Why is glass the best material for water pipes?
When it comes to water pipes, glass stands out as the material of choice, and for good reason. Unlike other materials, it doesn’t alter the flavor of your smoke. That’s because it’s non-porous, so it won’t absorb any weird residues or odors. Glass is also pretty durable, relatively affordable, and easy to clean. Better yet, their aesthetics and designs make them a great choice when you want to cool your smoke with percolators or just watch the smoke travel through. They can be simple or intricate, and range from as low as $20 to thousands.
How to clean a glass bong: Tips and tricks
Bong hygiene is always important. Even though glass isn’t porous, residue can still build up and affect your flavors, so it’s essential to at the very lease rinse it out and change the water after every sesh. A good rule of thumb is to deep clean it once a week. You can use designated bong cleaners like Formula 420 to remove any leftover gunk buildup and leave behind a fresh scent, or you can give it the old rubbing alcohol and salt combo. Just add salt and iso to your bong and shake it up until everything is loose. Then you can rinse it out with hot water. You can soak your dab nail or bowl slide in a ziplock bag with your cleaning solution, too. When everything is clean, fill it back up with water and it’s ready to be used again. You can even use a couple drops of lemon juice in your bong water to help reduce the growth of bacteria and give your hits a fresh flavor.
What to look for when choosing a glass bong
Choosing the perfect glass bong can be an exciting yet daunting task with so many options to choose from. You’ll want to consider your budget above all else, but from there you should also look at things like design, percolators, accessories, and size. Typically, design includes things like color and intricacy. You’re going to pay more money for bongs designed by artists with a ton of crazy colors and design elements than you would for a no-fuss clear bong, but if aesthetics are important to you, choose something you like.
As far as percolators go, a good glass bong used for flower typically has 2 or more percolators, while a good glass dab rig usually has no more than 2. If you’re using your glass water pipe for flower, you’ll want more water chambers and percolators to help filter and cool smoke. On the other hand, dab rigs don’t need a lot of percolators or water chambers. Since there’s no combustion involved, less filtering means better flavor when it comes to dabs.
You should also consider accessories. If you already have dab nails or bowl slides, try to get a glass bong that has the same size joint in the opposite sex. For example, if you have a 14mm male bowl slide, look for a bong with a 14mm female joint. All the accessories you buy for your glass water pipe should have the same size joint.
Last but not least, consider the size. Smaller glass water pipes with narrow mouthpieces are ideal for dab rigs since a smaller vapor path is ideal for keeping those flavors intact and the narrow mouthpiece reduces airflow to give you better hits. Larger glass bongs with wider mouthpieces are great for flower since they have a bigger vapor path and can hold more water chambers or percolators for cooling and filtering smoke. The larger mouthpiece also increases airflow, making it easier to pull smoke through various water chambers and percs.
Are glass bongs legal?
In most places, yes, glass bongs are legal. However, it can depend on where you live. In some places, the word “bong” for example, is outlawed, so you can only refer to glass bongs as water pipes. At Legal Smoke Shop, we offer discreet plain-box shipping to all 50 states.
How much do bongs cost?
Glass bongs come in a wide range of price points, catering to different budgets and preferences. They start as low as $20, and can go as high as several thousand dollars. Why? Design, mostly. The more bells and whistles, craftsmanship, and intricacy can cause those glass water pipe prices to climb.
