A few hundred reviews ago, I recall using a term – I think it was “unnecessarily awesome.” And I thought I’d never use it again. Yet, months later, here we are. Because the Sense Herakles III 24 Sub-Ohm Vape Tank does everything it needs to, nothing it shouldn’t, and yet left this reviewer slightly underwhelmed.

It’s a confusing dilemma, to be sure. But – as good as the Herakles III is – I can’t help but wonder if it offers anything beyond what most vapers already have in some form or another. Let’s take a deeper look at Sense’s latest, to see if it’s filling a need for Sub-Ohm Vapers, or if it’s just a shinier version of something you already own.

The vaping world has changed immensely since the original Herakles hit the streets, but don’t tell Sense this – the Herakles III 24 is a testament to streamlined, proven design, and no-frills design choices. It’s not the biggest. It’s not the cloudiest. It WANTS to be the most flavorful and reliable, but even that claim isn’t boosted by any major advancements.

If you’ve seen a Sub-Ohm Vape Tank from 2015, you’ve basically seen the Herakles III 24. At a conservative 62.8mm tall, and a relatively low 4.5mL capacity, it’s clear that Sense wasn’t aiming for world records here.

The same goes for the “triple adjustable airflow” system, which is a meaningless term, because it’s nothing more than a simple, cyclops-style AFC ring, with nothing separating it from the myriad other airflow control systems in your possession. It works perfectly fine, but Sense didn’t need to give this one a name or “system” designation.

The hinged, flip-top cap is also familiar, though the Herakles III has one of the more-secure ones we’ve seen. It locks securely and doesn’t get a lot of that annoying condensation that gathers on most Vape Tanks these days. Consider this a plus.

But what the Herakles III lacks in standout features, it makes up for in staunch, almost-defiant adherence to proven design. At Sense’s offices, if it ain’t broke…

Whereas the body and operations of the Herakles III 24 speak to the past, Sense’s commitment to new, better-performing coil technology is evident here. And they’re also speaking to value, because these heads are interchangeable with those from the recently released Sense V-Jet (which we loved, by the way).

Like I mentioned in the preview, we are tirelessly dedicated to helping vapers find the utmost value from their vaping purchases, and interchangeable coil systems go a long way toward making that happen.

Unfortunately, if there is going to be cross-compatibility, then the different Vape Tanks should offer unique experiences, no? When using the same coils on both the V-Jet Vape Tank and the Herakles III I couldn’t notice one iota of difference. And the similar shape and styling of these Vape Tanks only further highlighted the problem – after a few puffs, I simply couldn’t tell the two devices apart.

But fans, rest easy – these vertical coils are great performers. Their vapor production is strong, and the flavor is outright fantastic. The coils are low-resistance, and produce a lot of fog, even at the recommended 45-55 watts, without sacrificing flavor. Pushing them a little harder saw only SLIGHT reduction in flavor quality at higher wattages, but no one will walk away from these coils disappointed.

Even better, these things last a long, long time. They performed like champs on the V-Jet Vape Tank, and they do just as well on the Herakles III. After two weeks of testing, both of the included coils are still flavorful and producing abundant vapor. Only now, 14-15 days later, am I starting to notice some fatigue.

Sure, I’m vaping them at lower wattages than I normally use. Sure, I’m not exclusively using this Vape Tank. But my testing is pretty thorough, and I can imagine people getting the same longevity in everyday use.

This is where my term “unnecessarily awesome” comes into play. Because the Sense Herakles III 24 Vape Tank is a great atomizer. It’s sleek, compact, long-lasting and extremely flavorful. But so was my original Sense Herakles. (reviewed here) (And it still is!)

That aside, flavor-focused vapers should strongly consider the Herakles III if they don’t have similar Sense Vape Tanks in their collections already. Because it has proven to be one of the most flavorful Vape Tank/coil combinations I’ve used in some time.

I started off with a Moderate 60/40 VG/PG blend – which I hadn’t vaped in a long while — to help do a little “break-in” before throwing thicker juices at the 0.6-ohm V-Jet coil. Well, they didn’t take long to do so, and before I knew it, I was enjoying rich, surprisingly thick vapor and Moderate wattages. It was so enjoyable, I vaped most of that dusty bottle, even though it had been sitting on my shelf for nearly a year.

Swapping to the 0.4-ohm coil, I cleaned the Herakles III 24 and added a thicker, more viscous 80/20 PG/VG blend, and was equally pleased with its performance. Upping the power just a touch to 65 watts, the Herakles III and coils wicked efficiently, bringing consistent flavor and vapor, even when chain vaping.

I tried to “stress test” the coils past their stated 100-watt limit, but truthfully, those numbers should be adjusted. Even at 85 watts, I noticed a depreciation of flavor and vapor, with the Vape Tank becoming uncomfortably hot. This isn’t a high-wattage Vape Tank, and I believe the 100-watt limit is a misnomer.

Instead, use these coils in their sweet spot – 45-65 watts. There, you’ll see just how little power you need to create warm, rich vapor. It’s wholly satisfying at this level, with no need to go higher.

In terms of juice consumption, the Herakles III sips where other Vape Tanks swallow. Of course, a lot of this has to do with the coils themselves, and the lower wattages at which I vaped. But the Vape Tank’s simple, no-nonsense design harkens back to a simpler era, when people were using 30mL per week, not per day.

Bottom line: The Sense Herakles III 24 Sub-Ohm Vape Tank is a great mid-wattage atomizer, which provides a ton of flavor and ample vapor for users who aren’t solely focused on fogging up a clear winter night. Is it awfully close in performance to other Sense Vape Tanks? Yes. Is it a little underwhelming? Also, yes. And is the stated wattage limit misleading? Absolutely.

But if you want pure flavor and haven’t yet added a Sense Vape Tank to your collection, this is the perfect entry point.

Score: B+

Available Now at Vapor Authority

Sense Herakles III Vape Tank Specs:

• 24mm Diameter
• 4.5mL Maximum Juice Capacity
• Superior Stainless-Steel Construction
• High-Grade Glass Reinforcement
• Innovative Flip Top-Fill Design with Hinged Lock
• Triple Adjustable Airflow Control at Base – 9mm by 2mm Each
• V-Jet Coil System – Large Single Vertical Structure
• 0.4-ohm Kanthal V-Jet Coil – rated for 40-100W
• 0.6-ohm Kanthal V-Jet Coil – rated for 40-100W
• 11mm Resin Wide Bore Drip Tip
• Copper-Plated 510 Connection
• Available in Stainless Steel, Black, Blue, Rainbow

Sense Herakles II Vape Tank Contents:

• 1 Herakles 3 Sub-Ohm Vape Tank
• 1 0.4-ohm Kanthal V-Jet Coil
• 1 0.6-ohm Kanthal V-Jet Coil
• 1 Spare Glass Tube
• Replacement O-Ring
• Instructional Manual