Types of Smoking Devices - Different Pieces, Bongs and Pipes

With so many different states across America legalizing or exploring cannabis, many folks are discovering smoking products for the first time. We're here to help. In this article, we'll cover different types of smoking devices, how to use them, and what the pros and cons are.

What Types of Devices Can I Smoke From?

Anyone first journeying in the world of smoking will be overwhelmed with the amount of options and pieces available. We'll give a rundown of the basic types of pipes and smoking devices. We're experts in all things smoking products, so let's go over what your options are.

Types of Pipes

Chillum

A small straight piece that is extremely portable but only allows for a few hits. Fairly straightforward, this is an very simple piece.

Dry hand pipes or spoons

A standard pipe or spoon has three key parts: bowl, mouthpiece and rush/carb. They come in all shapes and sizes.

Bubbler

A type of pipe that uses water to diffuse the smoke, making for a smoother hit. There are two types of bubblers, a one piece bubbler and bubblers with removable bowls.

One piece bubblers

One piece bubblers are often an excellent mix between the portability of a dry pipe or spoon, combined with the water diffusion offered by diffusing the smoke through water.

The Glass Bong

The water pipe or the "bong" is a water filtered chamber which diffuses the smoke downwards through a series of holes or slits cut into a percolator. These devices are bigger, but offer more diffusion and a cooler, smoother smoking experience.

Beaker Bong

A water pipe with a bottom base chamber that flares out similar to the shape of a beaker. They take a downstem which allows for diffusion through the water. Beaker bottoms often give more drag than a straight tube because of the larger amount of water.

Straight Tube

In a straight tube water pipe, the entire piece is the same diameter except for the angled opening for a downstem. Some straight tube "bongs" or water pipes allow for a downstem, some are of a stemless design.

Stemless Bongs

Water pipes of this design do not allow for a removable down stem, but have a built in stem of some sort, often leading to a perculator of some sort inside the piece. Stemless design pieces are often more durable because they don't have the moveable downstem.