hand pipes

Hand Pipes Guide: Glass, Metal and One Hitters, and How to Pick One

A hand pipe is the simplest piece you can own: no water, no batteries, nothing to charge. But there are a lot of styles out there. Here is a quick guide to the main types of hand pipes and how to pick the right one.

The Main Types of Hand Pipes

  • Spoon pipes: the classic glass hand pipe, with a bowl, a carb hole and a stem. Easy to use and easy to clean.
  • Hammer pipes: shaped like a hammer, so they can stand up on their own.
  • Chamber pipes: have extra chambers in the stem, which give the smoke a little more room to cool down.
  • One hitters: small, single-hit pipes, often sold with a dugout case that holds the pipe and your herbs.
  • Metal pipes: tougher than glass, so they are hard to break. Good for travel.

Glass vs Metal

Glass gives a clean taste, shows off color and is easy to see when it needs cleaning, but it can break if dropped. Metal is nearly unbreakable and easy to toss in a bag, but it gets hot faster. Many people own one of each.

Size Matters

Smaller pipes (around 3 to 4 inches) are easy to carry. Bigger pipes (5 inches and up) give the smoke more distance to cool before it reaches you, which usually means a smoother hit.

Hand Pipes We Carry

Need to break things down first? Read 2-Piece vs. 4-Piece Grinders.

How to Clean a Hand Pipe

  • Drop the pipe in a zip bag with isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt.
  • Shake for a minute or two, then let it soak if it is really dirty.
  • Rinse with warm water and let it dry completely.
  • Use a pipe cleaner for the stem and carb hole.

The same method works on bigger glass. See How to Clean a Glass Water Pipe for the full walkthrough.

Hand Pipes FAQ

What is the best hand pipe for beginners?

A glass spoon pipe around 4 to 5 inches is the easiest place to start. It is simple to use, easy to clean and gives a smooth hit.

Is a glass or metal pipe better?

Glass gives a cleaner taste and is easy to see when it needs cleaning. Metal is tougher and better for travel but gets hot faster.

What is a one hitter?

A one hitter is a small, single-hit pipe. It is often sold with a dugout case that holds both the pipe and your herbs.

How do you clean a glass hand pipe?

Shake it in a bag with isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt, rinse with warm water and let it dry. Use a pipe cleaner for the stem.

For adults 21+ only. For use with legal smoking products only.

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