What Is A Water Pipe?
Water pipes are without a doubt the most iconic and loved smoking devices because they use a water filtration system to cool down the smoke for smoother draws. Making them a favorite among smokers for a long time. They are also visually stunning and have appeared in numerous films and tv shows. But water pipes aren't new. They've been around for centuries. Some of the oldest beakers pre-date American history and were used in ancient Africa, Russia, and China. Today, they're becoming more advanced, stylish, and easy to use as they meet modern design standards.
Although, if you're a newcomer to the world of water pipes, choosing a beaker can seem daunting. So let's go over a few things to consider when you're looking through vapor.com's water pipe collection.
What To Consider When Buying A Water Pipe
Water pipes are made with different types of materials and come in many designs. So knowing the differences of each one can help you pick the right one when you are buying a water pipe.
The most popular material used to make a beaker is glass. Specifically borosilicate glass, and for a good reason. While they are pricey, borosilicate glass doesn't affect the flavors of your dry herb and due to that, delivers the purest flavor possible. A robust glass beaker that offers optimal filtration is the K. Haring Water Pipe. It's made from borosilicate glass, features an ice catcher & splashguard, and has a 7-slit showerhead percolator to deliver cool, smooth smoke.
The second most popular material water pipes are made from is silicone, which is used by EYCE to create vibrant and durable water pipes. Not only will you love the price tag, but these pieces are strong and durable, so they're hard to break. And if you plan to do some traveling, a silicone water pipe is your best option.
Beakers also come in different designs, so here are the most common ones:
- Straight tube: as the name suggests, this water pipe is literally a straight beaker. This is great because it's easy to clean, and the simple style makes it great for newcomers.
- Beaker: this is a classic water pipe with a wide base. The two advantages this beaker has is the ability to hold more water and smoke in the base for larger and smoother vapor draws.
- Multi-Chamber: also known as a recycler water pipe, these glass beakers feature multiple chambers for the smoke to travel through before you inhale it. So your hits are smoother and cooler.
- Percolators: also known as "Perc," this type of water pipe forces the smoke through several holes to diffuse the smoke for smoother, cooler, less harsh vapor draws.
As you may have noticed, every design has its benefits. Borosilicate glass doesn't affect the taste of your smoke and is robust but has its limits, so if you're clumsy, acrylic is a good alternative. If you want more filtration, we recommend a water pipe that has percolators and multiple chambers. Or if you want something that's beginner-friendly, you can't go wrong with a straight tube beaker.
How Do Water Pipes Work?
Glass beakers are so versatile and allow users to smoke anything from dry herbs to concentrates. To start using your water pipe, simply pack the beaker’s bowl with your smoking materials. Then place your lips on the mouthpiece, ignite your flame, heat your dry herbs or concentrates and inhale. The smoke will travel through the downstem or percolator into the water chamber to diffuse the hot smoke and deliver that smooth, cool draw users have come to love.
How To Clean Your Water Pipe
Keeping your water pipe clean ensures your herb’s flavors will flourish and last for years. The process to clean your beaker is also relatively simple. So check out our comprehensive water pipe cleaning guide for a step-by-step process.
A few cleaning items you will need include a solvent (isopropyl alcohol) to break down all the gunk and sticky substances, an exfoliant (coarse salt) to speed up the cleaning process, and water (distilled) to rinse and refill your glass pipe.
We also offer glass cleaning supplies that feature everything you need to help you keep your water pipe brand new.