Buying a Bong? Here’s 7 Things To Look Out For

Most people agree that bongs are the best way to smoke medicinal herbs. Water bongs provide a smoother and cleaner smoking experience than other methods. They are also more efficient than pipes and joints, requiring less herb for stronger hits. That being said, buying one can be a lot more difficult than most people would expect! The problem is there are dozens (if not hundreds) of different bong models. It's hard to know which ones are good, which ones are worth it, and which ones are just a waste of money. With that in mind, we've created a simple guide of seven key things to look out for when buying a new bong.

Dry Herb or Dabs?

If you're a dry flower smoker, make sure your bong has a bowl. If you love dabs, you're going to need a dab nail. If you're an herb connoisseur, you have a wide variety of choices! Feasibly any water pipe can be used for smoking flower. For dabbers, we highly recommend sticking with dab rigs.

Intent (Form vs. Function)

When looking for a new piece, it's helpful to consider what you value most in your new bong. We believe that it's important to think about what we refer to as "Form vs. Function". Do you value the way your piece looks (i.e. its form)? Or are you primarily concerned with how well the bong works (i.e. its function)? People who value function should look for pieces that will best serve this purpose, like scientific glass and percolator bongs. Those who want a cool and unique piece should consider heady glass.

Filtration

When it comes to the smoothness of each hit, bongs offer a superior smoking experience. But not all bongs are the same in this respect. When you're browsing, it's important to consider how smooth you want your hits to be. Percs, ice pinches, and ash catchers are all features that can improve filtration. The more of these features a bong has, the smoother the hits will be!

Material

Here's a quick exercise for you: visualize what a bong looks like in your head. What's the first material that comes to your mind? I'll bet it was glass, wasn't it?This is completely understandable. It is no secret that glass bongs are the most popular and widespread type of bong, both in the past and the present. Glass is an excellent material for making bongs. Glass bongs contain no chemicals that can ruin your smoking experience, and they can handle high temperatures. There are several other materials that bongs can be made out of, though. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are a few worth considering:
  • Silicone bongs are vaued for their durability. They are known for being practically indestructible! A silicone water pipe can be an excellent companion during an adventure or for everyday use. Many of these bongs have built in compartments for carrying your dry herb and other items. They're completely safe, heatproof, BPA-free, and can even go in the dishwasher! Silicone bongs are easier to make and apply a wider range of colors to than glass bongs, so they often come in a lot of cool designs for a really affordable price.
  • Ceramic bongs provide a link to our ancestral smoking roots, being one of the oldest materials on earth to be used in water bongs. They get high marks in reliability and function. Many ceramic bongs come in unique, eye-catching designs.
  • Acrylic bongs (or plastic bongs) are similar to silicone bongs, but they are hard-shelled and even more affordable. If you're looking for a bong at a very low price, acrylic is the way to go. People who smoke frequently or have been smoking for a long time may find acrylic bongs to be too fragile, but beginners and those on a low budget can definitely get good use out of an acrylic bong.

Size

When picking out a new bong, think about how much space you have to use and store your water bong, as well as how many people will be using it at once. Some people like to smoke big clouds, while others prefer a smaller option that is more discreet. If you regularly hold group smoke seshes or you want big fat hits, then you need a bigger bong. If you want to have smaller sessions or don't want to store a huge bong, then look at smaller options.

Cleaning

That intricate triple perc bong that you can't keep your eyes off may be absolutely sick, but are you willing to do what it takes to keep a piece like that clean? It's important to have a plan for keeping your new water bong free from gunk. Luckily, there are a variety of cleaning options available to help you keep your new bong nice and tidy.

Budget

At most shops, salespeople want to sell you the most expensive item possible. We're not most shops. We create articles like this so that we can help people find the best bong for them, and that includes finding one that fits within their budget! That is why we make sure we carry high quality bongs that fit every budget. If you're in the market, definitely take a look at what we have to offer in our bongs section!

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