If you want to rip some weed and get it on, you gotta get a bong! Once you have one, or a water pipe, you next need to find what is arguably the most important piece in your bong set. A bong bowl, or bong slide!

For the uninitiated, the bowl piece for bongs comes in assorted bowl sizes - 9mm bong slide, 10mm bowl, 14mm glass bowl, 18mm bowl, 19mm bowl – which dictate how much weed leaf you are burning with each hit, or rip, off your water pipe. 

When you are slider-for-bong shopping, you also want a style of glass bowl that matches you and your bong, taking into account the joint size - does the bowl male piece, or joint, fit into your bong’s female joint? When you’re talking joints vs bowls, you’re usually talking about the connections between bong and bowl; standard water pipes are usually female, bong bowls generally have male ends - but not always - so you need to pair the receptacle, or bong stem, with the plug so that they are opposites.

You’re going to need a bowl piece for bongs (and glass screens for bowls), once you have bought a bong of your own, therefore we’ve detailed some of the best of the best.

 

Standard Glass (Water Pipe Slides) 

 

 

Badass Glass 18mm Female Bowl Piece - $12

Direct from the workshop of local home-grown glass blowers Badass Glass in Orange County, California, this half-crystal clear, half-frosted 18mm female bowl makes a nice addition to any standard bong with an 18mm male stem!

This simple but sweet little slide also works well with oil rigs; in fact, with an 18mm direct inject, by removing the oil dome and glass nail and then sliding the female bowl over, you instantly convert your oil rig into a regular water pipe bowls. Boom! Not too shabby!

This particular badass Badass Glass 18mm female bowl piece also features a helpful handle so you don't burn your fingers when you pull the plug to draw in your blast of smoke.

What we love!

• The stylish half-clear, half-frosted 18mm female bowl 
• The bowl easily fits any standard bong with an 18mm male stem
• Sliding the Badass female bowl over the 18mm male direct inject on an oil rig instantly converts the oil rig into a water pipe
• Never hurts to have a handle off to the side to keep you from burning your fingers after successive bong rip pulls
• Free shipping on every order and a 1 day wait to ship after you order so you get your Badass bowl cheap and easy

 

  Small Clear Bowls

 

Dank Geek Small Clear Bowl - $11.99

While these Dank Geek cylindrical bowls may not have handles, they do helpfully come as small as 10mm, for your small bongs or bubblers, yet they also have 14mm and 18mm sizes available for those folks out there with big bad bongs! Also, you can conveniently specify either male or female glass bowl ends when you order, so that you know the bowl will have the opposite end to fit your bong’s stem.

The colored-marble accents on the side of the slider bowl can be blue, green, pink, purple or white, so that you can match them with your bong, your fingernails, your hair color, or whatever suits your fancy. These nifty little Dank Geek cylindrical glass bong bowls are made in the USA with thick glass, so maybe they’ll last longer and survive a drop or two if the weed makes your fingers less than nimble. Stuff happens.

Happily, these little gems are not expensive and will run you no more than $11.99 USD, or you can make 4 automatic, interest-free payments of $3.00 USD each; they make it really easy for you to pick up one of their bowls! Another perk is that shipping is free within the US. So, Dank Geek makes it easy on your wallet!

What we love!

• This glass come in sizes as small as 10mm on up to 14mm and 18mm
• You can specify either male or female bowl ends when you order
• The colored-marble accents on the side of the slider bowl come in blue, green, pink, purple or white

 

Grass City Bowl + Honeycomb Screen - $7.19

As long as your favorite bong has a female-ended stem piece, you might want to give some consideration to this Grass City glass bong bowl, which is male-ended so it only fits female joints – not rocket science by any means. The bowl is constructed from heat-resistant borosilicate glass, featuring a conveniently built-in honeycomb screen that keeps ash and marijuana matter from infiltrating your bong and thereby harshing your mellow. The bowl has a small handle to avoid finger burns and is easily removed to ensure the smoothness of your bong hit or rip.

Grass City’s glass bowl with colorful and convenient honeycomb screen comes in 3 different joint sizes, the smallest is a 10mm bowl, but there are 14.5mm & 18.8mm sizes as well. And you'll have your choice of 5 different colors: clear, black, pink, white and green to stylishly accessorize your glass gear.

It matters little where on Earth you live the lit life because you can buy the honeycombed bowl at Grass City for $7.19 USD each with worldwide free shipping available on orders over $50.

What we love!

• Each bowl is constructed from heat-resistant borosilicate glass
• Built-in honeycomb screen keeps ash and pot plant matter out of your bong water
• Male-ended, ideal for female bowl stems 10mm, 14.5mm & 18.8mm in diameter
• Worldwide free shipping available on orders over $50

 

SMOKEA 9mm Color-Wrapped Standard Slide - $7

These smokin’ Smokea 9mm color-wrapped slide bowls have a very fun, festive look with decorative color wrapping around the top of the bowl, and they come in a small assortment of colors like gold, green and silver.

Each slide bowl is made of thick, durable glass that looks like it can take repeated heating or some occasional and unfortunate dropping without immediately shattering. The Smokea slide bowls are 9mm in diameter and designed to fit on your female-jointed water pipe or bong rig.

The bong plug piece has a glass pull handle to avoid burning your fingers, and O-rings are also included, so it’ll give you a nice, tight fit. Losing smoke from a loose bowl connection sucks!

The Smokea 9mm color-wrapped bowl sells for  a mere $7.00, so it’s a pretty cheap bong slide, but if that weren’t inexpensive enough, you can also make 5 automatic, interest-free payments of $1.40 USD; plus shipping is free within the United States. You gotta give a bong rip of respect to companies that make it super simple for you to buy their products!

What we Love!

• Made of thick, durable glass
• Fits all female-jointed water pipes
• Bowl has a glass pull handle, making lifting easier
• O-rings are included for a snug fit, reducing vapor loss

 

Big Glass Bowls

Smoke Cartel 18.8mm Male Bowl with Built-In Screen - $12

You never have to worry about a glass bong screen when you have a bowl like Smoke Cartel’s 18.8mm male bowl piece, because it has its own incredibly convenient built-in glass screen! This solid bong piece also has a side handle so that you can lift it before you hit it without singeing your digits. Pot should be painless!

This big glass bowl is clear and colorless from the handle on up, but the lower half is frosted.  There’s also a smaller 14.5 mm glass bowl size, if your bong is more economy-sized. We’re not judging you by your bong size. Promise.

The Smoke Cartel 18.8mm male bowl piece will set you back $12 USD with free shipping; for an extra 84 cents more, you can buy GlassGuard warranty protection so that if that glass ever breaks – hopefully not because you threw it at someone - you can get a replacement male bowl piece for 50% off!

What we love!

• Stylishly half-clear and half-frosted glass bowl
• Built-in glass bowl screen
• Side handle for easy lifting
• Also available in 14.5mm bowl size
• GlassGuard warranty protection gives you 50% off replacement glass

 

Daily High Club 18mm Male Ash Catcher Bowl - $15.99

With the wrong bong bowl, your bong’s water could get gross from ashy backflow, but the Daily High Club’s 18mm male bowl piece has a built-in side-chamber that will collect your weed ash and keep it from turning your bong’s water chamber into a sooty swamp! What’s more, the ash collector also serves as a handy handle to lift the bong plug out when you go to breathe in the weedy vapor.

What we love!

• Built-in side-chamber collects ash to keep bong cleaner
• Ash chamber also makes a convenient handle
• Made from high quality glass
• Fits on any 18mm female bong stem

  

420 Science GRAV Funnel Bowl - $11.99

You may not be blinded by the 420 Science GRAV funnel male bowl piece, but it is poetry in motion, sliding easily on and off your bong’s 19mm female water pipe stem!  The Grav bong 19mm bowl is suited for use on the biggest of bongs, made using high-quality borosilicate glass and also comes in a 14mm male bowl size.

Instead of a handle, the GRAV Funnel Bowl has a "Maria" style ring that goes all the way around the bowl, making it easy to use.  Personally, we think it still seems pretty close to the hot bowl, so this may be a case where you could burn your fingers if you’re not careful. If you don’t take too many hits in a row, you’re probably fine because the bowl wouldn’t have gotten too hot, yet.

What we love!

• 19mm bowl  suited for larger bongs
• Stylishly molded in high-quality borosilicate glass
• Smaller, 14mm male bowl size also available

 

Cool Bowls for your Bongs

Dankgeek Skull-Themed Male Replacement Bowl  - $14.99

Macabre and yet still cool, you can smoke weed out of one of these skull-shaped replacement herb bowls made of thick glass. Pretend you are toking out of your enemy’s skull like a weedy barbarian king, Conan of Cannabis!

This skull-shaped, 18mm male bowl piece is made of thick, clear glass, and is available in blue, clear, and black glass skull bowls. There is also a smaller - but still just as cool - 14mm version!

What we love!

• 18mm male bowl (14mm also available) piece is made of thick, clear glass
• Cool skull colors: blue, clear, amber and green

 

Daily High Club 14mm Male Double Bowl - $14.99

Twice the weed, twice the highness! With this unique two-headed male bowl piece, you can mix strains or share with a friend or significant other, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination! The only thing cooler would be a triple bowl bong slider!

Daily High Club’s lit two-headed male bowl piece is made of thick, clear glass, making it a sturdy addition to your bong set! The double bowl fits any standard 14mm female bong stem and it has a short handle, so that you roast your weed and not your fingers!

What we love!

• Two bowls, twice the weed, say no more
• Sturdy piece made of thick, clear glass
• Double bowl fits any standard 14mm female bong stem
• Short handle for easy handling - and preventing accidental finger crisping! 

 

Empire Glassworks Avocadope 14.5mm - $41.99

A little salsa for your bong set! This detailed avocado-shaped male bowl piece is perfect for any fiesta you might wanna liven up with smoking down some fine marijuana!

Empire Glassworks Avocadope 14.5mm glass bong bowl is handmade in the USA, crafted using heat-resistant borosilicate glass – so it ain’t likely to suddenly break on you from repeated use! The male plug end attaches securely to any 14.5mm female bong stem, assuring smooth delivery of vapor without leaking!  The narrow tip of the avocado-shaped piece serves as the handle when you rip.

What we love!

• Handmade in the USA, created using heat-resistant borosilicate glass
• Attaches securely to any 14.5mm female bong stem
• The avocado tip is its own handle
• Free shipping over $50 

 

Cheap Bong Slides

 

Red Mushroom Slide - $41.50

Spruce up any standard glass bong with this fun Red Mushroom Slide! Empire Glassworks are known for their high quality, personality-filled glass artworks, and this Nintendo-inspired piece will make any stoner nostalgic.

What we love!

• Deep bowl design holds plenty of weed
• Made of solid borosilicate glass
• 14mm male

 

Grav Labs – Clear Single-Hole Martini – 14mm Male Bowl - $12

Sure, maybe this is just a no-frills, martini glass shaped bowl, but simple is not a negative if you’re shopping for a cheap bong bowl that does what a good bowl does best: hold your weed. Sold at Dab Lab, this functional glass plug piece securely fits your 14mm female bong stem receptacle, assuming that is what you have.

There is no handle on this one, just a ring around the bowl itself, so due caution would be advised to avoid burned fingers. Handles are our personal preference, but it is an otherwise solid piece.

What we love!

• No-frills, very functional
• Securely fits any 14mm female bong stem receptacle

 

Smoke Cartel "Bolt Neck" with Marble Handles and Built-In Glass Screen - $10

The term “bolt neck” makes us think of the old, black and white Frankenstein movies, but that’s neither here nor there - this particular thick glass bong slider graciously gives you the option of choosing between a male and female bong bowl to match your rig’s connector.  You can also choose between either 14.5mm or 18.8mm sizes, to match your particular bong.

Smoke Cartel’s bolt studded herb holder is available in four different colors: black, clear, blue and green glass bowls.

The dual marble handles might provide some finger protection, but we’re leery about that after a long smoke sesh. On the plus side, it does have a built-in glass screen to help keep your water pipe clean while conserving precious pot flower from infiltrating your bong water and being wasted. There are better ways to be wasted!

What we love!

• Even if we question the effectiveness, the “bolt neck” looks good
• You can choose between male and female connectors
• Available in either 14.5mm or 18.8mm sizes
• Comes in four different colors: black, clear, blue and green
• Built-in bowl screen

 

Metal Bong Pieces

Eyce GR2 10mm Bong Bowl Piece - $22.95

It would be incomplete of us to not at least consider metal bong bowls.  We’re not against them, so much as heat conducts better through metal, so they may get hotter faster – that works for weed but not so much for your fingers. That said, if you have a metal bong rig, then you may want a metal bong slide.

Now, the Eyce GR2 10mm metal piece is slick and sturdy, futuristic-looking, made from high quality titanium. This metal bowl can be ordered to fit either 10mm male or female bong stems.

Unfortunately, there is no handle on the metal bowl piece, which could get hot because metal conducts heat so well. Due caution is deffo recommended when handling any potentially hot metal, like a titanium bong bowl slider.

What we love!

• Slick and sturdy, futuristic-looking, 10 mm bowl made from high quality titanium
• Can be ordered to fit either male or female bong stems

 

Headway Replacement Metal Pull Slide - $5

Headway’s unpretentious, simple 9mm male bowl little metal pull slide fits a similarly-sized female bowl stem. Its biggest plus is that it comes with a wide plastic handle that is ideal for keeping your fingers from getting burned by the hot metal bowl piece.

What we love!

• Elegant in its simplicity
• Wide plastic handle to keep fingers safe
• It’s only 5 bucks - or you can pay in 5 automatic, interest free payments of $1.00

 

Cheech Glass - 14mm Color 

This 14mm Color Bong Bowl by Cheech Glass features thick glass with a deep funnel-shaped push bowl, which is perfect for smoking flower. Available in a variety of vibrant colors, these bong slides fit any standard 14mm female bong, bubbler or water pipe joint. Attached to the herb bowl is a wide, flat handle for easy handling and to prevent the slide from rolling unexpectedly.

What we love!

• Deep funnel-shaped push bowl, which fits any standard 14mm female bong stem
• Wide, disc-shaped handle for easy handling to prevent burning your fingers
• Comes in an array of colors: blue, green, clear, black, etc  
• Great price, less than $15

Summary

It's easy to think of a bong bowl as a simple device that doesn't require much thought, but you want a bowl that is solid, that fits physically and that stylishly suits your rig, and you want a slider that makes it a breeze to blaze the amount of weed that you want. So, what is the best bong bowl? In the end, it’s whatever works best with your favorite rig.

Some things to keep in mind about bong bowls:

• Bong bowls, or bongs slides, can be glass bong bowls or they can be metal bowl pieces, though glass on glass bowls are the most common. 
• Your bowl sizes can very from a 9mm bong slide on up to an 18mm or 19mm bong bowl piece. The bowl and stem pieces have to fit inside one another, so if the glass water pipe stem is a 14mm female joint size then you would need a 14mm male bowl to attach to it. When it comes to joints vs bowls, bong stems and bong bowls always have to be opposite gender, male bowl to female joint or female bowl to male joint. 
• Whether you have a big glass bowl,  a 1 gram bowl, or a small 9mm slide bowl, hitting on a water pipe means you need the right-sized bowl, or plug, so that the vapor is trapped in the water chamber and flows up into the mouthpiece; a good fit between bong stem and bong bowl is crucial! 

Every piece of your water pipe should enhance the look of your set and the effectiveness of your smoking experience. A bad piece could ruin an elsewise good high by leaking smoke or breaking easily. Once you have purchased the right glass or metal male bowl piece or female bong bowl for your favorite bong, then there’s not much else to do but bang a gong and light your bong!

.
Written by Megan Medeiros (BA)

Megan Medeiros has a bachelor’s degree in English and is currently working on a master’s in English at James Madison University. She's the owner and operator of Medeiros Writing, and has been working as a cannabis writer for the past three years, mostly following the legal climate of marijuana, especially in areas like California, Colorado, Oregon, Canada, and other legal areas.

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. All photos were sourced from Pinterest.com | updated 2021