RDA vs RTA: Which Vape Tank is Better for You?

To say that vaping is popular in the United States would be an understatement. According to recent statistics, nearly 20 percent of young people vape.

Whether you want to start vaping to quit smoking or just want to check it out, cutting through the industry’s jargon can be tough. There’s a lot of new phrases that you’ll need to learn and today, we’re going to take a look at one of the most mystifying questions in vaping: RDA vs RTA.

What is the difference between an RDA and an RTA? Which of these different types of vape tanks is right for you?

In this guide, we’re going to take a look at the pros and cons of each to help you make the best decision and get the best vaping experience. Ready to learn more? Then read on!

What Is an RDA?

In the language of the vape shop, RDA stands for rebuildable drip atomizer. To understand how these work, we first need to take a look at how vapes work in general.

When you press the fire button, the vape heats up metal coils that are wrapped in cotton, which in turn, is soaked in vape juice. The heat vaporizes the juice and produces that delicious vapor.

An RDA is a tankless tank. The user of an RDA has to drip their juice directly onto the coils. There may be a small reservoir built into the RDA which holds a very small amount of juice, usually less than 1 ml.

If you want to use an RDA, you need to get used to the idea of pulling the top of the mechanism off to drip juice onto the coils before use. You will also need to change the coils at regular intervals, which is a slightly more difficult job than on other types of vape tanks.

What Is an RTA?

An RTA is the more traditional kind of tank that you might see on a vape. RTA stands for rebuildable tank atomizer, and, as the name implies, it comes with much better storage capabilities than the RDA.

It’s made up of multiple different components including a ring for adjustable airflow, a glass or plastic tank, a place for the coil, and a chimney or airflow pipe, plus a drip tip. The coil is kept immersed in the vape juice, which means that the tank is always ready to go, so long as there’s enough juice in there.

When you press the fire button, the coils are fired, producing vapor, which you then draw up through the airflow pipe.

You can get tanks that hold up to 6-9 ml of juice, which can last anywhere from most of the day to multiple days, depending on how much you vape. The big advantage of an RTA is its ease of use: everything is modular by design, which makes refilling and replacing the coils a breeze.

Pros and Cons of an RDA vs RTA

So, now you know the difference between an RDA and an RTA, it’s time to take a look at the pros and cons of each. Let’s take a closer look.

Pros of an RDA

The biggest advantage that comes with using an RDA is the sheer flavor sensation that it’ll spark in your mouth. RDA’s produce the very best flavor, and they’ll be especially good if you make your own coils out of high-quality ingredients. They’re also less likely to hold onto previous flavors than an RTA, which means there won’t be any nasty mixes happening.

If you’re the type to own e liquid mixing kits and want the taste of your juice to come across at its best, an RDA is far better.

Due to the customizable aspect of RDA coils, they’re also fantastic for those who want to try out different resistances, different metals, and kinds of cotton, and enjoy tinkering.

If you’re a cloud chaser, an RDA is hard to beat, too. They produce massive clouds with very little effort.

Cons of an RDA

When it comes to the cons, there’s one very obvious one with RDAs. They’re fiddly. They’re not the vape tank that you want if you’re all about vaping on the go.

You always need to carry juice with you use an RDA, which takes up more pocket space. This also means the vaping process is a lot more involved.

Wicking is also a difficult skill and one that you’ll need plenty of practice with to get good at. The initial investment is also higher on an RDA than an RTA.

Pros of an RTA

The biggest pro of an RTA is its ease of use. You fill it up and you’re ready to go. Replacing coils is a breeze too, as the coils will be ready-made, which means all you need to do is slot them into your tank.

The sheer size of modern tanks is also a massive boon. If you want to carry a whole day’s worth of vape juice in your tank, you can do that.

If you want to produce big clouds, you still can. We’d recommend looking for a sub-ohm RTA if that’s your bag.

Cons of an RTA

For sheer flavor, the RTA is good, but not amazing. The coils soak in the liquid for a long time, which means old flavors will stay in the coils. It’s also impossible to change flavors rapidly: once you fill it up, you’re stuck with that flavor until it’s empty.

Which Is Right for Me?

When it comes to the RDA vs RTA debate, only you can decide which is right for you. If you’re new to vaping, we’d recommend sticking with RTAs for a while due to their ease of use. If you’re experienced though, definitely give an RDA a try: it really is next-level vaping!

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