands here.

So how’s the overall performance?

AUGVAPE Intake RTA Performance

It’s good. I like it, especially since it doesn’t leak – like, at all.

The one thing I’m not 100% loving about the Intake RTA is the airflow; it’s kinda restricted even when wide open.

I don’t mind restricted airflow at all, but I like having the option to rock out with my airflow wide open when the mood takes me.

This is an entirely subjective point, however, as what I like will almost certainly be completely different to what you do.

The tank runs smoothly though, really smooth, and it’s super quiet as well. Flavor is decent too. Not the greatest. But definitely well above par.

Solid Connector, Beautifully Finished

It’s just not quite as precise as I’d like it to be. RTAs, for the most part, are big hitters in the flavor department. But the Intake feels more like a decent sub ohm tank, with respect to flavor.

The big idea here is simple: it’s an RTA that doesn’t leak. This is big, as it means new users can pick on up and use it right off the bat with no hassle.

And I think this is the entire point of the AUGVAPE Intake RTA. Simplicity. But this simplicity comes at a cost: and that cost is flavor – it’s just not quite as good as some RTAs around right now.

And this is 100% down to the airflow system that is used in it.

I do like this tank a lot. I’ve had a blast testing it. It does A LOT of things right – especially the zero leaking thing.

It is definitely a great option for anyone looking at dipping their toes into the world of RTA tanks.

This is why we included it inside our Best RTA Tank Guide – it’s simple and easy to use. And for an RTA, that is always awesome

I just think an experienced RTA user will feel a little short-changed in the flavor department.

For anyone coming from a sub-ohm tank, however, the AUGVAPE Intake RTA is definitely worth a look.

It’s simple to use and performs solidly in almost every regard.

Check out ALL the color options for this tank over at VaporDNA (Best Price: $29.99).