AtomVapes Apocalypse RDTA Reviewed: Flavor To Die For

Introduction – The Apocalypse RDTA By AtomVapes

AtomVapes, out of the great vaping capital of the world, Shenzhen, is relatively unknown. They’re a familiar name in Kanger, Aspire and Arctic vape circles for their gClapton and gCeramic coils and also for their Metropolis tank.

The truth is, the RDTA that I’ve been reviewing from the new brand, ‘The Apocalypse’ may just be the one to get their name out there.

This RDTA was engineered and designed in the UK…although the box also says Made In China (a little confusing.)

Just when you think you know what a great RDTA looks like, along comes another brand to blow you socks off…with flavor!

Look, RDTAs aren’t for everyone, they’re a fiddly business and, more often than not, they have a tendency to be messy! Two things they do provide though, when they’re well made: all the flavorful DIY joy of a dripper, with all the convenience of a regular RTA.

You can read more about the difference between RDTA’s, RDA’s and RTA’s here.

Now, I’ve been on the lookout for an RDTA that’s hassle free enough for a first time RDTA user to enjoy…this may be it.

The AtomVapes Apocalypse RDTA beats many of my favorite drippers when it comes to flavor and may just have a refill design that will pave the way fro the future of RDTAs, in their all new, patented Dript System.

What’s In The Box

• 1 X 4ml Atom Apocalypse RDTA
• 2 X Ni80 Clapton Coils, 0.2 Ohm Paired
• Spare Parts, Drip Tip Extension, Glass And O-rings

Features

• Extendible Delrin Mouthpiece
• 24mm Design
• Patented Dript Filling System
• Durable design
• Dual Adjustable Airflow

Design & Build Quality

On arrival of the package, while I enjoyed the zombie apocalypse theme throughout (being a ‘Fear The Walking Dead’ fan) I wasn’t particularly impressed by the quality of the box, indeed, a few more shipping tumbles and the RDTA would have been toast.

The box is soft, thin cardboard, not the fancy boxing that we vapers are used to. When I opened it, screws and bits and bobs fell all over the place, luckily they were only the spares.

The Apocalypse comes in stainless steel, black and gold, I got the black version and I’m glad I did, the matt black finish seems scratch proof and certainly won’t pick up marks like the shiny versions.

The tank section features a stunning blue colored glass pyrex, it’s covered with a colored film though, which will chip eventually, luckily another colored glass is provided, a grey one (maybe a higher quality stained glass would have rounded it off better).

The 24 mm RDTA’s tank section holds an ample 4ml of your finest…which is a good quantity for an RDTA.

I see a non-adjustable 510 connection and a thin base which has the words ‘We’ve seen the age of enlightenment, of reformation, of reason. Now, the age of desire. And after this, an end to ages. An end, perhaps, to everything’  written on it in the tiniest white lettering…how very Apocalyptic.

The barrel is home to 2 spacious, cyclops style airflow slots which adjust with the turn of the perfectly knurled and twisty top cap.

The matte black barrel, positioned above the juice tank, pulls off hard on account of two thick o-rings, one of which can be removed for extra ease.

When I pull off the barrel I notice a tiny little notch on it’s bottom edge which allows it to stay in place when you rotate the topcap to adjust your airflow. Also, these notches will ensure that your airflow is always positioned right alongside your coils by only allowing placement of the barrel in one specific position.

The name ‘Apocalypse’ is beautifully engraved around the barrel, really adding to the aesthetic. It’s a good looking RDTA, in my opinion.

The drip tip is one of those full Delrin mouth pieces, tapering from the top of the top cap up to a 510 size tip, you can extend it by adding a 510 tip on top.

Such an extension is included in the pack and looks and feels rather comfortable when added, it’s a cool way to customize the piece and makes it look really unique.

These mouthpieces aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but the full Delrin design means there’s no way you’ll burn your lips and I do find this one particularly comfortable, with or without the extension.

The dual velocity style posts feature four flat head, gold plated screws altogether, that call for a very small screwdriver which isn’t included…luckily, the corner of a slightly-too-big screwdriver will do the trick and these screws are unlikely to strip anytime soon anyway.

The terminals are not massive but they’re good enough to accommodate some great low builds.

In-between the two posts you’ll see the most wonderful thing since cookies and cream e-liquid…the Dript filling tube running right down the centre of the device, you’ll literally stick your nozzle right into the centre and squeeze like hell and tiny, almost invisible air holes in-between the four huge wicking holes on the deck will prevent a pressure build up.

A rubber grommet at the mouth of the filling tube will seal around almost any juice nozzle to prevent spillage. This filling method is EPIC.

The entire deck can be unscrewed from the glass to make wicking down into the chamber really, really easy.

How Does The Atom Apocalypse RDTA Perform?

Perfectly positioned, highly adjustable Cyclops style airflow works like a charm on this device and in conjunction with the included coils and the great big wicking holes, I’m getting flavor absolutely through the roof on this RDTA.

I also think that the Dript filling shaft which runs down the device’s centre contributes to this RDTA’s extreme flavor by forcing your airflow to move tightly over those coils.

I’ve had absolutely zero leakage, which is rare on an RDTA and the filling method makes it even better.

The 24 mm design pairs well with most of my dual 18650 mods but right now of got it sitting on my iJoy Captain PD270 and it’s very happy there.

The dual Ni80 Claptons are reading at 0.19 Ohm on the mod and I’ve found a warm, incredible depth of flavor between 90 and 120 Watts on the included coils.

Building:

Now, the included coils have been bent so that you’ll fit them with one coil higher than the other because their ends line up horizontally.

Also the 6 wrap on the provided coils does demand a little maneuvering in order to actually reach the terminals but never fear…my resistance reading came out perfect at 0.2 Ohm (and a little lower on my Captain PD270, at 0.19) and hopefully yours will too.

Also, pulling out the coil ends to reach the terminals causes them to space, which is always better for Nichrome as it prevents hot spots.

The wicking ports are so ample and the fact that the deck can be removed for wick threading means it’s really a delight.

While the instructions will tell you not to extend your wicks out further than 3mm below the holes, I beg to differ…I found a 5-6mm extension into this ample tank to be ideal but the length of your wicking is really up to you.

Overall, an easy to use and spacious deck with great room for fluffy wicking and what ever coils you’ve got planned.

The Included Coils

Ni80 is a Kanthal alternative with a very low TCR so TC won’t work well with it. Kanthal is an Iron,Chromium and Aliminium blend and Nichrome is a Nickel and Chromium blend. Because Nichrome has a lower operating temperature than Kanthal, Ni80 coils tend not to last as long. Other than that, nice low resistance and a good vape during their rather short lifespan.

Refilling

With The Dript Filling Tube, all you do is unscrew the mouth piece, place your nozzle into the central shaft and turn the bottle upside down creating a seal, then squeeezeee!!!!

What I Liked

I really like the alternative looks of the Atom Apocalyps RDTA and the rough texture of the matte black surface.

The deck is super spacious making for an easy build and wicking is some of the best I’ve seen on an RDTA, because of those huge wicking ports and all that space.

On top of that, the innovative Dript filling system is next level, spill free, easy and fun to use.

This RDTA delivers a massive flavor punch on account of its beautiful Cyclops airflow, combined with that central filling shaft placement which keeps the circulation happening in all the right places.

I also like the 510 drip tip extension option, it allows you to change up the looks of device, as does the colored glass.

What I Dislike

I would have liked to see some extra cols included, perhaps some longer lasting coils.

No inclusion of an appropriate screwdriver.

The color finish on the pyrex chips off after time.

Final Review Verdict

I am one of those people who usually finds RDTAs to be a little too fiddly, especially when it comes to filling. The Apocalypse from AtomVapes solves that problem for me.

I’m truly impressed by the flavor this device delivers and I also love the unique aesthetic, especially on the black version.

I think that if AtomVapes continues to deliver on this level, I might become a fan. This RDTA is certainly not for complete beginner vapers but if you’re an intermediate vaper, looking for an easy and frustration free first RDTA, the Apocalypse is a great bet.

While there are areas where costs were clearly cut, such as coil material, packaging and pyrex coating…I won’t hold it against AtomVapes just yet, I just hope they’ll improve those things in future.

Pros

• The Incredibly Convenient Dript Filling System
• The Easy And Effective Adjustable Airflow
• The Aesthetic
• The Spacious Deck
• The Large Juice Tank
• Mess Free
• Easy Wicking
• Drip Tip Extension Option

Cons

• Terrible Packaging
• Film Finish Instead Of Actual Glass Stain
• No Screwdriver Included
• Non Adjustable 510 Connect