Everything There is To Know About RDAs

If you’ve ever wondered what RDAs are, then we specially made this blog for you. In it, we’ll tell you exactly what they are, who they’re best suited for, and what’s the best kind of device to pair with your RDA setup. So if you’re ready, let’s dig in.

💡 And if you’re brand new to vaping, check out our guides:
The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Vaping, How Do Vapes Work?: A Simple Guide for Beginners, and How To Clean a Vape Tank: A Guide for New Vapers.

 

What Are RDAs?

RDAs (short for rebuildable dripping atomizers) are a type of atomizer used in RDA vape setups. What makes them special? Unlike regular vape tanks, RDAs don’t have a big juice reservoir. Instead, you drip your e-liquid directly onto the exposed coils and wicks—hence the name “dripping atomizer.” If you're still learning the ins and outs of atomizers in general, make sure to check out How To Choose an Atomizer: A Beginner’s Guide—it's a great place to start before diving into the world of RDAs.

This means vape flavor changes are super fast. Want to switch up your vape juice mid-session? No problem—just drip something new and you’re good to go. The trade-off? You’ll need to re-drip often since RDAs only hold a little bit of juice at a time.

RDAs come in all sorts of styles. Some are optimized for flavor, others are built for massive clouds, and a few do a solid job of both. Whatever your vibe is, there's an RDA vape kit out there for you.

What Are the Parts of an RDA?

RDAs are made of just a few key components, but each one matters:

• Drip Tip – The mouthpiece. Usually plastic and heat-resistant.
• Top Cap – Holds the whole thing together and often houses the airflow system.
• Airflow Holes – These can be located on the top, sides, or bottom and help control your vape experience. (Curious how airflow affects flavor and clouds? Check out our blog: **"Vape Airflow Holes: What They Do And How Does Vape Airflow Work.")*
• Deck – This is where the magic happens. Your coils and cotton go here.
• Posts – These connect your coils to the RDA’s power source (positive and negative).
• 510 Pin – Located at the bottom, this pin connects to your RDA vape mod kit and delivers power to the coils.

Can Anyone Use RDAs?

RDAs are not your plug-and-play kind of vape gear. They’re more like the DIY side of vaping—great for tinkerers and enthusiasts. You’ll need to know how to:

• Install coils
• Wick the coils properly
• Understand basic Ohm’s Law and battery safety

That said, there are shortcuts. Many beginners start with prebuilt coils—which skip the hardest part (making the coils yourself). If you go this route, you’ll just need to learn how to install and wick them correctly.

Still, some research is essential. Especially if you’re new, take time to learn Ohm’s Law, how resistance works, and how to stay safe with your batteries.

RDAs and Regulated Box Mods

There are two types of devices that pair with RDAs: mech mods and regulated box mods.

• Mech mods are unregulated, raw power devices with zero safety features. They’re only for experienced vapers who understand the risks and know exactly what they’re doing.
• Regulated box mods, on the other hand, come with built-in safety features like short-circuit protection and wattage control. That’s why we highly recommend beginners start with an RDA vape kit that includes a regulated box mod.

It’s a safer way to experiment, especially when you’re learning how to install coils and manage resistance.

Bonus tip: YouTube is full of great tutorials on how to install coils on all types of RDA vape tanks—so take advantage of those too.

 

Airflow Styles of RDAs

Airflow is a major factor in how your RDA performs. Here are the most common styles:

🔝 Top Airflow

• Great for leak prevention
• Air hits coils from above
• Good flavor, but not as rich as bottom airflow

🔽 Bottom Airflow

• Located beneath the coils
• Best flavor hands down
• More prone to leaking—don’t over-drip!

➖ Cyclops Style

• Classic side airflow holes
• Horizontal slits send air sideways onto the coils
• Flavor and cloud balance is decent, but watch for leaks

🌀 Vortex

• Diagonal airflow that swirls around your coils
• Designed for smoother hits and flavor saturation
• A newer design with innovative performance

Each airflow type gives a different vaping experience—some better for clouds, some better for flavor. Experiment to see what you like best!

Types of RDA Decks

The deck is the part of the RDA where your coil build lives. There are several main types:

🔧 Three-Post Deck

• Two negatives, one center positive
• Great for single coil builds
• Dual coil setups are trickier

🔧 Four-Post Deck

• Designed with dual coils in mind
• Easier for balanced builds
• Similar to the three-post, but with better support for multiple coils

🔧 Velocity (Two-Post) Deck

• Two large posts with two holes each
• Supports single or dual coil builds
• Easiest for beginners—highly recommended if you're just starting

If you’re shopping for your first RDA, ask for one with a Velocity-style deck. It’ll make your life a lot easier.

Conclusion

So there you have it—a crash course on everything RDAs! If you’re into customizing your vape experience and love hands-on projects, an RDA vape kit could be your perfect next step. Just remember:

• Choose an RDA vape mod kit with a regulated box mod for safety
• Learn the basics of Ohm’s Law and battery safety
• Start with prebuilt coils if you’re a beginner
• Pick a deck (like the Velocity) that’s easy to build on
• Match your airflow style to the vaping experience you want

Ready to build your first RDA setup? You got this.