Choosing a Bong Online: 6 Things To Lookout for When Buying a Bong in 2024

Bongs are a popular tool for smoking cannabis because of the unique benefits they offer. Bongs use water to filter and cool the smoke before inhalation, resulting in smoother hits compared to other methods such as pipes and joints.

The key parts of a bong are the bowl for packing and holding your cannabis, the downstem connecting the bowl to the base, the water chamber holding the water that filters the smoke, and then lastly, where you inhale from - the mouthpiece.

Modular bongs by VITAE Glass allow users to customize their experience with interchangeable parts, making them easy to clean or upgrade over time.

Bongs come in many different shapes, styles, and bong materials. 

Buying a bong online vs. a headshop offers several benefits. Firstly, you get the convenience of shopping from home at any time.

You're not limited by store hours or location. You can browse through countless options on websites from many different brands, compare prices, and read customer reviews in peace.

This helps you make an informed decision without feeling rushed. Plus, with discreet packaging offered by many online retailers, privacy is maintained too.

But there might be drawbacks such as shipping costs or potential damages during delivery. So always check return policies before making your purchase. 

When shopping for a bong online, certain features can enhance your smoking experience. We're not talking about the standard things like bowls and downstems. Those are standard items that come with most bongs.

We're talking about those extra cool features like percolators, ash catchers, ice catchers, bowl screens, and bong filters. And if you want to take it a step further, you can consider features like digital integration and E-Rigs with laser and electronic heating units.

All of this sounds cool but be careful as things can get expensive quickly.

Start by adding a good quality perc as this will improve filtration and a more enjoyable smoke sesh without throat irritation. From there you can add more bong accessories but if cost is a factor, it's not necessary.

Selecting a bong size starts with your personal preference and usage habits. For beginners, a smaller bong is easier to handle and clean. Mini bongs are easier to use and have fewer bong parts. This means less can go wrong and easier to fix.

If you're after portability or discretion, small bongs are perfect. But remember that smaller ones might not deliver as powerful hits as larger ones.

Tall bongs offer cooler and smoother smoke due to their longer path but can be challenging for newbies because of the strong pull required. If this doesn't faze you, then go big.

Before purchasing, contemplate how often and in what circumstances you'll use your water pipe to make the best choice for yourself. 

The cost of a bong can differ greatly depending on various elements. First is the material used. Glass bongs, like our custom bongs, are generally more expensive due to their durability and build quality.

Size also plays a role in pricing. A larger bong requires more materials, which raises its cost. Complexity is another factor - modular designs that allow for customization will typically come with higher price tags because they offer greater flexibility and convenience.

Lastly is branding. Large brands such as Puffco usually charge more, not only because their products are high quality but because their branding is also premium.

To get a good deal online, compare prices across different websites before making your purchase decision. 

Ideal for when you need a swift toke, mini bongs, as evident from the name itself, are smaller water pipes in comparison to standard-size bongs.

They are an excellent choice for those moments when you want a swift toke either on the move or are too lazy to load up a big bong.

However, mini bongs don't offer the same kind of smoking experience or potency as their larger counterparts. Also, they can be somewhat delicate, particularly if they are not constructed from high-quality material. 

Glass bongs are a timeless selection. Glass is the most frequently used material for bongs due to its strength, and visual charm but also for its cost-effectiveness.

Bongs made from borosilicate glass stand out due to their exceptional resistance to sudden temperature changes, which makes them an ideal option when you need to balance the temperature of the water within your bong against the heat from your lighter.

Ceramic bongs have a rich history, having been invented long before glass bongs.

The smoking experience they provide is notably smooth. However, while ceramic bongs offer artistic designs but can be more fragile than glass. They're perfect if you're looking for something unique and don't mind extra care.

Before silicone bongs came around, plastic bongs were the go-to option if you didn't want to buy glass. Affordable as they are, plastic bongs have a reputation for breaking easily. So, if you're in a fix and need a fast hit, you could try an acrylic bong for just about $10.

Although we wouldn't be surprised if you upgraded to a glass bong as most plastic bong users do. A warning, a big downside of using plastic bongs is that they alter the taste of your herb. 

Silicone bongs, despite being the new kids on the block in the bong world, have quickly earned a large fan base. There's a multitude of reasons why they're a hot pick.

Firstly, silicone is commonly found in cookware so it's safe for human use. Secondly, this type of silicone can endure the high temperatures that often come with bongs. A cherry on top is being less breakable than glass, making them ideal for taking on trips or using outside.

What's more, silicone bongs generally come with a smaller price tag than glass ones, making them an ideal choice for beginners.

Now this type of bong you don't find often. Wooden bongs are made from wood, typically bamboo.

The term "bong" actually originates from the Thai word "baung," a reference to a hollow, water-filled wooden pipe used for smoking. From this, we can see that crafting bongs from bamboo predates our modern glass versions.

Bamboo is a very strong and incredibly robust material. Comprising up to 70 percent silica (the same component found in borosilicate glass), a lot of the same techniques used to temper glass are used in the making of bamboo bongs. 

We generally advise against opting for metal bongs because they are notorious for negatively influencing the flavor of the herb you're smoking. They don't provide a pleasant, smooth smoking experience.

But the thing we don't like is you can't see what's going on inside your bong! You're left guessing about the intensity of the hit you're about to take because you can't see the smoke buildup.

The one positive about metal bongs is that some contain a ceramic lining inside the bong that helps keep water cold for cool filtration. 

The thickness of the glass has a major effect on both the durability and the weight of the bong. When it comes to bongs, the thickness is measured in millimeters and ranges from around 2 millimeters on the thin end and 9 millimeters on the thicker side.

Most professionals suggest a bong that is between 3 and 9 millimeters, as anything thinner than that is more prone to shattering and is too delicate to hold up to regular usage.

With bongs, the quality of glass refers to both its clarity as well as its strength. The higher the quality of the glass, the clearer and more resilient it will be. Its quality is directly related to both the material the glass is made of and the skill level of the person who is blowing it.

Most of the glass bongs made in the United States are made of high-quality borosilicate glass. However, bongs imported from China are mostly made from much cheaper, lower-quality glass, but some do use thick quality glass too.

Higher-quality thick glass is far more durable which means your bong will last longer and be more aesthetically appealing. 

If you're a newbie, we get it - choosing a bong online can be an overwhelming experience you're first time. You don't know what you're doing so you inevitably make a mistake that could cost you a lot of money.

Now you don't have to worry about that. Hopefully, with this guide, you now have all the basics to buying a bong online.

Remember, stick to the tried and tested basics of the five points we highlighted and you won't go wrong.

And if you do have any questions, just send us a message using the chat box on our website.