How to Use A Bong: Tips, Tricks, and More

A quintessential tool in the cannabis world, bongs have maintained their A-list status through legalization and modern technological advancements within the space. In line with joints, blunts, and pipes, bongs have been around for almost as long as people have been smoking cannabis—and they’re not going anywhere soon. Today, you can find bongs in a number of forms, colors, and artistic expressions.

But what exactly is a bong, how did they come to fruition, and what steps can you take to maintain your piece? Learn about the many different types of bongs, including gravity and percolators, deep dive into bong anatomy, and much more.

What Is a Bong?

At the simplest level, a bong—or water pipe—is a large tubular pipe meant for smoking cannabis or tobacco. As one of the oldest cannabis-smoking tools out there, the bong has earned a well-deserved place of respect in the cannabis world. While the name comes from the Thai word “baung,” the earliest bongs are believed to have originated in ancient China. Confusing the matter further, bongs are, in many regards, quite similar to hookahs or shishas, which were first used in Mughal India and the Safavid Dynasty of Persia around the 17th century.

Whatever you call it and wherever it originated, the bong is an elegant, simple, and user-friendly way to enjoy cannabis—or, in some traditions, tobacco. It’s also thought to be safer than inhaling straight smoke from a joint or pipe since the water in a bong can act as a filtering system to trap known toxins from the cannabis smoke before a hit.

Anatomy of a Bong

The hallmark feature of a bong is its long, tubular shape. The tube is sealed on the bottom and leads into a chamber, or reservoir, that holds a liquid—typically water—through which the cannabis smoke passes on its way to the mouthpiece. Some bongs have facets in the tube, sometimes called “ice pinches,” so consumers can place a few ice cubes into the tube and have their smoke cooled even further.

When used, cannabis smoke will come from the bowl, which is a small dish attached to the chamber by a stem or downstem. You can place your mouth on top of the tube opening and then inhale slowly while you light up the ground cannabis in the bowl. The suction draws the cannabis smoke down from the dish, through the stem, through the water, and then up the tube to your mouth.

A small hole in the side of the bong tube—known as a carburetor or “carb”—can be covered or uncovered to regulate the airflow through the tube, though on most bong designs you can simply lift the glass bowl from the downstem to regulate airflow.

Types of Bongs

Today, there are many different types of bongs, and they can also be made with many different materials, from glass to silicone.

What Is a Gravity Bong?

Apart from its cylindrical shape, a gravity bong is quite a different beast from a traditional bong despite its similar name. And for those who’ve been caught off-guard by the tremendous amount of smoke a gravity bong can produce, “beast” is definitely the right description.

A gravity bong consists of two containers, one inside the other. The bottom is in the form of a bowl—such as a standard water bucket—while the top is a cylindrical container with a small hole at the top and a large one at the bottom. To give you a clearer idea of what this looks like, picture a standard 16 oz plastic water bottle with the bottom half cut off—the top half of that water bottle is then placed in the bottom half of a 2-liter soda bottle. Here’s how it works:

1. The bottom container is filled with water.
2. The top one is submerged about three-quarters of the way down, with a pocket of air still maintained at the top of the bottle.
3. The water bottle’s opening is then fitted with a makeshift “bowl”—such as tin foil perforated with tiny holes.
4. Ground cannabis is placed in the bowl and lit as the top container (water bottle) is slowly drawn up and out of the water, thus drawing smoke inside it.
5. Just before the top container clears the surface of the water, the bowl is removed, and the user places their mouth at the opening.
6. The top container is pushed back down into the water, and the resulting pressure change forces the smoke into the user’s lungs.

As you might imagine, this method of smoking typically delivers an intense blast of smoke, which may or may not be to your liking. It’s worth pointing out that since the smoke doesn’t actually pass through the water, a gravity bong lacks the beneficial filtering action of a traditional model. Still, for those who desire a very intense, fast-acting high, a gravity bong may be your ticket to a more potent experience.

What Is a Percolator Bong?

Unlike a gravity bong, a percolator, or “perc,” bong can be considered a refinement of the classic style. While there are many different types of percolators, they all work on the same basic principle: They expose a greater surface area of water to the smoke, which better filters out toxins such as tar and other chemicals.

A percolator is essentially an additional chamber for your bong, and it’s usually placed within the tube. Percolators can be found in many designs, and they help filter out smoke even more by breaking up or otherwise disturbing the water so that it forms bubbles. These bubbles have a greater surface area than a single body of water, which translates to better filtration and a smoother smoking experience.

One thing to keep in mind is that because of the disrupted airflow, percolator bongs may require slightly increased effort from the person using them and may need more vigorous cleaning after use.

What Is a Recycler Bong?

Like a percolator bong, a recycler is a refinement of the basic bong format. In simple terms, a recycler is a type of two-chambered percolator that redirects the already-filtered smoke back through the water for an additional pass as the user takes a hit. As with a percolator bong, the result is better filtration and a smoother smoking experience. Similarly, those familiar with standard bongs may find the draw requires slightly more effort by comparison.

How to Use a Bong

Whatever style of bong you choose, here are the basic steps to using one:

1. Fill the chamber with water. The goal here is to cover the downstem and any percolator and/or recycler apparatus inside the tube—but do not fill the bong with so much water that drawing is a chore. Try a test draw; if the bubbling water hits your mouth, pour out a little and try again.
2. Load ground flower into the bowl, just as you would a basic pipe. If your bong has a carburetor, cover it now with a fingertip.
3. When ready, move a lit lighter or match in a circular motion just above the flower while gently inhaling. You know you’re doing it right if you hear a gentle bubbling sound coming from the bong.
4. Once inhaled, hold in the smoke for as long as you like, then gently exhale.

We recommend that you wait at least 5 – 10 minutes after your first hit before consuming any more cannabis so that you can assess the effects.

How to Clean Your Bong

While bongs are simple to operate, they still benefit from regular cleaning. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Pour the used or dirty bong water down a drain.
2. Rinse the bong’s chamber, tube, and other components with warm water to remove loose debris.
3. Use a gentle cleaning solution, such as castile soap or other biodegradable multi-purpose cleanser, and wash the bong and its components with a sponge or washcloth.
4. You can also use a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt to dissolve any stubborn resin inside your bong. Fill your bong with this solution and a bit of warm water. Vigorously shake it to loosen debris.
5. Clean hard-to-reach internal areas with pipe cleaners, brushes, or cotton swabs, especially inside constricted areas such as the downstem. You can also fill a sandwich or quart bag with isopropyl alcohol, coarse salt, a small amount of warm water, and smaller components. Seal and shake vigorously until the components are clean.
6. Rinse your bong and additional components thoroughly with warm water to ensure all residue is removed.
7. Dry your bong completely before the next use.

There’s a reason “bong water” is not a term of endearment in the cannabis community. Every few sessions, you should invest the time in a deep, full cleaning of your bong.

Shop Bongs, Accessories, and Premium Cannabis With Green Goods

Green Goods has everything you need to find the perfect bong and fill it with premium strains and flavorful buds.

As one of Maryland and Minnesota’s favorite family of dispensaries, we love introducing our customers to new and exciting ways of enjoying cannabis. If your curiosity has been piqued, we’re here to point you toward helpful resources on all things bongs, water pipes, and other traditional cannabis tools and devices.

Start at the Green Goods location nearest you, search our huge lineup of accessories, including bongs, hand pipes, dab rigs, and more, and find the perfect strains and buds to get you started. Shop in-store and say hello to our friendly and knowledgeable staff, or for extra convenience, place an online order for pickup.

If you’re ready to expand your cannabis knowledge even further, visit our cannabis blog for an in-depth look at topics surrounding the munchies, how to properly roll a joint, and other must-know information. Or, drop us a line; we’re always here to help!