In This Article
Why You Can Trust American Marijuana
What is a Glass Bong?
Types of Glass Bongs
Percolator Bongs
Beaker Base Bongs
Straight Tube Bongs
Honeycomb Bongs
Ice Bongs
Top 5 Best Glass Bong Brands
Stundenglass Gravity Infuser
Smoke Cartel LA Pipes Showerhead Perc Beaker Bong
The Pandora Inception Cube Capsule with Inline Perc
Glasscity Beaker Ice Bong
Envy Glass Straight Tube with Pop Rocks Perc
Pulsar Multi Perc Fat Can Water Pipe
Final Thoughts
Glass Bong FAQs
Why You Can Trust American Marijuana
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What is a Glass Bong?
Water pipes have been used for centuries as one of the principal methods of smoking marijuana. Designed to draw the smoke through a water chamber, where it’s filtered and cooled before it reaches the lungs, the result is a smoother, purer hit that preserves the terp-rich taste of the plant without burning the back of the throat.
Modern glass bongs often have additional design features intended to enhance the smoking experience and are usually made from scientific-grade borosilicate glass. Also known as pyrex, this specially-treated material won’t leach its flavor into your smoke and boasts thermal expansion properties, meaning it’s stronger than regular glass and doesn’t expand and contract a lot when repeatedly heated and cooled.
Unlike many acrylic, ceramic, or silicone bongs, a good quality glass bong can last a lifetime. Still, they’re not unbreakable. Glass feels good in the hands and looks good on a coffee table, but what you gain in aesthetics you lose in durability. Make sure to pick the right type of bong for your own needs.
Types of Glass Bongs
Ultimately, the dimensions of a bong determine its ability to pull smoke through the water chamber and up to the mouthpiece. The shape, size, and height of the bowl and stem will dictate the flow of smoke and air. On top of that, many models feature percolators or recycler lines to further purify the smoke.
Here are some of the most common types of glass bongs available:
Percolator Bongs
Percolator bongs come in various designs — from basic diffused downstem devices to pipes with visually arresting inline percs. Most use a filtration method similar to that of a showerhead or an auto-drip coffee machine, forcing the smoke through holes or slits before it reaches the mouthpiece, resulting in a purer, cooler, and more satisfying hit.
Beaker Base Bongs
This conical design features a wide base that narrows into a tube-shaped neck, similar to the flasks you’ll find in a laboratory. The shape combined with the weight of the water makes beaker bongs extremely stable. Furthermore, a larger chamber provides a wider surface area for diffusion, enhancing the filtration and cooling process.
Straight Tube Bongs
As their name suggests, these no-fuss water pipes consist of a vertical tube with a bowl and a downstem. A classic but durable design, some variations may come with or without a carb hole or feature additional stability or filtration features.
Honeycomb Bongs
These perc pipes contain special glass discs stacked inside the bong — usually the straight tube variety — which features dozens of tiny holes in a honeycomb pattern. This provides an extra high rate of diffusion level of filtration for rips of unparalleled refinement.
Ice Bongs
Ice bongs feature little ice notches (also known as ice catchers) above the chamber. These are designed to catch and hold ice cubes. Doubling as a splashguard and cooling method, this simple modification freezes the smoke as it swirls around the ice, taking the edge off those harsher hits.
Top 5 Best Glass Bong Brands
Our Top Pick
Stündenglass Gravity Infuser
Quality 100%
Effectiveness 100%
Pricing 100%
Customer Service 100%
Transparency & Accuracy 100%
- Attractive glass design
- 360-degree rotation
- Disassembles for easy cleaning
Product Specifications:
- Built-in percolation system allows for cooled smoke
- Contact-less consumption
- 10-year warranty
Stundenglass has made a name for itself with its glass gravity infuser. Compatible with Mixology, Culinary, Hookah, and Aromatherapy, this glass bong is easy to maintain and simple to clean.
It’s made using a 360° rotating glass infuser. This allows cascading water to activate kinetic motion. Such technology displaces the water and allows for a stronger and cooler hit. For this reason, we consider this the best bong on our list.
Admittedly, it isn’t cheap, coming in at $599.95. However, each purchase comes with a 10-year warranty, ensuring a single purchase will bring over a decade of high times.
Best Percolator
Smoke Cartel: LA Pipes Showerhead Perc Beaker Bong
Quality 100%
Effectiveness 100%
Price 100%
Customer Service 100%
Transparency & Accuracy 100%
Product Specifications:
- 14” tall iconic straight tube design
- Multiple perks for extra purity
- High-quality craftsmanship for less than $100
Standing at an impressive 14” tall, this American-made and sophisticated straight-tube bong from LA Pipes (formerly UPC) is one of the best value home models on the market.
Featuring a double showerhead perc and removable diffused downstem for unrivaled triple filtration rates, this durable boro glass bong costs less than $100. It also has a built-in pinch for ultra icy bong rips. Providing a super smooth smoking experience for a fraction of the price, this functional and affordable scientific model gets our number 1 spot.
Best Aesthetic
The Pandora Inception Cube Capsule with Inline Perc
Quality 100%
Effectiveness 100%
Price 100%
Customer Service 100%
Transparency & Accuracy 100%
- Colored glass accents and a one-of-a-kind ‘tube and cube’ design make it the centerpiece of any room
- Multiple layers of water filtration deliver massive rips every time
- Inline perc works seamlessly with the innovative design
Product Specifications:
- 5” tall durable design
- Innovative ‘inception’ style bong work with striking color accents
- Effective inline perk
This exquisite piece of state-of-the-art glasswork pairs fantastic filtration with pure aesthetic beauty in a water pipe that takes full advantage of modern engineering advancements.
Eye-catching and dependable, it’s made entirely from high-quality boro glass. This is subtly tinted in the color of your choice and features an innovative ‘inception cube’ design. This gives it a sci-fi smoking device a quality that’s totally out of this world.
Furthermore, the bong’s accompanying inline perc works to help cool the smoke before it ever reaches your lips, and despite its complex construction, it’s easy to use and maintain.
Best On-The-Go
Glasscity Beaker Ice Bong
Quality 100%
Effectiveness 95%
Price 95%
Customer Service 100%
Transparency & Accuracy 100%
- Classic beaker base for wide water diffusion
- Portable size makes it perfect for travel
- Multiple ice catchers for the coolest refreshing rips
Product Specifications:
- 10” size easily fits inside a backpack
- Multiple ice notches – perfect for summer smoking
- Made from thick, borosilicate glass
A solid and stylish piece of compact glassware, the Glass City Beaker Ice Bong is one of the cheapest and most reliable smaller models on the market. Featuring a roomy beaker base for maximum diffusion, submerged slits in the diffuser downstem, and three ice notches that enable users to pop a few cubes in for an extra cool inhale.
This handy ice bong is made from thick heat-resistant borosilicate glass, making it extra durable, and perfectly designed to deliver smooth and frosty rips on the go.
Best Coloring
Envy Glass Straight Tube with Pop Rocks Perc
Quality 100%
Effectiveness 95%
Price 95%
Customer Service 100%
Transparency & Accuracy 100%
- Available in multiple eye-catching color accents
- Big and beautiful with thick Boro Schott tubing
- Textured pop rocks glass mouthpiece and stemline perc for a wonderfully unique smoking experience
Product Specifications:
- 17” tall and designed with thick Boro Schott glass.
- Innovative pop-rock perc and mouthpiece
- Customizable color options are available
Want to impress? Look no further than this unusual straight tube bong from Envy Glass. Fritted colored accents give this glass pipe a striking appeal, and its intricately designed perc and mouthpiece feature a textured pop rocks glasswork design.
Marvel as smoke almost crackles through the craftsmanship, safe in the knowledge that its sophisticated stemline puck diffused perc is custom-built with buttery hits in mind.
Best Honeycomb
Pulsar Multi Perc Fat Can Water Pipe
Quality 95%
Effectiveness 95%
Price 100%
Customer Service 100%
Transparency & Accuracy 100%
- An advanced filtration system featuring double-honeycomb and turbine-style percolators
- Durable boro glass construction and double-layered based for added stability
- High-quality craftsmanship from a reliable scientific brand
Product Specifications:
- Thick and chunky 17” straight tube design with a wide stable base
- Double inverted showerhead and honeycomb disc
- High-quality manufacturing and materials
Pulsar prides itself on providing scientific ingenuity at an affordable price tag, and its Multi Perc Fat Can Water Pipe is the prime example. This is the Rolls Royce of home water pipes. It’s packed with premium features like its stacked double-honeycomb and turbine-style percolators, ice pinch, and thick and sturdy straight tube design.
An imposing but innovative piece of equipment, the Pulsar Multi Perc Fat Can Water Pipe delivers an unbelievably rich flavor.
Final Thoughts
Glass bongs have numerous benefits over other methods of consuming cannabis, rewarding users with a cooler, tastier, and smoother smoking experience. Easily one of the most effective ways to intensify the flavor and effects of marijuana, with careful use and maintenance, a high-quality glass bong can last a lifetime.
So why not invest in one today and intensify your smoking experience for years to come?
Glass Bong FAQs
Knowing how often to clean your bong will depend on your consumption level. Moderate-heavy users should replace their bong water daily and clean the device every week, but for less regular consumers, a thorough soak and scrub every two to three weeks should prove sufficient.
Bongs can clog up quickly, but glass bongs are simple and easy to clean and maintain. First, is important to separate all removable pieces, and rinse in hot water, using pipe cleaners to remove any stubborn residue.
Next, fill the bowl with 99% isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt, and leave for five minutes. Then, simply rinse with soap and warm water. Separate pieces should also be soaked in alcohol and rinsed thoroughly.
If you prefer to avoid isopropyl alcohol altogether, you can also use lemon juice and boiling water to achieve a similar effect. Mix and pour into the bong, wait five minutes, then rinse the bong off with warm water. Vinegar and coarse salt can also be used as an effective pipe cleaning mixture.