Squonk vs. RTA

[mrmonday]

If you could only have one tank style vape system would it be a Squonker or an rta?
RTA:
Pros

• Cotton is always fully saturated
• Feeds automatically
  
• Atomizer/tank is more compact
• Doesn't leak when turned on side
• Faster refill

Cons

• Cotton is always fully saturated (less flavor)
  
• Adds height to your mod
• Breakable tanks (if glass)
• More difficult to change juice/sample flavors
• Smaller capacity

Squonk:
Pros

• Cotton isn't always saturated (better flavor)
• Easier access to coils/wicks
• Larger juice capacity (typically)
• Larger build deck (typically)
• Better for cloud chasing
• Easier to change juice/sample flavors

Cons

• Cotton is not fully saturated (unless squonked between each vape)
• Adds girth to your mod
• Less compact
• Slower refill
• Have to squonk to feed
• Possibility of leakage

I've had many tanks starting out with a kayfun back in 2013 to most recently the OBS Crius, and I've had a couple Squonk mods that I've used over the past two years. Honestly, I have a hard time deciding which system I prefer. I know that Squonkers are all the rage these days, but I'm not convinced that my RDAs/Squonkers have better flavor than my RTAs. Which do you prefer and why?

 

[Asbestos4004]

For the past 5 years, I'd answer squonkers. For the next 5 years, I'll answer squonkers.

 

[untar]

Slower refill

When I'm out and about I have a prefilled bottle that I can just pop in... not sure how you'd fill an RTA in that amount of time.

Possibility of leakage

So if I put "RTA leak" into the search function I won't get any results, right?

 

[Necrospecter]

I love my Zeus but I have to say Squonker I love my Pulse BF even more. And it goes against your size con the Pulse BF is about the size of a pack of cigs and the 20700 weighs more than the mod, with full bottle and dead rabbit

 

[CMD-Ky]

I am with @Asbestos4004. I have used a squonker for around four years. I have some tank/regulated stuff that I use a few times each week but always go back to the bottom feeders (REO and a Custom Classic). For me, the bottom feeders can't be beat.

 

[stormjib]

I was pretty much exclusively an RTA user until about a year ago when I started squonking. I sill use both, at home and out and about, although I'm more likely to use an RTA out of the house, mostly because I don't like carrying expensive gear around with me. I personally think that a really good RTA gives almost as good flavor as an RDA, but that's going to depend on your atty and your build.

 

[mrmonday]

When I'm out and about I have a prefilled bottle that I can just pop in... not sure how you'd fill an RTA in that amount of time.

So if I put "RTA leak" into the search function I won't get any results, right?

I was talking in terms of filling directly from the eliquid bottle. I worry about my squonkers leaking more than my tanks, my tanks never leak if I wick them properly but maybe I've just been lucky with my tank purchases.

Don't get me wrong, I love my squonkers and plan on purchasing more but I think it's good to question why we like what we like.

I was pretty much exclusively an RTA user until about a year ago when I started squonking. I sill use both, at home and out and about, although I'm more likely to use an RTA out of the house, mostly because I don't like carrying expensive gear around with me. I personally think that a really good RTA gives almost as good flavor as an RDA, but that's going to depend on your atty and your build.

The only explanation I have come accross for why RDA's have better flavor is that the wicks aren't always saturated. Nowadays there isn't much difference between the airflow and atomizer chamber of an RTA and an RDA so I see no other reason why an RDA would have better flavor.

 

[untar]

Nah it's all good, just thought those 2 points were quite arbitrary and had to make a snarky comment about it

 

[Ryedan]

I used my Reo almost exclusively for about a year and loved the vape. Then RTAs got better. Now they have become great

The Reo has been in the vapocalipse box for a while now. I would sell it, but it's a mech mod that is extremely dependable and I'll hang onto it for that.

I can't beat the vape quality and consistency of a good RTA, the ease of re-filling, or the trust I have in them not to leak in my pocket. For me, there simply is no advantage to squonking anymore.

 

[Asbestos4004]

I don't know, I always thought the flavor in an RDA was better due to the short distance from coil to mouth.

 

[stormjib]

A good rta will give you better flavor than a mediocre rda. IMO, it's more about airflow, condensing vapor, and tightness of draw than it is about cotton saturation, although one thing that I like about rda's is the ability to 'cycle' the cotton...vape it till it's almost completely dry. That seems to extend the life of the wick and to keep the flavor fresh...I guess maybe that's what you're talking about, too.

 

[Asbestos4004]

A good rta will give you better flavor than a mediocre rda. IMO, it's more about airflow, condensing vapor, and tightness of draw than it is about cotton saturation, although one thing that I like about rda's is the ability to 'cycle' the cotton...vape it till it's almost completely dry. That seems to extend the life of the wick and to keep the flavor fresh...I guess maybe that's what you're talking about, too.

This is true....for example, a Vivi Nova has better flavor than that stupid Njord RDA.

*no he di'int!

 

[mrmonday]

I don't know, I always thought the flavor in an RDA was better due to the short distance from coil to mouth.

I'm not sure about that, my longer drip tips give me the same flavor just a lot cooler vapor.

A good rta will give you better flavor than a mediocre rda. IMO, it's more about airflow, condensing vapor, and tightness of draw than it is about cotton saturation, although one thing that I like about rda's is the ability to 'cycle' the cotton...vape it till it's almost completely dry. That seems to extend the life of the wick and to keep the flavor fresh...I guess maybe that's what you're talking about, too.

Yes, that's exactly what I was trying to say. However the downside of vaping it until it's dry is that only the first hit is completely saturated. I notice a big difference in flavor after the first hit on an RDA if I don't squonk in between.

 

[Ryedan]

I've had many tanks starting out with a kayfun back in 2013 to most recently the OBS Crius, and I've had a couple Squonk mods that I've used over the past two years. Honestly, I have a hard time deciding which system I prefer. I know that Squonkers are all the rage these days, but I'm not convinced that my RDAs/Squonkers have better flavor than my RTAs. Which do you prefer and why?

At home I still vape an RDA on a mech at times. It's a different experience that I still enjoy sometimes.

There is no reason to pick one style of vape to use all the time. Variety is the spice of life . IMO one of the great things about vaping is all the great choices we have these days.

 

[untar]

In an RTA you also have a bell that keeps heating up the juice, by the time it gets to the coil some parts will have gone through several cycles of heating and cooling. Point is heat dissipation works differently in RTA vs RDA.

The chimney gives an RTA more surface for condensation that'll flow back into the chamber and some of it will soak back into the wick - probably able to change the flavor.

Those might not be the exact reasons, just saying the saturation of the wick isn't the only possible answer.

 

[mrmonday]

At home I still vape an RDA on a mech at times. It's a different experience that I still enjoy sometimes.

There is no reason to pick one style of vape to use all the time. Variety is the spice of life . IMO one of the great things about vaping is all the great choices we have these days.

Yes of course! My OP starts with a completely hypothetical question "If you could only have one tank style vape system would it be a Squonker or an RTA?"

In an RTA you also have a bell that keeps heating up the juice, by the time it gets to the coil some parts will have gone through several cycles of heating and cooling. Point is heat dissipation works differently in RTA vs RDA.

The chimney gives an RTA more surface for condensation that'll flow back into the chamber and some of it will soak back into the wick - probably able to change the flavor.

Those might not be the exact reasons, just saying the saturation of the wick isn't the only possible answer.

Interesting thoughts

 

[Coastal Cowboy]

I have RTAs that rival my BF atomizers when it comes to flavor and vapor production, given same/similar builds and same/similar temps.

It's also true that a good RTA can beat a so-so RDA.

That said, I haven't found a drop-in system yet that rivals either a serviceable RTA or RDA. Even my Baby Beasts use RBA heads because they're just better. And this is from a guy who swore off rebuildables until last fall.

 

[Ryedan]

I don't know, I always thought the flavor in an RDA was better due to the short distance from coil to mouth.

I used to think that too and it was true that RDAs performed better in the past, but for me tank technology has improved to the point that it doesn't seem to matter any more.

But that's just me and you know how subjective this stuff is

 

[puffon]

If I had to choose only one it would be a mech squonker. It's easier to maintain.
Dry burn, rinse, re-wick....less parts to fiddle with.
That being said...I always have a mech squonker, a regulated squonker, and a tank running.

 

[NatGasMan]

I've been squonking for some time now, probably about 5 years, and love my rdas. Every once in a while I get the itch and buy a couple of newer rtas. One that I have bought here lately is the aqua reboot and I'll have to say I'm impressed. Nice saturated, warm and the flavor rivals some of the best rtas that I I've every had. IMHO, of course.