Selecting the ideal device can be the difference between you loving your smoking sessions and them generalizing to the rest of your day. Other common types of water pipes are bongs and bubblers, which provide smoother hits than dry pipes. Both of them filter smoke through water, but in different ways that may make one more effective for your needs than the other.
Size and Portability
Bubblers are much shorter 5-6 inches usually than bongs. These smaller sizes also make them perfect in terms of portability and smokers looking to be stealthier. The bubbler is small, and can easily be stashed into bag or even a pocket for traveling convenience.
On the other hand, bongs are much taller, typically 7-10+ inches tall, or more. The trade-off to this bigger size is that it’s less portable, but gives you larger water chambers and more advanced filtration systems. If most of your smoking is done at home, a bong might be the better option.
Filtration Quality
In terms of filtration, bongs are typically much more efficient. Its large water chambers mean less immediate filtration of the smoke—even smoother hits. Bongs often have more filtration devices such as percolators, ice catchers, and ash catchers.
An unbreakable oil burner pipe may appear to be a good option if you’re worried about your bubblers or bongs breaking, but don’t go for one; they are not like the others. Both are typically made of glass, although you can find silicone versions that are more durable.
Ease of Use and Maintenance
Bubblers tend to be more user-friendly, particularly for first-time smokers. They have a simpler design and require less setup and fewer parts to deal with. But their small size and onboard parts may actually make them harder to clean properly.
Bongs, having removable parts, can be the easier of the two to clean, even though they’re generally bigger. You can unscrew the bowl, downstem and main chamber for better cleaning. But they need to be maintained more regularly to keep them running at their best.
Smoke Volume and Hit Strength
Bongs have larger chambers and can accumulate more smoke before inhalation. Thus, it brings larger, stronger hits, which is generally favored by more seasoned smokers. That larger water volume means more cooling and filtration.
Bubblers deliver smaller, tighter hits as the design is smaller and tighter. This makes them perfect for solo sessions as well as for those who prefer more mild experiences. The smaller water chamber means the smoke doesn’t get cooled as much as in a bong, which results in slightly warmer hits.
Customization Options
Bongs can offer a large number of customization options. You can replace bowls, add new percolators or even attach ash catchers to improve your smoking experience. This adaptability lets you customize your bong to suit your exact liking.
Since bubblers are self contained, they offer less customization. Some users like it for the simplicity of what you see is what you get.
Price Considerations
So don’t be surprised if bubblers come at a lower price point than traditional bongs, as those tend to be larger and more complex devices. Budget or beginner smokers can opt for these entry-level bubblers.
Bongs can vary widely, from basic models to elaborate works of art. They tend to cost more than their smaller counterparts because of the added features and size, but many smokers believe the investment is worth it for the extra experience.
Which Should You Choose?
Both have benefits and hindrances, but ultimately it’s up to your personal preferences and your individual lifestyle:
Choose a bubbler if: You need something portable, simple, and cheap, or you’re new to water filtration devices.
Choose a Rick and morty bong if: You care about filtration quality, customization options, and don’t mind a larger size—or you smoke mainly at home.
Lotus Smoke and Gift carries quality options for both water bongs and bubblers to match your smoking preferences. Bongs, however, offer better filtration, and some prefer their portability over bubblers for some smoke sessions, so the right choice is strictly the one that better satisfies your own smoking experience.
Final Thoughts
Since both water bongs and bubblers filter smoke through water, they offer several major benefits compared to dry pipes. Your preference will depend on how you smoke, how portable you want it to be, and how intense of a hit you want to have. Regardless of which one you go for, proper care and maintenance is the key to getting the most out of your smoking device.
