What Are the Different Types of Glass Bongs
If you’re new to the smoking scene and want to buy a bong, you should be able to tell the difference between the different types of glass bongs available and what they each have to offer. They’ve been called several things throughout the years, such as a ‘billy’ from the 1930s, and in more recent times, a ‘binger,’ and a ‘water pipe,’ but most people now refer to them as ‘bongs.’
In Australia, they refer to them as a ‘Gator’, since you can craft a bong from a plastic bottle of Gatorade. And over time, the term just became the common vernacular. In Taiwan, they refer to a bamboo bong as a ’Buang’, which is where many believe the term ‘bong’ originated.
No matter what you prefer to call them, they’re a staple in any cannabis connoisseur’s collection. And it isn’t very hard to see why they’ve held their steadfast popularity over the years. In recent decades, their popularity has risen even more so due to different design trends, in addition to all sorts of functional improvements.
In this article, we’ll discuss the benefits bongs can offer, along with some of the most popular types of glass bongs that are currently available.
Benefits of Using a Bong
Before we get into the different types of glass bongs, we need to talk about some of the benefits they offer. Especially since you have so many options available with regard to how you want to consume your cannabis. You have everything from vaporizers and dab rigs to bubblers and edibles.
So why do you need a glass bong in your collection? Seeing how high the quality and prices of cannabis have gotten over the years, you should have the best equipment possible to provide you with the best experience possible. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of using a water pipe like fantastic filtration and super smooth rips.
Easy To Use
One of the key reasons people are so fond of glass bongs is their ease of use. Not to say there aren’t a fair number of extravagant bongs that take some basic knowledge and skill to operate. But, for the most part, all bongs work in the same manner. You simply fill the bowl with your preferred cannabis strain, spark it up, and inhale the tasty greatness via the mouthpiece.
Although it isn’t necessary, most people prefer to add h₂O to the mix, which will aid with filtration. When you compare smoking from a bong to smoking a joint, there’s much more skill involved with the joint rolling process than taking a bong rip. In fact, most people that are highly skilled joint rollers have years of experience behind them.
So, the likelihood you’d be able to roll a halfway decent joint on your first try is quite low. Whereas, when you use a bong for the first time, the process is much easier. So, the probability of receiving a quality bong rip is much higher.
Filtration
As terrific as bongs are at filtering your smoke before it enters your lungs, they can’t fully remove all the toxins. Nonetheless, a glass bong filled with water will filter out a number of the contaminants found in cannabis so they don’t end up harming your lungs like they would with a joint or hand pipe.
Hence, why you must keep your bong spic and span if you want to fully utilize its filtration properties. If you’re a frequent smoker and don’t think it’s necessary to keep your glass bong nice and clean, try smoking out of it for a couple of weeks or a month without cleaning it at all and see how those rips taste on week three or four.
By this time, the water will have undoubtedly turned a nasty brown color due to the amount of cannabis you filter through it. This will drastically alter the flavor of your cannabis, and not in a good way. Unless you’re a glutton for punishment, just keep your binger clean and you won’t have this problem.
Smoother Rips
The last benefit of using a glass bong we will touch on is the smoother smoking experience they offer. This is right up there with their ease of use concerning their popularity. The smooth rips they provide are a huge attraction to new smokers, specifically when compared to their hand pipe brethren.
You have much more control over the size and speed of your rips when you opt to use a bong. A hand pipe is typically on the smaller side, which gives you very little room for the smoke to cool down before it hits your lips.
A bong on the other hand is typically at least around a foot tall (if we don’t count mini bongs), which provides ample room and more surface area for the smoke to cool off. You also have the luxury of your smoke being filtered through the bong’s water chamber, which will also cool it down considerably.
For anyone with sensitive lungs that want a smoother smoke with much less coughing than pipes and joints, you can’t go wrong with a killer glass bong!
Different Types of Glass Bongs
Now that you’re familiar with why glass bongs are a necessary part of every smoker’s collection, let’s go over the more popular bong designs you’ll come across. Which style is best suited for you and your needs will depend on what you want to get out of your smoke sessions.
If you prefer the smoothest rips around, then a percolator bong or recycler would be a great option. Or maybe you need a smaller piece such as a mini bong, seeing as how you prefer a discreet smoke on the go. No matter the reason, you need to know the differences between the various types of glass bongs and what they all have to offer.
So, without further ado, let’s jump right in.
Percolator Bongs
The popularity of percolator (AKA perc) bongs has skyrocketed over the last couple of decades. And it’s no surprise that they’re lauded by cannabis enthusiasts and newbies alike. Especially, seeing as how they provide super smooth rips in addition to one heck of a show as you watch the smoke slowly build up inside.
It’s the percolator bong’s design that allows for the dispersal and cooling of the smoke much faster than bongs that are perc-less. You’ll notice small holes or slits in the percolator which produce countless tiny bubbles that maximize the smoke’s contact with the bong water.
This not only diffuses the smoke but also cools it down considerably, all before it ever reaches your lips. And you’ll find that most perc bongs feature more than one percolator where they’re spread out via multiple chambers. The types of percolator/s housed in the bong can differ as well.
If you’d like to learn more about the different types of percs and percolator bongs in general, then we recommend you check out our What are Percolator Bongs article.
Beaker Bongs
Have you ever watched a movie and they start smoking out of a bong? There’s a good chance it was a beaker bong. Easily distinguishable by its conical base, the beaker design is one of the most iconic you’ll find.
Resembling that of a flask you’d find in a science lab, the beaker bong has long been a popular choice for smokers, dating back to the 60s and 70s. Their heavy beaker bottom makes them the perfect daily driver due to the additional stability.
The flared-out chamber also allows for more control over your rips than if you were to use a straight tube bong. A glass beaker bong allows you to ‘stack’ your rips by slowly inhaling as the smoke gathers in the chamber so as to barely move up the tube.
This large collection of smoke sits in the chamber of the bong as you keep smoking more of the bowl until you decide to inhale. It’s this level of control that glass beaker bongs provide over alternative options which keep cannabis enthusiasts coming back to this tried-and-true design.
Straight Tube Bongs
Simply put, the straight tube bong is as basic as you can get when it comes to water pipes. Their simple design consists of a vertical glass tube where the mouthpiece is the same width as the base. It’s this straightforward build that lends itself nicely to smokers that are new to the bong scene.
Since they don’t feature the same flared-out base that the beaker bong has, the smoke has a streamlined path to your lips. This direct pathway allows noobs to clear the chamber more easily than that of the beaker bong’s larger chamber. Not to say that veteran tokers don’t appreciate the straight tube bong’s classic style and effortless operation as well.
That effortless operation also comes with an effortless cleaning process. With glass beaker bongs, it can be a pain trying to reach certain parts of the chamber, prolonging the cleaning procedure. You won’t have the same problems with the straight tube bong design since it’s a straight shot from the base all the way up to the mouthpiece, making cleaning a breeze.
Mini Bongs
Are you ready for a huge revelation? A mini glass bong is nothing more than a regular glass bong in miniature form. We know it’s truly mind-boggling. All joking aside, the mini glass bong is essentially the answer to the question “how do you travel with your big and bulky bong”? Well, you simply shrink it down to allow for easy portability.
This offers you the convenience of your trusty hand pipe, mixed with the filtration and cooling effects that come with a water pipe. All of this included in one package and at a reduced price is why many newbies prefer a cost-efficient mini bong. And just as with their larger, regular-sized bong brothers, they come in a variety of designs for you to choose from.
Another fantastic aspect of these smaller-sized bongs is that they take much less time to clean. Unless you enjoy cleaning nasty resin out of your glass. Either way, if you’re someone who prefers a smooth, filtered toke on the go, then a mini bong is just what the doctor ordered!
Recyclers
If you’re looking for some of the smoothest smoking sessions possible, then you need to get yourself a recycler bong, period. They employ a complicated system of reservoirs and percolators to filter your smoke, all before it ever even reaches your lips. This all happens very quickly, with upwards of 10 cycles taking place in a matter of seconds.
This makes things much easier on your lungs, filtering the smoke as thoroughly as possible while enhancing those oh-so-tasty terpenes. Which makes recyclers a top choice for anyone who craves enormous clouds.
And, if variety is your spice of life, you won’t have any problems finding something to your liking, given that there are a multitude of different options to choose from. And they all have their own unique operation, varied designs, in addition to excellent efficiency.
The only real downsides to recycler bongs are their hefty price and the cleaning. With all the intricate work and time that goes into crafting these bad boys, it’s no wonder they can come with a high price tag. And cleaning all those intricate percolators, passageways, and arms that make recyclers so great can take considerable time and elbow grease.
Final Thoughts on Different Types of Glass Bongs
After reading this article, you should feel much less intimidated the next time you enter a headshop (whether in person or online) and inquire about the different types of glass bongs they carry. Just make sure and ask any questions you may have, even if you feel they’re silly.
If you need any assistance with questions about our products, or anything cannabis-related, feel free to contact us and we’ll gladly help you in any way we can.
