If you enjoy smoking herb or tobacco, you might want to invest in a glass bong to enhance your experience. A glass bong is a water pipe that filters and cools the smoke, making it smoother and more flavorful. But with so many types and sizes of glass bongs on the market, how do you choose the right one for you? In this blog post, we will guide you through some factors to consider when buying a glass bong, such as the size, the design, the joint, the percolator and the accessories.
Size
The size of the glass bong affects how much smoke it can hold, how easy it is to transport and store, and how comfortable it is to use. Generally, glass bongs can be classified into three categories: mini, medium and large.
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Mini bongs
are ideal for portability, discretion and solo sessions. They are usually between 4 to 10 inches tall and have a small bowl and chamber. They can provide powerful hits for their size, but they may also be harsher and less filtered than larger bongs. Mini bongs are also known as bubblers and can be used with or without water. -
Medium bongs
are the most common and versatile choice for most smokers. They are usually between 8 to 16 inches tall and have a medium-sized bowl and chamber. They can provide smooth and tasty hits with a good amount of water filtration and cooling. They are also easier to clean than mini bongs and more stable than large bongs. Medium bongs are suitable for both solo and social sessions. -
Large bongs
are for those who want to experience massive hits with maximum filtration and cooling. They are usually over 16 inches tall and have a large bowl and chamber. They can hold a lot of smoke and water, but they also require more lung capacity and effort to clear. They are also harder to transport and store, and more prone to breaking. Large bongs are best for experienced smokers who want to challenge themselves or impress their friends.
Design
The design of the glass bong affects how it looks, how it functions and how it feels. There are many different shapes and styles of glass bongs, but some of the most popular ones are:
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Straight tube bongs
are the simplest and most classic design. They have a straight cylindrical body with a base, a joint, a downstem, a bowl and a mouthpiece. They are easy to use, clean and store, but they may also splash water or tip over easily. -
Beaker bongs
are similar to straight tube bongs, but they have a cone-shaped base that resembles a beaker. They have more stability, capacity and filtration than straight tube bongs, but they may also be harder to clean and clear. -
Bent neck bongs
are straight tube or beaker bongs that have a curved neck that angles the mouthpiece away from the body. They have more comfort, convenience and splash protection than straight neck bongs, but they may also be harder to store and transport. -
Recycler bongs
are complex and sophisticated designs that have two chambers connected by tubes. They recycle the smoke and water between the chambers multiple times, creating more filtration, cooling and flavor. They are ideal for concentrates, but they may also be expensive, fragile and difficult to clean.
Joint
The joint of the glass bong is where the bowl slides into the downstem. The joint affects how much air flow the bong has, how compatible it is with different accessories, and how secure it is. The joint has two characteristics: the size and the gender.
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The size
of the joint determines how much air can pass through it. The larger the joint, the more air flow the bong has, but also the more lung power it requires. The standard sizes of joints are 10mm, 14mm and 18mm. For glass bongs, 14mm and 18mm are more common than 10mm. A simple way to measure the joint size is to use a dime: if a dime is larger than the joint, it’s 14mm; if a dime can just cover the joint, it’s 18mm. -
The gender
of the joint determines how it connects with different accessories. The joint can be either male or female, depending on whether it has a protruding or a recessed end. A male joint works with a female accessory, and vice versa. For example, a male joint can fit a female bowl or a female nail. The gender of the joint also affects how secure it is: a male joint tends to be more stable than a female joint, but also more prone to breaking.
Percolator
The percolator of the glass bong is the part that creates bubbles and diffuses the smoke and water. The percolator affects how smooth, cool and flavorful the hits are, as well as how much drag and noise the bong has. There are many different types of percolators, but some of the most popular ones are:
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Showerhead percolators
are shaped like showerheads and have multiple slits or holes that create bubbles. They have good filtration, cooling and flavor, as well as low drag and noise. -
Tree percolators
are shaped like trees and have multiple arms that branch out from a central tube. Each arm has slits or holes that create bubbles. They have excellent filtration, cooling and flavor, but also high drag and noise. -
Honeycomb percolators
are shaped like honeycombs and have multiple small holes that create bubbles. They have great filtration, cooling and flavor, as well as low drag and noise.
Accessories
The accessories of the glass bong are the parts that can be added or replaced to customize the bong’s performance, appearance and functionality. Some of the most common accessories are:
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Bowls
are the parts that hold the herb or tobacco. They can vary in size, shape, material and design. Some bowls have handles or knobs for easy removal, some have screens or filters to prevent ash from entering the bong, and some have built-in percolators or ash catchers to enhance the filtration and cooling. -
Nails
are the parts that hold the concentrates. They can be made of different materials, such as glass, quartz, titanium or ceramic. They can also have different designs, such as domeless, domed or e-nail. Nails can be heated with a torch or an electric coil to vaporize the concentrates. -
Ash catchers
are the parts that attach to the joint of the bong and catch the ash before it enters the water. They can also have percolators to further filter and cool the smoke. Ash catchers can keep the bong cleaner and smoother, but they can also add weight and drag to the bong. -
Percs
are the parts that can be added to the bong to increase the number and type of percolators. They can be attached to the downstem, the joint or the chamber of the bong. Percs can improve the smoothness, coolness and flavor of the hits, but they can also increase the drag and noise of the bong.
Conclusion
Choosing the right size and design of a glass bong for your needs and preferences can be a fun and rewarding process. You can experiment with different combinations of factors, such as size, design, joint, percolator and accessories, to find your ideal glass bong. You can also check out some online sources for more information and inspiration, such as
Badass Glass
,
Smoke Cartel
,
Smoke Cartel Bongs
, and
Fat Buddha Glass
. Happy smoking!
