Cheap Bongs
Bongs are a classic way to experience amazing dry herb sessions with smooth hits, and tasty smoke.
For millennia, some form of the water pipe has been used to cool the hits from dry herbs. Archaeological evidence of ancient bongs has been unearthed from Mesopotamia and Ancient China. The very first patent for a modern bong was filed in the USA in the 60s. Clearly, this way to consume dry herb has staying power and has stood up to the test of time.
However, modern technology has had a serious impact on how bongs are made. Now you can get a high-quality bong that feels truly incredible to use at a fraction of the price that it would have cost in the past. Cheap is no longer synonymous with bad. The days of fragile bongs that shatter after a couple of uses are long gone, now the real quality is within anyone's budget.
Cheap Bongs FAQ's
Q1: Can Bongs Go In A Dishwasher?
Dishwashers, unfortunately, aren't able to effectively clean bongs thanks to their unique shape and the type of build-up that commonly stains them. It's best to do it by hand with a little isopropyl alcohol and salt.
Q2: Can Bongs Be Used With Tobacco?
Bongs can be used with tobacco as well as a wide range of dried herbs for all kinds of aromatherapeutic purposes.
Q3: When Were Bongs Invented?
Bongs can be traced back thousands of years, so it's hard to know when exactly they were invented. However, we can be sure that they've been around for a while.
Q4: Will Vinegar Clean Bongs?
Vinegar is a great and affordable option when it comes to cleaning out the inside of your pipes. It does a great job of dissolving some stains, however more stubborn grime might need the attention of a more specialized cleaner.
Different Types Of Cheap Bongs
Tube Bongs
Tube bongs may be among the oldest designs of pipe still in use today. This type of water pipe can trace its origins back millennia! Today it is still an incredibly popular type of bong and nearly every glass brand has at least one variant in production. It's about as straightforward as you can get, and everyone, from a beginner to an expert will certainly be able to get the very most out of it.
Beaker
Beaker bongs are one of the most common and iconic bong designs. Think of nearly any pop-culture depiction of a bong, chances are it’s a beaker. Of course, classic style is only one of the upsides of this type of bong. There are many other factors that allow this classic to stand the test of time.
The broad base helps lower the center of gravity of this type of bong, making it harder to tip over, and once the reservoir is topped, this acts as a counterweight, adding another level of stability. The broader base also means a bigger reservoir for water, vastly increasing the bong's cooling and filtration abilities.
Silicone
For decades (if not centuries) one of the most common materials bongs were made out of was glass. This has a lot of upsides, it's easy to maintain, it preserves the flavor of your herb with its non-reactive nature, and it looks pretty good. However, as with everything, there are downsides and glass has a big one: It's incredibly fragile.
Thankfully, modern technology has finally provided a much more robust alternative; Silicone.
This material is specially treated to be heat resistant and 100% food-safe, so it won't ruin the flavor of your hits. On top of this, it can be made into a dizzying array of different colors and designs that glass could only dream of.
A silicone bong can be bent, crushed, folded, tossed about, and survive all of this. If you travel a lot or even if you're just clumsy, then a silicone bong is a must.
Bubbler
A bubbler is an ultra-compact bong. These neat little pieces of glass are intended to deliver all the cooling of a full-sized bong but at a fraction of the size. They have surprisingly big reservoirs, capable of some seriously impressive cooling. When you take a hit, you'll notice the distinct bubbling and popping noise, well, this is where they get their name from! If you want to enjoy a bong-smooth hit but don't have much space, then a bubbler is your best bet.
Dab Rigs
These are a specialized subset of bongs that are designed to be used with dabbing concentrates. These materials are a concentrated form of dry herb and come in three forms, each with increasing potency.
Oil is the least potent and most vicious of the three, it is then followed by wax which is a more crumbly and sticky variant, while shatter is a brittle and hard form. Each of these is several times more potent than its equivalent weight in herbs.
To be consumed concentrates need to be vaporized at very high temperatures. That's why most dab rigs come with a specialized peripheral called a nail. These are made out of heat-resistant materials like quartz or titanium. Once the hit is vaporized, it is pulled down the airpath and into the reservoir where it is thoroughly cooled so it goes down smooth and easy.
Why Are Cheap Bongs Still Popular?
Bongs are one of the most popular ways to smoke dry herbs. After the hand-rolled joints, they might even be the most common. They have a lasting appeal for a reason, they offer generous, but incredibly cool hits thanks to their water cooling. On top of this, once you get the hang of it, they are super convenient and easy to use. Their larger bowls are ideal for sharing or for a long session on your own.
The appeal is multiplied when the cost is lower. Some people are casual users, and thus don't need a multi-hundred dollar glass bong packed with all manner of bells and whistles. Some people are on a budget, or just don't want to invest that much in a fragile piece of glass. So, it's not hard to see why cheap glass bongs have so much lasting appeal.
How to Select the Perfect Cheap Bong For You?
Bongs, in general, are pretty simple pieces of kit. After all, they are essentially a tube with a bit of water in them. However, the subtle differences between different types can have a huge impact on your session.
The first thing you need to consider is the basic design of your bong. If you want something straightforward and easy to handle then a tube bong is the way to go, it offers big, fresh hits without any over-complicated design features. However, if you want something with a bit more stability and iconic appeal, then a beaker bong is the way to go. Its broad base means that it’s harder to knock over, and its bigger reservoir also helps deliver even cooler hits. If you don't have much space to spare, but you still want serious hits, then look no further than a bubbler; all the smoothness of a bong at a fraction of the size!
The next thing to consider is the material. Quality glass is the default for the industry, it is easy to maintain, nice to look at, and its non-reactive nature isn't going to interfere with the flavor of your hits. Glass blongs can come in a variety of different finishes and sizes, so if you appreciate the aesthetic side of things, then you'll be well served. However, an increasingly popular alternative to glass is silicone. This material is resilient, easy to clean, and comes in a truly staggering array of colors.
Finally, the last thing you need to consider is what material you want to use this bong with. The vast majority of bongs come with bowls, these are specifically designed to work with dry herb and can hold multiple hits-worth. However, if you want something a little more potent, then you might be interested in a dab rig. These are specially designed for use with concentrates and come with nails. This is similar to a bowl but tends to be flatter in design. They are also often made out of more heat-resistant material like Quartz so they can stand up to the extreme temperatures associated with dry herb concentrates.
How To Use Cheap Bongs?
How Does A Bong Work?
A bong is built to take advantage of some pretty simple principles; Vacuum, combustion, and convection. Combustion is how you enjoy the beneficial effects of your dry herb. In its plant form, the chemicals in the herb are inert. However, when you apply heat, they transform into a form that allows your body to absorb them. This is the combustion element, when you apply a flame to a packed bowl, you are transforming the chemicals inside it.
Vacuum is how you consume your herb. When you put your lips to the mouthpiece and inhale, you displace the air inside the bong, this creates a vacuum that drags in the air to fill itself. In a bong, the only place this air can enter through is the bowl, and this is how it pulls your hit into the bong itself.
The final principle is convection, this describes how the water cools your hit by wicking heat away from its surface area as it passes through the reservoir. These principles all work together to create an incredible smoking experience.
How To Operate Bongs?
The first thing you need to do when using a bong is to pack the bowl correctly. This is done by grinding your herb down to a medium-fine consistency. Then, take this herb and place it into the bowl, for added efficacy try to put the coarser material towards the bottom of the pack. Then, put your lips to the mouthpiece and a flame to the bowl. Inhale gradually, drawing smoke into the body of the bong. When you are ready to inhale, remove the bowl, clearing the downstem and allowing you to inhale the smoke with little draw resistance.
How To Clean Bongs?
Herb naturally exudes a certain level of resin. When heat is applied, this process is sped up greatly and can combine with the soot and smoke released to dirty the inside of your bong, staining it a gross yellow-brown color over time. Thankfully, cleaning this is simple.
First, remove the bowl and empty it out. Then empty the water too. Pour a generous amount of isopropyl alcohol into the bong, if the build-up is particularly bad, you can add dry rice or coarse salt as an abrasive. Cover the mouthpiece and joint with a stopper and shake the bong thoroughly until all the grime has been dissolved.
The bowl and downstem can be cleaned by gently soaking them in alcohol and breaking up and grime with a soft-bristled brush.
Finally, rinse out all glass items with warm water and let everything sit until it has completely dried. Make sure no residue is left before use.
Cheap Bong Parts & Accessories Guide
Bongs are generally pretty complete devices that don't need much in the way of aftermarket accessories. This is one of their many advantages. However, if you want to maintain your bong or even augment your experience, there are a range of products out there.
First and foremost, cleaning supplies are a vital accessory and your smoking kit isn't complete without at least some. The first thing you'll need is a good cleaning solution. These often come in specially designed bottles that make them easy to pour into your bong. They help break up grime and stains to keep your bong in great condition.
The next thing you'll want is some pipe cleaners. These are invaluable when it comes to cleaning out downstems and bowls, as they are capable of working themselves into narrow joints and passages.
Bowls are a vital part of your bong, and unfortunately from time to time, they can break. Thankfully there is a huge range of bowls available on the aftermarket. However, make sure that you're careful to ensure that you have the right joint size (often measures in millimeters) and type, (male or female).
Pros and Cons of Cheap Bongs
- Incredible cooling
- Glass can be brittle
- Easy to use
- Maintenance can be tricky
- Smooth and generous hits.
Who’re Cheap Bongs For?
Bongs are incredibly popular and are one of the best ways to enjoy dry herbs alone or with friends. The unique cooling power combined with generous hits means that there are a few other methods of herb consumption that can truly measure up to them. However, for a long time, a decent bong could set you back quite a bit.
Cheap bongs combine quality with affordability. These wonderful glass pieces allow anyone to afford the unique power of a bong without needing to break the bank. If you're a beginner, or simply looking to save some money, then you shouldn't need to look any further than a cheap bong.
