Water pipes help make the smoking experience smoother and cooler. If you’re purchasing a new water pipe for the first time, replacing an old one, or merely expanding your collection of smoking accessories, choosing the proper item can be challenging.
Like any buyer, you want the best value for your money. But surely, you also want one that fits your personality and style. Good thing there are online smoke shops, like Daily High Club Bongs and others, that offer a wide array of water pipes and smoking equipment.
The choices could be overwhelming, especially for a first-time buyer. To make it easier, here’s a list of tips you may want to consider before choosing a new water pipe.
- Pick Between Dry Herbs or Concentrates
Water pipes are suitable for both dry herbs and concentrates. But the kind of pipe you should purchase will depend on which one you intend to use. A bowl is required for dry legal herbs like tobacco. This usually comes with a bigger stem angled at 45 or 90 degrees.
Concentrates, on the other hand, typically involves a nail with a 90-degree angled stem. If you intend to use both, you should also buy a banger accessory so you can switch conveniently.
- Percolators are Important
Find a percolator mechanism for smoke diffusion. The burning of dry compounds may not be healthy for you. Percolators are used to keep users from inhaling significant amounts of residues. It also cools the smoker for a better hit.
Some pipes come with built-in diffusers. But you can also buy additional accessories such as an ash-catcher. When it comes to dry herbs, it’s usually a matter of personal taste as to which percolator to choose. Combustion is lesser on legal concentrates, so a smaller pipe is best for great flavor.
- Compare the Material
Pipes are now made from a variety of materials. The common ones are glass, ceramic, plastic or acrylic, and bamboo. Silicone is now also used as a material for some water pipes.
Plastic and acrylic pipes are less costly and transparent, allowing you to see the water’s consistency inside. However, they lack the aesthetic of glass, making them a less desirable choice but useful for on-the-go use.
Ceramic pipes are also less costly than glass. They are also more attractive than plastic, and they typically last longer. But they are often more difficult to clean, resulting in a shorter lifespan when used regularly. Bamboo, however, is a durable and attractive material that can be used for a long time. Silicone is also durable, and it is lightweight, making it suitable for travel.
Glass, without a doubt, is the most popular and is great for customization and accessories. However, your purpose, personal style, and requirement for longevity will all influence your preference.
- Consider the Size
When looking for a pipe, think about how you’ll use it before making a purchase. Will it be for personal use or is it meant for recreational activities?
Smaller pipes are more compact. This makes them better for traveling or carrying on the go. Larger pipes may cost you more money, but they have more potential for alteration and percolation. Smaller pipes are typically more stable, whereas larger ones have a higher risk of cracking due to their sheer scale and gravitational force.
Likewise, if you plan to take your pipe with you everywhere or move it through big crowds of people, a small one is better to minimize the risk of injury. However, if you’re expanding your smoking equipment inventory, you might prefer a larger statement item. If you intend the pipe to be a permanent fixture in your house, then go bigger!
- Take Note of the Price
The final consideration to remember is the cost. Many people are reluctant to spend a lot of money on a water pipe. If you belong in this group, you should be able to find something that fits your budget. Note that a pipe with a wide range of features and colorful patterns would be more costly than the regular.
If you are a beginner looking to purchase your first pipe, there are many less expensive products than glass. But it is also worth noting that while glass is costly, it will save you money in the long run. You can also tweak it and add new functionality as time goes by, and you can’t do the same with other materials. However, if you’re still not sure if a water pipe is indeed for you, then you can go with a cheaper non-glass material for starters.
Final Notes
Purchasing a pipe is essentially a question of preference. Hopefully, these tips have provided you with a clearer understanding of the kind of pipe you’re searching for. When you’re browsing for water pipes online, make sure to read the product description so you can take note of its material, stem angle, and other features.
