If you’re new to bongs, you might be wondering what exactly you need to get started.
It’s not just about grabbing the first glass piece you see and lighting up—there are key components that affect everything from airflow to smoothness. Some of them are necessary for the bong to function, while others are optional and serve to enhance your enjoyment or make maintenance of your bong more practical.
A well-functioning bong setup consists of more than just the bong itself.
You’ll need a bowl, a downstem, and fresh water at the very least. But if you want smoother hits, cleaner smoke, and better flavor, accessories like percolators, ash catchers, and ice pinches can take your sessions to the next level.
This guide breaks down exactly what you need for a bong, and provides some expert tips on how each component impacts your smoking experience. By the end, you’ll know not just what to buy, but why it matters.
The Bread and Butter: What Every Bong Needs
A bong isn’t just a piece of glass—it’s a system designed to cool and filter smoke for a smoother experience. At its core, a bong setup consists of three must-have components:
The Bong Itself
Duh.
This is your base, and the type of bong you choose affects everything else. Beaker bongs hold more water and offer stability, while straight tubes clear faster for bigger rips. Recycler bongs keep the smoke moving, reducing harshness. No matter the style, borosilicate glass is the gold standard for durability and heat resistance.
A Bowl Piece
The bowl holds your ground herb and fits into the downstem. Most bongs use 14mm or 18mm bowls, but regardless which one you select, you should make sure it matches your downstem’s joint size.
Some bowls have built-in screens to keep debris out of your bong water. In case yours doesn’t, you should probably get removable metal screens that fit into the bowl tightly.
Helpful Resource -> Bong Bowl Sizes
A Downstem
This small but crucial tube connects the bowl to the water, allowing smoke to be filtered. Diffused downstems (with slits or holes) create extra bubbles, improving filtration. Some bongs use fixed downstems, but if yours is removable, measure its length before buying a replacement.
Bonus: Fresh Water
It might seem obvious, but clean water makes a huge difference. Dirty bong water not only ruins the flavor but can also harbor bacteria that could be dangerous to your health. Change the water daily—or after each session if you want the safest experience possible.
With just these basics, your bong is ready to use. But if you’re looking to refine your experience, the right accessories can take things up a notch.
Cannabis Preparation Tools: Getting the Perfect Pack
A great bong hit starts before you even light the bowl.
Properly preparing your cannabis ensures even burning, better airflow, and smoother inhales. To do it properly, you need to have the right utensils on hand:
✔ Quality Herb – Fresh, properly cured cannabis burns evenly and delivers optimal flavor. Avoid overly dry or sticky buds.
✔ Herb Grinder – Breaks your cannabis into a consistent, medium-fine grind for even burning. A four-piece grinder with a kief catcher is ideal if you are a perfectionist.
✔ Packing Tool or Tamper – Helps to pack your bowl evenly without over-compressing the herb and keeps your fingers clean.
✔ Lighter or Hemp Wick – A butane lighter works just fine, but hemp wick burns cleaner and preserves more of the original flavor of the buds.
✔ Bowl Screen (Optional) – Prevents small bits of herb from falling into your bong’s downstem and potentially clogging airflow.
Accessories That Enrich Your Bong Experience
A simple bong setup will get you high, but adding the right accessories can improve filtration, smoothness, and overall function. Whether you’re after cooler hits, cleaner glass, or better airflow, these add-ons make a noticeable difference.
Percolators: Extra Filtration for Superb Hits
Percolators (or “percs”) break smoke into smaller bubbles, increasing surface area and cooling it down before it reaches your lungs. Some bongs come with built-in percs, but you can also add a percolated downstem or an ash catcher with a perc for an upgrade. Popular styles of percs that could work for you include:
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Tree percs – Characterized by multiple arms that diffuse smoke evenly.
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Honeycomb percs – Flat discs covered in tiny holes that facilitate max filtration.
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Showerhead percs – Vertical slits that create a smooth, bubbling effect.
Ash Catchers: Keep Your Bong Cleaner
Ash catchers attach to your downstem and trap debris before it enters your bong, reducing buildup and making cleaning easier. Some even come with percolators for an extra layer of filtration and a smoother taste. If you hate scrubbing resin off your glass, this is a must-have.
Ice Catchers: Cool Down Harsh Smoke
Many bongs have ice pinches in the neck that let you stack ice cubes above the water chamber.
As the smoke passes through, it cools down before it reaches the mouthpiece. This simple enhancement makes hits less harsh for beginners without requiring additional accessories.
Screens: Prevent Clogged Downstems
If your bowl doesn’t have built-in filtration, tiny pieces of herb can pull through and clog your downstem. Glass, metal, or ceramic screens prevent this while maintaining high capacity airflow, even after a long period of use.
Some smokers also use a larger nug at the bottom of the bowl as a natural screen.
Hemp Wick: A Smarter Way to Light Your Bowl
Standard lighters use butane, which can add an unwanted taste to your hits. Hemp wick, made from beeswax-coated hemp, burns at a lower temperature for a cleaner, more natural smoking experience.
How to Use a Bong Properly
Using a bong might seem straightforward enough to a beginner — light, inhale, enjoy.
More experienced smokers know that even small mistakes can lead to harsher hits, wasted herb, or a messy setup. Follow these steps to get the smoothest, most efficient experience every time.
Fill Your Bong with the Right Amount of Water
Put too much liquid, and you’ll be drinking bong water. Too little, and you’re not getting proper filtration. It’s a fine balance, but you can get it right if you follow this simple procedure:
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Fill the water chamber until the downstem slits are fully submerged (about ½–1 inch above the slits).
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Test the pull by inhaling without lighting the bowl—if you get splashed, pour some water out.
Grind and Pack Your Bowl Correctly
A medium-fine grind gives the best airflow. If you overdo it, you’ll inhale plant material; but you can’t leave the herb too chunky either, or it won’t burn evenly. Pack the bowl loosely so air can pass through easily, and if your bowl has a large hole, use a screen or a small nug as a base.
Lighting the Bowl: Cornering for Efficiency
When smoking with others, practice the cornering technique —only burning a section of the bowl near the end so that everyone gets fresh greens. Use a hemp wick for a cleaner taste and less exposure to butane.
Inhale Slowly, Then Clear the Chamber
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Place your lips inside (not around) the mouthpiece.
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Light the bowl while gently inhaling, allowing smoke to fill the chamber.
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Once you’re ready, remove the bowl and take a deep pull to clear the smoke.
Exhale and Enjoy
Hold the smoke in your lungs for just 1–2 seconds before exhaling it completely. Contrary to popular belief, holding it longer doesn’t make you “higher” but can irritate your lungs, especially if you are not used to huge hits from a bong
Get the Most Out of Your Bong
A bong is more than just a smoking tool—it’s a filtration system designed to deliver smoother, cooler, and more enjoyable hits. Whether you're using a basic setup or upgrading with percolators, ash catchers, and ice pinches, the right gear makes all the difference.
By keeping your bong clean, using fresh water, and packing your bowl correctly, you'll get better flavor, better airflow, and a more satisfying experience overall. And if you’re looking to take your sessions to the next level, investing in high-quality, thick glass and a range of accessories ensures durability and flawless performance.
Finalize Your Bong Setup with TAG
At Thick Ass Glass (TAG), we specialize in heavy-duty borosilicate glass, precision airflow, and functional designs built for serious smokers. From beaker bongs in different sizes to custom, made-to-order pieces, our collection is designed for long-lasting performance and smoother hits.
Explore our bongs and accessories today and experience premium glass that outperforms the competition. 💨 Shop TAG now!