Table of Contents

How to Choose a Bong – A Complete Guide for Smokers

What Is a Bong? A Short History and How It Works

A bong (also known as a water pipe) is a smoking device that uses water to filter and cool the smoke. A classic glass bong consists of a bowl (for the herb), a main chamber partially filled with water, and a mouthpiece. When you inhale, the smoke passes through the water — which catches ash and other particles while cooling the smoke. This makes the hit smoother and less harsh on the throat and lungs. Because of this, many smokers find bongs to be gentler and more efficient than joints or dry pipes.

The history of the bong goes back thousands of years. Archaeological findings show similar water pipes used in ancient Asia and Africa. The word “bong” comes from the Thai term baung, which originally referred to a bamboo tube. Early bongs were made from bamboo or wood. By the 16th century, water pipes became popular in Persia, China, and India as a way to filter tobacco smoke.
Modern bongs are typically made of borosilicate glass — strong, heat-resistant laboratory glass — and come in a wide variety of shapes and styles. Despite all the innovation, the basic principle remains the same: smoke is drawn through water, filtered, cooled, and then inhaled, delivering a smooth yet powerful hit.

Bong with Carb Hole vs. Bong with Removable Bowl

There are two main construction styles of bongs:

With a carb hole (kickhole)
With a removable bowl or slide.

The difference lies in how you clear the smoke from the chamber.

Bong with a carb hole – has a small hole on the side of the chamber that you cover with your finger while taking a hit. At the end of the hit, you release your finger to let in a rush of air, which pushes the remaining smoke into your lungs. This system allows you to control airflow easily with one hand. Many smokers enjoy the sudden “kick” of fresh air when releasing the carb hole. The downside? It can be slightly harder to clean, since the extra hole means another place for resin to build up, and poor design may cause air leaks.

Bong with a removable bowl (slide) – doesn’t have a carb hole. Instead, you clear the bong by lifting out the bowl or downstem at the end of your hit. Air enters through the open joint, and the remaining smoke quickly travels to your lungs. This setup is extremely common in the U.S. and modern glass designs. Advantages include a simpler structure (no extra hole in the glass), easier cleaning, and a smoother airflow when clearing the chamber.

Both systems serve the same purpose — to “refresh” the chamber with air and finish the hit. Which one is better depends on personal preference. Some prefer the traditional carb hole for precise airflow control, while others like the simplicity and airtightness of the slide system. The experience is slightly different, so if possible, try both and see what you prefer.

Filtration and Percolators: How Diffusers and Other Enhancements Work

The water in a bong is the first level of filtration — it removes some tar and cools the smoke. Modern bongs take it further by adding diffusers and percolators that break the smoke into smaller bubbles, increasing the surface area in contact with water and maximizing cooling and filtration.

Diffuser (diffused downstem) – a downstem with slits or holes at the end instead of a plain open tube. This breaks the smoke into many small bubbles as it enters the water, creating smoother and cooler hits. Diffusers can be removable or built into the bong.

Percolator (perc) – an additional filtration chamber or structure inside the bong that the smoke passes through after the water. There are many types:

Tree percolator – features several vertical glass arms with slits, resembling tree branches. Each arm diffuses the smoke, producing multiple small streams and bubbles. The more arms (e.g., 6-arm, 8-arm), the better the filtration — though airflow resistance increases slightly.
Honeycomb percolator – a flat disc with dozens of small holes that the smoke passes through, producing a large number of microbubbles. This design cools effectively while maintaining smooth airflow.
Turbine percolator – has angled slits that spin the water and smoke in a vortex, providing extra cooling and a visual “swirl” effect.
Other designs – like UFO, showerhead, or matrix percs — all aim to break up and clean the smoke in slightly different ways.

Keep in mind that the more percolators and chambers a bong has, the more resistance you’ll feel when inhaling. For beginners, one or two percs are usually enough. Advanced users often enjoy multi-perc setups for the ultimate smoothness. Remember, though, that more percs also mean more cleaning — those tiny holes can trap residue, so regular maintenance is key.

Cooling Smoke with Ice

Many bongs feature ice notches (also called ice catchers) — small indentations in the neck that hold ice cubes above the water chamber. As smoke passes by the ice, it cools further before reaching your mouth. The result is an extra-smooth, chilled hit that’s easier on your throat.

Using ice is simple: drop a few cubes into the tube so they rest on the notches. Don’t overfill the water chamber — melting ice raises the water level, and too much can splash into the mouthpiece. Some smokers also like experimenting with crushed ice or frozen fruit balls for unique cooling effects (just make sure they’re not small enough to fall into the water).

After the session, empty the bong completely — leaving melted ice water inside for too long can stress or crack the glass due to temperature changes.

Bongs for Concentrates (Dab Rigs): Separate or Convertible?

In addition to dry herbs, many smokers now enjoy concentrates — wax, oil, or shatter — which are vaporized rather than burned. The devices for this are called dab rigs or oil rigs.

Do you need a special bong for that? Not necessarily.
Most glass bongs can be converted into a dab rig simply by swapping the regular bowl for a banger or nail made of heat-resistant quartz, titanium, or ceramic. As long as the joint size fits (usually 14.5 or 18.8 mm), you can easily switch between dry herb and concentrates.

However, there are a few differences worth noting:

Size and volume – Concentrate vapor is denser and more potent than smoke, so dab rigs are usually smaller (15–25 cm) to keep the vapor concentrated and flavorful.
Filtration and flavor – Too much water or filtration can cool the vapor too much and reduce flavor. Dab rigs typically have minimal percolation — one small perc or recycler — to preserve terpenes and aroma.
Joint type – Herb bongs typically have a female joint (into which you place a male bowl). Dab rigs often use a male joint for a female banger or nail, but adapters make compatibility easy.
No carb hole – Instead of a carb, dabbers use a carb cap to cover and uncover the banger while inhaling, controlling airflow manually.

In short: you don’t need a separate bong for concentrates. Just get the right banger or nail, and you’re good to go. But if you’re serious about dabbing, a purpose-built dab rig — smaller, tighter, and optimized for vapor — might be worth it.

Other Factors to Consider When Choosing a Bong

You now know about filtration, carb systems, and concentrates — but what else matters when buying a bong?

Material

Glass – The top choice. Borosilicate glass doesn’t affect flavor, resists heat, and is easy to clean. Fragile but best overall.
Acrylic (plastic) – Cheap and durable but scratches easily, retains odor, and can slightly alter taste.
Silicone – Nearly unbreakable and flexible, great for travel, though not as stylish or pure in taste.
Ceramic / Metal – Rare options; ceramic looks decorative but is fragile, while metal heats up fast.

Height and volume
Bigger bongs (50–60 cm) allow for massive hits but require strong lungs. Smaller ones (15–30 cm) are portable and easier to store but give sharper hits. A mid-range size (30–45 cm) is the sweet spot for most users — stable, smooth, and balanced.
Check glass thickness too: 5 mm or more for tall bongs, 3 mm minimum for small ones. Shapes like beaker bongs with a wide base are more stable than straight tubes.

Ease of cleaning
All bongs eventually need cleaning. Simpler designs (like straight tubes or beakers) are easy to wash with warm water and isopropyl alcohol. Complex multi-perc bongs require more attention — small holes can clog easily. Modular or detachable percs help. You can also use an activated carbon filter between the bowl and bong to trap resin and keep the glass cleaner longer.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right bong is a personal matter. Some smokers value maximum filtration and silky-smooth hits; others prefer simplicity, portability, and easy cleaning. Decide what’s most important to you — size, design, brand, or price — and pick accordingly. Whether it’s a sleek glass beaker for home sessions or a compact travel bong, the right piece will make every hit more enjoyable.

Happy smoking and smooth hits! 💨

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Sources

Grasscity.com – Heisenberg product range and bong overview
Zamnesia.com – Anatomy of a Bong (detailed guide to bong components)
Heisenberg.shop – official store with bong descriptions and filtration info
SmokeTower.com – general information about bong filtration and cooling systems
Hanf-Magazin.com – Die Geschichte der Bong (historical background)