Local Vape Shops: The Popularity of Vaping & How To Find Them

Over the past few years, the amount of vape shops found throughout the world has increased dramatically. Nearly every major city not only hosts smoke shops containing a selection of vapor products, but stores dedicated to the vaping community.

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I’ve personally witnessed this growth in New York, where seemingly every major street has some type of vape lounge or vape shop. It’s actually quite exciting to see how interest in vaping has grown, as it’s now more common to see people vaping than smoking. This didn’t happen overnight though, as I do remember when vaping was more of a quirky hobby than an accepted, commonplace activity. Today we even offer a service to help you find local vape shops via our Breazy Local section.

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A short time ago, the only people who knew what vaping was were those who were trying to kick their tobacco habits. These people would carry around small e-cigarettes that came with a limited vape flavor selection that offered none of the variety we’re spoiled by today. Now, the vaping community and market has grown into a powerhouse, becoming one of the most talked-about developments of recent years.

 

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Although the evidence shows that the first electronic cigarette was invented back in the 1960s, what we know today as the forefather to modern vaping equipment was developed in the early 2000s by Hon Lik of Beijing, China. Lik is quoting as saying that “the idea for the e-cigarette came to [him] in a dream in 2000. Coughing and wheezing, [he] imagined [he] was drowning, until suddenly the waters around [him] turned into a fog.” His first patent was accepted in 2004, introducing a relatively primitive version of e-cigarettes to the Chinese market.

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By early 2007, early e-cigs were being sold in both Europe and the U.S. This rapid growth was quickly accompanied by controversy, as the act of doing something that “looked like smoking” was immediately offensive to forces dedicated to discouraging tobacco use by stigmatizing smokers. Attempts to stop vaping from gaining popularity by governments and government-sponsored activist groups began in early 2008. By 2011, the FDA intervened, pledging to develop regulations for the industry - this effort resulted in the onerous “deeming regulations” that began to take effect last year.

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While bans and regulations concerning the use of vapor products continue to expand today, the popularity of vape products continues to rise. Rapid growth can be attributed to the simplification of technology and lower cost of entry, as well as the growing body of scientific evidence attesting to the comparative safety of vaping.

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Starting with the simplicity of the first eGo, people have been able to understand and utilize their devices without having to delve too much time and effort into understanding the product. Consumers were then able to have a device that they could keep with them all day without stressing over when it would die, thanks to dramatically improved battery capacities. This lack of worry became even more attractive as the price of most eGo devices fell to the $10 to $40 range.

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Eventually, the mechanical mod came out and took the reins as users began to demand more power than their basic devices could deliver. These mods became popular as the desire rose among vapers to customize their own vaping experience. The thicker, stronger vapor plumes also proved effective in helping many users, disappointed by the limited production of earlier devices, successfully kick their tobacco habits.

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Although these were a little more expensive, their popularity remained prominent and were still a comparative bargain alongside the cost of cigarettes in many areas. Eventually, the modern variable power mod emerged, offering all of the output of mechs but with greatly reduced safety concerns. Today, most vapers prefer these advanced devices because of their strength, ability to bring out flavor, and ability to fine-tune the vaping experience.

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With the advent of second- and third-generation sub-ohm clearomizers with disposable coil heads, there is no longer a need to build your own atomizer, complete advanced mathematical calculations during the build process, or take apart your entire device each time you want to vape. Instead, most modern mods have small, digital display screens that accommodate any adjustments you’d like to make in real time. This is what drew me to the modern mod, as it was customizable and powerful, yet simple to utilize. Ranging from $25 to $200, there is now a mod that can fit anyone financially.

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The science behind the vape market is quite reassuring, as well. Although some people mistakenly believe that vaping is just as bad as smoking, the evidence simply doesn’t bear out these claims. According to Professor Peter Hajek, Director of the Tobacco Dependence Research Unit at Queen Mary University in London, the risks that come from cigarette smoke do not stem from nicotine, but rather the thousands of chemical carcinogens found in tobacco. While some of the flavorings of certain e-liquids may pose some long-term risks (see our earlier posts on diketones and the science behind them), most e-liquids are harmless. Nicotine is an addictive substance, but it is not necessarily a harmful one - several studies have suggested its effects as a mild stimulant when taken in doses found in vapor are as benign as the consumption of caffeine, another legal stimulant.

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Vaping has become quite popular over the past few years due to simplification of tech, the decrease in price, and the scientific evidence supporting safety. In fact, it has been reported that vaping has consistently helped users quit or reduce usage of cigarettes. This decrease in tobacco expense has anecdotally saved some former smokers more than a thousand dollars annually.

Not only this, but vaping is quite an involved experience. With so many flavors and hardware choices, it has become not only a way to replace a cigarette habit, but a way to pass the time and make a fashion statement. With relative safety, simplicity, and widespread access, vaping has become a dominant part of modern society.