How to Choose the Best Type of Bong

If you live in the U.S., chances are high that you’ve smoked weed at least once. More than half of adults in the country have tried marijuana. And if you like its effects, the growing (pun intended) legalization movement makes it easier than ever to become a regular user. 

But one challenge regular weed users face is this: what’s the best way to consume marijuana? For some, it’s edibles. For others, it’s paper. And for others, it’s still glassware, like the ever-popular bong.

All bongs aren’t created equal, though. If you love using a bong (or want to invest in your first one), you’ll need to know what to look for in a bong. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you choose the best type of bong for your needs — read on before you make the purchase. 

Choosing the Best Type of Bong: What to Consider

As you shop for bongs, you’ll notice a wide variety of sizes, styles, price points, and even colors. Here’s how to weigh each consideration and make the best choice.

Bong Shape

First, you can narrow it down based on the shape of bong you want. Let’s weigh the pros and cons of some of the most popular bong shapes on the market.

Beaker

Today, you’ll see beaker bongs at a lot of different retailers. This popular shape looks fun since it might remind you of a lab tool you used in high school. They’re also sturdy since the bottom is so much wider than the top. 

Many smokers find it nice to have a bong that looks good and also can’t be knocked over easily. If you’re not sold on the beaker shape, though, you can also get a very similar type of bong with a rounded base.

Straight Tube

This bong shape might appeal more to a minimalist. As the name suggests, it’s shaped like a tube that goes straight up and down, with minimal embellishment.

The simple shape makes it easy to keep this type of bong clean. You can also quickly clear a straight-tube bong, giving you a bigger hit. This style is great for beginner smokers, although it is easier to knock over than a beaker. 

Multi-Chamber

To get a little more technical, you can try a multi-chamber bong. These fancy bongs send smoke through a filtration chamber a few times before it reaches you. This gives an extra-smooth hit. However, this fancy style tends to cost more.

Zig Zag

These styles are easy to spot when buying a bong. They have a bend or zig-zag in the middle.

This feature makes them look cool, but more importantly, it also makes smoking them better. Because of the zig-zag, water can’t get pulled up from the water chamber and accidentally hit you in the mouth. This makes the zig-zag bong another good choice for novice smokers.

Faberge Egg

These bongs get their name from the egg-shaped percolator in the middle.

A percolator helps cool and filter the smoke before it reaches your mouth, so you’ll get smooth hits with less coughing. But that aside, many smokers also like a Faberge-egg style for its cool look. 

Bong Material

After deciding on the shape you like best, your next consideration in how to choose a bong is the material. Let’s take a look at your options.

Plastic

Plastic may not be the most popular material, but it’s certainly the most affordable. Plastic bongs also work well for an accident-prone household. No matter how many times you knock one over or drop it, it’s not likely to break.

However, plastic also comes with health concerns, since heated plastic may leach into the smoke. That can affect the way your marijuana tastes, but may also lead to more serious health issues later on. With that in mind, plastic bongs are ideal for travel, but not for regular use. 

Glass

Glass, of course, is the most popular bong material by far. Although fragile, it’s pretty and safe to smoke out of. Glass is also easy to clean, and will never affect how the smoke tastes. 

Most people opt for glass bongs for these reasons. However, you’ll also need to choose the best type of glass for the job. Popular brands like Pure Glass and Zob Glass tend to give you the best quality for the price. 

Bamboo

For a natural touch, you can also get a bong made of bamboo. These bongs are less common and tend to be pricey, but they’re also very attractive and durable. Opt for a bamboo bong if you want to invest in something safe and virtually unbreakable. 

Bong Size

Your final major consideration in picking the best type of bong is the size.

Size does matter — but not in the way you might think. Bongs of all sizes actually have pros and cons.

With a large bong, you do get a bigger hit. However, the smoke will also be cooler by the time it reaches you, so that big hit shouldn’t be too harsh.

Small bongs, however, are much better for giving you the pure flavor of the strain you smoke. With a larger bong, a lot of that nuance gets lost. And small bongs also tend to cost less, so they’re less expensive upfront and easier to replace.

The right size bong for you all depends on what you want out of a bong. But don’t assume that the biggest bong is always the best choice — small bongs can also do a lot! 

Ready to Use This Bong Buying Guide?

With this guide handy, you now know how to choose the best type of bong. This information will help you narrow down the daunting list of options on the market. Don’t wait — get out there and start shopping for your new favorite piece! 

Of course, bongs don’t come cheap, and you’ll probably soon want to expand our collection. To fund your favorite glassware, be sure to check out our business and marketing tips right here on our blog.