How to Use a Bong – A Step by Step Guide

Bongs are some of the most famous gadgets in a tokers arsenal of tools, which is why learning how to use a bong is a rite of passage for many novice cannabis users. 

They’re an iconic staple in cannabis culture and have provided many weed enthusiasts with buttery smooth smoking experiences and unrivalled highs. For many newcomers to the world of cannabis, getting your hands on a bong can either be an extremely exciting moment or an incredibly intimidating one. 

Whatever your case may be, we’d hate to see your lack of experience in handling a bong cause you to shy away from using one, which is why we’ve created an in-depth guide on how to use a bong!

Without any further delay, let’s jump right in and get started!

What is a Bong?

A bong is a specially-designed water pipe that is used for smoking weed. Bongs have been around for generations and are some of the most popular pieces of equipment in cannabis culture. 

They are a go-to method to filter and cool the smoke using water for a smoother smoking experience. 

Using a bong practically eliminates the chances of a smoker burning their throat or lungs while they inhale the smoke.

Bongs actually operate in a very straightforward manner. They are comprised of a handful of removable and customizable pieces, including a mouthpiece, usually located at the top of the bong, a water chamber where the water is stored, and a downstem where the bowl is inserted. 

When a smoker ignites their weed and inhales the smoke, it flows from the bowl through the downstem, where it gets filtered from tar and ash and cooled by water. 

Upon removing the bowl from the downstem, a vacuum is created, allowing the smoke to flow from the water chamber to the smoker’s lungs.

What are the Benefits?

Bongs have cemented themselves as a time-honoured gadget in cannabis culture. There are a lot of reasons why many cannabis enthusiasts are pro-bong. 

Below are some of the most common:

Water Filtration

One of the most apparent benefits of learning how to use a bong is its ability to filter unhealthy toxins out of the smoke. 

As you are probably already aware, inhaling the raw smoke from a joint or pipe is never really too good for your lungs. Luckily, multiple studies have found that the water in a bong actually acts as an effective filtration device, as the “water filtration reduces both the amount of particulate matter and the number and quantity of toxic substances in the smoke that passes through it.” 

Researchers have also found that smoke passing through water also removes many of its toxins and harmful compounds. As a long-term option for consuming cannabis, bongs are a great tool when keeping your health in mind.

No Need to Roll

Another benefit of using a bong is that you no longer are required to roll joints. Although the art of rolling can be a fun and creative process, it ultimately takes time to complete. 

A bong simplifies this by giving tokers a reusable and reliable piece of equipment.

Great for Groups

Make no mistake about it, bongs are excellent for smoking in large groups. 

They don’t have the time restraint like joints do and can offer tokers a smooth a velvety smoking experience without too much pressure. Each participant will choose how much weed to consume and can go at their own pace. 

That said, bongs also offer up a great deal of customization, allowing users to change out parts with ease, making it highly customizable to personal or group preference.

How To Use A Bong

After covering the need to know basics, we can get right down to business and get to the part you’ve all been waiting for, teaching you how to use a bong! 

What You Will Need:

• Your favourite strain of righteous bud
• A bong (including the downstem and bowl)
• A lighter, mini torch, or hemp wick
• Cool water
• A weed grinder
• Cleaning tools for your bong. A ziplock plastic bag and an alcoholic solution with coarse salt will help with scrubbing the resin off of your bong.

Directions:

 

Step 1: Set Up Your Bong Rig

Before you can smoke, you’re going to have to make sure your bong equipment is clean and ready to go. 

Ensure the water chamber is filled and that your bowl is able to slide in and out of the downstem smoothly. 

When filling your bong with water, pour it into the bong through the mouthpiece and make sure there is enough water to submerge the bottom of the downstem.

 

Step 2: Prep Your Weed and Pack the Bowl

Using your grinder, break up your herb into a fine mist, so it is ready to be smoked. 

To do this, open the lid of the grinder and place small bits of weed between the teeth. If you can’t fit the whole nug, break it into smaller chunks with your fingers and insert what you can. 

Close the lid and rotate it clockwise and then counter-clockwise to grind the weed. Rinse and repeat until you have enough to smoke.

Once your weed is ground to a uniform consistency, pack your bowl with enough to fill it to the top and pack it down firmly but not too tightly. You could also use some sort of flat tool to help with the process.

 

Step 3: Spark Up And Take the First Toke

Now you’re ready to light the bowl up. 

Before you start to light the bowl up, put your mouth against the mouthpiece and get ready to inhale. Grab your lighter, torch, or hemp wick and aim the flame at a corner of the bowl and start inhaling in a slow and controlled manner. 

At this point, you should see the smoke travel from the bowl through the downstem and to the bottom of the bong in the water chamber.

 

Step 4: Clear the Bowl

When you see the water chamber bubbling and filled with smoke, remove the bowl and clear the chamber by maintaining a smooth and steady inhale. 

Once you remove the bowl, the airflow will cause the smoke to be removed from the water and into your lungs. 

Hold the smoke in for as long as you can and then exhale.

 

Step 5: Clean the Bong

This part isn’t as fun, but you’ll need to clean your bong to prevent resin buildup. Bong water can get dirty and eventually result in a foul-smelling odour, so cleaning is essential to a good experience.

You can manually scrub the bong’s main parts and place the removable parts in a ziplock bag with a cleaning solution and some coarse salt. 

Shake the bag after the parts have been placed inside and the salt should be able to remove most of the gunk. Remove the parts and rinse them off with some clean water.

 

How to Use a Bong – Practice Makes Perfect

Now that you know how to use a bong, it’s a great time to start experimenting with the different types of high you can achieve. 

But before you get too crazy with accessories, it’s important to find your ground with a few key pieces that you enjoy. Also, practice makes perfect. Your first experience in learning how to use a bong will likely not be your best, but that’s okay! 

It’s all about experimenting with different elements to figure out the right ratios and what works best for you to have an excellent, comfortable smoking experience.

As always, we recommend finding the best equipment at a trusted dispensary. 

Happy trails!