Tired of cheap, fragile, or harsh hitting bongs? When it comes to production pieces, the best glass bongs are quality controlled for function, safety, and durability. Many first-time bong buyers go with the most affordable option and end up regretting it once it breaks or when they try something better. Never forget that you get what you pay for and the best option is never going to be the cheapest one. To help you get it right the first time, we’ve compiled a list of the best bongs for your buck. These aren’t custom pieces, so you should be able to find everything on this list online or at a head shop.
Toro Full Size 7 to 13 Arm
Toro Glass was founded in upstate New York where they still design and manufacture highly sought after glass pipes and quartz bangers. The company has been around for over a decade and founder JP has been blowing glass for nearly two decades. They’ve maintained their quality and reputation over the years with an ever-evolving line of scientific-style bongs and rigs.
The Price
$710.00
The Good
The Toro 7 Arm To 13 Arm tube provides a balance. You’ll have plenty of percolation but not too much drag. Smoke gets filtered through water, not once, but twice through several tree arm percolators. The straight tube design makes it easier to clear and less likely to break if the bottom bumps something hard. Even if the base gets chipped, the function won’t change.
The Bad
The tube is large, so it takes some lung capacity to clear it all in one hit. However, once the slide is removed the smoke travels quickly to you.
Beta Glass Labs Petra
Beta Glass Labs is becoming a bigger name in the production glass game, bringing the designs and quality dabbers have come to love at a fairer price. They are proudly made in Germany and give you the option to get American-colored accents on the lips and percolators.
The Price
The Good
The Petra is made with thick Schott glass all around with extra thickness at the joint, mouthpiece and base. The reinforced “L” bridge makes the joint stronger as well. There is slim to no drag on the inhale, even after heavy seshing. You’ll never have to strain to clear it.
With the right water level, debris fly up to the second chamber instead of collecting at the base and clogging the percolator. Fortunately, the neck flange and bend help prevent any of that debris or water from splashing up into your mouth. On top of keeping troublesome resins at bay, the second chamber acts as an additional diffuser. Diffusers are holes that filter and cool vapors or smoke.
Saving the best for last, there is a multi-stage hybrid diffuser in the bottom chamber. With the Petra, there are two stages of diffusion happening with a shower head percolator on the bottom and a 4-hole diffuser on top of that. Users have the ability to switch from single stage filtration to dual by inhaling harder. A soft inhale will only activate the 4-hole diffuser while bigger rips allows the shower head perc to come in for the assist.
An added bonus for dabbers: the size and design of the Petra make it shine for use with concentrates. The company also makes a Petra Puffco Peak glass attachment.
The Bad
The size of the piece doesn’t put a huge amount of distance between yourself and the flame.
HiSi Double Geyser Perc
HiSi is short for highly scientific because all of their bongs and glass accessories look like they belong in a laboratory.
The Price
$419.99
The Good
One of the best things about the HiSi Double Geyser is the fact that it comes with a diffused down stem. This bong comes with black plastic caps on the base of the beaker that make it easy to pour out dirty water. The HiSi team has some of the best percolators in the game—especially if you want something that will bubble to the top. The double geysers shoot water up the center of the piece for a smooth smoke.
The Bad
The tiny hole percolators can get clogged after a few uses. You’ll have to clean your HiSi more often than other pieces if you want to keep it functioning at 100 percent.
Zob 18 Inch UFO Inline
Zob is a glass company with a studio in the United States. They make affordable but durable glass with German designed percolators.
The Price
$349.99
The Good
The Zob 18 Inch UFO and inline percolator bong is one of the best in its price range. For $350, you get thick glass and expertly designed percolators. With two percolators and a large volume, hits will be smooth without the need for additional attachments.
The Bad
With the amount of water and percolation going on in the inline chamber, it requires extra lung capacity to milk and clear. Your lungs will get a workout with this one.
Manifest Glassworks Stemless Diffy to Cirq
MGW Glassworks is a New York based company that has been making high-quality glass for dry herbs and concentrates for a while.
The Price
$285.00
The Good
Comes with a sturdy slide for smoking flowers. Two percolators provide double diffusion for a smoother hit. There is a splash guard that prevents any water from shooting up into your mouth.
The Bad
It can be hard to clean inside the dome of each circular percolater. You may need to use a cleaner that has a salt or some type of abrasive to scrub any caked-on resin off.
Illadelph 9mm Short Beaker
Illadelph is like the Louis Vuitton of the glass bong world. The company is one of the longest lasting in the industry with some of the strongest brand power. In fact, many counterfeiters have attempted to ride the hype that the company has built over the last decade. Fortunately, Illadelph pieces are exclusively sold at authorized retailers listed on their website. So, if you see an Illadelph for sale at a smoke shop not on their list, assume it is a fake.
The Price
The Good
The 9mm Short Beaker is large and sturdy with 9MM of glass at the base. Unlike dabbing, when it comes to smoking flower, bigger tends to be better. Having some distance between your mouth and the blazing cherry in your bowl piece will give the smoke some time to cool off.
The extra thick slide matches the color of the Illadelph logo and acrylic clip, making it one of the sleekest pieces on the market. The acrylic clip is there for more than decoration. It also holds your slide in place, so it doesn’t follow your bowl out after resin starts to build up.
Overall, the piece reminds us of the classic bongs with a more elegance and durability.
The Bad
Premium price for a classic beaker or straight tube.
ROOR Inline w/ 10 Arm Tree
If Illadelph is Louis V, then ROOR is the Gucci of the glass world. When it comes to production line glass, they’re OG’s. The company has been in the glass blowing industry for over 20 years.
The Price
The Good
In the two-plus decades that the brand has been around, they’ve developed a reputation for their durability and quality. The inline and 10 arm percolators provide filtration you’d usually have to outsource to an ash catcher. As a result, you won’t need any added attachments to get smooth hits out of this modern ROOR. They’ve included everything you need to get the best bong rip with no issues. On top of all that percolation, there’s a splashguard and an ice pinch. What more could you ask for?
The Bad
You may need a third lung to clear this bad boy.
Pulse Leaning Tongue
The judges at our 2012 High Times Cannabis Cup in Seattle awarded Best Glass to Pulse. The Los Angeles-based company has been hand-blowing quality, scientific, and high-end functional borosilicate glass for enough years to separate themselves from the rookies.
The Price
The Good
If you have high-quality cannabis, you’ll want to taste it. If you really want to taste more, you’ll need a second tongue. The gridded tongue percolator, to be more specific. It is guaranteed to stack bubbles to the top of the can. The tongue was inspired by the desire for more diffusion and flavor. The bent neck design prevents any splash-back.
On top of functionality, the Gridded Tongue to Disc has sandblasted art on the glass to enhance the aesthetics. Simple sophistication in aesthetics meets maximum functionality with this one.
The Bad
The joint is male which was more common when domes and nails were popular. However, it comes with a bowl piece for your dry herb needs. The gridded tongue is all the percolation you’ll get and the male joint will limit your options when shopping for ash catchers.
Mobius Strato Matrix
The founder of Mobius, John, has been blowing glass since 1999. He started the company in 2010 and has been bringing innovative glass designs to the masses ever since.
The Price
$500.00
The Good
This is one of Mobius’ largest tubes making it ideal for use with flowers. The matrix percolator tons of holes for diffusion, so you get a smooth hit every time. The piece is easy to clear when filled with smoke as well.
The Bad
The holes on the matrix stereo percolator are all over and tiny, so they clog up easily. You’re going to have to clean this piece regularly if you want there to be a minimal drag.
Sovereignty Peyote Pillar
Sovereignty Glass entered the American glass production scene in 2007. With over a decade of experience, their innovative designs have achieved fame in the glass community.
The Price
$1,170.00
The Good
If you’re looking for a large glass tube for smoking dry herbs, Sovereignty is definitely at the top. They have the straight style of an OG tube, but they also have their own unique curved neck peyote pillar design. Smoke is diffused through a “peyote ball” that has several holes in it. Bubbles start to stack on top of each other until they reach the top of the main chamber. You won’t have to worry about swallowing water because there is a bend before the smoke gets to you.
The Bad
One of the most expensive non-custom pieces you can find on the market.
If you want your bong to milk for years to come, it’s time to invest in one of the best glass bongs on the market. While all glass is vulnerable to breaking, especially when dropped on hard surfaces, the products on this list are some of the most likely to survive. Furthermore, they’re quality controlled more than the competition to ensure optimal function without any flaws.
