Complete Guide to Bongs: Types, Materials, and How to Smoke

If you have ever watched Harold & Kumar, you already know their adventures would not be the same without their iconic bong moments. One entire storyline revolves around a "smokeless bong," which is a concept that perfectly captures how much innovation and culture surround this classic piece.

But beyond the comedy and Hollywood appeal, there is a reason water pipes have remained a staple for smokers for decades. From smoother hits to better filtration, a well made piece can completely transform your experience. The deeper you get into it, the more you start to see there is a whole world behind that glass. And you don’t have to explore it alone.

The star of the show is the bong itself, typically constructed from glass, ceramic, or silicone. While there are many different iterations, most have the following components: a bowl, a downstem, a water chamber, a tube, and a mouthpiece.

A bowl (aka slide) can either be fixed or removable, that fits snugly into the downstem. This is where you pack your ground up flower, and it is also the area that you light when it is time to smoke. If your piece comes with a removable slide, when you take a hit you can pull the slide out to let fresh air in, which acts as a carb cap. When you are at the middle to end of your draw, removing the slide improves the airflow for a more consistent pull. You will feel the difference immediately.

Now that you know what a bowl is, the rest of the components pertain to the smoke inhalation process. 

For starters, the downstem acts as a passageway for smoke to travel through from where the lit flower sits. The water chamber is usually the biggest part of the glass and is the portion you fill up with water for a cleaner and more streamlined hit. The tube, also known as the neck, is where the smoke travels through on the way to the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is simply the opening at the top of the neck where you inhale.

But before you get to smoking you need a few other essentials to properly prepare that precious flower.

Another essential of smoking culture is also having a grinder. While it is not part of the construction of a bong, it is an essential part of the smoking process. Grinders help break your flower into tiny particles to then pack and smoke. And then of course you will need a lighter to light that sucker on fire. 

If you want to get nerdy about it, we have a whole deep dive on choosing the right grinder and whether a two piece, three piece, or four piece chamber setup is best for you.

If you followed my instructions to a T, you are probably already feeling a little fried. That is perfectly fine, and honestly the whole point of the process. But if you are like me and tend to get into some pretty gnarly online shopping when you are feeling some type of way, then you should be wary of the glass you might be eyeing for your next purchase. Because trust me, your fried brain will try to convince you that a $400 gold plated masterpiece is a necessity. It is not. Let's talk about smart choices instead.

If you are just starting out, you don’t need anything fancy for your first smoking device. Look for a piece with a wide base so it does not tip over every time you set it down, and price should also be a consideration. Your first bong is probably not going to be a premium novelty piece unless you want to throw down some cold hard cash. Save that for later when you know what you actually like. A nice beaker bong is a perfect starting point, and you can find a solid one somewhere between $20 and $100.

There are some great pieces priced under $100, you just need to do a little research beforehand. Look for glass as opposed to acrylic or bamboo, and pay close attention to the seams and joints when shopping, as that is a good indicator of the craftsmanship. The joints should fit together snug, and there should not be any gaps in the seams. For more information about picking the right affordable piece, check out: Best Aesthetic Bongs Under $100.

While we’re on the topic of bong construction, I want to talk about some added features that you can look out for when buying your first piece, namely an ice catcher.

Maybe I am a little biased, but having an ice catcher as an added feature on your first piece really made the difference for me. If you are going from a hand pipe to a bong, you will quickly see that the volume and intensity of the smoke is a little more intense. The ice catcher acts as a sort of cooling element above the water chamber. It usually looks like a couple notches where you pop the ice on top to sift through the smoke. It honestly made all the difference in my first year of smoking, and it is a little add on that really helps with the strain on your throat and lungs. 

But if you are not quite ready to jump on the bong train, there are a plethora of hand pipe options that will more than fulfill your flower needs. The most common of hand pipes, hailed as the beginner pipe, is the spoon pipe. You will know the one because it looks exactly like a spoon. Sometimes you can find one on a deal for as low as $10. They can be as cheap or expensive as you want them to be, and they are a low stakes investment into your smoking journey. Usually a spoon pipe will have a fixed bowl, a carb cap, and a place to inhale.

However, there are plenty of other hand pipes that would work just as well as a good ol' spoon pipe. Experiment with hammer pipes, which are a good alternative if you are clumsy. The base lays flush against the table so it makes it harder to spill. 

Another option is a sherlock pipe, derived from the character Sherlock Holmes and his long stemmed pipe in the series. These are a more whimsical take on hand pipes and resemble a traditional tobacco pipe with their long stems and deep bowls. 

If you like the look of a sherlock pipe but want something even longer and more dramatic, let me introduce you to the shire pipe. Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings, these pipes have brought a whole new level of whimsy to our everyday smoking lives. They typically feature a beautiful cherry wood finish and a long bent stem that makes a sherlock pipe look short by comparison. You almost feel like you should be sitting under a tree in the Shire while using one.

Some popular options from Pulsar include the Shire Pipe Gandalf and the Shire Pipe Riders of Rohan.

Personally, I am not a fan of glycerin pipes because they tend to leak. They are cool because you can actually freeze them prior to using for a smoother, chilled smoking experience. A steamroller pipe would also not be the best choice for a beginner because it is a direct hit to the lungs experience. Save those for when you have a few months of experience under your belt.

If you are still not sure whether you want a bong or a hand pipe, a bubbler pipe is a good middle ground. It is a marriage between a pipe and a bong, it has a small build, but includes a mini water chamber so users get that filtered and cooling effect that is missing in typical hand pipes. It’s a good compromise if you’re not really sure what you want from your glass. Bubblers also tend to demand a much smaller footprint, making them easier to conceal rather than a 18” bong with 6 percolators.

This is where you have to be honest with yourself about how and where you like to smoke. A bong gives you smoother, cooler hits because the water filters out some of the harshness, but it is bigger, more fragile, and takes more time to clean and set up. A hand pipe is the opposite as it is small, cheap, and you can throw it in a bag for on-the-go sessions. You don’t need water to operate a hand pipe, but the tradeoff is that the smoke is hotter and rougher on your throat.

So if you value smoothness and do not mind the extra work, go with the water pipe. But if you’re not ready for that type of commitment and prioritize convenience and simplicity above all else, start with a hand pipe. And if you want the best of both worlds, get a bubbler. In the end, they all achieve the same glorious result. A happy, high mind and a very dirty setup.

Which brings us to the part nobody likes to talk about, the aftercare.

Okay, so you have smoked to your heart's content and now you do not know what to do with these smelly, ashy, and sticky devices. 

Here are some cleaners that are perfect for maintaining your favorite glass pieces.

• Formula 420 S1 Soak n Rinse Glass Cleaner: Works perfectly on smaller items like glass hand pipes, and doesn't require you to stand over your sink scrubbing for hours on end.
• Glob Mops Bucket: A great alternative to hand washing your bowl, use with Isopropyl Alcohol for a spotless finish.
• Tyson 2.0 Glass Cleaner: Mike Tyson’s own cleaning formula, designed to reach tough spots inside your glass. Recommended for clear glass only.
• Randy's Wipes: A perfect quick wipe down for your hand pipes when doing a full wash isn't in the cards.

However, if you're budgeting, check out our blog on bong maintenance for more tips and tricks on how to get your device squeaky clean. 

Congrats, you made it through the whole guide and now know your downstem from your mouthpiece. You know which pipes to avoid and why an ice catcher is worth every penny. And most importantly, you know that every smoker before you has stood exactly where you are standing right now, staring at their first glass piece and wondering if they can handle the ride.

Spoiler alert, you can.

Bongs and hand pipes have been around forever, and they’re not disappearing anytime soon. Harold and Kumar built entire adventures around them, though if that movie were filmed today, they’d probably be passing a Puffco dab rig instead. (And hey, that’s a whole other guide.) Now it’s your turn. Not because you need the biggest clouds or the most expensive glass, but because there’s something special about finding a ritual that’s yours.

So go get a little fried, be nice to your lungs, and when you inevitably buy something weird online at 2am, just remember I warned you.