Also known as “bubblers,” “moofs,” or simply “water pipes,” bongs are almost synonymous with cannabis consumption and one of the most practical ways to smoke marijuana flower.
Glass bongs use water to cool smoke and filter out some of the harmful carcinogens. Most bongs are designed for use with dry herb, but some bongs come with adaptor kits so you can use them for concentrates.
High-quality bong manufacturers typically use borosilicate glass, which can withstand extreme changes in temperature without breaking. Some bongs also have components made from quartz.
Although bongs come in a wide array of shapes and sizes, they share specific characteristics, including:
Some bongs also come with a carb hole that must be covered during the draw and opened to inhale the smoke.
The most basic bong consists of a straight glass tube with a flat base for stability. Straight tube bongs are ideal for fast rips, but they tip over more easily than bongs with wider bases.
Beaker and bubble base bongs tend to be more stable than straight tube bongs. These larger based bongs allow for more filtration and cooling, but they tend to draw slower.
Bent-neck bongs help to prevent used bongwater from entering your mouth when you draw.
Ice bongs have special notches to hold pieces of ice along the chamber. The ice helps to cool the water further, providing a smoother hit.
Scientific bongs use various mechanisms to provide extra filtration. However, these types of bongs typically draw slower and can be harder to clean. Scientific bongs usually come in shapes that resemble laboratory equipment.
Some examples are recyclers and percolators. Recyclers have two chambers to separate the dirty and clean water. Percolators come in a variety of forms, such as donuts, trees, eggs, discs, coils, honeycombs, and showerheads.
Glass-blowers create artistic bongs from coloured borosilicate glass, often incorporating precious metals. Artistic bongs come in almost any form imaginable and act as conversation pieces and collector’s items as well as functional bongs.
Mini-bongs can come in any of the above styles, but they offer a more portable size.
Bubblers are hybrids between a pipe and a bong. They also use water to filter the smoke, but you can carry them in your pocket like a pipe.
A high-quality glass bong can last many years when taken care of properly. You may want to store your bong when not in use. You can use salt and alcohol for weekly cleanings and a lemon/water solution to remove tough stains. Alternatively, you can purchase a commercial bong cleaner.
If you’ve ever smoked a joint, then you already know what a pre-roll is. Indeed, pre-rolls are simply pre-packaged marijuana joints. Customers who buy pre-rolls don’t have to worry about grinding buds, lining paper, and rolling a joint. With pre-rolls, all of that tedious work is already taken care of, which means you could enjoy a refreshing smoke on-demand.
Considering how convenient pre-rolls are, it’s no surprise they’ve become increasingly common in the marijuana industry. There are, however, a few things customers should consider before they buy a pre-rolled joint.
Right out of the gate, we should mention that most pre-rolls don’t contain premium-grade nugs. The majority of companies that put out pre-rolls rely heavily on trichome-rich shake rather than ground marijuana buds.
For those who aren’t aware, shake refers to plant materials that “shake off” of cannabis nugs while they’re in storage. Even though shake isn’t the result of hand grinding, it’s usually full of potent cannabinoids and terpenes. Since shake is still perfectly smokable, many manufacturers like to repurpose it in pre-rolls to avoid unnecessary waste.
Please note: there is a significant difference between shake and trim. Unlike shake, trim refers to any cannabis leaves with some traces of trichomes (e.g., sugar leaves). While good trim isn’t entirely useless, it often has a diminished trichome count versus shake.
Unsurprisingly, many cannabis purists claim pre-rolls can never match the quality of a hand-rolled joint. Since most marijuana pre-rolls contain shake or trim, critics sometimes claim they’re the equivalent of “cannabis fast food”—cheap and convenient, but low-quality.
However, the reality of this situation is a bit more complicated. Like any other product, pre-rolls are only as good as the company that’s producing them. While there are some cheaply made pre-rolls on the market, there are also plenty of fantastic pre-rolls with superb shake.
As with any other product, you have to research your company’s reputation to make an informed decision. You could also slice into one “sacrificial” pre-roll to examine whether the manufacturer uses high-quality shake or a bunch of worthless stems.
Pre-rolls are ideal for new cannabis users looking for a simple way to test recreational or medical strains. Since pre-rolls are so user-friendly, they’re an easy way for cannabis newbies to “test the waters.”
But even if you’re a pro at rolling joints, cannabis pre-rolls have a lot to offer. For instance, if you want a hassle-free way to sneak a smoke into your day, then pre-rolls might be the way to go. Plus, marijuana pre-rolls are a fantastic addition to any ganja-themed party setting.
