How to Shop For the Best Bongs to Enhance Your Experience?
With so many choices available to consumers today, how do you know which smoking tool gives you the just-right balance between smoothness and filtration? There’s no need to break the bank when scanning for new bongs – there’s plenty of affordable options.
Bongs are among one of the most popular smoking devices, like dab rigs or glass pipes. It is because water filters the smoke via a series of percolators and gives a better experience. As such, finding one with an optimal amount of diffusion for your favorite concentrates can make all the difference in how much you appreciate this method of THC intake.
Here are some tips on how to find one that fits your preferences and budget:
1. Look For A Bong With Slitted Diffusers
Like the tree perc and three-arm tree perc, slitted diffusers provide optimal smoke filtration since they create more drag and provide a greater surface area for the smoke to cool before it hits your mouth and lungs. These types of percs will give you smoother hits than other diffusion methods.
2. The Thicker The Glass, The Better
Higher quality glass (like scientific glass) is more robust and less likely to break or chip than cheaper acrylic or cheap borosilicate materials. Thicker glass means you need to apply greater force to cause it to break, making it safer to use.
Don’t forget that even tough and thick glass still needs to be handled with care – nothing is unbreakable. Take caution when removing the bowl and cleaning your piece.
3. Look For A Bong With Ice Notches Or An Ice Catcher
The more intense cooling effect provided by ice catchers (like diffused downstems) also makes it easier to put out your loaded bowl between hits (since you won’t have to wait long until it cools enough).
4. Start Saving Up For A Glass-On-Glass Bong
It is the best option if money is not an issue. It has all the features listed above, but with much thicker glass and more intricate percolators, so you can expect very smooth hits.
The only downside is that they are usually made to order rather than being available immediately in stores – meaning, you may have to wait a little longer before enjoying them. But, if you’re looking for an intense smoking session, a glass-on-glass bong will be worth the wait.
5. Find A Removable Down Stem
Having a removable downstem makes cleaning much more manageable. More importantly, you can mix up your high by using different stems (like bongs with shotgun style/sidecar style / UFO perc). It also provides some variety during your next smoking session as you try out a fresh stem.
6. Find A Cheap Alternative If You’re Looking For Your First Piece
One way to get premium features without breaking the bank would be to find cheap alternatives that work as well as their more expensive counterparts. For example, instead of buying an expensive two-percolator bong, check out cheap diffused beaker bongs, which can give you the same degree of diffusion.
7. Glass On Glass Bongs Are The Best Option For Big Rips
Glass-on-glass bongs usually have more diffusion than other types. Instead of separate joints, they connect to the base via a larger hole with an extra percolator or diffuser to make each hit smoother and cooler. These typically cost around $300+ though – so it’s not very feasible as a first-time purchase.
8. Don’t Forget The Accessories
While these are not necessarily essential, they may make your smoking sessions more enjoyable (or more convenient).
Spare bowls or pre-coolers make switching between flavors/strains easier, and ash catchers provide extra protection for your piece if you accidentally knock it over. A bubbler is usually smaller than a standard piece but easier to transport since it’s less conspicuous (and has less drag).
9. Don’t Forget To Buy A Grinder
Grinders can save you from a lot of hassle. They come in all different sizes and shapes, so choose one that suits your preferences. If not, you can always just use your fingers to break down your weed.
10. Choose One That Is Comfortable For You
Don’t force yourself to buy a piece that isn’t comfortable to use if you want to enjoy your sessions. On the contrary, don’t be afraid of getting something new if you’re finding everything else too cumbersome or inconvenient — it’s all about making your smoking sessions as smooth and enjoyable as possible.
Finally, a word of advice: don’t break your bong. It will help you enjoy smoking for a long time to come. While this might sound obvious, accidents happen, so be careful when transporting/cleaning your piece, especially when packing a fresh bowl.