You live in cotton land as I do. Not long of a drive to find cotton fields for me. I think the Japanese cotton can not be better then good old USA cotton. A friend of mine sent me this posting about Japanese cotton.
Christopher Augustus 8:01pm Sep 5
This Japanese cotton fad needs to come to a halt right quick. People should start fielding some common sense discussion about the product and try to rectify this weird placebo effect everyone in the vaping community seems to strive for. Firstly, Japanese cotton is not any more special than any other cotton. Just because it comes from overseas, doesn't necessarily equate to better; but hear me out. The are four commercially grown cotton crops worldwide - hirsutum, arboreum, herbaceum, and barbadense. While the upland cotton, hirsutum is common to North America, the most widely spun "ecru" cotton for use in linen clothing fabrics is the barbadense (extra long staple) breed. This particular breed has seen a recent resurgence in production in Peru, India, Japan, and even North America (Arizona to be exact). Keep in mind that Japan is a huge importer of North American cotton as well. However, due to the recent rice crop failures in Japan, there was a relief effort established under the Tohoku Cotton Project to help restores fields to use for monetary economical gain. As such, these fields use the common North American upland cotton and ELS cotton strains. So, in short, if you're paying five bucks for little pack of rolled, cut squares of cotton from the "exotic" Japan...congratulations. Can I interest you in a bridge? It's no different than cotton you can find here and abroad. You're just paying a ludicrous degree more because someone got the bright idea for a new way to take your money. And remember, just because it's white, doesn't mean it's bleached. Shop smart, fellow vapers.
I like that.
However, if you don't mind me making a couple of comments...?
1. I use the Japanese cotton, because of the form factor...it comes in these awesome little squares, and is a sandwich of fluffy cotton in the middle, with a stiffer cotton layer on the outside...which yields two different types of wick. I enjoy both, and enjoy that they're both from one product.
2. While I agree that there shouldn't be an air of exotic mystery about it, just because it's from Japan, I do feel one key factor was overlooked...
Let's take wine, for example. Vineyards live and breathe by their grapes, yes? Yet some vineyards are better than others. Is it their process? Probably. But I can guarantee you one thing... Every wine maker will tell you it's all in the location. Why else would there be so many vineyards in Napa, CA? So wouldn't it be safe to assume that this goes for other crops? Simple science explains that growing conditions would make vast differences in the same species of a given crop.
While I wholeheartedly believe in buying American, I also believe that the Japanese cotton may be delivering more than a placebo effect...because it is grown in a different set of conditions, may actually make a real difference.
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It's hard for me to explore new options in vaping. I am a creature of habit, as well as OCD. So, admittedly, I rarely venture outside my comfort zone. Once the Japanese cotton "fad" started, I didn't simply jump on the bandwagon. I used advice from a trusted source (my local shop). They are exposed to a mind boggling range of people, gear, methods, and products. All day, every day, they study what works best. Not just what works best for them, but what works best across the board. So I gladly follow their advice...which was to use the Japanese cotton, in my Kayfuns, on my P3.
Do I believe that trends typically set the mood for our industry? Absolutely. However, I do subscribe to the mindset that "all these people can't be wrong"...
Kinda like when someone doesn't like Chinese food...his friend might say to him "Try it. It's good. 1 billion people can't be wrong!"
. Now, off to find a good source for organic Japanese cotton. Christmas is coming a bit early!
