The HellVape Destiny RTA review and this is a tank I’ve really been looking forward to using.
It’s a collaboration with prolific Russian designer, Alex Vapers MD, and a direct to lung RTA unlike his usual MTL tanks.
Alex is responsible for the design of the popular Vandy Vape Berserker MTL tanks and the MD MTL RTA – the one with the airflow turntables.
HellVape has fast become an extremely popular vape manufacturer and the Hellvape Passage RDA was a huge hit, and of course the Dead Rabbit series of tanks, RTAs and RDAs have been massive worldwide sellers.
I recently reviewed the Dead Rabbit SE RDA and wasn’t that impressed, though I really enjoyed using the Dead Rabbit RDA V2.
One thing’s for sure, HellVape does like to work with YouTube vape reviewers even releasing the Grimm pod kit – a collaboration with Grimm Green…that seemed to disappear pretty quickly…
What Can We Expect From the HellVape Destiny RTA?
Given this is a smallish single coil RTA you’d expect great flavour.
It’s 24mm at the base with a slightly domed inner chamber.
The build deck looks smart and clean and promises to be relatively straightforward to work with – even for bumbling old fools like me.
For the record, this was sent to me free of charge for the purposes of this review from Heaven Gifts – thank you.
As always freebies in no way sway my thoughts and opinions.
I really liked the look of this one as soon as I saw it, and am hoping for big things.
So let’s get on with the HellVape Destiny RTA review and see if this one’s destined to become my go to RTA.
Inside the Box
There’s some confusion about getting a spare bubble glass in the box…
Mine did but it came from China – so do check your retailer before buying.
No thumb holes on the box either and it’s tight to get open!
- 1 Destiny RTA
- 1 510 adapter
- 1 Prebuilt coil 0.37ohm
- 1 Accessory bag
- 1 Shoelace cotton
- 1 User manual
Specs and Features
- Size: Φ24 x 38.9mm
- Capacity: 2ml/4ml
- Single coil configuration
- Adjustable bottom airflow
- Top fill
Key Features
As you can see, this is a single coil RTA meant for direct to lung vaping – a departure from designer Alex from VapersMD’s usual mouth to lung tanks such as the Vandy Vape Berserker range.
It’s a 24mm RTA that comes in a standard 4ml or 2ml capacity for those of us under the TPD regulations.
There’s also a few glass or ‘tube’ options: glass – ULTEM or PCTG – I received the 4ml ULTEM version.
Being a DTL RTA, there’s a replaceable 810 drip tip and a 510 adaptor should you prefer.
The deck has an angled post hole design that looks vaguely familiar, and the airflow comes from the bottom.
First appearance suggests there’s an awful lot of air going to the single coil…we shall see.
Other than that, it’s a available in a number of colours: black – full black – SS matte ULTEM – SS matte PCTG and stainless steel.
Design and Build Quality
I have the 4ml version and it really is a nice looking RTA, not so keen on the colour of mine, but hey beggars cant be choosers 😉
Its slim yet squat, with plenty of knurling at the top and the bottom – maybe a tad too much? – and its refreshingly free of garish obtrusive logos…
The supplied 810 drip tip is very low profile and also kind of vase shaped. I like it, however if you don’t, it can be swapped out for your own.
Straight out for the box and the top cap was a little tight to initially unscrew, and is a kind of half twist bayonet style – more on that in a moment. Speaking of juice, filling is an absolute doddle thanks to those extremely generous fill ports.
The airflow control ring was again extremely stiff at first – its loosened a little which means once you’ve set your preferred opening it won’t be moving around any time soon.
HellVape Destiny RTA Deck
I said earlier this deck design reminds me of another – can’t put my finger on it so do let me know in the comments below 🙂
Hellvape says the Destiny RTA deck is an easy one to build on – so hopefully even I can manage it.
The posts are indeed sloped and there’s supposed to be plenty of room to really trim back the coil legs.
The flat head screws are a little on the small side – but my old eyes could just about make them out.
The wick ports are a generous size too and as you’ll see, it’s dead simple to wick.
So…overall, the HellVape Destiny RTA looks the part – should be an easy build and wick…so let’s see how it vapes.
How Does the HellVape Destiny RTA Perform?
OK, I had a major issue straight off the bat with the HellVape Destiny RTA.
Taking it apart for photos – cleaning and building, I struggled to get the top cap back on…
Could of course be my usual clumsiness. However it took a bloody age.
The O ring on mine appears to be extremely springy and even lining up the 2 lugs on the inside of the cap, took a while to get it seated and closed.
Pain in the arse every single time I’ve come to fill it up if I’m honest…now even lubed up after umpteen refills – it still gets me cross…and yeah I tried the spare…
Building On the HellVape Destiny RTA
I used the supplied coil and cotton – no info on what type the coil is – however it is 0.37ohm and looks good – that’s my very unprofessional opinion lol.
That cotton is bloody woeful to look at lol.
The coil went in no problem whatsoever, however, and despite the sloped posts, snipping the coil legs flush was a bit tricky.
DO make sure you cut them right back, I left a teeny-weeny strand and my Dovpo Mono SQ refused to fire due to a possible short circuit?
Incidentally, I also got a temp warning the next time I fired it up – it was reading 0.41 ohms and I guess I still had my old wattage dialed in – I dropped it down to 37w and all was good…
Wicking as I’ve suggested is very easy indeed. It’s a familiar bow tie affair, I used the base of my scissors resting on the O ring to cut, and thinned out a little. It needed a little bit of a haircut off the sides and top – but only a touch.
What I will say is the supplied cotton looks a straggly mess…
HellVape Destiny RTA – Flavour and Clouds
Using the supplied coils and cotton and at 40w the clouds were good but the flavour was very disappointing indeed.
I’ve been vaping on the awesome and totally delicious Cosmopolitan from SuperGood and have got to really know the taste.
Flavour from the Hellvape Destiny RTA, using the supplied coil and cotton, was muted with also a very strange bitter after-taste and yeah I’d cleaned it out beforehand!
I opened up the airflow – closed the airflow right down and left it half open…
No change at all – and I have to say for a small RTA it’s a noisy bugger!
Wide open and that airflow is right up there in the high 9’s – it’s still very airy half closed and shut right down it obviously tightens up considerably.
Noisy and very airy!
Different Builds
I switched to one of my multi-pack generic coils – fused claptons – and changed to Fuzz cotton.
An improvement for sure – but not a big one…
I have tried dropping down the wattage as well – going as low as 25w and if I’m honest there’s a suggestion of slightly better flavour maybe.
I’ve tried 2 other builds, a simple round wire and a small alien all at low to mid wattage and can’t seem to get the flavour to pop.
It’s NOT there’s no flavour – it’s a case for me at least of I’m NOT getting great flavour…maybe just moderately good.
Pros
- Nice design
- Easy build and wick
- 510 adaptor
- Choice of colours
- Option of glass ultem or plastic tank
- Good price
- Good clouds
- Airflow options
Cons
- Not the best flavour
- VERY noisy
- Top cap tight to fit back on
- Tight to really snip the coil legs back
- Tiny flat head screws
- Awfully straggly cotton included
Final Review Verdict
What a shame…
It’s not often I ask Jonny to put me up to review a vape device. But the HellVape Destiny RTA looked intriguing and I reckoned it would look great in matte black on board my SQ Mono.
I actually had it in my cart but was told it was coming my way before I pulled the trigger on the purchase – lucky swerve if I’m honest.
Yeah it looks the part but even after a few builds I can’t eke out enough flavour to want to use it.
Of course, it could be down to my build – but as I’ve said before, I’ve been around long enough now to know a tank or rebuildable that gives out great flavour.
IMHO the HellVape Destiny RTA is nowhere near great and barely makes it onto the good list.
Not one for me I’m afraid – a case of destined not to be…
Are You Getting Good Flavour From the HellVape Destiny RTA?
Soooo…and hopefully this could be interesting!
Are you using the HellVape Destiny RTA and getting great or amazing flavour?
Am I once again talking out of my now not so ample arse? [the hiking diet]
Any tips for getting better flavour?
Feel free to stick up for the Destiny and let me know your thoughts in the comments below 🙂
Can i ask, what’s the best coil build, gauge, loops, for this build. Thank you so much
The general consensus is a 2.5mm – 3mm single coil at between 0.3ish ohms to 0.7ish ohms…I used the coil supplied which had six wraps and came out at 0.41 ohms…I never went above 50w BTW…hope that helps and hope you can eke out some flavour 🙂
Do check vapor road tutorial video on the YouTube link below the correct method of wicking up the destiny and mount the coil to the perfect position to get maximum flavor out of the destiny.
Many including me had success building the destiny with awesome flavor.
The key is wicking and the position of the coil in the correct position.
https://youtu.be/pFw1W4QAuKE
Completely agree with you Neil this tank has done nothing but disappoint so far, it could be me I’ve been using kendo gold cotton and I’ve just been getting dry hits and poor flavour, il try Brandon’s advice and see if that will turn it around.
I was dubiously viewing the wicking and the advice to just get enough, combed and trimmed to just short f the bottom of the wicking cavity. I send the wicking sent and the coil sent. All went well till I made a beginners stupid mistake ie filling without closing the air off, hence net ant flood. After getting my eye back on the ball. I filled primed and using a 70/30 veg pg liquid by kings custard at a strength of 0.3mg I started at a low wattage about 35watts then progressed to 50 then 60. As I went n it went from good flavour to excellent. I can run it up to 70 and it feeds fast enough, saying that I think 50 watts is ample for me. It’s the best RTA I have bought in a long time. Excellent on all aspects, I’m more than satisfied.
Glad you’re enjoying it 🙂
I been vaping on the destiny for some time now. I am getting tremendous flavor. Probably the best flavor ive gotten off an Rta. I have noticed it can be finicky on getting flavor banging. The trick is to comb/thin your wicks and make sure the wicks just almost touch the bottom of juice wells. Happy vaping!
Glad you’re enjoying it – I’ve spoken to a few reviewers and at least one was as disappointed as me 🙂