Silicone vs Glass Bongs: What’s The Difference?
It can be a bit overwhelming when you go to buy a bong. There’s so many options. What do you want it made out of, silicone or glass?
What’s the difference? Don’t worry fam, we gotchu.
There are a few key differences between glass and silicone bongs. They are the smoke flavor, percolation, and durability of the bong. Glass provides better flavor hits and can have additional percolators to provide smoother hits. Silicone bongs are far more durable than glass.
Let’s take a closer look at these two materials.
What Is a Glass Bong?
Glass is by far the most common material you’ll see bongs made out of. Glassblowers can make bongs of all shapes and sizes. Glass is easy to add percolators to.
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.
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.
Pros of Glass Bongs:
- More percolators
- Better flavor
- Added accessories like ash catchers
Cons of Glass Bongs:
- They can BREAK!
Overall, our only gripe with glass is that it can break. However, not all glass is created equal.
If you want a durable glass bong, you can get a bong made of borosilicate aka Scientific glass. Scientific glass bongs are far more durable than regular glass.
Check out our guide on the differences between a bong and a dab rig.
What Is a Silicone Bong?
They are ideal for people who love to go camping. They can also handle the chaos of a party house.
Even some of the best silicone bongs tend to be significantly cheaper than glass bongs. If you're looking for something colorful and fun for your frat house, silicone is a great choice.
You can also throw them in the washing machine to clean them.
Pros of Silicone Bongs:
- Indestructible
- Colorful
- Inexpensive
- Machine washable
Cons of Silicone Bongs:
- Limited ability to add percs
- Not as good flavor
Silicone bongs make great travel and beginner bongs. A lot of smokers get one in addition to their nice glass bong to take on the road.
What's the Difference Between a Silicone Bong and a Glass Bong?
Ok, so let’s look at these side by side to compare and contrast. Here are the three key differences between silicone and glass bongs.
1. Glass Breaks, Silicone Doesn’t
If you happen to be living in a frat house, go for silicone. 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.
2. 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.
3. Glass Has Better Flavor
As much as we love silicone, it does affect the flavor of your hit. If you're all about the the flavor of your flowers, go for glass.
Silicone vs Glass Bong Similarities
Alright, that’s what’s different, but what’s the same?
They’re Both Bongs
At the end of the day, both of these are perfectly serviceable water pipes for smoking your sticky icky. They all function the same way, the differences are a matter of taste.
Is Silicone or Glass Better?
So the lawyer answer is “it depends on your smoking needs.” Each has its pros and cons. If you’re looking for the ultimate travel bong, we recommend this silicone collapsible bong.
If you want something with hella percs, here’s an inline glass bong.
But we know that’s a lame answer. Which material is better? As much as we love silicone, we’re always going to have a preference for glass.
We love percolators and ice catcher bongs that make hits nice and smooth. We love watching the smoke fill the chamber and then clear out.
And hey, that’s not to say you can’t have both. A lot of savvy smokers have a silicone bong as a backup. This way, you’re not tempted to take your nice glass to parties.
Are Silicone Bongs Safe?
Yes, silicone bongs from reputable manufacturers are safe to smoke out of. Silicone can withstand up to 600 degrees fahrenheit of heat, so you don't need to worry about toxins ever being a problem.
Can’t We All Just Get A Bong?
Glass and silicone have different qualities, but at the end of the day, they’re both bongs. If you want something that is guaranteed not to break, go for silicone.
If you want the smoothest hit possible, get a glass bong with percolators. Most smokers prefer glass.
In the great debate between silicone and glass, we can all agree to pass the dutchie on the left hand side.