There’s no wrong way to smoke weed. However, bongs just so happen to be among the most popular apparatus for smoking weed — and for good reason. Not only have bongs been a traditional smoking staple since ancient times, but they provide a filtration system (the water) that traps ash and other smoke-related carcinogens for a cooler and smoother toke.
They also don’t clog like a standard pipe does, which is a plus.
If you’re a cannabis-smoking novice, learning how to hit a bong correctly is a priority. In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about smoking out of a bong, and then some.
The Anatomy of a Bong
If you’re new to smoking cannabis, you likely have no idea how a bong functions. Fortunately, a bong is easily broken down into five basic components:
- The bowl, which is the spherical stem attachment where you pack in your cannabis and light it.
- The carb (short for carburetor) is the hole where the bowl slides out of, allowing you to clear the smoke from the bong’s chamber to complete the hit. Depending on the type of bong you have, it’ll either come with a pull- or slide-carb.
- The downstem, which is the small tube where your hit (the smoke) travels from the bowl to the base where it can percolate and cool down through the water.
- The base, which is the very bottom of the bong, serves as the water chamber.
- The tube, which is the secondary chamber that fills with the cooled and filtered smoke that you inhale from.
Today, there are several different types of bongs that feature additional components such as an ice punch, extra percolator, ash catcher, and so on. The one you choose simply depends on your preferences.
How to Hit a Bong
Hitting a bong isn’t rocket science, but there is an art to it. Having said that, it’s something that takes a little practice to find your sweet spot — so don’t let a few mistakenly huge rips that knock you on your butt for a bit discourage you.
Here’s how it’s done:
Fill the Chamber with Water
First thing’s first — fill the bong’s chamber with fresh, clean water. Filtered or distilled is best, and the amount you’ll need will depend on the size of your bong. Be sure to pour the water into the mouthpiece at the top of the bong, and pour just enough to ensure the bottom of the downstem is submerged up to about half an inch.
Pack the Bowl
Bong rips are best when the cannabis is finely ground up, so your best bet is to use a grinder to break it up. It’s a good idea to leave a few larger, ungrounded pieces at the bottom of the bowl to ensure the ground-up herb doesn’t slip through.
Remember, a little goes a long way. Over-packing your bowl will make it harder to inhale.
Light the Bowl with Your Mouth on the Mouthpiece
Using your non-dominant hand to grip your bong close to its base, place your mouth on the mouthpiece creating a seal with your lips. Using your dominant hand, tilt your lighter vertically to light the cannabis evenly.
Begin inhaling as you light to bring the smoke up through the chamber. At this point, the goal is to fill the chamber — not the tube! Wait for the chamber to fill up with smoke and then proceed to the next step…
Pull Out the Stem and Let It Rip!
Once the chamber is filled with smoke you can put the lighter down, pull out the bowl and stem and inhale all the smoke from the chamber.
Hold It in (If You Can!)
Try to hold in the smoke for two to three seconds before blowing it out. Don’t be afraid to cough, it happens to the best of us.
At this point, you’re probably wondering exactly how long to wait between bong hits. At a minimum, you’ll want to wait a few minutes. If you’re a canna-novice, you’ll want to work your way up to multiple bong hits to ensure you don’t overdo it.
Tops Tips for Smoking Out of a Bong
In addition to hitting a bong properly, there are several ways that avid cannabis smokers have discovered regarding how to make a bong hit smoother over the years. The following are some of the top tips for smoking out of a bong:
1. Use an Ice Catcher
There’s a reason why some bongs are created with ice catchers, although you don’t need those tiny little notches to use ice. The benefits of using ice for your next bong rip include the following:
- It enables you to take larger hits since the ice cools the smoke further.
- It filters the smoke further since it creates another element for the smoke to pass through.
- It enhances the flavor since there’s an added layer of filtration.
- It acts as a splash guard, especially if it’s positioned above the water chamber.
Overall, ice provides a milder and smoother hit — and all it takes is four to six cubes to get the job done.
2. Try Hit Stacking
Stacking your bong hits is one of the best ways to smoke out of a bong. Hit stacking happens when you take a hit from your bong and then smoke gathers in the chamber but doesn’t really move up to the mouthpiece. However, this allows you to continue to run your bong so you can smoke more by keeping the smoke within the chamber and tube without actually inhaling it until you decide.
To stack bong hits, start by inhaling slowly and steadily. Pull the bowl little by little to fill the chamber with the smoke, and continue to gently inhale until you’re out of breath. Finally, pull the bowl out completely and inhale quickly — you’ll get a large amount of smoke all at once and you’ll thank us later once you pick your mind up off the floor.
3. Practice Breathwork before Taking Bong Hits
One of the goals of taking bong rips is to be able to take in large amounts and maintain yourself — as in having a higher endurance to take in longer inhalations. After all, you don’t want to waste your fine grinds.
Practicing breathwork to exercise your diaphragm and open up your lungs to increase your breathing capacity is the best way to achieve all of that.
4. Monitor Water Content
There is an appropriate amount of water to add to your bong before you take a hit. The downstem should be submerged in water, but not too much as you might risk inhaling bong water in your mouth. Try your best to add enough water to sit approximately one inch above the downstem’s tip.
Final Words of Wisdom
Whether you’re new to smoking out of bongs or even a frequent bong smoker, there are always a few new tips to try out to enhance the experience. And remember — practice makes perfect, so don’t be afraid to try out new tricks!
Cannabolish exports are here to tell you that not only are there tons of ways to get smoother and more satisfying bong rips, but you can always enjoy hitting the bong without leaving behind a weed stench. We’re talking about your room, your clothes, and anywhere else smoke goes. Check out our odor-eliminating products and more accessories in our online shop today.
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