Cotton Bacon – What is it in Vaping?
Definition
Cotton Bacon is a premium, pharmaceutical-grade wicking material specifically designed for rebuildable atomisers (RDAs, RTAs, RDTAs). Unlike standard organic cotton balls, Cotton Bacon is lab-certified, pesticide-free cotton that has been meticulously cleaned, bleached, and then re-bleached to remove impurities, oils, and natural cotton taste. Its purpose is to deliver pure, unadulterated flavour by absorbing e-liquid and feeding it evenly to the coil, while withstanding high temperatures without burning. Popular among Australian cloud chasers and flavour enthusiasts, Cotton Bacon comes in thin, bacon-strip-like sheets that tear easily to fit any coil build, making it a convenient and reliable choice for both beginners and advanced vapers seeking consistent wicking performance.
Technical Details
Cotton Bacon is woven from long-fibre US-grown cotton, resulting in a porous structure that balances capillary action with heat resistance. Each 4-inch (10 cm) strip is approximately 0.5 mm thick and can absorb up to 12 times its weight in e-liquid. The fibres are aligned parallel to the strip’s length, promoting rapid Juice Flow”>juice flow and minimising dry hits. Variants include Cotton Bacon Prime—engineered for 20% faster saturation—and Cotton Bacon V2, which offers a slightly tighter weave for higher-wattage Clapton coil builds. Independent tests show it withstands continuous firing at 280 °C before scorching, outperforming generic cotton by roughly 30 °C. Because it is sterile and residue-free, it reduces coil gunk, extending coil life by up to 25% compared with unprocessed cotton.
Usage & Tips
Before first use, gently pull a strip to separate fibres, then roll or twist to match your coil’s Diameter“>inner diameter. Insert with slight resistance—too tight restricts juice flow; too loose causes spit-back. Trim ends flush with the coil deck to prevent pooling and leakage. Prime by dripping e-liquid until the cotton turns translucent; wait 2–3 minutes before vaping. Replace when flavour mutes or you notice a persistent burnt taste—typically every 3–7 days depending on sweetness level. Store unused Cotton Bacon in its resealable pouch away from sunlight to maintain sterility. Always wash hands before handling to avoid contamination, and never reuse old cotton when switching flavours to prevent ghosting.
History & Context
Introduced in 2014 by Wick ‘N’ Vape, Cotton Bacon emerged after the company’s founders—frustrated with medical cotton’s break-in taste—partnered with US cotton mills to create a vaping-specific wick. Its bacon-strip format quickly became the gold standard in competitive cloud chasing, appearing in global coil-building contests and Aussie vape expos. Today, Cotton Bacon remains a benchmark against which new wicking materials are measured.