Did you know there are at least 18 different types of bongs and at least 10 different types of water pipes?
How do you even differentiate between the two?
It can be especially hard because many sources class bongs under the class of water pipes and vice versa.
Sometimes a pipe can have water, and it will be considered a water pipe
. Sometimes a bong is a dry bong and uses no water.
Today we will clarify the differences between a water pipe vs bong.
What Is a Bong?
The term ‘bong’ is often used as a general classifier. Let me quickly go over the etymology of the word.
The word was first used in the 1960s to describe a long tube with water at the bottom. Of course, this is in America.
Did you know that ‘bongs’ have been in use for centuries in other cultures?
The Hmong in Laos and Thailand have been using bongs for centuries, as well as other groups in Africa.
The term ‘bong’ actually originates from Thai language and specifically denoted a bamboo waterpipe used for smoking. The first recorded use of the word was in the McFarland Thai-English dictionary in 1944.
In English, a “bong” simply denotes any kind of smoking implement that follows this general tube structure. It does not even have to contain water
Nowadays, there are tons of varieties of bongs, from wet to dry. Bongs can be made from bamboo, acrylic, metal, wood, or glass. In their simplest form, they come as a straight tube.
A dry bong is considered a dry bong when there is no water in the sealed chamber at the bottom. Taking a hit from a bong dry is usually very harsh.
What About Water Pipe vs Bong?
You see now that the word “bong” is more general use. Bong is sometimes used interchangeably with a water pipe. They should be differentiated because bongs do not always hold water.
Let me go over, then, what water pipes are.
Simply put, they use water as a filtration system by drawing smoke through water to cool it.
While a bong simply indicates a tube with a sealed chamber, water pipes are usually considered more artistic.
They are often created with multiple percolators, chambers, and tiers, and can come in all sorts of designs.
The main difference between a bong and a water pipe is the design choice that goes into making water pipes.
Glass water pipes are preferred by many smokers because of their smooth smoking experience.
The bong hit goes straight through to your lungs and might cause you to cough. With a water pipe, often ergonomics are considered, and they feel more smooth to use.
They can also be a spectacle. It is fun watching the smoke filters through the tiny bubbles to the percolators in a bubbler water pipe.
Try Out Water Pipes for a Smoother Experience
Definitely try out water pipes if you want a novelty smoking experience. They can make smoking a social event and are often ergonomic for ease of use.
Hopefully, now you can differentiate between a water pipe vs bong.
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