Contents
*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Hookahs have become very popular these days. The modern market is filled with various types of these products, which can make buying them a daunting task. Today we will tell you what you need to pay attention to when buying a hookah in order to choose a quality model.
The principle of operation and the device of a hookah
Smoking with a hookah is considered less harmful and dangerous to health than conventional cigarettes, pipes or other smoking devices. The smoke that passes through the product is cooled and filtered, getting rid of a large amount of harmful substances.
A hookah consists of a flask, shaft, bowl, hose and other elements. The basis of the product is a flask into which water is poured, which is necessary to clean the smoke. A shaft is attached to the flask, which also acts as a filter. A hose is attached to the shaft, through which we inhale smoke. A tube, in turn, is attached to the hose, which is immersed in water. At the top of the hookah is a bowl, usually made of clay, marble or glass. It contains tobacco. It is covered with thick aluminum foil or a special device – kaloud. Heated coal is placed on top of the foil, which allows the tobacco to heat up to the required temperature.
When inhaled through the hose, the pressure difference forces the air through the charcoal, heating the tobacco, resulting in smoke. The smoke leaves the tobacco, passes through the shaft into the water, causing a characteristic gurgling, and is discharged into the part of the flask filled with air. After it passes through the hose, it is filtered, cooled, and the smoker inhales it.
When preparing a hookah, it is important to consider several nuances:
The hookah shaft should be immersed in liquid for two to three centimeters. Make sure that the end of the shaft does not come out into the air while the water is bubbling;
It is not recommended to use dense tobacco. Before placing it in the bowl, knead it with your hands;
There should be a distance of two to three centimeters between the top layer of tobacco and the edge of the bowl;
Use several layers of foil (3-4 for thin and 2 layers for thick);
Coals should be placed along the edges of the bowl – this will make the heating of tobacco more uniform and improve the quality of the smoke.
Height
The amount of smoke or draft does not depend on the height of the hookah. On the Internet, you can often find that small products smoke worse and their taste is less pronounced. But seasoned smokers know that it is not the height of the hookah that affects the quality of smoke and traction, but the features of the bowl, the hose and the diameter of the shaft. There is also an opinion that a long shaft filters smoke better – more harmful compounds remain on its walls. However, if we take into account the fact that the mine cleans up to 10% of hazardous substances (the main filter is water in the flask), this difference becomes insignificant. Thus, it turns out that a high-quality small hookah smokes and cleans no worse than a high-quality hookah of the same quality.
It is also believed that a tall hookah cools the smoke better than a small one. This is true, but the difference is almost imperceptible. Cooling is more affected by the thermal conductivity of the mine and the temperature of the water – if you use a colder liquid, then the smoke will be cooler.
A small product can be a good option for a travel lover, while a tall hookah will have to be used at home. Taking it with you on a visit or a trip will not be very convenient. In addition, a product that is too tall can be difficult to pull.
What should be the mine
The durability of the product directly depends on the material that was used in the production of the mine. Most commonly used:
Stainless steel. Considered one of the best options. With regular use (about three to four times a week), a stainless steel shaft can withstand about 8-10 years;
Copper. The copper shaft changes color over time and lasts about two to three years;
Brass. Shafts made of this material last about one to two years. In addition, brass elements must be polished regularly to maintain their characteristic luster;
Chinese alloys. Mines from unknown alloys (made by China) are used for about a year. However, they do not cool well and filter the smoke.
When buying, be sure to pay attention to the diameter of the shaft. It is from him that the ease of traction, as well as the amount and taste of smoke, will depend. The larger its diameter, the easier it is to pull and the better the hookah smokes. A value of 12-15 mm is considered optimal, you should not choose less.
Over time, condensed compounds are deposited on the walls of the mine, and because of this, traction deteriorates. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly clean the shaft with a hard and fine brush.
Choosing a quality bowl
The taste of the hookah depends on the bowl. Even if you have chosen all the main elements correctly, a bad thicket can ruin everything. Therefore, be sure to pay attention to its size and the material from which it is made.
The bowls are:
ceramic;
Clay;
silicone;
Metallic.
Clay bowl is considered the most successful option. It distributes heat well and evenly, so that the tobacco does not overheat, and the smoke does not taste bitter. However, such a bowl has low strength and strongly absorbs odors. An alternative to a clay bowl is ceramic. She is not so fragile, but her heat distribution is “lame”. Therefore, in such a bowl, tobacco can burn.
Silicone bowls are more durable and less “demanding”. However, when heated, they can release harmful substances, and they do not look presentable. Metal elements are very rare, because. they often result in tobacco burning.
Remember that deep bowls should be chosen for a long smoking time (more than two to three hours), while small models will last one to two hours.
Which flask for hookah is better
When buying, you need to pay attention not to the size of the flask, but to the material from which it is made. Flasks are most often made from:
Glass;
Crystal;
Plastic;
Blown (Bohemian) glass;
Metal.
It is not recommended to choose plastic and metal flasks. Plastic is a cheap and short-lived material, it is prone to absorb odors and discolor. Metals such as copper can also absorb odor. In addition, they close the view, i.e. it is impossible to see how much liquid is in the flask.
Crystal flasks are also not popular, because. Crystal is an expensive and very fragile material. Glass is considered the best option – it is inexpensive, and it is easy to find a replacement, and the water level in the flask is visible.
Blown glass is more expensive than ordinary glass, but it is not as fragile. At the same time, Bohemian glass flasks are much heavier, which means that they are more difficult to turn over or overturn. In addition, they look more elegant than ordinary glass products.
Also, when buying, pay attention to the place where the flask and shaft are attached. It can be a seal or a thread. It is recommended to choose with seals, because. if a threaded bulb is damaged, it can be difficult to pick up a new one.
Which hookah hose to choose
The cooling of the smoke and the ease of draft depend on the hose. A narrow hose makes it difficult to smoke, and a wide one, on the contrary, improves traction, and the hookah lights up faster. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a tube with a large diameter.
Also, when buying, consider the length of the hose. Too short a tube will be inconvenient to use in a large company and pass to each other at the table.
Choose washable hoses. Thanks to this, you will not be “chased” by the cacophony of odors absorbed as a result of smoking different types of tobacco over the entire period of operation.
When buying a hose, be sure to check its tightness. To do this, close one end of your finger, and blow into the other end. If you hear a whistle of air coming out, stop buying.
Mouthpiece and valve
Mouthpieces are often made from metal, wood, glass, and plastic. Wooden products quickly become unusable and bacteria can develop in them, while the rest serve for a long time. At the same time, it is desirable that the mouthpiece has a wide diameter – this will provide good traction.
The valve is located on the other side of the shaft from the hose. It contains a small iron ball that allows you to reduce the amount of smoke and get rid of bitterness while smoking. Before buying, make sure the ball comes off easily and the valve opens when you blow into the hose.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.