You may have noticed silicone pipes and water pipes are becoming more and more common. More and more shops are carrying silicone pipes and water pipes, but why is this? Is it just a fad where everyone wants an all silicone life or is silicone really an improvement over glass? The answer really depends on what you want. Learn more about silicone vs glass bongs today.
Silicone vs. Glass Bongs Pros
When you think about it, all a water pipe needs is a base that holds water with a tube into the water, so silicone can function just as well as glass in that right, and silicone pieces certainly have some benefits over glass. Perhaps the largest benefit of silicone is its durability. Silicone has been deemed unbreakable. If you’re someone who breaks any piece they so much as look at, a silicone water pipe might be perfect for you! You can drop it, pack it anywhere, and even fold it up and your silicone will simply flop back into position! The pliability and durability of silicone makes it wildly portable. If you want a water pipe you can take with you camping, then look no further than a silicone pipe. You can just throw it in your bag and go without having to worry about being gentle or packing carefully around it. For me, this is the reason I have to have a silicone piece for my collection. I’ve never been able to enjoy a water pipe while camping because I just couldn’t accept the high probability of breaking my glass. So, I always just brought one of my small glass pipes that are easier to protect, but now a silicone water pipe has become a must on the packing list for any outdoor excursion I go on! Moreover, silicone is non-polar, so resin is less likely to stick to it than glass. This will make cleaning silicone easier than glass, but there are other issues with cleaning silicone we will consider below.
Silicone vs. Glass Bongs Cons
While silicone pieces have their benefits, there are drawbacks that ensure silicone will never fully take over my glass cabinet. First and foremost, but perhaps not most important in the grand scheme of things, a silicone piece will never be as beautiful as a sparkling, clean glass piece. Working with silicone just isn’t the same artform that working with glass is. Aesthetics aside though, there are other issues with silicone. For one, some people think there is an unpleasant taste associated with silicone pieces, and even speculate that it could be unhealthy. While there is sometimes an unpleasant taste, it is unlikely the silicone itself poses any medical issues as it is very stable and high-quality silicone is commonly used in implants.
Another place where silicone pieces fall short of glass is in the possible percolators. Silicone does not lend itself to some of the complicated percolators we enjoy in glass pieces. Moreover, even if these complicated percolators could be achieved with silicone, you wouldn’t be able to see them. Some have tried to get around this by making hybrid pieces with a glass percolator but a silicone base and mouthpiece. Although, these hybrid pieces are far from unbreakable. Another issue with being unable to see the percolator or the inside of the piece is that it will be hard to tell when it needs cleaned. Conversely, when you are cleaning, it will be difficult to tell when your piece is clean. This means you could be leaving chunks of resin that are contaminated with whatever cleaning product you use in your pipe. So, with silicone, be extra careful not to leave solvent in it after cleaning as this could be harmful or toxic if inhaled. So, be sure to rinse your piece thoroughly (5 or more times!) and let it sit for at least an hour if not longer before use after cleaning.
So, silicone probably won’t run the glass market out of business, but it does improve over glass in some categories. If you have butterfingers or just need a durable water pipe you can pack up and take with you, silicone might be perfect for you! For this reason, I fancy myself a glass collector, but even I want a silicone piece in my collection!
