How to Choose the Right Bong Bowl for Your Piece
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before.
You’re finally getting around to emptying the water from your bong. You hold it upside down over the sink and right as the water starts to come out, your bowl comes crashing down and shatters into a million pieces. So what next? Time to get a new bowl.
Choosing the right bowl for your bong is extremely important. Picking the wrong shape or size can kill the vibes of a sesh, or end it all together. But when you pick out the perfect bowl for your bong, it's a match made in heaven. Take a look below to understand when to get a new bowl, how to pick out the right one and how to properly maintain it.
The Anatomy of a Bong Bowl
There are three main pieces of a bong bowl that you should know.
- Bowl: Where the herb is placed to be ignited.
- Joint: The part that connects the bowl to the bong.
- Shank: The part that extends into the bong, leading smoke from the bowl into the water.
Bong bowls are typically either made from borosilicate glass or ceramic. Ceramic, though often more expensive than glass, can provide excellent heat retention.
Choosing a Bong Bowl
When it comes to actually choosing a bong bowl, there are a number of factors to consider. Some are non-negotiable (the size of the bowl), but other factors such as design and material are up to your personal preference.
Size
In order to find a compatible bowl, make sure to match the size of your bowl to the joint of your bong.
The most common bowl sizes are 10mm, 14mm, or 18mm in diameter. You can measure the size of the joint using a ruler with an mm reading to determine how large the opening is.
This is the most crucial step in finding a new bowl. If you choose the wrong size, it will likely not fit in the bong, rendering it unusable.
Material
It’s up to you what material you want your bowl to be. Each material comes with its own pros and cons that can help you decide which is right for you.
- Glass - Offers the purest flavor, no material reactions, but is very fragile
- Ceramic - Has great heat retention, can be challenging to clean, also fragile
- Metal - The most durable, may alter flavor, make sure you're only using one from a reputable manufacturer that doesn't use toxic metals in the construction of the bowl.
Design and Aesthetics
There are lots of bowl designs and styles to choose from, ranging from generic to unique. Choose a design that fits your personal style or complements the look of your bong.
For example, many of our bongs at Hemper are made with an accompanying bowl that matches the theme of the design.
Price
The material, brand, and design of a bowl all affect its cost. Whichever you end up choosing depends on your budget. If you’re prone to dropping bowls, you may want to buy multiple affordable ones instead so that you always have a new one on hand if one breaks.
Cleaning and Maintaining Your Bowl
Cleaning
Keeping your bowl nice and clean will help its longevity down the road. To do so, just follow these steps:
- Gently detach the bowl from the bong.
- Empty the bowl by discarding any leftover shake or ash from the bowl. You can also use the Hemper Cache to do this without damaging glass or getting ash everywhere.
- Let the bowl soak in a solution for 30 minutes to an hour. This can be either a bong cleaning solution or a combination of warm water and isopropyl alcohol.
- Scrub the bowl using a pipe cleaner or small brush to scrub the inside. Make sure to scrub away spots where resin still persists.
- Rinse thoroughly with warm water and air dry completely before using again.
- When not using, store safely in a location where it will not be knocked over, crushed, or otherwise damaged.
When to Replace Your Bowl
Unless you straight-up broke it, it might be difficult to know when to replace your bowl. If you notice cracks or chips, persistent resin buildup, or poor performance (low-quality smoke, etc.), then it might be time to get a new bowl.
Get a Dope Bong Bowl for Your Next Sesh
Hemper offers a wide selection of bong bowls in a variety of shapes, materials and price points. When it’s time to replace your bowl or even get a whole new bong, look no further than our collection. Get started today by shopping our range of bowls or contact us anytime for more information.
Related: How to Clean a Glass Pipe
