With marijuana laws relaxing across the country, smokers can begin to explore different ways of smoking their favorite herb. One method that’s been around for a while but has spiked in popularity is the use of glass pipes.
These handy devices offer a simple smoking experience, with many glass pipe users delighted with the cooling impact the glass material has on smoke.
Given their rise in popularity, we decided to put together this comprehensive guide to glass pipes. Below, you can discover what they are, where to buy them, why people use them, and how to care for and maintain them.
If you have any questions while reading the guide or if you’d like to buy a glass pipe, get in touch or head here to view our range.
What Are Glass Smoking Pipes?
Glass pipes are simply modern versions of one of the oldest methods of smoking: the pipe. In their infancy, pipes were made of wood and could have long stems with bowls for your herb.
We’ve come a long way since then, and glass, it has been found, makes for a great material for smoking cannabis. We discuss the benefits of using a glass pipe, but in short, it offers a more traditional, smoother smoking experience, and it’s one preferred by many a toker.
The Anatomy Of A Glass Smoking Pipe
Though they come in different shapes, sizes and designs, a glass pipe has a very simple and consistent construction. They’re often made up of four parts:
- Bowl - the space where you add your herb. There should be a hole at the base for the smoke to travel through, which you may need to cover with a gauze screen to stop weed from falling in.
- Chamber - the longer part of the pipe which the smoke travels along.
- Carb - often next to the bowl, a carb is a small hole in the side of the pipe which you can cover to help the smoke travel.
- Mouthpiece - where you inhale!
Some varieties of glass pipes have a bubbler feature so may have a small space to add water, which helps cool and filter the smoke.
How Big Are Glass Pipes?
Glass pipes come in a range of sizes. Some of the most common are 2.5 inches or 3 inches, but it’s also common to get 5-inch glass pipes and 7-inch pipes too, as well as sizes in between.
Let’s take a look at the potential benefits of using a glass smoking pipe.
Are There Benefits To Using A Glass Pipe?
Those who smoke with a glass pipe will say that the experience is different to smoking a blunt, for example.
We discuss these differences below, but it all comes down to a matter of preference. You may love the act of skinning up a joint and the feel of a roach between your lips (who doesn’t?). But for some people, joints can be harsher on their throat, which makes a pipe an ideal alternative. Let’s look at why.
For A Cooler, Smoother Smoke
One of the main reasons why people use a glass pipe is because the material helps cool the smoke. This, in turn, makes it less harsh on your throat when you inhale. As a result, pipe users say they can take deeper pulls without getting an irritated throat.
The reason people use bubblers and bongs is because the water can help cool the smoke too. You can even get versions that take ice cubes for an even cooler and smoother experience.
Arguably Cheaper
Some users of glass pipes argue that using one is cheaper than other methods of smoking. Other than buying the pipe and any gauze, you don’t need any more equipment. If smoking joints, you need to buy skins and roach material, so the investment is more regular.
This is one side of the argument. There’s another side, which we look at further below.
For The Unique Designs
One of the best things about glass pipes is that they come in a range of unique, interesting and quirky designs. Some pipes even look ornamental in how pretty they are.
For example, we have a whole range of cute glass pipes in our store. These designs are all centered on the sweeter things in life, like cute little elephants, heart-shaped pipes, roses, and our ever-popular carrot glass pipe.
They also come in a wide variety of colors and designs. Our rainbow glass pipe, for example, comes with a stylish 70s rainbow design. The designs are endless, so be sure to take a good browse around our glass pipe products.
Are There Downsides To Smoking With A Glass Pipe?
We’ve covered the positives and to give you the best information possible, it’s important to look at the other side of the argument.
The first thing to keep in mind is that a glass pipe requires some level of care and maintenance. You have to clean it after use, and you may need to buy small add-on items like gauze strips for the bowl—they cost about the same as a roach book.
Some smokers also think they get more out of their bud if they grind it up and smoke it in a spliff, but this is more of a subjective assessment. If you use a gauze strip in the bowl of your glass pipe, you can use ground-up weed in that rather than burning the bud, though be careful in case any bits drop through!
What Features Do Glass Pipes Have?
Glass pipes come with a nice variety of features. As we’ve seen above, the designs can be unique and quirky, but you can also get pipes with other interesting features which may catch your eye. Here’s a breakdown
- Color changing - some glass pipes can change color with use, which can jazz up the experience
- Glow in the dark - if you like to smoke outside in the evening times, you won’t misplace your pipe with these designs that glow in the dark.
- Bubblers - if you want an even cooler and smoother smoking experience, you can get some glass pipes with bubblers. Simply add a bit of water and enjoy the bubbly filtration.
- Double bowls - if you want to combine different strains of weed, you can buy glass pipes with two bowls. You might need to get a friend to help you light it though!
New features are coming to market all of the time so it’s well worth having a shop around every once in a while.
Is There A Difference Between A Glass Pipe And Bongs And Bubblers?
The biggest difference between a glass pipe and bongs and bubblers is the lack of water in a pipe.
Glass pipes follow a simple design, with a bowl and chamber. These small smoking tools don’t have the need nor the space for a water chamber too, though you can get versions with bubblers as we’ve mentioned above. With pipes, you simply light the herb and inhale.
Glass pipes do share similarities with bongs, however. You still use a mouthpiece to inhale, and it has a bowl to pack the weed into as well.
How To Clean Glass Pipes
If you want to get the most out of your glass pipe, it’s important to keep on top of maintenance. If you use your pipe every day, it will quickly accumulate stains, grime and resin on the inside of the pipe. This may well spoil its lovely design, but it’s also unhygienic to use a dirty pipe, and it can make your hits more unpleasant and harsher.
Let’s take a look at what you can use to clean a pipe, before going over the recommended cleaning process.
What Can You Use To Clean Glass Pipes
One of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll need is a pipe brush cleaner. This can help you get at those hard-to-reach places on the inside of the pipe. Some other things you can use include:
- Boiling water
- Cotton swabs
- Rubbing alcohol
- Vinegar
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Salt
Cleaning Your Glass Smoking Pipe: A Step-By-Step Guide
There are different methods of cleaning your glass pipe. Much depends on the materials you have available. Let’s take you through a few methods:
- Boiling water - one of the simplest and easiest ways to clean your pipe is to place it in boiling water for 20-30 minutes. Rather than boil the kettle and leave it in that water, it’s more effective to place it in a pan on the hob and leave it in there. The bubbles will help clear any sticky residue and leave the glass sparkly and clean. Then use a cotton swab or pipe cleaner to remove the remaining resin.
- The bag method - another approach you can take is to soak your glass pipe in a sealable plastic bag with either alcohol, vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. You should also put salt in there too which will act as an abrasive and loosen up the sticky residue on the pipe.You only need about 1 teaspoon of salt. You can shake the bag about and leave it overnight. Give it a good rinse in the morning and it should be good as new.
How Much Are Glass Pipes?
Glass pipes come in a range of different sizes and designs. As a rule, the bigger the pipe, the more expensive it is. Likewise, more elaborately designed pipes may cost more money.
Taking the Stoned Genie store as an example, our cheapest glass hand pipe is priced at just $2.99 with our most expensive individual pipe being $14.99.
It’s also possible to buy bundles and sets of glass pipes, so if you’re prone to dropping and smashing glass, a bulk purchase may be a better choice.
Where To Buy Glass Pipes
Now you’ve learned all about glass pipes you might want to try one out. If so, you’re already in the right place.
Here at Stoned Genie, we sell a wide range of glass pipes, featuring all different designs and features.
We offer swift shipping on all products and free returns. And if you have any questions before buying your new pipe, you can reach out to us for free. We’re always happy to share our knowledge and insights to help you get the very best product for your needs.
Click here to check out our glass pipes.
Key Takeaways On Glass Weed Pipes
- Glass pipes are a great and cheap alternative to smoking joints. They’re simple to use and can be less harsh on your throat
- Make sure you keep your glass pipe clean. You can use simple methods like boiling water and cotton swabs to keep it sparkling.
- Glass pipes come in a range of designs as well as having lots of different features, like the ability to change colour and double bowls for smoking multiple strains.