Kangertech Subtank Mini Review
Kangertech Subtank Mini
Pros
- Includes rebuildable head
- OCC Coils don't interfere with taste
- Includes 1.2 & 0.5 ohm OCC and 0.5 ohm RBA coils
- Adjustable airflow
- Produces loads of vapor
Cons
- Won't work with lower powered mods
- RBA head is over kill if you don't intend to rebuild
- Cotton retains flavor of previous ejuice longer than other coils
When I reviewed the Kangertech Subtank Nano a few days ago, I mentioned the sub ohm war. That was a reference to the battle between Kangertech and their new Subtank line and Aspire with their Atlantis tank. Each line comes with 0.5 ohm coils, giving tank vapers the opportunity to experience sub ohm vaping without the need to rebuild coils or take up dripping.
But Kanger has gone one better with the original Subtank and now the Subtank Mini. In addition to packaging these adjustable airflow tanks with both a 1.2 ohm and 0.5 ohm coil, Kanger has included a Mini RBA base. With that rebuildable atomizer the Subtank Mini is truly a hybrid tank, giving vapers the ability to easily switch between the OCC (Organic Cotton Coil) head and the RBA head. That’s an option that’s not available with the Subtank Nano or the Aspire Atlantis.
The Mini is 510 threaded with a Pyrex tank and stainless steel base and removable drip tip. It has a 4.5 ml ejuice capacity and a diameter of 22 mm. The organic cotton in the OCC heads (and in the package that comes with the Mini for rebuilding) is organic Japanese cotton.
What’s In The Box
- 1 X Subtank Mini
- 1 X OCC 0.5 ohm head
- 1 X OCC 1.2 ohm head
- 2 X RBA 0.5 ohm coils
- 1 X Mini RBA base
- 1 X package of organic Japanese cotton
- 1 X Replacement Pyrex tank
- 1 X Screwdriver
- 2 X Screws
- 3 X O-Rings
- 1 X Owner’s manual
Performance: Kanger packages the Subtank Mini with the 0.5 ohm OCC installed in the tank. I suppose that’s their way of putting this hybrid tank’s best foot forward. The 0.5 ohm coil produces massive amounts of vapor. It’s rated for a range of 15 – 30 watts. Even the 1.2 ohm coil produces an amazing amount of vapor, with rating of 12 – 25 watts. The 0.5 ohm RBA coil is rated at 30 watts, but as you get into rebuilding your own coils you’ll discover the freedom to customize your experience even further by wrapping coils to different ohms ratings.
The organic Japanese cotton further enhances the performance of the Subtank Mini. It provides not only lots of vapor, but pure flavor too, as the cotton doesn’t get in the way of the taste of your ejuice.
Features: I’m not sure how many more features Kanger could have packed into the Subtank Mini, short of supplying more than one each of the 0.5 ohm and 1.2 ohm OCC heads. The Mini RBA makes this tank truly versatile, providing a great introduction to rebuilding for tank vapers.
And there is that enhanced adjustable airflow system that allows you to further customize your vaping experience. The airflow system has four settings; fully closed, one air port, two air ports and fully opened. An additional feature that I really appreciate is that Kanger has etched the ohm rating and suggested wattage range into each OCC head, so you’ll always know which coil you’re using.
Quality: Kangertech has built a solid, dependable tank with the Subtank Mini, from its strengthened Pyrex glass tube to the stainless steel components and the easy to adjust airflow system. When you twist that airflow ring there’s an audible “click” when you hit each setting, and you can feel that click as well as hear it.
It’s the quality of the OCC heads that really makes the Subtank Mini a standout. With the limited amount of time I’ve spent with this tank, the OCC heads have performed amazingly. The organic cotton combined with the low resistance of the coils produces loads of warm, tasty vapor.
There are two things you need to be aware of before you purchase a Subtank Mini. Neither is a negative, but if you don’t know about them ahead of time you may find yourself disappointed.
The first is that not every mod is going to be capable of firing the Subtank Mini, even with the 1.2 ohm OCC installed. I most often use an Eleaf iStick. That will fire the 1.2 ohm OCC, but since the iStick maxes out at 20 watts, and the 1.2 ohm coil is rated up to 25 watts, I’m not going to be able to push that coil as far as it can go with the iStick. And the iStick won’t fire the 0.5 ohm coil at all. To use the 0.5 ohm OCC I had to borrow my wife’s Dovpo E-Mech, which has an upper end output of 30 watts, right at the limit of the 0.5 ohm OCC and the Mini RBA coil.
The other thing you need to be aware of is that the organic Japanese cotton can not be dry fired. Doing so will burn that cotton right up, spoiling your OCC or causing you to do another rebuild on the RBA. Kanger suggests that you place a few drops of ejuice directly on the cotton of whichever coil you’re using before you vape to ensure you’re not going to burn it up. And that cotton seems to hold the flavor of an ejuice a little longer than other coils when you’re changing flavors. I find that dripping a couple of drops of the new ejuice directly into the coil helps.
Looks: This is one good looking tank. Lots of stainless steel and Pyrex. The square shape of the OCC heads is clearly visible behind the Pyrex. And the red O-rings provide a nice contrast. Kangertech recently announced that they’ll be selling different colored O-rings so you can personalize the looks of your Subtank Mini. The drip tip has an extra wide opening, enhancing the looks and the amount of vapor you can pull through the tank.
Price/Value: When Kangertech sent me the Subtank Mini for this review, it wasn’t available at retail. In the last few days I’ve started to see them in a couple of local vape shops and online. The Kangertech website has the Mini listed at $49.90. One of our partner online suppliers, American eLiquid Store, recently got a shipment in and has them listed at $39.99, which makes them eligible for free shipping.
One of the things you have to consider when purchasing a new tank is the cost of the coils. Kangers says that the OCC heads are “durable,” but doesn’t say how long they’re supposed to last. Between my wife and myself, we’ve been vaping on one of the 0.5 ohm and 1.2 ohm OCC heads for well over a week with no signs of wear. American eLiquid Store has the replacement OCC 5-packs listed at $14.99, which works out to about $3 a coil. That’s a little more than some other coils, but given the performance of the OCC heads, and the fact that I haven’t had to change one yet, that’s a price I’m willing to pay.
With all of the features, options for personalizing, and the inclusion of the RBA head, the Subtank Mini is a tremendous value. Now, if you have no interest in rebuilding, you can get the same OCC head performance for a few dollars less with the Subtank Nano, which doesn’t include the RBA head.
Kangertech has really solidified its already strong reputation as a premiere tank maker with the Subtank Mini and the whole Subtank line. I don’t hesistate to recommend the Subtank Mini to any vaper of intermediate or above experience, especially those who have been considering rebuilding. For new vapers the Subtank line may be a little more than you need, but if you’re ready to take your vaping experience to the next level, go ahead and give one of them a try.
Just remember that you’ll need a mod that’s capable of firing at least the 1.2 ohm OCC. But hey, why not go ahead and pick up a new 30+ watt mod when you get the Subtank Mini? You can never have too much vape gear.
I tested the Subtank Mini on a Dovpo E-Mech and Eleaf iStick with a variety of juices, and got the purest flavor I’ve experienced out of all of them. Kangertech provided the Subtank Mini for the purpose of this review.
You can order the Kangertech Subtank Mini online from AmercianeLiquidStore
(For details on Seven Report review methodology click here.)
