Different Types of Hand Pipes – A Quick Guide

Did you know people enjoyed dry herbs even back in the primitive era? How? Herbal pipes were used to consume dry herbs. Although considered ancient tools to smoke tobacco and dry herbs, hand pipes have evolved with time and are available in several shapes, colors, and designs. They have fast become a favorite with most smokers worldwide. If you're a smoke shop owner or a dispensary owner and are a bit confused about hand pipes, this blog will tell you all about hand pipes and their variations.

What is a hand pipe?

Hand pipes are the simplest and most basic way to smoke herbs. Reason: No need for any additional setup or attachment. Your customers can simply load their herb and start inhaling. The simplicity and ease of usage are the primary reason why smokers prefer hand pipes. Not to mention, they are handy, lightweight, and portable too.They are curvy pipes and generally feature a bowl, neck, carb, and mouthpiece. Hand pipes are made of various materials such as wood, glass, silicone, to name a few.

One of the significant drawbacks of a hand pipe is that smoking out of it can be harsher as it doesn't have a water filtration system like a bong or dab rig. However, modern hand pipes like bubblers use water to cool off the smoke.
Not just bubblers, hand pipes come in distinct shapes and sizes, and each one offers its own unique smoking experience. Plenty of variations are available, and each pipe has its own set of features and benefits, which makes them unique.

Types of Hand Pipes: Based on Function

1. Chillums or One Hitter

Conical pipes straight from the herbal bowl to the mouthpiece are called Chillums or one-hitters. Originated in India and usually made out of clay, this hand pipe became quite popular in other parts of the world as well. Even though Chillums lack carbs, they serve as excellent smoking devices for vapers who wish to smoke on the move. A chillum stone (acts as a filter or screen) is inserted inside the chillum pipe to prevent the user from inhaling the tobacco debris directly. It has a flat top and fits firmly with a tiny hole drilled through the middle.

2. Spoon Pipes

The most popular hand pipes in the smoking industry, the spoon pipes are named so for their resemblance to spoons! They come in various hues, sizes, and forms, but they all have one thing in common: a large bowl ideal for packing a vast chunk of herbs. The carb hole is typically located on the side of the pipe's bowl, and the mouthpiece is on the opposite end. One of the benefits of spoon pipes is that they are effortless to clean. With little rubbing alcohol and some salt, the pipe will be good as new in no time. Also, it allows the user to control the amount of airflow for a flexible smoking experience. Typically spoon pipes are made out of glass, but some are made of metal and silicone.

3. Sherlock Pipes

The famous detective Sherlock Holmes was often depicted with a distinctive curved pipe, giving the pipe its name. These pipes are unique in shape and are generally constructed of glass. To provide a classic smoking experience to your customers, a Sherlock Pipe is undoubtedly worth stocking upon.
Sherlock pipes are great for smokers who enjoy a more laid-back smoking experience. The curved design of the pipe allows the smoke to cool down before it hits the lungs, which makes for a more enjoyable smoking experience.

4. Bubblers

Bubblers are water pipes that are small enough to fit in the palm. Bubblers typically have a bowl, stem, and mouthpiece like a regular hand pipe, but they also have a water chamber. Their base is circular and flat, allowing them to stand independently. Although it is considerably smaller than a bong, it uses the same water filtering technology, which means the smoke will have a significantly reduced amount of heat.

Types of Hand Pipes: Based on Material

The classiest and probably oldest hand pipes are made from trees, such as the ancient oak tree. Old souls who love handmade smoking tools will dig into the wooden hand pipes. The only disadvantage of wooden hand pipes is that they may sometimes impact the flavor of the smoking material.

Easy to use and clean, glass hand pipes are a favorite display piece in most smoke shops. It is a popular choice with smokers who know how to handle their glass. Glass doesn't interfere with the taste of the herbs like the wooden pipes.

Easy to maintain, clean, and highly durable – metal pipes are a favorite with most smokers. They come with a wooden or plastic handle for easier handling as the metal can get very hot during the smoke sesh.

Pipe screen and its usage

Pipe screens are small metal or mesh discs placed over the pipe bowl. Pipe screens serve two primary purposes: to keep the herbs from falling through the bowl and prevent ash from entering the mouth. Another advantage is that the user needs to clean their bowl less often with a pipe screen. Pipe screens are a great way to ensure a clean and enjoyable smoking experience. They are effortless to use and must be stocked up in all smoke shops.

Conclusion