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Beginner’s Guide to Bongs
So you’ve smoked out of your friend’s bong a couple of times and you’re thinking of buying one yourself. There’s a lot to think about when buying your first bong, but that just makes finding the right one for you all the more fun!
What Are the Benefits of Using a Bong?
A bong is the smoothest way to enjoy burning cannabis, hands down. Unlike any other smoking device, the heat and particulates in the cannabis smoke diffuse throughout the water before you breathe that smoke in. It’s also the most efficient method of smoking. This method conserves much more of the smoke, while other methods allow it to drift away in the wind.
How do Bongs Work?
Bongs come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all have at least these four components:
Bowl Piece – this is where you burn the cannabis. Once the you light the bud and start breathing in through the tube, the smoke travels down the bowl piece into the downstem.
Tube – this is where you put your mouth and inhale once you light the bowl. After traveling through the bong, the smoke collects here before you breath it in.
Downstem – the downstem is a tube that connects to the bowl piece on one end, while the other is submerged in water.
Basin – this is where the bong holds the water.
What Type of Bong Should I Buy?
There are several factors to consider when you’re thinking of purchasing a bong. Make sure you consider all of the below factors before you pull the trigger and get something that doesn’t suit your needs.
Material – Bongs can be made out many materials; glass, ceramic, fiberglass, silicone rubber, or even wood! Each material has pros and cons, but it really boils down to just a couple of factors: durability, ease of cleaning, and aesthetics. Aesthetics are personal, so if you’re not going to use your bong frequently and you’re not going to travel with it, get whichever bong looks the coolest to you! When it comes to ease of cleaning, glass pieces are the very best. All it takes is some rubbing alcohol and a little epsom salt. They also tend to have the most interesting designs, and nearly all high end pieces are made of glass. When it comes to durability, nothing can really beat Silicone rubber. Heat resistant and practically indestructible, rubber bongs are perfect if you’re clumsy or like to travel with your piece.
Size – Bongs come in all shapes and sizes, so there’s something for everyone. But if you don’t have the space or you don’t smoke that often, a 4-foot bong isn’t right for you. Look for a size that will fit with your storage needs, but also feels comfortable to smoke from. You don’t want a piece that’s either too big or too small to smoke from comfortably.
Complexity – What we’ve described above are the very basics of bong design, but the bong world is full of innovative features that can improve your smoking experience.
Ice Catchers – Your bong can cool smoke even further if you load it with ice. Many designers have made this easy by putting small bumps on the inside of the tube to hold the ice while you’re smoking.
Beaker basin – Instead of the usual flat disc base, some bongs have a flared basin like you might find on the bottom of a beaker. This allows the basin to hold more water, and makes it less prone to tipping.
Percolators – A great way to add an extra round of diffusion and filtration to your piece. By further diffusing smoke though an extra chamber of water, percolators make the smoke even cooler and cleaner. They also tend to make the bong more expensive and harder to clean.
If you have any further questions about bongs or anything else cannabis related, ask one of our friendly and knowledgeable budtenders. You can also contact us on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram!
Toke on, Dreamers!
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