RDA Reviews

Wotofo STNG

The Wotofo STNG - Biggest surprise RDA of 2019, it looks basic and simplistic but it delivers complex pure flavour with superb airflow!

by Si Davies
Oct 21, 2019

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Supplied by Wotofo for review purpose.
https://www.wotofo.com/pages/wotofo-stng-mtl-rda

RRP = $34.99

In a Nutshell

Biggest surprise RDA of 2019, it looks basic and simplistic but it delivers complex pure flavour with superb airflow! One of the best MTL squonkable RDAs I have tried, proving innovation is still going strong – highly recommended.

Score 8/10

Specs:

RDA Type: MTL RDA
Build Deck Diameter: 22mm
Coil Configuration: Single Coil
Wattage Range: 5-30W
Recommended Ohm Value: 0.4-1.8ohm
Overall Height: 43.15mm (with drip tip and 510 pin)
Threading: 510 Thread
Body Material: Stainless Steel
Juice Feeding Method: Drip / Squonk
Insulator Material: German PEEK
Colors Available: Black, S.S., Gunmetal, Gold, Blue, Rainbow
Wotofo_STNG_MTL_RDA-12.jpg

Contents and unboxing

I’m not sure I like the packaging, it looks kinda cheap and oversized with the small RDA looking lost in the centre of the bright green insert, but who cares about the box as it is the contents that matter. On the plus side, it has the contents listed on the side with a scratch verification code. I love the way Wotofo include everything you need to build along with their signature goodie bags with the full coil specs labelled clearly, no more guessing the specs is always welcome and a pro.

1pc STNG MTL RDA
1pc Dual Core Fused Ni80 Clapton Coil
1pc Single-Strand Ni80 Coil
1pc User Manual
1pc Extra Drip Tip
1pc Cross Head Screwdriver
1pc Allen Key
1pc Cotton Strip
1bag O-rings

I do enjoy reviewing RDAs as once the photos are done I can crack on and get it up and running in minutes. The STNG is one of the easiest MTL RDAs to set up, though unusually these days the squonk pin wasn’t installed as standard so I had to open the baggie of spares to get to it. The downside of this is that the bags aren’t re-sealable so the tiny screws and other 510 pin are left loose. No drama, I popped them into a sealable bag and put them away in the box.

The instructions were clear with good graphics though, as usual, I found I didn’t find the need to read them as the simple common sense design is a doddle to put together and coil / wick.

The RDA is very minimal and uncomplicated having just three main components:

Build deck which is just under 20mm inside and features two spring loaded clamps which are very effective and make it really easy to place you coil in without the need of a coil rod. The airflow routes from the side then underneath the coil via two small bore holes directly underneath the coil.

The top cap is really well machined (as is the deck) with nice smooth doming. It also has locking tabs for airflow adjustment via a single sided teardrop slot.

The two drip tips have the same narrow 2mm bore, the only difference is the outer diameter so you can choose which is comfortable for you. I liked the skinny installed one best.

As I wanted to use this RDA for squonking nic salts, my first job was to change the standard 510 pin to the BF squonk pin with the included allen key, a simple job which took a few seconds.

You notice the branding on the bottom plus ‘Uncle Stas’. I have no idea who the frik Uncle Stas is, he’s certainly not my uncle! Whoever he is doesn’t matter but he’s contributed to something special.

On to fitting the coil, I chose the 1.2 Ohm plain Ni80. Before I begin, I want to quote this superb coil spec information from Wotofo’s site:

INCLUDED COIL SPECS:

1. Dual Core Fused Clapton Coil
Recommended for normal nicotine vaping
Material: Ni80 30G*2+38G
Resistance: 0.8 Ohm
Inner Diameter: 2.5mm
Number of Wraps: 6 wraps

2. Single-Strand Coil
Recommended for nic salts vaping
Material: Ni80 28G
Resistance: 1.2 Ohm
Inner Diameter: 2.5mm
Number of Wraps: 9 wraps

How good is that? – nice one Wotofo - a huge pro!

Most of this info is also listed on the baggie label but that ends up in the bin so it is good to go back to the site to refer if you want to copy a successful build later on.

Build guide

Unscrew the two spring loaded coil clamps. Be careful not to unscrew too far out as the screw will ping out and you can say goodbye to them and springs! Fortunately there are spares.

Placing the coil is nice and easy without tools, it accommodates left or right hand wound coils which is another pro. Simply wiggle the legs under the clamp and nip each one down, adjust if required then screw them down fully to clamp. I found dropping the coil height just a touch gave better results (see photo).

When you are happy with the placement, snip off the ends with wire cutters and pulse dry burn the coil on a regulated mod or Ohms meter tab to remove any hotspots. It’s best to squeeze the coil to a contact coil to avoid spitback.

Wicking

The included cotton needs a little thinning out before you try to thread it into your coil. Once done, tightly roll one end so it’s nice and narrow to thread the end through the coil, trim it a couple of mm longer than the RDA base (around 26-28mm) then fluff the ends but don’t thin them out. Tuck them into the juice well, prime your coil with your chosen eliquid and smear a little around the O-rings, pop the top cap on ensuring you line up the airflow hole to the correct side and that’s it all ready to go.

If you are squonking then squeeze some juice up into the RDA (only takes a gentle squeeze) then vape away. Adjust the teardrop airflow as preferred by rotating the top cap.

Performance

Hand on heart I was expecting this RDA to be very average after looking at the very basic looking build deck without any of the on trend oval machining around the coil airflow, so I took my first draw using my Geek Vape Athena mech and 25amp battery…………

It was far from average, it was incredible, very smooth draw and the flavour was lush!
I struggle to get my head around how they achieved this with the basic looking deck. Looks are deceptive and something rather clever is going on with the airflow, combined with a narrow drip tip and closed off airflow this RDA is frikkin superb, a very pleasant surprise! I couldn’t put the thing down and probably overdosed on my nicotine quota for the day.

I have been using it for over a week and it still wows me. I have tried it on regulated squonk mods also but a mech is fine as the battery lasts ages with high Ohm builds. I also tried the 0.8 Ohm Ni80 fused Clapton. This required spacing and wider airflow, it was good but not as good as the 1.2 Ohm so after a day of testing I popped the old coil back in and been enjoying it ever since.

Dripper wise, it works really well. The top cap pulls off easily but the drip tip removed leaves plenty of room to drip into the chamber.

I like how the top cap is pretty easy to pop off without it being too loose so you can easily inspect your build and wick.

My next challenge was my OCD requirement for matchey matchey colour mods. As I was sent the blue version it was more challenging, I normally go for the safer SS option but here’s a few I tried:

It worked well on all of these, I liked it on the Vandy Vape Simple EX with its variable voltage, the Therion dwarfed the STNG so I settled for the blue & silver Geek vape Athena and it’s been sat on there permanently since.

But there a plenty of other colours available so you should find one to suit you.

Compared to

I have loads of mediocre MTL BF RDA’s so I will compare it to my best which is the Vapefly Holic MTL RDA………….

This was a closer fight than I expected, both deliver smooth rich flavour and airflow though the Holic edged it as, if you have the patience to fine tune the internal adjustments, you will find a near perfect tight MTL vape and it also feels like you have a high end atty. Though if you want simplicity and speedy plug and play then the STNG has the edge. But the Holic is still 1^st for me and my benchmark MTL RDA, the STNG comes in as a close 2^nd. I only use these 2 now.

But there is a STNG in the tail……….

The drip tip is an important part of the STNG’s success as I tried 3mm inner diameter drip tips and it weakened the flavour delivery, so back on went the 2mm included drip tip. The downside of such a narrow bore is condensation build-up so you get juice on your lips now and then. It’s also easy to oversquonk and leak through the air intake but I have got used to that and gentle limited squonking eliminates this issue.

Neither of these issues are a deal breaker. This RDA is superb and whoever uncle thingiemijig is, his collaboration with Wotofo is a very successful one.

Conclusion

Wotofo and Uncle Stas have done a great job on this MTL RDA, somehow they have managed to exploit the ever important airflow to deliver a sublime vaping experience, I still don’t understand how they managed it with such a basic looking design but who cares if it delivers as good as it does, I absolutely love this RDA.

Pros

Flavour delivery is one of the best
Airflow is near perfect
Simple build
Spring loaded coil clamps
Teardrop single airflow adjustment
Contemporary looks to suit most mods
Comfortable narrow bore drip tips (x2)
Everything included package
Perfect tension top cap
Coil specs stated
Ideal for nic salts

Cons

Oversquonking is possible
Narrow bore drip tip causes condensation

I honestly have no other cons than this and neither of them are deal breakers.

Final thoughts

I am still amazed that companies can still innovate to squeeze even better airflow options to deliver more flavour even after all these years. It makes you wonder what the hell they can do next! I’ve struggled to find a decent MTL squonkable RDA and along comes the Holic and now the STNG. If you enjoy squnking MTL this is a must have to your collection.

Si Davies

Reviewer at POTV

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My background is Engineering and Professional Photography. Mostly from POTV users knowledge I learned so much about pretty much all styles of vaping and equipment, Cloud Chasing, Squonking, Mouth To Lung, Direct To Lung, Pods, Mechs, Rebuild-able tanks and atomisers etc, and have experience with many many devices and atomisers, it's become a hobby and enjoy trying out the latest gear. I like to think my reviews are plain speaking and informative without getting too technical, if I have to resort to reading the manual then I don't consider it user friendly!