The Best Vape Tanks of 2019 … so far

When we first heard that SMOK was moving past the venerable TFV12 series of vape tanks and introducing a mysterious new line, simply called TF (Taste Furious) we didn’t know what to expect. And when it arrived with the pretty awesome SMOK Morph kit, we were similarly confused by the shorter stature and narrower drip tip. Was SMOK moving away from its “Cloud Beast” branding toward something more workmanlike?

Well, not quite – the SMOK TF is still capable of some pretty righteous cloud production. But it also shows a welcome return to a flavor-first approach – something we’ve wanted from their tanks for some time. With a squattier design capable of holding 6mL of liquid, a new line of proprietary mesh coils and a shorter chimney, the TF is definitely laser-focused on delivering top-tier flavor to users.

The SMOK TF features the requisite company look and feel, so don’t worry about the tank standing out for the wrong reasons, but there’s still an overall sense of reserve that we weren’t expecting, considering the company’s angle for the last few years has been “bigger and badder” in all its products.

The end result is a tank that can satisfy multiple crowds. Flavor fiends, cloud chasers, and even MTL vapers can put the TF through its paces and come out satisfied. If that’s SMOK’s new modus operandi, consider us fans of the revamped approach.

Lastly, the totally new coils last longer than ANY prior SMOK Coil ever made. 

Specs:

• 25mm Base Diameter
• 30mm At Widest Point
• Weight – 75g
• 6mL Maximum Juice Capacity – Convex Glass Extension
• Superior Stainless Steel Construction
• High-Grade Glass Reinforcement
• High-Temperature Resistant – Explosion Proof
• TF Tank BF Coil Technology
• 25ohm TF BF-Mesh Coils – rated for 30-80W
• 5ohm TF Ceramic Coils – rated for 30-60W (Sold Separately)
• Plug-and-Pull Design
• Convenient Top-Fill Rotary Design – Lock Button Mechanism
• Massive Dual Adjustable Airflow Control at Base
• 810 Cobra Resin Ultra-Wide Drip Tip
• Plug-Pull Coil System
• Antibacterial Medical Cotton
• 510 Connection

Vape Tank Contents:

• 1 SMOK TF Sub-Ohm Tank
• 2 0.25ohm TF-BF Mesh Coil – 60-70W
• 1 Bulb Glass
• 1 Standard Glass Replacement
• 1 User Manual
• 1 Spare Part Pack

At this point in the life cycle of the sub-ohm tank, there’s only so many innovations left. But Advken managed to create something altogether unique looking with the Owl Mesh sub-ohm tank. No, it’s not shaped like the bird, nor does it chirp at you whenever you run low on liquid, but it definitely stands out in a lineup.

Looks mean nothing without quality and performance, and this is where Advken gets things right. Made from nearly bomb-proof stainless, this bubble glass-enhanced, sliding top refill tank has its own coil system, and also works pretty well with SMOK’s TFV12 coils, in case you have a few hundred of those still lying around like we do.

We were initially concerned about the capacity – 3mL with the straight glass, 4mL with the included bubble glass  – but the included heads were shockingly sparing on the e-liquid consumption.  I’d go as far as to say they were the least-needy coils I’ve used in 2019 – not a small statement considering how many quality tanks are coming out each week.

But don’t think the frugal consumption comes at the expense of flavor and vapor. Nothing could be further from the truth, as Advken delivers some seriously rich, near-RDA quality flavor in each draw. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but maybe it’s the shallow domed construction that concentrates the flavor toward the lips. Or maybe it’s just a damn good tank… either way, you’re in for a top-tier experience when you attach the Owl to the mod of your choice.

Specs:

• 25mm Diameter
• 3mL Standard Juice Capacity
• 4mL Bubble Glass Capacity
• 30mm Widest Bubble Glass Diameter
• Pyrex Glass Reinforcement
• Superior Stainless Steel Chassis Construction
• Sliding Top Refill System – Push Top
• Advken OWL Mesh Coil Family
• 16ohm Mesh Coil – rated for 60-80W
• 2ohm Mesh Coil – rated for 50-70W
• Knurled Top Airflow Control Ring
• Available in Stainless Steel, Matte Black, Gold, Rainbow, Blue, Coffee, Purple, Green

Contents:

• 1 Advken OWL Mesh Sub-Ohm Tank
• 1 Replacement 3mL Straight Glass
• 1 Pre-installed 0.2ohm Mesh Coil
• 1 0.16ohm Mesh Coil
• 1 Accessory Bag
• 1 Cleaning Cloth
• 1 Advken Manufacturers Card

If I had to pick an MVP company for the first half of 2019, Famovape would definitely be breathing rarified air. Why? Because the relative newcomer not only made my current go-to box mod, the Magma, but now has the awesome VECTOR mesh sub-ohm tank in its arsenal.

Maybe this isn’t an original design – if you have any SMOK TFV12 tanks in your collection, don’t be surprised if the VECTOR blends right in. But the VECTOR managed to stand out from those similar-looking tanks by ramping up the flavor tenfold. No, I’m not exaggerating – Famovape is delivering RDA-quality flavor and vapor production in this tank, with coils that last longer, to boot.

Both the single and dual mesh coils gave me weeks of stellar flavor and vapor performance before showing any signs of tapping out, and the triple mesh coil I just added to the mix is already right on par with its brethren.

Even the resin accents mimic other major tank brands, but still look awesome on the VECTOR. I suppose there’s only so many ways to build a functional vape tank without repeating a few design ideas, but there’s very few companies that produce flavor this rich and nuanced in a sub-ohm tank. For that reason alone, the VECTOR earns its spot, and Famovape earns another win in what has been a VERY impressive year.

Specs:

• 25mm Diameter
• 5mL Maximum Juice Capacity
• Superior Stainless Steel Construction with Resin
• Famovape Vector Mesh Coil System
• 15ohm Vector Single Mesh Coil – Rated for 40-100W
• 2ohm Vector Dual Mesh Coil – Rated for 60-120W
• 15ohm Vector Triple Mesh Coil – Rated for 80-150W
• Dual Bottom Adjustable Airflow Control
• Convenient Push-Slide Top Fill Design
• 810 Cobra Resin Widebore Drip Tip
• Gold-Plated 510 Connection
• Available in Stainless, Black, Gold, Rainbow, Blue

Contents:

• 1 VECTOR Tank
• 1 0.15ohm Vector Single Mesh Coil
• 1 0.2ohm Vector Dual Mesh Coil
• 1 Spare Glass Tube
• 1 Set of Spare Parts

Uwell’s standards of excellence didn’t take any time off with the Crown 4. While it might not be as groundbreaking as previous entries were in the grand scheme of the vaping industry, it’s a nice step toward bringing the company’s staunch design a little closer to its competitors. The Crown series has always been about “no nonsense” vaping, but this is a nice half-step toward boosting the series’ appeal to flavor fiends and cloud junkies alike.

The real beauty of this tank lies under the hood, where a number of design changes are apparent. First, the Pro Flavor Core Optimization System (Pro-FOCS), which supposedly “recycles” the airflow within the tank body through the coil’s core, enhancing flavor density in each puff.

Maybe it’s not quite the technological marvel the marketing docs would have you believe. (And the name could use a little work, too). But once these proprietary coils break in, and you get maximum flavor without refilling as often as you do with other tanks, you’re not likely to care.

Just as we said months ago when reviewing the Crown IV, Uwell was and is a master of prebuilt vape coil flavor. And for most of us, that’s more than enough.

Specs:

• 28mm Diameter
• 5mL Standard Glass
• 6mL Bubble Glass Tank
• Superior Stainless Steel Construction
• Pyrex Glass Reinforcement
• Quarter Turn Threaded Top Refill System
• Uwell Crown 4 Coil Line
• 2ohm Dual SS904L Coil – rated for 70-80W
• 4ohm Dual SS904L Coil – rated for 60-70W
• 25ohm SS304 UN1 Coil – rated for 55-65W
• 23ohm FeCrAl UN2 Coil – rated for 60-70W
• Dual SS904L Coil – Corrosion-Resistance
• Double Helix Mesh Coil
• Self Cleaning Technology
• Pro-Flavor Optimization Core System
• Dual Knurled Adjustable Bottom Airflow Control Ring
• Gold-Plated 510 Connection
• Detachable Structure
• Available in Black, Blue, Green, Rainbow, Purple, Stainless Steel

Contents:

• 1 Uwell Crown IV (4) Tank
• 1 Spare Glass Tube
• 1 0.4ohm Dual SS904L Coil – rated for 60-70W
• 0.2ohm Dual SS904L Coil – rated for 70-80W
• 1 Pack of O-Rings
• 1 User’s Manual
• 1 Drip Tip Cover

The partnership of Innokin Technologies and long-time vape personalities Phil Busardo and Dimitris Agrafiotis has resulted in some SERIOUSLY good gear for all types of users, with a specific focus on mouth-to-lung vapers. And the collaboration’s latest – the Innokin ZLIDE MTL tank – is arguably the company’s best atomizer to date.

Compatible with the growing line of Z-coils, the Zlide is capable of all types of vaping, using either the 0.48-ohm or 1.6-ohm Kanthal mesh coils. But when you put it to use as an MTL rig, the Zlide shines brightest. Thanks to a narrower drip tip than competing tanks, and a short, no-nonsense chimney, the Zlide continues Innokin’s focus on flavor in grand style.

Equally comfortable with nicotine salt and traditional e-liquids, the Z-series coils have made a strong name for themselves as long-lasting and versatile. And since the series continues to add new coil varieties to its collection, there’s no reason you can’t use the Zlide as your one “all-encompassing” tank, rather than carrying several on you at all times.

Plus the Zlide is built to last! From the protective exterior cage to the locking drip tip and leak-free airflow, Innokin has made a tank that can survive a few falls, remaining safe and reliable throughout.

Specs:

• Collaboration with Phil Busardo, Dimitris Agrafiotis, and Innokin
• 22mm Diameter
• 2mL Juice Capacity
• Pyrex Glass Reinforcement
• Superior Stainless Steel Construction
• Top Refill System – Sliding Top Cap
• Removable Sliding Top Cap
• Innokin Z-Coil Line
• 48ohm Kanthal 3D Mesh Coil – rated for 13-16W
• 6ohm Kanthal Coil – rated for 10W
• Compatible with entire Z-Coil Line
• Detachable Structure
• Locking 510 Proprietary Drip Tip
• 510 Connection
• Available in Black, Stainless Steel, Blue, and Bronze

Contents:

•     1 Innokin ZLIDE MTL Tank
•     1 0.48ohm KA 3D Mesh Coil
•     1 1.6ohm KA Coil
•     2 Drip Tips
•     1 Replacement Glass Tube
•     1 O-Ring Seals
•   1 Silicone Seal

Why waste time with a verdict – in my opinion, the Falcon King is far and away the best in Horizon’s collection yet. It’s also one of the best-looking, and best-performing sub-ohm tanks of the year. (That’s why it’s on the list, after all...)

If you’re not familiar with HorizonTech’s tanks, they’ve been great at creating simple, effective new ways to wick e-liquid to their coils, and their latest mesh offerings continue the trend in grand fashion, blending the mesh we know and love with bamboo fiber blend cotton. This results in smooth-wicking, pure flavor performance unmatched by most any tank on the market.

With a 6mL capacity, you might find yourself refilling the Falcon King more often than expected. But with the free-flow wicking and resulting flavor, I’m not really sure you’ll care. Even my thickest, most-viscous max-VG liquids flowed through the tank and coil effortlessly, giving me a vape that was completely free of dry hits or off-putting flavors.

My liquids tasted just as good in the Falcon King vape tank as they did on my finest RDAs, and the vapor production nearly matched – yes, we’ve seen some serious developments in sub-ohm coil design over the last few years, but the gap between drippers and tanks has never been narrower. Plus, they last a good amount of time, even with countless heavy chain vape sessions under its belt.

I look forward to seeing how HorizonTech advances this series. But if they never produce another tank again, I’ll likely still be using the Falcon King when they bow out of the race.

Vape Tank Specs:

• 4mm Base Diameter
• 2mm BulB Glass Diameter
• 4mL Standard Juice Capacity
• 6mL Bubble Glass Expansion
• Superior Stainless Steel Construction
• Pyrex Glass Reinforcement
• Beautiful Resin Widebore Drip Tip
• HorizonTech Falcon Coil System – Cross-Compatible w/ Other Models
• New Coil Structure – Bamboo Fibers
• 38ohm M-Dual Mesh Coil – Bamboo Fibers – Rated for 80W
• 16ohm M1+ Mesh Coil – Bamboo Fibers – Rated for 75W
• Cross Compatibility with F1, F2, F3, M1, M2, M-Triple Coils
• Convenient Top-Fill Rotary Design – Lock Button Mechanism
• Massive Dual Adjustable Airflow Control at Base
• 510 Connection
• Available in Stainless Chrome, Black, Gunmetal, Coffee Bronze, Carbon Black, Rainbow, Green, Purple, Blue, Rainbow

Contents:

• 1 FALCON KING Tank
• 1 0.38ohm M-Dual Mesh Coil
• 1 0.15ohm M1 Mesh Coil
• 1 Spare Glass Tube
• 1 Spare Accessory Bag
• 1 Instructional Manual

Full Disclosure: We’re still not 100% onboard with the recent disposable sub-ohm tank movement. In fact, Dave and Julia believe these disposable sub-ohms are the worst idea ever. While the idea might be a cheap, easy way to get new vapers onboard, we can’t really support a world with more wasted plastic. There are others that swear by them, not to them. So, they made the list.

We can’t ignore how these disposable tanks are popping up in vape shops everywhere, and the Augvape Jewel is the best example we’ve seen. These mesh offerings certainly make a tremendous first impression with their performance, right out of the box.

After just a few minutes of soaking the tank filled my room with some of the most-flavorful vapor I’ve enjoyed in some time. I simply couldn’t believe that so much performance lied under the hood of this otherwise cheap-looking atomizer.

I was tasting things in my juice that hadn’t been noticeable in ages – and because the kit comes with three of them, I found myself trying older juices I had long abandoned, just to see the flavor clarity that came with the experience. And it was like tasting them again for the first time.

Maybe the longevity isn’t QUITE where we want it to be, but at this price point (roughly $12 for three tanks) there’s certainly no room to quibble. If you’re interested in sub-ohm vaping but don’t want to commit to a larger tank setup… or even if you’re just looking for something inexpensive for a road trip so you don’t put your gear at risk, the Augvape Jewel needs to be on your shopping list.

Specs:

• 26mm Diameter
• 0mL Tank Capacity
• Material: Food-Grade Polycarbonate Construction
• Integrated 0.15ohm Mesh Coil – rated for 50-70W
• Coil Resistance: 0.15ohm
• Wattage Range: 50-70W
• Top Fill System – Rubber Stoppered
• Dual Slotted Airflow Control Ring System
• 510 Connection
• Available in Black, Clear, Blue, Red

Contents:

• 3 Augvape Jewel Disposable Mesh Sub-Ohm Tanks

Augvape is another company having a great year, especially when it comes to tanks. On the other end of the spectrum from their own Jewel disposables lies arguably the best tank of this (or any) year, the Skynet PRO vape tank.

When we first reviewed the Skynet PRO late last year, we absolutely raved about the ridiculous flavor and vapor performance, even recommending that you don’t vape this in a car unless the windows were WIDE open. Well, we weren’t exaggerating, since the PRO remains one of the most voluminous cloud chuckers in our collections. And with a 7.1mL capacity with the included bubble glass, the clouds go on a lot longer between fills than most tanks could even consider offering.

Sure, the coils are a little thirsty, and they have nowhere near the coil life of the older Skynet sub-ohm from Augvape, but with results like this, who could really argue? Considering the heads gave us less life expectancy than we wanted, the Skynet PRO still offers a good value, even beyond the amazingly low price (less than $25USD) for the entire setup.

And in one final gesture toward flavor-loving vapers, the Skynet PRO is also compatible with the equally amazing FreeMax mesh pro coils, leading the one of the most comprehensive tank offerings on the market today, not to mention longer coil life with the Freemax Mesh coils.

Specs:

• 25mm Diameter
• 8mL Standard Juice Capacity
• 1mL Bubble Juice Capacity
• Superior Stainless Steel Construction
• Pyrex Glass Reinforcement
• Augvape Skynet Mesh Coil Family
• 2ohm S2 Double Mesh Coil – rated for 65-100W
• 15ohm S3 Mesh Coil – rated for 90-120W
• Compatible with FreeMax Mesh Pro Coils
• Threaded and Knurled Top Fill System
• Triple Slotted Adjustable Airflow Control Ring
• Detachable Structure
• 810 Widebore Drip Tip
• 510 Connection
• Available in Black, Rainbow, Stainless Steel

Vape Tank Contents:

• 1 Skynet PRO Sub-Ohm Tank
• 1 Standard Glass Section
• 1 0.2 Double Mesh Coil
• 1 Bag of O-Rings

We haven’t loved everything Vaporesso has delivered (honestly, what vape company has a perfect record, anyway?) but when they make something awesome, it’s TRULY awesome. And the Vaporesso SKRR is definitely on that list.

With a massive 8mL e-liquid capacity, child-proof top-fill port, fantastic, leak-free airflow system and a series of coils that rival most anything out there, the SKRR is a pinnacle of modern vape tank design. Like HorizonTech’s recent coils, the SKRR QF coil system uses a blend of cotton and flax paper to better direct e-liquid to the coil, rather than elsewhere, for efficient, no-fuss juice flow throughout.

More interestingly, the SKRR offers an interesting “recycling” feature that takes stray droplets of unvaporized liquid and recirculates them to the coil via an internal reservoir, improving juice efficiency and reducing unnecessary refills.

Plus, even though there are currently four available flax coil options that fit the SKRR, we also enjoyed the ceramic CCELL design, and the long-lasting performance that came with them. Variety and options are a big plus when it comes to modern vaping, and Vaporesso brings the results in spades.

Specs:

• 30mm Diameter At Widest Point
• 8mL Max Juice Capacity
• Superior Stainlesss Steel Construction
• Pyrex Glass Reinforcement
• Quadflow QF Air Distribution System
• Vaporesso QF Coil System – Flax & Cotton Wicks
• 15ohm QF Meshed – Rated for 55-85W
• 15ohm QF Strip – Rated for 60-90W
• 5ohm QF CCELL SS316L – Rated for 50-75W
• Vaporesso GT Coil Compatible
• Quad Trapezoid-Shaped Airflow Control
• Slide-n-Fill Design – Convenient Top-Fill
• Resin Widebore Drip Tip
• 510 Connection
• Available in Green, Red, Black, Blue, Stainless, Gold, Rainbow, Champagne Gold

Contents:

• 1 SKRR Sub-Ohm Tank
• 1 0.15ohm QF Meshed Coil
• 1 0.15ohm QF Strip Coil
• 1 0.5ohm QF CCELL SS316L Coil
• 1 Silicone Case
• 1 Spare O-Rings
• 1 User Guide
• 1 Warranty Card

As much as I love the Augvape Skynet PRO vape tank, we didn’t get too far into 2019 before it was supplanted atop my personal list of favorite sub-ohm tanks by the amazing Geek Vape Alpha. Not just because it delivers unreal flavor and vapor, but also because it did so without leaking, and with coils that lasted WEEKS longer than competing products.

You see, the tank’s proprietary MeshMellow (silly name, serious performance) coil system is about as flawless a setup as any tank could ever claim. Ideal flavor clarity, ridiculous vapor production, and durability that leaves the competition in the dust? Yeah, sign us up.

The secret to the Alpha’s coil success is the same thing that makes hotel sheets so amazing – Egyptian cotton. Normally, I’d attribute this to cheesy marketing tactics, but the cotton offers instantly noticeable results. Not only does it wick ridiculously fast, but the clean flavor and vapor output is tremendous right from the start. No break-in, no waiting – just fill, soak and vape within a minute or two. Even better, the coils produce top-quality results right up until the end of their lifespan, when they slowly fade away, rather than ruining your day with sour flavor and limp vapor.

I also enjoyed how the Alpha stayed cool, even at high wattages – something most tanks on this list wouldn’t even try to claim. Comfortable, flavorful, long-lasting – the Geek Vape Alpha needs to be on your short list of tanks to own. That’s why it’s sitting on top of ours.

Specs:

• 25mm Base Diameter
• 4mL Maximum Juice Capacity
• Stainless Steel & Beautiful Resin Construction
• High-Grade Glass Reinforcement
• GeekVape MeshMellow Coil System
• 2ohm MM X1 Single Mesh Coil – Rated for 60-110W
• 4ohm MM X2 Dual Mesh Coil – Rated for 50-80W
• Premium Egyptian Cotton
• Top-Fill Rotary Design – Lock Button Mechanism
• Dual Adjustable Airflow Control at Base
• 810 18mm Wide Resin Drip Tip
• 510 Connection
• Available in Silver Ember, Silver Twilight, Silver Flare, Black Onyx, Blue Onyx

Vape Tank Contents:

• 1 Alpha Sub-Ohm Tank
• 1 0.2ohm MM X1 Coil
• 1 0.4ohm MM X2 Coil
• 1 Spare Glass Tube
• 1 Instructional Manual