How important are clouds and why

[little maggie]

I've been wondering this because with some of my vapes I rarely get clouds even though they medicate as well as the ones that do. Yet when someone describes a vape they really like, large clouds are a central part of why they like it.

 

[MinnBobber]

For some here, clouds are extremely important to them.
I'm at the opposite end, I don't care about clouds ---just the effects.
I can get very medicated on a couple hits where I see no exhaled vapor.

Another reason for not caring about clouds, I feel strongly that big clouds exhaled are a waste of good goodies I have a very small stash and want/need to make it go as far as humanly possible. A giant cloud cannot all be thoroughly extracted by your lungs.

Footnote: I now have a small table lamp on my vape station and blow vapor over the top of it.
I do like to see what's happening and it very interesting that on normal hits one cannot see the vapor EXCEPT for where it goes over the lamp. So, a lot of vapor is invisible unless the lighting is right.

 

[Farid]

I like big clouds... in my lungs. I understand the desire for a heavy hitter that is capable of producing big clouds - that said, I still try and zero those big clouds. I prefer the effects I get from zeroing one big cloud versus the effects from zeroing several small sips of vapor from the same amount of bud.

 

[AGBeer]

I would say that because a majority of the people 'discovering' vaporization are used to the escape plan clouds created by combustion.
The newer generations that are coming to the age of discovery are starting off with the vape as an option now, but combustion seems to rule all when it comes to 'cloud' production and 'common belief' of how you are supposed to do it.

I think the psyche of 'bigger cloud = more in my body, and more = MOAR'
We as a race seem to think that more is better - even if it isnt necessarily good for you.
Vaporization challenges this.

 

[HomeFree]

Effect, taste, reliability, and functionality matter to me.

 

[smokum]

I've always chocked it up as the search for the mystical or mythical 30% psychological high part of partaking

 

[hackslasher]

I agree in the thinking that the feeling of importance one puts on getting clouds in more psychological. I, myself, enjoy seeing clouds when I vape. Think comes from being a former smoker and seeing big clouds=big hit, so leaves a unsatified, somethings missing feeling when don't see that cloud. I also think some people have set in their minds that seeing is believing. If I don't see a cloud, then I didn't inhale enough and vice versa. For me it's being the former smoker and clouds being part of the ritual.
*This part isn't to much about clouds but how the ritual feel is important too
When I first got the mighty I was left with a unsatified feeling. The mightys a beast and use it usually daily now a days but when was my second vape (taking place of the flowermate 5.0s) just didn't fully do it for me. I ended up getting Lily and that's when I was truly able to fuckcombustion. The feeling of lighting a bowl, feeling on the throat, the huge clouds all just like smoking a bowl.
So yea without clouds I just feel like something's missing. I still may get high but the feeling of something being amiss ends up lingering.
That's just my guess and why I like them.

 

[420engineer]

blowing a large cloud has much more of a medicating post-affect than blowing thin wispy ones.

 

[His_Highness]

Some folks need/want clouds for:
- The feedback loop a cloud provides in order to regulate their use of a vape. E.g. No clouds can mean jack up the temp.
- The placebo affect to convince themselves they are getting buzzed or will get buzzed.
- The quickest, strongest buzz even if it is somewhat wasteful - When I use my bubbler I can run through a bowl twice as fast and I might only get half the sessions/highs .... but it sure is satisfying to get to the maximum punch in 2 to 3 good hits rather than a slow climb via 4-5 smaller hits.

 

[KimDracula]

I don't think it makes sense to assume that something is wasted because you can see vapor when you exhale. Is there any real basis for this thinking? It doesn't seem to hold water in my experience. I have never felt as though smaller hits were in any way conserving material or providing a more efficient high.

I think people want clouds because they want big hits (yes, and it's fun to see them) and they want to know that their vaporizer is capable of delivering those hits.

 

[howie105]

Given all the variables like equipment, bud and what one wants in a buzz there may never be an even close consensus over cloud preference. Which is good because it sure would be boring if we were all that similar in our MJ use and preferences.

 

[Hashtag46&2]

I for one love the feeling of a large amount of vapor in my lungs, and absolutely no need to cough with Vaporization.

I don't really even pay any attention to expelled vapor, my focus is mainly spotlighting incoming vapor through my whip and whenever applicable.

When I do notice, it is when I'm completing an exhale, after 5-6 re-inhalations,and I can still feel the vapor leaving my airways.

In the middle of my session however, I'll take a glimpse around the room and she is completely fogged....

The visual feedback there is pretty powerful as a placebo booster.

 

[Tommy10]

To me, very important. Although vaped many low temp bowls ghosted hits and gotten plenty baked (for stealth) I still aim for biggest clouds possible when playing by my own rules.

 

[YungLeaner]

I've vaped a lot of weed by now and I own vaporizers that should theoretically function well at low temps. But I can't bape a bowl in the Herbalizer at 365 and get even close to as high as I would be off of 2 FC UFO hits at 445. I've done both, and there's no comparison.

I do believe that the vapor exhale has more good stuff in it than a normal combustion rip, because if I hold in a hit long enough the thickness of my exhale cloud is severely diminished--my lungs feel like they are absorbing the vapor in a slightly painful, enjoyable way. But seriously, unless you really don't want the high temp cannibinoids...the high temp rips just fuck you up. Right now, I'm incredibly high. Of course I took a Korova as well as watched the Kroll show but Herbalizer and DHgate played their noble role well.

Goodnihght

 

[nondarb]

I'm totally guilty of cloud chasing, however I prefer higher temp effects so I would of ended up here anyways. Lately I've also fancied faster extractions, I've started to realize how much time my vaping rituals often take me and am looking to reduce my time spent "getting there".

All this said I still often start low dry and flavor chase as I temp step.

 

[Rebelistic]

I like clouds too. I like to vape when the sunlight is shining in across a dark background and love how it's almost like smoke. Maybe psycological but the more dense clouds seem to correspond with stronger flavor and effect.

 

[lwien]

For the long time FC vets here, you know how frugal I am with my bud and that efficiency is a top priority for me, but......................don't EVER take away my clouds away..........EVER !!!

 

[Skyscraper]

I agree with @nondarb that vaping does take a really long time for those of us who prefer the effects of high temp vaping (strong relaxed feeling in the body and mind). I've even preferred smoking at times because of the high that I'm looking for. The problem with this is if I smoke too much too quickly it makes me uncomfortable. Not too high but my body doesn't like it it seems. Also I have to smoke way more, which means either going outside (it's cold as shit right now) or majorly stinking up the house.

Ever since I discovered vaping I'm very conscious and aware of stinking up the house. You never know who will drop by.

 

[DDave]

I don't think it makes sense to assume that something is wasted because you can see vapor when you exhale. Is there any real basis for this thinking?

Looking at this from the receiving end, and referring to an practice called "shotgunning", if the receiver gets high, it is off of goodies you've exhaled.

http://fuckcombustion.com/threads/shotgunning.7074/

 

[biohacker]

Your alveoli absorb when air is moving through your lungs. This gas exchange slows/stops when you hold in your hit.

So how does effect the level of medication? How long do you hold your hits, and are they on the smaller side? I understand the biology of it, but I always get way more medicated with massive hits, as wasteful as they seem. Smaller wispier hits just do not get me to where I want to be. Perhaps it's a lack of patience!!!

 

[MinnBobber]

So how does effect the level of medication? How long do you hold your hits, and are they on the smaller side? I understand the biology of it, but I always get way more medicated with massive hits, as wasteful as they seem. Smaller wispier hits just do not get me to where I want to be. Perhaps it's a lack of patience!!!

............................................................................
@biohacker
I vape with many different methods and techniques and pieces but my most efficient method IMO, albeit time consuming, allows the vapor to pass over/ be absorbed by my lung alveoli MULTIPLE times on one hit.
Like @steama said, they absorb most when air is moving thru your lungs.
This is when I want the "Zen/ Japanese tea" effect/ have plenty of time for a relaxing session VS the quickest session method (45 seconds for complete session with Herbalizer).

- long slow inhale (like 15 seconds) vs huge lung busting max inhale which only has 3 seconds of moving air. Allows max time of moving air thru the lungs.
- slight hold and then slow exhale of about 20% of what I took in
- slight hold and then slow inhale to fill lungs/ that vacant 20% again
- repeat several times
When experimenting with my vape station light to really see the vapor, I can still see vapor being exhaled on the 5th or 6th cycle of this method. That gives my lungs 5 or 6 cycles of moving air/vapor to extract the goodies.

This gives a lot of time with vapor moving in the lungs.
Some of this is just anecdotal/ my experience, but with a backdrop of science.

Best figures I can find on lung extraction of oxygen are:
- air inhaled has about 21% oxygen
- air exhaled has about 16% oxygen
So, even lungs' extraction of "designed gas" (oxygen)/ what they were built for, it is nowhere near complete or perfect.

Translating to our beloved herb, the extraction is nowhere near perfect so this gives the lungs multiple cycles to grab those goodies.

I feel this would work with minimal doses or huge cloud hits (as long s you don't cough it back up).

 

[biohacker]

Fantastic write up @MinnBobber! Thank you! Time to give it a whirl!

 

[Hashtag46&2]

I for one love the feeling of a large amount of vapor in my lungs, and absolutely no need to cough with Vaporization.

I don't really even pay any attention to expelled vapor, my focus is mainly spotlighting incoming vapor through my whip and whenever applicable.

When I do notice, it is when I'm completing an exhale, after 5-6 re-inhalations,and I can still feel the vapor leaving my airways.

In the middle of my session however, I'll take a glimpse around the room and she is completely fogged....

The visual feedback there is pretty powerful as a placebo booster.

Wowzerz...
So, after posting this, I was very curious to see the expelled vapor of my hits, as I never really payed too much attention to this when I decided to FuckCombustion.

I'm obtaining massive clouds with my DBV, I was stunned at the amount of vapor I exhaled....
I'm talking about exhaling a huge cloud, and still expelling vapor after I had exhaled completely...

For example...
After a full exhale, I literally said.... "Whoa, that is a lot of vapor "
And there was plenty of vapor still being expelled whilst saying that.

I knew I was getting great extractions, especially when I use @DDave 's moDD.

But I had no idea I was getting clouds that huge.

Does the mystique ever quit with Vaporization?!?
I'm well over 6 months of exclusive Vapor, and I'm still finding intriguing, mystical qualities and nuances that continues to blow my mind with each subsequent session.

I'm so happy I found this community, I never thought a vaporizer would impact my life in such profound manner.

 

[biohacker]

Does the mystique ever quit with Vaporization?!?
I'm well over 6 months of exclusive Vapor, and I'm still finding intriguing, mystical qualities and nuances that continues to blow my mind with each subsequent session.

I don't think that it does! I'm nearly a decade exclusive vape, and like you i'm learning new nuances constantly.

I'm so happy I found this community, I never thought a vaporizer would impact my life in such profound manner.

Ditto! It's alot of fun and life changing forsure!

 

[Hashtag46&2]

I don't think that it does! I'm nearly a decade exclusive vape, and like you i'm learning new nuances constantly.

Amazing, I had a strong inclination that this is the case.

Sort of like a True Sushi Chef,
I believe it requires at least a decade just to learn to make the rice correctly (I may be exaggerating a bit, but I remember it takes an astonishing amount of time.)

I truly feel like it will be a lifetime of bonding with my Vaporizer(s).
Forever honing in the JedHigh Forces.

At one with your vaporizer you must.