I want to buy my next bong, and I want this one to last and count for something. My main benefit in smoking with a bong is the smoke is less harsh, especially with an ice catcher, so I cough less. I really want to eliminate the coughing as much as possible, without reducing myself to baby hits or going through an arduous process to increase my lung capacity. Aside from that, things that I think my bong should have are an ice catcher and percolator of some sort. I have experience with the ice catcher reducing cough, and I've heard percolators make the smoke even less harsh, resulting in less cough. Another thing I want to take into account is the downstem. The problem with my last bong is one time I pulled out the bowl from the stem and the bowl broke off, and a little part stuck into the downstem. So I had to hold the bowl manually every time until I got a new one. I had to get a new bowl AND downstem because neither were usable anymore. I dont know much about downstemless bongs or how they work, but it sounds like it would be better. Is it the same concept of pulling the bowl out when you want to clear the chamber? Also (for obvious reasons) durability is a plus. Obviously I'm not going to get top of the line 7mm glass for under $100, but as durable as possible while still meeting my other specifications. Another thing is it has to be 16 inches or less, so it can fit in my smell-proof case. It should also be no more than four inches tall (if you lay it on its side to put it into the case). I've heard that different percolators work better or worse depending on the angle that you hold it, so for that consideration I will be holding it at a 45 degree angle. I dont need the hits to be too big as fr as chamber capacity goes, but I want some room to experiment. Lung capacity is pretty modest, so I dont hit big (sorry I cant be specific with the size of my bowls or anything) I dont know if I want to buy it online, but links are okay. Or if you could just give me an idea of what to look for in smoke shops that would probably fit my price range.
Smoke Nut ( www.smoke-nut.com ) is a pretty decent website for reliable, yet cheap water pipes. You also get a free gift with every order. Shipping is, I believe, $12.50. But any product above $99 has free shipping. I've ordered a piece from there once. They're both reliable and discreet. Check it out man! Cheers
Hello, It's good you've got a solid list of what you want. How often do you expect to clean your bong? Because that can change which type of perc you want, also, what type of drag do you prefer when taking your hits? And, are you in Canada, the United States, or elsewhere?
I'd probably want low maintenance, but I wouldn't mind sticking a pipe cleaner through the crevices after every couple sessions. I live in California. I only have experience with a mid-size bong, and it only had an ice catcher. Since my lungg capacity isnt too great, I wouldn't want to drag too hard. I don't have any other experiences to compare to, unfortunately.
I'd check out your local head shops. Most will carry standard entry level water pipes perfect for people not looking to break the bank but also get a durable piece. Ice catcher is definitely nice to have and in some cases it can be a good cheap alternative to a perc'd piece that is also easier to maintain. A little isopropyl alcohol + salt will shine any tube in minutes. Best of luck whatever you find!
I'd go with around a 12" single perc piece, tire, inline, or circ. Easy to clean, Orange Chronic or any iso cleaner will do a fine job. The drag won't be too much at all, and the perc will smooth it out. Tree percs can be cheaper, but they are much easier to break,
weed colony has these featuring honeycomb diffusers and tornado percolators. I personally recommend checking it out.