SS nichrome or Kanthal.. Is prefered order of choice.... But I tend to choose the one that will give me the vape I'm trying to build for at the OHM wattage and heat Level desired. IF I want to have TC ability I choose SS.... IF I'm going VV VW or Mech, I let Steam-engine.org help decide. Some people say there is flavor differences... I don't think so anymore..... basically I think if you are tasting the wire or wick, you build or power level is wrong, not the materials.
My suggestion model some builds in steam-engine buy 2 or 3 gauges of wire of EACH type. Heck wires cheap buy a 30' spool of all gauges from say 30 to 26 (or 24 maybe even 22). get creative and experiment, learn what you like and build to that desire.
Nichrome80 is a lot longer-lasting and is somewhat more efficient (i.e. it ramps up quicker so it's easier on the battery) compared to SS316L, given the same wattage, same wire thickness, same number of wraps etc., but some people claim Nichrome80 is metallic tasting despite their coil build looks fine, as does their wicking. I suspect this metallic undertaste is due to not enough dry firing their newly built Nichrome80 coils before these people start to use them, and or these people forget to gently keep pulsing repeatedly a few times after the final rinse when dry burning─with Nichrome80 there is a funny smell that rises up from the coils if the coils are heated again as soon as they are dried after the final rinse, and this smell goes away after a few additional gentle pulses. The downside of that is you have to let the coils cool down again before you can insert your fresh wicks, but by the time I have washed and dried my hands, taken the cotton out of the packet, and prepared my wicks, my coils have already cooled down, and the bottom of my build deck has also dried at the same time so all in all it takes only 2-3 extra minutes to get rid of the metallic side effect.
I use only the highest quality Sandvik wire, and I haven't tasted any metal ever since I followed the advice explained above. SS316L is for
mass publicity stunts on instagram color chasing coil art or for those who don't know that using temp control to avoid getting dry hits is best compared to using training wheels on a bicycle to avoid falling over.