When the men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice
I think she'll know
Throwback to an Advken product released around 2021, borrowing its name from the RDTA version, which in turn was inspired by the Mad Hatter from *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland*. The design truly resembled the character's iconic hat.
The product was gifted to me by Advken.
As with every Advken packaging, always paying attention to design, with a black box and gold patterns featuring the silhouette of the Mad Hatter rta. On the back, white text lists the box contents along with a scratch-and-check code to verify authenticity. Inside, you'll find the Mad Hatter RTA, an optional tank, a screwdriver – 2.5mm coil jig, and in the black pouch, spare screws and O-rings.
The Mad Hatter RTA by Advken is a compact RDL atomizer with a 24mm diameter, a height of 38.5mm, and a weight of 42 grams. The capacity is just 2ml, but it can reach around 2.5ml using the bottom-fill trick. Airflow enters from below but is guided through a wall or turret, which, in addition to bottom airflow, makes it a hybrid side airflow system. It was released in 2021 and is still on the market today.
The drip tip follows the standard 810 format, with no O-ring on it, as the seal is placed inside the housing. As will be seen later, using an 810-to-510 adapter is possible.
Perhaps a less elegant detail, if it can be called that, is the top cap, marked with an arrow for opening. No locking mechanisms are present, with all the sealing and friction relying on the gasket beneath the cap. However, Advken makes up for it by avoiding a childproof gasket and instead designing a generously sized refill port, allowing refills with chubby bottles as well as less vape-friendly containers.
The top cap can be completely unscrewed with a Torx screwdriver if deep cleaning is needed. The gasket is quite different from those commonly used today, which are thin; the one on the Mad Hatter RTA is much thicker, almost press-fitted. Even using pliers and fearing I might break it, I couldn't manage to pull it off.
It doesn’t seem to absorb liquid, as there shouldn't be any leakage seeping under the gasket.
The exploded view of the Mad Hatter RTA showcases its simplicity. The bell and top cap form a single, non-detachable piece. A good amount of steel is used in the chimney-to-bell connection, which doesn’t overheat, thanks to the generous airflow despite the compact size.
Attaching the tank to the upper part of the top cap feels more natural and convenient, allowing for bottom refilling as well. The bell has an internal thread that screws directly onto the deck. There's no juice flow control (JFC); instead, the liquid is drawn in through a small gap where the cotton freely absorbs it from the deck’s surface.
The bell is almost flat on the inside, with a slight taper near the chimney, giving it a touch of Belarusian design. Dimensions:
- Internal height: 7.5mm
- Internal width: 15mm
- Chimney width: 6mm
So, it's not the usual RDL atomizer with an oversized bell. This was one of the reasons I was curious to try it, as I find more compact bells to be significantly more flavorful than larger ones.
The deck features parallel posts, with unfortunately gold-plated screws and small cotton retainers positioned almost at the deck’s base. No massive wicks, no suspended cotton—yet the Mad Hatter doesn’t leak. With a 2.5mm coil jig, I had no trouble filling the juice wells.
The airflow system consists of three under-coil slots and a side airflow turret that draws air from the same source as the slots. This setup allows the coil to be hit almost entirely by airflow, making it suitable for complex builds.
A small detail worth mentioning is the hex screwdriver included for tightening the screws. It features the Advken logo and conveniently doubles as a coil jig, thanks to its precise 2.5mm diameter.
Installing the coil feels a bit unnatural at first, but tightening the legs while keeping them under tension—just the way I like it—is actually easier than with other parallel-post atomizers. The generous working space allows for pre-bending the wire at a 90-degree angle, keeping it steady while tightening and maintaining proper tension.
As for coil placement, there's no need for precision down to the tenth of a millimeter. A good reference point is the side airflow turret: once the coil is positioned to be fully hit by the airflow, it naturally ends up centered over the bottom airflow ring.
Airflow system and ring: Unlike the trend of double slots, the Mad Hatter RTA features just the single slot visible in the photo. It can be adjusted to your liking and includes a small tab with a stopper, which is very useful for helping to unscrew the tank from the base.
To remove it, once the tank block is unscrewed, the ring should be pulled upward. There's a clear direction for insertion, with the tab and the narrower part, where the slot is located, meant to be positioned downward.
The bottom, unlike many high-end devices, features a double screw system to prevent it from unscrewing from the box. The gold-plated pin, despite the perspective, protrudes enough for those who enjoy mechanical vaping.
The engravings are well done, with Mad Hatter RTA and Advken at the bottom, along with CE markings and disposal info.
Although perspective can be misleading, there’s a tenth of a millimeter gap between the airflow ring and the bottom itself. This allows for rotation of the Mad Hatter while it’s installed on a box without the risk of scratching the cup or causing any binding.
The deck is fully disassemblable, with some inspiration from the Belarusian design world, as the post-airflow block is held in place by a simple O-ring. By rotating it, it can be removed. The positive post tower can also be extracted and is held in position by the positive pin.
The dimensions of the cotton retention wells should also be considered, as they are proportioned to accommodate a single coil build.
A better overview of the airflow system: the air enters through the single slot and then ascends a step. Half of it flows into the deck, while the other half enters what can be described as the side airflow turret. Geometrically, the air doesn’t get lost and circulates in fairly confined spaces, allowing for a good contrast, which is ideal for RDL vaping fans.
When reassembling, the airflow channel should be aligned with the airflow ring, ensuring the screw slots on the bottom cap line up. What happens if it’s assembled incorrectly? Air still passes through, but the draw becomes excessively tight.
Given its size and single-coil design, it's possible to use an 810-510 adapter since the top cap is flat—perhaps choosing one larger than mine. Of course, if you go this route, you'll need to limit the diameter and size of the coil, especially if you plan on using (very) complex wires.
Despite the flat bell, even with a 26g coil, the flavor is sweet with a prominent sugary note. The atomizer performs well with creamy and fruity liquids, depending on the build. It handles a 50/50 liquid perfectly without flooding, although for an RDL, I’d recommend a 70/30 ratio.
Despite the small deck, a 3mm coil fits perfectly. As a fan of single wires, the 26g seemed the most suitable, though a 27g could work if you plan to significantly restrict the airflow. As an atomizer, it can also be considered a "slow RDL." It's better to take more restricted draws; due to the size of the bell, short pulls tend to generate quite a bit of heat, which can affect the flavor. When using complex coils, I wouldn’t overdo it, especially with the number of wraps.
The draw can be effectively adjusted using the airflow ring, allowing for an open MTL-style vape, although that's not the primary vaping style for the Mad Hatter.
Mad Hatter RTA: Similar to the Artha Gen 2, I would define it as a hybrid tank-dripper for flavor, thanks to its quick handling, refill, and 2ml capacity. It cleans in no time, with old-school lines, and despite being considered a "budget" atomizer, it can be fully disassembled for a deep clean.
The Mad Hatter RTA is available for purchase on the Advken website: https://store.advken.com/atomizers/rta/advken-mad-hatter-rta.html
I thank the staff and community of e-cigarette-forum for the space and Advken for the gift.
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