You thought you were going to read only about bongs and water pipes, didn’t you? Particularly ones that have been designed, created, and crafted from various materials that look and smoke great.

And you will.

But an article about such smoking devices isn’t really complete without at least a mention of the truly unique ways that cannabis connoisseurs get their sesh on when they don’t have a bong (or papers, vaporizer, blunt wraps, cigarettes, etc.) to have a proper smoke.

We’ve all been there. And we’ve all had our moments where we impressed even ourselves by fashioning a makeshift, simple bong in lieu of a conventional one.

Records indicate that a common smoking “device” centuries ago in some cultures was a gourd. But if you don’t live in an area bursting with gourds, don’t despair.

Commonly, a simple “bong” can be created from the following:

Fruit (e.g., apple, watermelon, orange, pineapple, etc.)

Vegetables (avocado, pumpkin, cucumber, etc.)

A soda or beer can

A water bottle

Toilet paper and tin foil

Film cannister

The Anatomy of a Bong

Let’s take a look at the three basic pieces:

Water Chamber:



At the bottom is its base, which usually includes a bulbous, bubble-shaped chamber for holding water, hence the term “water bong”. It’s this part, when filled with water, that filters out residue and unwanted particles while also cooling the smoke.

The end result is a smoke that is smoother on the throat and easier on the lungs. For many people, the effects are also clearer and more noticeable.

Tube:

When you draw from the heated bowl of weed, the smoke passes through the water chamber and streams up into a vertical tube, through the mouthpiece, and into your lungs.

Usually, tubes are straight and upright. However, truly inspired and creative bong makers tend to create tubes with various chambers that are often elaborate and intricately linked for further filtering of the smoke. It’s also a major reason it is considered artistic, beautiful, innovative, and/or valuable.

Downstem:

The purpose of the downstem is, when you inhale, to draw air and smoke into the water, which creates bubbles.

The downstem protrudes diagonally from a small hole near the base of the tube. The top of it is where the bowl rests, usually flared into the right shape to hold your dried weed. The bottom part of it sits in the water chamber.

A stationary downstem includes a carburetor, a small hole located above the water line. The carb is covered while inhaling, usually with your thumb, and then released when you’re ready to clear the tube as you finish your toke. A slider downstem, on the other hand, functions differently, as the stem is pulled out instead.

The bowl can be large, medium, or small according to your sesh preferences. If the maker was in a particularly creative bent, the bowl can be as decorative as the chambers and other parts of the device.

Some people consider the bowl and carburetor basic parts, so they describe a bong as having five pieces.

Advantages of Bong Smoking

Smoking using a water bong has several advantages that illustrate why it’s such a popular smoking device.

Advantage 1: Smooth Pulls

One of the main advantages that attracts smokers is the bong’s ability to filter and cool the smoke as it percolates through the water. This makes for a smooth pull even when you inhale a lot of smoke.

Advantage 2: Cleaner Hits

Smoking from a bong is cleaner than smoking a joint or firing your weed up in a small pipe. Your throat and respiratory system don’t suffer as much from these hits, yet you still can enjoy the aroma and flavor cannabis is known for.

Advantage 3: A Fluid Experience

Using a bong is usually a more fluid experience than other means of smoking dry herb, which means there is less chance of getting clogged or dirty.

Advantage 4: It’s Social

Although a joint can easily be a shared experience – “pass the grass, dude” – not much is more shareable than seshing with a gaggle of your BFFs.

There are disadvantages, as well. One is that bongs are bulky and often awkward, especially if designed with an assortment of intricately linked chambers. Although mini-bongs are easy to carry around, bongs in general are not portable. There’s always a risk of one breaking into a gazillion pieces.

So, while we don’t recommend bongs for traveling or smoking on the go, it’s hard to beat such a sesh at home.

Best Type Of Bongs

There are several things that must be considered before you make such a serious choice:

Are you a daily smoker? Heavily so?

Are you a couple-times-a-week type?

Is it just for you? Or do you sesh and share with others regularly?

Are you constantly mobile? Or do you prefer a home sesh?

To truly choose the right bong for you, your smoking habits should be heavily factored in.

As is sometimes the case when describing cylindrical apparatuses, size matters. In this case, however, it can refer to more than one aspect of your sesh:

Lung capacity (can you fill the chamber with smoke and then clear it all or are you leaving room in the chamber and/or having to hit it a 2nd time?)

Chamber

Mouthpiece

Bowl

Nugget to be smoked

Now that you’ve clarified the size of your needs, it’s time to consider the various materials that bongs are commonly made of.

In general, there are two basic categories of materials – traditional and modern.

MODERN

Glass

Glass is easy, smooth, and classic – it looks great, offers a clean smoke, and can be used every day.

There’s always the risk of breakage with a glass bong – and this is true of a soft glass water bong, where the glass is thinner and weaker. Although popular, it might not last too long with heavy daily use.

However, there are plenty of glass bongs that are sturdy and powerful, making them ideal for everyday use. Good strong glass makes it sturdy, durable, and popular.

Nearly any glass bong can be personalized with an assortment of attachments that fasten or attach onto it for a unique sesh experience. Such attachments include:

Diffusers

Ice catchers

Splash guards

Ash catchers

Extra bowls

And more

Although extras can customize your sesh experience, cleaning is more time-consuming and detailed. Yet, clear glass bongs allow you to see the degree of cloudiness in your water. This means that, despite the drawbacks of cleaning, you always know when it’s time to clean it, especially if you’re the type who’s obsessed with clean smoking devices.

Acrylic/Plastic

Acrylic or plastic has always been popular because it is generally cheaper. Most plastic or acrylic bongs include a carburator, which also adds to their popularity. They’re also durable, which also makes them good value for the money.

Despite their popularity, plastic bongs come with risks, as more and more evidence states the harm they can cause to your health when regularly used.

For most cannabis connoisseurs, however, that might not be the most important thing; that plastic bongs minimizes the great taste of the weed is!

TRADITIONAL

Wood

Wood bongs are gorgeous. They are typically made from bamboo for a more durable, stylish attention-getter. For many smokers, a wood device is thought to be an authentic way to sesh, as it’s been used for smoking in Thailand for centuries.

Though simple, undecorated wood bongs have a natural appeal, they can be made with ornamentation or intricate, creative designs and colors for a more personal style.

Ceramics

Ceramic bongs are fantastic. First, they usually come in a variety of creative, fun designs that can be a funky center of attention. Common figures include:

Buddha

Jesus

Naked figures

Skulls

Mushrooms

Gnomes

Animals

And more

For a clean, pure-tasting hit, a ceramic water pipe or bong is fantastic. Many cannabis connoisseurs say no other material is better.

Ceramic is heavy, so smoking devices are usually smaller. This makes them difficult to clean. It also makes them better for infrequent use of special occasions.

Lastly, the water in a ceramic water bong is hidden, so frequent use can make the water dirty without your even knowing it.

If you’re looking for a short-term solution, and can’t buy a bong right now. Check out our homemade bong ideas!

You can find interesting bongs buying a stoner subscription box.