Most ashtrays have not changed much in 80 years. They are a glass or ceramic dish with a few notches cut in the rim. You tap your pipe, some ash goes in, some does not, you eventually dump it in the trash and try not to spill it on the way. Fine for cigarettes. Not great for bowls.
The debowler ashtray was built specifically for pipe and bong smokers who got tired of that routine. Here is how it compares to what else is out there.
What the Ashtray+ Does Differently
Before the comparisons, it helps to be specific about what the Ashtray+ actually does:
Built-in stainless steel debowler. A spike in the center of the tray that lets you press your bowl piece down to knock out ash cleanly. No tapping the rim, no ash going sideways, no residue left packed in the bowl.
Funnel design. The tray is shaped like a funnel so ash drops down into a contained compartment below the surface. It does not just sit out in the open where it can scatter or smell.
Airtight silicone lid. Seals the whole thing between sessions. Odors stay inside. The lid also doubles as a base when flipped over, so the tray sits stable and non-slip on any surface.
Removable glass base. Pop it off to empty the ash. Rinse it out. Done. No carefully tipping an open tray of ash over a trash can.
Ashtray+ vs Standard Glass Ashtray
A glass ashtray does one thing: it catches ash if you tap it over the right spot. For cigarettes that is usually enough. For pipe and bong smokers it misses everything that actually matters.
There is no debowler, so you are tapping your bowl against the rim and hoping for the best. There is no funnel, so ash sits out in the open and the smell builds up immediately. There is no lid, so between sessions the tray just sits there smelling. And emptying it requires carrying an open tray of ash across the room without spilling it.
The Ashtray+ addresses all four of those friction points. It is not a better version of a glass ashtray. It is a different category designed for a different use case.
Ashtray+ vs Houseplant Ashtray (Seth Rogen's Brand)
The Houseplant ashtray looks great. It is heavy, the finish is quality, and it takes aesthetics seriously. If you want something that looks genuinely nice on a coffee table, Houseplant is one of the better options out there.
What it does not have: a debowler, a funnel, a lid, or any kind of contained ash compartment. It is a well-designed traditional ashtray. You are still tapping your bowl on the rim, still looking at exposed ash, still smelling it between sessions.
The Ashtray+ is not as much of a statement piece visually. But it does more. For daily use, the debowler and the lid change the experience noticeably. If you want something that looks good and works the way a pipe smoker needs, the Ashtray+ in matte black fits most setups without looking out of place.
Ashtray+ vs Silicone Debowler Trays
Silicone debowler trays, the flat rubberized pads with a spike in the middle, solve the debowling problem. They are cheap, they are basically unbreakable, and they work fine for clearing a bowl.
The tradeoffs are obvious though. They are flat, so ash sits exposed on the surface. There is no lid and no odor control. Resin sticks to silicone aggressively, so they get grimy fast and are harder to clean than they look. They are functional accessories, not something you would leave out on a table.
The Ashtray+ has the debowler plus a contained ash compartment, a lid, a glass base that comes off for easy cleaning, and a design that does not look like a workshop tool.
Ashtray+ for Travel
This is where the Ashtray+ separates most clearly from everything else.
A standard glass ashtray travels badly. It is open, tips over, and smells. Silicone trays are portable but the ash stays exposed. The Houseplant tray is heavy and has no lid.
The Ashtray+ was designed to work away from home. Close the lid, put it in a bag, and the ash and smell stay inside. It fits in the Honest Carry Case alongside the Capsule or the Path Pipe. For anyone who brings their setup to a friend's place, goes camping, or keeps a car kit, the lid makes it the only logical choice.
Side by Side
| Ashtray+ | Standard Glass Ashtray | Houseplant / Seth Rogen | Silicone Debowler | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in debowler | Yes | No | No | Yes (most) |
| Contained ash compartment | Yes | No | No | No |
| Airtight lid | Yes | No | No | No |
| Odor control | Yes | No | No | No |
| Travel-friendly | Yes | No | No | Somewhat |
| Easy to empty | Yes | Moderate | Moderate | Yes |
| Design | Good | Varies | Excellent | Poor |
| Works for bowls and joints | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bowls only |
| Price | ~$35 | $10 to $30 | $45 to $60 | $10 to $20 |
Who the Ashtray+ Is For
The Ashtray+ is for pipe and bong smokers who are tired of the standard ashtray routine: tapping bowls on the rim, staring at exposed ash, smelling stale resin between sessions, and carefully dumping open trays into trash cans.
It is also built as part of the Honest setup. If you have the Capsule Water Pipe, the Path Pipe, or the Stashlight, the Ashtray+ fits the same design language and fills the one part of the session the other products do not cover.
For joint-only smokers, a rolling tray or a regular tray works fine. For pipe and bong smokers, the Ashtray+ solves real problems that a standard ashtray was never built to handle.
The Bottom Line
Standard ashtrays were designed for cigarettes. The Ashtray+ was designed for how you actually smoke: pressing a bowl down to clear it, keeping ash contained, cutting the smell between sessions, and being able to take it with you.
If you have been making do with a glass dish or a silicone pad, this is the upgrade that makes your setup feel finished.