Bongs vs Bubblers: What's the Difference and Which is Better?
Bongs and bubblers both filter smoke with water, but they differ in size and performance. Bongs have larger water capacity and typically more filtration power, resulting in smoother and cleaner hits. Bubblers are smaller, more portable, and offer less filtration, which can lead to harsher hits.
If you’re at the crossroads of choosing a bong or a bubbler, you’ve come to the right place! We’re here to break down the pros and cons of each so that you can find your perfect match.
Short Answer:
- Bongs deliver much smoother hits and bubblers are harsher
- Bongs filtration system is stronger which delivers cleaner, tastier, and smoother hits
- Bongs deliver stronger hits than bubblers called “bong rips”
- Bubblers are smaller which makes them easier to store and more portable
- Bubblers are more affordable than bongs
Bongs vs Bubblers: which one is better?
Deciding between a bong and a bubbler involves weighing several factors that affect your overall smoking experience. Both a bong and a bubbler are considered water pipes, but bongs are pricier and deliver larger and stronger hits that are cooled much more efficiently. Bubblers are compact, portable, and budget-friendly, perfect for beginners who don’t mind a harsher hit.
We’ll explore all these factors in greater detail below so you can decide which smoking device is best for you.
1. Water capacity: More H20, less heat
One of the key differences between bongs and bubblers is their water-holding capacity. Bongs can hold a lot more water, which is a game-changer for cooling smoke. As the hot smoke filters through the larger water chamber in a bong, the water absorbs heat from the smoke, significantly cooling the smoke and making the bong rip much smoother. However, Bubblers have much smaller water chambers, leading to faster water heating and less effective smoke cooling.
Verdict: Thanks to their larger water capacity, bongs are more efficient at cooling hot smoke compared to bubblers.
2. Size matters with hot smoke
Size is a key factor that determines how hot smoke is by the time you inhale it. Bubblers are smaller and the compact design means the smoke has less distance to travel before it reaches your lungs, often resulting in hotter, harsher hits. Bongs, with their larger size, allow the smoke to travel a greater distance giving it more time to cool off, resulting in a smoother and gentler bong rip compared to bubblers' hotter hit.
Verdict: The taller height of bongs gives smoke more time to cool before reaching your lungs, offering a smoother hit compared to the compact size of a bubbler.
3. Filtration power for cleaner and smoother hits
Bongs take filtration to the next level with their larger and more advanced percolators compared to bubblers. Equipped with upgrades like UFO percolators, shower head percs, and even multi-level percs, bongs break the smoke into smaller bubbles, increasing the surface area for cooling and filtration.
This process, known as water diffusion, cleans and cools the smoke removing impurities for a tastier and smoother hit. Bubblers, with their simpler and smaller construction, provide basic filtration that can’t compete with a bong's powerful diffusion and cooling capabilities.
Verdict: Bongs offer superior filtration because of their larger and more advanced percolators which deliver a cleaner and smoother hit compared to a bubblers filtration power.
4. Hit Size: Bong Rips vs. Bubbler Sips
The power of a bong hit, often called a “bong rip,” is significantly stronger than what you get from a bubbler. This is because bongs have larger chambers that can hold more smoke, allowing for bigger, more potent inhales. Also, the advanced filtration systems in bongs make sure that even large amounts of smoke remain smooth and manageable when inhaled.
Bubblers with their smaller design, can’t provide hits as large and strong as a bong can, and are more suited to delivering a smaller, controlled hit. For more information, check out our guide on using a bubbler.
Verdict: Bongs deliver stronger, more potent hits because of the larger capacity for smoke volume and filtration, making them much stronger compared to bubblers.
5. Portability: On-the-Go with Bubblers
Bubblers shine in the portability department thanks to their smaller, more manageable size. They’re easy to move around the house, save space, and can easily be packed up and taken on the go for travel or outdoor activities. Their discreet design also makes them easy to use without drawing too much attention.
Bongs are larger, bulkier, and less practical for transporting. Their larger size means they’re better suited for home use in a secure area to prevent damage or accidental tip-overs.
Verdict: For those who value portability, saving space, and discretion, bubblers are the clear winner, while bongs are more suited to dedicated home use.
6. Ease of Use: Simplicity Wins with Bubblers
If you’re new to smoking, bubblers are often the go-to choice because of their straightforward design. A bubbler has fewer components to manage, making it incredibly user-friendly. Just fill it with water, pack the bowl, and smoke it just as you would any hand pipe and enjoy the water filtration.
On top of that, bubblers are handheld, making them very easy to control, light, and handle compared to a much larger bong. Bongs, with their multiple parts and optional upgrades, can complicate the process for newbies. Also, there is a slight learning curve when using a bong for the first time.
Verdict: Bubblers are ideal for beginners who want a more straightforward, hassle-free smoking experience, while bongs can require a bit more know-how.
7. Cost Comparison: Bubbler Wins the Budget Battle
If you’re looking to save money, bubblers are generally the more economical choice compared to bongs. Their simple design and compact size help keep the costs down with materials, making them a great option for budget smokers.
Bong prices are often higher because they are much larger, require more materials to manufacture, and can come equipped with intricate features like multi-percs, ice pinches, and glycerin coils, which can significantly increase the price.
Verdict: For a budget-friendly smoking experience, bubblers are the way to go, while bongs offer more advanced features at a higher price point.
Upgrade Potential: Customizing Your Bong
The customization potential of bongs is one of the biggest advantages they have over bubblers. You can pick a bong that has various upgrades like ice pinches, which help cool the smoke, or glycerin coles that offer a frosty, no-cough experience. There are dozens of different types of bongs with unique features to give you the performance you need.
While bubblers only have one small diffused downstem for filtration and cooling, a bong can have multiple percolators, and each one is much more powerful, delivering a smoother and cleaner hit.
Ash catchers can also be added to keep your bong cleaner for longer while filtering out tar, ash, and resin. The potential for upgrades means you can find the perfect bong that suits your preference in filtration and cooling. Bubblers generally have the same features and design with fewer enhanced features.
Carburetor vs. Bowl Pull: Clearing the Chamber
Bubblers use a carburetor, a small hole that you cover with your finger while inhaling and then release to clear the chamber of smoke. This method offers a straightforward way to control airflow for a powerful burst of smoke.
To clear the smoke in the chamber with a bong, you would pull the glass bowl from the joint. Removing the bowl changes the pressure inside of the bong and shoots the smoke up the neck, allowing for a more intense and powerful hit.
The difference in the smoke-clearing mechanism is that a bong pulls far more smoke in the chamber than a bubbler, which means when it’s time to clear the chamber, you get a much larger, denser amount of smoke. This is one of the reasons bongs hit so hard over any other water pipe, because of the physics and science of how a bong functions.
Durability: Which One Lasts Longer?
When it comes to durability, bubblers often have the edge because they are easier to handle and are made from thicker glass. The compact design makes them less likely to break from accidental tip-overs, which is common with bongs.
Bongs, especially made from high-quality borosilicate glass (1.5 mm thickness or higher) can also be quite durable. The larger size of a bong and the multiple removable parts make them more susceptible to damage if not handled carefully, like accidental tip-overs.
Cleaning and Maintenance: A Quick Guide
Cleaning a bong can be quite a chore, especially because bongs often have a more complex structure with tiny nooks and crannies compared to bubblers. The small holes in the percolators and the removable downstem all need meticulous cleaning to prevent resin buildup and keep the bong’s filtration system working efficiently.
Regular cleaning is needed for both bong and bubbler to prevent mold growth, however, Bubblers are much easier to clean thanks to their smaller and simpler design. You’ll use far less cleaning solution with a bubbler than with a larger bong - saving you money in the long run.
However, since a bong’s water chamber is much larger, it tends to stay cleaner longer, while a bubbler can get dirty fairly quickly and requires frequent water changes.
So in the end, both bongs and bubblers have their advantages and downsides when it comes to cleaning and pipe hygiene.
Final Thoughts
To sum it up, bongs and bubblers each bring their own set of unique benefits, depending on your needs and smoking lifestyle. Bongs, thanks to their taller size and larger water capacity, offer much stronger and larger hits with stronger filtration and cooling to offset those potent bong rips. There are also dozens of features and upgrades you can get with a bong but these upgrades tend to make a bong pricier and less portable the more powerful they get.
Bubblers shine in their compactness and portability, making them ideal for on-the-go sessions, solo use, and discreet smoking at home. They’re more affordable and easier to use but will deliver harsher hits because of their smaller size and less effective filtration when compared to bongs.
In the end, choosing whether you want a bong or a bubbler, boils down to what you value more: the smoothness of the bong rip, or the affordability and ease of use of a bubbler. Both are amazing water pipes, it’s just your personal preference that decides the winner.
