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TOPSIDE LITE KIT By Benedict Jones
Specifi cations:
- Dimensions: 97.5mm*58mm*28.2mm
- Materials: Polycarbonate + PCTG - Power output: 5W-90W
- Display: 0.96” OLED
- Battery capacity: 1x 21700/20700/18650 external cell
- E-liquid capacity: 10ml squonk bottle
Last year Dovpo and Brian, AKA The Vapor Chronicles, made huge
waves with the world’s fi rst top-fi lling squonk mod, the Topside. Now,
two iterations later, comes an update to the original design in the
form of the Topside Lite.
Construction, fi t and fi nish of the Topside Lite are all good. The
main differences between the Lite and its predecessor are material
choices and a modular design. The all-metal chassis has been
replaced by a mix of polycarbonate and PCTG. In other words, the
Topside is now available as an all-plastic mod. Though this may be
off-putting to some, the result is a signifi cantly lighter device, which
is preferable to me as the original Topside was rather heavy for a
single cell squonker. Seams are minimal and overall this feels like a
nicely put together mod. I like the decision to use PCTG for the body,
since it’s highly resistant to scratches and should hold up for a long
time.
The Topside Lite offers a simple but feature-rich chip, which appears
to be the same as the one found in the original, albeit with temperature
control fi rmware pre-loaded. Holding the fi re and – buttons accesses
the menu, where you can select from wattage, bypass, temperature
control and TCR modes. The top-fi ll mechanism has been simplifi ed
and can be threaded on or off without applying pressure. As before, it
remains the most convenient way to fi ll a squonk mod.
The Lite’s party piece is its modularity. The user can pull the mod
apart and replace the enclosed squonk assembly with a battery door,
converting it into a much slimmer single 21700 mod, sans squonk
functionality. Though it ends up being rather tall for a single cell mod,
versatility is never a bad thing and the ergonomics are on point.
Power delivery is snappy and accurate across the board, though if
you’re using the full 90W, expect to be switching cells frequently.
Having 10mls of e-liquid capacity is great and matches up with the
capacity of a good 21700 nicely. In terms of temperature control,
I found the default settings to be a touch conservative but TCR is
there for those who want to dial in the experience.
Bundled with the kit is the new Variant RDA, also designed by The
Vapor Chronicles. Fans of Brian’s previous RDAs, such as the Drop
PROS CONS
squonk refi ll system some users off
- Still the most convenient
- Super lightweight design
- Modular
184 VM26
and Drop Dead should feel right at home, since for all intents and
purposes, this is a refi ned version of those designs.
The Variant is a relatively simple RDA that lends itself to those who
are less experienced with rebuilding atomisers. The deck features
an open postless design, with plenty of room to build. Sporting a
generous chamber and airflow, I feel this RDA was intended for larger
dual coil builds, such as fused claptons and aliens, though lower
gauges of round wire should still work a treat.
Coil placement is key with the Variant, you’ll want the coils to sit at
the same level as the top airflow inlet, or even a touch lower. The coils
should also be pushed slightly toward the inlets, in order to avoid
spitback. When built properly, the Variant is a solid all-round dual coil
experience, with smooth airflow, huge vapour production and good
flavour.
In summary, the Topside Lite kit is a great entry into high wattage
squonking. The mod is a more portable version of its predecessor,
without making any notable sacrifi ces. Considering how good the
original Topside still is, this must be seen as an achievement. The
Variant RDA is based on a tried and tested design and performs
accordingly, so it’s a good place to start rebuilding. All around, this is
a solid kit for enthusiasts and will, no doubt, be making its way into
- The all-plastic design will put