That's an interesting question, and one which can be interpreted more than one way. For one, it could be referencing 'vaping' - the act of inhaling vapour from an e-liquid through a personal vaporiser. It could also refer to the 'vape', i.e the vaporiser itself that is used to inhale said vapour, otherwise known as an electronic cigarette, e-cig, apv (advanced personal vaporiser) or mod.
Vape Me, My Friend
Vaping is an increasingly popular pastime, both as an alternative to smoking and in its own right. It can be defined as the act of inhaling water vapour through a personal vaporiser. Vapers tout the benefits compared to regular smoking, and while health implications cannot really be verified yet, it's clear that vaping has several benefits as compared to smoking:
The bad breath/bad smell associated with smoking is nowhere to be found with vaping
Contains no tobacco, a known carcinogen
Level of nicotine can be varied, and nicotine-free vaping is also popular
More cost-effective in the long run than cigarettes
How a Vape Works
Vaporisers comprise three main elements; a battery, an atomiser and an inhaler.
Battery - essential for powering your vape. The battery powers the atomiser
Atomiser - the atomiser is key to the vape, as it heats up your e-liquid of choice to create the vapour
Inhaler - the mouthpiece to the device, which allows the user to...inhale, funnily enough
Types of Vape
Electronic cigarette is a catch-all term for many, often quite different, devices. Here are some of the main products which fall under the term 'vape':
Cigalikes - these devices resemble regular cigarettes in size and shape. They are small, compact and easy to carry around with you and vape inconspicuously. Cigalikes are often used by people who have just moved on to electronic cigarettes and also by people who are trying to quit smoking. There is a smaller range of flavours, such as tobacco, menthol and some fruits.
Vape pens - essentially the same concept, vape pens allow you to inhale vapour from heated e-liquids. E-liquids come in a variety of flavours, and range from zero nicotine to high levels of nicotine. The basic flavours are usually within categories such as fruit, tobacco, drink, candy, dessert and menthol, though within these categories there are many weird and wonderful flavour combinations!
Mods - a mechanical mod is an unregulated vaping device, used by more experienced vapers. There is no circuitry within the mod to keep the voltage steady throughout the life of the battery. Mods are an effective choice when you've rebuilt your atomiser, and also for sub-ohm vaping (a somewhat controversial method of enhancing flavour and clouds, but not intended for novices).
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Decided that vaping's for you? You've come to the right place!