Blaze Solo RTA (Genuine)
"A delightful genuine quality RTA which ticks all the boxes, but incorporates a disappointingly narrow build deck."
I've had generally very positive service from almost all my cloned RTAs but if you prefer genuine OEM atomisers for any reason, then here is a possible alternative.
Headlines
Overall a fairly impressive quality single-coil genuine RTA when compared to my own clones. Fits together silkily smoothly without the slightest effort, even with the base already fitted to a mod, almost impossible to cross-thread the base fitting. All of the O-rings are held nicely in place and unlike some knockoffs clones, none have come adrift unintentionally.
Testing with 1:4 60PG/40VG, 6 turns of 28x2+30 inner diameter 3.0mm has confirmed that it's very similar in use to any other wire RTA I've tested.
Upon initial assembly, the air adjustment ring on mine was worryingly stiff to adjust. This has since improved with the application of some VG, but now the top cap is much easier to turn than I'd prefer, meaning I can't swivel the extended driptip around without concerns I may be also unscrewing the cap. For a genuine model, IMO, this is unexpectedly lacklustre.
On mine, the upper O-ring does not hold the glass securely, and it can easily fall off unexpectedly upon disassembly. Care is suggested when removing the base to reduce the risk of breakages, which is again, very disappointing and frankly inexcusable. Thankfully, spare bubble and straight glasses are currently available on UK Amazon and Aliexpress.
One owner has suggested avoiding purchasing the black version owing to increased difficulty in seeing the air vents and the juice taking on a dark refractive tint, increasing the difficulty of judging if and to what severity the juice has naturally darkened from ageing.
Disappointingly (for me), it has the narrowest build deck of my entire collection of "sub ohm" tanks in terms of space between contact terminals (see pics). A smaller deck is unavoidable on dual coil RTAs (owing to shortage of space for two coils), but I'm baffled as to why the Blaze Solo has an even smaller one.
The narrow deck limits options for larger gauge wires, restricts number of turns on any coils, makes a coil installation less forgiving owing to less available room for expanding gaps between windings. Sure it's possible to compensate to some degree (for example by using a larger inner diameter coil), and it's still capable of holding a convincingly powerful coil, but it's more demanding to fit with less margin of error than otherwise would be necessary
The "100% leak proof" claim on the box is sheer marketing drivel, insulting the intelligence of those who've taken the trouble to find out the real reasons why tanks leak. It's no more or less leak proof than any other of this common design type. If properly set up, used, and stored it's very unlikely to leak, as is exactly the same with any other tank I've tested. And is that "Reviewer Design" on the box intended to dupe gullible punters into thinking that this may be a specially built version when they see it on the vape shop shelves? I find this kind of marketing to be particularly disgusting.
Why on Earth did Thunderhead design a single coil RTA with such a tiny build deck? On the left is the single-coil Kylin Mini V2 with 10mm inter-terminal spacing, and on the right the Blaze Solo with just 6.5mm. For a full list of equivalent dimensions for all my RTAs see supplemental pic below.
Pros
Apart from the above, generally a high quality feel. Anyone accustomed to clones will likely be impressed, at least initially
Terminal grub screws are larger M3.0 size just like the Kylin Mini V2, rather than the smaller M2.5 of the Destiny, Zeus X & many other RTAs.
Seems to have good availability in UK at least, from online vape stores
A nice simple quarter turn screw top conventional design, absent of annoying gimmicks such as wacky flip tops, "child locks", sliding caps with delicate unobtainable gaskets or anything else
An option for those who refuse to buy knockoff clones
Cons
A far narrower build deck than I'd prefer, a very confusing choice. Inter terminal gap only 6.5mm, limiting options for wider gauge wires and limits number of turns with any wire, plus less tolerance for inter-winding gap.
Slightly larger capacity than I'd personally prefer, almost identical to the Dead Rabbit V3, and only a whisker off the mighty Zeus X
On mine, the glass-sealing top O-ring glass does not grip securely meaning it's easy for the glass to fall out and break upon disassembly
On mine, top cap is slightly looser/easier to unscrew than I'd ideally prefer
Lack of spare O-ring kit availability, I haven't yet managed to find any
Conventional top airflow/bottom juice pool RTA design means a hidden base-resident juice pool (although same design principle as Zeus X, Dead Rabbit V3, Arbiter V2 and many other RTAs). Some prefer this, but not me
A highly subjective viewpoint, but I cannot fall in love with this tank. To me it feels like a thoroughly average addition to a well-established marketplace of highly evolved and mostly brilliant RTAs. IMO it attempts to lever a slightly nauseating partnership with a big vaping YouTube channel (Mike's Vapes), in a desperate marketing attempt to compete in a market which is IMO out of its depth. Can it provide a great Dimitri journey? Yes, but will I buy another? No. Would I recommend it? Not really.
What's included. A full set of 7 spare O-rings, two Ni80 coils but only 1 piece of cotton. Allen keys for the terminals plus the 510 pin screw, and coil leg measuring jig. The "100% leak proof" claim is ridiculous marketing baloney, as is the misleading insinuation that this is a bespoke "Reviewer Design" (it's on every box I've seen so far). IMO highly trashy marketing aimed at gullible uneducated punters, do they really have to resort to printing lies to sell this tank?
The included quad-cored 28x4+32 fused claptons with 3.5mm inner diameter. Not a bad choice & fit the Blaze's terminals extremely well, albeit with no room whatsoever for spacing the windings as insurance against contact hotspots. Personally, I'd have preferred a tri-cored 28x3+32 equivalent, just to buy a little more space
Almost exactly the same juice capacity as the Dead Rabbit V3. Great if you prefer larger capacities, and some do
Just about sufficent space for 6 turns of 28x2+30. Adequate, but more would have been nice.
Possibly a great contribution to marketing hype but association with the youtube channel, Mike's Vapes does nothing for its credibility in my eyes.
The 510 connector. Little or no polishing required to get this smooth, unlike the rough flat blade slotted 510 centre pins on most of my clones
Build decks compared for inter-terminal spacing.
Top row (dual coil RTAs) - Arbiter (7.0mm), Dead Rabbit (7.5mm), Zeus X (7.0mm)
Bottom row (single coil RTAs) - Destiny (8.5mm), Mini V2 (10.0mm), Blaze Solo (6.5mm)
As shown, the Blaze Solo is even narrower than any of my dual coil RTAs.
Refreshingly, the inner airflow chamber is held securely into the body by the upper O ring, needing a decisive pull to remove for this pic. Very unlikely to fall out unintentionally.