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This includes promoting consent, respect for boundaries, and understanding of the historical and cultural significance of cruising in LGBTQ+ communities.

The Technology Behind the Experience

Sniffies’ technical innovation goes beyond mapping. Sniffies is one of the few platforms encouraging real-world connections rather than replacing them with digital substitutes.

The app’s success reflects a growing desire within the LGBTQ+ community to move beyond the limitations of traditional dating apps.

Users can see blue pins representing active members nearby, orange pins marking known cruising locations like parks and bars, and clusters showing areas of high activity.

Cruise Buena Vista Park in San Francisco on Sniffies

Miguel Smith and Justice Carlone, photographed by Chris Fucile

The Ramble

Located in New York City’s Central Park, The Ramble has been a popular cruising location for decades.

You can find a boyfriend; you can maybe sell a car. One of the things people love about cruising is that it almost feels like a secret: if you know, you know. Scroll down for all the answers to your burning FAQs on the Sniffies app.

WHAT IS SNIFFIES FOR THE CURIOUS?

Sniffies is a map-based web app designed for gay, bisexual, and bicurious men interested in finding casual hookups.

Bars advertise special events, dark room nights, and busy periods on the platform. Sniffies has had to implement workarounds like “Safer Work Mode” to comply with app store requirements while maintaining its core functionality.

The Authenticity vs. Users can chat, share photos, and establish boundaries before deciding to meet, reducing the uncertainty and potential dangers of traditional cruising.

The platform also includes features like “Ghost Mode” for anonymous browsing, location blurring for privacy, and blocking or reporting problematic users quickly.

Check out the Sniffies map to see who will be there, or commit your profile to the location and see who shows up.

Cruise Vaseline Alley in Los Angeles on Sniffies

Tucker Booth photographed by Wes Smith 

Volunteer Park

Volunteer Park is located in Seattle, and, in fact, features several different areas that are perfect for cruising.

Instead of the familiar grid of profile photos, users see an interactive map showing real-time locations of nearby members, cruising spots, and group meetups.

The platform was launched in 2018 by founder Blake Gallagher in Seattle, Washington, and has since grown into what many consider the most innovative cruising platform available.

Useful, but not always necessary.

HOW TO DELETE YOUR SNIFFIES PROFILE

Registered accounts: Login to your Sniffies account and find the Menu icon at the top right. Sniffies addresses many of these challenges by providing a digital communication layer and verification before in-person meetings.

What are the pros and cons?

This commitment to privacy addresses one of the biggest concerns in the LGBTQ+ community about data security and potential exposure.

Addressing Safety Concerns in Cruising Culture

Traditional cruising has always carried inherent risks, from legal issues to personal safety concerns. Instead, it keeps connections local and immediate, requiring users to physically move to see different areas and users.

This visual approach creates what feels like a “treasure map” for finding connections, encouraging exploration, and spontaneous encounters.

The platform doesn’t restrict users to endless scrolling through profiles located miles away. Use the Cruiser filter to search for profiles by age, position, endowment, body type, sexuality, photos, profile type, hosting type, and location type. 

MAP FEATURES: PROS & CONS

• Cruising Updates:This is a real-time public forum so you can send out mass messages to everyone in the area.

  Profiles are displayed as circular markers with different colors that indicate varying profile types and statuses. By encouraging users to visit real locations and attend events, Sniffies helps strengthen rather than weaken the physical infrastructure of LGBTQ+ communities.

  Navigating Challenges and Controversies

  Despite its popularity, Sniffies faces ongoing challenges, particularly around app store policies and content moderation.

  The app’s map feature helps users discover new venues and locations they might not have known about, potentially driving foot traffic to physical LGBTQ+ spaces.

  This approach addresses concerns that dating apps have contributed to the closure of gay bars and community spaces. Whether it’s a park, a locker room, or a public bathroom, cruising locations are hidden everywhere in plain sight.

  While cruising locations used to be shared via word of mouth, today, the Sniffies map is the simplest way to find the best local cruising spots in your city — from bathhouses to gay bars.

  Go for non-fussy and uncomplicated underwear, such as cotton jockstraps and mesh thongs.