If you’ve ever dabbled in the cannabis world, you’ve probably heard of the bong. But do you know how to use a bong or why you’d choose one over a pipe or pre-roll in the first place? The short answer is that, in addition to the pleasurable ritual, many people find that these classic water pipes allow for cooler, smoother, and more efficient hits than other smoking devices.
To get you up to speed, we’re going to take you on a guided tour of the bong, sharing step-by-step instructions, beginner tips, and quick cleaning guidance designed to help you feel confident about your first—or your hundredth—bong session.
Bong Basics at a Glance:
A bong is a classic water pipe for smoking cannabis, designed to filter and cool smoke through water for smoother, cleaner hits. Compared with joints or hand pipes, bongs burn flower only when you inhale, making them more efficient, potent, and less harsh on the inhale.
Available in countless styles—from glass and beaker bongs to percolator, recycler, silicone, and ice designs—each offers its own balance of cooling, flavor, and portability. Just fill with water, pack the bowl, light up, and clear the chamber for a satisfying hit. Keep it clean, change the water often, and remember: start low and go slow for the best experience.
Why Choose a Bong for Smoking Weed?
Besides being a classic item of cannabis lore, there are many benefits of using a bong to smoke weed. Because their water filtration feature cools the smoke, bongs offer a smoother inhalation experience that can be less harsh on your airways and lungs. Plus, bongs actively combust your weed when you’re inhaling, whereas joints burn continuously, so they’re many people’s go-tos when it comes to enjoying cannabis.
Then there’s the sheer variety of styles. Bongs come in a nearly limitless number of shapes, sizes, and materials, ranging from small and portable silicone devices to large glass tabletop pieces that you can display as a centerpiece. In short, bongs are as varied as we are, and a true expression of our individuality.
How Does a Bong Work? The Anatomy of Your Piece
While there are many different styles, the parts of a bong are relatively standardized. The whole idea is to draw the smoke from combusting cannabis through a water chamber to help cool and filter it before delivering it to your mouth. Here’s the parts you’ll typically find on a fully functioning bong:
- Mouthpiece: The top of the bong, where you place your lips to inhale smoke.
- Neck/Tube: The main body of the bong, which connects the mouthpiece to the water chamber. It may have a small hole called a carburetor (or “carb”), though not all bongs will feature it.
- Water Chamber/Base: Holds water to cool and filter the smoke.
- Downstem: The small pipe that directs smoke from the bowl into the water chamber.
- Bowl: The circular area that holds the ground cannabis for smoking; it’s removable to help in clearing the chamber.
How to Use a Bong: Step-By-Step
It’s not hard to learn how to use a bong, though, like all new processes, it demands a bit of patience. Here’s how to smoke a bong for safe, consistent, and enjoyable results:
- Prepare the Bong: Ensure the bong is clean, then fill the water chamber with enough liquid to cover the downstem by approximately one inch.
- Grind and Pack the Bowl: Grind your cannabis to a medium-coarse consistency to allow good airflow; avoid the temptation to overpack.
- Position Yourself and the Bong: Hold the bong steady on a flat surface and position yourself comfortably behind it. If there’s a carb on the chamber, cover it with a fingertip.
- Light the Bowl and Slowly Inhale: Keep the flame above the bowl as you gently inhale through the mouthpiece.
- Clear the Chamber: As you complete the hit, remove the bowl from the stem (or lift your finger off the carb) to finish inhaling the cooled smoke.
- Exhale and enjoy
Based on our experience, the most important thing for new bong users to understand is that bigger is not always better when it comes to inhaling. Bongs deliver powerful hits, and it’s easy to overdo it, so try a smaller hit or two first to get the hang of the technique.
Remember: You can always have more cannabis, but you can’t have less. Adhere to the golden rule to start low and go slow, and you’ll be set for a great time.
5 Tips for First-Time Bong Smokers
When you’re learning how to smoke out of a bong properly, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Relax—we’re here to help! If you’re wondering how to smoke a bong for beginners, start with these supportive tips:
- Start small: A half-filled bowl is typically more than enough.
- Stay smooth: Use freshly ground flower for smoother, more flavorful, and more even burning.
- Test the waters: Take a practice hit first to get a feel for how drawing through liquid affects the pull.
- Keep your seat: Sit down for stability when trying larger bongs.
- Hydrate your hits: Drink plenty of water between hits. Bongs deliver a potent experience, so go slow and respect your limits.
With a little preparation and patience, smoking from a bong can be an enjoyable and effective way to experience cannabis. Everyone’s comfort level is different, so listen to your body and take it at your own pace.
Different Types of Bongs for Smoking Weed
Just as we’re all a bit different, there’s seemingly no end of bong styles you can try out. Here’s a guided tour of a few of the most common:
Glass Bongs
A timeless classic, glass bongs are easy to use and clean, remaining the standard. On the downside, they need to be handled with care as glass objects are inherently breakable.
Beaker Bongs
A refinement on water bongs that feature a wider base for stability, along with a larger water chamber for better filtering action. The potential downside is that the larger, squatter shape makes them less portable, so it’s best to keep these safe at home.
Mini / Bubbler Bongs
These smoking tools aren’t dissimilar from the standard water bong, but they come in a compact and beginner-friendly format (hence “mini bong”). If you pad them carefully, they can also be acceptable travel companions.
Ice Bongs
An ice bong features an “ice catcher,” which is a shelf-like feature that holds ice cubes in the neck. The smoke travels from the bowl, through the water for filtering, and then around the ice cubes, which cool the smoke before you inhale. That said, they need to be used with care. Warm glass can break when exposed to the cold of the ice, and the extra condensation caused by the cooling process demands more frequent cleanings.
Gravity Bongs
More of a DIY-style refinement than something you’d find in a dispensary, this device relies on gravity, suction, and pressure to deliver extra-powerful hits. Prone to overheating, they can also deliver uneven results based on their homebrew nature. For these reasons, we suggest you only try them if you’re an especially experienced smoker with a high tolerance.
Percolator Bongs
This development of the standard glass bong adds more diffusion chambers. The result? Even smoother, cooler hits than before. Percolators work by breaking the smoke into smaller bubbles, increasing surface area, and cooling it further as it passes through water. This makes each inhale less harsh on the throat, which many consumers find ideal for a more comfortable experience.
Recycler Bongs
Another approach to improved filtration and cooler hits, this variation on glass bongs recirculates the smoke through two water chambers to maximize filtration and flavor, while providing an even smoother smoking experience.
Silicone Bongs
Nearly unbreakable, travel-friendly, and easy to clean, these flexible, durable, and heat-resistant bongs are made of non-toxic silicone, a synthetic polymer that’s particularly well-suited to the job. However, you need to stay on top of a cleaning regimen. While easier to clean in the short term, the silicone can absorb odors and flavors over time.
Quick Cleaning & Maintenance Guide
Knowing how to clean a bong is mandatory if you’re going to own and use one. Most importantly, clean water and regular maintenance maintain flavor and hygiene, since warm standing water is an ideal medium for bacteria. Here’s a simple process to help you perform regular bong cleaning. For a deeper dive, we recommend our How to Clean a Bong guide.
- Disassemble the bong and place it in a suitable vessel with a 1:1:1 mixture of warm water, coarse salt, and 99% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol.
- Shake the bong thoroughly, and use a soft implement (such as a worn-out toothbrush) to clean the interior.
- If necessary, perform multiple rounds of cleaning until all resin is removed.
- Allow the bong to air dry before using.
Can You Use a Bong for Other Cannabis Products?
Wondering how to smoke kief in a bong, or dabs out of a bong? We can help with that. Here are some tips on moving beyond flower.
- Kief or Hash: You can sprinkle a little on top (or between layers) of flower for an extra kick.
- Moon Rocks (aka “cannabis caviar”): These highly potent nuggets are best broken up and layered over ground cannabis.
- Concentrates/Dabs: Because they generally require a specialized dab bong or adapter, they’re not ideal for standard glass bongs.
A word of caution: With all of these products, be aware that they tend to create more residue build-up than flower products. Avoid overheating them, and be sure to clean your bong regularly.
Ready to Load Up Your Bong? Head to Mission Dispensaries
A classic device for enjoying cannabis, a bong is a simple but specialized pipe. Because it filters the smoke through water, many people find it delivers a cooler, smoother, and more pleasurable hit. And because it allows better draw control compared with hand pipes or joints, it’s also a more efficient way to enjoy your smoking session.
Ready to find the bong of your dreams? Stop by your local Mission Dispensaries location and explore the exciting world of cannabis accessories right at your fingertips.
Common Bong FAQs
How do you properly smoke a bong?
A bong works by loading a small amount of ground cannabis in the bowl, placing your mouth on the end of the pipe, and drawing in gently while passing a flame over the cannabis. Some models feature a carburetor to help you further modulate the draw.
How much weed do I use in a bong bowl?
When you’re learning how to smoke a bong, start with a small amount of cannabis—a pinch of ground flower packed lightly into the bowl is sufficient. There’s no need to overstuff it. Bongs are more efficient than a regular pipe or joint, so they tend to deliver powerful hits.
How much water do you put in a bong?
When you fill up your bong with water, the water level only needs to be slightly above the downstem, the pipe that carries cannabis smoke into the body of the bong.
How often should I change the water in my bong?
For the cleanest, safest, and most flavorful experience, it is recommended to change the water in your bong after every use. Leaving it for longer creates an ideal environment for bacteria, mold, and mildew to grow.
Do you save weed by using a bong compared to joints?
Because bongs are more efficient than joints, they can save you cannabis. Why? Bongs only combust the cannabis when you’re actively inhaling, whereas joints burn continuously until they’re expended.
