Beakers and bubblers and rigs! Oh, my! A stoner without a bong is like a Cheech without a Chong. But with so many different kinds and sizes, bong shopping can get overwhelming fast. If you’re on the quest for a new bong, there are a few things you need to consider: how hard it hits, how good it looks, and how easy it is to clean. Below we dive into some of the most popular bong types and rate them to help you decide the best fit for your style and vibe.
Glass vs. Plastic
Whether you’re a dedicated stoner or an occasional smoker, either type of bong is worth investing in. A well-made glass bong can last a very long time and provide tons of excellent smoking sessions. However, if you’re always on the go (or accident prone) then plastic might be the way to go!
You’ll get a much smoother, cleaner hit as the smoking performance of a glass bong is a bit better than plastic.
In comparison to a glass bong, the plastic bong hit isn’t as smooth but it will get the job done on a budget.
Glass bongs come in a wide variety of shapes and colors and extra additional features you can add like percolators, ice catchers and more. The downside is that they are a lot more fragile than their plastic counterparts
Folks looking for a work of art to sit on their living room table may find their options limited. With a wide range of colors and sizes, plastic bongs are great for stoners looking to spend more on flower than gear.
Glass bongs are easy to clean with non-toxic cleansers that break down oils, waxes, and resins
Plastic bongs are ideal for folks who need a durable bong on a budget. Plastic bongs are usually easy to clean and are highly durable, but scrubbing action may scratch the surface and ruin the look.
Bongs vs. Bubblers
Though they aren’t technically bongs, bubblers are a close competitor when it comes to smoking devices. That said, we decided it was important to address the elephant in the room: bring bubblers into the conversation and see how they line up with bongs.
The larger design with more room between the mouthpiece and bowl, allows for a bigger, stronger hit. Bong hits are ideal for seasoned stoners with a high tolerance. Bong bowls are also larger than bubbler’s, making bongs the more group-sesh friendly device of the two.
The water pieces cools the smoke in a way that dry pieces simply cannot. This provides a smoother, cough-free, better tasting hit. Bubblers are great for when you want a hit harder than a piece but not quite as far as a bong.
Bongs are much more customizable than bubblers and have a lot more room for creativity when it comes to designs and shapes. However, they are generally a lot bigger and more difficult to handle; and with an often bigger price tag, make them a risky and expensive choice of the two.
Bubblers are typically smaller than bongs and can come in a variety of funky shapes and designs. Popular styles are the Sherlock Holmes style pipe but they can also have complex cylinders and chambers that closely resemble a bong. Bubblers definitely give a lot of room for technical and aesthetic creativity to achieve the smoothest hit while still remaining easy to carry and store.
These hefty big boys’ sizes can be a pain in a lot of areas, but it does make them easier to clean. You can detach and clean the bong, bowl, and downstem separately.
You can’t take a bubbler apart the way you can with a bong and all the intricate pieces may make it difficult to clean. Not only that, because of their smaller and compact size, bubblers get dirty faster and the water needs to be changed out more often.
Single Chamber vs . Multi-chamber Bongs
Classic single-chamber and multi-chamber bongs both come in many different shapes and sizes and deliver a straight-forward, no BS, hit each and every time. Just pour the water in the bong, pack the ganja in the piece and you are good to go. Simple smoking at its finest.
Fresh air being let out from the carburetor and through the chamber delivers a (scientifically speaking) big-ass hit.
Both upper and lower chambers hold water so the smoke is filtered twice, producing a cooler, smoother experience than its single chambered counterparts.
There’s no real way to conceal a bong without it being a room centerpiece. So if that fits your decor, then there are a few different styles but they all ultimately deliver the same, straight forward experience.
In a multi-chamber bong, the straight tube is separated into two chambers connected by a tube or third chamber, making it look like something from a chemistry set. If you’re looking for a sophisticated device with a ton of intricate details, then a multi-chamber bong is the road to go.
Single-chamber bongs are easy to clean. Just toss some cleaning solution and swirl it around and you are good to go. Pro tip: change your water between sessions to ensure flavorful hits and avoid the stink of gross bong water and build up that makes cleaning more difficult.
Multi-chamber bongs are much more difficult to clean due to their complex setup. They are also pretty expensive and fragile, making the cleaning process as risky as it a pain.
Old School vs. New School Gravity Bongs
Gravity bongs have come a long way since the 2L soda bottle and plastic bag days. Not just the features and capabilities, the price has also gone a long way since, well, free. These bad boys are the grown-up versions of their makeshift predecessors. Â
For a DIY vessel, the original gravity bong hits smooth and clean. However, if you’re using plastic or cheap materials, the hit could taste like warm tap water. Yuck! But going with a more modern vessel, you could get a nice smooth hit, but likely at top dollar.
The sophisticated design and enhancements deliver the smoothest, flavorful hit without sacrificing any weed. Gravity bong hits are recommended more for the seasoned smoker (or a fearless newbie).
While the branding on your favorite soda bottle has changed over the years, making a gravity bong out of it hasn’t changed. Homemade gravity bongs are easy and cheap, but they are almost always an eyesore.
Sleak, clean and typically a lot more presentable than their predecessors. However, this beauty comes at a cost… typically a pretty steep cost.
Drain and give it a good rinse with some soap and you are good to go! No mess, no fuss make these a great option for the seasoned smoker or a newbie alike. Is your homemade gravity bong getting a bit nasty? Just toss it and make a new one.
Drain and throw it in the dishwasher or hand wash. Typically pretty easy cleaning makes today’s gravity bongs even more attractive to seasoned smokers.
So there you have it. Just a few things to consider when you’re making your first or 21st bong purchase. Ultimately the decision comes down to your personal smoking style and preference, so no decision is wrong. Now, get out there and pick up your brand new bong—a new world of enjoying cannabis is yours to explore!Â
In the meantime, take a peek at our education page, dosing with flower to learn more.
