How to Pack a Bowl: The Complete Guide
So, you’re looking to smoke your first bowl. Before you can do that, though, you need to learn how to pack it so that you can enjoy the vibes to the fullest during your next sesh.
Whether you’re a seasoned joint smoker that’s venturing into new territory, or you’re just getting into weed, we have you covered with a complete guide on everything you need to know. Let’s get into it.
What is a Bowl?
Before you pack your first bowl, you should probably understand what a bowl is. Essentially, a bowl is the round part at the end of a pipe or bong stem. This is where you place the weed and light it before inhaling it through the other end of the pipe to smoke it. When it comes to bongs, the bowls are typically a piece that’s attached to a removable downstem.
How Do Bowls Work?
Whether you’re working with a large bong or a small portable pipe, all bowls are packed and lit in the same way. Having said that, there are a few key differences between bowls when it comes to the actual smoking process.
With pipes, bowls typically have a small hole cut into the side, also known as a carb. As you start to light the bowl, you simultaneously cover the carb with your finger while you start your inhale.
Towards the end of your inhale, you’ll then release your finger from the carb. What this does is create a buildup of smoke within the pipe’s chamber while you’re covering the carb. Then upon the release, the smoke is cleared from the chamber with full airflow, allowing for a smooth hit.
When it comes to bongs, there is typically a removable bowl inserted into the downstem instead of a carb. It’s the same principle, but instead of covering and releasing the carb, you’ll insert and remove the bowl from the downstem. This achieves the same result by controlling the amount of air flowing within the bong and creating a smoother hit.
What You’ll Need:
Before you can take the first hit, you need to gear up with some essentials. These include:
- Weed (or alternative hemp flower)
- Grinder
- Lighter/Match
- Pipe or Bong
Once you have your essentials set, find your favorite place to kick back and light your bowl.
How To Pack a Bowl:
Grind and Pack The Weed
Before you actually pack the weed inside the bowl, you need to make sure that it’s been ground into smaller pieces. This ensures that the weed burns evenly inside the bowl.
To grind your weed, place a small or medium-sized nug into the top section of the grinder. Then, place the lid back on and grind it back and forth until all the ground-up weed has fallen into the middle chamber. From there, you can unscrew the grinder from the middle, and you should see the contents of your nug ground up into much smaller pieces.
Once the weed is ground, it’s time to pack the bowl. The amount that you actually pack should depend on your experience and tolerance level for weed. If you’re new to smoking, start by packing just enough to form a small layer across the base of the bowl. If you’re an experienced smoker, you can pack the bowl nearly to the top (just make sure to not pack it too tight so that air can easily pass through).
Light The Bowl and Smoke
It’s finally time for what you’ve been waiting for: smoking the bowl!
Once the weed is packed into your bowl of choice, hold a lighter or match up to the bowl while you begin to inhale through the end of the pipe or the top of the bong. Keep in mind what we said about the carb, and make sure that your finger is covering it while you begin your inhale. If you’re smoking a bong, just keep the bowl in the stem for now.
After a few seconds of inhaling you can move your finger off the carb, or remove the bowl from the downstem. Next, take your final deep breath so that the smoke enters your lungs, and let it out through an exhale. Don’t take too big of a hit at first to avoid any coughing fits.
Voila! You’ve officially smoked your first bowl. Now it’s time to dump the ash from the bowl so that it’s ready to be packed for the next sesh. It’s okay if this first session was a little rough. This can usually take a bit of practice in order to get fully comfortable.
Now What?
If you’re looking into getting your first pipe or bong, there’s no better place to look than Hemper. Our diverse selection of unique pipes and bongs is the perfect way to start off or add to your collection.
Ready to find that perfect bowl to light up for your next sesh? Check out our unique range of pipes and bongs today, or reach out anytime to learn more.
