I think the end headcount was over 300 people but I cannot confirm that number because I left early.
While I saw nothing particularly new and super exciting (there was an interesting and creative vaping hookah table), I came away with lots of goodies. Lots of new juices, tanks (pyrex too), dripshields, Goodsense 306DCA (I am not a 306 user but had to grab one of these to try - 2 piece adapter that lets you snug in a 306 and use any 510/901 driptip with no leaks and adjusts draw/airflow), 2.5 and 3Ω dual coil cartos, Ego Mega Dual Coil Cartos in black and clear, new 6 ml carto, delrin and aluminum drip tips for EMDCCs, DIY flavorings, and more. As many know, I am an HV vapor but there was a bunch of interesting 3.7 gear like a new Stealth GG, V-mods, Thor's hammers, new box feeders, "bud" (1.5ml tank atty/carto?)...
What made the trip most worthwhile was the chance to meet so many many people in person and out from behind the computer screens. I met so many screen names and got a chance to get to know them a bit in person (compared to the limited interaction we get in forums and chatrooms). We had big groups doing all kinds of things from hanging out for hours (first night about 50 people hanging out on a deck with drinks, etc), to going out to meals... Friday night we had a group of 16 people walking down the strip and then waltz into a restaurant at 1 AM asking for a table for dinner. We had a great time.
As far as I could tell, there was not a drop of drama and THAT was nice to see (or perhaps I should say "not see").
Without taking ANY sides, of any nature, if I were to get up on a soapbox about the one thing that REALLY could make it better? It would be to see an end to all the divisiveness in the vaping community. Without going into detail, and will not respond to posts looking to further any discussion on this point, there are small and statistically insignificant issues being discussed in other forums that are unfortunately resulting in personality conflicts and those conflicts are creating the divisiveness that have some propagating sentiments like "don't go to that event - go to this one..." and much more. Such can in no way help our community and can only hurt it. Regulation will come and if we do not find a way to come together and coordinate the professionals (doctors, lawyers, scientists, etc), we will never create a community voice to have any say in the regulation when it comes. Sadly, some seem to feel that their personality conflicts are more important than preparing to have professional community voice to interject against whatever the lobbyists (special interests) push for with their monstrous and extremely influential resources.
Had such personality and other issues been addressed (and resolved) professionally and behind closed doors, the divisiveness might not be ripping the cohesiveness of the vaping community apart at the seams and we could all be encouraging much greater turnouts for ALL big vape events. I fear many vendors and vapors did not come to this event solely because of that divisiveness. This event could have been, and certainly SHOULD have been, over 500 attendees strong. Without such cohesiveness (and hopefully resultant organized professionalism), we may just have to stomach whatever regulation gets imposed upon us as we will not have any organized/professional voice to represent OUR interests.
Overall, I had a fantastic time at Vegas Vapefest with late nights, GREAT people, new juices (vendor and peoples' DIYs), new toys and more - not to mention it was in VEGAS!! I only wish there were many many more of us in attendance because I would love to meet so many more of the enthusiastic, creative and wonderful people we have in the vaping community. I may try to get to VaperCon (but that is a cross country trip for me and therefore much more costly to attend). I think vapors are great people and when we get together - FUN times ensue!
