Stealth vaping
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I was a largely "closeted" smoker, so I took to stealth vaping naturally and gratefully. It's so much easier to sneak a vape than a smoke. I understand why stealth vaping may sometimes or even always be preferred in public or in certain social situations, so here are my stealthy secrets.
When I vaped 510s I covered the LED with an opaque black plastic pen cap. Voila, the PV is instantly camouflaged as a pen. I was only caught out once, when I forgot the pen cap and was vaping in a dimly lit bar. A guy sitting across from me suddenly looked at me very strangely and pointed out that my pinkie finger was glowing red. Oops. I muttered something about a mood ring and he wisely let it go. These days I vape an eGo; apart from being a more powerful, longer lasting PV, there's no tell-tale glowing light on the tip.
That experience taught me two valuable lessons about stealth vaping, which is part sleight of hand and part sleight of breath. It helps if you think like a magician, in terms of concealment and misdirection.
1) Sleight of hand: the eGo is a bit too large to fully conceal in one hand, but it's also matte black and therefore unobtrusive. My single-hand technique (I'm right handed) is to conceal the battery diagonally across my palm, three fingers loosely curled around it (the classic magician's "palming" technique). I extend my index finger alongside the atomizer and drip-tip, and press the button with my thumb. To anyone glancing my way, it looks like I'm just pensively touching my finger to my lower lip:
The double-hand technique is basically the same except that you don't need to extend your index finger, because your left hand completely covers the atomizer and drip-tip. This method works best when you're sitting down and resting your elbows on a table, because raising both hands to your mouth looks a bit odd otherwise. It's also useful in very dark environments like cinemas and theaters, where even the small light under the eGo button can show up brightly. Again, if you do it well the effect is that you're simply resting your chin on your hands, more or less like this (except with the left hand on top, if you're like me ...)
Walking around in extremely cold weather, of course, is one of the few situations in which raising both hands to your mouth and exhaling vapor doesn't look odd at all; people assume that you're just blowing into your hands to warm them up.
2) Sleight of breath: there are several effective ways to conceal exhaled vapor, though much depends on lighting conditions and whether or not someone is looking directly at you. The most effective is to take a drag and hold your breath for about 5-10 seconds, then exhale slowly through your nose. The breath-holding technique is almost foolproof but it's not a very relaxing way to vape, so my preferred method is to take a regular stealth drag and then exhale slowly through my nose while casually reaching up as if to rub it:
... creating a funnel with my hand(s) that guides the exhaled vapor down my arm(s). Again, much of this depends on lighting conditions and whether or not you're being directly observed.
The latter point is worth bearing in mind as part of the art of concealment. Our eyes are naturally drawn to peoples' faces and to movement, so if (for example) you take a stealth drag while walking down the aisle of a supermarket, it's more likely to be noticed by anyone glancing at you (from the front) than if you took your drag while you were standing still and facing the shelves. Pretty much the same applies even if you're sitting at a table with a group of friends; if, for whatever reason, you preferred to stealth vape under those conditions, the best plan is to "establish" your hands at face level for a while (i.e., resting them on your chin as described above) and simply wait until someone sitting opposite and diagonally to you is the center of attention.
I've used these techniques successfully over the past year and a bit, stealth vaping in airports and airplanes, restaurants, bars, at parties, etc. As far as I know no-one has ever noticed, and if they did, they didn't make anything of it.
When I vaped 510s I covered the LED with an opaque black plastic pen cap. Voila, the PV is instantly camouflaged as a pen. I was only caught out once, when I forgot the pen cap and was vaping in a dimly lit bar. A guy sitting across from me suddenly looked at me very strangely and pointed out that my pinkie finger was glowing red. Oops. I muttered something about a mood ring and he wisely let it go. These days I vape an eGo; apart from being a more powerful, longer lasting PV, there's no tell-tale glowing light on the tip.
That experience taught me two valuable lessons about stealth vaping, which is part sleight of hand and part sleight of breath. It helps if you think like a magician, in terms of concealment and misdirection.
1) Sleight of hand: the eGo is a bit too large to fully conceal in one hand, but it's also matte black and therefore unobtrusive. My single-hand technique (I'm right handed) is to conceal the battery diagonally across my palm, three fingers loosely curled around it (the classic magician's "palming" technique). I extend my index finger alongside the atomizer and drip-tip, and press the button with my thumb. To anyone glancing my way, it looks like I'm just pensively touching my finger to my lower lip:
The double-hand technique is basically the same except that you don't need to extend your index finger, because your left hand completely covers the atomizer and drip-tip. This method works best when you're sitting down and resting your elbows on a table, because raising both hands to your mouth looks a bit odd otherwise. It's also useful in very dark environments like cinemas and theaters, where even the small light under the eGo button can show up brightly. Again, if you do it well the effect is that you're simply resting your chin on your hands, more or less like this (except with the left hand on top, if you're like me ...)
Walking around in extremely cold weather, of course, is one of the few situations in which raising both hands to your mouth and exhaling vapor doesn't look odd at all; people assume that you're just blowing into your hands to warm them up.
2) Sleight of breath: there are several effective ways to conceal exhaled vapor, though much depends on lighting conditions and whether or not someone is looking directly at you. The most effective is to take a drag and hold your breath for about 5-10 seconds, then exhale slowly through your nose. The breath-holding technique is almost foolproof but it's not a very relaxing way to vape, so my preferred method is to take a regular stealth drag and then exhale slowly through my nose while casually reaching up as if to rub it:
... creating a funnel with my hand(s) that guides the exhaled vapor down my arm(s). Again, much of this depends on lighting conditions and whether or not you're being directly observed.
The latter point is worth bearing in mind as part of the art of concealment. Our eyes are naturally drawn to peoples' faces and to movement, so if (for example) you take a stealth drag while walking down the aisle of a supermarket, it's more likely to be noticed by anyone glancing at you (from the front) than if you took your drag while you were standing still and facing the shelves. Pretty much the same applies even if you're sitting at a table with a group of friends; if, for whatever reason, you preferred to stealth vape under those conditions, the best plan is to "establish" your hands at face level for a while (i.e., resting them on your chin as described above) and simply wait until someone sitting opposite and diagonally to you is the center of attention.
I've used these techniques successfully over the past year and a bit, stealth vaping in airports and airplanes, restaurants, bars, at parties, etc. As far as I know no-one has ever noticed, and if they did, they didn't make anything of it.
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Beautifully done Harlequin !!!
Photos are great !
Along with these techniques...lower the vg....less vapor.
Photos are great !
Along with these techniques...lower the vg....less vapor.
If you don't want to exhale a plume of vapor take a drag into your mouth then inhale it by taking a quick partial breath to get the vapor into your lungs, hold it a second or so, then fill your lungs with air and hold it again. With practice you won't get much or any vapor on the exhale. I've successfuly vaped in college classes this way and never got caught even though there were 15 other people in the room with me.
Harlequin too funny with the pics! Love it!
I like this time especially because I drink more coffee and hot chocolate the ole fake sip of coffee and exhaling into the cup, and last but not least the
that was hot expression is a lot of fun as the vapor billows out of the cup like a volcano 
boB
I like this time especially because I drink more coffee and hot chocolate the ole fake sip of coffee and exhaling into the cup, and last but not least the
that was hot expression is a lot of fun as the vapor billows out of the cup like a volcano boBGood point. I almost always use PG niquid, so it's not so much of an issue for me. I believe there's also some sort of "stealth niquid" available.
I stealth vape everywhere- inner rebel in me To hide the "smoke", I exhale it into the crook of my arm. Vapor dissipates on clothes instantly. It does make my sleeve damp though LOL!
Lori
To hide the "smoke", I exhale it into the crook of my arm. Vapor dissipates on clothes instantly. It does make my sleeve damp though LOL!Lori
Heh, I am usually walking around with a flannel hoodie type jacket on, I exhale into the crook of my arm, or if I'm not wearing a long sleeve shirt I exhale into a napkin.
I've vaped everwhere this way, on long trips in planes, in resteraunts, in movie theaters, etc.
I use a eGo so there's no betraying light either (cover it with my thumb)
I've vaped everwhere this way, on long trips in planes, in resteraunts, in movie theaters, etc.
I use a eGo so there's no betraying light either (cover it with my thumb)
My finest hour of stealth vaping was on a transatlantic flight. I looked out the window much of the flight and with my personal air jet full open, and my "pen" held thoughtfully in my mouth I had no problems at all. For some reason, e cigs aren't allowed -- or so they think!
If you DIY it is much easier to stealth. I vape at 10-11mg/ml with and 80pg/20vg mix. For stealth I carry a 3ml bottle of 24mg/ml 100%pg and no flavor added. I find that while it is not nearly as satifying as my other juices it does deliver nic and minimal vapor w/no smell.
Harlequin too funny with the pics! Love it!
I like this time especially because I drink more coffee and hot chocolate the ole fake sip of coffee and exhaling into the cup, and last but not least the
LMAO!!!! I thought I was the only one who exhales into a hot cup of coffe while at the cafe ! My wife laughs at me every time I do it. WOW!, thats some hot coffee huh?
Neon
I have a couple of "stealth mixes"...almost no flavor....just a tiny touch of gum and candy flavors...
Teaberry
Spearmint
Peppermint
these get me by without notice.....
Teaberry
Spearmint
Peppermint
these get me by without notice.....
I've never tried to hide it. There ain't no shame in my game. Very few people even ask me about it any more. A friend of mine was shown vaping on the jumbotron recently at a Red Wings game and nobody said anything to him either.
I just don't vape where I think it may be an issue. I didn't stealth smoke.
I just don't vape where I think it may be an issue. I didn't stealth smoke.
King county, WA just banned e-cig vaping in public, that's why I asked.
Though I'm sure there are plenty of people everywhere who prefer to be "stealthy"
Though I'm sure there are plenty of people everywhere who prefer to be "stealthy"
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