Pipes have been a heavily utilized tool and smoking vessel for generations, and weed pipes are no exception. Pretty much since the discovery, taming and utilization of fire, humankind has used pipes for a variety of purposes.
For example, ceremonial pipes have been used for religious and other purposes throughout history. For instance, Native Americans would smoke from them after treaties or agreements were made, which is where the term “peace-pipe” originated.
Today, pipes are a little bit more modernized, but the materials themselves haven’t changed all that much over the years.
Now, you may think that, with a more health-oriented consumer population, that smoking and smoking accessories such as tobacco or weed pipes would be on their way out. However, this isn’t necessarily the case.
In fact, following the legalization of cannabis in Canada, a vast assortment of different weed pipes have experienced a revival in popularity due to their portability, intricacy, and eye-catching appearance, not to mention an excellent way to enjoy some gorgeous ganja.
But before we get into how many different types of weed pipes there are – and there’s a lot – let’s first learn about the different types of materials they’re made from and any advantages and disadvantages they may have.
What are Weed Pipes Made of?
In the beginning, most pipes were crafted out of natural materials, such as wood, bamboo, reeds, clay, and stone. Today, most are made out of glass or metal.
Our capability to manipulate and control raw materials like this allows us to incorporate more advantages and helpful features that historical pipes just can’t compare to.
Here is a quick walkthrough of the various materials used to make modern weed pipes:
Glass
This is the most widely utilized material for weed pipes due to glass’ natural resistance to high temperatures and the increasing popularity of dab rigs and bongs, which require being heated for longer periods of time.
As well, inhaling from glass weed pipes can also help decrease the harmful effects of smoke by filtering it before inhalation.
Not only that, but glass is cleaner in terms of being more resistant to germs than, say, a wood or clay pipe would be. In this way, they’re also easier to clean and can be constructed to hold water.
Metal
As one of the strongest materials on the planet, metal will offer you much more durability than a glass, wood, or acrylic pipe would.
Another advantage of metal pipes is they can be made to be very small and discreet, making it easy to carry them in your pocket.
Stone
Stone pipes can be very durable and will likely last you a long time, and like metal pipes, stone pipes can be made to be very small and easy to conceal.
Another benefit of stone pipes is how beautiful they can be; smoking out of a white marble weed pipe doesn’t sound too shabby.
Clay
Both stone and clay pipes are the OG’s when it comes to tobacco and weed pipes. That said, clay pipes can be easily customized and constructed.
All they need is to be cured with a little heat or fire. Unfortunately, clay isn’t nearly as durable as glass, stone, or metal pipes, and they have a tendency to burn hot, which can leave users with burned or singed fingers.
Bamboo
While we love the fact that bamboo is a greener alternative to metal and glass pipes, it’s not at the top of our list.
This is because bamboo is porous and will absorb a good portion of smoke and tar, making it susceptible to becoming really smelly and also tricky to clean.
Wood
Like clay and stone pipes, wood pipes have been around since the beginning. There are a lot of options with this material because of all the different types of wood grains, colors, and densities, but harder wood makes for a better constructed and longer-lasting product.
That said like bamboo, wood pipes are porous and are harder to clean. They also tend to absorb a lot of the tar and smoke, which can make them stink.
Types of Weed Pipes
Now that we covered the basics about weed pipe materials, it’s time to learn about the different types of pipes you can choose from:
One-Hitters
One-hitters (also known as chillums) are small hand weed pipes that come in the form of a cylindrical tube made of either glass, metal, stone, clay, bamboo, and wood that holds just enough weed for “one hit”.
They’re portable and easy to carry in your pocket, or you can purchase a dugout to carry it and a couple of grams of ground bud.
Spoon Weed Pipes
Typically made from glass, a spoon pipe will be shaped or outlined to resemble a spoon – shocking, we know – and are the most popular pipes used in the United States and Canada.
They come in so many sizes, colours, and designs that it would be impossible not to find one that catches your fancy.
These weed pipes are larger and more durable than a glass one-hitter would be, and they sport a much larger bowl reservoir that will hold much more weed per smoke session.
Sherlock Pipes
If you’re a Lord of the Rings fan, then a Sherlock Pipe will be somewhat familiar to you. These fun looking contraptions flaunt the curvaceous “U” shape pipe that Gandalf the Grey smokes from throughout all three films.
However, of course, they were initially popularized by their namesake, Sherlock Holmes.
They’re difficult to travel with and clean, and they break easily because of their long, thin stems.
Steamroller Weed Pipes
Steamrollers are long, cylindrical glass pipes with a little bowl attached to the top.
They’re about the size of a blunt and are essentially thought of as a small, handheld dry bong that is beloved for its ability to produce massive hits.
Bubbler Pipes
Almost always made of glass, bubbler pipes are crafted to hold water to provide a less harsh smoking experience.
They also feature a mouthpiece and stem, so there are a couple of extra pieces that you need to keep clean, and the water in the reservoir can get bogged down with bacteria, fungus, or mold if not kept clean.
These weed pipes are commonly referred to as “mini bongs.”
Foldable Pipes
A foldable pipe is basically a pop-up pipe that is made to be converted from a small object to a fully functioning pipe in seconds.
Another advantage is that they’re lightweight and can be made from an array of materials, colours, and sizes that are simple and straightforward to use.
Stealth Pipes
Stealth pipes are exactly what they sound like: pipes designed to be incognito. They can take on the appearance of everyday items like a pack of gum, a cigarette, a flashlight, or a tube of lipstick.
These accessories can be made from virtually any material we have on our list and are some of our favourites for the sheer creativity and ingeniousness that goes into making these weed pipes.
Alternatives to Weed Pipes
If you’re a more health-conscious user and would like to avoid the adverse health effects that are commonly associated with smoking, such as inhaling tar and harmful carcinogens, then vaporizer pens and kits pose an excellent alternative.
The reason why many tokers are switching to vaporizers as a healthier option to enjoy their bud is that vapes do not combust the plant matter.
Instead, they heat the dry flower or cannabis concentrate of choice to the optimal temperature without actually burning it, allowing for a cleaner, safer, and more comfortable experience.
Pyro vaporizer kits come with THC distillate cartridges with reintroduced strain-specific terpenes, providing a high-quality taste while also being sleek and discreet. With an assortment of strains to choose from, you can use our vaporizers any time, anywhere conveniently and discreetly.
Weed Pipes – Variety is the Spice of Life
There you have it! You’re now thoroughly educated about the most popular types of weed pipes on the market, and how they’re made.
When it comes to smoking weed, there are a ton of options out there, but we hope you take what you’ve learned here today and are able to find your perfect pipe.
Whether these descriptions are enough or you’d like to experiment to find out which works best for you, that’s part of the fun!
Another benefit of these accessories is that you can use either dry flower or cannabis concentrates, whichever suits your fancy. In this realm, Pyro Extracts’ premium distillate concentrates are an excellent addition to enhance the potency of the flower.
So, the next time you’re packing a bowl with dry herb, sprinkle a bit of concentrate on the top and enjoy.
As always, happy toking!
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