Arguably, the most important part of an e-cigarette is the vape tank (or pod).
Sure, you can find a lot of modes in an advanced device. But their essential function is to provide power to your tank. It’s the tank that converts that power into vapour, flavour and nicotine.
There’s a lot that goes into providing a great tank and it’s different for every tank, depending on what you need out of it.
For example, if you want a sub-ohm tank for big clouds of vapour, you’ll need a tank with plenty of wicking, a low resistance mesh coil, a design that funnels air up, wide, adjustable airflow holes and a wide-bore drip tip. Or, if you’re new to vaping, you’d more likely want a tank with a high-resistance coil, a narrow bore drip tip and a tighter airflow.
As with our other round-up posts, rather than identify the overall ‘best’ tanks, we start by identifying different needs and then match the best tanks for them.
If you are looking for a mod to go with these tanks do check out our best vape mods post. Meanwhile, if you prefer your tank to come as part of a complete kit, you’ll find options available on our best vape kits post.
Contents
- Best vape tanks at a glance
- Best vape tank for big clouds
- Best MTL tanks
- Best vape tanks for beginners
- Best vape tanks for flavour
- Toughest vape tank
- Best all-round vape tank
- How we chose the best vape tanks
Tank | Best For | What's Special? |
Smok T-Air | Clouds | - Dense clouds - Longer-lasting coils - Easy top filling |
Aspire Nautilus 3 | Mouth-to-Lung | - Wide airflow range - Sliding top fill - Choice of drip tips |
Innokin Go S | Beginners | - Fixed coil - Easy to fill |
Innokin GoMax | Direct-Lung Beginners | - Fixed low-resistance coil - Easy sliding top fill - Adjustable airflow |
Vaporesso iTank 2 | Direct-lung Flavour | - Innovative turbo airflow system - Mesh design coils - Easy filling & coil changes |
Innokin Zlide Top | Toughness | - Robust build - Supports MTL, RDL & DL vaping - Childproof sliding top fill |
Voopoo PNP-X Pod Tank | All Round Tank | - Doubles as a pod & tank - Supports MTL & DL vaping - Can be paired with a wide range of devices |
Reviewed by: Maya, ECD Team
As a self-confessed cloud chaser who’s partial to using high-powered mods, I need a vape tank that can handle high power and my preferred high-VG e-liquid.
I tested the Smok T-Air tank as part of the Morph 3 mod kit (you can read my full kit review here) and, having experienced issues with Smok tanks in the past, I was very impressed with many aspects from the design and inhale to the coil life.
Using the included 0.2ohm TA coil at 65W, I found the tank produced excellent flavour and the unique airflow design was great for creating a smooth, airy inhale with plenty of vapour - perfect for us cloud chasers!
My Direct-Lung vaping style and frequent use means I’m used to coils not lasting me more than a few days, especially at the lower end of the resistance scale. So, I was very impressed when a single coil lasted 6 days before needing to be replaced!
Design-wise, the tank has a solid, sturdy build (as I discovered when I accidentally dropped it!). However, I did find the base of the tank a little stiff to remove when changing coils. The top-filling port is a nice touch too - not only conveniently positioned but large enough for the 100ml shortfill bottles I use.
The only other small negative I found regarding the construction was a slight gap between the airflow ring and the top of the tank - which made it feel a little loose.
Overall, apart from a couple of minor niggles, this is a great tank if you’re looking for clouds, flavour and a sturdy design with long-lasting coils.
What we like:
- Smooth inhale with large clouds
- Long-lasting coils
- Large, convenient top-filling port
Aspire’s Nautilus tank series already has a reputation for producing great vape tanks and the latest in the collection, the Nautilus 3 tank, is no exception.
Compatible with the Nautilus coil range, the tank can be used for both Mouth-to-Lung and Direct-Lung vaping styles but really comes into its own as an MTL tank.
The strength of the Nautilus 3 tank lies in its wide airflow range - with 7 airflow holes ranging in size from a narrow 0.8mm all the way up to a wide 30mm. This gives users a chance to precisely tailor the airflow to create a very restricted or very airy vape depending on what they prefer. As well as the airflow ring, the Nautilus 3 tanks come with a choice of both a wide and a narrow drip tip to further tailor the draw.
The tank also benefits from easy-to-use features suited to even the most inexperienced vapers, including leak-free coil installation thanks to sliding shutters on the coil chamber and a sliding top-fill cap.
Works best for Mouth-to-Lung vapers who might want to occasionally play around with Direct-Lung vaping.
What we like:
- Wide airflow range
- Sliding top fill
- Choice of drip tips
The Innokin GO S tank is perfect for beginner vapers as a very simple and easy-to-use MTL tank as minimal settings mean it’s a great setup for fuss-free vaping.
While they were originally intended for the Go S device, Go S tanks have a 510 connection which means they can be used with most vape mods. What’s more, its high-resistance coils mean you don’t need a high-powered device to get the most out of it.
For new vapers, or those with reduced mobility, the mechanics of changing coils can be confusing and time-consuming. This is particularly challenging for former smokers trying to resist the urge to pick up a cigarette. Luckily, the Go-S tank has a fixed, 1.6Ω kanthal coil which means there’s no need for fiddly coil changes. When the coil is used up you simply replace the whole tank. That doesn’t mean taste is compromised - the fixed kanthal coils use organic cotton and wood pulp wicking for improved flavour.
The Go S tank also has a quick and easy slide-to-open design which makes filling it with e-liquid quick,easy and mess-free.
Although very simple, the Go S tank does feature an adjustable airflow ring so you can tailor the air intake for a tighter or airier vape. That makes it perfect for beginners who want to experiment with their vaping as they go along.
What we like:
- Fixed coil
- Easy to fill
Following on from the Go-S, in 2021 Innokin released a new groundbreaking update - the GoMax tank.
With all the ease of use and features of the popular Go-S (including sliding top fill and adjustable airflow), the GoMax is the first disposable tank that allows new users to enjoy large clouds without the hassle of coil changes.
At a cost of just £2.49, the GoMax tank offers a budget-friendly option for vapers to try Direct-Lung vaping without the cost or complexity of an advanced tank.
Featuring a fixed 0.19Ω coil that can handle up to 80W, the GoMax tank isn’t restricted to low-powered beginner devices - meaning users can experiment with higher-powered devices and high VG e-liquids and shortfills.
For an easy-to-use companion to the GoMax tank see the GoMax device, which features all the power needed for the tank - while still being super easy to use with a single-button design and auto wattage setting.
What we like
- Fixed low-resistance coil
- Easy sliding top fill
- Adjustable airflow
Reviewed by: Corey, ECD Team
Having used many Direct-Lung vape tanks in the past, I was excited to try the Vaporesso’s iTank 2 - especially considering what it has to live up to…
The original iTank was previously on this list for its great flavour. In fact, when paired with the Target 100 mod, we found it produced the best flavour we’ve seen.
The newer iTank 2 not only lives up to the original - but surpasses it. I’d even go as far as to say it’s the best Direct-Lung (DL) tank I’ve used!
This is a high-quality tank with top-notch flavour production and the new spring-release top fill design is a big improvement over the original.
Larger airflow holes do mean this tank gives a more airy inhale but if that’s not your preference you can always use the adjustable airflow ring to create a more restricted draw.
The compatible GTI coils also have a seriously impressive lifespan. Using the included 0.2ohm coil at 70W, I didn’t need to replace the coil for 6 days - much longer than most other low-resistance coil ranges I’ve tried.
Overall, this is a great tank for those who value rich flavour, quality design and long-lasting coils.
The iTank 2 can be purchased individually or as part of the Target 100 and Target 200 mod kits - read my full kit review here to find out what this kit has to offer.
What we like:
- Turbo airflow system
- Mesh coils for great flavour & vapour
- Convenient top-filling & push-fit coil installation
Innokin’s Zlide has long been one of our favourite vape tanks thanks to its toughness and versatility. The updated Zlide Top tank retains this durable design while adding a new and improved top-placed airflow for more precise control and extra protection against leaks.
A great all-rounder, this new incarnation retains the Zlide’s versatility too. Working with the Z coil range, the Zlide Top is able to support both MTL and DL styles, while the new and improved airflow control means you can switch between a tighter or looser inhale. The sliding top fill design also makes refilling quick and easy.
The only downside you may find with the Zlide Top is the screw-in design of the compatible Z coils - which are a little more fiddly than the newer, push-fit designs we’re seeing.
What we like:
- Tough design
- Supports MTL & DL vaping
- Precise airflow control
- Easy sliding top fill
The Voopoo PNP-X Pod Tank doubles as both a magnetic-based pod for Voopoo devices including the Drag Series, and a 510 connection tank that can be used with most other mods. An update on the original PnP Pod Tank, this new iteration comes with new and improved airflow and more convenient filling.
The PnP-X pod tank works with PnP coils to support both MTL and DL vaping styles and can be paired with devices ranging anywhere from 12W - 80W. Newly added 360° adjustable infinite airflow also gives you precise control over your inhale.
The addition of a side-filling port is also a more convenient update compared to the original’s bottom-filling design.
What we like:
- Versatile pod tank design
- Supports MTL & DL vaping
- 360° adjustable infinite airflow
To select the tanks here we’ve used a combination of our own ratings, the popularity of these devices, both in terms of sales and ‘on the scene’, as well as taking into account customer feedback.
Very occasionally, we’ll add a just launched tank to the list – but only if it totally blows us away in testing.
All of the tanks here are made to UK standards and are compliant with EU and UK regulations.