Pipes

Which material suits you?

The material decides how a pipe tastes, how heavy it feels and how much upkeep it needs. Here is a quick comparison of what you'll find in this category.

Glass

Glass gives the cleanest taste because it doesn't add any flavour of its own. You can see straight away when it needs cleaning, and it cleans up well. The downside: glass can break if you drop it. Examples include spoon pipes, sherlock models, the glass chillum and the 8 cm glass one-hitter.

Wood

Wooden pipes, such as the ebony models, the pirate pipes and the classic corn cob pipe, feel warm in your hand. Over time wood picks up some flavour, which some smokers actually like. A few models combine wood with a metal bowl.

Metal

Metal pipes are sturdy and often screw apart, so they're easy to clean. They do get warm faster than wood. The 7-piece aluminium pipe comes apart into seven separate parts, so you can clean each one individually.

Stone, ceramic and silicone

Stone pipes are often hand-carved, so no two are exactly alike. They're heavier and harder to clean than metal. Silicone pipes, like the Karma Go Silicone Hand Pipe, handle knocks better than glass and are practical on the go.

Pipe, herb pipe, chillum or one-hitter

A regular pipe has a bowl, a stem and a mouthpiece. A herb pipe is usually smaller, because you smoke herbs without tobacco and need less of it. A chillum is a straight, cone-shaped pipe without a separate bowl: you fill the wide end and draw from the narrow end. A one-hitter is smaller still and meant for a single hit, while a four-hitter holds a little more.

Manual vaporizers

This category also includes a few pipe-shaped vaporizers, such as the DynaVap VapCap M. They work without a battery: you heat the cap with a lighter until you hear a click. The herb is then heated rather than burned, so you inhale vapour instead of smoke.

Use and maintenance

Screens

A steel pipe screen sits at the bottom of the bowl. It stops ash and loose bits of herb from ending up in your mouth. Screens are also available in copper.

Cleaning

Residue makes the smoke harsher and the draw heavier. Soak glass and metal in isopropyl alcohol of 90% or higher with a spoonful of coarse salt. Shake well, then rinse with warm water. Never soak wood: clean the channel with a pipe cleaner and let the pipe dry thoroughly.

Frequently asked questions about pipes

Which pipe is easiest to clean?

Glass pipes and metal pipes that screw apart. You can soak them in alcohol, which you can't do with wood.

Do I need a screen?

Yes, if the bowl has a wide opening or you use finely ground herbs. Without a screen you may inhale ash or small particles.

Is a pipe less harmful than a joint?

No. Even without tobacco you're burning plant material and inhaling tar and carbon monoxide. Smoking is always harmful. If you want to avoid combustion, a vaporizer is an alternative.

Am I allowed to buy a pipe?

Yes, pipes are legal smoking accessories. Dutch-Smart only sells to customers aged 18 and over.