Choosing a Bong Online: 6 Things To Lookout for When Buying a Bong in 2025

Bongs are a popular tool for smoking cannabis because of the unique benefits they offer.

Bongs use water to filter and cool the smoke before inhalation, resulting in smoother hits compared to other methods such as pipes and joints.

The key parts of a bong are the bowl for packing and holding your cannabis, the downstem connecting the bowl to the base, the water chamber holding the water that filters the smoke, and lastly, where you inhale from - the mouthpiece.

Modular bongs by VITAE Glass allow users to customize their experience with interchangeable parts, making them easy to clean or upgrade over time.

Bongs come in many different shapes, styles, and bong materials. 

Buying a bong online vs. a headshop offers several benefits. Firstly, you get the convenience of shopping from home at any time.

You're not limited by store hours or location. You can browse countless options on websites from many different brands, compare prices, and read customer reviews in peace.

This helps you make an informed decision without feeling rushed. Plus, with discreet packaging offered by many online retailers, privacy is maintained too.

However, there might be drawbacks, such as shipping costs or potential damages during delivery. So, always check your return policies before making your purchase. 

When shopping for a bong online, certain features can enhance your smoking experience. We're not talking about the standard things like bowls and downstems. Those are standard items that come with most bongs.

We're talking about extra cool features like percolators, ash catchers, ice catchers, bowl screens, and bong filters. If you want to take it a step further, you can consider features like digital integration and E-Rigs with laser and electronic heating units.

All of this sounds cool but be careful as things can get expensive quickly.

Start by adding a good quality perc as this will improve filtration and a more enjoyable smoke session without throat irritation. From there, you can add more bong accessories, but if cost is a factor, it's not necessary.

Selecting a bong size starts with your personal preference and usage habits.

For beginners, a smaller bong is easier to handle and clean. Mini bongs are easier to use and have fewer bong parts. This means less can go wrong, and it is easier to fix.

If you're after portability or discretion, small bongs are perfect. But remember that smaller ones might not deliver as powerful hits as larger ones.

Tall bongs offer cooler and smoother smoke due to their longer path, but the strong pull required can be challenging for newbies. If this doesn't faze you, then go big.

Before purchasing, consider how often and under what circumstances you'll use your water pipe to make the best choice for you. 

The cost of a bong can differ significantly depending on various elements. First is the material used. Glass bongs, like our custom bongs, are generally more expensive due to their durability and build quality.

Size also influences pricing. A larger bong requires more materials, which raises its cost. Complexity is another factor—modular designs that allow for customization typically have higher price tags because they offer greater flexibility and convenience.

Lastly, there is branding. Large brands such as Puffco usually charge more, not only because their products are high quality but also because their branding is premium.

To get a good deal online, compare prices across different websites before purchasing. 

Ideal for when you need a swift toke, mini bongs—as evident from their name—are smaller water pipes than standard-size bongs.

They are an excellent choice for those moments when you want a swift toke either on the move or are too lazy to load up a big bong.

However, mini bongs don't offer the same kind of smoking experience or potency as their larger counterparts. Also, they can be somewhat delicate, particularly if they are not constructed from high-quality material. 

Glass bongs are a timeless selection. Glass is the most frequently used material for bongs due to its strength, visual charm, but also for its cost-effectiveness.

Bongs made from borosilicate glass stand out due to their exceptional resistance to sudden temperature changes, which makes them an ideal option when you need to balance the temperature of the water within your bong against the heat from your lighter.

Ceramic bongs have a rich history, having been invented long before glass bongs.

The smoking experience they provide is notably smooth. However, ceramic bongs offer artistic designs but can be more fragile than glass. They're perfect if you want something unique and don't mind extra care.

Before silicone bongs came around, plastic bongs were the go-to option if you didn't want to buy glass. Affordable as they are, plastic bongs have a reputation for breaking easily. So, if you're in a fix and need a fast hit, you could try an acrylic bong for just about $10.

We wouldn't be surprised if you upgraded to a glass bong, as most plastic bong users do. A warning: a big downside of using plastic bongs is that they alter the taste of your herb. 

Despite being the new kids on the block in the bong world, silicone bongs have quickly earned a large fan base. There are a multitude of reasons why they're a hot pick.

Silicone is commonly found in cookware, so it's safe for human use. This type of silicone can endure the high temperatures that often come with bongs. A cherry on top is that it is less breakable than glass, making it ideal for taking on trips or using outside.

Furthermore, silicone bongs generally have a lower price tag than glass ones, making them ideal for beginners.

Now, this type of bong you don't find often. Wooden bongs are made from wood, typically bamboo.

The term "bong" actually originates from the Thai word "baung," a reference to a hollow, water-filled wooden pipe used for smoking. From this, we can see that crafting bongs from bamboo predates our modern glass versions.

Bamboo is a very strong and incredibly robust material. Comprising up to 70 percent silica (the same component found in borosilicate glass), a lot of the same techniques used to temper glass are used in the making of bamboo bongs. 

We generally advise against opting for metal bongs because they are notorious for negatively influencing the flavor of the herb you're smoking. They don't provide a pleasant, smooth smoking experience.

But we don't like it when you can't see what's going on inside your bong! You're left guessing the intensity of the hit you're about to take because you can't see the smoke buildup.

One positive aspect of metal bongs is that some contain a ceramic lining inside that helps keep water cold for cool filtration. 

The thickness of the glass has a significant effect on both the durability and the weight of the bong. When it comes to bongs, the thickness is measured in millimeters and ranges from around 2 millimeters on the thin end to 9 millimeters on the thicker side.

Most professionals suggest a bong between 3 and 9 millimeters, as anything thinner than that is more prone to shattering and too delicate to withstand regular usage.

With bongs, the quality of the glass refers to both its clarity and strength. The higher the quality of the glass, the clearer and more resilient it will be. Its quality is directly related to the material the glass is made of and the skill level of the person blowing it.

Most glass bongs in the United States are made of high-quality borosilicate glass. However, bongs imported from China are mostly made from much cheaper, lower-quality glass, but some do use high-quality glass too.

Higher-quality thick glass is far more durable,, so your bong will last longer and be more aesthetically appealing. 

If you're a newbie, we get it - choosing a bong online can be an overwhelming experience for you're first time. You don't know what you're doing, so you inevitably make a mistake that could cost you a lot of money.

Now you don't have to worry about that. Hopefully, this guide gives you all the basics for buying a bong online.

Remember, stick to the tried-and-tested basics of the five points we highlighted, and you won't go wrong.

If you have any questions, just send us a message using the chat box on our website.