A bong cools smoke by pulling it through water before it reaches you. The result is a smoother, cooler hit than a joint or a dry pipe. Bongs look complicated the first time, but using one comes down to five steps: add water, grind, pack, light and clear. Here's how to do each one right.

The parts of a bong

• Bowl (or slide): the small removable piece that holds your ground herb.
• Downstem: the tube that carries smoke from the bowl down into the water.
• Base (or chamber): the bottom section that holds the water.
• Neck and tube: where the smoke collects after it bubbles through the water.
• Mouthpiece: the opening at the top you inhale from.
• Extras on some bongs: ice pinches (small glass bumps in the neck that hold ice cubes), percolators (extra water chambers for more filtering) and a carb (a small hole you cover and uncover instead of pulling the bowl).

Step 1: Add the right amount of water

Pour in enough water to cover the bottom of the downstem by about an inch. That's enough to filter the smoke without splashing up into your mouth. To test it, take a pull without lighting anything: the water should bubble smoothly. If it splashes up the neck, pour a little out. Start with cold, fresh water. Water that's been sitting for days smells bad and makes every hit taste stale.

Step 2: Grind your herb

Grind to a medium texture, a bit coarser than you would for a joint. Very fine herb can get pulled through the bowl into the water. A four-piece grinder gives you an even grind and saves the kief.

Step 3: Pack the bowl

Put a slightly bigger piece at the bottom of the bowl to cover the hole, then fill it loosely with ground herb. Press down gently so it holds together, but don't pack it tight; air needs to flow through. If you're new, start with a small bowl. You can always pack another.

Step 4: Light and inhale

Put your lips inside the mouthpiece (not over it) to make a seal. Hold your lighter flame just over the edge of the bowl, not directly on top of it, so you only light a corner. At the same time, start inhaling slowly and steadily. You'll see the water bubble and the chamber start to fill with smoke. Light only as much as you need. "Cornering" the bowl this way saves the rest for your next hit.

Step 5: Clear the chamber

When the chamber is as full as you want, take the flame away and pull the bowl out of the downstem (or let go of the carb). Keep inhaling to pull the rest of the smoke through. Don't leave smoke sitting in the chamber; it goes stale fast and tastes harsh. Then put the bowl back in.

After you're done

At minimum, clean the bowl. Tap the ash out of the bowl into a trash can or ashtray, and give the bowl a quick rinse or wipe. That's all you need between sessions, and you can keep using the same water for your next session the same day.

Optional: dump the water and rinse. If you're done for the day, or the water looks cloudy or smells, pour it out, give the bong a quick rinse with warm water and let it air-dry upside down. Rinsing often keeps resin from building up and keeps your hits tasting clean. For a deep clean, our cleaning supplies cut through resin fast, and the same alcohol and coarse salt method from our grinder cleaning guide works on glass too.

Tips for smoother hits

• Add ice. If your bong has ice pinches, drop a few cubes in the neck. Colder smoke is smoother.
• Go slow. A long, slow pull beats a hard, fast one.
• Change the water often. At least once a day, and any time it looks cloudy or smells. It's the easiest way to make a bong taste better.
• Keep your grinder and bowl clean. Resin buildup makes hits harsh.
• Try hemp wick. Lighting with hemp wick instead of a lighter keeps butane taste out of your hit.

FAQ

How much water should I put in a bong?
Enough to cover the bottom of the downstem by about an inch. If water splashes into your mouth, there's too much.

Do you put your lips inside or over the mouthpiece?
Inside. Your lips go just inside the rim to make a seal. Covering the outside leaks air and weakens the pull.

How often should I change bong water?
You can reuse it for a few sessions in the same day; just empty the ash from the bowl each time. Change it at least once a day, or sooner if it gets cloudy or starts to smell. Water that sits overnight makes your hits taste stale.

Why is my bong hit so harsh?
The usual causes are old water, a dirty bong, a bowl packed too tight, or letting smoke sit in the chamber too long before clearing it.

What's the difference between a bong and a dab rig?
A bong is made for dry herb, burned in a bowl. A dab rig is a smaller water piece made for concentrates, heated in a banger.

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