Whether you're a seasoned smoker or a curious newbie, smoking with a gravity bong is a rite of passage and an excellent way to savor potent and smooth hits.
Although we have a selection of high-quality commercial gravity bongs available for sale, you can also make your own at home if you're in a DIY mood.
That's why we'll tell you everything about gravity bongs, why you need one, and how to make your own.
Let's dive right in!
What is a Gravity Bong?
Also called a geeb, a gravity bong is a smoking device used to smoke dry herbs. The basic components of a gravity bong typically include a container (often a plastic bottle or a larger water chamber) and a bowl or cap (usually made of metal, glass, or another heat-resistant material).
The operation of a gravity bong is relatively simple. The chamber is partially filled with water, while the bowl is packed with the herb of your choice.
Lighting the herb in the bowl and then slowly raising the chamber creates a vacuum effect that draws smoke into the chamber as water is displacedNicholas Entzel, extracting smoke through air pressure instead of your lungs.
Then, you can inhale a large amount of smoke which has already been extracted and has had time to cool down.
Types of Gravity Bongs
There are two main types of gravity bongs:
Bucket Gravity Bong
The bucket gravity bong is perhaps the most well-known and widely used type. It consists of a large container filled with water, often a bucket or a large bottle.
A smaller container, like a cut-off small bottle or a specially designed bowl, is affixed to the mouth of the larger container. The bowl is loaded with dry herbs, and as the larger container is raised, smoke is drawn into the chamber.
Once the chamber is full, the bowl is removed, and you inhale the concentrated smoke.
Waterfall Gravity Bong
The waterfall gravity bong operates on a slightly different principle. It consists of a single container, often a plastic bottle, with a hole near the base.
To use it, you fill the bottle with water, seal the bowl to the mouth of the bottle, and light the herb. As the herb burns, the water escapes from the hole at the base, creating a vacuum inside the bottle.
Once all the water has emptied, the vacuum draws smoke into the bottle.
To inhale, you unscrew the bowl and inhale the concentrated smoke, giving you an excellent smoke session with fully cooled-down smoke.
Benefits of Gravity Bongs
Gravity bongs take the effort out of inhaling and use the power of gravity and water to draw smoke into the chamber, producing massive hits of smoke.
Because they concentrate and collect smoke in a chamber, each hit is incredibly potent, making it perfect if you want a more substantial dose of your favorite strain.
Unlike traditional smoking methods that require deep inhales, gravity bongs deliver smoke directly into your lungs without requiring vigorous inhalation. This can be especially beneficial for individuals with sensitive lungs or respiratory conditions, as it reduces the risk of irritation.
Plus, you can buy them at your closest headshop or craft a homemade bong inexpensively at home with little more than a soda bottle and tin foil.
How Gravity Bongs Work
Gravity bongs work on a simple yet effective principle that utilizes the combination of gravity and air pressure to create a powerful inhalation experience.
As the chamber fills with smoke, it becomes denser and more concentrated. When you remove the bowl or seal, you inhale the smoke in a single, powerful hit.
How to Make a Homemade Gravity Bong
Here's how to make your own gravity bong at home, step by step:
How to Make a Bucket Bong
You'll first want to gather your materials for this DIY project. You'll need:
- A larger bottle or container
- A smaller empty plastic bottle
- Aluminum foil or a metal bowl
- A lighter
- A sharp knife or box cutter
- Duct tape (optional)
Start by cutting the bottom off the smaller plastic bottle. This will serve as the bowl piece. You can fashion a bowl from aluminum foil, shaping it and poking small holes at the bottom with a toothpick, or use a pre-made bowl.
Now, attach the bowl securely to the mouth of the smaller bottle. Then, fill the large bucket or container with water, leaving enough space for the smaller bottle to submerge without completely covering it.
Place the smaller bottle with the attached bowl into the water, ensuring it's airtight. Pack the bowl with your herb of choice and ignite the herb while slowly lifting the smaller bottle out of the water. As you lift, the chamber will fill with smoke.
Once the chamber is full, remove the bowl, place your mouth over the opening, and push the bottle back into the water while inhaling to force the smoke into your lungs.
How to Make a Waterfall Bong
Before making this DIY gravity bong, gather your materials. You'll need:
- A plastic water bottle with a screw-on bottle cap
- Aluminum foil or a metal bowl
- A lighter
- A sharp knife or scissors
Start by cutting off the bottom of the bottle. You can also make a bowl from aluminum foil or use a pre-made metal bowl.
Now, attach the bowl securely to the cap of the bottle. Then, fill the bottle with water, leaving some space at the top.
Screw the cap onto the top of the bottle, ensuring it's airtight. Get your herbs from your grinder and ignite them while slowly unscrewing the cap to let the water flow from the bottle opening. As the water flows out, the bottle will fill with smoke.
Once the bottle is full of smoke, remove the cap, place your mouth over the opening, and inhale.
If you're looking to build a DIY pipe instead of a gravity bong, be sure to check out our blog on how to make a pipe.
Why You Should Consider a Commercial Gravity Bong
While the DIY spirit might make for a fun afternoon, you should highly consider the impact of a homemade plastic water bottle bong on your lungs, especially if you use it often. While we've created this handy guide on making gravity bongs at home, Smoke Cartel does not recommend this as it may harm your health.
Instead of taking unnecessary risks with DIY gravity bongs, it's wise to consider purchasing a commercial gravity bong from trusted sources. At Smoke Cartel, we sell some of the best gravity bongs in the market that will give you smoother smoking experiences than any DIY project without the potentially dangerous side effects.
Check out the Jinni Pipe Infinity Gravity Water Pipe, The Kind Pen GravIX Gravity Bong, and the stunning Studenglass Gravity Infuser!
