The bong is one of the most popular ways to consume various substances, often marijuana. They are a type of water pipe that helps cool the vapor and makes inhalation easier. The word bong comes from the Thai language and means a cylindrical tube made of bamboo. The bong as a consumption concept has been around for years, and one of the earliest recorded entries is from 1944 in an English-Thai dictionary.
Bongs can be made of different materials and in different ways, usually made of materials that can withstand high temperatures. They can also be improvised and made of plastic bottles and similar materials. In this blog, we will do an extensive study of bongs, the materials they are made from, comparisons between what we think are the best bongs, and some special features we can see in them.
Key Factors To Consider When Buying a Bong
When shopping for a bong for our smoking tool collection, we must consider the factors below.
Material
Bongs are usually made from highly heat-tolerant materials with a high melting point. Here are some of the most popular bong materials.
Glass
They consist of four parts: a bowl, a chamber, a downstem, and a mouthpiece. While the glass bongs are breakable and not travel-friendly, they also allow a clean taste and appealing aesthetics when properly cleaned and shiny. The high-quality glass bongs are best for home use and storage in the middle of your coffee table or on the shelf because they can be easily broken. Glass bongs are highly customizable, allowing adding percolators and bubblers. The glass gives you a high psychoactive effect from the hit and enhances the smoking experience. Cleaning is pretty straightforward, remove the parts and clean them with isopropyl alcohol.
Acrylic
The acrylic bongs consist of the same four parts as the glass bowls. They are durable bongs, made from a light material, making them some of the best portable bongs. The downside is, that the acrylic will likely change the taste of the hit and give it kind of a plastic taste, which is not great for experienced smoking enthusiasts. It is usually built in a straight tube, giving strong psychoactive effects. Considering most of them are cheap bongs, they are a good value for your money. Cleaning it with strong substances like alcohol is not recommended, as acrylic is a porous material. The best way to do it is to use hot water and a toothbrush.
Ceramic
The ceramic bongs usually look like a pipes that will filter the smoke through water. They offer a great, clean taste out of each hit you get. The aesthetics are to their advantage, and they are usually crafted into some specific shape, making them a really cool piece to add to a smoking collection, although they are less customizable. The downside is they are breakable, and are a less travel-friendly option. The highs are not as high as with the first two materials, and they tend to be pricey for what they offer in terms of the experience, but they are a joy to have in your collection. The cleaning process is similar to the glass bongs.
Silicone
Silicone bongs are light and durable, making them amazing for on-the-go hits. They are heat-resistant and made out of low-toxic materials. They often have parts made out of glass or titanium. They are less aesthetic, the highs are not as intense as they can be, and we can say they are more about function than form. Cleaning the silicone bong is the easiest, most of the silicone parts can be washed in a dishwasher, you just need to remove the other parts.
Size and Portability
The size of the bong and its portability are also important if it is not stationed in one place and you use it outside your home. Also, different sizes offer different hits and levels of water filtration. Larger bongs usually give you cooler hits due to better filtration.
The size of the bowl determines how much material you can pack into it and the airflow. On the other hand, the downstem size affects filtration and airflow. Choosing the right size is up to you, and it depends on your preferences. Here is our rough bong size classification based on common bong sizes:
- Mini bongs: They are usually 4 to 8 inches high and light and portable. They offer a discreet smoking experience, easy hits, and minimal filtration. The simplicity makes them best for beginners and is perfect for solo use.
- Medium bongs: Everything from 9 to 14 inches, we consider them medium bongs. They provide better water filtration than the mini ones, yet they are not too complicated. You can personalize them with plenty of percolators and other accessories, and can be great for solo and group usage.
- Large bongs: Large bongs are up to 20 inches high, are not travel-friendly, and are better for group sessions. They offer an enhanced experience, and smooth hits that come from good water filtration. To maintain large ones at home, the owner should be able to know how to use and care for a bong, as they need to be maintained properly. Large bongs are compatible with accessories and can be personalized easily. They are best for everyday home use.
- Extra large bongs: They are over 20 inches high and are not the most convenient, but offer a remarkable smoking experience. They can be tricky for maintenance, and you are not advised to carry them with you, but offer maximum filtration and the best hits.
Percolators and Filtration Systems
Bongs with percolators have a mechanism for directing the smoke through the water. This cools off the smoke and filtrates it, resulting in smoother hits and a better all-around experience. They are less challenging for your lungs, you cough less in comparison to what the experience would be without filtration. Here are the main percolators and some differences in how they work:
- Diffused downstem: These are the most basic types of percolator bongs. The downstem can be fixed or removed from the bong. The lower end sits below the water, and as the smoke gets out of the bowl, it is forced to go through the water.
- Circular percolators: They are small circular disks, which is why they are also known as disk percolators. They are most likely to be attached at the bottom of the downstem and are usually found in smaller bongs.
- Swiss percolators: The name is because they are perforated with different-sized holes, just like Swiss cheese. The smoke is directed around the holes, which helps with cooling.
- Inline percolators: It is horizontal with slits, and the more slits there are, the more bubbles they are going to create.
- Honeycomb percolators: They have numerous small holes in them. As the smoke passes through them, they divide it and diffuse it.
You can also find more types of percolators, such as tree percolators, jellyfish percolators, sprinkler percolators, fritted disk percolators, showerhead percolators, spiral percolators, turbine percolators, matrix percolators, Faberge egg percolators, etc. Some require a longer cleaning process and have a more complicated structure.
There are three major benefits for your smoking experience with a percolator:
- Cooling: The lit-up herbs can be really hot, and with the percolator beneath the water, the smoke goes through it and slows down, allowing the water to have a cooling effect on the smoke.
- Filtration: The more bubbles the percolator creates, the more contaminants are attracted by the water, and the hit will be cleaner. It cannot prevent all the unwanted chemicals from entering your lungs, but it is much cleaner and smoother when using filtration.
- Moisturizing: Taking hits from a pipe can be dry if you are doing it without the water. The percolator forces the smoke to go through the water, and another way it helps your lungs is moisture.
When you are searching for the best percolator bongs, these are the most important factors that you should assess before you pull the trigger:
- Filtering effect
- Cooling effect
- Design
- Ease of cleaning
- Brand and rating
Ease of Cleaning
Bongs can accumulate resin and other stuff over time. That can pile up bacteria and mold, which can ruin your health, your smoking experience, or both. Bongs that are not properly cleaned can change the taste of the smoke, and those substances are also unhealthy to inhale.
Regular smokers sometimes do it multiple times a day. That means they need a bong that is easier to clean and maintain, for them to be able to do it after each use, and not lose too much time while doing it. Proper cleaning and maintenance preserve the material. It helps in maintaining the aesthetics too. When you invest in a bong that is easy to clean, you get the best value out of it, as it means fewer replacements in the long term.
Easy-to-clean bongs with wide openings and removable parts save tim, and theyy are convenient and appealing. They allow smoother hits and consistency, making each smoking session enjoyable. On the other hand, bringing a dirty bong to a smoking group is inconsiderate and unhealthy.
Which Are the Best Bongs of 2024?
In this blog, we have the tricky task of ranking bongs because it all depends on the preferences and desires of each consumer. But here's a short list of the best bongs for this year that we've tried to capture.
Puffco Peak Pro
The Puffco Peak Pro has a wonderful, modern, almost interstellar design. It is one of the unique bongs on top of the concentrate technology, with advanced features in how it heats waxes and concentrates them. It has an easy-to-use design with only one button. It can be highly customized through the Puffco Connect App, with options to control vapor levels and the duration of the sessions.
The Puffco Peak Pro also has a patented 3D chamber, a joystick cap, and laser cut perc slots for improved filtration. This bong has improved airflow and heating technology, and it preserves terpenes for an enhanced experience.
Here are some of the other features:
- A real-time temperature control with 4 pre-set heat profiles
- Average battery life of 40 heat cycles
- 20 second heat up
- 2-hour charge time
- Auto-sleep function
This bong is highly recommended to everyone following the high technology, although it could be difficult to use for users not familiar with it. High technology also comes at higher prices than usual, and the advanced components that the Puffco Peak Pro consists of have to be handled, cleaned, and maintained carefully. Visit the BDD Wholesale website to see the Puffco Peak Pro, among other premium smoking accessories.
GRAV Deco Beaker Bong
Contrary to the Puffco Peak Pro, the GRAV Deco Beaker has a simplistic design, and it is one of the best beaker bongs. The Peak Pro are thick glass bongs and have a stable base. The silicone variation you can find on the BDD Wholesale website has a custom-fitted silicone cover on the base and the mouthpiece. Also, it has a removable downstem joint, a modular downstem filter, and cleaning caps.
Standing at 14mm bowl size and 9in height, this beaker is relatively convenient, and the parts are removable for easier cleaning and maintenance. It has no percolators, which is another feature that makes it easy to clean. The best way to do it is with alcohol. Close both openings and give it a nice shake. The regularity depends on the usage, but doing it weekly should do the job.
Here are some of the most important features:
- The wide base makes it more stable than a straight tube.
- The simple design makes it great for first-time users.
- It is made from high-quality material, making it durable and maintaining its structure and appeal over longer periods of usage.
The GRAV Deco Beaker is built to last and is one of the best portable bongs, even though the large chamber allows building bigger hits. The lack of percolators can make the smoke rougher and more challenging for your lungs. Its simplicity and convenience make it one of the best bongs for beginners. Take a look at the BDD Wholesale website to see the color variations and everything else.
Other Notable Bongs
The advanced technology of e-rigs is increasingly taking over the market right now. Many brands like Yocan and Sesh Supply offer electronic rigs that can heat quickly and bring consistent experience. You can find the Yocan Celestial E-rigs on the BDD Wholesale website, along with many other unique bongs for sale. The model provides you with a powerful 2500 mAh battery for longer sessions, with three voltage levels and a type C charger. You can pre-set your temperature and enjoy the ride.
Glass vs Silicone Bongs: Which One To Choose?
The biggest dilemma when shopping bongs is usually whether to go for glass or silicone. We would say they are on different sides of the bong spectrum, there is not a unified answer, and the decision depends heavily on the preferences and wishes of the customers. Here are some of the key factors to consider when trying to make this decision:
- Durability: The glass is normally a durable material decent for long use, the downside is that it is breakable and you have to handle it carefully. On the other hand, silicone bongs are probably the most durable of all materials.
- Aesthetics: The glass bongs are incredibly appealing and aesthetically pleasing, so they are the better option if you need that part of the spectrum.
- Portability: The silicone bongs are easily more portable than the glass bongs. If you need portability and on-the-go hits, go for the silicone ones.
- Taste: The glass ones are probably the best bongs for smooth hits, they offer exceptional taste and amazing highs. The silicone, on the other hand, can leave a slight flavor to the taste of the smoke.
- Cleaning and maintenance: The silicone bongs are easiest to clean and maintain. They are usually dishwasher-friendly, and you can take care of it fast. Glass, on the other hand, requires more careful handling and using substances like alcohol to clean them, although it’s nothing too complicated either.
Special Features To Look For in High-Quality Bongs
The high-end bongs produce better taste and a smoother smoking experience, and there certainly is value for the money you will pay for them. It is worth noting that you can find products with these extra features on BDD Wholesale. Here are some extra features that separate the pinnacle of bongs from the rest of the pack:
- Ice catcher: It is a mechanism that holds ice cubes above the water level. It is usually solved by a built-in grid or notches that holds the ice in its place, while smoke goes through it. Bongs with ice catchers produce a smoother experience, as the smoke is cooled down and is easier to inhale. The taste is also better, and the consumers will cough less.
- The multi-chamber bong designs: They have two or more chambers and provide better filtration. Each chamber has water, ice, or other filtrating materials. The smoke passes through all of them before we inhale it. The result is smoother hits and better flavor. The downsides are that the design is more complex, meaning harder cleaning and maintenance, the price is usually higher, and the multi-chamber bongs are usually bigger.
- Built-in ash catchers: This feature allows any ash, debris, and more to be put away before it gets into the water chamber. The hits from the bong will be cleaner, leading to easier cleaning after use and increasing the airflow. Bongs with ash catchers have multiple advantages, and the only downside is that they will require additional maintenance of the ash catchers to prevent pile-up.
The Best Bongs for Smooth Hits and Maximum Flavor
Here we are going to focus on the best bongs for cannabis, showing you the best types of bongs that offer cooler, smoother hits and better smoke flavor:- Beaker bongs: Their wide base provides better stability compared to straight pipes and allows larger water capacity. There are multiple models with percolators for increased smoothness. The beaker bongs are great for beginners because of their simplistic design and for experienced smokers due to the great filtration and cooling.
- Straight tube bongs: If you are searching for a water pipe for smoking, straight tubes are the perfect solution for you. They have a simple design and are easy to clean and maintain. They are a great source of hits with enhanced flavor and smoothness, and many of them have built-in ice catchers, elevating the smoking experience even further.
- Recycler bongs: This type of bongs repeatedly cycles the air and the water in it, giving you maximum filtration and cooling for a maximum smooth experience.
- Multi-chamber bongs: Multi-chamber bongs offer one of the best experiences, as the smoke needs to go through multiple chambers, increasing filtration and cooling.
Where To Buy the Best Bongs
If you need a place where to buy bongs, BDD Wholesale is the right place for you! We offer a variety of unique bongs online, and we also have any other smoking tools and accessories you need. Do not wait any more, do yourself a favor and search for the best bongs available on the market. With our fast turnaround, your order will be shipped in less than 48 hours from the moment you make it!
FAQs
Which are the most durable water pipes?
The most durable water pipes are acrylic and silicone water pipes. Both types are basically indestructible and are great on-the-go options. Those types of bongs do not provide the smoothest experience in terms of flavor, but if focused solely on durability and travel-friendliness, those are the best bongs you can have.
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