The gravity bong is a great alternative to regular smoking methods. It involves using gravity and air pressure to fill up the chamber with smoke, which can be inhaled in one powerful hit. There are several types of gravity bongs available on the market today that offer different advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look at the different types of gravity bongs. We’re only looking at glass gravity bongs here – what are we, Neanderthals? If you go plastic there are cheaper alternatives available, but let us not concern ourselves with such petty matters.
The Classic
Before we get into fancy, commercially available gravity bongs it’s probably worthwhile to salute the old school method of taking a large plastic soda bottle, cutting the bottom off, inserting a bowl into the top, and taking it to the bath. Observe:
It’s fiddly, requires a lot of water (you have to fill the bath! Wasteful), and is messy to clean up after; but it’s cheap, effective, and, for many of us, nostalgic.
How Does It Work?
All gravity bongs use the same principle on display here: the movement of water creating vacuums and pushing and pulling the smoke to achieve the desired effect. A good gravity bong will one-up the bucket bong shown here by also contriving to push the smoke through the water, giving it a good rinse and cool, just like a bong that doesn’t use gravity!
What is the Effect of Water Filtration on Cannabis Smoke?
One of the most popular ways of smoking cannabis is to use a water pipe (also known as a bong or a hookah). Water pipes are used to filter weed smoke through water. They do this in a variety of…
The Stundenglass
What to say about this? This is our favorite. It’s just an impeccably designed and crafted piece of kit. It feels solid and professional and works perfectly every time. It’s a bit fiddly to clean, but aren’t they all? The provided cleaning kit certainly helps!
It’s available in two sizes: Standard and the Kompact. We like the Kompact, but the standard large size does have a lot more variety available in terms of styling and accessories. If you can afford it, this is definitely the way to go! Check out our full review for more detail.
Review: Stündenglass Kompact Gravity Infuser
Got a bit of disposable income and a desire to upgrade your cannabis experience? Then read on, this might just be the luxury gravity bong you have been looking for! Introduction My first time smoking cannabis was a quickly assembled…
The Gleeb
The Gleeb is basically a professional version of the bathtub bong above. It consists of a container that resembles a large water bottle and a bottomless glass bottle within. You fill the container with water, place the glass bowl in the container, put the included bowl in the bottle, and away you go! By raising the bottle out of the water as you light the bowl you fill it with smoke, and then remove the bowl and lower the bottle to force the smoke out.
Best Weed Accessories
This site is primarily focused on the different ways of smoking weed and the gear you need to engage in them – dab rigs, bongs, vaporizers etc. – but there are other kinds of cannabis accessories that come in very…
It’s affordable, portable, easy to use and clean, and works great! It doesn’t cool the smoke, but if you’re looking for the closest thing to the bathtub bong experience that doesn’t feel homemade and cheap, the Gleeb could be perfect for you! Just to note, if you don’t get the full kit, you will have to supply your own water container. Probably worth the splurge!
The Infinity Waterfall
This has a very smart, simple, and aesthetically pleasing design. It’s also the most versatile of all these products – depending on which attachments you use and where you put them it can be either a bubbler or a gravity bong. As a gravity bong, it does pass the smoke through the water, but it lacks the fine control of the Stundenglass. You either turn it upside down or you don’t, and if you do that water is just going – better hope your lighter works!
This is going to look amazing on your shelf just as a piece of glassware, and its use is straightforward and powerful. But it doesn’t feel as solid or together as the Stundenglass – a bit more manual and low-tech. The price reflects this – it’s fancy, but not as robust. It is cool to see the water suspended in the top chamber, though!
The Highrise
This is large. You’re going to sit this one on your table and not move it. This is the one you’re going to gather your friends around – I can’t imagine using this alone! Like the bathtub bong, you lift up the central riser to draw the smoke in then lower it to push it out. But smartly, the smoke is drawn up through the smoke so it is cooled as it fills the chamber.
Again cheaper and simpler than the Stundenglass, this does require a bit more manual dexterity and strength to operate, but you got this! An amazing centerpiece for any serious group smoke session. There is also an optional carb cap that enables you to use concentrate – a gravity bong dab rig! Seems to be mostly out of stock – hopefully it will come back soon!
The Gravitron
This is a classed-up version of the Gleeb – where the Gleeb has a plastic container for the water, the Gravitron is all thick, solid glass. The Gleeb wants to be discreet, the Gravitron wants to sit on your desk and be admired.
They work the same way – neither of them passes the smoke through the water. The price is comparable, although the Gravitron does come in either medium or large size depending on your budget. I know which I feel classier using, but YMMV!
Conclusion
From the low-tech bathtub bong to the modern Stundenglass, each gravity bong has its own advantages and disadvantages. For those looking for an affordable alternative with easy portability or something more luxurious that can be used as a centerpiece at parties, you have plenty of choices!
