What Is Cloud Chasing? A Guide to Bigger Vape Clouds

Cloud chasing has a reputation for being one of vaping’s more extreme hobbies. Search for it online and you’ll find old videos of competitions, enormous custom-built devices and people disappearing behind walls of vapour.

That’s part of the history, but it doesn’t really explain what cloud chasing means to most vapers today.

You don’t need to enter a competition or attempt to fill an entire room with vapour. In its simplest form, cloud chasing means deliberately setting up your vape to produce large, dense clouds.

For some people, that’s simply more enjoyable. A large direct-to-lung puff can feel fuller and more substantial than a small MTL puff. Others prefer vaping with very little nicotine and want the experience to focus more heavily on flavour, warmth and vapour production than throat hit.

Cloud chasing does involve compromises, though. You’ll use substantially more e-liquid, your coils may need replacing more frequently and you’ll normally need to use low-strength nicotine. That means it isn’t necessarily the best place to start if you’re switching directly from cigarettes.

Why Do People Chase Vape Clouds?

If your main reason for vaping is getting nicotine efficiently, producing the largest cloud possible can seem a little pointless.

That’s because cloud chasing appeals to a different type of vaping experience.

More Vapour Can Create a Fuller Flavour Experience

A cloud-chasing coil vaporises considerably more e-liquid during each puff than a small low-powered pod.

That larger volume of vapour can make a flavour feel fuller, warmer and more substantial. Dessert, fruit, custard and sweet flavours can be particularly enjoyable this way because you’re experiencing a much greater volume of aerosol during each inhale.

That doesn’t mean more vapour automatically equals better flavour. Coil design, wattage, airflow and the quality of the e-liquid still matter enormously.

It simply produces a different kind of flavour experience from the concentrated little puff you get from an MTL pod.

Some Vapers Prefer Less Throat Hit

Cloud chasing usually goes hand in hand with low nicotine strengths.

That changes the character of vaping considerably.

Someone using a high-strength e-liquid in a small pod may be looking for noticeable throat hit and efficient nicotine delivery. A cloud chaser may be more interested in flavour and vapour production and actively prefer a smoother inhale.

Neither approach is inherently better. They’re simply aimed at different priorities.

Big Clouds Can Feel More Satisfying

There’s also a less technical explanation: some people simply like producing a lot of vapour.

A long DTL inhale followed by a dense cloud can feel more substantial than a small MTL puff. Watching the vapour roll away can be part of the enjoyment as well.

Not everything in vaping needs a complicated scientific justification. Sometimes bigger clouds are simply more fun.

Cloud Chasing Can Become a Hobby

More powerful vape hardware also gives you considerably more room to experiment.

You can try:

• Different mesh coils
• Different wattage settings
• More or less airflow
• Different VG/PG ratios
• Warmer or cooler vapour

For vapers who enjoy tinkering with hardware, finding the combination that produces the flavour and cloud density they prefer can become part of the hobby.

Cloud Chasing vs Vape Tricks

Cloud chasing and vape tricks are related, but they aren’t the same thing.

Cloud chasing is about producing a large amount of vapour.

Vape tricks involve manipulating the vapour into rings, shapes or other effects.

Large clouds obviously give someone more vapour to work with when performing tricks, which is why the two became closely associated.

You can still be a cloud chaser without learning how to blow a single vape ring.

How Does Cloud Chasing Work?

The size of a vape cloud is mainly the result of how much e-liquid your device can vaporise and how much air can move through the coil.

Several parts of the setup work together.

1. High Power

A powerful device can supply enough energy for a larger heating element to vaporise substantial amounts of e-liquid quickly.

This doesn’t mean you should simply turn the wattage to maximum.

Every coil has an intended operating range. A coil designed for 60–75W isn’t improved by forcing 150W through it. You’ll mostly achieve a shorter coil life and an unpleasant burnt taste.

The goal is to run an appropriate high-output coil within its recommended power range.

2. Low-Resistance Mesh Coils

Cloud-chasing kits commonly use low-resistance mesh coils.

Mesh creates a relatively large heating surface, allowing plenty of e-liquid to be vaporised during each puff while helping heat spread across the coil.

The exact resistance number matters less than choosing a coil specifically designed for high-output DTL vaping.

3. Lots of Airflow

A powerful coil needs plenty of incoming air.

Opening the airflow allows you to breathe directly through the tank while also cooling the coil and controlling vapour temperature.

That’s one reason a cloud-chasing tank tends to have much larger airflow openings than an MTL pod.

4. A Direct-to-Lung Inhale

Cloud chasing is fundamentally a DTL vaping style.

Instead of drawing a small amount of vapour into your mouth and then inhaling it, you breathe directly through the device and into your lungs.

The inhale is longer, deeper and much airier than the cigarette-like draw of an MTL vape.

If you haven’t used DTL hardware before, our guide to how to inhale a vape explains the differences between MTL, RDL and DTL in detail.

What E-Liquid Is Best for Cloud Chasing?

Cloud chasing normally calls for high-VG e-liquid.

VG — vegetable glycerine — is the thicker of the two main carrier liquids used in vape juice and is particularly good at producing dense vapour.

A typical starting point is:

70VG / 30PG

That ratio is thick enough to produce substantial vapour while still wicking effectively in most modern sub-ohm tanks.

Some specialist cloud-chasing liquids contain 80 percent VG or even more, although thicker isn’t automatically better. Your coil still has to replenish its wick quickly enough between puffs.

If you want a more detailed explanation of why the ratio matters, read our VG vs PG guide.

Shortfills Are a Natural Match for DTL Vaping

Cloud chasing consumes e-liquid quickly, so buying tiny bottles wouldn’t be particularly convenient.

That’s why DTL vapers often use shortfill e-liquid. Shortfills provide a larger quantity of nicotine-free vape juice and leave space in the bottle for nicotine shots if required.

They’re also commonly formulated at the higher VG ratios that sub-ohm coils prefer.

What Nicotine Strength Is Best for Cloud Chasing?

Cloud-chasing setups produce far more vapour per puff than small pod systems, which means the e-liquid normally needs to contain much less nicotine.

0mg and 3mg/ml are common choices for high-output DTL vaping.

Some people use other low strengths depending on the device and their individual nicotine requirements, but standard 10mg or 20mg nic salts are generally a poor match for a powerful cloud-chasing setup.

You’d be vaporising a much larger quantity of high-strength e-liquid with every puff.

Why Cloud Chasing May Not Be Ideal When You First Quit Smoking

Cloud chasing can be enjoyable, but it isn’t automatically the best introduction to vaping for someone switching directly from cigarettes.

The Inhale Feels Very Different from Smoking

Most smokers use something much closer to a mouth-to-lung inhale.

A small MTL pod therefore tends to feel familiar: restricted airflow, a modest puff and a more noticeable throat hit.

DTL vaping feels more like taking a deep breath through the device.

Some new vapers enjoy that immediately. Others find it strange or overwhelming.

You May Need More Nicotine Than a Cloud Setup Provides

When vaping is being used to replace cigarettes, nicotine satisfaction matters more than cloud size.

The NHS advises smokers using vapes to choose an e-liquid containing enough nicotine to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

A 3mg DTL liquid may therefore be completely unsuitable for someone whose immediate priority is replacing the nicotine previously obtained from frequent smoking.

If a low-nicotine cloud setup leaves you constantly wanting a cigarette, it isn’t the right setup just because the clouds look impressive.

You Can Always Move to DTL Later

There’s no need to make your first vape your permanent vape.

Many people begin with a small MTL device because it handles their nicotine needs effectively and then experiment with lower-strength RDL or DTL vaping later.

That progression can make far more sense than trying to force yourself into cloud chasing on day one.

Cloud Chasing Uses a Lot More E-Liquid

This is probably the biggest practical disadvantage.

A high-powered mesh coil vaporises substantially more e-liquid with every puff than a small MTL coil.

More vapour has to come from somewhere.

If you move from a small pod to a powerful DTL setup, you should expect your bottles to empty much faster.

Cloud-Chasing Coils Can Cost More to Run

Higher-output coils also have a harder life.

They heat a larger quantity of e-liquid, operate at higher wattages and are frequently used with sweet high-VG shortfills.

Depending on the liquid and your vaping habits, that can mean replacing coils more frequently than you would with a small low-powered MTL setup.

Very sweet e-liquids can accelerate the buildup of residue on the heating element as well, gradually reducing flavour and coil performance.

MTL vs Cloud Chasing: Two Very Different Ways to Vape

Do You Need 200 Watts to Chase Clouds?

No.

This is one of the most important things to understand when buying a powerful vape.

A device may be capable of 100W, 200W or even 220W, but the coil determines the appropriate wattage.

For example, a mesh coil rated for 60–75W should normally be used somewhere inside that range. Having a mod capable of 220W provides flexibility and overhead; it doesn’t mean the fire button should immediately be followed by pressing “+” until the screen stops changing.

Modern mesh tanks can produce extremely dense vapour at surprisingly moderate power levels.

Best Vape Kits for Cloud Chasing

If you want to try cloud chasing, look for a proper DTL kit with generous airflow, mesh coils and enough battery capacity to handle sustained higher-wattage use.

These three are particularly strong options.

What Should You Look for in a Cloud-Chasing Vape?

If none of those three devices is quite what you want, look for the same basic features when comparing other Vape Kits.

A Proper DTL Tank

You want generous airflow and coils intended for high-output direct-lung use.

Mesh Coils

Modern mesh coils provide the large heating surface that works particularly well for flavour and dense vapour.

Enough Battery Capacity

Cloud chasing uses considerably more power than low-wattage MTL vaping.

A large built-in battery or dual removable cells will make day-to-day use much more practical.

Adjustable Airflow

Airflow has a major effect on cloud density, vapour temperature and the resistance of your inhale.

Being able to tune it is much more useful than having one fixed wide-open setting.

Variable Wattage

Being able to adjust wattage lets you find the point where a particular coil gives you the balance of warmth, flavour and vapour you prefer.

Do You Need a Vape Mod for Cloud Chasing?

Not necessarily.

Traditional vape mods remain the most obvious cloud-chasing hardware because they offer large batteries, high output and full-sized tanks.

Modern pod mods can also produce impressive DTL clouds, though.

If you want the largest possible vapour production and maximum flexibility, a proper mod-and-tank kit is still the best place to look. If portability matters more, a powerful pod mod may offer a better compromise.

Cloud Chasing and External Battery Safety

The Argus GT II and Gen 200 both use external 18650 batteries.

That brings the advantage of removable cells, but it also means battery care becomes part of owning the device.

Use high-quality batteries suitable for vaping, keep battery wraps in good condition and never carry loose cells in a pocket or bag where they can contact keys, coins or other metal objects.

With a dual-battery device, it’s sensible to use the same pair of batteries together rather than continually mixing cells of different ages and histories.

If you’d rather avoid external battery management altogether, the Armour Ultra’s built-in 5500mAh battery is the simpler option.

Cloud Chasing Etiquette

There’s also a practical social issue with producing enormous vapour clouds.

A small MTL puff tends to disappear quickly. A full DTL exhale can obscure whatever happens to be behind it.

Even where vaping is permitted, be considerate of other people. Avoid blowing large clouds directly towards anyone, and follow the rules of the venue you’re in.

Cloud chasing is generally much better suited to somewhere with plenty of space and ventilation than a crowded bus shelter.

Is Cloud Chasing Worth It?

It depends entirely on what you want from vaping.

Cloud chasing makes sense if:

• You enjoy DTL inhaling.
• You prefer low-strength or nicotine-free e-liquid.
• You like warm, full flavour and lots of vapour.
• You enjoy experimenting with coils, airflow and wattage.
• You don’t mind using considerably more e-liquid.

It may not be a good fit if:

• You’ve just stopped smoking and need stronger nicotine delivery.
• You prefer a tight cigarette-like draw.
• You want your e-liquid and coils to last as long as possible.
• You need something tiny and discreet.
• You don’t enjoy large vapour clouds.

The important point is that cloud chasing isn’t an advanced level that every vaper eventually needs to reach.

It’s simply one way of vaping.

If a 12-watt pod with a tight draw gives you exactly what you want, upgrading to a 200-watt mod won’t make you a better vaper. It’ll mostly make your pockets heavier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cloud chasing?

Cloud chasing is a style of vaping that focuses on producing large, dense vapour clouds. It normally involves powerful DTL hardware, low-resistance mesh coils, open airflow, high-VG e-liquid and low nicotine strength.

Why do people cloud chase?

Some vapers prefer the fuller flavour and vapour produced by high-output DTL hardware, while others simply find large clouds more enjoyable or satisfying. Cloud chasing can also appeal to people who enjoy experimenting with wattage, airflow and different coils.

Do you need nicotine for cloud chasing?

No. Nicotine-free e-liquid works perfectly well in a cloud-chasing setup. People who do use nicotine generally choose low strengths because powerful DTL devices vaporise much more e-liquid per puff.

What nicotine strength is best for cloud chasing?

0mg and 3mg/ml are common choices for high-output DTL vaping. The appropriate strength depends on your individual nicotine requirements and the amount of vapour your device produces.

Can I use 10mg or 20mg nic salts for cloud chasing?

High-strength nic salts are generally intended for small low-powered MTL or RDL devices rather than high-output cloud-chasing kits. A powerful DTL setup produces far more vapour per puff, so much lower nicotine strengths are normally used.

What PG/VG ratio is best for cloud chasing?

70VG/30PG is a common starting point. The higher VG content helps produce dense vapour and works well with most modern sub-ohm tanks. Some devices can use even thicker liquids, but always check the recommendations for your coil.

Is cloud chasing MTL or DTL?

Cloud chasing is generally a direct-to-lung activity. DTL vaping allows much greater airflow and a much larger volume of vapour than a restricted mouth-to-lung puff.

Can you cloud chase with a pod vape?

A small MTL pod won’t produce traditional cloud-chasing levels of vapour, but powerful pod mods can produce substantial DTL clouds. Full mod-and-tank kits still provide the greatest flexibility for dedicated cloud chasing.

Does higher wattage make bigger vape clouds?

Up to a point. A higher-output coil can vaporise more e-liquid, but you should always stay within the coil’s recommended wattage range. Airflow, coil design, e-liquid composition and inhaling technique are also important.

What is the best vape for cloud chasing?

Look for a regulated DTL kit with mesh coils, adjustable airflow and plenty of battery capacity. The Vaporesso Armour Ultra, Voopoo Argus GT II and Vaporesso Gen 200 are three strong examples currently available from Simply ELiquid.

Is cloud chasing more expensive than MTL vaping?

Usually, yes. High-powered DTL devices consume more e-liquid and can require more frequent coil replacement. The difference in e-liquid cost will become particularly relevant when the UK’s Vaping Products Duty takes effect on 1 October 2026.

How much will Vaping Products Duty add to e-liquid?

The duty is set at £2.20 per 10ml of vaping liquid, equivalent to 22p per ml. That means 100ml of liquid carries £22 of duty liability. The charge applies to both nicotine-containing and nicotine-free vaping liquid.

Is cloud chasing good for someone switching from cigarettes?

It can work for some people, but it isn’t the most obvious starting point. New ex-smokers often benefit from a vape that provides enough nicotine to manage cravings and an MTL draw that feels more familiar. Cloud-chasing setups normally use much lower nicotine strengths and a very different DTL inhale.

Are cloud-chasing competitions still a thing?

Competitive cloud chasing helped popularise the term, with participants comparing the size and density of their vapour clouds. Today, though, you don’t need to compete with anyone to describe your style as cloud chasing. The term is commonly used more broadly for high-output vaping focused on large clouds.

The Bottom Line

Cloud chasing isn’t really a vaping “game.” It’s a distinct style of vaping built around low nicotine, high airflow, high-VG e-liquid and substantial vapour production.

For the right person, that can be enormously enjoyable. You get a full DTL inhale, plenty of flavour and the visual satisfaction of a dense cloud.

It also comes with very real trade-offs.

You’ll use more e-liquid. You’ll generally go through coils more quickly. Your hardware will be larger, and external-battery mods require more care. From October 2026, the amount of e-liquid you consume will matter even more because every 10ml will attract the new Vaping Products Duty.

Most importantly, low-nicotine DTL vaping may not be what you need when you’re first trying to replace cigarettes.

Cloud chasing is best thought of as an option rather than a destination. If you eventually decide that you want bigger clouds and less emphasis on nicotine or throat hit, a capable DTL kit gives you an entirely different way to enjoy vaping.