Up for review is Hellvape Helheim S RDTA!
Over the past 12 months, Hellvape has stretched its range with many respectable rebuildables. The one that comes to mind is Fat Rabbit RTA that somehow has a huge amount of hype over it. For sure it was a decent performer with many airflow options and a fair-sized build deck.
Hellvape also released a regulated mod by means of Arez 120, another respectable device that’s more than affordable. But RDTA is a category of tanks that I don’t think Hellvape has hit very much? A quick google brings up an ‘Iron Maiden 30mm RDTA’ but I believe it was released sometime in 2016? 6 years ago!
So it’s about time Hellvape hit the RDTA category after a storming 2021 and has released two!
The one I’ve received is Hellvape Helheim S RDTA, a 25mm ‘Rebuildable Dripping Tank Atomiser‘ that makes use of Steel Rods to assist in saturating the coil.
What Can We Expect From Hellvape Helheim S RDTA?
Helheim S RDTA is a 25mm diameter atomiser that stands fairly tall, much like most RDTA’s.
Furthermore, the Helheim S has a 5ml tank capacity and a build deck similar to that of the Fat Rabbit RTA. And additionally, is Co-Designed by ‘FIVE’ a group of 5 German vapers and enthusiasts.
Let’s crack on and see how this performs!
Hellvape Helheim S RDTA Key Features
If you’re not familiar with RDTA’s, it's pretty simple. An RDTA is simply an RDA or dripper if you will, slapped on top of a tank. Its only weakness is the fact you are relying on e-liquid to travel against gravity to saturate the coil.
Many ‘wicking’ options have been designed in the past, some have failed and some work just fine. Using Steel Rods inside the tank as a way of encouraging e-liquid to travel up into the cotton ports is one that we’ve seen before, and it's fairly effective but I always have my doubts.
So the Steel Rods within Helheim S are certainly one of the key features. Adding to that, Helheim S features a Post-Less deck and adjustable airflow from two positions.
The side airflow adjustment will flow air across the side(s) of the coil, whereas the lower airflow option will force air from under the coil. So plenty of airflow options with this one.
Hellvape Helheim S RDTA – Design and Build Quality
I received Silver Helheim S RDTA which means it’s impossible to comment on the paint finish and quality. However, out of the box, Helheim S was clean and shiny. Just what you expect from a Stainless Steel tank.
Drip-Tip and Top-Cap
The 810 Drip tip is a fairly wide bore and also has a nice smooth finish to it and you can also use your own 810 drip tip thanks to the internal O-ring in the top cap.
The Top-Cap itself is half of the barrel and can be easily removed with a nifty quarter-turn of the top. Inside the Top-Cap is a fair amount of doming which helps with airflow and compression also.
The Top-Cap is also your top/side airflow and adjusts nice and smoothly with a stopper and fully open/closed.
Lower Barrel
The second part of the barrel is held snugly into the deck thanks to two large rounded pegs which push into the deck.
This section also provides your bottom airflow, the airflow ring itself is removable and is held in place via O-Rings. Again this AFC has a stopper at fully open/closed. It also has a nice cut design to it for additional grip when adjusting.
Deck
The build deck is reminiscent of Fat Rabbit RTA in its style. A post-less deck which, in my opinion, is designed for a single-coil, or two small coils.
When you first open the packaging, you’ll notice two small white plugs in the wicking ports, which are put in place to stop the steel rods from rattling around during transit. Of course, dispose of these immediately.
The deck has 4 post terminals meaning a single, or dual coil build is possible, and the coils are held in place via flat-headed grub screws located on the sides of the deck.
Situated at the base of the deck are 10 small holes to create the ‘Honeycomb’ airflow which is generally used to smoothen the vape experience.
Lastly, you’ll notice two large rounded holes which are there for you to be able to fill the tank whilst also allowing the second section of the barrel to firmly press into the deck. And the barrel holds on very well.
E-Liquid Chamber
Below the deck of course is the tank, which provides a max capacity of 5ml and is nicely protected by a metal frame with some nice angular designs going on.
Inside the tank, you will find 4 small steel rods which are there to provide e-liquid to the cotton in the deck. It can be a little fiddly fitting these rods, or even keeping them in place when fitting the e-liquid chamber, so take your time.
The tank itself is removable and is held in place by the threaded rod which holds the 510 pins at the base.
The Base
The 510 pin at the base is slightly protruding, adjustable and protected by a peek insulator. There is minimal branding on the base of the tank too.
Aesthetics
Even though Helheim S is a tall tank, it's pretty smart looking. A tidy looking RDTA with minimal branding apart from the ‘Helheim’ design which is cut into the tank and not printed. I like the fact the tank is protected quite well by the outer metal frame.
How Does Hellvape Helheim S RDTA Perform?
Building on Helheim S RDTA
Helheim S comes with a coil cutting tool, which recommends cutting the coil at 5mm, which of course I completely ignored at first, and cut the coil at 7mm. However, once you fit the lower section of the top cap, you realise the coil is a little too high to allow the side airflow to hit the coil at the optimum position.
So of course, I cut them at 5mm after, and the single-coil sits at the perfect height to be hit by the side airflow.
Loosening the flat-headed grub screws, fitting the coil and tightening the screws are pretty straightforward. The size of the terminals for the coil legs is fairly small, so don’t expect to fit some giant coils as they just won’t fit. But I found even some of my most complex Aliens and fused Clapton coils fitted just fine.
Wicking The RTA
Like any RDA or RTA, threading your cotton through the coil is fine, but what takes time is considering how much, or how little cotton you want to be left with, on either side of the coil.
I found cutting my cotton about 5mm past the edge of the deck, but thinning out a lot, really helped with coil and cotton saturation.
Why such length? Well, it's simple really – the steel rods are there to provide e-liquid to the cotton and then the cotton does the rest. The issue is that if cotton is stuffed tightly into the ports then e-liquid just won’t saturate between the rods and the cotton.
So “light but plenty” was the method that worked for me and allowed maximum saturation. Also allows a simple transition for the e-liquid between steel and cotton.
Flavour and Clouds
Because I’m a horrible chap who isn’t a fan of Steel Rods, or RDTA’s in general. I decided a nice thick 80VG 20PG variant of Code Red by Darkstar was in order, to test this tank's wicking capabilities. So that’s something you’ll have to keep in mind when you read the rest of this review.
Using the included Fused Clapton coil, which came out at 0.32Ω and setting the wattage to 55w, I tested this tank using as many airflow options as I could think of.
Both Fully Open
This setting allows for maximum airflow, and even though both ports are wide open, the airflow still has a small amount of restriction to it. But across the board is fairly quiet and smooth. But for me, a little too airy. Flavour-wise, it’s very good. The coil performs very well with a slight crackle and average warmth.
Side AFC Open Only
This setting provides air to the sides of the coil only and is surprisingly smooth. In fact, if there was no secondary airflow option, I would be quite happy with how the airflow is with this RDTA. Flavour-wise, there is a slight improvement which was already very good with both AFC rings wide open.
Bottom AFC Open Only
This setting provides airflow from under the coil only because the single open airflow hole is a little louder than the side/top airflow. However, the restriction is slightly more so than the side airflow thanks to the internal honeycomb design under the coil. Warmth has increased slightly due to less airflow but the flavour wasn’t as good as the previous two options.
Both Half Open
This setting provides half airflow to the sides of the coil and under the coil and is very smooth! The noise from the tank increases slightly but it’s not off-putting by any means. It’s a lukewarm vape and very good flavour. Also spot-on for my preferences.
My Preference
I enjoyed this tank mostly with the side AFC fully open, and the bottom AFC half-closed. Set at 55 watts this provided a small amount of restriction, a lukewarm vape and excellent flavour. Of course, a certain amount of airflow noise is expected at this setting but it’s well worth it for the flavour.
The airflow noise isn’t wishy-washy or turbulent in any way, it’s just simply air flowing through the holes.
Steel Rods Performance
Like I’ve said earlier, I’m not a fan of Steel Rod wicking, or RDTA’s in general for that matter. Why? Well, it’s because we have something called gravity, and Steel wire is not an Anti-Gravity material.
However, Helheim S RDTA doesn’t do a terrible job at wicking but I believe most of that is due to ‘inertia’ or in simpler terms, movement of the tank. Every time you tip the tank to vape, you are tipping the e-liquid down onto the cotton.
A simple test of vaping the tank until the cotton is pretty much dry, placing the tank upright on a desk, removing the top barrel and watching the cotton for the next 5-10 minutes will prove to you that e-liquid does not defy gravity, especially when you place steel between the e-liquid and the cotton.
If you’re a chain vaper, you may find Helheim S doesn’t keep up, however, if you don’t tend to chain vape you probably won’t have any issues with coil saturation and wicking because just tipping the tank to vape now and then is enough for the coil to stay saturated.
Pros
+ Very good build quality
+ Glass is protected from damage to an extent
+ Simple to build and wick
+ Dual airflow provides maximum customisation
+ Smooth airflow
+ Very good flavour, even from the provided coil
Cons
- Very tall
- Steel Rods don’t work in my opinion
- Coil saturation is a problem when chain vaping
Hellvape Helheim S RDTA – Final Review Verdict
I think I’ve bashed the Steel Rods enough now. But to be completely fair to this RDTA, it performs very well. As much as I’m constantly worried about saturation with any RDTA – I’m yet to have a dry hit from this tank. Now is that because I’m very cautious when using this tank by tipping the tank regularly and not chain vaping? Yes. But perhaps I’ve been a little too cautious at times.
Forgetting my overly cautious experiences with this tank, the flavour and general airflow options from this tank are excellent. Allowing air to hit the coil from the sides, and from the bottom, whilst adjusting those independently is very good and certainly makes this tank a great performer.
Even with the provided coil, I enjoyed the extremely good flavour and almost exactly what you can enjoy from an RDA – That’s why RDTA’s were created right?
Did you, or will you buy Hellvape Helheim S RDTA?
Source: https://www.ecigclick.co.uk/
