What is a Bong & How Do You Use One?

High Points

• Bongs are water pipes designed to filter smoke through water, creating smoother, cooler hits. They come in many styles and materials, each offering different airflow, flavor, and ease of use.
  
  
• Using a bong involves filling it with water, packing ground cannabis into the bowl, lighting it while inhaling gently, then removing the bowl to clear the chamber. The process is simple once you learn the steps.
  
  
• Cleaning and maintenance are key! Regularly rinse your bong with isopropyl alcohol and salt keeps your bong functioning well and tasting fresh. Accessories like percolators and ice catchers can further enhance your experience.
  
  

At its core, a bong is a specialized pipe designed to use water to filter the smoke, delivering a unique smoking experience that many cannabis enthusiasts find to be less harsh than other pipes. Bongs come in various shapes, sizes, and materials, some contributing to the overall smoking experience and many just designed with an artistic eye.

Understanding the inner workings of a bong can help you understand the technical details behind its reputation for delivering cool and flavorful hits.¹ The basic principle involves passing the smoke through water, which serves as a filtration medium to make the smoke feel less harsh. Some cannabis enthusiasts prefer using bongs over pipes because of how the water cools down the smoke.¹

Mouthpiece & Tube

The tube is the long neck of the bong that the smoke travels up through after it has gone through the water. The very top of the tube is the mouthpiece, and this is where the user inhales the smoke.

Bowl

The bowl is the bowl-like glass piece that holds the ground cannabis flower. (Hence the term ‘pack a bowl’!) 

Carb

A small hole that regulates airflow. Your carb can help you control how much smoke enters the tube, and therefore, how much smoke you inhale.

Downstem

The downstem connects the bowl full of cannabis flower to the water in the base. This piece comes in a variety of shapes and styles, but the most common is a simple glass straw with a hole at the end. Depending on the type of bong you get, it may be removable to take the place of a carb.

Base 

The bottom part of the bong, or base, holds water and is usually shaped to provide stability if you set your bong down.

Bongs can range from simple, tried-and-true shapes to intricate sculptures with hefty price tags. Where should you begin?! Here are our tips to weed through the options:

We always recommend a classic, no-frills design for your first bong purchase. They’re easier to use, simpler to clean, and a more approachable price tag. We commonly recommend one of these shapes:

• Straight Tube/Cylinder Bong - A simple tube with a bowl and (maybe) a carb. 

• Round Base or Beaker Bong - Similar to a straight tube, but with a different base shape    

• Bubbler Bong - A small, hand-held bong that looks like a cross between a bong and a hand pipe.
  
  

Bongs are available in a variety of materials, including ceramic, silicone, and acrylic. However, it’s best to start with thick glass–preferrable borosilicate glass, which is informally called scientific glass. It’s thicker than regular glass and better at withstanding rapid temperature changes.¹

There is a wide variety of accessories available to customize your bong. Bong accessories can enhance your smoking experience by improving airflow, cooling, and convenience. Percolators help filter and cool the smoke for smoother hits, while ash catchers keep your bong cleaner by trapping debris before it enters the main chamber. Figure out what you like and don’t like about your bong, then explore all the bells and whistles available to add to it.

Many cannabis enthusiasts who are new to the scene worry that using a bong is complicated. It’s really not—once you know what you’re doing. If you follow these steps, your chances are high that you will be able to create a successful first toke:

Place clean water into the bottom of your water pipe. Ensure that the downstem is halfway submerged.

Place your cannabis in a grinder and grind it to the right consistency. Then, pack the ground marijuana flower into the bong’s bowl. Some people also choose to top off their flower with kief.

Maintaining the cleanliness of your bong is crucial for an optimal smoking experience. Regular cleaning prevents residue buildup and ensures the water pipe functions at its best. A mixture of isopropyl alcohol and salt is an effective cleaning solution. Simply shake the mixture within the bong, rinse thoroughly, and voila—a clean, ready-to-use device.²

Looking for some more detailed instructions? Check out our guide on how to clean a bong.

Because bongs seem complex, we get a lot of questions about them. Here are a few of the answers to hopefully help demystify water pipes for you, too.

Why do people put ice in their bongs?

Placing ice in the bong's neck cools the smoke further, resulting in a cooler hit. It can also serve as an additional method of filtration. There are some bongs designed with an ice catcher—a few little prongs midway up the neck—but if yours doesn’t have those, don’t worry. You can add ice to the main chamber, too.³

How much does a water pipe cost?

Water pipe prices vary based on design, material, and brand. An entry level water pipe can start at $50 for basic models, but the price can soar from there. It would not be uncommon to see a price tag of $500 for high-end, intricately designed bongs.

How is a bong different from a water pipe?

While all bongs are water pipes, not all water pipes are bongs. There are cannabis tools available, like dab rigs and bubblers, that also use water and would therefore qualify as a water pipe. You can also find a wide variety of different styles of bongs, so don’t be afraid to use the wrong term when you walk into a dispensary. Your budtender will likely know exactly what you’re talking about.

Are bongs the same as dab rigs?

While both involve water filtration, bongs are designed for smoking cannabis flower, whereas dab rigs are optimized for vaporizing concentrates.

Should you put hot or cold water in a bong?

You should put whatever temperature of water into your bong that you prefer. That said, some cannabis enthusiasts opt for hot water. (Read: hot water, not boiling water.) While the hot water will still cool the smoke because it’s not as hot as the burning cannabis flower, it will also add moisture to the smoke, doing away with that harsh, dry hit you get from cold water.⁴

Learn More About Bongs 

If you enjoy smoking your cannabis, bongs can be a great option to try. They provide a unique smoking experience without being overcomplicated. If you’re still on the fence, it might be a good idea to swing into your local dispensary. There, you can talk to a budtender about the bongs they have available and what they would recommend you start with. You can even ask them to show you how to operate it, so you know what to do when you get home and add your herb.