Different Types of Bongs

Say you are hanging out by yourself or with a group of friends, and the idea pops up that you want to experience a bong sesh and not just your regular joint or blunt. With the various types of bongs available today, it can be a little daunting when you browse online and are flooded with options.

While a bong for beginners can be your ideal choice, you may want to check out different types of bongs, such as glass bongs, multi-chamber bongs, dab rigs, or even water pipes.

We want to help make your first bong experience a unique and memorable one, and that is why we will present to you some of the best types of bongs. We'll give you some tips on bong accessories and explain how to use and care for a bong to keep it in pristine condition.

So, without further ado, let’s check out some unique bong designs and create your ideal bong sesh.

The Old Reliable Glass Bongs

Glass bongs have been the premier type for a very long time, one of the premium bong materials if you will, and rightly so. A classic glass bong has several parts, including the bowl, downstem, base, neck, and mouthpiece.

While these are the main parts, you can also find water filtration bongs made of glass and some bong accessories like a built-in ice catcher. However, all of these won’t fall into the budget-friendly bongs category.

Pros of Glass Bongs

• Elegant Design
  Aesthetically, there is no denying that glass bongs are the crème of the crop. While they might cost a little extra, you get a piece of art, not just a smoking buddy. There are different shapes and sizes as well, including straight tubes, beakers, and even miniature bongs for when you are out and about and want a quick smoking sesh.

• Smoother Hits
  Compared to other materials like acrylic, plastic, or even silicone bongs, glass is a non-porous material. You get the purest flavors with every hit, eliminating the chance of contamination or absorption of substances.

• Durable and Easy to Clean
  While glass isn’t the sturdiest material, it can be quite durable if you choose a heftier borosilicate glass bong. Of course, gentle handling will go a long way. When it comes to cleaning, while a little rinse can do the trick, there are more straightforward solutions, like formula cleaners, which are the better option.

Cons of Glass Bongs

• Fragile
  Though they may be the best bongs for smoking and can be made of premium glass materials, they are the most fragile types of bongs. They can crack or break with a slight slip of hands or if you knock them from your desk or table.
• Expensive
  They will be more expensive than acrylic, silicone, ceramic, and plastic bongs. And while there are affordable bongs made of glass that you can find, you risk losing those pure, natural flavors that you will get with a more premium bong.

The Functionality of Silicone Bongs

If you are on a lower budget, want a more durable bong, and are willing to sacrifice a bit of flavor, look no further than silicone bongs. These types of bongs have become more prevalent in the stoner community thanks to their durability, endless design, and colorways, and coming in at much lower prices than your standard glass bongs.

Pros of Silicone Bongs

• Durability
  One of the main features of silicone bongs is durability. They can accidentally fall, or you can drop them. You won’t have to worry about them cracking or breaking. This is especially handy at parties and camping trips.
• Affordability
  If you are working with a smaller budget, silicone bongs are your option. On top of that, you can get various smoking accessories, and it still won’t cost you as much as getting a regular glass bong.
• Design and Colorways
  Being an easily molded material, silicone opens the doors to endless designs, shapes, sizes, and colorways. The Splattered Barrel and Hour Glass are just a few bong styles you can cop.
• Ease of Cleaning
  While you must be more careful with glass bongs and maintain and clean them by hand, silicone bongs allow you to throw them in your dishwasher.

Cons of Silicone Bongs

• Flavor Loss
  When they are brand new or as time passes, silicone bongs impact your herb flavor. To experienced and sensitive smokers who want the purest hits, this can be a significant setback.
• Less Filtration
  Compared to borosilicate glass bongs with more complex diffusers and percolators, silicone bongs have simpler filtration. This can and will affect the smoothness of each hit.
• Heat Resistance
  While the more top-tier food-grade silicone can withstand high temperatures, other cheaper versions will have a problem, especially when it comes to its accessories.

The Smoothness of Percolator Bongs

If you are a person who loves their smoking sesh or uses it for medical purposes, has a budget to spend, and doesn’t mind taking longer to clean each part, the best bongs are percolator bongs by a mile. The main goal of the percolator is to filter and cool the smoke as you inhale, giving you the purest hit from your herb.

Pros of Percolator Bongs

• Top-tier Filtration
  You have ensured the purest hits by giving an extra layer of filtration. With a percolator, you eliminate all potential contaminants that can flow from the smoke with each inhale.
•  Cool Smoke
  All the smoke you produce with each inhale goes through the water in your bong, significantly cooling down and making it easier on your lungs as the smoke enters.
• Natural Flavor
  The smoke is cooled as it passes the percolator into the stem and your lungs, retaining all of the flavor of your herb.
• Various Percolator Options
  There are various types of percolators, each with a different diffusion and filtration level. Some of the options include honeycombs, trees, showerheads, and more. The Toxic Glass Double Mushroom and Dragon DNA are just some examples of different bongs with different percolators.

Cons of Percolator Bongs

• Resistance to Airflow
  With an extra layer of filtration, it is expected that you will get a higher resistance in airflow. With this extra drag, the smoke will travel slower, and it will be difficult for some smokers to get that quick, hard hit.
• Clogging
  Over time, and with longer sessions, with those extra chambers, clogs can happen. On top of that, if you don’t clean your bong regularly, the percolator can clog up and reduce airflow.
• More Difficult to Clean
  All those added chambers and percolators mean extra area for resin and build-up in these bong types. Regular and more prolonged cleaning is essential to keep your percolator bongs pristine.

The Staple That Is Beaker Bongs

Getting the name from its shape, beaker bongs have been a staple choice for millions of smokers throughout the years. The best beaker bongs allow smokers to get bigger and more powerful hits by having a larger base chamber to store water. Plus, the wider base shape makes them more stable on flat and uneven surfaces.

Pros of Beaker Bongs

• Stability
  One of the main advantages of these bong types is the wide bottom chamber, which provides better stability for the bong. This reduces the chances of your tipping it over, resulting in damages and spills.
• Bigger and Powerful Hits
  By having a larger chamber to store water, you also get to have more smoke with each inhale. This will result in a bigger and more powerful hit.
• More Customizable
  Depending on how customizable you want your bong to be, you can keep it simple from the box or add extra bong accessories, such as percolators and ice catchers.

Cons of Beaker Bongs

• Bulkier and Heavier
  While they are more stable, they can be heavier and more difficult to handle with that extra width. On top of that, filling up the whole chamber with water adds to the weight.
• Not for Small Hits
  For beginners and smokers who want smaller hits, beaker bongs won’t be ideal because of the larger quantity of smoke they can store. This can result in more powerful hits, which not every smoker can handle.

The Convenience of Mini Bongs

Last but not least, on our list of the best types of bongs are the convenient mini bongs. If you are out and about or enjoy camping, hiking, or simply traveling, mini bongs are the way to go. They are super easy to clean with fewer parts and are budget-friendly bongs compared to larger, more classic bongs.

Pros of Mini Bongs

• Portability
  Mini bongs are easy to store and a dream to travel with. They take little to no space and are convenient when you want to take a little hit when you are out and about.
• Affordability
  Because of their size, they will be more affordable than classic bongs. They are an excellent option for beginner smokers who don’t want to splash the cash on their first bong smoking experience.
• Effective Smaller Hits
  Again, mini bongs are perfect for you if you are a beginner or a casual smoker who likes quick and small hits. With a smaller chamber, they store less smoke and can be a nice little hit in the morning or just before bed at night.
• Easy to Clean
  Mini bongs have fewer surfaces and chambers, and less residue can clog up over time. Rinse them after your quick session to keep them clean and looking brand new.

Cons of Mini Bongs

• Less Filtration
  Don’t head out buying mini bongs if you want the purest hits. Less water in the chamber and little to no added filtration options and accessories can result in not-so-smooth hits.
• Fewer Accessories
  If you like accessorizing your bong, avoid mini bongs because they lack options such as large bowls, ice catchers, ash catchers, and ever percolators.

To Sum Things Up

While other bong reviews will hint at affordable bongs or top-tier ones, we dabbled in both and gave you several options depending on your budget, style, way of smoking, and smoking intensity.

If you are a beginner smoker or want to ease into bongs, mini bongs are perfect to get those little hits. If you are on a budget, take a look at silicone bongs, which give you durability, are easy to clean, and come in various designs and colors. Finally, pick out a glass percolator bong if you want to go all in and enjoy the perfect, purest hit.

All that is left is to head to our website, check out all types of bongs available, browse through some discounts, and pick out the perfect bong for the ideal smoking session.

FAQ

What is a percolator, and how does it work?

A percolator is a bong component that filters and cools the smoke by forcing it through water in smaller bubbles. This increases the surface area of the smoke, leading to smoother, cooler hits and better filtration of ash and impurities.

What’s the best bong for big hits?

Beaker bongs are excellent for big hits because of their larger chambers, allowing more smoke to accumulate before inhaling. These bongs are a great choice if you want to maximize your hit size.

What’s the most durable type of bong?

Silicone bongs are the most durable, as they are virtually indestructible and can withstand drops and rough handling. Glass bongs, especially thicker ones, are durable but more prone to breaking if dropped.

Are mini bongs as effective as classic larger bongs?

Mini bongs are effective in terms of portability and convenience, but they don’t offer the same level of smoke cooling and filtration as larger bongs. Hits from mini bongs can be harsher due to the smaller water and chamber capacity.