Vaping is healthier than smoking because it doesn’t produce tar, formaldehyde, and other toxins. It’s also more discreet because, unlike tobacco smoke that lingers for hours, the fumes from a vape are gone in minutes! But they still look pretty dramatic, so you may want to hide them by stealth vaping, aka zero vaping. So let’s learn how to zero a vape for added privacy.

What is Zero Vaping?

Zero vaping, also known as stealth vaping, is when you vape without releasing any clouds. This means you can still enjoy your nicotine buzz but nobody can tell you’re vaping unless they see you put your pen to your lips. It’s a helpful technique for vaping indoors because no fumes are escaping and no scent is seeping into the room. It saves on your vape battery too.

The name comes from the practice of producing zero vapor, and it takes a lot of practice. It also works better with low-voltage vapes such as disposables. And it can be really fun if you have a flavor that you enjoy e.g. Strawberry Mango. Stealth vaping something like this feels like nibbling on a secret piece of delectable candy. The sweet and tart notes blend beautifully.

Remember, stealth vaping minimizes the clouds and aroma you produce, but you still can’t do it in a place with a no-vaping policy because you still have to put the pen in your mouth. Plus, in a place with a vaping ban, simply having a vape on you can cause problems, even if the enforcers can’t prove you inhaled it. So make sure you have permission to stealth vape.

Think of it this way – you’re stealth vaping isn’t to stop people from spotting you. It’s to be a better companion. You understand that those pretty plumes make lots of people uncomfy so you want to set them at ease. But if your driving force is to sneak around local anti-vaping rules or undermine the nosy neighbor, then you have way bigger concerns than bad karma.

Why Zero Vaping Works

 

Zero vaping makes the people around you more comfortable because you’re not exposing them to obnoxious clouds and unwanted scents. You’re also less likely to trigger vape alarms and detection kits. These typically have laser sensors that get blocked by smoke particles or whiffs of cloud. But note that many are linked to cameras so you’ll still get in visual trouble.

When you’re stealth vaping, it helps to pick a mild flavor. Go for something fruity, floral, or candy-scented. This way, anyone who catches a whiff might assume you’re eating an actual fruit or piece of candy. You could also opt for coffee, custard, or dessert flavors. Avoid dead giveaways like tobacco or menthol. Also, go for low-VG e-juice since VG makes more clouds.

However, getting an e-juice that’s higher in PG leads to a harsher throat hit, and that might make you cough. Other triggers are citrus and menthol flavors. High levels of nicotine have the same effect. Try low power, low nicotine, low VG, and sweet, creamy flavors like vanilla or custard. Nicotine salts have a gentler throat hit than freebase nicotine so consider them.

How exactly does zero vaping work? Take extremely short puffs to inhibit clouds. Hold your inhale as long as you can then part your lips ever so slightly. This way, most of the fumes are absorbed into your bloodstream so when you exhale, hardly anything comes out. The smaller the vape, the less plumes it produces, so opt for a pod, vape pen, cigalike, or disposable vape.

Tips and Tricks to Zero a Vape

Technically speaking, the shorter the puff, the fewer aerosols you inhale. This means you’re taking in a minimal amount of vapor, so very little will come back out. But some vapers feel these teeny-weeny hits don’t give you enough of a buzz. Another option is to take a longer hit and hold it as long as you can. That way, the bulk of the puff diffused into your bloodstream.

When you do breathe out, leave the slightest of slits between your lips and keep your head down. Any plumes that do escape are unlikely to get in anyone’s face. The challenge with an extended puff is it’s more likely to irritate your throat. Especially if your e-juice is on the harsher side. But you can’t use VG-heavy juice to soften this since VG makes bigger clouds.

As we said before, nicotine salts can help. They give a far gentler throat hit than freebase and they come in extremely low nicotine percentages. You can get nicotine salts at 0.3%, which is a sweet ratio for stealth vaping. That said, you may need a lot more hits to get your nicotine fix since you’ll absorb so little per inhale. Still, it’s a safer and much comfier way to zero vape.

It also helps to use pod devices instead of vape mods or box mods when you’re learning how to zero vape. These refillable pods only hold a milliliter or two of e-liquid so their batteries are correspondingly small. This means they produce less heat and subsequently less plumes, both ideal for stealth vaping. And the pods are subtle enough to hide in your palm or sleeve.

Upsides and Downsides of Zero Vaping

Apart from setting the people around you at ease, zeroing your vape has a lot more benefits. Since you’re taking tiny puffs, your e-liquid, and your battery will both last longer, saving you money. You’re also less likely to get nicotine sickness. On the other hand, you might inhale more frequently to maintain those good vibes. This could cancel things out or cause dry hits.

Another factor is your vaping temperature. Since you’re barely inhaling – and you’re using a low-wattage vape to begin with – your coil might not get hot enough to effectively vaporize your e-juice. This can lead to coil flooding and spit back. It takes practice to ensure your pull is strong enough to ignite the battery and atomize the e-liquid while keeping the fumes small.

On the upside, stealth vaping can be more relaxing because it forces you to be mindful. You’ll pay close attention to the length and depth of each inhale because you want to take in as little as possible. And when you exhale, you’re careful to direct the fumes away from people while releasing minimal amounts. This focus makes you enjoy the experience more and be kinder.

The biggest benefit of stealth vaping and/or zero vaping is retaining your nicotine buzz. Most people develop tolerance and lose that coveted head rush after they’ve been vaping for a few months. With stealth vaping, you hold each inhale longer and wait a while before the next puff. These two tips combine to stretch the buzz, even with the minimal nicotine percentages.

Zero Vaping vs Stealth Vaping

Lots of people use the terms stealth and zero interchangeably, and that’s what we’ve done in this article. But for the sticklers among us, stealth vaping means you release the least amount of cloud possible while zero vaping means you exhale no visible fumes at all. The technique is the same, and the more you practice, the less clouds you produce until you get down to zero.

For some people, the trick is to do a sort of double-inhale to zero vape. That means you take a tiny puff then breathe in again through your nose or pursed lips. This essentially deepens your hit by pushing the fumes further into your lungs where more of the aerosols can enter your bloodstream. Hold the hit as long as you can to diffuse and dilute it before you exhale.

That said, it’s important to note that stealth vaping and zero vaping are about discretion, not secrecy. You’re not trying to trick anyone. But it can still be useful to cover any LEDs on your vape since they’re a dead giveaway. Also, as you learn how to zero a vape, make sure you buy a device that doesn’t have any audible alarms or beeping buttons. That ruins all the stealth!

In a weird way, zero vaping mimics breathwork, another common relaxation tool. And since you’re so keenly aware of when, where, and how often you’re vaping, you become a lot more conscious of your surroundings and daily habits. All this cumulates to keep your days calmer and more intentional. Try different flavours to see what has the best effect in small amounts.

Top Tips on How to Zero a Vape

Here are a few quick tricks to help your stealth vaping journey.

1. Use a small pod or disposable vape.
2. Vapes with low-voltage batteries are best.
3. Opt for friendly fruity or floral flavors.
4. Other good variants are candy, desserts, or beverages.
5. Take the shortest possible puffs.
6. Hold them in as long as you can.
7. Inhale additional air through your mouth or nose.
8. This dilutes the fumes.
9. Face down when you exhale.
10. Purse your lips to release minimal air.
11. Be subtle, not sneaky. Shiftiness draws more attention.

Do you know other zero vaping techniques? Share them in the comments section below!

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