So, "cloud chasing" is a vaping thing. Devices and coil builds and wick materials and even e-liquids specifically tailored to blowing the largest vapor clouds possible.
On the one hand, I understand it. It's pretty much like any other hobby; Someone's going to want to make it "extreme" and go for more horsepower, candlepower, clock cycles, clouds, whatever. On this particular hand I kind of understand and almost wish I hadn't smoked for so long or at least still had the lung capacity that I used to back when I was young and invincible.
On the other hand, as an old codger I see some inherent risks in the kind of builds needed for cloud chasing. Sugar-coat it all you want, but extreme sub-ohm builds (below, say, 0.5 ohms) can be risky -- primarily by drawing too much current too quickly from even the most stalwart of batteries -- no matter how many precautions one takes. And I just don't see any real benefit that offsets that risk. None of us ever had that much smoke coming out of us when we burned tobacco, and I don't see why anyone feels it's needed to be satisfied now.
Further, I can see some actual harm that could come even if everything else goes right:
- Smokers considering the switch to vaping could get unrealistic expectations about what vaping is like and be greatly disappointed (or worse, give up) when their starter kit doesn't produce the massive vapor they see cloud chasers producing;
- People considering the switch, or new vapers, could end up driving their local vape shop or vaping friends crazy trying to get them to teach how to use advanced vaping devices well before they even fully understand what things like "ohms" and "max discharge current" even mean;
- Non-smokers who may be ambivalent or even friendly toward vaping now, could turn coat on us when exposed to the sometimes (admit it, now) obnoxious, bellowing clouds of vapor when certain vapers decide they can do what they want where they want and *%$! you buddy if you don't agree;
- Anti-vapers, whose usual lack of knowledge about vaping has them generally put off by it anyway, will use each and every instance of a battery that goes boom, couch cushion or piece of luggage that gets toasted, someone vaping cumulus where they obviously should not be, or whatever thing-that-can-go-sideways you care to name, to advance their anti-vaping agenda.
Now, I'm not saying that cloud chasing should NEVER happen. Of course it should be OK in venues dedicated to vaping, vape meets, cloud contests, the privacy of your own home and so on.
All I'm saying is that while some people get it, some people don't, and there's a chance that indiscreet public cloud chasing could easily complicate some of the ongoing battles for vaper's rights and maybe even undo some of the progress that's been made.
Not saying any of that to start arguments, so please keep the discussion civil; I'm just putting out some opinions and maybe things to think about.