Have you ever used a bong for smoking weed? It’s known as a water pipe that gives a smoother smoking experience. These devices can be dated back centuries.

Bong originates from the Thai word ‘baung’, which was a bamboo tube used for smoking hemp. Nowadays, bongs have become advanced and are available in a variety of sizes with enhanced features.

In stores, you can find bongs made up of silicone or glass. When choosing a bong, it can be difficult to decide between a silicone or glass bong. Which one of them is better to use? Let’s compare them both to find out. 

How Do Bongs work?

Bongs help in filtering and cooling smoke that comes from burning hemp. Usually, bongs consist of a small bowl that holds dried marijuana. By lighting the dried weed, it begins burning. When you inhale, the smoke passes through the water at the bottom of the bong. 

The smoke causes the water to bubble or percolate. As it bubbles, the weed vapors rise through the water and the bong’s chamber before entering your mouth and lungs. The water in the bong removes the dry heat experienced when smoking weed through a joint. 

Hence, smoking weed through a bong gives a creamy and cool experience.

Silicone Bongs

Silicone bongs are highly durable due to their damage-resistant material. The silicone material makes these bongs heat-resistant and non-reactive. Plus, they don’t contain BPA, a harmful chemical found in plastic material. 

Silicone bongs don’t break if they fall from a corner or are mishandled. This high durability makes them perfect for people who need to smoke weed outdoors. Silicone bongs can come in handy for parties as they’re resilient. 

Bongs made of silicone come at affordable prices and are usually very cheap. These come in a variety of color patterns.

Glass Bongs

In shops, glass bongs are more common compared to other bong types. They consist of better percolators as compared with silicone bongs. These are small glass structures used in glass bongs for diffusing smoke. The percolator changes smoke into tiny bubbles that rise through the water. 

However, glass bongs are fragile and can break if mishandled. Those with clumsy hands should use them with caution.

Advantages Of Silicone Bongs

• High Durability

Silicone bongs are highly resistant to wear and tear. They can’t be damaged easily, even if mishandled. These devices last for longer periods. If it falls from a corner or someone’s hands, you wouldn’t need to face the stress of cleaning a mess.

• Variety Of Color Themes 

These bongs come in a variety of colors and styles. Hence, you can choose a bong of your favorite color or theme.

• Affordability

Besides their indestructible property, their price range is low. Silicone bongs are very affordable. 

• Can Be Placed In A Dishwasher

Silicone bongs are easy to clean. Use a pipe cleaner to scrub the bong’s mouthpiece. As the bong is heat-resistant, you can toss the bong in a dishwasher after cleaning its mouthpiece. Some bongs also come with removable pieces, making it easier to clean them.

• Easier To Store And Travel

You can easily store and travel with silicone bongs. Since these bongs are made of lightweight and flexible material, you can squeeze or fold their parts to easily fit into packed travel bags. Once unpacked, a silicone bong can easily retain its shape. 

Many silicone bongs now have the feature of detachable parts. This makes such bongs convenient for storage during travel or if you have insufficient space. 

Disadvantages Of Silicone Bongs

• Limited Accessories

Unfortunately, silicone bongs come with a limited number of add-ons. They come with a limited variety of percolators, ash collectors, and ice traps. Silicone bongs offer limited options for customization.

• Reduce Flavor

Using silicone bongs for smoking weed may reduce the strong flavor found while smoking a joint. 

Poor quality silicone bongs may even cause the vapors to have a plastic-like flavor.

Advantages Of Glass Bongs

• Provide A Flavorful Experience

Unlike silicone, glass is a non-porous material. Thus, using a glass bong for smoking weed will provide 100% of the intense hemp flavor. The flavor doesn’t get affected by the number of hits you take. 

• Come In A Range Of Designs

Bongs made of glass come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The art style of glass bongs is much more noticeable when compared to silicone bongs. 

• Can Add Various Accessories

Glass bongs can be easily customized because there are various accessories available in the market. You can get ash catchers, ice traps, percolators, and even dab devices such as nails for your glass bong. They’re designed to fit perfectly into glass bongs.

Disadvantages Of Glass Bongs

• Very Fragile

Glass bongs if dropped on the ground or mishandled can break easily. This can result in a big mess and can get a person injured due to the shards of glass. Due to the fragility of glass bongs, they can’t be used while traveling. 

However, if you keep a glass bong in one safe spot and don’t move it, then it’s unlikely you’ll encounter such a problem. 

• Can’t Be Disassembled

Glass bongs don’t have detachable parts as compared to silicone bongs. Some glass bongs allow for separating only one part. This makes it hard to store glass bongs in tight spaces.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What Bongs Give A Smooth Puff?

Bongs that contain ice traps, ash catchers, and percolators give a smooth hit. These accessories filter and cool the smoke that comes from burning weed. 

• What Bong Size Is Best For Beginners?

A small bong is advised for people who have just started smoking marijuana or are using a bong for the first time. The size of small bongs ranges between 4 to 10 inches. Small bongs don’t reduce the intensity of a hit. 

• How Much Does A Glass Bong Cost?

A good bong that provides an enjoyable smoking experience can cost around $30 to $80. The price can go higher depending on a glass bong’s features.

Takeaway – Silicone VS Glass Bongs

Both silicone and glass bongs work the same way in providing a smooth and creamy smoking experience. However, both have their fair share of advantages and disadvantages. When smoking weed, a slight difference in taste is noticeable between silicone and glass bongs. 

If you’re looking for a bong that makes weed smoking better,  use a glass bong. Otherwise, you can use silicone bongs. They are indestructible and portable, making them fit for people who travel frequently.