Every cool bong needs smoking accessories like different glass pipes, glass tobacco pipes, weed pipes, spoon pipes, sherlock pipes, storages and of course an even cooler glass bowl. A custom glass bowl or a unique bowl that shows off your personality can take a boring, ordinary bong and turn it into a super cool statement piece that will look great on the coffee table. Besides upgrading the look, glass bowls are an essential part of any water hand pipe and it can make a huge difference on your overall smoking experience. While you can find bong bowls in other types of materials such as metal, silicone, and even wood, glass smoking bowls are the most popular amongst flower enthusiasts for a reason.
Types of bong bowls
Glass weed bowls come in several different styles and choosing the right one really depends on your smoking style. Some people prefer certain styles over others, but you’ll get the job done with any bong bowl no matter the style you end up choosing. Avid smokers often have multiple glass bowls for each water bong they own so they can choose the right piece for the occasion and not have to deal with continuously cleaning the same dirty bowl over and over again (if you didn’t know, they get dirty quickly).
- One hitter bowls - Just like a normal one hitter pipe, a one hitter bowl uses the same concept and is designed to hold a single hit of bud. It’s a good bowl to have in your arsenal for those one and done kind of nights.
- Handle bowls - Bowls with handles have a nice look and make removing the bong bowl easier. The little handle will keep your fingers away from anything hot and gives you a little handhold to grab.
- Martini bowl - Also referred to as a snapper bowl or funnel bowl, these martini glass shaped bong bowls are a classic style that you’ll see everywhere. The shape of martini bowls provides better airflow through the bowl and a tighter pack. This style of glass bowl often runs on the small side but is usually larger than a one hitter. Martini bowls are preferred for solo toking.
- Double bowl - If you haven’t tried one, a double bowl is a ton of fun to use. A double or even triple bowl will produce massive hits. It will take some trial and error to master the art of lighting two or three bowls at once, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll never want to go back. It’s also possible to light each bowl individually to save dry herb or have a second bowl packed and ready to go at a moment's notice.
- Party bowls - Large weed bowls that pack deep are sometimes called party bowls since they’re just what you need for passing around at a party. These glass bowls hold a lot of flower so you won’t have to grind and repack a bowl mid-smoke sesh. There will come a time when you want a deeper bowl, so most people have at least one party bowl in their collection.
Are all bong bowls the same?
Just because they look similar, doesn’t mean that all bong bowls are the same. One of the major differences between different glass bowls is the joint size. This absolutely needs to be the same as your glass bong’s joint size or it won’t fit and you won’t be able to use it or you’ll need to get a bong adapter. Other differences besides the obvious artistic designs, glass techniques, and colors used are:
- Joint size - Joint size is the most important thing to look at when choosing a glass bowl. The colors, bowl depth, or style won’t matter if the bowl doesn’t fit like it should. Bowl joint sizes are measured in millimeters with 14mm and 18mm being the most common sizes. There are also some glass bongs that have a small, 10mm joint. In order to be compatible, the joint of the bong needs to match the bowl joint size. Having the same joint size is essential for airflow between the bowl and the downstem to work properly. If you ever happen to come across a one-of-a-kind glass bowl that you can’t stop thinking about but it’s not the right joint size, getting a bong adapter is also an option. Bong adapters slip right into the joint between the bong and bowl to change the joint size and make the two compatible.
- Joint type - There are two types of bong bowl joints, male or female. Before purchasing a glass bowl, figure out what size and joint type your water pipe has. You will need to get the opposite joint type in order to fit properly. If the bowl fits within the bong joint, you’ll need a male bowl. Male glass bowls and female bong joints are the most common style. If the glass bowl fits over the joint, your bowl will need to have a female joint. Along with joint size, this is the other aspect of a bong bowl that you need to get right in order for it to fit and work properly in your setup.
- Bowl depth - Another important factor to consider is the depth of the bong bowl. If you seem to constantly have to empty out and repack your bowl, then you should definitely start looking for one that’s deeper. Larger, deeper glass bowls hold more dry herb and are perfect if you often pass your bong around a group of friends, that’s why it’s sometimes called a party bowl. Small or normal-sized bowls are best for solo smoke sessions so you don’t waste material. This one should really be based on your personal preferences and smoking style.
- Material - As mentioned previously, bong bowls come in a variety of heat-resistant materials. Some of the most common are silicone, wood, and metal, however high quality borosilicate glass is the most popular choice. Glass doesn’t get extremely hot to the touch plus borosilicate glass is tasteless so you can expect the smoothest, cleanest bong rips.
How do I find the right bowl for my bong?
Are you still worried about picking out the right bowl for your bong? Answer the following questions to be sure the glass bowls that you choose will be one that fits and that you’ll love:
- Figure out the joint size in millimeters and joint type (male or female) of the glass bong you’re shopping for. This step alone will narrow down your options considerably.
- What kind of material do you prefer? Do you want a portable silicone bowl, an ultra durable metal bowl, or a classic, tasteless glass bowl?
- Think about your typical smoking style. Do you normally use your bong alone or do you like to pass it around a group of friends? If you often share, try to look for a deep bowl that you won’t have to continually empty and repack.
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Lastly, look at your water bong and the color palate. Do you want a novelty bowl to express your interests or personality? Or do you have a percolator bong with all the bells and whistles and just want to get something that matches the glass color, but doesn’t draw attention away from it?
How do you smoke out of a glass bowl?
Smoking a joint or blunt is a completely different experience than smoking from a bong. It might look daunting at first since there are internal components and a bowl to worry about, but it’s really not as scary as it seems. If you aren’t proficient with using a water pipe yet, it might take a few tries to perfect the perfect bong rip that’s flavorful and the right size. To achieve this, you’ll need to learn how to properly pack and light a bong bowl. Read on for a step-by-step guide to using a glass bowl:
- The first step is to set up your bong. Fill the main chamber with water so that it covers all the percolators. Give the bong a rip to make sure that all percolators are working correctly (creating bubbles) and that no water reaches your lips. If you feel the bong water, you filled it too much and need to dump some out.
- Prep your flower by breaking it up and giving it a good grind using an herb grinder. Uniform smoking material burns the best.
- Add your ground bud to the glass weed bowl and tamp down lightly. If you pack it too tight, you’ll obstruct the airflow and it won’t perform at its best.
- Place the joint of the bowl into the bong joint so it’s resting on top.
- Light just the corner of the bowl, while you give the mouthpiece a nice, long inhale. Cornering the bowl saves material so it’s not burned up all at once and is considered a common courtesy when smoking with others.
- Remove the bowl to open up the airway so you can clear the bong. Once the glass bowl is removed, you’ll be able to quickly and easily clear the smoke that’s left inside.
- Replace the bowl and pass the water pipe to the next person. If the bowl has turned to ash, be sure that it’s not still burning before shaking it out into the trash can, packing a fresh bowl, and repeating the process.
Weed glass bowls for sale
Can you buy just a bowl for a bong?
Absolutely! Bong bowls can be very inexpensive and are a key element in your bong setup. Many bud smokers have more than one glass bowl for each of their bongs. A glass smoking bowl is usually included when you purchase a bong, however they are also sold separately just in case you lose it, accidentally break it, or simply prefer a different style or color. We offer a wide range of glass bong bowls at a variety of price points so you’ll be sure to find one that matches your bong.
How much do bong bowls cost?
Just like bongs themselves, you can come across cheap glass smoking bowls for $5 or less, but there are also heady glass bowls that are essentially original works of art that are priced well over $100 and up. Most smoking glass bowls for sale are priced between $15 and $40. While the price doesn’t always determine the quality, you’ll want to be sure that your glass bowl is made from heat-safe borosilicate glass that can withstand cycles of heating and cooling. Aside from this, the glass artist who made the piece and the complexity of the design itself can push the price up or down quite a bit.
How to clean a bong bowl
Once you’ve gotten a few reps into your glass bong, you’ll notice resin starting to build up on the inside walls. If you have a transparent or clear glass bong then you’ll notice the buildup even quicker. Most people talk about dirty bong water, but the parts that get dirtiest first are the bowl, joint, and downstem, which are essentially all the parts closest to the weed. You’ll need to clean your bong bowl regularly to have fresh tasting hits and good airflow. The cleaning process is simple. Place your glass bowl in a Ziploc bag with coarse salt and isopropyl alcohol. Give it a hard shake for at least five minutes and let it sit a while if it’s extremely dirty. When cleaning a glass bowl, pipe cleaners are your best friend. Soak a pipe cleaner in rubbing alcohol and use it to reach inside the airpath, within the bowl and joint, or any other hard to reach places.
FAQ
What are glass bowls?
A glass bowl is a piece of glass equipment used in smoking flower out of a bong. A glass bowl is placed usually into the downstem of a bong. A glass bowl is what is packed with bud, and then lit, in order to inhale the smoke.
How to clean glass bowls for bongs?
When cleaning a glass bowl, you'll want a couple of things. You can use warm water with salt to gently scrub away any abrasive material. You'll then want to grab warm water and soap to clear out any debri that may be stuck to the glass bowls.
How do I find the right bowl for my bong?
The size of a glass bowl is dependant on the joint of the bong and the downstem. A male bowl will fit into a female receptacle. Female glass bowls will fit into a male receptacle. Glass bowls typically come in two sizes, 14mm or 18mm, the size depends on how it fits into the joint of the bong.
How do you smoke out of a glass bowl?
Glass bowls are very easy to use when smoking. When using glass bowls, first fill the bowl with the herb of your choice, and place into the downstem or joint of the bong. While your mouth is on the tip of the bong, light the bowl and inhale, then release the glass bowls to clear the smoke.
