Bong Shapes: Beaker vs. Straight Tube & Special Designs

May 22, 2023 Der Knospenzwirbler
Weed Wissen

There are basically two shapes of a standard bong: with a belly or without. Over time these have been expanded, more or less usefully, by various special designs such as multi-bulb or multi-chamber bongs. Below we explain the pros and cons of the two main types and take a quick look at the most relevant special shapes.

Beaker bongs (with a belly)

Compared to straight-tube bongs, beaker bongs hold a larger volume of water. More water always means more cooling too. So beaker bongs are especially suited to smokers who want the coolest possible smoke.
Beaker bongs have a low centre of gravity. Thanks to the large water reservoir in the lower section, they stand particularly stable.
Beaker bongs are bulkier. As described above, this has its advantages, but it can also be a problem where storage space is tight.
Beaker bongs are harder to clean. While a straight-tube bong can be cleaned fairly easily with a brush, this can become tricky, especially with a thick-bellied bong.

Straight-tube bongs

Straight-tube bongs are easy to clean. Brush in, one pass through and the grime is history.
Straight-tube bongs are the standard. Everyone knows them, everyone can handle them, they are easy to store and come in countless variations.
Straight-tube bongs are rather unstable. Especially large models of 50 cm or more easily become top-heavy, which with glass bongs can quickly lead to the premature demise of the piece.
Straight-tube bongs are a little boring. Precisely because they are the standard and everyone has seen or owned one, a run-of-the-mill straight-tube bong is hardly a prestige object.

Special shapes

Multi-bulb bongs: much the same applies as for the normal single-bulb bong, with particular attention to the tricky cleaning. The extra bulbs sometimes improve the cooling a little. Mainly a visual gain.
Double- and multi-chamber bongs: depending on the design, they roughly correspond to the beaker or straight-tube type. Double-chamber bongs are usually hard to clean, but the extra water reservoir provides considerably more cooling and they also stand out visually.
Special designs: there is a range of bongs that do not fit the format above, such as bongs in joystick form or special models from well-known makers like Bam Bam Bhole. Unfortunately we cannot cover every single one here, but most have in common that their sharp angles and the like make them very hard to clean. They are therefore more of a collector's item than a functional bong.

Sonderformen

Mehrbauchbongs: Es gilt ähnliches wie für die normale Einbauchbong, mit besonderem Augenmerk auf die komplizierte Reinigung. Durch die zusätlichen Bäuche wird die Kühlleistung manchmal etwas verbessert. Hauptsächlich optisch ein Gewinn.
Doppel- und Mehrkammerbongs: Je nach Ausführung entsprechen sie grob dem Typ der Bauch- oder Röhrenbong. Doppelkammerbongs sind meist schwierig zu reinigen, bieten aber durch den zusätzlichen Wassertank ein erhebliches Mehr an Kühlung und fallen auch optisch aus dem Rahmen.
Spezielle Formen: Es gibt eine Reihe an Bongs die sich nicht in das obige Format pressen lassen, etwa Bongs in Joystickform oder auch Sondermodelle bekannter Hersteller wie Bam Bam Bhole. Leider können wir hier nicht auf jedes einzelne Exemplar eingehen, den meisten ist aber gemein dass sie durch spitze Winkel und dergleichen kaum zu reinigen sind. Sie stellen damit eher ein Objekt für Sammler als eine Wasserpfeife dar.

Author: Der Knospenzwirbler

‘Der Knospenzwirbler’ has been part of our company for over 20 years and has witnessed several generations of cannabis culture: from the early days right through to today’s developments. His many years of practical experience and his deep understanding of products, materials and trends make his contributions particularly valuable. ‘Der Knospenzwirbler’ is a pseudonym, but behind the name lies a real person with genuine experience. His writing is insightful, easy to understand and always packed with substance rather than empty hype.