Cloud-chasing

Cloud-chasing[note 1] is the activity of blowing large clouds of vapor using an electronic cigarette.

[19] Many choose mixtures that are made without propylene glycol and nicotine, but use higher amounts of glycerin to produce larger plumes of vapor.

[24] It was well publicized around 2014, when sites such as Mashable, Gizmodo, The Guardian, and HuffPost ran featured articles on the activity.

[30] Some vape shops lets minors watch cloud-chasing competitions even though they are not allowed to compete in the contests.

[31] Cloud-chasing contests appear to be intended to bring in new shoppers and increase e-cigarette business.

[36] There are extensive gatherings of e-cigarette users, known as "vape meets", where participants exchange devices and flavors.

[42] There are hundreds of YouTube videos showing people engaging in blowing clouds of vapor using e-cigarettes.

[46] It is frequent to notice flavor aficionados put a small amount of e-liquid on their hand for a speedy taste test.

[47] Some cloud-chasers known as "professional vapers" take part in cloud-blowing contests in what is a called a "cloud competition",[8] competing against one another to exhale the largest and most interesting clouds of vapor,[13] sometimes in shapes[14] such as rings, balls, streams, or ripples,[48] or doing tricks like the French inhale.

[9] Several vape shops in Dallas, North Carolina, Los Angeles, Canada, and Indonesia are beginning to host competitions in order to promote new e-liquid flavors.

[64] 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 (Ω).

[65] E-cigarette blogs recommend various configurations of batteries and various kinds of e-liquid to generate the largest vapor or do the greatest tricks.

[41] Vapers on Reddit, vaping forums, and blogs have indicated there is a risk associated with modifying an e-cigarette to generate more vapor.

[69] "Unless you are an expert in electrical engineering it's probably better to stick to regulated mods," according to reporter Alex Cranz.

[19] Many choose mixtures that are made without propylene glycol and nicotine, but use higher amounts of glycerin to produce larger plumes of vapor.

[41] Professor Fiona Measham, who led a smoking-related research project stated, "Among some more experienced vapers who prioritise competency in 'cloud chasing' skills, nicotine is actively avoided as it could disrupt their vaping 'performances', particularly given the quantities consumed".

[54] Vape shops in the US have held classes to teach users how to build an e-cigarette that can generate large clouds of vapor.

[citation needed] Cig-a-likes generate considerably less vapor compared to customized mods.

[72] A higher power setting by using a variable voltage device increases vapor volume.

[18] Long-term vapers maintain that some vaping newbies are making the industry's image look bad by exhaling large clouds in public.

[18] Many vapers believe that cloud-chasers gives vaping a negative reputation, resulting in increased public opinion for regulation.

[75] Selena Rockwell, working for the Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse said "That's very concerning because it turns it more into a game.

"[76] Cheryl Richter, the financial secretary of the National Vapers Club said that "it gives vaping a bad name, and we don't need negative publicity.

[42] Many vapers openly condemn the activity, saying that those who attempt to blow the large amount of vapor indoors will lead to those who are still doubtful about vaping to support restricting their use.

[49] Other tricks include the double lasso,[84] jellyfish,[citation needed] and the "Push the O" move.

[4] There are a number of YouTube videos showing people engaging in vape tricks using e-cigarettes.

[87] Adolescents eagerly check out e-cigarettes on social media and YouTube where they find out about vaping tricks, among other things.

[10] Benders stay put in one place and use their body parts to transform the vape they exhale into various shapes.

[10] Runners typically do not stay put, and move in the direction of the vapor to form various shapes.

[10] In April 2017 Austin Lawrence, also known as "The Vape God",[89] created "some of the most insane and complicated smoke rings ever captured on film", according to Maxim.