Choosing the Right Material for Your Bong: Glass, Silicone, or Acrylic?
Are you buying the bong for the first time? If yes, you just landed in the right place!
Bongs are the best smoking accessory you can invest in if you are looking to enhance your smoking experience for years to come. They can be cute and tiny, shaped like a monk or a lady, have complex designs, and so on.
Bongs also come in a variety of materials - acrylic, silicone, glass, and ceramic. All these four primary materials come with unique strengths and weaknesses, making it critical to understand each. Luck for you; we got all the juices here.
In this article, we will give a detailed comparison between glass bongs, silicon bongs, and acrylic bongs by highlighting their significant advantages and disadvantages. Ready to know which best suits your needs? Stick around!
Acrylic, Glass, and Silicone Bongs - Which One Is Best?
Glass Bongs
Without a doubt, glass bongs are a masterpiece when it comes to enhancing the smoking experience. It's no wonder that they are the most sought-after material in most head shops. So, what makes them so unique? Let's have a look at their strengths and limitations!
Strengths of Glass Bongs
Pure Flavor and Smooth Hits
There is no better feeling than using a bong that delivers the purest flavor as well as smooth hits. Glass bongs are your best choice if you relish such a feeling. Unlike other bong materials that may leave a weird taste in your mouth. Glass bongs don't alter the flavor or odor of the smoke. This, in return, allows users to enjoy smooth, flavored, potent hits.
Heat Resistant
If you are planning to use a blowing torch or an e-nail during your smoking sessions, glass bongs are your best shot. Materials like acrylic are likely to warp or melt under extreme temperatures. Glass, however, can withstand high temperatures without cracking.
Easy to Clean
With only Isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt, you can clean a glass bong in less than 5 minutes. Its nonporous nature makes cleaning much easier. In fact, all you need to do is soak it with an alcohol solution, give it a vigorous shake, and there you have it. A clean bong. Materials like acrylic and ceramic require more specialized cleaning.
Weaknesses of Glass Bong
Expensive
Glass bongs are expensive compared to other materials, such as acrylic or silicone. The price of a typical glass bong can range from $80 to $300. $300+ for multi-chamber bongs, recycler bongs, and intricate glasswork. As expensive as it is, it's worth every single penny if flavor and smooth hits are your cup of coffee.
Fragile
Like the ordinary glassware, glass bongs are pretty fragile. If you are not careful, breaking one or two components of the bong is easy. You may have to replace the entire bong if you drop it badly. If you break a component, you can return it to your local head shop.
Silicone Bongs
Yes, the same silicone used to make baking molds and cooking trays is now a close friend to most cannabis enthusiasts. Let's have a look at their advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Silicone Bongs
Unbreakable
If you or your friends have a knack for breaking objects, silicone bongs are your best resort. This type of bong has a soft, pliable rubber-like material that doesn't break, no matter how many times you drop it. It also makes a perfect fit when hosting a party with your friends. You don't have to worry about breakages.
Portable and Flexible
Silicone bongs are much easier to travel with than acrylics and glass bongs. They are light and easily folded to fit in a small space. So, if you are always on the road, you can just put it in your bag and enjoy a banger smoking session at your next destination.
Easy to Clean
Pretty much like glass bongs, silicone bongs are also easy to clean. You just need to put them in the dishwasher, and your silicone bong will come out as good as new. The only challenge you may face while cleaning is seeing on the inside since the bongs are not transparent.
Disadvantages of Silicone Bongs
May Affect Taste
Unlike glass bongs, silicone bongs slightly affect the taste of the smoke. They, however, don't make the smoke harsh or leave a plastic taste like acrylic bongs do. We can rate the smoothness and flavor second to that of a glass bong.
Limited Aesthetic Options
If you lean more towards styles, silicone bongs may not be the best for you. The nature of the material makes it difficult for manufacturers to come up with complex designs like those found in acrylics and glass bongs. The most common shapes are beaker straight tube and round base.
Acrylics Bongs
Acrylic bongs offer a wide range of designs and colors. Whether you prefer a complex or simple design, an acrylic bong will do you well. Let's have a look at their advantages and drawbacks.
Advantages of Acrylic Bongs
Stylish and Customizable
Acrylic bongs are perfect for those looking to smoke in style. Their lightweight materials allow manufacturers to formulate a wide range of designs. Want a dragon-shaped bong? Go to your local head shop, and you will find such. Have a design in mind? Let your manufacturer know, and they will bring it to life.
Affordable
Compared to glass and silicone bongs, acrylic bongs are less expensive. You can find a stylish acrylic bong for as low as $6. So, if you are on the hunt for a durable, lightweight, and less expensive bong, consider going for the acrylic material.
Drawbacks of Acrylic Bongs
Impacts Taste
Acrylic bong alters the flavor of the smoke. Users claim that these types of bongs deliver harsh smoke, leading to choking. Plus, there is a plastic taste left behind once one is done smoking. It's not the best bong if you want to enhance your smoking experience.
Difficult to Clean
The fact that most acrylic bongs come with intricate and complex designs makes cleaning difficult for users. The presence of opaque colors further complicates the situation. Due to such reasons, it's not advisable to use an acrylic bong for an extended period due to residue build up.
Prone to Scratches
As mentioned above, acrylic bongs are lightweight and can easily get scratched when moving around. This implies that over time. That stylish and good-looking bong will turn into an eyesore due to scratches.
As we wrap up, we hope you choose the suitable material for your bong. If you are looking to enjoy more flavorful and potent hits, glass bongs will serve you well. If you are looking to enhance your smoking experience with a durable bong, silicone bongs will suit you. Conversely, if you are looking for stylish smoking accessories, acrylic bongs are your perfect match.
If you are ready to purchase a new bong, visit our trusted head shop Badass Glass, and find your pick from the excellent variety of bong options available - happy shopping!