Zenith RDA – Double Cross V2.5

In Stock:
Stainless Steel for $119.99
Brass for $119.99

Update

This may very well be the best RDA I’ve bought this year. I’ve been using this for several months now and the vapor and flavor are just as good or better than anything else I’ve been using. This is up there with the Plume Veil – the two are at kind of a tie for me.

This is built like a sports car and performs like one too. I don’t get any leaking problems, it looks fantastic, it runs cool and vapes hot.

I’ve got a separate page where I’m comparing the best RDA’s of this year and this may very well me the winner so far. We have a few months to go – but I have been thoroughly enjoying this one. I’m about to actually get a second to put another flavor in. Its just amazing.

I arrived home yesterday to find some vape mail waiting for me. This package was a long time coming – it contained the new Zenith RDA – the Double Cross V2. And by a long time coming I mean a really long time. I ordered this literally 3 months ago as a pre-order. Apparently there was an issue with one of the machines at Crescent Moon and the whole production was seriously delayed. But finally this arrived today. Was it worth the wait?

I’ve got a ton of RDA’s. My preferred setup is a mech mod with a sub-ohm RDA on the top. I’ve got a lot of these and many of them are very much variations on the same theme. They are all fine and vape very much alike. There’s a few that stand out as I’ve outlined in my Best RDA of 2014 article.

I’ll start by saying the Zenith is among the best – in fact I’m amending the article to include it. Its fantastic. But it does come with a high price tag and I’m sure you’re wondering if its worth over 5 times the price of a IGO W.

Zenith RDA Double Cross V2 specifications

The build and machining on the Zenith RDA are exceptional. The Zenith RDA build consists of a base, 3 posts with allan screws (more on this in a minute), an an outer sleeve with an airflow control ring and a top cap. There are several options you have when ordering that offer choices of what type of metal you want for the air flow control collar. The options are brass, copper, stainless steel, matte black and “media blasted”. “Media Blasted” is a dark grey similar to the material used on the Russian 91%. Its really quite nice. You can order additional top caps and airflow control rings as well. I ordered a copper ring and a media blasted. The airflow control ring never touches your juice so if you’re the type that worries about this – have no fear. Its cosmetic on the outside only.

What’s cool about the Zenith RDA is that the top cap screws down and locks the airflow control in place so it won’t slip. In the RDA’s I own, this is the first to have a true locking AFC ring. When they don’t lock they slip now and then. Its not a big problem, but the lock is a really nice touch on the design.

Also nice is the Delrin insert in the center of the top cap. Its there to isolate the drip tip from heat. I don’t know that this is really a problem, but it looks tight so at least its an aesthetic plus.

Zenith RDA posts

The Zenith RDA is quite unique in its post design. Its a standard, 3 post set up, but what’s unique are the wide slots for inserting your coil leads. This not only accommodates thicker wire, but also allows “wiggle room” in your build. I usually build coils with 5 wraps which requires one of the leads to stretch on a conventional design. This can create a little bit of difficulty when you’re actually building. Not on the Zenith. Short coil lengths fit nicely.

The 3 posts are set with allen screws at the top. I’m not crazy about this because they require the included allen key. Not the end of the world, but phillips head would have been more convenient. And while we’re on the subject – don’t over tighten these screws. My first build snapped the leads off and I had to do it again because they were too tight. Just a little pressure will due.

In Stock:
Stainless Steel for $119.99
Brass for $119.99

Performance

The Zenith RDA performs amazingly. The airflow control is really nice and it allows for some serious air to pass through. If you’re a LOW sub-ohm vaper you will really appreciate this. The performance of any RDA is highly dependent on the air flow of your device. Too little and things can get hot if you sub-ohm. Too much and its not a satisfying vape. The Zenith RDA gives you wide enough slots to build just about anything you want. This makes it one of the most versatile RDA’s you can buy.

Also nice is the conical design of the top cap. Much like RDA’s such as the Tobh, this starts swirling the air as it passes to the drip tip and creates a wonderful, warm and dense vape. Flavor is top notch on this device.

Cons

There is little to gripe about in terms of build quality and performance. The only complaint I have, which may seem picky, is the terrible packaging. The box was flimsy and featured really cheesy type and graphics. I know this has nothing to do with the RDA, but come on – if you’re going to charge me $115 for an RDA, don’t show up in an old t-shirt from the 70’s. Know what I mean? The presentation needs to make me want to go buy everything you make. Look like a million dollars if you’re going to charge a premium. Hire a good designer. You’ll still make money I promise.

Should I buy the Zenith RDA Double Cross?

This is a good question. It comes down to your budget because this device is not cheap. Its an excellent performer and probably the most versatile RDAs I own. So how does it compare to lower end, but still good RDA’s such as the IGO W or the Patriot? Well, it is significantly better. You do feel and taste a slight difference and the device looks really amazing. Is it $100 better than an IGO W or $30 better than a Patriot? It is if you have the money.

I say this because cheaper RDA’s can still perform really well if you know what you want. I still use my IGO W with the Halo top cap daily. Its got a great, cheap deck and the Halo has slotted air flow control and a conical top design. The Zenith is a little nicer, but if you can only afford an IGO W and Halo – stick to that. I just feel like the price is really high and if you don’t have the money you can still get a GREAT performing vape out of the cheaper setup.

But if you can swing the cash you’ll love this thing. Its amazing.

In Stock:
Stainless Steel for $119.99
Brass for $119.99

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