Airflow & Zugtechnik

Cloud Chaser: Dense vapour clouds and trick vaping explained

Cloud Chaser guide: How to create dense clouds of vapour with a sub-ohm setup, the right airflow and DL draw technology. Including tips on coils, liquids and safety.

You’re known as a cloud chaser if you deliberately set up your e-cigarette to produce the largest, densest clouds of vapour possible. It’s not primarily about flavour or nicotine intake, but about the volume, density and visibility of the cloud. Behind this lies a subculture of its own, featuring competitions, trick vaping sessions and a clear preference for high-powered sub-ohm setups. In this guide, you’ll learn the technical aspects of cloud chasing, which hardware and e-liquid setup makes sense, and what you should look out for in Switzerland regarding safety, batteries and airflow – whether you’re just dipping your toes in or want to optimise your existing setup.

A cloud chaser is a vaper who tunes their setup to produce maximum vapour clouds. At the heart of it is so-called cloud chasing: the deliberate generation of large amounts of aerosol through high power, low coil resistance and open airflow. The basis is almost always DL vaping (direct-to-lung), i.e. inhaling directly into the lungs – comparable to deep abdominal breathing rather than a short puff as with a cigarette.

Cloud chasing should be distinguished from classic mouth-to-lung (MTL) vaping, which uses a tighter airflow, higher resistance and usually more nicotine. Trick vaping – i.e. forming rings, jellyfish or tornadoes – is also based on the cloud chasing technique, but places additional demands on vapour density and breath control. Technically speaking, cloud chasing requires a combination of a powerful mod, a sub-ohm atomiser, suitable coil build and an e-liquid with a high VG content.

Vapour clouds form when e-liquid is vaporised on a hot coil and exhaled as a fine aerosol. The more e-liquid that vaporises per puff, the denser the cloud. Three factors influence the volume:

Power and resistance

Sub-ohm coils with values between 0.1 and 0.3 ohms are operated at 60 to 150 watts. The heating surface is larger, so more e-liquid is vaporised per second. Dual or mesh coils further increase this surface area.

Airflow

Cloud chasers open the airflow rings wide. Plenty of air cools the vapour, prevents overheating and allows for a deep, long DL draw. Restricted airflow produces a more concentrated flavour, but smaller clouds.

E-liquid composition

A VG (vegetable glycerine) content of 70 to 80 per cent produces the typical dense, almost creamy cloud. PG (propylene glycol), on the other hand, carries flavour better but produces less vapour. For cloud chasing, the rule of thumb is usually: VG-heavy short fills with low nicotine content (0–3 mg/ml), as high nicotine doses quickly become unpleasant with large draws.

Battery mods with plenty of power: Choose a dual or triple battery mod with a stable power output of 150 watts or more. Regulated mods offer safety shut-offs; mechanical mods are reserved for professionals with an ohmmeter and battery expertise.
Sub-ohm atomisers or RDAs: Pre-built coil tanks, such as classic sub-ohm tanks, are beginner-friendly. If you want more control, opt for an RDA (Rebuildable Dripping Atomiser) and build your own coils.
Batteries with high current capacity: Use only 18650, 20700 or 21700 batteries with a minimum continuous current of 20 A, from reputable manufacturers. Replace damaged wraps immediately.
Tailor your e-liquid: Shortfills with a 70/30 VG/PG ratio or higher are standard. You can mix flavour concentrates and nicotine shots yourself to precisely control the VG content and nicotine level.
Practise airflow and inhalation technique: DL vaping takes some getting used to. Start with the airflow half-open and open it gradually until the draw remains pleasantly cool.

Common mistakes include setting the wattage too high with too little cotton (dry hits), too little e-liquid in the tank (coil burns out) and unsuitable batteries. Anyone serious about cloud chasing should regularly measure coil resistance and monitor the battery temperature.

Is cloud chasing more dangerous than normal vaping?

Not per se, but the demands on hardware and knowledge are higher. High currents, low resistances and open batteries are less forgiving of mistakes. With regulated mods, tested batteries and a basic understanding of Ohm’s law, the risk remains manageable.

What nicotine level is suitable for cloud chasers?

0 to 3 mg/ml of freebase nicotine is standard. Higher doses can quickly feel too strong with the large volumes of vapour and may lead to headaches or nausea. Nicotine salt e-liquids are less suitable for cloud chasing.

Do I really need an RDA for good clouds?

No. Modern sub-ohm tanks with mesh coils now produce clouds that were only possible with an RDA a few years ago. RDAs offer greater flavour depth and customisable builds, but they are not essential.

Am I allowed to cloud chase anywhere in Switzerland?

Indoors, the same rules apply as for e-cigarettes in general; vaping is usually prohibited in restaurants and public buildings. Cloud chasing sessions belong outdoors or in designated lounges.

Cloud chasing is the vapour-focused side of vaping: big clouds, DL (direct lung) inhalation technique, sub-ohm power. The key is a well-balanced combination of mod, atomiser, coil and VG-heavy e-liquid – plus a basic understanding of battery safety. If you want to upgrade or rebuild your setup, it’s worth taking a look at our selection of sub-ohm atomisers, compatible coils and VG-heavy short-fill e-liquids. For adults aged 18 and over only.