How to Zero a Vape: A Guide to Stealth Vaping

Sometimes you want to vape without announcing it to everyone within a 20-foot radius.

Maybe you're sitting outside a pub where vaping is allowed, but the tables are close together. Perhaps you're in a designated vaping area and don't particularly want to blow a cloud across somebody else's conversation. Or maybe you're around people who don't mind vaping but would rather not have a visible plume drifting towards them.

That's where stealth vaping comes in.

The most effective stealth-vaping technique is usually called zeroing a vape. It involves taking a small puff and inhaling in a way that leaves little or no visible vapour when you exhale.

There's an important distinction, though: stealth vaping is for being discreet where vaping is already permitted. It isn't a technique for secretly vaping somewhere that has told you not to.

People know what vaping looks like. If you're holding a vape to your mouth in a no-vaping area, trying to make the cloud disappear isn't much of a disguise. You're far more likely to end up having an awkward conversation with a member of staff than feeling particularly ninja-like.

What Is Stealth Vaping?

Stealth vaping simply means vaping in a discreet way that minimises visible vapour and avoids drawing unnecessary attention.

It usually involves two things:

• using a compact vape that naturally produces a small amount of vapour; and
• taking smaller puffs and exhaling in a way that produces little or no visible cloud.

There's nothing particularly mysterious about it. You aren't making vapour disappear through sorcery. You're simply producing less of it in the first place and giving more of the aerosol time to condense and deposit before you exhale.

The technique works best with an MTL – or mouth-to-lung – vape because these devices already operate at relatively low power and are designed to produce smaller amounts of vapour.

What Does It Mean to Zero a Vape?

To zero a vape means to take a puff and exhale with almost no visible vapour.

You'll also hear people call this:

• zero vaping;
• zeroing a hit;
• ghost vaping; or
• stealth vaping.

The terminology isn't especially important. The basic idea is always the same: use a small amount of vapour and avoid producing a cloud that hangs visibly in the air.

Is Stealth Vaping Legal in the UK?

There isn't a special law covering "stealth vaping". What matters is whether vaping itself is permitted where you are.

Vaping hasn't traditionally been automatically included in the UK's smokefree legislation in the same way as smoking. That doesn't mean you have a universal right to vape indoors, though. Employers, businesses, transport operators and other property owners can set their own vaping policies.

UK legislation is also continuing to evolve, so you should always follow current local rules and the policy of the particular venue you're visiting.

The practical rule is much simpler than the legislation: if the venue says that you can vape, stealth vaping can be a considerate way to do it. If the venue says that you can't vape, don't.

How to Zero a Vape Step by Step

You don't need any special equipment to learn how to zero a vape, although the right type of device makes it considerably easier.

1. Take a Small Puff

The single biggest factor is the amount of vapour you produce in the first place.

Take a short, gentle puff rather than your normal long draw. If you're using an MTL vape, drawing for around a second may be plenty while you're learning the technique.

The smaller the initial volume of vapour, the easier it is to exhale discreetly.

2. Inhale a Little Fresh Air

After taking the vape away from your mouth, inhale a small amount of ordinary air.

This pushes the vapour further into the inhaled air volume and dilutes it. You don't need to take an enormous breath – just a little clean air after the puff is normally enough.

3. Pause Briefly

You can pause for a moment before exhaling if that feels comfortable.

You may see older stealth-vaping guides recommending holding your breath for as long as possible. There's no reason to turn this into an underwater endurance contest. A small puff is much more important than a prolonged breath hold.

If holding your breath feels uncomfortable, simply don't do it.

4. Exhale Slowly

Exhale gently rather than blowing the vapour out quickly.

You can exhale slowly through your nose or through slightly parted lips. A slow exhale usually creates a much less noticeable plume than forcefully blowing the same amount of vapour into the air.

5. Make the Next Puff Smaller If Necessary

If you still produce an obvious cloud, the answer generally isn't to hold your breath longer. Take less vapour in the first place.

Shorten the next puff and try again.

What Type of Vape Is Best for Stealth Vaping?

You can reduce the vapour from almost any device, but some vapes make the job considerably easier than others.

If discretion matters to you regularly, look for a small refillable pod kit designed primarily for mouth-to-lung vaping.

Simply ELiquid's refillable pod systems include compact devices from brands such as Vaporesso, OXVA, Voopoo and SMOK. These are generally much better suited to discreet vaping than large vape mods designed for high vapour production.

Choose a Small MTL Device

MTL stands for mouth to lung. With this inhaling style, you draw vapour into your mouth before inhaling it, much as you would when smoking a cigarette.

MTL devices generally have:

• smaller airflow openings;
• higher-resistance coils;
• lower operating wattages;
• smaller mouthpieces; and
• lower vapour production.

Those characteristics make them naturally suited to stealth vaping.

Avoid High-Powered DTL Devices

DTL – direct-to-lung – vapes are designed to move much more air through the coil and produce considerably larger clouds.

You can take a tiny puff from one, but it's rather like buying a garden hose and then trying to use it as an eyedropper.

If you regularly want a stealth vape, a dedicated low-powered pod kit is simply an easier tool for the job.

Use a Higher-Resistance Coil

Coil resistance can give you a useful clue about how much vapour a device is likely to produce.

Higher-resistance coils – particularly coils around 0.8 ohm, 1.0 ohm or above – are commonly designed for lower-powered MTL vaping. Lower-resistance coils generally operate at higher power and produce more vapour.

You don't need to chase a specific number, though. Use one of the MTL pod or coil options recommended by the manufacturer for your device.

Use Lower Power – Within the Coil's Recommended Range

If your vape has adjustable wattage, lower power generally means less e-liquid is vaporised with each puff and therefore less visible vapour.

There is a limit.

Don't reduce the power below the coil's recommended range simply to make the vape less visible. Running a coil at inappropriate settings can cause poor performance or flooding.

Use an MTL coil and operate it normally within its recommended range rather than trying to force a cloud-chasing coil to behave like a stealth device.

Use a Tighter Airflow Setting

If your vape has adjustable airflow, a tighter MTL-style setting can help reduce the amount of air moving through the coil and encourage shorter, smaller puffs.

Again, moderation helps. Closing the airflow almost completely and then pulling as hard as you can rather defeats the object.

Set it to a comfortable MTL draw that allows you to inhale gently.

Choose an E-Liquid Suited to Low-Powered Vaping

A thick, high-VG e-liquid paired with a powerful sub-ohm vape is essentially designed to make clouds, which makes it an odd starting point for stealth vaping.

Small pod systems usually work best with balanced liquids such as 50/50 VG/PG e-liquid. These liquids wick effectively in small coils and generally produce a more restrained amount of vapour than high-VG cloud-chasing liquids.

Nicotine salts are particularly popular with small MTL pod kits. You can browse Simply ELiquid's nic salt vape juice if that's the type of device you use.

Can You Zero a Big Puff Vape?

Usually, yes – but some are easier than others.

Today's legal disposable alternatives are reusable devices with rechargeable batteries and replaceable refill components. Many use relatively low power and an MTL or restricted-direct-lung draw, so taking a very short puff can produce relatively little vapour.

The technique is the same: take a smaller puff than usual, inhale a little fresh air and exhale slowly.

If your particular device has a boost or high-power mode, avoid using it when discretion is the goal. Those settings are specifically intended to increase output.

Can You Zero a Vape Without Holding It In?

Yes.

A long breath hold isn't the essential part of zeroing a vape. What matters most is taking a very small puff.

Try:

1. a short puff;
2. a small inhale of fresh air immediately afterwards; and
3. a slow exhale.

You may still see a faint trace of vapour, but that's often discreet enough for the situations where stealth vaping actually makes sense.

Can You Completely Eliminate the Vapour?

Sometimes the exhale can appear completely invisible, especially with a very small puff from a low-powered device.

That doesn't mean literally nothing has been exhaled. "Zeroing" is vaping slang for eliminating the visible cloud, not a scientific claim that the exhaled aerosol has ceased to exist.

This is another reason why zeroing shouldn't be viewed as a way to bypass a no-vaping rule.

Where Does Stealth Vaping Actually Make Sense?

The best situations for stealth vaping are places where vaping is allowed but producing clouds could still bother somebody or attract more attention than you want.

Outdoor Pub or Café Areas Where Vaping Is Permitted

Even outdoors, tables can be packed closely together. If vaping is allowed, taking a small discreet puff is more considerate than blowing a large cloud towards the next table.

Designated Vaping Areas

A designated area gives you permission to vape, but it doesn't necessarily mean everyone using it wants to disappear inside a fog bank.

Stealth vaping can simply make the shared space more pleasant.

Around Friends or Family Who Don't Vape

If you're at a private home where the owner is happy for you to vape, producing less vapour can still be courteous around non-vapers.

Better yet, ask first rather than assuming that "they didn't complain last time" counts as a formal policy.

Busy Outdoor Public Spaces

Where vaping is permitted, keeping clouds small can reduce unwanted attention and the chance that your vapour drifts into somebody else's personal space.

Where Shouldn't You Stealth Vape?

The simplest answer is: anywhere vaping isn't permitted.

That includes any location where:

• a venue has a no-vaping policy;
• your employer prohibits vaping;
• the transport operator prohibits it;
• staff have asked you to stop; or
• local rules specifically prohibit vaping.

Trying to conceal your exhale doesn't change the rule.

It also doesn't make the act itself particularly invisible. People recognise vape devices, the hand-to-mouth movement is obvious and many e-liquids have a noticeable aroma.

If you find yourself worrying about whether the security guard saw you take the last puff, you're no longer stealth vaping for courtesy. You're simply vaping somewhere you probably shouldn't be.

Stealth Vaping Etiquette

The best stealth-vaping technique isn't really about hiding. It's about avoiding imposing your vaping on somebody else.

A few simple rules go a long way.

Ask If You're Unsure

If you don't know whether vaping is permitted, ask.

It's much easier than trying to interpret whether the tiny symbol on a sign depicts a cigarette, a vape, a fountain pen or somebody's unusually futuristic kazoo.

Don't Exhale Towards Other People

Even when vaping is permitted, direct your exhale away from people rather than across them.

If Someone Objects, Move Away

You may be technically allowed to vape and still be making somebody uncomfortable.

Unless there's a compelling reason to turn a two-second inconvenience into a debate, moving a few metres away is generally the easier solution.

Don't Produce More Vapour Than You Need

Cloud chasing can be enjoyable with the right equipment in the right setting. A crowded pub garden probably isn't that setting.

Use a smaller puff when you're around other people and save the weather-system impersonation for somewhere more appropriate.

Common Stealth Vaping Mistakes

Taking a Normal-Sized Puff and Trying to Hide It Afterwards

If you've already inhaled an enormous cloud, your options are limited.

Successful zeroing begins with a small puff. Prevention is much easier than trying to make half a room's worth of vapour disappear after the fact.

Using a Powerful Sub-Ohm Vape

A high-powered vape with an open-airflow sub-ohm coil is designed to maximise vapour production. You can reduce the output somewhat, but a small MTL pod is far better suited to the job.

Holding Your Breath Until You're Uncomfortable

You don't need to.

Take less vapour instead. If the technique requires an heroic breath hold every time, the initial puff was too large.

Thinking "No Visible Cloud" Means "Nobody Can Tell"

Zeroing can make your exhale much less noticeable. It doesn't make the vape in your hand invisible.

This is exactly why the technique makes sense for discretion in permitted areas but makes very little sense as a way to break venue rules.

Assuming Vaping Is Allowed Because Smoking Isn't Mentioned

Businesses can have specific vaping policies. Check signs or ask staff rather than assuming.

Frequently Asked Questions About Stealth Vaping

How do you zero a vape?

Take a very small puff, inhale a little fresh air afterwards and exhale slowly. The smaller the original puff, the easier it is to produce little or no visible vapour. There's no need to hold your breath for an uncomfortable length of time.

What does zeroing a vape mean?

Zeroing a vape means vaping without producing a noticeable visible cloud when you exhale. It doesn't literally mean that nothing is exhaled.

What is stealth vaping?

Stealth vaping means vaping discreetly, usually by using a small low-powered device, taking short puffs and minimising visible vapour. It's most appropriate in places where vaping is permitted but you want to avoid bothering other people or drawing unnecessary attention.

Is stealth vaping illegal?

There is no separate offence called stealth vaping. What matters is whether vaping is permitted in the location. Businesses, employers and transport operators can establish their own vaping policies, and current regulations can vary by location.

Can I stealth vape somewhere that bans vaping?

You shouldn't. Zeroing your exhale doesn't give you permission to ignore a venue's rules. People can still see the device and recognise the act of vaping, so trying to hide the cloud is unlikely to prevent a confrontation anyway.

What vape is best for stealth vaping?

A small, low-powered MTL pod kit is usually the easiest option. Higher-resistance coils and tighter airflow produce less vapour than high-powered DTL devices.

What coil is best for stealth vaping?

MTL coils are generally the best choice. They usually have higher resistance and operate at lower wattages, which naturally reduces vapour production. Use a coil recommended by the manufacturer for mouth-to-lung vaping.

Does PG or VG make less vapour?

Higher-VG e-liquid is normally associated with thicker, denser clouds. Balanced 50/50 liquids are a better match for most low-powered MTL pod systems and are generally more suitable for discreet vaping.

Can you zero a vape without inhaling deeply?

Yes. In fact, a small puff is preferable. You don't need to inhale a large amount of vapour or hold your breath for a long period in order to reduce the visible exhale.

Why can I still see vapour when I try to zero it?

You're probably taking too large a puff. Shorten the draw, inhale a little fresh air afterwards and exhale slowly. Using a lower-powered MTL device will also make the technique much easier.

Can people smell a vape even if you zero it?

They may be able to. Flavoured e-liquids can have a noticeable aroma even when very little vapour is visible. Zeroing reduces the cloud; it doesn't make vaping completely undetectable.

Stealth Vaping Is About Courtesy, Not Sneaking

Learning how to zero a vape is useful if you occasionally want to vape without producing a conspicuous cloud. With a small MTL device, a short puff and a slow exhale, it's surprisingly easy to reduce visible vapour to almost nothing.

The bigger point, though, is knowing when the technique is appropriate.

Stealth vaping makes sense when you're already allowed to vape and simply want to avoid unwanted attention, drifting clouds or an unnecessary confrontation. It doesn't make much sense as a strategy for vaping somewhere that prohibits it.

Everyone has seen a vape by now. The device is visible, the hand movement is familiar and somebody who's responsible for enforcing a no-vaping policy probably isn't going to be fooled because you managed not to produce a cloud.

Use stealth vaping as good manners rather than camouflage. It's easier, less awkward and requires considerably fewer ninja skills.