RBT Splinter Review – The 510 Sensei

Updated: October 6, 2023

RastaBuddhaTao is a one-man operation who has brought us sweet devices like the Milaana before. Steph sought out to bring the heating tech in the Milaana into a 510-compatible format. Thus, the Splinter was born. A powerhouse of a dry cannabis 510 vape atomizer that can stand toe-to-toe with even desktop units in the right configuration, it’s a real looker. Check out our RBT Splinter review here!

If this is your first dry cannabis vaporizer, check out our useful Cannabis Ranking Chart to see the best and brightest the industry has to offer.

Review: RastaBuddhaTao Splinter (RBT Splinter)

RBT Splinter Review

RBT Splinter heating coils

How it Works

The Splinter is a bit more involved than other devices. Once you’ve found the right mod and twisted the Splinter onto it, load up one of the basket screens. The screen should already be pressed into a stem.

After that just insert the stem, depress the power button of your mod and inhale. We recommend twisting the stem after each hit or so to get the best results.

The RBT Splinter vaporizer is more involved due to the mod selection, firmware choices and of course wattage settings. What settings work for one person is not guaranteed to work for you, so you’ll likely have to tinker around before you can even start getting optimal results.

RBT Splinter available colors

RBT Splinter power control

Temperature Flexibility

The options are limitless in this regard. You have three main options to choose from with the Splinter; the default firmware on your box mod or ArticFox and FunkyJunky firmware for compatible devices. FJ firmware allows you to use ‘Cruise Control’, which we covered in our Tubo Evic review.

So you can go from scorching hot and even combustion to smooth wispy hits that are packed full of flavor. And if you want something with more cloud, then check out the Utillian 421 that has 6 different temperature settings for more options and temperature control. It’s hard to say what the best setting is as it depends on your mod, batteries, preferences, and even ambient temperature!

RBT Splinter mouth piece

Vapor Quality

For a 510 powered device, we were pleasantly surprised. Genuinely a heavy hitter, provided you have a mod capable of the performance.

The cooling stem in our eyes is a must-have accessory and almost makes a water bubbler redundant.

Not to say bong hits with a Splinter aren’t heavenly. Full of flavor, good extraction, and nice clouds of vapor. However, if you are looking for something with better airflow, the Utillian 722 with its convection heating chamber could be it.

RBT Splinter front display

Manufacturing Quality

Gorgeous. Handmade by a 1 man operation, the Splinter and related units are all just great to look at. The heating element is intricate yet durable and extremely powerful. Compatible with most 510 mods (we recommend a good one, however), using an 18mm joint for mouthpiece options, and just built like a tank. Unless you prefer a magnetic cap and mouthpiece like the one featured in the Utillian 722, they’re built to last and we don’t doubt it either!

Included in the set is a basic kit consisting of the atomizer itself, glass mouthpiece, pack of screens, stir stick, and 1-year warranty. Not really anything special and we would’ve liked to see one more mouthpiece included.

RBT Splinter tank

RBT Splinter batteryBattery Life

Whichever mod you choose will play a big role in the battery life. Most single 18650 mods will probably yield you between 4-6 chambers depending on your usage habits.

Double that for mods that house two battery cells. If you’re a daily user and have big group sessions, a double cell mod like the Mighty Vaporizer, would probably do well for you. Most people should be fine with a single 18650 though.

Of course, the battery is removable as well on any mod you’ll want to use with the Splinter, so that’s a big bonus!

RBT Splinter with armor case

Portability

Portability strictly depends on your choice of stem and mod affixed to the Splinter. It is up to you to decide how to use RBT Splinter. No matter which stem and mod you choose though, the entire package is going to be pretty chunky and not so pocket-able.

Not to say it’s not portable, but you’ll want extra-large pockets or something like the Armor Case. Of all the 510 cannabis vape mods, it’s definitely the biggest one. For those looking for similar vapor production in a smaller package definitely check out the Arizer Air 2.

RBT Splinter in hand

Ease of Use

Compared to your standard cannabis vaporizer setup, the Splinter has a bit of a learning curve. But between all the 510 cannabis vaporizer attachments, the Splinter is among the easiest to use.

Though you can fine-tune the experience by adjusting your power settings and even modify the select firmware manually, it doesn’t require some of the more complex steps like others. No coil changing or TCR settings, just fire and forget once you find your ideal wattages.

Cleaning is incredibly simple. The stem and screen are the only pieces that should be in contact with your cannabis, which can be thrown into a glass of isopropyl alcohol and squeaky clean in minutes. About as simple to clean as the Arizer Solo 2, which is one of the easiest vapes to clean of them all.

RBT Splinter in another hand

Discreetness

The RBT Splinter isn’t small by any means. In fact, it’s like a mini log on top of your mod. It has quite the girth and vapes under 28mm in width will have some overhang with the Splinter. The fact it’s so big and bulky (and made of wood) makes it a looker-on top of any mod and will probably generate some attention. If you’re always on the go and need something petite & discreet, it might not be your best pick and we suggest checking out the small but powerful Zeus Arc S Hub.

To add to that, the stem adds a few inches more of length to the whole package and it very much doesn’t look like your average e-cig at that point. Even though you can knock out a fresh bowl in 15-30 seconds flat and it’s on a traditional box mod, it’s not very discreet at all.

RBT Splinter full kitOverall Experience

The Splinter is a pleasant surprise for those who want something capable of converting their box mod into a cannabis vaporizer.

Good hits, great flavor, modular, reliable, well made and just rubs us in all the right ways. However, it’s chunky, you’ll have to tinker with it to get the best results, and it’s not all so portable.

If you have questions about our RBT Splinter vaporizer review or just want to let us know what you think, feel free to drop us a comment below! Thanks for reading and as always, keep vapin’!

Score NaN

Share.
About Author
Avatar for Alex Karakatsanis

Alex is a cannabis enthusiast, long time vaporizer lover, writer and filmmaker. He is also a board and video game nerd with a penchant for hosting a weekly board game night. Partygoers have been heard saying things like “is anyone else going to show up?” and “I don’t think I can make it next week”. He strives to make people laugh at every opportunity and sees cannabis as a helpful tool in doing so.

The reviews and ratings are based on personal and decade-plus of industry experience. Such content is based on the opinion of the Editor/Author. They are solely provided as a basis for research and should be used only as guidance. We encourage thorough research by all visitors to attain the most objective viewpoint before purchasing.