Silicone vs Glass Bong: Is a Glass or Silicone Bong Better?

It's the most common question we get asked here at Badass Glass: should I go with a silicone vs glass bong? Honestly, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. We carry both glass bongs AND silicone bongs because they each have their place.

• Glass bongs have better flavor purity, stronger smoke filtration (since they can have percolators), are easier to clean, and they just flat out look better.
• Silicone bongs make great travel pieces with incredible durability, stress-free usage, and they are a fraction of what you'd pay for glass.

Our advice? Make room for both in your rotation! Glass as your daily driver, silicone as a backup for specific sessions. Shop the full collection at Badass Glass and see what catches your eye!

Silicone vs Glass Bong (Quick Comparison)

Why Glass Bongs Reign Supreme

Glass is by far the most common material you'll see bongs made out of. There's a reason for that. Let's take a look at why we recommend these to almost anyone trying to upgrade their smoking arsenal.

Unparalleled Flavor Purity

Borosilicate glass is non-porous. It doesn't react with heat or smoke, so you taste your flower and nothing else. Silicone is perfectly safe, but it still messes with the natural flavor of your hit, especially when it's new. Glass is the way to go for flavor chasers.

Superior Smoke Filtration

Glassblowers can make bongs of all shapes and sizes. Glass is easy to add percolators to as well, which is where the extra filtration comes from. Percolators, or "percs," are little glass structures within the bong that diffuse the smoke.

When smoke goes through the perc, it becomes a bunch of tiny bubbles that move through the water. This makes the smoke extra smooth. You can explore all our percolator bongs here at Badass Glass.

Effortless Cleaning

Another great thing we love about glass is it's fairly easy to clean. A little Formula 420 gets the gunk right off glass. Do be aware: some glass percolators are more difficult to clean than others. So, that “benefit” might be a drawback depending on 1) how much you actually care about filtration and 2) how much effort you want to put into cleaning.

They Just Look Better!

Let’s be honest - glass bongs are just cooler to look at, whether it’s a heady piece with wild color work or a scientific tube with captivating percolators stacking bubbles. Silicone comes in fun colors, sure. But nothing comes close to the vibe a glass bong brings to your coffee table!

Silicone Bongs Have Their Place Too, Though!

Silicone bongs are made of non-reactive, heat-resistant, BPA-free silicone. They may look a little cheaper than their glass counterparts, but there's definitely a case to be made for them in the silicone vs glass bong comparison.

More Travel-Friendly

Silicone bongs are ideal for people who love to go camping, hiking, or just want to take their piece along for the adventure, no matter where that may be. They can be stuffed into a backpack since they're malleable.

Cheaper Upfront

Even some of the best silicone bongs tend to be significantly cheaper than glass bongs. If you're looking for something colorful and fun that gets you stoned without breaking the bank, you can't beat silicone.

No Stressing About Shattering

These pieces are pretty much indestructible. You can knock them over, crush them, drop them out of a tree, and still smoke out of them. They can also handle the chaos of a party house.

Silicone vs Glass Bong: Which is Right For You?

Ok, so let's look at the silicone vs glass bong side by side to compare and contrast. Here are the three key differences between silicone and glass bongs to help you narrow it down:

Glass Breaks, Silicone Doesn't

Go for silicone if you live in a frat house or anywhere with clumsy hands. Silicone handles the wear and tear of a party lifestyle. It's also a favored material for festival fun kits.

That said, if you want a bong that sits on your shelf and only gets used by a handful of people, go for glass. While it is more prone to breaking, thick scientific glass can handle being tipped every once in a while.

Glass Can Have More Percs

It's much easier to build percolators into a glass bong than a silicone bong. We do have silicone bongs with percs. However, this is nowhere near the level of percolation you can get with one of our multi-chamber glass bongs. If you want the smoothest hit possible, you gotta go with glass.

Glass Has Better Flavor

As much as we love silicone, it does affect the flavor of your hit. If you're all about the flavor of your flowers, go for glass. It lets you appreciate every nuanced flavor note.

There's Room For Both in Your Smoking Arsenal!

We'd venture to guess your sessions don't always look exactly the same. Sometimes you're sparking up at home solo. Other times you're hosting a bunch of people, maybe even some you don't know, and you'd be hesitant to pull out your favorite glass bong.

Or maybe your next adventure calls for an outdoor session with your favorite herb. So is a glass or silicone bong better? The answer changes depending on the session. Have both types in your lineup: glass for most situations, silicone for anytime glass wouldn't be practical.

Find the Best Bong For Your Collection at Badass Glass

From dab rigs to big bongs, Badass Glass is your one-stop online headshop, and you can browse both our glass and silicone bong lineups in the same place to compare and contrast actual styles side by side. Take a look and see what catches your eye today!

Related Resources

Acrylic vs glass bong | Acrylic vs silicone bong

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a silicone bong better than glass?

Only for durability and price. Glass wins for everything else. Is a glass or silicone bong better overall? Glass gets our vote for 90% of sessions at home. Silicone is the better call for travel or rough settings.

What are the downsides of silicone bongs?

Flavor purity is lacking since silicone can mess with the taste of the smoke. You probably won’t find many silicone pieces with percs, either, so the smoke won't be as smooth. Glass has way more variety when it comes to aesthetics, too.

What is the best material for a bong?

Glass, for most people. Nothing else gives you the same flavor clarity or perc variety. Plus they look great sitting on a shelf. Silicone still has its place when you need something portable or shatterproof.