A bong is an excellent way to enjoy weed, but it’s important to know how to use one and care for it properly. Bongs are not cheap, and they can be fragile if you’re not careful. The best way to protect your investment is by keeping it in a single location, and avoiding transporting it at all unless necessary. This will keep your bong safe from bumps and drops, which can crack glass or damage the joint or hose.
The first thing you need to do is find a good bong that fits your personal style and smoking needs. If you go to a head shop or dispensary, be sure to ask an attendant or budtender for help picking out the right piece for you. They’re likely to be more than happy to share their knowledge of the various accessories and parts of a bong, as well as how they work and what happens during a smoke session.
When selecting your Bongs, look for the ones with a large mouthpiece for easy inhalation. The mouthpiece can be made out of glass, plastic, or silicone and should fit comfortably inside your lips when you’re taking a hit. A larger mouthpiece also allows for a greater volume of smoke, so you can take bigger hits.
A good bong will have a bowl, downstem, and chamber for holding your weed. The downstem is a tube that dips into the bong water and pulls the smoke through it. The water cools the smoke, which makes the hit less harsh than a straight pipe and can reduce coughing.
Many bongs have multiple water chambers that amplify the smoke filtration process, creating a much smoother smoke than a single-chamber bong. These are called multi-chamber or multi-rack bongs, and they can come in a variety of sizes, styles, and fun designs.
The ancients crafted bongs out of materials they found in nature, like gourds and bamboo. The Silk Road helped these ideas travel across different lands, and both Africa and Asia have long histories of using bongs. Empress Dowager Cixi of the Qing Dynasty even had her own custom bong crafted out of silver and jade.
Bongs aren’t just for beginners either, advanced smokers also enjoy them. When smoked correctly, a bong can deliver a big, full hit with plenty of flavor and potency. Beginners should be cautious though, as smoking a bong without a proper set up can lead to a lung-destroying coughing fit.
It’s a good idea to clean your bong after each use. Cleaning your bong regularly will prevent ash and tar from building up in the tubes and joints, and will also keep it looking fresh. It’s also a polite courtesy to clean your bong, especially if you plan on sharing it with others. A recent study from Moose Labs found that the average public toilet seat is cleaner than the average bong, so it’s worth making a habit of keeping yours as clean as possible.