Wide Open – What Does It Mean in Vaping?

Definition

Wide Open is a vaping term that describes the airflow control on a tank or rebuildable atomiser being fully open, allowing maximum air to pass over the coil and wick. Its purpose is to create a cooler, airier vape with more vapour production and a looser draw—ideal for high-wattage sub-ohm vaping. Beginners often hear “run it wide open” when trying a new device for the first time, meaning they should open the airflow slots to their widest setting before inhaling.

Technical Details

Airflow rings or slots—typically 6–12 mm wide—slide or rotate to reveal one or more ports. When fully open, the cumulative port area can exceed 20 mm², dropping coil surface temperature by 10–20 °C and lowering suction resistance to below 0.15 Ω of pressure drop. Variations include honeycomb (multiple small holes), cyclops (single wide slot), and top-side dual intakes. Wide-open settings pair best with low-resistance coils (0.1–0.3 Ω), high-wattage mods (60–120 W), and loose wicking material to prevent dry hits. Some tanks offer “wide open but restricted” inserts that narrow the final bore while still using the full slot area.

Usage & Tips

• Start Low, Then Open: Begin at 50 W with airflow half-closed; increase wattage gradually as you open fully to avoid flooding the wick.
• Wicking Check: If you hear gurgling, tighten airflow halfway or fluff your wicking material to balance e-liquid flow.
• Safety: Running wide open at extreme wattage can overheat wire; monitor coil wraps for hot spots and ensure your battery’s amp limit is respected.

History & Context

The phrase gained popularity around 2014 with the rise of 30 mm cloud-chasing RDAs. Early Aussie vapers adopted “wide open” to distinguish airy competition builds from tighter mouth-to-lung setups, cementing the term in local vape-shop vernacular.