Not content with just the SMOK TF-RTA G2 and G4, SMOK have just released their third RTA in next to no time at all, the SMOK TF-RDTA, RDTA standing for ‘Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomiser’, a style of tank that was made very popular by the Steam Crave Aromamizer RDTA.
Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomisers (RDTA’s), are designed to offer an experience similar to what you would get from a dripper, but with the convenience of a tank, meaning that you don’t have to constantly remove the top cap to drip juice.
The airflow is set at the sides of the coils, like a dripper, whereas most rebuildable tanks tend to have airflow coming up from the base. Juice is also fed up to your wicks from the bottom, to a dripper style build deck.
I was really impressed with the SMOK TF-RTA G2 and G4 recently, so let’s have a look at how the SMOK TF-RDTA performs!
Kit Contents
SMOK always make sure that they include plenty of kit with their products, and the SMOK TF-RDTA is no different-
- TF-RDTA Tank (24.5mm)
- TF-RDTA S2 Deck (Pre-Installed)
- Allen Key Screwdriver
- Replacement Glass Tank
- Smok Vape Band
- User Manual
- Spare Parts (spare o-ring seals, post screws)
Key Features
- Innovative Juice Flow Control System
- Top Filling
- 5ml capacity
- 63mm height
- 24.5mm width
- 80g weight
- Patented Swivel Top Cap Design
- Double Layered Drip Tip
- Manufactured from Glass and Stainless Steel
- 510 Connection Thread
- SMOK S2 deck pre installed
- Two post velocity style deck
- 16mm build deck
- 0.2ohm dual fused Clapton coil build Preinstalled
- Optimum wattage 70w-100w
Build Quality and Design
Much like the SMOK TF-RTA and the TFV4 before it, the SMOK TF-RDTA is manufactured from Stainless Steel, with a Pyrex glass tank section.
It very much resembles both the TF-RTA and the TFV4, even having the same width at 24.5mm, and also being offered in black and stainless steel.
The width of the tank is a bit of a downside at 24.5mm, meaning that it will overhang any 22mm width mod.
The drip tip features an insulated inner layer against heat, and it is 510 threaded so you can use your own drip tip should you wish to do so.
Also, you have juice flow control included again, so by twisting the tank you can open or close this off when filling, and the tank is top filled by opening the swivel top.
The tank feels really well made, with smooth threading and no sharp edges, and it can be disassembled to clean fully as well.
Building the SMOK TF-RDTA
As the SMOK TF-RDTA is a rebuildable dripping tank atomizer, the deck is slightly different.
It has a very similar deck to the SMOK TF-RTA G2, whereby you have a large 16mm build deck and two velocity style posts, however you will notice the very large juice feed holes at the base of the deck.
Rather than stuffing wick down these, or leaving them open (both of those options will cause excessive leaking or dry hits), I have found the best way is to fold your wick tails underneath themselves and rest them on the top of these holes.
That way, I have found that the SMOK TF-RDTA wicks really well, with any type of juice, and it doesn’t leak either.
Out of the box you will see there is a 0.2ohm dual fused Clapton coil build pre installed for you.
These coils are neat and tidy (I would still recommend checking that these aren’t touching the posts/deck and the resistance is in the 0.2ohm region before using) and are good enough to use out of the box if you wish.
You can simply wick them up and get going. These coils are very low resistance and the recommended wattage range is 50-140w, so if this isn’t your thing you may want to rebuild before you start.
Thankfully, with the deck being 16mm and the two velocity styled posts being present, the deck is very easy to build on.
It’s a dual coil deck, with no option for single coils, so when you rebuild you need to bear this in mind. The deck overall is very easy to build on, it’s just a little bit of a pain to wick correctly!
How Does The SMOK TF-RDTA Perform?
Like pretty much all of SMOK’s recent releases, it’s one for the high wattage cloud chaser.
With the pre-built 0.2ohm fused Clapton coils, you are going to want to be using these above 70w to really get the best out of this tank, with very good flavor on par with the excellent SMOK TF-RTA G2 and even bigger vapor production then that tank!
That being said, below 70w with the pre built coils feels a little weak. It takes a long time for these big coils to heat up below that range, and there isn’t much in the way of vapor or flavor underneath 70w.
The SMOK TF-RDTA is really set up for high power and low resistance builds, with higher resistance and lower power the Vape isn’t all that great especially with the huge amount of airflow on offer.
When you have this tank wicked correctly, it wicks really well. So well, that it drinks juice very quickly through those huge juice feed holes!
It keeps up at high power, although it does get hot when chain vaped at high power, but thankfully dry hits are very few and far between due to the exceptional wicking.
Clouds are where this tank excels, and the SMOK TF-RDTA is a cloud machine!
Airflow
The airflow here is the same as the airflow control found on the SMOK TFV4 and subsequently the SMOK TF-RTA, which means that you have four massive airflow slots around the base of the tank, and a very smooth airflow control ring.
Airflow you will find to be very easily adjustable, and the huge airflow on offer makes for huge clouds!
The airflow here quite easily competes with even the airiest of drippers, making for massive clouds from a tank.
What I liked
The airflow is quite exceptional with this tank and there is one of the smoothest and easiest to use airflow control systems on the market, making chasing the biggest clouds a breeze!
It’s a solidly built tank, the build quality with this is excellent. It definitely doesn’t feel like a budget or cheap tank at all.
Top filling, ever present on the SMOK TF tanks, is one of the best systems on the market for filling. Simply swivel the top cap open, fill, close it and you are ready to go!
The build deck is excellent. The large space means you have loads of space to build on, and the two velocity style posts make installing your coils very easy. It’s a shame the wicking isn’t as easy though!
You get cloud and flavor performance on a par with even the airiest cloud chasing drippers on the market. Add in the convenience of the capacity of a tank, and you have a great dripper level RTA!
What I Didn’t Like
You have to be really spot on with your wicking, otherwise you will get dry hits or big leaks. As mentioned above, resting your wick tails on the juice feed holes tends to cure this, but you really have to be precise with how you wick this.
Juice consumption is phenomenal with this tank. It’s expected from a tank that performs best at high power, but some users may not be accustomed to how fast this tank gets through e juice.
It really is one for the vapers that like high power and cloud chasing. It’s extremely airy, and doesn’t seem to perform all that great at low power with higher resistance builds.
Final SMOK TF-RDTA Review Verdict
If you want dripper level performance with the convenience of a tank, the SMOK TF-RDTA is perfect for you. Excellent flavor and big clouds are found here, with a large RDA style deck to make building coils easy.
That being said, if you already own the SMOK TF-RTA G2, there may not be a lot here to convince you to buy one of these as well.
The flavor and vapor production is marginally better I would say, and it’s wicked slightly differently, but other than that it’s near enough the same tank in my opinion.
Definitely not a bad thing however, as the SMOK TF-RTA G2 is an excellent tank!
Pros
- Dripper level cloud and flavor performance
- Big, easy build deck
- Wicks any juice without an issue, when wicked correctly
- Handles high power extremely well
- Easy to use top filling system
- Great build quality
- Double walled drip tip insulates against heat
- One of the best airflow control systems on the market
Cons
- Tank gets very hot at high power when chain vaping
- Wicking can be a pain
- Drinks juice like no tomorrow
- Not great for lower powered vaping
- No single coil option
Good luck finding replacement glass for this in the UK
I think he’s not so good for me is de plastic ring under the deck he melted is just too hot and the shell wobbles a bit as it has this time made no smok work good