When buying a new piece, the first question you have to ask yourself is if you want a water pipe vs. a dry pipe. This really comes down to buyer’s preference, but here we’ll talk about some pros and cons you may want to consider when deciding between a dry pipe vs. a water pipe for your next purchase.
Water Pipe vs Dry Pipe
Pros
Water pipes come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes each with their own benefits and drawbacks, but generally, there are three main benefits to water pipes over dry pipes. First of all, water pipes by definition are water filtered. This means some of the tar and heat will be pulled out of what you’re inhaling making the hits smoother and easier on your lungs. Coming with the territory of making the smoke smoother, water pipes allow you to take larger hits. Depending on what you’re looking for, this may be a pro or a con, but with some filtration you can produce much larger draws. Finally, water pipes tend to have more wow factor than the average dry pipe. There’s just something beautiful about a glass water pipe.
Cons
On the other hand, producing larger hits means that you’re going to burn through your product faster. So, if conservation is a concern, a water pipe might not be what you’re looking for. It’s just harder to take small hits from a water pipe than a dry pipe. Since water pipes must have a water chamber, they are generally larger than dry pipes. So, if you need to be inconspicuous, a water pipe isn’t your friend. The larger size also makes them more difficult to transport than dry pipes. So if you want something you can bring around with you, I wouldn’t recommend a water pipe. This extra chamber also makes cleaning water pipes a bit more difficult than dry pipes since you can’t get direct access to all the inside parts. In summary, water pipes provide larger, smoother hits, but this generally comes with added size and lack of portability.
Dry Pipes vs Water Pipes
Pros
Like water pipes, dry pipes come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. While they can also be intricate works of art, most dry pipes just don’t bring the same wow factor as water pipes. Instead, they tend to be smaller and more portable. Being smaller also makes dry pipes easier to protect than water pipes. You can just tuck them in your pocket and be careful, but it’s easy to find a cheap, effective case that protects your dry pipe at much less cost than a comparative case for a water pipe. It’s also easier to take small hits from a dry pipe. So, if you prefer to smoke like a hummingbird, taking a little bit at a time, a dry pipe may be perfect for you! If you’re concerned about conserving your product, this can really help. On top of all this, dry pipes tend to be cheaper than water pipes. Considering all these factors, I think a dry pipe makes an ideal first piece if you’re just starting your collection!
Cons
If you’re looking for something to take huge hits from, a dry pipe probably isn’t what you’re looking for. While some out there may be able to do this, the unfiltered smoke can be quite harsh, making it difficult and even painful to take large hits. Aside from this though, there really aren’t many other negatives to dry pipes. If simplicity, portability, and ease of use are your concerns, a dry pipe might be the perfect next piece for you!
Conclusion
Ultimately though, it really comes down to your preference. Personally, I’ve gotten so used to filtered smoke, I have a hard time going back to using dry pipes as my daily piece. I do still rely on a dry pipe if I am going somewhere, making it an important part of my collection, but my general preference lies more toward water pipes. Hopefully though, this helps you figure out which you may prefer. The only way to know for sure is to give both a shot and really test your own preferences!