When it comes to the more advanced styles of vaping,
nothing gets the job done like a rebuildable atomizer, often shortened to
“RBA”. Rebuildable atomizers are a
gamechanger for any vaping enthusiast’s hobby, acting as a more customizable
alternative to the standard Pyrex and Stainless Steel sub-ohm tank.
In many ways, RBAs predate sub-ohm tanks. Before hardware manufacturers developed tanks
that allowed the user to install pre-made coils easily and safely, vapers who
wanted to use box mods and similar powerful devices had to build their own
coils, which naturally requires a lot more effort and knowledge, not to mention
time. Since then, sub-ohm tanks have reigned
supreme, but there’s still a surprising number of vapers who prefer to build
their own coils anyway, because they offer the vaper the ability to craft a
coil based on their precise needs, rather than having to rely on the
sometimes-limited selection of pre-built coils that are available.
What Kinds of RBAs Can Vapers Find in Today’s Market?
There are different kinds of RBAs, but what they all
share in common is that they allow the vaper to make their own DIY coils for
more precise control over their vaping experience. So, what’s the difference?
RDA
An RDA is a rebuildable dripping atomizer, and it’s
the most popular type of RBA there is.
As the name implies, it’s associated with dripping, which is the
dominant vaping style for cloud chasers.
Dripping involves pouring a couple of drops of vape juice directly onto
the coil, placing the mouthpiece onto the RDA and taking a couple of puffs
before starting the process all over again.
Tedious it may sound to some, but the incredibly thick and fluffy vapor
you can achieve can be well worth it.
Note: A specific type
of RDA known as a BF RDA (bottom-feeding RDA) is used for squonking, which
involves a squonk box and an atomizer that gets e-liquid filled through the
bottom.
Pros:
- üCloud-Chasing:
With an RDA, you can expect the biggest and thickest vape clouds possible. This is the go-to for any cloud chaser who
cares more about vapor production than any other aspect of vaping. - üCompatible
with a Squonk Box: If you’re going to be using a squonk box
system, you’ll need to grab an RDA – more specifically, a bottom-feeding
RDA. This is the type of atomizer
compatible with this system, in which e-liquid is essentially squeezed
into the atomizer through a bottom-feeding channel. - üEasy
to Find: RDAs are more popular than RTAs and RDTAs, meaning
that you’ll have an easier time finding an RDA when you’re ready to invest in a
rebuildable atomizer. - üPerfect
for Dripping: An RDA is the atomizer you need if you’re
interested in dripping, which is a very specific vaping style. No other type of atomizer will work.
Cons:
- ØNot
Ideal for Long Vaping Sessions: RDAs do not contain
tanks, which means they cannot hold enough e-liquid to promote long vaping
sessions. You need to apply a little
e-liquid to the coil at a time, and this is time-consuming if you’re just
trying to get a setup that allows you to enjoy puffs of vapor effortlessly
throughout the day.
RTA
An RTA is a rebuildable tank atomizer, which still
offers DIY coil-building but acts as a tank, so that the vaper can pour a nice
amount of e-liquid into the tank and enjoy it throughout the day. This is a change from the RDA, which requires
that only a small amount of e-liquid is poured onto the tank directly, specifically
for dripping. RTAs, like RDAs, come with
a build deck for coils, but the deck is located in the middle of the tank
component, just like a coil sits in the middle of a standard sub-ohm tank.
Pros:
- üHolds
E-Liquid: Of course, the main benefit of an RTA is that unlike
an RDA, it has a juice well so that you don’t need to repeatedly pour e-liquid
onto your coil just to enjoy a couple of puffs of vapor. - üIdeal
for Flavor: Many argue that an RTA is the best
atomizer for flavor, as the act of sucking the vapor up through a chimney and
concentrating it can allow you to taste your vape juice more strongly. - üStill
Offers Great Cloud Production: Don’t get us wrong – an
RTA is still an excellent choice for cloud-chasing, since you can customize
your coil build to develop a configuration conducive to massive, dense clouds.
Cons:
- ØNot
as Associated with Cloud-Chasing: While RTAs are great for
cloud-chasing, they are not the RBA that will give you the biggest clouds –
that’s what RDAs are for. - ØNot
Compatible with Dripping or Squonking: If you want to try
dripping or squonking, an RTA will not get you anywhere. For these vaping styles, you’re better off
with an RDA.
RDTA
Lastly, we have the newest addition to the RBA market,
which is the RDTA. As you may have guessed
from the name, this combines elements of both types of RBAs to offer something
of a hybrid. An RDTA is a rebuildable
dripping tank atomizer, with an RDA-style deck that sits above a tank and
lacking a chimney system more associated with an RTA.
Pros:
- üBest
of Both Worlds: With an RDTA, you get better clouds than
you would with an RTA, and better flavor than you would with an RDA. - üMulti-Functional:
With
an RDTA, you can enjoy dripping and traditional vaping with a filled tank. - üMore
Features: Many RDTAs come with more customizable features,
including various airflow adjustments that change the tightness of your draws.
Cons:
- ØStill
Not the Best Choice for Dripping/Cloud-Chasing:
An RDTA allows you to drip while providing a tank as well. But, the coil is located farther away from
the drip cap than it is in an RDA, so ultimately, you still won’t get as
big of a cloud with each puff. - ØRequires
More Maintenance: An RDTA has more individual parts than
either an RDA or an RTA, meaning that it requires more maintenance as these
parts must be cleaned regularly.
Which Atomizer is Right for You? The Choice is Yours!
Ultimately, the RBA that you select depends on what
you’re looking for out of your vaping experience. Each type is associated with a unique type of
vaping style, so consider the different vaping styles out there, as well as
your vaping priorities, whether they be cloud-chasing, flavor-chasing or what
have you. From there, you can explore
the various RBAs at The Vape Mall to find one with the features and design that
captures your unique vaping goals.
Leave a Reply