If you are a fan of smoking herbs or tobacco, you might have heard of or used a glass bong. A glass bong is a type of water pipe that filters and cools the smoke before you inhale it, providing a smoother and more enjoyable smoking experience. Glass bongs are unique as they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, each with its features, benefits, and drawbacks. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most common types and shapes of glass bongs and how they affect the smoking experience.
Types of glass bongs
Generally, glass bongs can be categorized into two groups: the traditional bongs and the modern bongs. The traditional bongs are simple, straightforward and have a classic design. They tend to be smaller in size and have a straight tube or a round base. The modern bongs are more complex, innovative and have various features that enhance the smoking experience. They tend to be larger in size and have different shapes and percolators.
Traditional bongs
The traditional bongs are the most basic and common types of glass bongs. They usually consist of four main parts: the bowl, the downstem, the water chamber and the mouthpiece. The bowl is where you pack your herb or tobacco, the downstem is a tube that connects the bowl to the water chamber, the water chamber is where the smoke passes through the water and gets filtered and cooled, and the mouthpiece is where you inhale the smoke from.
There are two main shapes of traditional bongs: straight tube bongs and round base bongs.
Straight tube bongs
Straight tube bongs are named after their shape: a straight tube from top to bottom. They are easy to use, clean and store. They can also come with different features such as ice catchers, diffused downstems and ash catchers to improve the smoking experience. Ice catchers are notches or pinches in the tube that allow you to add ice cubes to cool down the smoke even more. Diffused downstems are downstems that have slits or holes at the end to create more bubbles and increase the filtration. Ash catchers are attachments that prevent ash from entering the water chamber and keep your bong cleaner.
Straight tube bongs are ideal for beginners or anyone who wants a simple and classic smoking device. They offer a direct and powerful hit that can be harsh on the throat if not cooled properly. They are also less stable than other types of bongs due to their narrow base, so be careful not to knock them over.
Round base bongs
Round base bongs are similar to straight tube bongs but with a round base instead of a straight one. They have a wider base that provides more stability and prevents spills. They also have a larger water chamber that allows for more filtration and cooling of the smoke.
Round base bongs are suitable for anyone who wants a stable and smooth smoking device. They offer a milder hit than straight tube bongs but still deliver a satisfying smoking experience. They can also come with different features such as ice catchers, diffused downstems and ash catchers to enhance the smoking experience.
Modern bongs
The modern bongs are the more advanced and innovative types of glass bongs. They usually have more parts, features and designs than traditional bongs. The most distinctive feature of modern bongs is the percolator.
Percolator bongs
A percolator is a glass filter that is suspended into the water chamber or attached to the downstem of a glass bong. It creates more bubbles and surface area for the smoke to interact with the water, resulting in more filtration, cooling and diffusion of the smoke. Percolators can also reduce the drag or resistance when you inhale from the mouthpiece, making it easier to take bigger hits.
There are many types of percolators, each with its own design and function. Some of the most popular types of percolators include:
- Tree percolator: A tree percolator has multiple arms or branches that extend from a central tube. Each arm has slits or holes at the end that create bubbles when the smoke passes through them.
- Honeycomb percolator: A honeycomb percolator has a flat disc with multiple small holes that resemble a honeycomb. It creates a lot of small bubbles that increase the filtration and cooling of the smoke.
- Showerhead percolator: A showerhead percolator has a tube that widens at the end and has slits or holes around it. It looks like a showerhead and creates a shower-like effect when the smoke passes through it.
- Turbine percolator: A turbine percolator has a disc with angled slits or holes that create a spinning motion of the water and smoke when they pass through it. It creates a vortex-like effect that cools and smooths the smoke.
Percolator bongs are perfect for anyone who wants a smooth and flavorful smoking experience. They offer a smoother hit than traditional bongs and can also enhance the taste of your herb or tobacco. They can also come with different features such as ice catchers, diffused downstems and ash catchers to improve the smoking experience.
Other types of modern bongs
Besides percolator bongs, there are other types of modern bongs that have different shapes and features. Some of these include:
- Beaker bongs: Beaker bongs are named after their beaker-like shape and are typically made from high-quality borosilicate glass. They have a wide base that provides stability and prevents spills. They also have a large water chamber that allows for more filtration and cooling of the smoke. Beaker bongs can also come with percolators, ice catchers, diffused downstems and ash catchers to enhance the smoking experience.
- Silicone bongs: Silicone bongs are made from silicone, which is a flexible and durable material that can withstand high temperatures and impacts. They are easy to clean, store and transport. They can also come in different colors, shapes and designs. Silicone bongs can also come with glass or metal parts such as bowls, downstems and percolators to improve the smoking experience.
- Gravity bongs: Gravity bongs are not really bongs but rather a DIY smoking device that uses gravity and water pressure to create a powerful hit. They consist of two parts: a large container filled with water and a smaller container with a bowl attached to it. The smaller container is submerged into the water and then lifted up as you light the bowl, creating a vacuum that draws the smoke into the container. Then you remove the bowl and inhale the smoke from the container.
- Bubbler pipe: A bubbler pipe is a hybrid between a glass pipe and a glass bong. It is smaller than a bong but larger than a pipe. It has a bowl, a stem, a water chamber and a mouthpiece. It works like a bong but is more portable and discreet.
- Steamroller pipe: A steamroller pipe is another hybrid between a glass pipe and a glass bong. It is shaped like a tube with openings at both ends. One end has a bowl attached to it and the other end is where you inhale from. You cover the end with your hand as you light the bowl and then release it as you inhale, creating a powerful hit.
- Custom bongs: Custom bongs are glass bongs that are made to order according to your preferences and specifications. You can choose the shape, size, color, design, features and accessories of your glass bong. Custom bongs are ideal for anyone who wants a unique and personalized smoking device.
How do different types and shapes of glass bongs affect the smoking experience?
The different types and shapes of glass bongs affect the smoking experience in various ways, such as:
Filtration
Filtration is the process of removing unwanted particles and toxins from the smoke, such as tar, ash, dust and bacteria. Filtration makes the smoke cleaner, healthier and less harsh on your lungs and throat. The more filtration you have, the smoother your hit will be.
The level of filtration depends on several factors, such as the amount of water, the size of the bubbles, the surface area of the smoke and water interaction, and the type of percolator. Generally, more water means more filtration, smaller bubbles mean more filtration, more surface area means more filtration, and more complex percolators mean more filtration.
Cooling
Cooling is the process of lowering the temperature of the smoke, making it more comfortable and enjoyable to inhale. Cooling also preserves the flavor.
