The OBS Crius RDTA Reviewed

The OBS Crius RDTA follows in the footsteps of the much loved Crius RTA series.

Pretty much everything OBS has churned out from the Engine series of atomizers to the OBS Cube kit has been well received and much loved by the vaping community.

Is the Crius by OBS a Titan Among RDTAs?

The original Crius RTA and the Crius Plus – which included a quadruple coil build – was classed by some as one of the best RTAs ever – so the new boy on the block has some big shoes to fill!

Speaking of big feet Crius is known as one of the Titans from Greek mythology – so has the Crius RDTA been able to fill those boots?

Let’s take a closer look.

As always my thoughts and opinions are my own.

Inside the Box

It really is great packaging with a sleeve covering a sturdy box with a pull out tray design.

Inside you’ll find:

• 1 Crius RDTA
• 2 Pre-built Clapton coils
• 1 pad of Muji cotton
• 1 Replacement Glass
• Baby blue screwdriver
• Spare Parts & O-Rings

Whilst the coils are pretty small and not the best you’ll ever find they’re OK as is the cotton.

There’s enough there to get you going let’s put it that way!

OBS Crius RDTA Specs

• 24mm Diameter
• 4mL Juice Capacity
• Superior 304 Stainless Steel Construction
• Pyrex Glass Reinforcement
• Unique Two-Post, Dual Terminal Build Deck – Clamp Mechanism
• Top-Secured via Phillips Flathead Screws
• PEEK-Insulater
• Convenient Signature Side-Fill Port
• Dynamic Dual Side Airflow System
• PEI Widebore Drip Tip – Environmetally-Friendly
• Gold-Plated 510 Connection

Key Features

It’s another one of those ‘unique’ decks and this time it really is featuring twin posts with the option of using the clamps- the post holes – or a combination of both – what the pros call ‘dual terminal’.

It’s a large 24mm tank if that makes sense fitting flush on my 25mm mod – OBS has it at exactly 24.49mm and it can hold 4mls of e-liquid – no word on a 2ml TRPR / TPD compliant version.

It has a nifty side top fill design which you get at by lifting the top cover – tilting slightly and squirting in your juice – I found this a nice touch.

There’s a tiny arrow above the tank [you can barely see it ] that shows where the fill port is.

And if that method of filling is too much like hard work you can simply whip off the top and drip down the spout.

The top cap is domed shaped which the purists say helps with flavour – not sure if that’s an urban myth but from my limited experience there may be something it in 😉

OBS says the Crius is designed for powerful builds and indeed the coils that come with it are reading on my mod at 0.16ohms.

The post holes are not the biggest you’ll find – but by adding the clamp option you should be able to get some of those more exotic coils in with no trouble.

The wide bore drip tip is 18mm wide and made from PEI which is supposedly more durable – better for the environment and easy to clean – and yes other ‘goon style’ drip tips will fit.

Please excuse the terrible colour combination I just cleared out my full to bursting vape cupboard and have misplaced my little pot of drip tips lol.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I wish these manufacturers would lose the frozen p**s coloured drip tips – they are bloody hideous!

Airflow is adjustable – if a little tight until it’s really juiced up – and I’d say it’s a kind of dual Cyclops style – maybe a little narrower than other Cyclops styles out there.

I have to say it does look similar to my current go to RDTA the Augvape Merlin.

Design and Build Quality

I’ve never used an OBS product before [I’ve led a very sheltered life] and have to say I’m impressed with the overall build and indeed quality of the Crius.

However when first taking it apart I did have an issue with a wayward O ring – but a simple matter of poking it back in with a screwdriver fixed it and to date it hasn’t popped out again.

What threading there is is butter smooth and obviously given I’ve only used this a little over a week it can be stiff to take apart – especially the top cap.

This is of course also the airflow control ring and despite a small amount of knurling it is nigh on impossible to get a good purchase on it.

Design wise and like I said it’s very similar to the Merlin but – and this is a big bonus for me – far less fussy!

I received the gold version [black and stainless steel are also available] and it is a very nice looking RDTA with a minimalist but elegant look to it.

How Does OBS Crius RDTA Perform?

OK, building on the deck is a breeze even for a relative newbie to building like me.

I do prefer to use post holes rather than clamps – that’s just a personal thing – and whilst they aren’t the biggest in the world the Phillips head screws were of good quality and stood up to my clumsiness with no sign of stripping.

Wicking is exactly the same as the Merlin with shall we say tight wick ports – they aren’t the biggest in the world but do the job well enough.

Again I tried long legs and short legs – the former with cotton peeking into the tank and the latter just resting above the four ports.

Both ways of wicking gave a good vape and to be honest I couldn’t tell the difference between either of them.

I have taken this out and about – I was called the Man with the Golden Vape given the gold one is very shiny lol – and didn’t have any leaking issues during use.

However closing the cover after filling can squeeze a couple of droplets of juice through the seam – but nothing I’d call serious.

I also left this on its side overnight and noticed again a tiny – I mean tiny – amount of e-liquid on the paper towel.

Vaping on the OBS Crius

At around 75 watts using the supplied Clapton coils and Twelve Monkeys Origins e juice, I found the flavour whilst good was not outstanding.

However pushing it to 90 watts and the Crius perked up giving me the flavour profile I was expecting – very nice indeed – however it did start to get a little warm for my taste – not hot by any means just a little warm for me.

Vapor wise I have no complaints – the clouds are thick and billowy and there’s plenty of them.

I’d mark this high in flavour and reasonably high in vapour production so one for both flavour and cloud chasers.

What I Like

I do like the dual terminal deck meaning you really can experiment with some fabulous set-ups using exotic coils of all shapes and sizes – or keep it simple as I did!

Design wise it’s certainly a looker with clean lines and a reasonably unobtrusive logo [on the steel and gold version] on two sides and it’s built well too and comes with plenty of spare parts.

The side and top fill option is good and I do like the drip tip – though not the colour!

Whilst you wouldn’t call it a tall wide bore it is a tad taller that the low profile ones you find out there – so for me it felt comfortable on my lips.

As to how it vapes I have to say I like it very much.

It delivers good flavour and decent clouds and it’s extremely quiet too – even with the airflow wide open which is how I tend to vape.

I have to say that half closed it really is an extremely tight draw – whereas wide open whilst not what you’d call airy it is comfortable and spot on for my style of vaping.

All in all for such a well-made – innovative – classy looking RDTA the price is excellent 😉

What I Don’t Like

Bit of a head scratch here as to be honest there’s not a lot not not like about the Crius.

If I was nit-picking I’d say the lack of a single coil option – especially as these days the coils are getting bigger and better – is a slight negative – only slight mind.

Also keep an eye on your O rings as they can come loose and bunch up – again a real nit-pick!

Final Review Verdict

I like it – I like it a lot and I have to say even the blingyness of the gold version I’m using has charmed me.

It is fantastic to build on with so many options it’s untrue – one for the real coil-heads out there that’s for sure.

It vapes like a dream giving good flavour and plenty of clouds and isn’t too heavy on the juice either.

So has it replaced my current go to RDTA?

Yes – indeed it has.

Highly recommended as a good looking great to build on and vape RDTA.

Pros

• Innovative build deck
• Easy to wick
• Stylish
• Well built
• Great vape
• Great price

Cons

• Lack of a single coil option
• Watch that wandering O ring!