Vandy Vape Berserker MTL RDA review
Colors: stainless, black, gold, rainbow
Price: $25-35
Kit Contents
- Berserker MTL RDA
- 22 mm ring
- 24 mm ring
- Accessory bag
- Airflow tubes (6)
Specifications
Build quality and design
I recently called the Vapefly Galaxies an RDA “made for squonking”. Well, the Vandy Vape Berserker is that and then some. Dripping through the tiny mouth-piece is challenging and the airflow is placed right under the coil, which means that any extra drops will end up flooding the airflow inserts. It is in squonk mode that the Berserker RDA really shines, and that is what makes it a worthy successor to the 18-mm RDA classics.
One thing about this device, be sure to keep the box and inserts. Unless you are a very organized person, it will be easy to misplace parts. Save yourself the headache and keep it all as it came.
Build deck
Overall it is a very simple and intuitive deck that is also forgiving except for one thing: take care to remove the airflow insert when placing your coil if you are planning on dry burning it. The heat produced by dry burning might end up melting the Peek insert, an issue that Alex from VapersMD mentioned on YouTube. The provided coil placement tool will be very useful for lowering your coil but, again, make sure your coil is not touching the airflow rod.
The Berserker RDA has a lot of space for cotton, and a deep juice well. Be careful not to over-squonk because you might end up reaching the entry point of the airflow insert and flooding it. Everything else is properly sealed so this is essentially the only way you could make this RDA leak in squonk mode.
Airflow
The airflow inserts really do affect the vape, but it will take tinkering with your builds to figure out what's best. There are so many factors coupled with so many options, it would be impossible to explain all that each can do. That said, I did try most of the combinations and settled for the second smallest airflow insert coupled with either of the middle airflow holes. The largest single airflow insert as well as the one with the three small holes were too loose for my liking. The thin line airflow insert felt a bit counter-intuitive due to the orientation of the line being perpendicular to the coil direction, but it did work just fine.
Performance
Word was that the Berserker is not a “true” MTL atty. I would have been the first to say it if I found it to be too loose, but fortunately this is not the case. I found the Berserker’s options perfect for every kind of MTL, from a rather tight to a looser one. Emulating the very tight draw of the Berserker RTA series would have been a challenging task for any RDA due to a number of structural factors. But the Berserker RDA with a 3-mm coil on the tightest insert with any of the smaller airflow holes open came closer than I expected.
Likes
Pros
- Satisfying MTL draw
- On-point flavor
- Excellent build quality
- Innovative airflow system
- Many airflow options
- Old-school looks
- Simple build deck
- Great in squonk mode
Dislikes
Cons
- Not easy to drip through mouthpiece
- Drip tip can get hot
- Trapping thin wire may be challenging at first
Verdict
The Berserker is less build-dependent than the Vapefly Galaxies and has a smaller chamber which helps with flavor. Its design provides a “juicier” vape and has a smoother and more defined throat hit than the Galaxies. But with these two being the only affordable squonking MTL RDA’s to come out for a while, and with both of them performing at a comparable level, your decision will come down to two things: price and looks.
The Berserker costs about $10 more than the Galaxies. If you find its form and size as sexy as I do and are willing to pay the extra bucks, the Berserker MTL RDA might just be the one for you. It’s replaced the Galaxies in my everyday rotation.
What are your thoughts on the Vandy Vape Berserker MTL RDA? Let us know in the comment section below.
Spyros Papamichail
Vaping for: 9 years
Favorite products:
Favorite flavors: Sweet tobaccos, fruits
Expertise in: Nicotine, beginner devices, advanced devices
Spyros Papamichail
Having quit smoking using vapes in 2016, I quickly developed somewhat of an obsession with all things vaping. I managed to turn my hobby into a full-time job, and I now work as the content manager here at Vaping360. In my free time you'll find me gaming on my PS5 or playing fetch with my dog, Buffy.
