Pipes & Bongs

Pipes and bongs are smoking tools commonly used for enjoying dry herbs. While both offer differences in design, functionality, and user experience, both are customizable and thus versatile. A pipe is a straightforward design that allows the consumer to pack a bowl and smoke the dry herb in a controlled manner. A bong, or water pipe, is a filtration 

device that utilizes water to cool and purify dry herb smoke. Both pipes and bongs will do the job, but how you want the job done is up to you and which smoking device you choose. 

Pipes

Pipes are the ancient way of consuming dry herbs. While in ancient times pipes were much more straightforward, they are now typically composed of five key elements: the bowl, the chamber, the stem, the mouthpiece, and the carburetor. While bongs offer additional water filtration that pipes don’t for smoother rips, pipes are simple, durable, and portable whereas some bongs may not be. Pipes come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and designs, so you’re sure to find a pipe that not only fits your personal aesthetic but also matches your price point.

Unlike bongs, pipes are typically sold in one solid unit as opposed to having disconnectable bowls and downstems. The bowl is the part of the pipe where the smoking material is placed and lit. The chamber is the space inside the bowl where the smoking material burns. It holds the combuster material and directs the smoke into the stem, which is the elongated part of the pipe that connects the bowl to the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is the end of the pipe where the user places their lips to inhale the smoke. Some pipes have a small hole located on the side of the bowl or the stem known as the carburetor, which is to be covered with a finger when lighting the material and inhaling, then uncovered to allow air to flow through the pipe and be cleared. 

The materials that are used to craft pipes vary greatly depending on both aesthetics and functionality. Glass pipes, metal pipes, wooden pipes, silicone pipes, acrylic pipes, and ceramic pipes are just a few common materials used. Revered for their craftsmanship and visual appeal, many users look to wooden pipes for their craft and the natural taste that wooden pipes can add to your dry herb smoke. Like bamboo water bongs, wooden pipes are loved for their natural aesthetic and eco-friendly nature. 

Pipes are easy to use compared to other smoking tools. Simply pack your dry herbs into the bowl and light it while holding your mouth up to the mouthpiece. As you inhale slowly, the smoke will travel through the stem from the bowl to the mouthpiece. Some of the main benefits of using a pipe include strong hits and the ability to taste the full flavor complexity of your dry herbs. While you won’t be able to take as large of a hit from a pipe as you would be able to from a bong, many enjoy pipes as a casual way of smoking that allows you to consume the herb in multiple hits.

Bongs   

Bamboo bongs, glass bongs, silicone bongs, and gravity bongs are just a few popular bong types. If you’re looking for a smooth option, you may opt for a bamboo or glass bong. If you’re looking for something portable, you’ll likely want to consider a bamboo bong or a silicone bong. While some bongs can be larger, less portable, and more difficult to clean, the Terratokes Katana Bong couldn’t be further from this! Bamboo bongs outshine other types of bongs because of their durability, portability, flavor, and aesthetic appeal. The Katana bamboo bong is made entirely from an eco-friendly material: bamboo. The bowl and downstem are made from longan wood, which means the entire bong is unbreakable and aesthetic. If you’re smoking a plant, why not smoke out of a plant?  

Bongs, or water pipes, are typically composed of four key components: the bowl, the downstem, the water chamber, and the mouthpiece. The bowl, which disconnects from the downstem, is where dry herbs are packed. The downstem connects the bowl to the base of the bong and functions by allowing the smoke to travel from the bowl into the water chamber and then up into the mouthpiece where the smoke is inhaled. Thus, the water chamber, also referred to as the base of the bong, cools and filters smoke before it is inhaled. Additionally, some bongs include ice catchers for added cooling effects or percolators for added filtration. Many users will also add a wet or dry ash catcher to add further filtration as well as to keep the bong clean.

Bongs are relatively easy to use. Simply pack your dry herbs into the bowl and light it while holding your mouth up to the mouthpiece. As you inhale slowly, the smoke will travel through the downstem into the water chamber where it will be cooled and filtered prior to being inhaled. Some of the main benefits of using a bong include smoother hits due to water filtration, as well as larger hits due to the design of bongs that allow for more smoke accumulation.