Tank vs. Dripping — Whose Side Are You On?
Tank or dripper? We put that question to our readers and asked them to explain their pick. It’s a debate that has divided vapers for years, and both sides have a point.
Here’s how the two setups compare, so you can choose a side, or both.
Short version: Tanks win on convenience. Drippers win on hands-on control and quick flavor changes. Plenty of vapers keep one of each.
Team tank
A tank holds a reservoir of e-liquid that feeds the coil through its wick, so you fill it once and vape until it runs low. Most sub-ohm tanks use prebuilt coils you swap out when they wear down, while rebuildable tank atomizers (RTAs) let you build your own.
- Pros: fewer refills, easy to carry and simple coil changes.
- Cons: switching flavors means emptying the tank, and an old flavor can linger in the wick.
Keep yours tasting fresh with our guides to cleaning your tank and changing your coils.
Team dripper
A dripper, or rebuildable dripping atomizer (RDA), has no real reservoir. You drip a few drops of e-liquid straight onto the coils and wick, take a few puffs and drip again. Flavor chasers love how direct the taste is, and switching juices can be as simple as a fresh wick.
- Pros: full control over your build, quick flavor changes and an easy way to test new juice.
- Cons: constant re-dripping, easy spills and a learning curve. Forget to drip and you’ll get a dry hit.
Squonk mods split the difference: a squeeze bottle inside the mod feeds a bottom-feeding RDA, so you can refill without pulling the top cap. Our posts on the anatomy of an RDA and squonking go deeper.
So whose side are you on?
If you want to fill up and forget about it, go tank. If you enjoy building coils and switching flavors often, go dripper. Many vapers carry a tank during the day and keep a dripper at home for trying new bottles.
Where things stand now
Pod systems and disposables have since become the everyday choice for many adult vapers, but tanks and drippers still have a loyal following among hobbyists. Every vaping product sold in the US needs FDA premarket authorization, and if you build your own coils, learn how ohms work and your battery’s limits before you fire.
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. For adults 21+ only.