Good, inexpensive rda for first time dripper?

[newvaper92]

Kind of looking for an inexpensive rda to try out, I currently use an Istick 30 with Kanger Subtank nano- I don't really want to get into coil building (not yet anyway), because I don't have the patience and I don't think my hands are steady enough, I will probably use pre-built coils. I think I will be fine wicking and replacing coils though. I would like something with open airflow/ easy to draw on, I really like my Subtank nano with the air control wide open. Even more airflow might be nice. I tried a tester rda at a local B&m, and of course I forgot what it was, but it was like trying to suck a golf ball through a garden hose. Only had two small air holes and no adjustment. Needs to be able to run .5 ohm coils, and run on my Istick 30w, as it's all I currently have, and I really don't want to get into mech mods- I'd mess something up and it would blow up or catch fire, guaranteed (lol). Just wanting to try something different. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[DaveSignal]

I was just at an ecig expo in the UK and one of the RDAs I purchased is called the Hastur. Its a short RDA, similar in size to a Tugboat with a slam cap. Its a cheap authentic, but it has a unique design. The airflow starts from the top, but then is channeled through the sides of the top cap and comes out on the sides (on the inside) of the cap, directly in front of the coil. So it doesn't leak. It comes with a wide-bore drip tip, not a chuff, but bigger than 510-size. Airflow is adjustable. I'm running it at about .16 ohm right now and its a warm vape, but there is enough airflow that it is comfortable. Flavor is huge, possibly due to the condensed chamber.

 

[WonderDude32]

I buy clones from Fasttech every so often to get a feel for the rda as some can be quite pricey. It may not be the right way to do things as I'm not using the originals, but I learned what I like and what doesn't work for me. Shipping takes a couple of weeks with these folks so I hope it's not eating away at you to get one today. lol

 

[coolerat]

No screw in coils for RDA's.

Prebuilt coils are available but you still have to install them. Which is easy but more then a screw in.

Many local stores sell FT prebuilts for like a buck each right out of the FT bag. The bag of 50 costs about 3 bucks. I guess its good work if you can get it. OTOH one local shop installs hand rolled coils for 75 cent each. Thats a buck fiddy for a complete rebuild so pretty good deal.

 

[crxess]

Magma or magma clone. Fairly easy build. Works well with single or dual coils.(I prefer dual) Small chamber to hold plenty of e-liquid.

I run a couple of these at .6ohms Dual with 28ga. kanthal. Great flavor and decent vapor at 30 watts.

 

[silvertorch]

Kind of looking for an inexpensive rda to try out, I currently use an Istick 30 with Kanger Subtank nano- I don't really want to get into coil building (not yet anyway), because I don't have the patience and I don't think my hands are steady enough, I will probably use pre-built coils. I think I will be fine wicking and replacing coils though. I would like something with open airflow/ easy to draw on, I really like my Subtank nano with the air control wide open. Even more airflow might be nice. I tried a tester rda at a local B&m, and of course I forgot what it was, but it was like trying to suck a golf ball through a garden hose. Only had two small air holes and no adjustment. Needs to be able to run .5 ohm coils, and run on my Istick 30w, as it's all I currently have, and I really don't want to get into mech mods- I'd mess something up and it would blow up or catch fire, guaranteed (lol). Just wanting to try something different. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Not sure what price range is inexpensive to you, but here is what I came up with.

Splitting it into 2 groups Authentic and Clone/Replica/etc

Authentic
Freakshow or Freakshow Mini by Wotofo/A-Mod
Tri post design is a slightly more difficult to build on, but its not too bad. The Freakshow will offer a little more room vertically other than that they are the same. Air flow can be adjusted for both dual and single coil builds.
I have the mini, its a great little RDA, plus you can't beat the price.
$20-30 (VaporDNA (Sub Ohm branded)/Eciggity/Kidney Puncher)

Mutation X V4 by Indulgence
Quad post design will be easy to work on, plus the V4 has alot of airflow options. Again the price point is there.
$30-35 (VaporDNA (Sub Ohm branded)/Eciggity/Kidney Puncher)

CLT V1 V2 or V3
Oldie but goody, this was one of the first cheap authentic RDAs. The later versions had a much higher airflow and I think V1 and V2 were quad post and V3 went with a tri post design.
$20-35 (VaporDNA (Sub Ohm branded)/Kidney Puncher)

Mako by Beyond Vape
Another tri post RDA with decent airflow.
$32 (Beyond Vape)

Tugboat V1 by Flawless
Good tri post RDA thats on sale for $35 directly from Flawless. In colors and comes with a drip tip`
$35 (Flawless)

Clones/Replicas
Pretty much every Authentic I mentioned has been cloned and can by found online, sites like Fasttech/Angelcig/eBay. They usually run $7-15 on said sites.

I will mention 1 clone that I started with:
Magma V1
Easy to build single coils, a little harder a for dual coil. Airflow is a little restrictive, but not bad. I usually build a single 0.5 ohm coil but open both air holes up.
~$13 (Fasttech)

 

[DaveSignal]

to add to the above list of affordable authentics:

Hastur by Cthulhu
This is a new RDA by the same guys that did the Cthulhu RTA. Its small, leakproof, has good airflow, comes with a wide-bore drip tip, and the flavor is huge. And it is cheap, I got one in the UK for £15. But it is not cheap quality. Not many people are talking about this yet, I may put up a youtube video at some point this week.

Doge v2, Doge Xv2 by Compvape
These are great cloud chasing RDAs with massive post holes for huge wire and massive AFC openings for huge airflow. Also come with wide-bore chuff-style caps. The Doge-Xv2 is like a mutation with different posts and top cap.

Troll by Wotofo
This is another wotofo authentic. Its the idea of the mutation x, except with different shaped cutouts for the airflow. You can get this one with a wide-bore chuff-style cap too.

El Cabron, Twisted Messes, 13 Heavens - CompVape
These are all basically the same RDA with minor changes on the AFC ring and a slightly different positive posts/post blocks. But its a very simple design with huge airflow and massive post holes. Oh yeah, and they each come with three different top caps, two of which are very nice chuff-style wide-bore caps.

 

[alicewonderland]

REMentry is a good one. i think its like 35$ and its authentic as well.

 

[Thrasher]

Just about anything at fasttech with 4 or more stars, lol -1600 to pick from barely any over 15 bucks

 

[DigitalOccupation23]

Just buy a dark horse v2 they are cheap.. Lots of airflow and they're easy to work with and just an amazing rda

 

[DaveSignal]

There is a lot of garbage on fastTech too though. I have a number of clone RDAs in addition to authentics, but I also have boxes full of spare o-rings, screws, insulators, etc. Sometimes, you have to be prepared to fix something to make it perfect, especially on super cheap <$10 products.

 

[dionysuskiss]

I do clones, or fair priced authentics, but not FastTech cheap. I like to stick to names like Infinite, Tobeco, Cigreen or HCigar. They are a little more expensive, but I haven't been disappointed yet. Just pulled the trigger on The Hastur, as I love the Cthulhu.

 

[edyle]

Kind of looking for an inexpensive rda to try out, I currently use an Istick 30 with Kanger Subtank nano- I don't really want to get into coil building (not yet anyway), because I don't have the patience and I don't think my hands are steady enough, I will probably use pre-built coils. I think I will be fine wicking and replacing coils though. I would like something with open airflow/ easy to draw on, I really like my Subtank nano with the air control wide open. Even more airflow might be nice. I tried a tester rda at a local B&m, and of course I forgot what it was, but it was like trying to suck a golf ball through a garden hose. Only had two small air holes and no adjustment. Needs to be able to run .5 ohm coils, and run on my Istick 30w, as it's all I currently have, and I really don't want to get into mech mods- I'd mess something up and it would blow up or catch fire, guaranteed (lol). Just wanting to try something different. Thanks in advance for any advice!

"inexpensive" and "rda" go together.

For easy airflow, you'd want to look for the more common side-airflow arrangement

 

[paleh0rse]

I chose the MutationX V4 as my first dripper, and I'm loving it!

Dual 24g, 6 wrap, 0.31 ohms, and my new secret weapon to prevent leaks and make dripping easy: using the Z-wick technique for the cotton!

 

[alicewonderland]

I chose the MutationX V4 as my first dripper, and I'm loving it!

Dual 24g, 6 wrap, 0.31 ohms, and my new secret weapon to prevent leaks and make dripping easy: using the Z-wick technique for the cotton!

thats the only thing about the mutation x V4 thats bad for beginners, the bottom airflow which make em more prone to leaks. I'd stick with just a side airflow or top airflow RDA for a beginner tbh, dont have to worry about leaking with those, unless you turn your mod completely sideways or upside down for some reason.

 

[paleh0rse]

thats the only thing about the mutation x V4 thats bad for beginners, the bottom airflow which make em more prone to leaks. I'd stick with just a side airflow or top airflow RDA for a beginner tbh, dont have to worry about leaking with those, unless you turn your mod completely sideways or upside down for some reason.

The MutationX V4 comes with rubber plugs for the bottom air holes. I keep them plugged up most of the time, so leaking isn't really a problem.

The z-wicking method I use also works to prevent any leaking even on the rare occasion I unplug the bottom holes to chuck larger clouds.

I also have a Velocity RDA clone that's fun to build on, but it's not nearly as easy to use as the MutationX V4. I feel that the MutationX has better flavor, as well.