Different Types of Downstems for Bongs
You’d be surprised what a difference something as simple as your bong’s downstem can make in the smoking experience. We’re going to break down all the different types of downstems for bongs, whether you just broke yours and need a replacement or are buying a new piece and want to set yourself up for smoother, more enjoyable sessions right from the jump.
But no matter what you end up going with, we can tell you with 100% certainty that Badass Glass has the best selection of downstems in multiple lengths, joint sizes, and styles so you can match your bong exactly. Take a look and see for yourself!
Key Takeaways
- Downstems connect your bowl to the base of your bong.
- Diffused downstems with slits or holes produce smoother, cooler rips.
- Removable downstems let you swap styles, upgrade, and clean each component separately.
- The most common joint sizes are 14mm and 18mm. Lengths range from 3 inches to 6 inches.
- Badass Glass carries all the different bong accessories, always sourced from the best brands.
The Purpose of a Downstem
It’s easy to overlook the role of the downstem. It’s so much more than just a delivery vehicle for the smoke from your bowl piece, though. Smoke travels down through the downstem and into the main chamber of the bong when you light your bowl and inhale. This is where the water filtration of a bong actually happens, cooling the smoke before it hits your lungs.
Most downstems are made from borosilicate glass. The same heat-resistant material used in lab equipment, and the very same type of glass the bong itself is usually made from.
You quite literally cannot smoke out of a bong without a downstem. Go ahead, try it right now if you have a bong at home! It doesn’t work. You can’t just put your bowl in the bong’s joint and hope for the best. The downstem is essential. It creates that airtight channel so the whole filtration system actually works.
Different Types of Downstems You Can Use With a Bong
Stuff happens. Whether you dropped your downstem during cleaning or it got broken in transit, you don’t have to despair - in many cases, it’s as simple as finding a new downstem! But with so many different types of bong downstems at your disposal, what should you choose?
Not to worry! We’ve put together this quick buyer’s guide to help you not only make sense of the various styles but pick the perfect size for your specific bong.
Diffused vs Non-Diffused Downstems
A non-diffused downstem is as straightforward as it gets. Literally just a glass tube that connects your bowl piece to the bong itself. Smoke comes into the base of the bong through the bottom of the tube.
On the other hand, a diffused downstem has slits that help diffuse the smoke a little bit, which cools and filters it before it heads up the main chamber of the bong.
A bong’s whole purpose is to make the smoke easier on your throat and lungs, right? Well, a diffused downstem takes that even further! There are a few other types of diffused downstems you should be aware of as well:
Showerhead Downstems
The bottom of the tube opens into a wider disc with slits cut along the edges. Smoke pushes through those slits and fans out into the water, producing a circle of bubbles to maximize diffusion without adding much draw resistance.
Tree Perc Downstems
These are really unique. Several glass arms hang down from the main tube, each one with openings along the bottom. This is a tree perc downstem, and it’s totally one-of-a-kind. Smoke gets divided between the arms and filters through those openings before hitting the water. More arms = smoother hit. The catch is durability. Those arms can be fragile in cheaper downstems.
Matrix Downstems
A grid of slits carved into a little cylinder that runs both sideways and up-down. Smoke is forced through every slit at the same time, so you end up with super dense smoke filtration. These types of bong downstems are quite a bit more durable than tree percs.
Honeycomb Downstems
A disc packed with tiny little perforations sitting inside the stem. The name comes from its appearance - it looks like a honeycomb! It’s practical, like all the different types of downstems with diffusion built in. Smoke is sent through all the little holes at once, yielding a thick sheet of micro-bubbles in the water.
Removable vs Fixed Downstems
Now, before we go any further, it’s important to note that not ALL downstems are interchangeable. Some pieces come with the downstem built in. These fixed downstems often have some level of diffusion built in.
The appeal is that there are fewer moving pieces, and the downstem is less likely to get broken. The downside, though, is that if the downstem DOES break, the bong is pretty much ruined. Cleaning is a lot harder, too, since you can’t soak the downstem separately.
That’s why we prefer removable downstems in pretty much every case. They slide into the bong’s joint and can be pulled out for cleaning, replacement, or upgrading. Most glass bongs for sale today use removable downstems for exactly this reason.
Measuring Length For a Downstem
So you are up to speed on all the different types of downstems - great! Now it’s just a matter of figuring out the size side of things. This is honestly more important than picking a style, because the bong WILL NOT work if you get the length wrong.
Too short a downstem won’t reach the water, and you’re just smoking a dry bong at that point. Too long a downstem will hit the bottom of the bong’s base, potentially scratching the material or leaving the downstem loose and rattling around at the top end where the bowl attaches.
We always tell customers to use the pencil method. Stick a pencil into the joint opening and push it down to where you want the downstem to end within the base - this is ideally about half an inch below the waterline. NOT touching the bottom. Mark the spot on the pencil with your finger. Pull it out, and measure from the bottom of the pencil to where your finger is. That’s your length.
We have a whole guide on picking the ideal downstem size. Most options range from 3 to 6 inches, and even half an inch off changes the fit. Do not play the guessing game!
Don’t Forget Joint Size!
Downstems come in either 14mm and 18mm these days, and 14mm is by far the most common. Only a really large bong would feature an 18mm joint. There are 10mm joints on really tiny bongs as well, but these are rare. We have a separate guide on distinguishing between a 14mm vs 18mm bong joint size.
Taking Care of Your Downstem
Once you narrow it down to one of the many different types of downstems and find your replacement, it’s important that you take good care of it. This means regular cleaning.
Place the downstem in a plastic baggy, fill it with isopropyl alcohol (91% or higher), and let it soak for a while. You can add coarse salt and shake it up really well to agitate any stuck-on gunk if need be. You can also use pipe cleaners to manually clean the downstem. Just be sure to fully rinse it with hot water before sticking it back in your bong.
Discover the Downstem Your Piece Has Been Missing at Badass Glass!
We’re proud to present the premier selection of downstems online, whether you’re looking for something basic or sophisticated. Shop all the different types of bong downstems at Badass Glass and see for yourself what a difference the right one can make in your smoking session!
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