Gravity Bong vs Regular Bong

We see the gravity bong vs regular bong compared all the time, and they’re actually quite a bit different. In fact, we’d go as far as to say they don’t even belong in the same conversation!

Regular glass bongs filter smoke through water as you inhale at your own pace. They’re the perfect piece for smoking at home or on the go. On the other hand, gravity bongs have more moving pieces and are often a “DIY” type of smoking utensil. You take one massive rip, and while there is water involved, you end up with a dry hit that can feel quite harsh.

We’re going to take a deep dive into the difference between a gravity bong and regular bong below to show you what each brings to the table, where the trade-offs exist, and ultimately, which is right for you.

Gravity Bong vs Regular Bong at a Glance

Benefits of a Normal Glass Bong

You’re probably at least somewhat familiar with how a bong works - and thus, you can understand what makes it the classic way to enjoy your herb. Unlike joints or pipes, you get to take advantage of water filtration. That changes everything from how big of hits you can take to how the smoke feels by the time it reaches your throat and lungs.

Smoke travels down from the bowl into the base of the bong, where it comes in contact with water - and perhaps even percolators. This cools the smoke down dramatically, while also stripping away some of the harsher stuff you don’t necessarily want to inhale. 

Some bongs have little notches in the neck of the piece that let you add ice to cool smoke down even more. You can swap in bowl pieces as you see fit, and you can even add an ash catcher for extra filtration and to keep your main piece clean.

Glass is great because it doesn’t alter the taste of your flower at all. This is why, despite the practicality/durability benefits of silicone or acrylic, glass is always the way to go.

How Does a Gravity Bong Work?

A gravity bong is really not even a “type” of bong. It looks different and the user experience is entirely distinct. The way rips feel is unlike anything from a regular bong, too. 

It’s honestly a lot easier to see a gravity bong in action than read about how these work, so bear with us. These create a vacuum effect using water to pull smoke into a chamber. Then, the smoke is forced out when you push the chamber back down into the water. 

It helps to understand what exactly you’re using. The classic DIY version is a cut plastic bottle (in many cases, the top half of a two-liter soda bottle) paired with a 5-gallon bucket. Then, you need to cut a little hole in the lid of the two-liter soda bottle to fit a little socket you’d put your herb in. Or, you can put an actual bowl piece in the lid if you want something a little fancier.

From there, here’s how it works:

1. Push the soda bottle into the water so that only the top ½-inch or so isn’t holding water.
2. Light the bowl, and slowly raise the bottle out of the water WITHOUT fully pulling it from the bucket. Stop at the top.
3. Unscrew the lid on the soda bottle and set it/the bowl aside. 
4. Begin inhaling from the mouthpiece of the soda bottle while slowly dropping the bottle back lower into the water.

The idea is that water pressure helps torch the bowl and fills the “chamber” with smoke. That same water pressure effect (just reversed) helps push the smoke into your lungs as you hit the gravity bong. 

Hence, the name “gravity” bong. But the bong side of the name is a stretch. There’s nothing actually filtering the smoke. It’s a dry hit. Think pipe rips, but MUCH larger. Gravity bongs are notoriously harsh.

Now, there are commercially manufactured gravity bongs out there if you don’t want a super rudimentary DIY setup. But the idea is more or less the same. 

What’s the Difference Between a Gravity Bong and a Regular Bong?

You can already see just what a difference between a gravity bong and regular bong there is. But let’s take a closer look at the gravity bong vs regular bong side by side below to help you make the right choice for how you want to enjoy your flower. 

Ease of Use

Both of these pieces are a little more work to use than a basic hand pipe. But a regular bong is way more convenient than a gravity bong. You fill the base with just enough water to cover the bottom of the downstem. You pack a bowl. You light the bowl, inhale, and pull the bowl to clear the chamber. It’s super easy to get the hang of, and becomes second nature pretty fast.

On the other hand, a gravity bong is a little more work. In many cases, you’re building the piece yourself from a two-liter soda bottle. You have to fill a bucket with water and get the hang of lighting the bowl while pulling up, and hitting the soda bottle while pushing down. Pull it too fast, and you burn the bowl unevenly. Accidentally lift the bottom of the bottle from the water, and you lose all your smoke. There’s way more room for error. 

The truth is, it’s overcomplicating the process for no real added benefit. You don’t get much control over how big the hit is, either, aside from how big a bowl you pack. 

How Each Hit Feels

These are two very different experiences. A water bong is nice and smooth. Especially if it’s a beaker bong or straight tube bong with a percolator or two added to the design. The water filtration makes even bigger hits feel more manageable. You can also decide if you want a small sip or a large chug from the bowl. How long (and hard) you inhale dictates how big the hit is.

In contrast, gravity bongs are a dry smoke. Smoke just sits on top of the water. It doesn’t actually get filtered by it. This is a really common misconception, and one of the defining differences between the gravity bong vs regular bong.

Portability

It’s obviously not practical to bring a gravity bong anywhere. You can’t even really move it around your home very easily. The bucket of water probably lives outside or in your garage. Professionally made gravity bongs are a bit more portable, but even still, they’re meant to stay in one place and be enjoyed there.

Bongs aren’t exactly the most travel-friendly piece, either. We’d point you toward a dry herb vaporizer or glass smoking pipe if you want something you can take anywhere without having to pack up a big bag. That being said, smaller bongs are quite portable. There are also silicone bongs that travel very well. Another advantage for regular bongs over gravity bongs!

Cleaning and Care

This is the one edge a gravity bong has over a regular bong. The only maintenance you need to do is dump out the water every so often and refill it with fresh water. And clean the bowl piece on a regular basis, of course.

By comparison, regular bongs have quite a few moving parts that all need regular cleaning - the bowl piece, the downstem, the main piece itself, and in some cases, individual percolators or ash catchers. These need to be taken care of, or you’re going to end up with a funky odor and bad flavor.

A little bit of TLC goes a long way, though. Taking care of your glass bong will ensure it provides smooth, flavor-packed rips for years to come. We have bongs that have been a part of our collection for well over a decade! You may bust a bowl or downstem from time to time, but the main piece itself stays reliable for the long haul.

So, Which is the Right Type of Bong For YOU?

We think the choice between a gravity bong vs regular bong is fairly straightforward. A gravity bong sounds fun with friends every now and then. And given the fact that you can probably make one from stuff you have at home right now, by all means - give it a try.

However, nothing beats the smooth smoking experience a regular glass bong has to offer. It gives you more control, the process is simpler, and the flavor is better. You can even bring the bong alone for adventures if you want.

Wrapping Up Our Gravity Bong vs Regular Bong Comparison

All that’s left to do now as we wrap up our comparison of the gravity bong vs regular bong is spoil yourself with a new piece from Badass Glass. We stock really cool bongs across every style, always sourced from the top brands the industry has to offer. 

Take a look and see what catches your eye, whether you’re looking for crazy bongs or something more subtle!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a gravity bong worth it?

Not really. Building one is quite a hassle, and the experience is complicated for no reason. The smoke isn’t “better.” It’s just more work!

What are the disadvantages of a gravity bong?

They’re complicated, and they hit really harshly with no water filtration. The setup can start to stink after a while since plastic absorbs odors. 

Are gravity bongs better for your lungs?

No - in fact, they’re probably worse since there isn’t any water filtration. Glass bongs at least filter some contaminants out for you. Plus, you’re smoking from plastic instead of glass. That alone is cause for concern. 

Where can I buy unique bongs online?

Look no further than Badass Glass, the #1 choice for bongs online. We stock everything from basic beakers to sophisticated recyclers. You can also buy dry herb vapes and hand pipes if you want something more portable. We have a piece for every session in our online headshop!

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