Cloud-chasing (electronic cigarette)

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File:Vape-cloud-montage.jpeg
E-cigarette users exhaling aerosol (vapor).

Cloud-chasing or extreme vaping[1] is the activity of blowing large clouds of vapor using an electronic cigarette. Cloud chasing is an activity where people build very complex coils of different types of "wire"—the main one used is kanthal. Other types are nickel, titanium, or stainless steel. After building these coils, people adjust them to get a set ohm reading to where they can produce a big cloud of vapor. A wick is made with different types of cotton, and e-juice is placed on the cotton. A battery provides heat to vaporize the e-juice, and users can then blow massive clouds. New cloud-chasers should remember to always build safely and do the proper research before jumping into this hobby.[2]

History

E-cigarettes gained popularity in the US in 2007.[1] Using them for "cloud-chasing" began in the West Coast of the US.[3] "When automotive manufacturers first started out, they were not thinking about a sport to be called Formula One. You always have groups of people who are looking for excitement," Hon Lik said in respect to cloud-chasing in 2015.[4]

Recreational activity

Vapers who enjoy blowing large plumes of vapor are known as cloud-chasers.[5] Cloud-chasing is a recreational activity[4] and a hobby.[6] Some cloud-chasers demonstrate their skill in public.[7]

Competitions

Some cloud-chasers known as "professional vapers" take part in cloud-blowing contests in what is a called a "cloud competition", competing against one another to exhale the largest cloud of vapor.[3] This is increasing in popularity[3] attracting spectators, known as "cloud-gazers".[8] The competitions are becoming a routine event at some local vape shops.[9] Some teenagers participate in the competitions, sans nicotine.[10][11][12] Two major cloud competitions in the US are the International Cloud Championships in California, and the World Series of Vape, in Las Vegas.[13] There are also competitions in New Jersey, Illinois and New Mexico.[3] Some consider it to be a sport[1] and competitors can win prize money in the range of $250 to $2,000.[14] Some competitors are sponsored by e-cigarette companies.[8]

Usage

Some fancy e-cigarette devices are designed to create as much vapor as possible.[15] The devices are customized.[16] A growing subclass of e-cigarette enthusiasts called cloud-chasers assemble their atomizers in such a way that can produce extremely large amounts of vapor by using heating coils with a resistance of less than 1 ohm.[17]

By using a coil with very low resistance, the batteries used can be stressed beyond the margins of what could be considered safe use.[18] This could present a risk of dangerous battery failures.[18]

Cloud-chasers are not always interested in the nicotine released from the vapor.[19] Most cloud-chasers do not use nicotine.[19] Many choose mixtures that are made without propylene glycol and nicotine, but use higher amounts of glycerin to produce larger plumes of vapor.[6]

Debate

File:The Dragon (19388697256).jpg
Vaping trick called the dragon.

As vaping comes under increased scrutiny, some members of the vaping community have voiced their concerns about cloud-chasing, claiming the practice gives vapers a bad reputation when doing it in public.[15] Long-term vapers maintain that some vaping newbies are making the industry’s image look bad by exhaling large clouds in public.[15] Some vapers believe that cloud-chasers are partly responsible for the negative media attention.[15] Some restaurants and bars have banned e-cigarette use.[7] Others permit e-cigarette use but do not allow cloud-chasing.[7] Cheryl Richter, the financial secretary of the National Vapers Club says that "it gives vaping a bad name, and we don’t need negative publicity." Although competitors say that the sport helps people stop smoking cigarettes.[20]

Related practices

Some use e-cigarettes to take part in tricks like blowing smoke rings, French inhale, tornados, and various other vape tricks.[9]

References

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  2. Jory Burbank/ Buku Vapes/2015
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  11. [1] (17 December 2015) Author Lindsay Fox, Title "Gateway to Smoking?Most Teens dont even use Nicotine"
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External links

  • Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons