It’s fair to say the Innokin Thermo RDA has caused quite a stir among the vaping community – if only for its looks!
The key issue here is does the extra large glass top cap and that gold plated tornado feature actually do anything or is it a gimmick.
More on that in a moment.
So you’re looking at a choice of a 25mm or 27mm RDA that comes with a squonk pin and the option to swap out the clamp style deck for a dual post velocity style.
At the time of writing I can only see a stainless steel version though as you can see it has very clean lines and really does look the business.
The company’s first foray into the world of RDAs was with the iTaste VF RDA which it has to be said received a luke warm reception.
So and given Innokin are known for their vaping innovations has the tornado blown me away or is it more of a gentle breeze?
Let’s take a closer look.
The Thermo RDA was sent to me direct from Innokin for the purpose of this review and as always my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Inside the Box
It looks to me like Innokin has employed a radical new packaging person given the last two kits have been packaged quite beautifully and the Thermo RDA is no different.
You get a nice solid plastic tube displaying the RDA – opening it up and inside a circular box is a velvet bag containing a plethora of goodies:
Inside you’ll find:
- X1 Innokin Thermo RDA – either 25mm or 27mm depending on your choice
- X4 fused Clapton coils – 4ml [approx]
- X1 Squonk pin
- X4 spare gold plated cross head screws
- Plenty of gold-plated grub screws to switch decks
- Spare o-rings
- Spare glass tank
- X2 velocity style post holes to swap with the clamp system
- Lump of cotton
- Small hex key with handle
- User manual
Thermo RDA Specs and Features
Just a heads up that these are approximate measurements – not a lot of info out there at the moment and I don’t own a set of those manly fancy measuring things lol:
- 25mm or 27mm diameter
- 27mm RDA = 45mm [approx] base to drip tip
- 25mm RDA = 44mm [approx] base to drip tip
- Fixed bottom airflow
- Adjustable top airflow
- Tornado style inner top cap
- Anti-spit back
- Wide bore proprietary drip tip
- Dual coil only
- Clamp style deck – out of the box
- Choice of dual post velocity style deck
- Raised airflow holes around 7mm
- Deep juice well!
Key Features
This is a dual coil only RDA that does indeed have an interchangeable deck.
It comes with a pretty solid clamp system with strong gold plated cross head screws.
You have the option to swap this out for a dual post velocity style set up however you must remember to make sure the peek insulators are removed from the clamps and snapped onto the corresponding post.
There is the option to use both the 27mm and the 25mm RDA as a squonker and again make sure when removing the pin you have the insulator attached to your squonk pin.
You are stuck with the bottom airflow and trust me it’s more than enough – however the top airflow can be opened up or shut off completely.
Given the juice well is around 8mls on both decks you can get some very large builds in there as well as as much cotton your heart desires – this is huge!
There is only the slightest difference in length of the 25mm and the 27mm with the larger version having a kind of knurled ring around the top airflow.
OK now onto the absolutely gigantic top cap and that gold tornado feature!
When I first saw an image of the Innokin Thermo RDA I thought it was a new fangled RTA – but nope that whole glass section is in effect your top cap.
The idea behind the ‘Windstorm System’ is the air rushes up from below the coils the vapour hits the tornado creating a spinning vortex that forces it through 8 tear-shaped slots.
I’m guessing the thinking here is that like the domed effect of some tanks the vapour will be compressed and therefore concentrated so giving a better flavour – whilst the tornado feature encourages the vapour to swirl so creating huge clouds.
So has Innokin succeeded in this – we’ll find out very soon 😉
Design and Build Quality
It has to be said this is beautifully made with everything coming apart and fitting back together silky smooth.
Out of the box and everything was clean and fresh and the drip tip really is quite the looker.
I have tried to get other drip tips on there but none seem to fit and neither does the one supplied fit on anything else of mine – which is a shame because it is bloody gorgeous to both look at and use.
At the moment I can only see a stainless steel version but it really does look quite stunning – it’s uncluttered with the Thermo and Innokin name engraved around the base next to the bottom airflow – and just the smart vortex style logo on the side.
The deck on both is huge with plenty – and I mean plenty – of room to get massive builds in there – the supplied 7 wrap coils looking to be around 4mm shows that – they look a bit lost with plenty of room for more!
Even swapping to the dual post set-up means the post holes are massive so plenty of room for those fancy exotic builds that seem so popular nowadays.
So it looks fantastic – is well machined and put together – now the most important part – how does the Innokin Thermo RDA vape?
How Does The Innokin Thermo RDA Perform?
When we first showed images of this on social media I have to say there was more than a bit of interest to say the least.
However a few of you pointed out that the size of the top cap alone could mean a real loss of flavour.
Now as I’ve tried to explain I’m assuming the design [which some may think is a bit gimmicky] is meant to compress the vapour and squeeze it through the vortex slots so giving a rich flavour and dense clouds.
I think Innokin has almost pulled off the flavour side – but most definitely nailed the cloud chucking side – this thing is a beast!
Flavour wise I have to say – and I was using a go-to e-liquid and I know the taste very well indeed – I was getting maybe 80 to 90% of what I was expecting with the coils supplied.
Different Builds and More Power = More Flavour?
They came out at 0.21ohm and vaping at 87.5 watts the flavour was good but not absolutely fantastic.
It did pop a little more bumping the wattage up to 95 watts but even with that deep juice well it drank like an elephant after a month in the desert.
I swapped the supplied coils out for some pre-made staggered fused Claptons coming out at pretty much the same at 0.20ohms – and I used them in the dual post set-up.
The flavour jumped again and 87.5watts and reached what I would call a very decent taste at 97watts – so it likes the juice and the power!
So pretty much like all tanks and RDAs it will be down to your build and indeed the cotton as to what flavour you’re going to get out of this beauty.
Speaking of cotton – the lump supplied is OK – but I was much happier with my preferred Muji.
Wicking on this is about as easy as things can get – the deck can take tons of the stuff!
For me the look of it alone with a slightly muted flavour profile is enough to keep it close by and use more often than not.
However if you want to impress folks with your cloud chucking skills then open up the top airflow as well and this tank will give all the cloud chasing tanks out there a real run for their money – this absolutely chucks for days ‘n days and yeah days.
But with that top airflow open I have to say the flavour dims somewhat.
So for me with the top airflow shut down it isn’t a bad flavour RDA – however it is most definitely a badass cloud chasers dream RDA.
When it comes to drinking the juice this bad boy is a thirsty bugger.
I’ve had this for close to three weeks – used both sizes every day and it can get through 10mls of e-liquid before you can say ‘shit the vape shop’s shut’.
You can’t drip down the tip either as the gold plated tornado vortex feature also acts as a spit back guard which given my experience of dripping is a good thing.
I have had zero and I mean zero leaks from this even when left on its side overnight – however you do get a lot and I mean a lot of condensation coming from the vapour that pours out of the bottom airflow slots – take a tissue with you!
In squonk mode this is bloody brilliant and given the height of the raised air flow holes on the deck and of course the depth of it – even with my tendency to over-squonk I haven’t managed to flood it – yet!
So how does the Thermo RDA perform?
It has to be said Innokin has almost nailed it – if a touch more flavour could be squeezed out of it the Thermo would be nigh on perfect.
What I Like
I love the design – being more of a RTA user it certainly has that look about it and that drip tip is lovely to both look at and use.
I like the fact Innokin has tried something different and that tornado vortex feature is a clever innovation that almost and I mean almost combines great flavour with stupendous cloud production.
The fact you can squonk and swap out the deck style is another massive plus and the supplied coils and cotton whilst not the best you’ll ever use are reasonable – though I did get a tad more flavour using my own coils ‘n cotton.
I like the price too – given what you get it looks to be retailing when released at around the £25 to £30 mark [don’t quote me on that!] which for what you get is a great deal.
But look… taking everything into consideration the one thing about this is the smile it’s put on my face – and I’m a grumpy bugger.
The Smok TFV 12 had me giggling like a school kid [and set off my fire alarms] such was the fun I had with it – however the Innokin Thermo RDA smashes that tank out of the park – yeah I know they’re different beasts!
Vaping can be fun and this RDA chucks clouds for months never mind days – think ectoplasm spewing out of a dudes mouth in Ghostbusters – then double it!
And with all that vapour it still manages to deliver a good – not brilliant – but perfectly acceptable flavour!
So c’mon purists – what’s not to like!
What I Don’t Like
OK with my serious [lol] vape reviewers snap back cap on for a moment.
I have a couple of minor niggles.
The drip tip is wonderful however it is proprietary meaning you can’t swap it for another and I have tried – I thought for a moment it might fit on my Cleito 120 but not quite.
It is a bit of juice drinker – but then most drippers can be and you will be going into buying this with your eyes open!
Finally the sheer amount of vapour this thing creates means your get a deluge spewing out of the bottom airflow holes – it’s like something out of Stephen King’s The Mist.
With that amount of warm vapour hitting the top of your mod then condensation is a real issue – so keep a tissue hand.
Speaking of condensation the glass top section will also obviously fill with vapour and the glass does get very wet and you can and do lose sight of the quite funky tornado feature.
As to the airflow – it’s a real shame you can’t turn the bottom airflow down a touch as that I’m sure would increase the flavour.
I’m sure some cleverer folks than me will come up with a way to block it off maybe – but look it is what it is a very airy RDA.
Final Review Verdict
Just buy it!
If for nothing else to give a bit of vaping innovation a chance.
The Innokin Thermo RDA is definitely a cloud chasers dream – and do you know what?
It’s so close to being a fabulous flavour RDA it’s untrue – maybe you can eke out that little bit more flavour from your build to make it so!
But as it stands it still gives a good flavour and of course intense dense clouds.
I love the design – adore the drip tip and with the sheer amount of ‘stuff’ and options you get included it’s a real vaping win win.
I am a recent squonking convert and have so far used half a dozen different BF RDAs – and this one is very much my go to RDA.
Pros
- Choice of decks
- 25mm and 27mm options
- Squonk pin
- Extra deep juice well
- Huge build deck
- Plenty of room for massive exotic coils
- Tons of spares etc
- Incredible cloud production
- Very good flavour for the amount of air!
- Fantastic price!
Cons
- Lack of bottom airflow control
- Dual coil only
- Tons of condensation out of bottom airflow holes
- Proprietary drip tip – doesn’t bother me just pointing that out!
