Although vape tanks have evolved greatly since the inception of vaping, their overall role has stayed the same. Vape tanks hold the e-liquid inside of it, which is then heated up and inhaled. The tank also houses another essential aspect of the vape, the coil, which is responsible for vaporising the e-liquid. There is a stem in the centre of the tank that runs all the way up from the base to the top. Located in the middle of the vape tank is the coil, which soaks up the e-liquid and then heats it up at a high temperature, turning the juice from a liquid to vapour.

At the base of the vape tank you will typically find a 510 connector which screws into the battery below the vape tank and drives the power to the metal coil. Many brands use a 510 connector, meaning you can mix and match tanks with different vaping devices allowing for a more personal, refined touch. At the top of the tank is the drip tip, which is the part of the tank that you put in your mouth to inhale the vapour.

MTL (mouth-to-lung) and DTL (direct-to-lung) are the names given to the two most prominent vaping styles. MTL vaping is typically preferred by ex-smokers as it allows for a higher amount of nicotine to be inhaled and has smaller clouds of vapour, similar to that of a cigarette.

DTL vaping is defined more by large clouds of vapour and lots of flavour from your vape juice. Unlike MTL vaping where you hold the vapour in your mouth at first before inhaling, with DL vaping you inhale the vapour straight into your lungs before exhaling.

Any tank can be used with any as long as the mod has a 510 thread and the tank has a 510 threaded pin.

The difference between MTL vape tanks and DTL tanks comes down to the way they are constructed. MTL tanks have higher resistance coils inbuilt into them which are thinner, allowing for less e-liquid to be absorbed and is burnt at a cooler temperature. This is what creates the thinner vapour which is similar to smoking cigarettes. In contrast, DTL tanks have thicker, lower resistance coils which allow for more e-liquid to be absorbed by the cotton wick which is then heated up at a higher temperature which is what creates more vapour.

The mouthpieces on these tanks are also different. The mouthpiece is much wider on a DTL tank to allow for more vapour to be inhaled. As DTL tanks also create much more vapour, having a wider mouthpiece is important to allow it to escape. Mesh coils are used in direct-lung vaping because of their larger surface area and ability to withstand higher temperatures while heating evenly and avoiding burning the wick.

Rebuildable tanks—also known as RBAs—are a type of vape tank that offer a range of customisation. RBA stands for rebuildable atomizer, and these commonly come in two forms - RTAs and RDAs. 

RTAs (rebuildable tank atomizers) are great for experienced vapers who want to tailor their vape to their preferences. As the name suggests, these contain a tank to hold the e-liquid, instead of requiring vapers to drip the vape juice directly onto the coil.

RDAs (rebuildable dripping atomizer) consist of a dripping system, whereby the vaper will drip the e-liquid directly onto the coil itself. This is best for very experienced sub-ohm vapers as it requires a lot of know-how on different coil types and can be complex. However, it does offer an opportunity to really fine-tune your vape to your liking and offer a unique experience.