Collection: Hand Pipes - Bubblers, Spoon Pipes, Chillums, Sherlocks & More!

Everything You Should Know About Hand Pipes

Hand pipes or dry pipes are one of the most common and convenient ways to smoke. They are small, compact, easy to conceal, and usually last for a long time if you keep them in good condition. They’re probably the oldest known way to smoke, and as a result, they have evolved over time to have many different varieties, shapes, sizes, and designs.

Most hand pipes are made from glass, silicone, ceramic, or metal - with glass being the most common by far. Hand pipes are great for people who like to smoke quickly with little set up time, and for those who like more affordable pieces, rather than more expensive bongs or dab rigs.

What Are Hand Pipes?

Hand pipes are small, long pipes that are used for smoking dry herbs. More often than not, they have a simple design with a rush hole, mouthpiece, and bowl pack. Their designs are typically simple, but provide for a smooth and enjoyable smoking experience.

Most hand pipes are about 4-6” long and are made out of glass. They tend to have very creative and colorful designs worked into the glass, and usually tend to be quite affordable compared to other types of pipes. They provide a smooth smoking experience, but do not usually have any type of percolation or filtration.

How Do You Smoke A Hand Pipe?

Smoking a hand pipe is pretty straightforward, all you need to do is:

1. Pack the bowl
2. Put your hand on the rush hole
3. Light your bowl
4. Inhale

Depending on the type of hand pipe you have, you may need to add a few extra steps, but nothing too complicated. Overall, most people enjoy hand pipes because of their simplicity, variety, and ease of use.

Types of Hand Pipes

Hand pipes have been around for a long time. As a result, there are dozens of types of hand pipes out there - each slightly different from the next, in order to alter your smoking experience slightly. Some of the more common types of hand pipes (based on material and design) are:

Glass Hand Pipes

Glass hand pipes are by far the most common, as they are the easiest to mass produce, and they also tend to have the highest quality. Most of these pipes are available in dozens of different sizes, designs, and price points - depending on what you’re looking for. Overall, these pipes are very affordable, easy to clean, and durable.

For most people, this is the type of bowl that probably fits best with what you’re looking for. They can be as simple as a small, spoon design with some basic colors, or as complex as custom hand blown designs on massive pipes. Whatever you’re looking for, someone somewhere has probably made it.

Silicone Hand Pipes

Silicone hand pipes are becoming more and more popular. Just recently, they appeared on the scene, and have since made a massive impact on the smoking industry. The upside to them is that they are more or less indestructible, they’re super easy to clean, and they’re also very affordable.

If you need a pipe that can come with you on the go, and that won’t hold a bad odor that is super noticeable - silicone may be best for you. Just be sure to do your homework and source from a reliable brand that uses safe silicone, or you could expose yourself to harmful chemicals, just to save a couple dollars on a new hand pipe.

Spoon Pipes

Spoon pipes are by far the most common type of hand pipe design. They get their name from the massive bowl packs they toute - which are usually very wide and deep. This is also one of the most simplistic designs, which makes them affordable and very durable.

Spoon pipes typically have short stems that are about 3” long, with a widened mouthpiece, and a massive bowl pack. Most of them are made with flat bottoms so that they can stand on their own on flat surfaces, and have a rush hole so you can control airflow.

Sherlock Pipes

Sherlock pipes are another very common type of hand pipe. They are designed to look like the old fashioned tobacco pipes that people would smoke hundreds of years ago - much like the one the infamous Sherlock Holmes smoked (hence the name).

These pipes typically have a very long, curved stem that dips into a massive, deep bowl pack. They are great for long, relaxed smoking sessions, and tend to provide cooler smoke thanks to the longer, curved tube. However, due to the thinner design of the tube, and the bottom heavy nature of the glass, they do tend to be a bit more fragile, and are not as easy to clean or take with you on the go as some other types of hand pipes. They do also tend to be a bit more expensive due to their larger size, and the time it takes to make them.

Bubblers

Bubblers are technically not dry pipes, but water pipes. They are basically the perfect combination of a bong and a hand pipe - which results in a smooth-hitting, portable, and durable pipe that can be smoked with or without water.

Bubblers are basically more portable bongs, that are just slightly larger than traditional spoon pipes. They are typically made with durable glass, strong bases, and deep bowl packs for awesome smoking sessions. Most of the time, they are a bit more expensive than traditional hand pipes, but if you’re looking for a smooth smoke without the setup time of a bong - they’re the perfect solution for your needs.

Chillums

Chillums are smaller, more concealed hand pipes that are meant to be portable, durable, affordable, and easy to take on the go. They have a simple design, with just a bowl pack, tube, and mouthpiece, usually with no rush hole.

The main difference between chillums and spoon pipes is that chillums typically have a bowl pack that faces the same direction as the mouthpiece (think about a straight tube design like a cigarette). They still tend to have deep bowl packs, and be made of thick glass, but are usually cheaper than any other type of hand pipe. If you’re looking for something that you can easily take on the go and clean for an affordable price point - chillums might be best for you.

One Hitters

One hitters are essentially the same as chillums, but tend to be slightly smaller. For the most part, they are made out of metal or glass, and usually come with what is called a dugout - which is an airtight storage container that can store your herbs and your pipe.

They’re made to be the ultimate on the go pipe, and are usually very affordable. They come in hundreds of designs, and are usually very durable. One hitters can be a bit more hard-hitting than other pipes because of how small they are, but are still a great smoking experience. If you’re looking for something concealable and easy to take anywhere, one hitters are right for you.

Steam Rollers

Steam rollers are the largest type of hand pipe by far, and are also one of the more intense ways to smoke from a hand pipe. Usually, they are designed in long, wide tube shapes that tend to be 5-8” in length and about 1” wide or more.

The idea is simple, you load up the bowl pack, then smoke it. But instead of taking a hit every time you inhale like most pipes, you load up the chamber with smoke, then clear it - like a bong. These big pipes pack a punch, and can be great for big smoke sessions with many people. They tend to have massive bowl packs, and be made of very thick glass, with a price point similar to many hand pipes.

Glass Blunts

Glass blunts are similar to one hitters in terms of their shape and size, but they are different in the design of how they work. Most are designed so that you pack herbs into them, and then light from the top. But, as you smoke more and more of the herbs, instead of having to repack your pipe, you can simply push or twist the bottom of the glass blunt to push the ashes out, and keep on smoking.

These types of pipes are extremely convenient, and can usually fit into a dugout, which makes them a great replacement for most one hitters. Overall, they’re usually pretty cheap, and will last a long time as long as you keep them nice. To learn more about our favorite glass blunt, check out this product review.

Other Types of Hand Pipes

There are also other types of hand pipes that are not so common, such as:

• Ceramic hand pipes
• Metal hand pipes
• Acrylic hand pipes
• Stone hand pipes

To be honest, there’s a reason that these pipes are not that common or sought after: they’re just not as high quality, affordable, or enjoyable to smoke as glass or silicone hand pipes. Ceramic and stone hand pipes are great, and a bit more durable, but they can be hard to find and more expensive. Acrylic and metal hand pipes tend to leave a bad taste in your mouth, and can also be very dangerous - as most of them are made in countries with low health standards.

What Kind of Hand Pipe is Best for You?

It all really depends on what you’re looking for. Overall, all hand pipes are great because they have low price points, are made with quality glass, and they’re very easy to conceal and take with you on the go. But, different types of hand pipes may be better for you depending on what you want most in a pipe.

For example, if you're looking for something basic that you can count on, a glass spoon pipe may be best for you. But, if you’re looking for something that is more concealable and easy to take with you on the go, you may want to invest in a chillum or one hitter. To learn more about the best travel pipes, check out this complete guide.

Why You Need A Quality Hand Pipe

Look, we all like to save money, but there comes a point where you begin to sacrifice quality for lower prices. When it comes to buying a new hand pipe, you want to make sure that you’re purchasing something that will last you a long time, and not expose you to health risks because of the materials it’s made of.

So, while you want to get the best price on a new pipe, you should be more concerned with getting the best value for your purchase. Look for pieces from trusted brands that are known for producing high-quality, durable, and enjoyable hand pipes. At HelpingPot, we only partner with the most reliable and quality glass brands to provide you with the best deals on the best hand pipes. Our online headshop has everything you need to enjoy your smoking sesh with a piece that will last a long time, and help make lasting memories with the people you love.

3 Things to Look for in a Quality Hand Pipe

Do you want to find the best hand pipe for your needs? Of course you do! Here are some tips to help you choose the right pipe, and get the most out of your purchase.

1. Quality Brands

Try to purchase pipes made by reliable glass brands, or that are sold by reliable headshops. Some of our top hand pipe brands include (but are not limited to):

1. GRAV
2. Sesh Supply
3. Glassheads
4. Dankstop
5. Empire Glassworks
6. Eyce
7. Pyptek
8. Nucleus
9. UPC
10. And More…

To help you learn more about the best glass brands, we created this massive guide full of all the best brands, and our favorite products by them.

2. Durable Glass

Sounds simple enough, right? You want to look for pipes that are made from thick glass, and borosilicate glass if possible. This will help you get more out of your pipe, because it will last longer, and be less susceptible to small cracks and fractures that can become a big problem over time.

3. Deep Bowl Pack

The best hand pipes always have large, deep bowl packs that allow you to smoke for extended periods of time with multiple people before needing to repack them. Obviously, if you choose a one hitter or smaller pipe, this is something that will be sacrificed for concealability, but if you’re looking at one of the larger types of hand pipes, you should always focus on the bowl pack.

3 Hand Pipe Tips: Get the Most Out of Your Pipe

Want to get the most out of your new hand pipe? Here are three tips from the experts on how to improve your smoking experience.

1. Clean Your Pipe Often

Clogged pipes make for a bad taste, restricted airflow, and more harmful chemicals making their ways into your lungs. By cleaning your pipe often, you’ll get smoother hits, more airflow, and better tasting hits - along with cleaner smoke. On top of that, you’ll allow your pipe to last longer, by not allowing resin to build up in important areas of your pipe.

2. Use Pipe Screens

Pipe screens are super cheap, but they’re well worth the investment. They allow you to get less resin buildup and clogs in your pipe, and also allow you to reduce the amount of ashes that get sucked through. No one likes getting “scoobies”, avoid them easily with pipe screens.

3. Pay Up for Quality

Just like anything else, if you want to get the best results and purchase a quality pipe, you need to be willing to pay up a bit over the cheapest options out there. Trust us, it’s worth it to purchase a pipe that will last you years, instead of purchasing a dozen that break in a short period of time. It also pays to know you’re smoking from a pipe that is made by a trusted brand, and not some chemical ridden pipe made overseas.

Hand Pipe FAQ

Have even more questions about hand pipes? We’ve got the answers.

How Do You Clean A Hand Pipe?

Cleaning a hand pipe is actually easier than you may think. All you need to do is let it soak in a salt and water solution overnight, and then rinse with water, and let it dry. After that, it may take some pipe cleaners to get at those hard to reach spots.

Are Silicone Pipes Safe?

It all really depends on the type of silicone used - which is why focusing on the brand you buy from is so important. As long as the pipe is made from FDA approved, BPA-free silicone, it’s safe to smoke from. We only carry silicone hand pipe brands that abide by these standards, to ensure your safety while smoking..

What’s the Best Hand Pipe?

This is dependent on your overall preferences, budget, and needs when it comes to buying a new hand pipe. What works best for you might not work best for someone else. Here are some guides that can help you find the best hand pipe:

Why Should I Buy a Hand Pipe Online?

Just like purchasing anything else online, it allows you to have access to a larger variety - which helps you to find the best pipe for you. Shopping for hand pipes online also helps you to save money, and find the best products from the best brands easily. Don’t settle for second best, find the perfect pipe for you on HelpingPot.com today.

What Are the Best Hand Pipe Brands?

There are literally hundreds of reliable hand pipe brands out there to choose from, but these are some of our favorites:

How Much Do Hand Pipes Cost?

Obviously price varies with the quality of the product and the type of pipe you choose. But for the most part, you can find high quality hand pipes in the $25-$50 range. Custom blown hand pipes may be a bit more expensive, and smaller pipes like one hitters, glass blunts, and chillums can be slightly less expensive.

What is the Difference Between a Hand Pipe and a Chillum?

This is a question we get asked all the time. The main difference is the shape and size. Hand pipes are larger, and have a bowl pack that is perpendicular to the hole in the mouthpiece (it faces up, while the mouthpiece hole faces forward). Hand pipes also have a rush hole, which most chillums do not.

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