Weed Pipes

There are so many different shapes and types of weed pipes in the world, how can you know which one is the best?

Not to mention that one shape of cannabis pipe may yield different results than another!

Shopping for the perfect pipe can be a daunting task, and many people don’t know where to start.

We’ve got all the answers to your weed pipe questions and more.

Read on to learn more about all kinds of marijuana pipes and how to pick the perfect smoking pipe for you.

What to Know Before You Buy a Marijuana Pipe

Weed pipes come in several variations. While one smoking pipe may be better for social smoking, another may be better if you are smoking for medical reasons.

These pipes are specific to weed and are not the same as a tobacco pipe. You should never attempt to use a tobacco pipe, or a pipe meant for a substance that isn’t weed, for smoking marijuana.

Pot pipes range in size, style, and variety. So before you decide to purchase pot pipes from an online pipe shop, you need to know what’s more important to you
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Some might be more decorative in nature and more difficult to use for smoking weed than a simple pipe.

You might also want to know how each type produces smoke and how it conducts heat, allowing you to use it properly.

It’s also important to know how to clean the weed pipes you plan to buy, as you may need to purchase specific pipe smoking accessories in order to clean them properly.

What Kind of Pipe do You Use for Weed?

Weed pipes typically use a bowl chamber or other large hole to hold the weed. The weed is then lit by either a lighter, blow torch, or electronic heat source.

This produces smoke, which the user inhales through a hole or tube. The user must then remove their mouth from the pipe to exhale the smoke.

Weed pipes can be made out of metal, glass, or clay. They can be made into fun shapes, or may just be left looking like a simple tube.

Some pipes, called hand pipes, are smaller in nature and are meant to be carried around in your pocket or another small vestibule.

Larger pipes, called bongs, use water to deliver smoke and are usually better left at home due to their size. Although there are mini bongs which are small versions of bongs, that can be taken places in a small carrying case.

Ready to find the best weed pipe for you? Below is a list of the major types of weed pipes.

Types of Weed Pipes

One Hitter Pipes

A one hitter pipe is a type of weed pipe that is very small. Why “one hitter?” The user can typically only get one hit from this type of pipe before they need to add more weed.

While this may seem disheartening, this does make these smoking pipes much more discreet than the larger variations.

All one hitters require a lighter in order to be used. They also require more frequent cleaning than other types of cannabis pipes because they gather residue quickly.

Grinder or Batter

A grinder or a batter is a one hitter that looks a bit like a cigarette. They are small and thin and require smoking accessories like a small metal loader, for loading with weed.

Grinders and batters can be made out of glass or metal and can sometimes come in fun shapes or designs like a baseball bat, hence the name batter.

Chillums

A chillum pipe is the most basic of one hitters. It is a tube typically made of glass that is only a step up from rolling papers. Some people call these smoking pipes “glass blunts.”

You will need a smoking tool to load a chillum. Most people choose to keep their chillum with a loading tool in a small kit that they can easily fit in a large pocket or small purse for portability.

Genius Pipe

Genius pipes are small metal pipes that look like a flash drive. They slide open to allow the user to smoke legal dry herb from a small, almost flat bowl on one end.
It’s very small, making it the most discreet of all weed pipes. The metal, however, can tarnish and may need frequent cleaning.

The cool thing about genius pipes is that they can be used to consume either flower or hash oil, giving the user lots of options.

Spoon Pipe

The next type of pipes on the list are spoon pipes, which are some of the most popular pipes for smoking weed. They are almost always recommended for beginners.

They are called spoon pipes because they have a long handle hooked to a bowl at the end and look a bit like a fat spoon. They provide the smoker with a medium flavor of whatever type of weed they have chosen to smoke.

Spoon pipes are one piece but are easier to load than one-hitters; you can load spoon pipes using your fingers. You load the bowl, also known as the hollowed-out part of the pipe, and you can get multiple hits out of this one bowl.

There are many different sizes of spoon pipes. Larger pipes have a larger weed bowl. One example is the steamroller pipe, which can allow for 10 or more hits before needing to reload.

Unlike one hitters, a spoon pipe gives users control over the smoking experience as they can plug the carb hole to stop the smoke from escaping and can choose how much they want to inhale per hit.

They can come as a glass pipe or as a clay pipe and can be found in many different colors. They can even be made in fun shapes like sherlock pipes, which look like the ones the famous character Sherlock Holmes smoked tobacco out of.
Although these pipes are based on tobacco pipes, remember that tobacco pipes and marijuana pipes are not interchangeable.

Spoon pipes are one of the best weed pipes because they are easy to transport and clean, though users do have to be a bit cautious if they purchase a glass one.
In recent years, many companies have begun making silicone pipes in the spoon pipe shape. While these still give the user all the benefits of a spoon pipe, a silicone pipe is much less delicate, making it easier to take on the go.

Water Pipes

After spoon pipes, water pipes are the next favorite pipe of weed smokers.
The point of using water pipes as a smoking device is to allow the water to cool the smoke a bit before it reaches the user’s mouth and lungs; this provides a smoother hit. Those who don’t like the harsher feeling of smoking weed from a spoon pipe or one-hitter may enjoy smoking from a water pipe.
There are two different types of water pipe, the bong, which most smokers are familiar with, and the bubbler.

Bongs

Bongs are some of the largest smoking pipes and are usually made out of glass. After a user lights the dry herbs in a bong, the smoke goes through two cooling chambers, reducing the resin content of the weed.

Bongs get dirty easily, as the remaining resin sticks to the glass. But because most of the parts of this pipe are removable, they tend to be easy to clean.
Bongs can be cheap pipes, but some of the more decorated versions (like a color changing pipe) can be quite expensive. They are large and are best left at home, as traveling with them could break the more delicate pieces.

For those who may want to modify their smoking pipe in the future, bongs are a good option because most of the parts can be easily removed and replaced by more premium versions to enhance the smoking experience. For example, a metal part can be replaced with a glass part and vice versa.

While bongs are a good weed pipe, they are recommended for advanced smokers as they do take a bit of practice to master, as timing when the bowl is lit and when to inhale can take time to learn.

Bubblers

Bubblers are glass smoking pipes that are essentially a smaller version of a bong. They only have one cooling chamber for the weed smoke, as opposed to the two chambers that a bong has. Because of this, they come in one piece (no removable parts) and are an easier smoking pipe for a beginner to use.

Bubblers lend themselves better to travel, but as a trade-off, they are more difficult to clean, and you may need to purchase some additional pipe smoking accessories like a thin brush to do so.

Most users report that bubblers provide a lighter and less noticeably smooth flavor than a bong because the weed smoke doesn’t mix with as much air or water as it does in a bong.

Vaporizers

The last category of smoking pipes is the vaporizer, which uses electricity to heat the weed and produce smoke. Because you don’t need a lighter to use a vaporizer, it’s one of the best marijuana pipes for travelers.

Unlike the other weed pipes where you smoke dry herbs, small vaporizers such as weed pens can sometimes be loaded with CBD oil, making them very discreet and easy to use in public. You also won’t need rolling paper or rolling trays, and you can just stick the pen in your pocket.

Vaporizers also come in larger versions that can produce a lot of smoke all at once, such as the Volcano. Many people prefer these for parties as they’re easy to use and provide a light flavor that’s ideal for beginners who don’t have much experience with weed.

Some studies suggest that vaporizers are one of the healthier ways to smoke weed. If you have questions about whether or not you should be smoking weed a certain way, ask a licensed health care provider for guidance in choosing a weed pipe.

Vaporizers are recommended for beginning and advanced smokers alike; the only downside is that they can be pricey. But they also can last for a long time, making them well worth the increased upfront cost.

Glass Pipes vs Metal Pipes

Most weed pipes are made out of glass or metal because these two materials withstand flame and hot smoke.

While either will work for smoking weed, glass pipes are arguably the best pipes — especially if you get one made out of high quality borosilicate glass.
Glass pipes give the user a pure flavor and don’t get dirty as easily as metal pipes. Glass pipes are also more customizable and come in many shapes and sizes.

The problem with glass pipes is that they can break, which is why users need to be careful where they set them as well as when they take their glass hand pipes with them on the go.

What’s more, cheap glass pipes are more likely to break and may need to be wrapped in bubble wrap during transport.
Despite these downsides, a high quality borosilicate glass pipe will beat a metal pipe any day. Why? Metal pipes add a metallic taste to the weed and get dirty very easily.

Which Type of Marijuana Pipe is Best?

The type of smoking pipe that is best for you will depend on your experience with weed and the time and place you plan to smoke regularly.

If you are planning to smoke weed during your break at work, you need to look for something portable like a one-hitter or a spoon pipe. Depending on how you plan to transport it, you may prefer a metal pipe over a glass pipe.

For those who want to smoke in a social setting, you will want a smoking pipe that is much larger with a deep bowl that can serve everyone. In this case, many people choose a glass bong.

Overall, if you have no idea what type of pipe to purchase, it is recommended to purchase a glass hand pipe. You can choose either a spoon or sherlock pipe shape.

What to Look for in Good Glass Weed Pipes

Have you decided to purchase glass weed pipes? Here’s what you should look for as you shop.

Type of Glass

You don’t want to spend money on a smoking pipe that breaks or gets damaged within weeks. You need to look for one that is made out of high quality glass which will last you for years.

Borosilicate glass is the best material for making pipes as it is both thick and durable.

You can purchase borosilicate glass pipes from a variety of places, but if you see one that’s particularly cheap, steer clear. User-submitted reviews found that many cheap borosilicate pipes aren’t actually pure borosilicate. As a result, they break easily.

Look at the Seller

Glass pipes that come from mass sellers like Amazon or are manufactured in places like China are more likely to be made of mixed glass or other materials that won’t last long.

In fact, many of these sellers aren’t even in the cannabis business. They’re just looking to make a quick buck by selling cheap pipes.

You should also ensure you buy from a reputable company in the cannabis industry, as these are the ones that make the best weed pipes.

You should purchase from a company that you trust: one that offers warranties or other guarantees on their products.

Style

As you learned above, there are many types of weed pipes. You can find glass pipes as spoon pipes, bongs, bubblers, and even one-hitters.

Purchase a glass smoking pipe that you will use and enjoy, whether you prefer something smaller or more travel-friendly.

Pick one that will enhance your smoking experience both in the present and in the future rather than picking the cheapest style.

How the Weed is Heated

Most glass weed pipes have a glass bowl that you use a lighter to heat.

Some glass pipes, like bongs, may have a metal bowl. While it will work fine, know that this can make smoking more dangerous as the metal piece will be hot to the touch. Because of that, use pipes with metal pieces at your own risk.

If you ever need to replace the metal bowl on your bong, you can easily remove it and insert a new piece.

How to Clean a Weed Pipe

The most important aspect of purchasing a weed pipe is knowing how to clean it. Smoking pipes have a variety of different cleaning methods; the one you choose will depend on the pipe’s material.

No matter what it’s made from, you should clean your weed pipe of old weed after each use. After several uses (or when your pipe starts to get dirty), employ one of the deep cleaning processes below.

Glass pipe

Several cleaning solutions are made specifically for use on glass hand pipes.
But if you’d rather not buy a cleaner, most pipes can be cleaned with a mixture of half hot water, half isopropyl alcohol, and a pinch of salt. Let your hand pipe soak in this solution for an hour before you rinse it out.

Take extra care to scrub out the carb hole, where residue may be hiding. You may want to purchase some smoking accessories, like a special thin brush to get the carb hole as clean as possible.

Metal Pipes

You can clean metal marijuana pipes with a store-bought cleaning solution or the homemade version mentioned above.

The only difference is that metal pipes may require more scrubbing: smoking residue sticks to metal more easily than glass.

Silicone Pipes

Silicone smoking pipes cannot be cleaned with any cleaner — most will damage the delicate material. That includes rubbing alcohol.

Rather, make your own silicone-safe cleaning solution with a mixture of hot water, dish soap, and vinegar to soak the pipe in. Allow the pipe to sit in the solution for one hour before you rinse it out.

Bongs

Bongs are harder to clean than hand pipes. That’s because they must be taken apart. Since the parts of a bong can be made of different materials (like a glass chamber and metal bowl), you may need to follow different directions for each part of the bong.

You should buy a brush specially made for cleaning a bong. This is because soaking alone will not necessarily eliminate all of the smoking residues in the pipe, so you’ll need to put in a little more work to completely clean the bong.

Final Thoughts on Weed Pipes

Overall, everyone’s smoking experience is different. Because of that, no one weed pipe will be best for everyone. It’s best to try a couple and find the weed pipe that you like the most.

It’s also worth noting that many smokers have more than one weed pipe, and you may want to do the same. want to Consider purchasing a bong for at home and a hand pipe for when you go out!

FAQ

What kind of pipe do you use for weed?

Most smokers consider the best weed pipes to be spoon pipes that are made out of high quality glass. These pipes make it easy to smoke weed and are easy to clean. Never use a pipe meant for tobacco usage as a weed pipe.

How much does a pipe for weed cost?

The cost of a pipe for weed varies widely on the type and size of pipe you choose. One-hitter (small) pipes can be purchased for as low as $8, while a high-end bong could cost you over $600.

What are the best cannabis smoking pipes?

The best cannabis smoking pipes based on the materials they are made out of in combination with user submitted reviews are:

1. Zig Zag Glass Hand Pipe
2. EYCE Silicone Spoon Hand Pipe
3. Genius Pipe
4. Cannabox Lava Lamp Bong
5. GRAV Labs Clear Mini Steamroller
6. StonerWare Piece Bubbler
7. Diamond Glass Daze Beaker Bong
8. Cannabox Cactus Bong
9. Silicone Mini Beaker Bong
10. Dr. Dabber Ghost Vaporizer

How do you smoke weed out of a hand pipe?

Here are the steps for smoking weed out of a hand pipe:

1. Grind Your Weed

Use a weed grinder to grind the weed into small bits.

2. Pack Your Weed Bowl

Use your fingers to get a pinch of the ground-up weed. Press it into the wide bowl shape on your weed pipe.

3. Place the End in Your Mouth

Put your mouth on the mouthpiece opposite the bowl.

4. Light the Bowl

Use a lighter to light the bowl, while your finger covers the carb hole. Inhale gently and remove your finger from the carb hole.

5. Exhale and Repeat

Exhale the smoke and repeat.