Every glass bong is handmade through a process called Glass blowing. A little machine work can be involved, but most are done by hand. This can make some pieces more expensive than others.
There are a few different shapes of bongs. These include egg water pipes (with a unique design that splashes the water like percolators), straight tube water pipes, recyclers, and more.
Size
There are many ways to enjoy your cannabis, but nothing beats a smooth, cool hit from a bong for some hardcore smokers. These iconic pieces of glass smoked from the comfort of your home offer premium smoke filtration with a true work of art design.
While some choose to stick with a simple glass pipe while others opt for ginormous Gandolf pipes, you’d see in a Seth Rogen movie that the size of your bong depends on how often and where you plan on smoking. If you use it frequently and publicly, use a thicker, more sturdy glass-like borosilicate.
A thicker piece will also have a better chance of surviving those inevitable drops and bumps. The thickness of the glass is important, but so is the quality and craftsmanship. Look for pieces made by a reputable artist with some warranty or guarantee.
Another consideration for a new bong is whether or not it has accessories such as an ash catcher and percolators. An ash catcher keeps the ashes, and other gunk out of the water so that cleaning is much easier. Similarly, percolators add more diffusion to the smoke, making it cooler and smoother. Other accessories that add functionality include down stems, ice-catchers and vaporizers.
Shape
For those who enjoy the aesthetic of a bong, there are several different designs of glass bongs for sale. Some of these come in fun themes like video games and cactuses. For example, Hemper has a video game plumber bong with green pipes and red piranha plants, while their cactus model can easily pass for glass art.
The shape of a bong is another important factor to consider. The basic bong structure consists of a bowl, a water-filled chamber at the base, a down stem, and a mouthpiece. Many other features are available to enhance the smoking experience, including percolators that filter smoke through multiple layers of water.
These pieces can be simple or elaborate, depending on the smoker’s preference. For example, multi-chamber bases are visually appealing and offer a unique smoking experience. Some of these have extra features like ice catchers or a revolving splashguard.
Other more advanced designs feature complex down stems with various slits and holes to diffuse the water. These are called tree percs and are often found in more expensive glass bongs. They separate the smoke into multiple bubbles before entering your mouth, making each hit cooler and smoother. They are also known as some of the best-looking bongs on the market.
Material
Depending on what you prefer, the material of your bong can affect the quality and taste of the smoke. Glass is the classic choice, offering a smooth smoke with little to no resin-like flavor. Glass is also relatively easy to clean and extremely durable, making it ideal for daily use by new smokers or those with clumsy friends.
Glass bongs come in various thicknesses, with anything over 5mm thick and sturdy. Generally, thicker Glass is better because it’s less likely to break. However, not all thicker Glass is created equal, so choosing borosilicate glass or scientific Glass for the best quality bongs is important.
In addition to standard Glass, there are heady glass bongs made by glass artists for those who want a piece of functional art. While these pieces may not be as sturdily constructed as science glass, they’re still a great choice for anyone purchasing a high-quality bong.
Some glass bongs also come with different accessories that change the smoke’s quality before inhaling it. For example, a percolator can be added to your bong, which filters the smoke through multiple chambers before it’s inhaled. Other accessories include ice catchers that cool the smoke and fat can bases that stabilize long, tall glass bongs.
Function
A bong is a smoking device that allows users to smoke tobacco or cannabis more efficiently. The device works by directing smoke through its downstem and into the water – this cooling action produces smoother and cooler hits for the user.
Bongs come in many shapes and sizes, with many options for filtration and diffusion. For example, some bongs use a physical downstem (a vertical tube in the joint), while others have a removable one. Some bongs also feature a percolator, adding more diffusion by forcing the water through smaller holes. Popular percs include shower heads, matrices, honeycombs, and multi-arm trees.
Other filtration and diffusion options include diffusers that break the smoke into extra fine bubbles, increasing the contact area with water. There are also gas-dispersion frits that create an even more fine bubble structure and work alongside percs to increase the diffusion of the smoke.
Some bongs also feature a bent neck mouthpiece preventing water from rising to your face as you draw. This feature can be a lifesaver if you’re new to bongs, as it keeps the water from directly hitting your mouth. Other functional options for glass bongs include recyclers, which filter smoke twice through water, and egg water pipes, which have a unique design that splashes the water around, similar to perc.