Best Sub-Ohm Tanks To Buy In 2024: Bow Down To The Cloud Chasing Kings
Sub-Ohm tanks, as the name suggests, are tanks (usually with a DTL vape style) that utilize coils with a resistance of less than one Ohm. The lower a tank’s coil resistance is, the thicker and larger the vapor it produces, which means that you’ll get more flavor out of your e-liquid. So, if you’re looking to chuck flavorful, massive clouds, a sub-ohm vape tank might be what you’re looking for.
Our Comprehensive Sub-Ohm Tank Review Process
The sub-ohm tanks featured in this review have been chosen with coil resistance, battery voltage, and wattage in mind. While all of these factors play a role in determining the overall experience a vape tank has to offer, we gave coil resistance a bit more attention since it really defines sub-ohm vaping, immensely affecting a tank’s overall performance with just a slight change. Battery voltage and wattage, on the other hand, are responsible for a tank’s actual generated power and the amount of vapor and flavor it is capable of producing.
Top 9 Sub-Ohm Tanks: Editor’s Choice
With the huge number of sub-ohm tanks flooding the market today, choosing the best one might seem like a task. With hours and hours of research and testing, we’ve gathered seven models that we think do the job best. Read on to find out.
Freemax FireLuke 2 – Best Sub-Ohm Tank 2024
The Freemax FireLuke 2 sub-ohm tank comes with five mesh coils (TX1, TX2, TNX2, TX3, and TX4) to choose from, and sports a slide-to-open top-filling system with a patented 360-degree e-juice feeding design referred to as Vent Hole that quickens the filling process while also preventing leaking.
It sports an 810 wide-bore metal drip tip that manages to deliver larger vapor with every hit. Its wicking formulation is quite interesting as well – a patented combination of 90% tea tree fiber cotton and 10% organic cotton.
This wicking formulation, combined with a diamond-patterned coil, enhances the flavor and brings a smoother airflow and even heating for a luxurious vaping experience. The coil’s surface also does a great job producing vapor instantly and uniformly throughout the whole coil.
What we like:
- Has a flawless design, machining, fit, and finish
- Each of the five coil head options produces rich vapor and delivers tons of fantastic flavor while also having an impressive longevity
- Its Vent Hole design keeps positive pressure from building up and prevents dry hits
- The coils do not eat up much e-liquid
- Its anti-spit back 810 drip tip lives up to its name and has a fresh mouthfeel (temperature-wise)
- Features a gold-plated 510 connection
- The stainless-steel frame does not get hot or uncomfortable even when the tank is set to the highest wattage it can handle
- Has a smooth draw with a not so restrictive airflow
- The slide-to-open top-filling system makes refilling a lot easier
- The airflow control ring has the right amount of tension and is grippy
- Having a 24mm diameter, the tank sits nicely atop most mods without overhang
What we don’t like:
- The slide-to-open top-filling system doesn’t have a locking mechanism to hold it in place
- The airflow control ring is super tight
- The Vent Hole design could be a bit bigger
Uwell Crown IV- Runner-up
The Uwell Crown IV is Uwell’s flagship sub-ohm tank that comes with a new line of Crown coils.
With improved materials and construction, a striking visual design, the integration of the patented Pro Flavor Core Optimization System (Pro-FOCS), and a brand new patented self-cleaning technology within the atomizer core of its coils, the Crown IV is indeed very appealing to cloud junkies and flavor fiends alike.
Its self-cleaning technology absorbs excess e-liquid and puts them into a condensation holder to be vaped later on. The Pro Flavor Core Optimization System, on the other hand, recycles the air intake twice through the atomizer’s core.
Together, these technologies make for additional flavor while also eliminating airflow drip and mess in the coil base to produce a more efficient vape. Furthermore, the knurling at the top and bottom ends of the tank makes airflow manipulation and accessing the top fill system easier.
What we like:
- Is overall very well-designed and the build quality is top-notch
- Has a sturdier construction than previous tanks in the Crown series
- Features a simplified ¼ turn top cap and a top fill port with four kidney-shaped fill ports
- The push-in coil design makes it extremely easy to replace a coil
- Has several coil options, all with good coil life
- The included mesh coil produces a fantastic, lovely flavor and has a really smooth hit
- The stainless-steel standard coils have an above-average performance that’s almost close to the mesh
- Has an excellent and not overpowered airflow that stays silent even when fully opened
- Utilizes an innovative self-cleaning technology
- Has an outstanding vapor production; produces rich and deep flavor
- The stock drip tip is comfortable to vape on and helps with flavor concentration
- Doesn’t leak and there isn’t any spit back
What we don’t like:
- The stock drip tip limits vapor production a little
- The top cap could be a little grippier as it is hard to unscrew
- The stainless-steel standard coils heat the tank up a little when chain vaping
- Makes use of 510 instead of 810
Freemax Mesh Pro Sub Ohm-Tank
The Freemax Mesh Pro sub-ohm tank has a multi-mesh coil system that supports double, triple, quad, and quintuple mesh coil technology. That said, the Mesh Pro can handle higher wattage output ranging from 80 to 110 watts with ease.
It adopts the slide-to-fill top-filling system that only requires a simple slide of the top cap for a straightforward refilling process. Like the Freemax FireLuke 2, this sub-ohm tank also features the patented Vent Hole design for a quick filling process and keeps the vape juice from leaking.
It also implements an adjustable positive pin system, and its 810 drip tip is upgraded with increased airflow and passthrough. With the integration of Freemax’s patented cotton formula, a blend of 90% flax cotton fiber, and 10% cotton fiber, its mesh coils are long-lasting with an average lifespan of about 2 to 3 weeks.
What we like:
- Has a great hand-polished design and a solid build quality that screams impeccable machining
- The dual-slotted bottom adjustable airflow holes allow for ample air channels, producing maximum flavor and massive clouds
- The retractable slide-to-fill top-filling system allows for easy refills, making the tank perfect for on-the-go use
- The coils work wonderfully and do not produce any burnt taste or muted flavor
- The removable 810 drip tip provides you with plenty of options
- Has a great tank capacity and comes with two glass tank sections
What we don’t like:
- The double and triple mesh coils eat up a lot of juice, especially when the power is set to 90 watts and above
- Is quite noisy when taking big hits or when the airflow is closed
- The filling system slides open way too easily and could use some kind of locking mechanism
Uwell Nunchaku 2 Sub Ohm-Tank
The Uwell Nunchaku 2 sub-ohm tank is made of stainless steel and sports a Pyrex glass bubble tank that can comfortably hold 5mL of e-liquid. It is beautifully designed and has a premium build quality, making it one of the best sub-ohm tanks of 2019.
The tank has an easy top-filling latch system with a silicone membrane to prevent leaking and utilizes press-fit mesh coils with a honeycomb structure for fast and even heating. It also features a self-cleaning technology that reduces condensation buildup by re-absorbing any lost e-liquid.
This technology also helps keep the airflow clear. Three medium-sized airflow slots are housed at the base of the tank, and the airflow is adjustable through the airflow ring, which has just the right amount of resistance. There is a slight resistance even with the airflow fully open, which is nice. The Nunchaku 2’s drip tip is 510-compatible, too.
What we like:
- Both the 0.2ohm and 0.14ohm mesh coils deliver sublime flavor and big, warm clouds
- Replacing the coil is a breeze, thanks to its press-fit mechanism
- The adjustable airflow allows for a fully restricted airflow as well as a loose yet quiet fully open draw, and turning the adjustment ring is very smooth
- Has a 510 drip tip fitment that perfectly accommodates other 510 drip tips
- The glass’s width is slightly less than the rest of the kit, giving it some sort of protection when accidentally dropped on its side
- The top cap and the base are easy to grip and all the threads are smooth
- The top-filling latch system really prevents leaks
- Coils are cross-compatible with the original Nunchaku coils
What we don’t like:
- Airflow is a bit loud at times
OFRF nexMESH Sub Ohm-Tank
The OFRF nexMESH sub-ohm tank features a unique triple density conical mesh coil with a funnel-like design instead of the typical cylindrical design.
Due to the top portion slanting in, this coil design allows airflow to hit more of the mesh coil when taking a hit, therefore enhancing the flavor that you get out of your e-liquid.
It has a push-to-open top-filling system, with a little arrow on the top cap indicating where you have to push to slide the top cap open. The nexMESH utilizes the T.A.S twin absorption wicking system, a unique wicking system that incorporates two separated layers of cotton for a rapid and consistent cotton saturation.
Another great feature of this sub-ohm tank is that it has two vapor compression chambers for maximum vapor condensation. With the secondary chamber hidden just inside the top cap, vapor is well-compressed for an enhanced flavor.
What we like:
- Has a modern and elegant design
- The sliding top cap has good tension and restriction
- Includes a super durable PCTG tank section that can withstand severe and high impacts
- The coils have two layers of cotton to help keep the cotton wet at all times, thus preventing dry hits
- Produces big clouds and an extremely accurate flavor
- The conical coil design indeed furthers condensation and the concentration of the vapor
- Has a fast ramp-up time and doesn’t leak
- Has a smooth airflow without any whistling whatsoever
What we don’t like:
- The threads aren’t that smooth and are, in fact, a little gritty and squeaky
- Eats up e-liquid pretty quickly
- E-liquid or condensation tends to build up after a while because of how the drip tip chamfers off at the base
- The airflow control ring doesn’t have anything to grip it with – it is an entirely smooth surface, making it hard to adjust
Uwell Valyrian 2 Sub Ohm-Tank
The Uwell Valyrian 2 sub-ohm tank has a solid build quality. With a stainless steel and Pyrex glass construction plus a Pyrex glass reinforcement, the glass is kept safe in place.
The Valyrian 2 features a flip-cap top-filling system that unlocks with a press of a button to the side of the tank and is capable of holding up to 6mL of e-liquid.
It has a series of four coils, which consists of a quadruple coil, a single mesh coil, a dual mesh coil, and a triple mesh coil. This sub-ohm tank utilizes Uwell’s effective self-cleaning technology that makes sure that absolutely no drop of e-liquid is wasted while also helping burn off old juice from the coil to prepare it for a new flavor properly.
This technology also plays a huge role in preventing leaking and spit back. The utilization of the Pro-FOCS flavor tasting technology, on the other hand, recycles drawn-in air and helps properly control the heat for an enhanced flavor and vapor production.
What we like:
- Airflow is very smooth and fully adjustable; opening and closing it is easy and has zero stickiness
- The coils hit all flavor profiles, and the flavor stays consistent; there are no dry hits
- Produces plenty of clouds
- Features a self-cleaning system that absorbs excess e-liquid into a condensation holder and prevents leaks
- Features a unique flip-cap top-filling system that makes refilling more comfortable
- Has a gold-plated 810 connection
What we don’t like:
- The coils’ wattage range is quite limited
- An 810 drip tip cannot be used with it
- Excessive shininess picks up fingerprints easily
- Airflow can get a bit whistly
Geekvape Zeus
The Geekvape Zeus sub-ohm tank has a stainless-steel construction and excellent overall machining.
It features a leakproof combination of dynamic top airflow and top-to-bottom airflow that directs airflow downwards and to the coil. This, in turn, helps generate big clouds and enhance flavor.
The Zeus utilizes the advanced GV Mesh coil system, with the coil featuring an innovative quick-slide design that only requires you to unplug the old coil and plug a new one in. The coil also adopts the high-grade KA1 to produce dense vapor.
What we like:
- Has a superb build quality with no weak elements
- The included 810 wide bore drip tip is comfortable to use
- The top-airflow design gives you more airflow control while also enhancing the flavor
- Is pretty much leakproof
- The coil’s quick-slide design makes changing coils about as easy as it gets
- The coils prime up quickly and do not give off dry hits
What we don’t like:
- The fill ports are a bit small
SMOK TFV16
The SMOK TFV16 sub-ohm tank adopts a gigantic Pyrex glass tube that can hold up to 9mL of e-liquid. With the meshed coil heads and increased airflow capability together with its implementation of a sealed top-filling system and adjustable dual-slotted bottom airflow, it produces huge, dense, and flavorful clouds.
It also has a revolutionary top cap with a secure locking mechanism in the form of a button to avoid leaking. The tank base is also raised, allowing for more airflow space. This, together with the TFV16’s upgraded airflow system that features two widened symmetrical airflow slots, helps produce richer flavor and bigger clouds.
The tank uses a gold-plated 510 thread connector with an increased rub resistance and a strengthened electrical conductivity.
What we like:
- Craftsmanship is excellent, and the colors it comes in are beautiful with a nice finish
- Has a massive e juice capacity so you won’t have to fill up every so often
- The top cap locks with a gentle push and requires some pressure to open to prevent leaking
- The coil makes use of a nichrome mesh honeycomb for outstanding coverage and ramp-up time
- The improved airflow system makes for huge, dense clouds and intense flavor
What we don’t like:
- It is a bit noisy
- Coil life is a hit and miss
- The drip tip’s sleeve style keeps you from using other drip tips
Horizon Falcon King Sub-Ohm Tank
The Horizon Falcon King sub-ohm tank is crafted of stainless steel and sports an intricate, visually-striking resin drip tip. Together with the triangular notches cut into its base and top cap, the Falcon King indeed looks fancy and premium.
Its bulb glass is capable of holding up to 6mL of e-liquid. Featuring a new rotary hinge top-filling system with a push-button design, all you have to do is press the protruding button to open the spring-loaded top cap. It will then swing open 180 degrees to reveal the large kidney-shaped fill port, making filling the tank up extremely easy even when using larger bottles of e-liquid.
The wide airflow slots are found on three sides, giving a full, airy direct-to-lung draw. On the other hand, the mesh coils have a bamboo fiber wicking material, resulting in an improved flavor and coil life. Most importantly, the Falcon Kind doesn’t leak at all.
What we like:
- Has an overall excellent build quality and sophisticated design
- The push-button design is firm and secure enough; it also makes filling a lot quicker and easier
- The three wide airflow slots allow for sensational cloud production with a lot of flavor
- The bamboo fiber wicking material significantly lengthens the coil’s life
- The vapor and flavor production is really great, and the absorbent nature of bamboo fiber requires almost no break-in
- Switching from one e-liquid to another is easy as neither of the coils keeps a lingering taste for too long
What we don’t like:
- The coils eat up a lot of e-liquid
- There is a bit of noise with restricted airflow
Sub-Ohm Tank - Specifications
Sub-Ohm Tank | Diameter | Tank Capacity | Thread Type | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|
Freemax FireLuke 2 – Best Sub-Ohm Tank 2024 | 24mm | 5mL | Gold-Plated 510 Connection | |
Uwell Crown IV – Runner-up | 28mm | 5mL | Gold-Plated 510 Connection | |
Freemax Mesh Pro Sub Ohm-Tank | 25mm | 6mL | Gold-Plated 510 Connection | |
Uwell Nunchaku 2 Sub Ohm-Tank | 29mm | 5mL | Gold-Plated 510 Connection | |
OFRF nexMESH Sub Ohm-Tank | 28mm | 5.5mL | Gold-Plated 510 Connection | |
Uwell Valyrian 2 Sub Ohm-Tank | 29mm | 6mL | Gold-Plated 810 Connection | |
Geekvape Zeus | 26mm | 3.5mL | Threaded 510 Connection | |
SMOK TFV16 | 28mm | 9mL | Gold-Plated 510 Connection | |
Horizon Falcon King Sub-Ohm Tank | 25mm | 4mL | Gold-Plated 510 Connection |
What is a Sub-Ohm Tank?
With the continuously evolving sub-ohm technology, sub-ohm tanks have seen drastic improvements over the years, to the point that the quality of vapor they produce is comparable with rebuildable tanks. This is achieved by utilizing thicker wires, thanks to the tank’s bigger surface area for providing a bit more room for the current to flow.
Sub-ohm tanks are suitable for those who prefer vaping DTL-style since they provide plenty of airflows. However, those who prefer vaping MTL-style will probably not enjoy sub-ohm tanks even with the airflow holes all closed down. Sub-ohm tanks come with pre-built coil heads with a resistance of 0.5 ohms or lower and typically require powerful vape mods that work at high wattages.
Advantages and Benefits of Sub-Ohm Tanks
Convenience
Sub-ohm tanks were invented to make sub-ohm vaping more accessible to more people – eliminating the need to dig deep into advanced electrical concepts to build coils.
A great thing about sub-ohm tanks is that they use pre-made and replaceable coils like regular vape tanks without compromising performance. In fact, their performance has been comparable to rebuildable tank atomizers.
Also, a sub-ohm tank’s coil works well with high VG (vegetable glycerin) e-liquids, essentially improving one’s DTL vaping experience with a smoother throat hit. The latest sub-ohm tanks also don’t get you stuck with just a single coil as they allow you to experiment with various coils so you could find just the right one for you.
The variety of options they offer, combined with their high-performance level, achieves intense flavor and huge, impressive clouds are made a lot easier. Sub-ohm tanks leave you with just three things to do: popping in a coil, filling it up with e-liquid, and, most importantly, enjoying your vaping experience.
Excellent and Intense Flavor
Sub-ohm tanks are known for their excellent vapor production. Because of the increased e-liquid vaporization happening in sub-ohm tanks compared to tanks with a tighter airflow, you can expect tons of flavor and even notice flavor notes that you didn’t know were there.
Sub-ohm tanks enhance the subtleties of an e-liquid’s flavor, the subtleties that aren’t noticeable when vaping on coils with higher resistance.
Increased Vapor Production for Huge Clouds
The enormous clouds of vapor that sub-ohm tanks are capable of producing attract a lot of vapers looking to take their vaping experience up a notch.
This increased vapor production is all thanks to the larger coils used in them as they heat up a bigger surface area of the wick faster, therefore producing huge clouds.
Also, the fact that sub-ohm tanks allow for better air circulation and that you’ll most likely be using high VG e-liquids with it only increases their potential for more vapor.
Warmer Vapor
For some people, a warmer vape is more enjoyable, and this is easily attainable with sub-ohm tanks. This is mainly because of how quickly it takes a sub-ohm tank’s coil to heat up, as well as the fact that sub-ohm tanks require more power or wattage.
A sub-ohm tank’s increased airflow also proves to be useful with regards to the vapor’s temperature as it kind of balances the warmness and coolness out, resulting in the vapor that is just the right amount of warm.
This sweet spot gives off a pleasant sensation that’s a little similar to what cigarette smokers get when lighting a cigarette.
Smoother yet Stronger Hit
Sub-ohm vaping is arguably more satisfying because of the gentle, soft, and strong hit it provides. With sub-ohm vaping, using e-liquids with lower nicotine concentration is recommended since sub-ohm tanks perform well in delivering more nicotine into your lungs.
With that said, using high-nicotine e-liquids for satisfaction is unnecessary as they tend to feel very harsh to the lungs because of the warmer vapor a sub-ohm tank produces.
With the continuously evolving sub-ohm technology, sub-ohm tanks have seen drastic improvements over the years, to the point that the quality of vapor they produce is comparable with rebuildable tanks. This is achieved by utilizing thicker wires, thanks to the tank’s bigger surface area for providing a bit more room for the current to flow.
Sub-ohm tanks are suitable for those who prefer vaping DTL-style since they provide plenty of airflows. However, those who prefer vaping MTL-style will probably not enjoy sub-ohm tanks even with the airflow holes all closed down. Sub-ohm tanks come with pre-built coil heads with a resistance of 0.5 ohms or lower and typically require powerful vape mods that work at high wattages.
Choosing the right sub-ohm tank that suits your needs can be quite a task with the number of sub-ohm tanks on the market today, but some major things to consider when choosing one include the amount of e-liquid it can hold, its filling method, and its wicking materials.
A sub-ohm tank with a large e-liquid capacity will not require you to refill your tank constantly, and one with an easy filling method, like one with a top-filling system, will make refilling a breeze. Lastly, the wicking materials that sub-ohm tanks utilize vary from model to model, so if you’re after the best flavor, you might want to look into tanks with mesh coils or other more advanced ones.
Disadvantages of Sub-Ohm Tanks
The main downside to sub-ohm tanks is how they’re not suitable for MTL vapers. MTL vaping has that tight, cigarette-style draw, which many vapers, especially those trying to quit smoking, prefer. Another is that sub-ohm tanks aren’t exactly discreet and can be a real attention drawer with the amount of vapor they produce.
Also, they are quite a battery drainer since they require more power, consuming a lot more e-liquid as a result. Lastly, sub-ohm tanks tend to have a weaker throat hit; while no one wants a harsh throat hit, some vapers find a stronger throat hit more enjoyable.
Because a high HV e-liquid with a low nicotine concentration is to be used with sub-ohm tanks, you’ll instead get a gentle, smooth hit rather than a strong one.
Sub-Ohm Tanks FAQ
How does a Sub-Ohm Tank Work?
Sub-ohm tanks work the same way as regular vape tanks. However, sub-ohm tanks are geared towards high-powered setups.
A sub-ohm tank’s coil head attaches to the tank’s base, and the cotton wick absorbs the e-liquid, which becomes vapor when it comes in contact with the heated-up coil.
When taking a hit, the e-liquid is pulled by the suction towards the coil. The latest sub-ohm tanks almost always feature a top-fill system, and sports open airflow holes for that DTL draw while also keeping the coil from getting overly hot.
With sub-ohm tanks, increasing the amount of vapor the coil produces is as easy as increasing the unit’s battery power; more power means results in a hotter coil, and a hotter coil produces more vapor. Keep in mind that an excessively hot coil can burn your wick and cause the vapor to become uncomfortable and taste burnt.
Is Sub-Ohm Vaping Safe?
Nothing is truly absolutely safe. When engaging in sub-ohm vaping, it is important to have a good understanding of Ohm’s law and to know your batteries’ capability since sub-ohm vaping taxes a unit’s batteries pretty heavily, heightening the risk of battery damage – the main risk for vaping safety.
With that said, you should always gain prior knowledge about your specific device and adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended wattage range for use with your sub-ohm tank’s coil to avoid electrical fault.
Are Mesh Coils Better than Traditional Coils?
Since mesh coils do a great job of heating the wire’s surface area, as opposed to traditional coils’ way of heating (from the middle outward), they are generally better than traditional coils.
Mesh coils make for bigger clouds, less hot spots, and more efficient wicking while also giving you exceptional flavor.
Additionally, mesh coils tend to last longer than traditional ones, and they work quietly without any spit back.
Can You Put any Sub-Ohm Tank on any Mod?
Pretty much any 510-threaded sub-ohm tank will fit onto any 510-threaded mod.
However, a pair isn’t always guaranteed to work. For instance, if a tank has a coil resistance that’s lower than the mod can fire, it just won’t work.
And generally, you shouldn’t put a sub-ohm tank and a hybrid top mech mod together because the battery will make direct contact with the atomizer.
Conclusion
While we love all the sub-ohm tanks mentioned above, the FreeMax FireLuke 2 is without a question our favorite.
Aside from how well the coil resistance, voltage output, and wattage output of each coil in the TX Mesh Coil series work together, the way each component of this sub-ohm tank is designed is commendable.
From the feeding design and patented wicking formulation to the coil’s unique diamond pattern, every little part and the systems it utilizes just seems to be really well thought of – ticking every box in the list of what a sub-ohm vaper is looking for: a smooth draw, rich flavor and vapor, no leaking and spit back, easy refilling and airflow adjusting, and the list goes on.
The overall vaping experience this flawlessly-designed tank offers is just incredible.