Glossary

A

Ash Catcher

An attachment that connects between your bowl and bong joint. It adds an extra water chamber that traps ash and debris before they enter the main piece, keeping your bong cleaner for longer. Many ash catchers include their own percolator for added filtration.

Autodraw

A firing mechanism on 510 batteries that activates automatically when you inhale. No button press needed. Also called draw-activated. Popular for discreet, one-handed use.

B

Banger

A quartz, ceramic, or titanium bucket-shaped attachment used for dabbing concentrates. Bangers replace the standard bowl on a dab rig and are heated with a torch before dropping in concentrate. Quartz bangers are the most popular for their flavor and heat retention.

Beaker Bong

A bong with a wide, cone-shaped base that resembles a laboratory beaker. The wide base provides extra stability and holds more water for better filtration. The most recommended style for beginners. Shop beaker bongs.

Borosilicate Glass

A type of heat-resistant glass used in quality bongs and dab rigs. It's the same material used in laboratory equipment and Pyrex. More durable and heat-tolerant than standard "soft glass" or soda-lime glass.

Bowl

The removable piece on a bong where you pack and light your dry herb. Bowls come in different joint sizes (10mm, 14mm, 18mm) and genders (male or female). Also called a slide. Shop bowls.

Bubbler

A handheld pipe with a built-in water chamber. Bubblers combine the portability of a pipe with the water filtration of a bong. Most are a single piece with no removable parts. Shop bubblers.

Button-Fire

A firing mechanism on 510 batteries where you press and hold a button to activate the heating element. Gives more control over hit size and temperature compared to autodraw.

Butane Torch

A refillable lighter that produces a concentrated, high-temperature flame. Used primarily for heating dab nails and bangers. Different from standard lighters in both heat output and flame control. Shop torches.

C

Carb Cap

A small lid placed over a heated banger or nail after dropping in concentrate. It restricts airflow and lowers the air pressure inside the banger, allowing concentrates to vaporize at lower temperatures for better flavor. Types include directional, bubble, and spinner caps.

Carb Hole

A small hole on the side of a pipe or bong that you cover with your finger while inhaling, then release to clear the chamber. Controls airflow and allows you to clear stale smoke. Most bongs use a removable bowl instead of a carb hole.

Cart / Cartridge

A pre-filled container of cannabis oil that screws onto a 510 battery. Cartridges use a 510 thread connection (the industry standard) and come in various sizes, typically 0.5g or 1g.

CBD

Cannabidiol. A non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis. CBD products are used for relaxation and wellness without the "high" associated with THC. Shop CBD products.

Chillum

A small, straight, tube-shaped pipe with no carb hole. You pack one end and inhale from the other. Simple, discreet, and designed for quick single hits. Also called a one-hitter or taster. Shop chillums.

Cold Start Dab

A dabbing technique where you load concentrate into a cold banger, then gradually heat it with a torch until it starts to vaporize. Produces smoother, more flavorful hits than traditional hot-start dabbing because you avoid overheating.

Concentrate

A highly potent cannabis extract. Comes in many forms including wax, shatter, budder, crumble, live resin, and rosin. Consumed using dab rigs, e-rigs, dab pens, or nectar collectors.

Conduction

A vaporizer heating method where dry herb or concentrate makes direct contact with a heated surface. Heats quickly but can cause uneven vaporization. Compare with convection.

Convection

A vaporizer heating method where hot air passes through the material to vaporize it without direct contact. Produces more even heating and better flavor than conduction, but takes longer to heat up.

D

Dab

A single dose of cannabis concentrate, or the act of consuming concentrate by vaporizing it on a heated surface. "Taking a dab" means heating a banger and applying concentrate to it.

Dab Mat

A silicone pad placed under your dab rig to protect your surface from heat, water, and sticky concentrate residue. Also keeps your setup from sliding. Shop dab mats.

Dab Pen

A portable, pen-shaped vaporizer designed for concentrates. Dab pens have a built-in coil or chamber where you load wax, shatter, or other concentrates. Smaller and more discreet than a full dab rig. Shop dab pens.

Dab Rig

A water pipe specifically designed for consuming concentrates. Similar to a bong but typically smaller with a banger or nail instead of a bowl. The smaller size preserves flavor concentration. Shop dab rigs.

Dabber / Dab Tool

A small metal, glass, or ceramic tool used to pick up and apply concentrate to a heated banger or nail. Different tip shapes (pointed, scooped, flat) work better with different concentrate consistencies.

Diffused Downstem

A downstem with slits or holes cut into the submerged end. These openings break smoke into smaller bubbles as it enters the water, providing basic percolation. The simplest and most common form of bong filtration.

Diversion Safe

A storage container disguised as an everyday household item (soda can, book, cleaning product). Used to conceal smoking accessories or herb in plain sight. Shop diversion safes.

Downstem

A glass tube that connects the bowl to the water in a bong. Smoke travels down this tube and into the water for filtration. Available in different lengths and joint sizes. Shop downstems.

Dry Herb Vaporizer

A device that heats ground cannabis flower to a temperature that releases cannabinoids and terpenes as vapor without combustion. Considered smoother and more efficient than smoking. Shop dry herb vaporizers.

Dugout

A small wooden or metal box with two compartments: one for ground herb and one for a one-hitter pipe. Designed for portability and quick, discreet sessions. Shop dugouts.

E

E-Rig

An electronic dab rig that uses battery power to heat concentrates instead of a torch. Offers precise temperature control and eliminates the need for butane. Examples include the Puffco Peak. Shop e-rigs.

E-Nail

An electronic heating element that replaces a torch for dabbing. E-nails attach to a standard banger or nail and maintain a consistent temperature using a digital controller. Ideal for session dabbing.

F

Female Joint

A bong or rig joint with an opening that accepts a male piece inserted into it. Most standard bongs have female joints that accept male bowls and downstems. See also: male joint, joint size.

510 Thread

The universal threading standard for vape cartridges and batteries. Named for the 10 threads at 0.5mm pitch. If a battery and cart are both 510 threaded, they're compatible. Shop 510 batteries.

G

Glass Thickness

Measured in millimeters, refers to how thick the glass walls of a bong are. 3mm is budget/fragile, 5mm is the standard sweet spot, 7mm+ is premium durability. Thicker glass = heavier and more durable.

Grinder

A device used to break down dry herb into a consistent, fine texture before smoking or vaporizing. Usually made of aluminum, zinc, or titanium. 4-piece grinders include a kief catcher screen. Shop grinders.

H

Heady Glass

Artistically crafted, one-of-a-kind glass pieces made by skilled glassblowers. Heady glass prioritizes unique designs, colors, and artistic expression alongside functionality. Typically higher priced than production glass.

Hemp Wick

A length of hemp string coated in beeswax, used as an alternative to butane lighters for lighting bowls. Provides a cleaner flame without inhaling butane. Wrap it around your lighter for easy use.

Honeycomb Perc

A flat glass disc percolator with dozens of small holes. Smoke passes through all holes simultaneously, creating many tiny bubbles for excellent diffusion. Can be stacked for layered filtration. Durable flat design but tiny holes can clog.

Hot Knife

An electric tool with heated tips used to vaporize concentrates by pressing them between the hot blades. A simple, no-rig method for consuming dabs. Shop hot knives.

I

Ice Catcher

Small glass pinches or notches built into the neck of a bong that hold ice cubes above the water line. As smoke passes over the ice, it cools further for a smoother, less harsh hit. Also called an ice pinch.

Inline Perc

A horizontal glass tube percolator with slits along its length, positioned across the base of a bong. Provides even diffusion across a wide area with low drag. Often paired with a second perc higher up.

ISO / Isopropyl Alcohol

The primary cleaning agent for glass bongs, rigs, and pipes. Use 91% or higher concentration with coarse salt for best results. Shake, soak, and rinse for a like-new clean. Shop cleaning supplies.

J

Joint (Glass)

The ground glass connection point where a bowl, downstem, or other attachment connects to a bong or rig. Standard sizes are 10mm, 14mm, and 18mm. Joints are either male (protrudes) or female (receives). Not to be confused with a rolled joint.

Joint (Rolled)

Ground herb rolled in a thin paper, typically with a filter tip at the mouthpiece end. The most classic method of smoking. Shop rolling papers.

K

Kief

The fine, crystalline trichome particles that collect in the bottom chamber of a 4-piece grinder. Kief is highly concentrated and can be sprinkled on top of bowls, pressed into hash, or used in edibles.

L

Live Resin

A cannabis concentrate made from fresh-frozen plant material (not dried and cured). Freezing the plant immediately after harvest preserves more terpenes, resulting in a more flavorful and aromatic concentrate.

M

Male Joint

A bong or rig joint that protrudes outward, designed to fit inside a female piece. Less common on standard bongs but found on some rigs and specialty pieces. See also: female joint, joint size.

Milking

The process of filling a bong chamber with thick, white smoke before clearing it. A "milky" hit means the chamber is fully filled. Beaker bongs tend to produce the milkiest hits due to their large chamber volume.

N

Nail

A heated surface attachment for dab rigs where concentrate is applied and vaporized. Nails come in quartz, titanium, and ceramic. Largely replaced by bangers in modern setups, but the term is still used interchangeably.

Nectar Collector

A vertical, straw-like dabbing device. You heat the tip, then touch it directly to your concentrate and inhale through the mouthpiece. Simple, portable, and no water needed (though some models include a water chamber). Shop nectar collectors.

O

One-Hitter

A small, narrow pipe designed for a single hit. Pack one end, light, inhale, done. Often paired with a dugout for portable storage. Great for microdosing and discreet use. Shop one-hitters.

P

Percolator (Perc)

A filtration device built into a bong that breaks smoke into smaller bubbles as it passes through water. More bubbles = more surface area = cooler, smoother hits. Common types include tree, honeycomb, showerhead, inline, and matrix. See our complete perc guide.

Preheat

A feature on some 510 batteries that warms the cartridge at low voltage for a few seconds before you hit it. Helps with thick oils and prevents clogging. Usually activated by double-clicking the power button.

Pre-Rolled Cone

A rolling paper pre-shaped into a cone with a built-in filter tip. You just fill it with ground herb and twist the top. No rolling skill required. Shop pre-rolled cones.

Q

Quartz Banger

A bucket-shaped dab attachment made from quartz crystal. Heats evenly, retains heat well, and doesn't affect flavor. The preferred material for most dabbers. Available in 10mm, 14mm, and 18mm joint sizes.

R

Recycler

A bong or dab rig with multiple chambers connected by tubes that continuously cycle water and smoke during your inhale. Provides maximum filtration and the smoothest possible hits. Popular for concentrates.

Rosin

A solventless cannabis concentrate made using heat and pressure. No chemicals are used in extraction, which appeals to health-conscious consumers. Can be made at home with a hair straightener and parchment paper.

Rolling Machine

A small device that rolls joints or cigarettes for you. Load the paper and herb, close it, roll, and a finished joint comes out. Good for people who haven't mastered hand-rolling. Shop rolling machines.

Rolling Tray

A flat tray with raised edges used as a workspace for rolling joints or blunts. Catches loose herb, keeps your workspace tidy, and provides a flat, stable surface. Shop rolling trays.

S

Scientific Glass

Bongs and rigs designed with precision-engineered percolators, measured joints, and functional-first aesthetics. Prioritizes performance over artistic flair. Usually made from thick borosilicate glass.

Shatter

A cannabis concentrate with a hard, glass-like consistency that "shatters" when broken. Typically amber or golden in color. One of the most common concentrate forms.

Showerhead Perc

A percolator shaped like a tube that flares out at the bottom with slits around the edge. Provides balanced filtration with manageable drag. One of the best all-around perc types.

Silicone Bong

A bong made from food-grade silicone instead of glass. Virtually indestructible, foldable, and travel-friendly. Most include a glass bowl and downstem for the smoking path. Shop silicone bongs.

Smell-Proof

Describes storage products designed with activated carbon lining, airtight seals, or other technology to contain odor. Essential for discreet storage. Shop smell-proof bags.

Splash Guard

A glass feature inside a bong (often a dome or disc) that prevents bong water from reaching your mouth during a hard pull. Turbine percolators also function as splash guards.

Steamroller

A type of pipe with an open end at the front that acts as a large carb hole. Produces powerful, unfiltered hits. Not recommended for beginners. Shop steamrollers.

Straight Tube

A bong with a uniform cylindrical shape from base to mouthpiece. Clears faster than beaker bongs due to less chamber volume. Easy to clean but less stable. Shop straight tubes.

T

Terp Pearls

Small glass, quartz, or ruby balls placed inside a banger before dabbing. As you inhale, the airflow spins the pearls around the banger, distributing concentrate and heat evenly for a more efficient dab. Shop terp pearls.

Terp Slurper

A specialized banger design with a bottom dish, middle section, and top bucket connected by slits. Concentrate is loaded in the bottom and "slurped" up through the chambers as you inhale. Maximizes flavor extraction. Shop terp slurpers.

Terpenes

Aromatic compounds found in cannabis (and many other plants) that contribute to flavor and aroma. Different terpene profiles create different effects and flavors. Preserved better at lower temperatures.

THC

Tetrahydrocannabinol. The primary psychoactive compound in cannabis responsible for the "high." Found in flower, concentrates, edibles, and cartridges.

Tree Perc

A percolator with multiple glass arms hanging from a central tube, each arm with slits at the bottom. Provides great diffusion but the arms are fragile and hard to clean.

V

Variable Voltage

A feature on 510 batteries that lets you adjust the power output, usually between 2.0V and 4.0V. Lower voltage = smoother, more flavorful hits. Higher voltage = bigger clouds, stronger throat hit.

Vaporizer

A device that heats cannabis flower or concentrates to a temperature that releases active compounds as vapor without combustion. Available as portable handhelds, desktop units, or pen-style devices. Shop vaporizers.

W

Wax

A soft, opaque cannabis concentrate with a waxy texture. Easy to handle with a dab tool. Common forms include budder, crumble, and badder, which are all variations of wax with slightly different consistencies.

Water Pipe

The technical/legal term for a bong. A smoking device that filters smoke through water before inhalation. Includes bongs, dab rigs, and bubblers.