What Is Better: Bong or Pipe?
There are actually mixed reviews on which is better for smoking your herb in: a bong or a pipe. Some people prefer the pipe because of the convenience, portability, and ease of just putting some weeds in a bowl, while other potheads prefer blazing a blast through bong water chambers and percolators.
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On the other hand, some people prefer both a bong and a pipe, as each gives them the high they need, and each has their pluses and minuses.
What is better: bong or pipe? Deciding which is better will all come down to personal preference because both have their advantages and disadvantages. People who have both are definitely having a good time. However, some people claim that the bong is the healthier option.
In this article, you will learn the difference between a pipe and a bong. Aside from that, I will mention their advantages so that you can decide which one is ideal for your needs. You will also learn some of the things to consider when looking for the best pipe or bong.
What Are Pipes?
Pipes are the classic choices that can be made from clay, metal, wood, glass, or even ceramic. A pipe is a tube with a bowl at one end and a hole at the other end through which to inhale all marijuana. Compared to a bong, a pipe is smaller.
For that reason, it is considered portable, as well as discreet. The smaller the pipe, the easier and faster it is to clean.
Pipes are the go-to for some because they are a great pick if you want to hit it anytime. You can do it practically anywhere, and pipes come in multiple shapes, sizes, and materials.
Pot pipes are popular because they are fairly easy to clean and your hit will taste good and pretty potent. However, pipes deliver very hot smoke, which is why they create harsher smoke.
This is because the smoke travels a shorter distance from the flame to your lungs, and there is no time and space for it to cool down.
Also, because a pipe has no filter, you are prone to inhaling ash. Particulates are also a common issue with pipes; screens can become dislodged, and bits of ash together with some leaves can get pulled through the stem, going into your mouth.
Advantages of Using Pipes
There are plenty of advantages of using hand pipes, and they are considered to be smoking favorites by many people. As mentioned, a pipe can be made from metal, clay, wood, or ceramic, and it comes in a wide range of sizes.
Here are some of the advantages that you can get when you decide to use hand pipes for your weed:
Simplicity
Among the most obvious reasons people use hand pipes is that they are inherently quick and easy to use. This is why they are perfect for some beginners; they have a straightforward design, which can help ease beginners into the experience of smoking.
A pipe is perfect for beginners because some of them get pretty intimidated by different and complicated smoking devices.
Pipes are best at preserving the taste of the tobacco or marijuana that you are smoking because of the raw and unfiltered smoke that they produce. The short distance turns out to be an advantage as well.
Another bonus is that, due to its size, you can clean a pipe pretty easily without breaking anything.
Portability
There is a reason why they are called hand pipes in many places. This is because they are more compact and discreet, especially those that are one-hitters. They are an ideal grab-and-go option that can fit in your bag, car, or pocket.
Because they are made to be solid in one piece, there’s no need to worry about your pipe breaking in transit. All you need is your marijuana, a lighter, and of course, your pipe, and you are good to go.
Economical
Pipes are known to be economical in terms of price and smoking habits. The more intricate your pipe is, the more expensive it can be, but several hand pipe options with amazing designs are available at very reasonable prices in some markets.
Also, hand pipes are known to be sturdy. The odds of their breaking are lower than those of larger pipes and more intricate smoking devices.
For this reason, many people are getting pipes because they are more economical than other devices. That’s because pipes can last longer, so you won’t need to buy a replacement every now and then.
What Are Bongs?
Bongs are bigger than pipes, and they commonly use a water-filled chamber to filter smoky soot and airborne particulates. As a result, every hit from the bong bowl will taste cleaner, smoother, and flavorful.
When it comes to bongs, there are a wide variety of options. Some are incredibly complex, with removable cooling and percolator modules.
There are also mini-bongs and some bubbler pipes, but usually, the average bongs are rather cumbersome to lug around.
This is why bongs are considered to be at-home smoking options. You can get long, strong hits using them, and the effects are instantaneous.
If you do not know how to use a bong, you are in luck, as they are pretty easy to use. Just light a bowl, put your mouth on the mouthpiece, lift your bowl plug, and inhale.
Following those simple steps, you will get an instant high. Also, the smoke from bongs is less stinky, but then there’s water in your bong. Just make sure to change it frequently to avoid unnecessary smells. The only downside of bongs is that they are usually on the expensive side compared to pipes.
Advantages of Using Bongs
There’s nothing better than using your bong to get the smooth smoking experience you are looking for. The idea of smoking through water is almost as ancient as the culture of smoking. This is why there are plenty of advantages of using bongs:
Smoother Hits
As mentioned above, smoking using a bong can produce a smoother hit. There is a major flow in smoking cannabis through combustion or smoking. It can easily irritate the throat when you decide to inhale it.
Hot smoke continues to travel to your lungs with joints. This produces an unpleasant burning feeling that might be irritating to beginners.
With a bong, the smoke has enough time to cool down in the bong water before you inhale it. You will still cough, as you are literally inhaling smoke, but generally speaking, toking from a bong is definitely healthier than literal smoking.
Better Filtration
If you light your cigarette or any kind of joint, it will produce carcinogens, which are not good for your health.
Using a bong might not eliminate all carcinogens and other toxic substances, but it can significantly reduce the number of harmful compounds that end up in your lungs. This is because they are being filtered through the water.
In addition to other harmful compounds, water filters can remove all nasty byproducts of combustion, like tar. To many experienced tokers out there, swallowing a tarry chunk of ash is one of the most unpleasant aspects of herb smoking.
With the use of bongs, all ash and tar particles remain in the water instead of entering your body. If you really want to eliminate all of it and have a cleaner experience, you can attach an ash-catcher to your bong.
Reduce Bacteria and Mold
The water in your bong has many functions, and this is why a bong is considered to be one of the healthier approaches to smoking. This is because it traps bacteria and mold to reduce the numbers of microbes you inhale.
Plenty of cannabis users tend to pass joints, pipes, and bongs around, and as a result, these devices can also pass along illnesses. However, a bong can contain all contaminants, which will get filtered through the water instead of your lungs.
It is advisable to change your bong water between smoking sessions. You can deep clean it with alcohol and some Epsom salt every week. If you opt to share your bong, you should wipe the mouthpiece with an alcohol swab between each smoker to prevent sharing more than your high.
Getting Bigger Hits
When it comes to bongs, a glass bong is considered to be the favorite of many stoners out there. This is because it allows users to take a massive rip.
In a theoretical sense, you can fill the container with smoke and take it all in one hit. Just be mindful that massive hits are not the healthiest way to consume your cannabis, so moderation is advised.
Finding the Perfect Bong and Pipe
Determining which one is better—a bong or pipe—is not an easy task. However, people are claiming that bongs provide less harsh hits because of their cooling effects and filtration.
If you are looking for bongs, make sure to consider your budget, your preferences, and the reputation of the bong you like. Some mini-bongs and bubblers are ideal for those who are always on the go.
Pipes are ideal for beginners due to their ease of use. There are plenty of beginner pipe smoking kits that consist of a wire mesh pipe screen and a glass hand pipe.
Dab rigs and bongs are more complex to use, which is why hand pipes are recommended for newbies.
Hand pipes can also provide the smooth hits that even advanced or intermediate smokers are looking for.
Higher-Quality Pipes
If you are looking for some high-quality pipes, there is a wide range of features, styles, and materials. However, if you are using cannabis in the long run, you might need to spend a little more so that you have a lot of options to choose from.
You do not have to settle for a hot hit from a pipe when you can have the best of both worlds. Some mini-bubblers are pipe-sized pieces, perfect for traveling, and can offer a bong-hit smoothness with some water filtration.
Higher-Quality Bongs
As mentioned before, if cool smoke is better, then chilled smoke is probably the best. If you can invest in a bong with an ice catcher, you will enjoy hits that slide down smoothly. Such bongs are perfect for the summer heat.
The best feature of this high-quality bong is its versatility. Most premium bongs have universal joints and interchangeable pieces.
Some even have a chiller coil, ice catcher, extra percolator, or switch to concentrate without having to purchase another system.
One high-quality bong that has been getting a lot of attention is the silicone bong. They are unbreakable, foldable, and 100% portable. These bongs can save you money in more ways than others. They are one of the few options of bongs that are fairly cheap.
Conclusion
If you are looking for what is best for you, you must consider your needs and preferences. For those who are new to smoking, try using a pipe. Otherwise, for those who want to filter all the smoke, get a bong.
Smoking is not the healthiest habit, so it is important to know your limits and do it in moderation. Just think of your needs and how you imagine yourself smoking. Then you are one step closer to figuring out which piece is for you.