Introduction
2025 kicks off with a stunning release from Thunderhead Creations—the Tauren RDA Vortex 30. Designed entirely in-house without input from vaping or YouTube influencers, this RDA showcases the brand’s commitment to innovation and craftsmanship when it comes to the rebuildable market. Boasting a 30 mm diameter, and features an advanced Vortex Airflow system.
Box Contents
- Tauren RDA Vortex 30
- Coil-Leg Trimmer
- BF Pin
- 2 X 3-Core Fused Clapton Coils
- 2 X Allen Keys
- Spare Screws
- Spare O-Rings
- User Manual
- QC Card
Specs
- Size 30×29.5 mm
- Material: SS
- 84- TOP airflow intake
- Capacity: 2.5ml*
- 10.5 mm deep Juice Well
- Drip Tip: 810
- Deck: Dual Coil / Single Coil
- Fill Type: Top & Bottom
- Weight: 180g
I received the SS and Black colour for review
The Tauren Vortex 30 comes in 4 additional colour options
- Gunmetal
- Purple
- Gold
- Silver Black
Design
The Tauren RDA Vortex 30 is constructed with precision and feels solid, featuring 3 key components: a top cap, a removable inner chamber, and a build deck. Measuring 30 mm in diameter and 29.5 mm tall, it has a well proportioned asthenic, with a compact look. Weighing 180 grams, The top cap boasts the iconic Tauren logo, engraved elegantly. The included 810 drip tip is compact and a little on the small side but is held in place snuggly with a large O-ring and ridges on the tip itself. Surrounding the top section is chunky, grippy knurling for ease of adjustment, complemented by 42 airflow holes evenly spaced on either side.
Inside the top cap, a domed angle has been carefully machined into the removable inner chamber to optimize airflow. The base features a removable protruding gold-plated 510 pin, along with Thunderhead Creations branding and a unique identifying serial number.
The removable inner chamber fits seamlessly onto the build deck, working in harmony with the 84 honeycomb air inlets on the top cap to deliver precise airflow. This innovative design creates a 3D Vortex Airflow effect, ensuring optimal distribution of air to both air intake inlets built into the deck. The airflow is then channelled directly to the installed coils from the bottom.
The top cap of the Tauren Vortex 30 RDA is equipped with a practical locking system, where a small lug on the underside of the cap runs along a groove in the top of the inner airflow chamber. This design provides hard stops at the fully open and fully closed airflow positions, ensuring precise adjustments. Additionally, it serves a functional purpose when removing the RDA from a mod, as the fully closed position offers extra grip to easily unscrew the RDA without hassle.
Build deck
The build deck of the Tauren Vortex 30 RDA features a dual postless design with large post holes, making it ideal for accommodating complex, exotic coils. It includes intricate design elements, such as chamfered edges on each side of the run-off area, which guide e-liquid effortlessly into the spacious 10.5 mm juice wells. The deck is equipped with dual O-rings, providing excellent tolerance and a secure fit. Removing the pre-installed solid 510 pin reveals the positive posts, which are surrounded by a durable peak insulator. With the squonk pin installed, it’s time to move on to the build.
Dual Coil Build
The build process begins with the included coils, which are high-quality 3 mm diameter 3-core fused Claptons from Thunderhead Creations. These coils are crafted from Nichrome material and have an exact resistance of 0.1 ohm. Installing the coils is straightforward and hassle-free. Using the provided coil-cutting guide, THC recommends trimming the legs to a height of 6 mm for optimal placement. The large post holes on the deck make positioning the coils effortless, and the grub screws securely lock them in place without any fiddling, ensuring a quick and smooth process.
Wicking
Coils installed and dry burned, Since no cotton is included, I used some Muji cotton strips for the build. Like SD stated in his review, raking, trimming or thinning of the wicks is not necessary with this RDA!. The large wells will accommodate your cotton with ease and then some. The deck has a stated 2.5 ml capacity, but IMO I think once you have a dual coil build wicked up the wicks will soak up a lot more.
Performance
The performance of the Tauren Vortex 30 RDA is nothing short of exceptional. Starting with the airflow control (AFC) fully open, the draw feels balanced and not overly airy, even with the installed dual coil build. Running the device at 120 watts, it delivers a room-filling, cloudy vape with impressive flavour output. Gradually closing down the airflow enhances the intensity of the flavour while introducing a satisfying level of draw restriction. Finding the perfect draw is effortless by fine-tuning the combination of wattage and AFC settings. The innovative 3D Vortex airflow design truly shines, delivering smooth airflow distribution and elevating both flavour and vapour production. The wicking keeps up and squonking action works flawlessly.
Single Coil Build
For a single-coil build, I decided to experiment further with the Tauren Vortex 30 RDA, utilizing a large 3-core alien coil I had on hand. Fitting the coil into the deck was a breeze, thanks to the spacious post holes and secure grub screws.
After dry burning, wicking, and saturating the wick, this single-coil build came out to 0.24 ohms. Running the setup at 80 watts, it delivered exceptional flavour and impressive vapour production. The innovative airflow system continued to shine, with no turbulence experienced; the airflow effectively reached the coil and functioned seamlessly. Opting for a single-coil build offers a more battery-friendly solution, making it ideal for smaller devices capable of housing this substantial RDA.
Dripping with this configuration is effortless—just pour your juice into the ample juice well, and you’re good to go!
Experimenting with further coil configurations reveals the versatility of the Tauren RDA Vortex 30, demonstrating its capability to handle a variety of instals with ease. From dual exotic coil builds to single large-format coils, this RDA excels in accommodating a wide range of vaping styles.
Coil Porn
You Vs. The Guy She Told You Not to Worry About
Verdict
The Tauren RDA Vortex 30 is an impressive piece of engineering from Thunderhead Creations, built with versatility and performance at its core. Its 30 mm diameter and innovative 3D Vortex airflow system deliver an exceptional vaping experience, whether you’re chasing clouds, flavour, or both. The dual postless build deck is easy to work with and supports a wide variety of coil configurations, making it suitable for builders of all skill levels.
The robust construction, and thoughtful details—like the locking top cap and large juice wells—make this RDA a pleasure to use. Both dual and single coil setups performed flawlessly, with outstanding flavour and dense vapour production. For those who enjoy experimenting with builds, the Tauren RDA Vortex 30 offers near-limitless possibilities. While its size and weight might not suit everyone, it’s perfect for high-power setups and squonk users alike.
Thunderhead Creations has truly delivered an RDA that stands out in both form and function. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or simply looking for a high-performance RDA, this one is well worth considering.
For more information on the Tauren RDA Vortex 30, head over to Thunder Head Creations Website and use discount code Daredevil to save 20%.
I would like to thank Thunderhead Creations for sending the Tauren RDA Vortex 30 over for review, I have enjoyed my testing this RDA, and as always I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts on this one.