How to Choose Between Plastic, Glass and the Best Silicone Bongs?

Selecting the best cannabis accessory these days is like finding a needle in a haystack. The options presented to consumers are abundant and confusing at times. In this article, Loud will break down the pros and cons of various water pipes, and explain why you might want to go with a silicone bong next time you’re in the market for a weed pipe.

The first bong I ever purchased was from a head shop off of Thayer Street in Providence, Rhode Island about 24 years ago. It was a red plastic 1-foot bong made by Graffix. At the time there were many options for an 18-year-old me. I remember almost being kicked out of the store for referring to the products as “bongs” instead of water pipes. Lucky for everyone, things have changed and the industry has grown significantly.

The red plastic Graffix bong did serve me well in my formative years. However, the plastic eventually eroded and cracked from overuse. Makes me wonder what kind of plastic molecules we were inhaling along with our weed?

Fortunately, cannabis companies have taken steps to improve the quality of smoking accessories. Our friends at Hydroponique in Maine have developed a medical-grade silicone water pipe that is quite amazing to partake in. Silicone bongs have some noteworthy attributes.

Why Silicone Bongs are Great?

• Silicone bongs are virtually indestructible and can be made from hypoallergenic medical grade silicone
• They are also easier to clean than glass and plastic alternatives. Throw a silicone bong in the dishwasher and you’re prepared to have a fresh session. No special cleaning solutions needed
• Take your silicone bong on a road trip and forgo any worries about it shattering in the backseat
• Silicone bongs are an affordable alternative to glass bongs and come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes

Selecting the Best Type of Bong

Water pipes are an excellent way to consume weed. The water is a natural cooling mechanism for the smoke which allows for a smooth hit each time. Overuse of a standard pipe, bowl, and joints can be harsh on the throat and leave you hoarse. Not to mention the lighter butane you’re inhaling along with the herb from a bowl if you’re not using a hemp wick.

Like most of our readers, we are well versed in the fine arts of water pipe usage. However, we are not medical experts, so don’t take any of our health claims as gospel. Check with a medical professional about anything health-related.

With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get ready to dive in and explore the world of plastic water pipes, glass bongs, and the best silicone bongs you can find.

Plastic Bongs

First up let’s briefly discuss plastic bongs. I won’t spend too much time on these because I don’t endorse them.

Plastic bongs are abundant and available everywhere, from your local herb head shop to 7-Eleven. They are very affordable and accessible and probably should only be used in a pinch. Although, I’d probably recommend smoking from an apple first.

The accessibility and affordability are probably the main pros of plastic bongs. Unfortunately, that is about all the benefits we can find.

As for cons, plastic bongs are super unhealthy for continued use! Imagine the carcinogenic plastic molecules continually breaking down and being caught in each hit of herb inhaled in your lungs. Not great.

The other downside is there is hardly any regulation on manufacturers of these cheap products. Many are made and exported from Asian countries without much oversight or care for quality.

You get what you pay for with plastic gas station bongs.

Glass Bongs

Glass bongs are an excellent way to consume your herb. They are smooth and safer than plastic bongs. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. For the most part, they are radical and look cool!

But Loud News Net is never pretentious. We are about practicality and reality. Glass bongs are dope but they aren’t the holy grail of smoking devices. Not sure if anything is but we are just going to present facts.

Before purchasing a glass bong you need to consider all the factors. First, the cost. Start saving your duckets if you think you’re hitting up the smoke shop with a couple of Andrew Jackson’s and walking out with a 3-foot glass water pipe. Quality glass water pipes are expensive and even on the smaller side, you’re looking at $50 to $100 for anything decent.

The other consideration for glass bongs is durability. We aren’t scientists, but can confirm that glass is fragile. Glass bongs can chip from dropping ice cubes in too hard. They can shatter when your cat knocks them over. I’ve even seen them shatter when placed too aggressively on a tile floor.

And guess what, you’re not only cleaning up shattered glass, you will be cleaning up smelly bong water-covered shattered glass. Not so much fun.

The other downside is cleaning. Depending on the pipe, there could be many nooks and crannies that will be challenging to clean. Even with alcohol and a salt-based rinse, there are bound to be areas you will need to get at with pipe cleaners. As experienced herb heads know, this is not always easy and is time-consuming. Some glass can go in the dishwasher, but not all pipes will fit and you run the risk of breaking them.

Overall, I can’t diss glass water pipes too hard. They are fun, but make sure you have the right environment to keep accidents from happening before shelling out a few hundred on your dream glass piece.

Silicone Bongs

Silicone bongs have been on the market for a few years and are a very refreshing way to consume your bud. There are a few manufacturers of these water pipes but how can you find the best silicone bong?

Fortunately, we’ve connected with Hydroponique who is a silicone bong company out of the great state of Maine. In 2016, Maine legalized recreational cannabis use for adults over 21. It has taken some time to implement the changes but recreational dispensaries have started to open state-wide. As fellow New Englanders, we wanted to give their product a spin and provide a review of what we learned.

We like Hyrdoponique because the product is made in the USA and is diligently focused on safety and quality. Like plastic bongs, many competitors in the silicone bong space are from unregulated Asian countries where regulation and oversight of smoking devices are limited. Safety is one of the most important characteristics of anyone we partner with. The silicone used by Hydroponique is medical grade and won’t give off harmful carcinogens like plastic bongs.

Silicone water pipes have many positive attributes. Hydroponique’s silicone bong provides a smooth and potent hit. The quality of this product is obvious and durability is not an issue. They were also astute enough to include a suction base that allows for the water pipe to remain sturdy to any surface when not in use (in case you have clumsy cats…or roommates).

The water pipe also has a built-in peace sign-shaped ice catcher halfway up the tube. This is perfect for cooling off your herb smoke. It also is key for preventing bong water backsplash – no one needs that.

One of the best features of Hydroponique’s silicone bongs is that it’s 100% dishwasher-safe. I love this. It’s a great way to keep the piece clean. Nothing is worse than putting fresh cannabis buds in a resin-coated slide. A waste of good bud, and offensive if you ask me.

Finally, Hydroponique’s silicone bongs are very affordable at $39.99 and come in a variety of colors. They ship anywhere in the US for free so check them out no matter your location.