Hookah Bowl Guide
Hookah bowls can be divided in groups based on their size, shape, and the material they are made out of.
Hookah Bowl Sizes
There are three main sizes of hookah bowls: Small, Medium, and Large. The main effect of the size is how long the bowl lasts. A small bowl usually lasts about half an hour, where a large bowl can last more than an hour.
A side effect of the bowl size is that affects the heat management technique that you are using. Read the hookah heat management article for more information.
Hookah Bowl Shapes
The bowl can be wide or thin, deep or shallow, and any other artistic shape. A wide thin bowl allows the tobacco to spread in a larger area and therefore burn more evenly. A deeper hookah bowl lasts longer and sometimes produces more smoke. The choice is really personal preference. The main shapes of hookah bowls are listed below.
- Egyptian Shape: This is the most common shape of hookah bowls that is shown on the image on top of this page.
Hookah Phunnel Bowl: is unique in the way that it allows for the shisha juice to stay inside the top of the bowl instead of running down the inside of the bowl. This will give you a longer and enhanced smoking session.
The challenge with hookah phunnel bowl is to get the heat from your hookah charcoal around the shisha and through the opening of the bowl in the middle which leads it down the stem into the base. You can see a picture of a phunnel bowl to the right.
- Multi Head Bowls: These bowls have two, three, or four heads all connected to each other. You can pack a different flavor in each one of the bowls and smoke a mixed flavor without actually mixing the tobacco in one bowl.
Hookah Bowl Material
Hookah bowls are mostly made out of clay, ceramic, or steel.
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Clay Bowls: The most popular bowls. In my opinion they are the best among the three. They do a good job of keeping the heat inside the bowl and need less number of coals.
Ceramic Bowls: They tend to look better than the clay ones, but don't keep the heat inside the bowl as well. They also break easier.
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Steel Bowls: The only advantage that steel bowls have is that they don't break. So if you travel a lot and carry your hookah with you. steel bowls are a good choice for you.
