San RDA Review

The San Mini RDA is a compact 22mm rebuildable atomiser designed for both dual and single coil builds by San Indonesia x Gerobak. Supplied accessories include a beauty ring to increase its footprint, spare parts and a squonk pin for use on bottom-feeding mods. The top cap uses an 810-style drip tip and the airflow is adjusted via the top section of the cap.

This article covers the design, deck layout, build experience, wicking, airflow, squonk use, performance and honest pros and cons for vapers considering the San 22mm RDA.

Key specifications

• Type: Rebuildable dripping atomiser (RDA)
• Diameter: 22mm
• Build styles: Dual coil or single coil
• Deck: Four-post build deck
• Drip tip: 810-style
• Airflow: Adjustable via rotating top cap
• Squonk compatible: Yes, squonk pin included
• Extras: Beauty ring, spare parts

San 22mm RDA Design and build quality

The RDA is small and very compact. The outer cap features a slightly translucent 810 drip tip and a simple rotating top cap for airflow control. The internal deck is a four-post configuration that accommodates either dual or single coil layouts.

General impressions of build quality are positive. The unit presents well for its size and feels solid in the hand. Two small practical issues to be aware of are the very small deck screws and tight O-rings on the top cap. The screws require a smaller driver than typical, and the kit does not include an Allen key required to remove the 510 pin when switching between standard and squonk configurations.

San 22mm RDA Deck and coil options

Deck layout

The deck is compact with four posts and uses small screws to secure coil legs. It is intended to handle dual coils but will work well as a single-coil RDA too.

Coil sizes and resistance

Dual-coil builds will fit comfortably with smaller coils. In testing, dual tri-core fused clapton coils with a 2.5mm internal diameter were used.

For a single-coil setup, a 3.0mm inner diameter coil is more appropriate to avoid overly restricting airflow.

The dual-coil example produced approximately 0.15 ohm.

Building and wicking

Because of the RDA's small size, measure and trim your coils carefully before installing. In practice a trimmed coil lead length of around 4.5mm, measured to suit the deck, worked well for the build shown.

Tiny deck screws mean a small screwdriver is required. Have a selection of compact drivers to hand, and a small Allen key to remove the 510 pin if you plan to switch to squonk use.

Wicking is straightforward. With 2.5mm inner diameter coils, 2.5 pre-cut cotton fits well. Push the cotton down to just above the deck so it sits into the juice well without blocking airflow channels. Prime the coils and wick before firing and use the standard heat-and-squeeze preheat method until hotspots are removed.

San 22mm RDA Performance

Flavour and vapour

The San RDA delivers strong flavour for a 22mm unit. Its compact chamber and tight airflow produce a focused flavour profile, and it generates a significant amount of vapour when built as a dual coil.

Airflow and heat

Airflow is relatively tight, even with dual coils installed. This contributes to intense flavour, but dual builds in this compact chamber can run hot. A single 3mm coil tends to offer a better balance between airflow, heat and flavour for those who prefer a less restricted draw.

Squonk and mod compatibility

The San Mini RDA ships with a squonk pin. To use it on a squonk mod the removable 510 must be swapped, which requires a small Allen key. The RDA works well as a squonk atomiser because of its compact well and good juice retention.

When pairing with regulated devices, the RDA performs well on a variety of box mods. A 21700-compatible voltage-regulated box mod fitted with a YiHi chipset was used in testing. That mod features removable panels, a USB-C port, an LED indicator and a single-battery configuration. It fires quickly and handles the low-resistance dual build used here.

Practical tips

Keep a small set of precision screwdrivers and a compact Allen key in your toolkit for this RDA.

If you prefer cooler builds or more open airflow, opt for a single 3mm ID coil rather than a dual setup.

Use pre-cut cotton sized to the coil ID for cleaner wicking and quicker builds.

If you plan to squonk, swap the 510 pin with the squonk pin before fitting to a BF mod; do this with the correct hex key to avoid damage.

What stands out

• Very compact 22mm footprint that still supports both single and dual coil builds
• Strong flavour thanks to the reduced chamber size and tight airflow
• Squonk pin and beauty ring add useful flexibility out of the box
• More enjoyable for users who prefer careful precise builds rather than large easy-going decks

Things to know before buying

This is not the most forgiving RDA for users who dislike small hardware. The deck screws are very small, the O-rings are tight and the 510 pin swap needs an Allen key that is not included. None of that ruins the experience, but it does mean the San Mini RDA is best appreciated by users who do not mind a little extra setup care.

San 22mm RDA Pros and cons

Pros

• Very compact 22mm footprint that produces strong flavour
• Dual or single coil flexibility
• Includes beauty ring and squonk pin
• Good build quality for a small RDA

Cons

• Very small deck screws. A small screwdriver is required and none are supplied
• 510 pin removal requires an Allen key which is not included
• Top cap O-rings are tight and can be difficult to seat
• Dual-coil builds can run hot in the small chamber

Our verdict on the San 22mm RDA

The San 22mm RDA is a well made compact atomiser that favours flavour and versatility. It works as both a dual and single coil deck, and the inclusion of a beauty ring and squonk pin increases its flexibility. Expect tight airflow and intense flavour from this small chamber. The main practical drawbacks are very small deck screws and tight O-rings, plus the omission of an Allen key for the 510 pin. For vapers who value compact, flavour-focused RDAs and are comfortable with small-scale builds, the San RDA is worth consideration.