Bong or Cart: Which is the Best for Vaping?
by milkywayglass / July 3, 2024 / Information / 8 min read
With vaping on the rise to consume a variety of substances, it’s no wonder people are looking for a healthier way to smoke. People consider two methods when it comes to vaping: bongs and vape cartridges or carts. Both have their pros and cons, so we’re going to break them down here.
What is a Bong?
First up is the bong. A bong is a water pipe that’s normally used for smoking dry herbs, but could also easily be adapted for vaping. It has a bowl where you put your substance, a chamber you fill with water, and an area where you inhale the vapour. The water in the bong helps cool the vapour, making it smoother and less harsh on your throat.
What is a Vape Cartridge?
A vape cartridge, or cart, is a small container pre-filled with liquid or oil. This liquid often contains a concentrated form of the substance you want to consume, such as THC or CBD. CBD carts, specifically, are cartridges filled with CBD oil, providing the benefits of CBD in a convenient and easy-to-use format. The cartridge is attached to a vape pen or battery that heats the liquid, turning it into vapour that you can inhale.
1. Ease of Use
Bong
Using a bong can be a bit more complicated than using a vape cartridge. You need to fill the bong with water, pack the bowl with your substance and then light it. If you’re using a bong for vaping, you may need a special attachment to vaporise the substance rather than burning it — this part can be tricky for beginners.
Vape Cartridge
Vape cartridges are much easier to use. You simply connect the cartridge to a vape pen, press a button (if there is one), and inhale. Most vape pens are draw-activated,meaning they produce vapour automatically. This makes them pretty user-friendly.
2. Portability
Bong
Bongs are typically rather large and fragile, being made of glass, so they’re not very portable. They’re best suited for home use. And even then, carrying a big bong around the house can be a little cumbersome – plus there’s always the risk of breaking it.
Vape Cartridge
Pre-filled cannabis oil vape cartridges are small, discreet and easy to use. They fit in your pocket or purse and take up very little room. It’s great for those looking for something on the go easy to carry around.
3. Discretion
Bong
Bongs are not discreet at all. They are large and produce too much vapour and usually have a strong odour which can draw attention. It wouldn’t be good for somebody who is trying to be discreet.
Vape Cartridge
Cartridges are more discreet. They produce less vapour and odour, and the devices themselves are small and easy to hide. This makes them perfect for use in public or in situations where you don’t want to draw attention to yourself.
4. Maintenance
Bong
Bongs need to be cleaned often in order to keep them working well and make sure your smoke stays pure and enjoyable. The water needs to be changed frequently, and the parts to be kept clean to prevent buildup and clogging of the airways in the piece.
Vape Cartridge
Vape cartridges require very little maintenance. When the cartridge is empty, you just replace it with a new one. The vape pen or battery may need to be charged and cleaned every so often, but not nearly as much maintenance is needed for a bong.
5. Cost
Bong
Bongs can be expensive especially if you opt for a high quality glass piece, also if you need special attachments for vaping that adds to the cost. However, once you have your bong, the ongoing costs are relatively low because all you need to buy is the dry herb or concentrate.
Vape Cartridge
Vape cartridges can be expensive, too — particularly high quality, pre-filled options. The actual pen or battery won’t cost as much as a bong will at the outset, but replacement cartridges aren’t cheap and could end up costing more than using a bong, depending on how often you vape.
6. Health Considerations
Bong
Bongs are supposed to be better for your health in terms of filtering smoke through water as opposed to inhaling straight from a cigarette or joint. If you plan to use it mainly for vaping then the subject gets a bit more complicated and depends partially on what exactly it is that you’re vaporising along with how well you take care of your tool.
Vape Cartridge
Vape cartridges are often considered a healthier alternative to smoking because they create vapour rather than smoke, and therefore fewer potentially harmful chemicals are inhaled. However, the safety of vape cartridges can depend on the quality of the product and the ingredients in the vape liquid.
7. Flavour
Bong
Bongs can be used to drastically reduce all harshness or taste from dry herbs. A high-quality, clean bong delivers nothing but flavourful, comfortable hits. The water filtration can also enhance the taste by removing some of the harsher elements from the vapour.
Vape Cartridge
Vape cartridges can also provide a nice flavour experience, especially if they are filled with high-quality, terpene-rich oils. There can definitely be people who like the taste of vapour from a cartridge, while others might find it less satisfying compared to a bong.
8. Customization
Bong
Bongs have lots of customizations you can do. You can select different types of bowls, percolators and so forth to get exactly what you want. That’s appealing to some users who like to mess around with things until they get it just right.
Vape Cartridge
Vape cartridges offer less customization. While you can choose different flavours and types of cartridges, the vaping experience is generally more uniform. This can be seen as a pro or a con depending on your preferences.
9. Environmental Impact
Bong
Bongs are reusable, and glass bongs can last for years when properly cared for. That means using a bong is actually better for the environment — you’re not creating waste with each use.
Vape Cartridge
Vape cartridges aren’t as friendly to the environment. Since these products are meant to be disposable, they contribute to environmental waste in similar ways to plastic straws or soda cans. Some companies offer recycling programs, but overall, it’s still not as eco-friendly of an option compared to a reusable bong.
Conclusion: Which is Best?
At the end of the day, it’s all about personal preference and lifestyle when deciding between a bong and a vape cartridge. Here’s a quick summary to help you make your decision.
Ease of Use: Vape cartridges are easier to use, especially for beginners.
Portability: Vape cartridges are more portable and discreet.
Maintenance: Vape cartridges require less maintenance.
Cost: Bongs have a higher initial cost but might be cheaper in the long run.
Health: Both options have health benefits over traditional smoking, but quality matters.
Flavour: Both can provide a flavorful experience, but personal preference plays a big role.
Customization: Bongs offer more customization options.
Environmental Impact: Bongs are more environmentally friendly.
If you find yourself leaning more towards portability, ease of use, and discretion, you might want to try out a vape cartridge. On the other hand, if you like being able to modify your smoking experience from time to time or are just a flavour chaser and don’t mind all the upkeep that comes with owning something like a bong – then that could be the right method for you. They both have their unique benefits so really it’s a personal preference choice.