Surviving Cold Weather Vaping

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As winter approaches and the cold winds blow in, vapers need to prep themselves and their vape devices to deal with the frigid temperatures. Read on if you vape and find yourself in any of these four categories: 1) You work outside for long periods at a stretch 2) You go out for breaks at work 3) You don’t vape indoors at home, so you go outside a lot to puff  4) You find yourself frequently leaving restaurants or bars to vape outside.

If any of these scenarios sound like your life, read on intrepid vaper friend. Every year, vapers battle the elements and they prevail. With a few small adjustments, vaping outdoors can be a fun and relaxing activity through the long nights and dark months of winter.   

In this article we’ll look at some strategies to keep your device (and your face) from freezing.

Keep Your Device and Liquids Warm

Maintaining the temperature of your vaping device is critical when vaping in extreme temperatures. While e-liquid is unlikely to freeze, colder temperatures can still wreak havoc on your device. As liquid chills it expands, pushing its way out of the tank and through the coils and wicking. Once it warms up again and thins out, you'll have a leaky mess on your hands. Try and vape excessively cold liquid, meanwhile, and you run the risk of it being too thick to wick properly; that'll leave your coil dry and burnt. Also, if your device is out in the cold for too long, its battery life can be compromised.

To avoid these problems, here are some practical ways keep your device warm. The most obvious suggestion is to store all your vaping equipment inside, where the temperature is regulated. For example, be sure not to leave your device out in the car all night long. And when you go out, keep your device and extra liquid in your pocket or close to your body to keep it warm. If you are going to be out for extended periods of time, consider leaving your device somewhere warm that's nearby and readily accessible, but not on your person.

Protect Your Face

There’s no doubt about it. Exhaled vapor feels cold on the face when it’s cold outside. To keep your face warm during the cold months, you want proper protection. This can be easily accomplished by getting a nice wooly scarf, a huge coat, a face mask, and most importantly, lip balm. Lip balm is an important weapon for vapers who are prone to getting chapped lips.

Some ingredients in e-liquids can lead to dehydration, which can cause dried out lips and dry faces. It’s the propylene glycol (PG) in your e-liquid that can cause your mouth to dry out very quickly. That’s because PG molecules are hygroscopic, which means they absorb moisture. When you’re vaping, water molecules are being drawn out of your saliva, as well as the surrounding tissue in your throat, mouth, and nose, which can cause dry mouth. This can lead to particularly chapped lips or uncomfortably dry skin on your face. As with any type of dehydration, the best defense is making sure that you’re drinking enough water.

Additionally, a cold tip on your device can make dry or chapped lips feel even worse. It’s also important not to vape in cold temps while your lips are too wet. Wet lips may stick to the tip of your vaping device on days that are well below freezing. If your device does get stuck to your lips, do not pull it quickly out of your mouth. Go slow and steady and make sure to get help if you need it. Again, having some type of ointment on your lips will prevent them sticking to your tip.

One last thing to keep in mind for the winter, it’s only temporary. Before you know it, spring and summer will be back to greet you again. In the meantime, make sure to protect your device and protect your face!