What Is a Water Pipe?

A water pipe is a smoking device that incorporates a water chamber into its design. The water chamber provides cooling and filtration as smoke passes through the water before reaching the mouthpiece. Water pipes can be made in many different shapes and sizes, including glass bongs, bubblers, recyclers, and other specialized designs.

How Does a Water Pipe Differ From a Dry Pipe?

The key difference is the presence of a water chamber.

A dry pipe does not use water as part of its filtration design. A water pipe incorporates water into the airflow path.

Because the designs are different, water pipes can provide a different experience from traditional dry pipes. The actual effect depends on the design, water level, filtration components, and construction.

Common Types of Water Pipes

Popular water pipe designs include:

Glass Water Pipes

Glass is one of the most common materials used for modern water pipes.

Beaker Water Pipes

These feature a wide, beaker-shaped base that provides stability.

Straight Tube Water Pipes

These use a relatively simple vertical tube design.

Recycler Water Pipes

Recycler designs use multiple chambers to circulate water through the piece.

Percolator Water Pipes

These include additional diffusion components designed to increase water contact.

Water Pipe vs. Bong

A useful way to understand the terminology is:

Water pipe = broad category

Bong = commonly used term for a particular type of water pipe

This distinction is useful for shoppers because online stores may use both “water pipe” and “bong” to describe similar products.

FAQ

Is a bong a water pipe?
Yes. A bong is generally considered a type of water pipe.

What is a glass water pipe?
A glass water pipe is a water pipe constructed primarily from glass.

What are water pipes made from?
They can be made from glass and other materials, depending on the design.