History
The word bong originally derives from the ancient Thai word “baung”. They used it to describe a pipe which was made and cut from bamboo. In terms of the modern day language you can simply think of bongs as a smaller hookah or shisha pipe.
Function
A bong is essentially a device used to inhale either tobacco, cannabis or other smoking blends. For a bong to be fully functional you will need an air and water tight item which has a place to store your mix. It will also need a stem to connect the air and water systems. The bong will also have a little whole which can be known as a “carb”. When you are looking to fill the bong up with smoke you will need to cover the carb with your finger and then begin to inhale into the bong. This will then fill the bong with smoke. At this stage you should remove your finger from the carb and inhale the smoke that was produced.
Setting up the bong
Firstly you will need to pack out your bowl (place to put your smoking blends) and then fill the bong with water. The bowl will be placed at the end of the downstem, and when you light the bowl you should slowly inhale from the top mouthpiece while keeping the carb covered. You will begin to hear bubbling of the water and you’ll see smoke appearing in the bong chamber. Once it’s filled up with enough smoke, you simply just let go of the carb and inhale away into your lungs. Within a few seconds you’ll be able to feel the hit you’ve just taken. It is time to sit back and relax.
The different types of bongs
Like most things smoke related there are numerous types of different bongs available on the market for you to choose from. The first difference in bongs is the material in which they are made from. You can buy bongs made from glass, acrylic, ceramic and even wood. However the material in which they are made from is not the main cause of difference. It is actually the extra features of the bong which determines its uniqueness. These extra features may include ice notches or diffusers amongst many others.
Ice Bongs
Ice bongs are a particular favorite amongst many smokers due to the cooling effect of ice on the smoke which allows for the user to have a less harsh drag and therefore makes it more enjoyable. The ice bongs contain an ice notch which is a place where you can hold ice to cool the smoke entering up the stem.
Percolator Bongs
You will also come across percolator bongs; these are bongs with two chambers. A smaller chamber will be found inside the main chamber. The aim of the two chambers is to filter out the smoke at a much greater level than normal bongs meaning you will have a much more enjoyable experience. You can also go one step further and have multiple chambers which again will increase the amount of filtering and thus produce a nicer smoke.