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A first bong: size, glass and what to check

Updated

When you buy your first bong, check six things: how tall it is, the glass, the joint, whether a bowl comes with it, the base, and how easy it is to clean.

1. How tall

A taller bong holds more water but takes more room. A small one fits on a shelf or in a backpack.

Height How many we have Prices
Small, up to 8 in 26 $24.99 to $57.49
Medium, 8.5 to 13.5 in 35 $23.99 to $128.80
Tall, 14 in and up 20 $39.99 to $129.95

On the bongs page you can set a height and see only the bongs up to it.

2. The glass

Thicker glass takes knocks better. Look for walls about 5 mm thick, in borosilicate, the heat-resistant glass used for kitchenware. 33 of our 81 glass bongs and bubblers are borosilicate. These 14 have walls 5 mm or thicker:

Show all 14

If you're worried about breaking it, look at silicone instead. Silicone or glass?

3. The joint

The joint is where the bowl goes, and it decides which bowls and ash catchers you can add later. 53 of ours take a 14 mm bowl, and we have 31 of those, from $8.49. The Parts Fit Guide explains how fit works.

4. A bowl in the box

You can't use a bong without a bowl, so make sure one comes with it. Right now all 70 of our bongs come with one.

5. The base

A wide base is harder to knock over. Beakers flare out at the bottom, and straight tubes stand on a flat foot. Beaker or straight tube compares them.

6. Inside the bong

A downstem that comes out is easier to rinse and to replace. One simple percolator is plenty to start with, because stacked ones are more to clean and more to break. 3 of ours have a percolator, and 11 have an ice pinch, the notches inside the neck that hold ice.

By price

Price Bongs we have Heights
Under $50 33 5 to 14 in
$50 to $100 33 8 to 18.5 in
Over $100 4 11 to 18 in

Picks for a first bong

Good first bongs under $50: a medium height, a joint size we know, and a bowl in the box. 15 of ours fit, cheapest first:

Show all 15

Of those 15, 2 also have walls 5 mm or thicker:

Questions

What size bong should I get first?
Medium, 8.5 to 13.5 in, is the middle of the range. Go small if it has to travel or fit on a narrow shelf, and tall if you want more water and have the room.
Glass or silicone for a first bong?
Glass if you want to see inside it. Silicone if it's going to get knocked around.
Do I need an ash catcher?
No. It's an add-on you can get later, and it has to match your joint's size and angle. Ash catchers

Sources

The 5 mm figure, borosilicate, and the advice on downstems and percolators: The Freeze Pipe's first bong guide.

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