Quick answer: a bong gives you smoother, bigger hits because the smoke goes through water. A pipe is smaller, simpler, and goes anywhere, but the hits are hotter. A bubbler is a pipe with a little water in it, somewhere in the middle. Most people who smoke regularly end up owning a bong for home and a pipe for everywhere else.
Bong vs Pipe vs Bubbler at a Glance
| Bong | Hand Pipe | Bubbler | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water filtration | Yes, lots | No | Yes, a little |
| Hit | Big, cool, smooth | Small, warmer, harsher | Medium, fairly smooth |
| Size | Tabletop | Hand-sized | |
| Portability | Low (unless it's built for travel) | High | Medium |
| Cleaning | More work | Easy | Annoying (small and enclosed) |
| Best for | Home sessions | On the go, quick hits | People who want some filtration in a small piece |
Bongs: Pros and Cons
A bong pulls smoke down through water, which cools it and catches ash before it reaches you. (Here's why bongs need water.) The chamber holds a bigger hit than a pipe can.
Pros
- Much smoother and cooler hits. Less coughing.
- Bigger hits, so fewer of them.
- Easy to share a bowl around the table.
Cons
- Bigger and more fragile. Most aren't going anywhere.
- You have to change the water and clean it more often.
- The big hits can be a lot if you're new.
Hand Pipes: Pros and Cons
A hand pipe is a bowl, a stem, and a carb hole. No water. Simple, quick, and it fits in your pocket.
Pros
- Small, light, and easy to bring anywhere.
- Quick to pack and quick to clean.
- Smaller hits, which is good if you want to take it easy.
Cons
- Hotter, harsher smoke.
- Glass pipes break the first time they fall out of your pocket.
- They smell up your pocket or bag unless they're sealed.
Those last two are exactly why we made the Path Pipe. It's aircraft-grade aluminum so it doesn't break, has a filter chamber to cool the smoke, and a sliding cover that seals the bowl so it doesn't stink up your pocket. It comes with a lifetime warranty.
Bubblers: Pros and Cons
A bubbler is a hand pipe with a small water chamber built in. You get some of the smoothness of a bong in something you can hold in one hand.
Pros
- Smoother than a dry pipe.
- Smaller than a bong.
Cons
- Too big for a pocket and it can spill, so it's not really portable either.
- Hard to clean. The chambers are small and enclosed.
- Less water and less cooling than a real bong.
Our take: a bubbler tries to do both jobs and ends up doing neither as well. A good pipe and a bong you can actually travel with cover everything a bubbler does, and do it better.
Which One Should You Get?
- You mostly smoke at home and want smooth hits: get a bong. Browse our bongs.
- You're out and about, or you just want a quick bowl: get a hand pipe. See our hand pipes.
- You're new: start with a pipe. The hits are smaller and easier to manage.
- You want bong hits away from home: skip the bubbler and get a travel bong. Our portable water pipes are made for exactly that.
For most people, the real answer is both. A bong for the couch, a pipe for everything else.
The Capsule Water Pipe is how we solved the bong half. It packs down into itself so you can bring bong hits anywhere, and it comes apart for easy cleaning.
Capsule Water Pipe
FAQ
Does a bong get you higher than a pipe?
Not really. A bong just lets you take a bigger hit comfortably. Same flower, same amount, roughly the same high. The difference is how it feels on your throat.
Is a bong healthier than a pipe?
Smoother isn't the same as healthier. Water cools the smoke and catches ash, but it's still smoke.
What's the difference between a bong and a bowl?
The bowl is the small piece that holds the flower. A bong is the whole water pipe the bowl sits in. Pipes have a bowl built in.
Which is easier to clean?
A pipe, by a lot. For the bong, here's how to clean a bong in about 10 minutes.