Hookah Blog

If you’re looking to purchase your first hookah setup, look no further — this hookah buying guide is for you! Purchasing a setup as a newcomer can be a daunting challenge. You might want to get a great deal and a pipe that is tailored to your preferences. Like with every other hobby, you’ll come to realize there are tiers of products, but not every part of the setup has to come from the same tier. There are a variety of options and what you choose will shape the experience you’re going to get. This blog will hopefully aid in this decision and provide some tips to keep in mind depending on the type of hookah session you are looking for. In this guide, we will be going over everything you need to know before buying your first hookah pipe.

Purchasing the right hookah pipe - Which type should you get?

Purchasing a hookah isn’t as challenging a task as you might think. You don’t need a fancy or luxurious hookah pipe to have a good session but there are a few things you should consider when you are investing in a pipe. For instance, there are two types of pipes: traditional and modern.

Traditional Hookah Pipes Traditional hookah pipes tend to be the cheaper pipes but don’t let that fool you: They are built to last and with good care, they will last you a lifetime! Qualities you’ll find in most traditional pipes include:

• They are made of one solid piece (cannot be broken down)
• The material is brass, copper, or stainless steel (or a combination of those 3)
• They do not have many bells and whistles
• They have a tighter draw/more restricted purge
• Most are medium to tall in height

Modern Hookah Pipes Usually, the more expensive hookahs of the two are modern hookah pipes. They also have their own set of qualities that make them pretty distinguishable:

• They can be broken down into many pieces (most modern pipes)
• They are made of stainless steel or aluminum
• They tend to have unique purging systems
• Many have diffusers to break up the bubbles and reduce noise
• They have a more open draw/easy to use purge
• Most are small or medium in height

We hope that the above will give you a better idea of which type of pipe will be the most suited to your specific hookah smoking needs. For example, if you are looking for a more open draw and transporting your hookah is important to you, a more modern hookah is what you should be looking at. On the other hand, if you are looking for a cheaper option and primarily smoke at home, a traditional pipe should do the trick.

Now let’s proceed to address some of the most common questions buyers have when searching for a setup.

Purchasing the right setup - Common questions:

“Does the height of the hookah matter?” Many people believe that the height of the hookah is going to drastically affect your smoking session but the truth of the matter is that that’s not always the case. The only time you will see the height of the hookah affecting the session is with very small ones. In this situation, the metal can get hot from the bowl leading to the smoke also becoming slightly hotter than when smoking from a taller pipe.

“What type of metals should I be looking for when trying to buy a pipe?” Brass, copper, stainless steel, and aluminum are the most commonly used metals in hookah manufacturing. The MOST important thing to look out for is the quality of the metal. Low-quality metals won’t hold up as well over time and will eventually give you issues with possible air leaks, corrosion, or even a broken pipe. Equally important is that before you make a purchase you do your research online as each brand is different with regards to the materials they use. It is a great idea to seek the advice from other hookah enthusiasts on their own experiences with specific brands. Finally, it is more important to do your research with modern pipes than it is with traditional pipes as the modern ones are mass-produced while the traditional pipes are typically handmade.

“What is the range of prices that I could expect to pay?” Generally speaking, one could expect to spend anywhere from about $50-$300 for a pipe. Now there are a lot of factors that can determine price: where the pipe was made, which metal was used, if it has innovative features, and so forth. If you are a first-time hookah buyer it might be best to try out a traditional pipe or some of the cheaper priced modern ones, before shelling out a fortune on a pipe. For those who have been smoking for a while and are looking to upgrade, consider a budget of around $150-$300.

And that’s it! We hope you found Hookah Buying Guide useful and feel more prepared to purchase your next - or first - hookah pipe. As always, feel free to check out our past blogs as well as keep an eye out for future guides and how-to’s. There are many more in store!