N
F
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HOBBYIST CORNER
H
WORTH THE
HYPE?
5A’S BASIC
1.1 TI
Basic 1.1 Ti Specifi cations:
Dimensions: 22mm*25mm (height including drip tip)
Materials: Titanium, delrin, gold-plated stainless steel
Build deck: Single coil
If you’ve ever delved into the “high end” vape scene, you’ll know that
critically acclaimed products are often nigh on impossible to get
your hands on. This is a result of extremely high demand, coupled
with the limited quantity of units that smaller manufacturers are
able to produce. The Basic RDA, from Filipino modders 5A’s, has
been one such item since the release of the Basic 1.1 in early 2018.
At this point, though, supply and demand have reached equilibrium,
so we were fi nally able to get our hands on the version that’s still in
production – The Basic 1.1 Ti.
The Ti edition is virtually identical to the standard 1.1, except for
the fact that it boasts a titanium deck. In theory, this makes the
core of the atomiser more durable but in reality, it mostly imparts
bragging rights. We are partial to some bragging rights, though.
Construction, fi t and fi nish of the Basic 1.1 Ti are simply gorgeous.
There’s not a single visible flaw in the machining and Youtube
Reviewer Geekayvapes even put the device under a strong macro
lens to confi rm just how well 5A’s fi nish their products. O-ring
tolerances are on the stiff side out of the box but this becomes
a non-issue in use, as the atomiser comes into contact with
lubricating e-liquid.
The build deck isn’t revolutionary, nor should it be. Two gold-plated
stainless-steel grub screws on opposite sides of the deck secure
the leads of your coil and they work exactly as you would expect.
Due to the airflow design, it’s easy to fi nd the ideal height and
horizontal placement of your coil, so no issues there, either.
This may be a tiny 22mm RDA but it can still accommodate a wide
224 VM26
range of builds, from simple round wire, all the way up to multi-
core exotics. The deck is roomy enough that it should be a breeze to
build, even for those with less experience. Extreme high mass coils
will run too hot for the small chamber but that should be expected.
The airflow design is what sets the Basic 1.1 apart from other
single coil flavour chasers. Four small inlets in the top of the deck
feed directly into two channels at the sides and bottom of the coil.
The result is a super-short atomiser that manages to be almost
entirely leak proof, a great feature for the squonkers that this
RDA was clearly designed for. Normally, we might expect airflow
such as this to cause turbulence or a loud draw but the Basic 1.1
somehow avoids this, with a smooth, restricted and quiet hit.
What about flavour performance? Although flavour intensity
seems to have reached its natural limit with RDAs such as the
Haku Venna and MissionXV KRMA, the Basic 1.1 handily keeps up
with the market leaders in this regard. Essentially, when it comes
to restricted direct lung vaping, you cannot get a better flavour
experience than what the Basic is able to provide. We’ve been
enjoying it most when using two or three core fused Clapton coils,
between 35W-45W, but there’s plenty of room for experimentation
with other builds.
In summary, the 5A’s Basic 1.1 Ti is a masterclass of an RDA. It’s
built beautifully, refuses to leak when squonking and puts out some
of the very best flavour we’ve experienced in vaping. For those
who like to personalise, there’s even a wide array of aftermarket
top caps to choose from. Coming in at $100 + shipping, this is
most certainly worth the hype.