Acrylic bongs come in many fun designs and colors all while being super affordable and known for their durability. They're an awesome choice for beginners, travelers, and your crazy party sessions.
So let’s dive a bit deeper to see what are acrylic bongs, how they compare to silicone and glass, and how to keep them squeaky clean with no effort.
What is Acrylic?
Acrylic is a transparent plastic also known as plexiglass. It is similar to polycarbonate, yet it’s believed it’s less toxic, therefore more appropriate for items like bongs or bottles.
The interesting thing about this type of plastic is that it has similar qualities to glass. It’s one of the clearest plastics on the market, so it was often used for submarine periscopes and airplane windows in the past. Acrylic also shows impressive strength and stiffness. It has about the half of the weight of glass, but much more impact resistance.
Acrylic sheets are also easy to fabricate and color, which makes them affordable and appropriate for a wide range of products, including bongs.
Are Acrylic Bongs Better Than Glass and Silicone?
It’s not easy to say which material is the best when it comes to bongs. Yes, most old school stoners will tell you there’s simply nothing better than glass. But what if you want to travel with your bong or carry it on the beach where you’ll probably share it with strangers? Those are the moments where we would prefer bringing out acrylic bong instead of glass.
There are two reasons for that: acrylic bongs are much cheaper, and they don’t break as easily as glass.
Acrylic bongs are, therefore, better in the durability/price category, while glass wins in the smoking experience section. Acrylic bongs tend to have metal downstems and bowls, which cannot deliver nearly the same level of smoothness or flavor like glass.
Silicone pieces, on the other hand, stand somewhere between the two. Acrylic bongs still beat them in the price category, but silicone water pipes often have a glass bowl, so you’ll usually feel a similar smoking experience as with a glass bong. They’re also just as durable as acrylic, so people often choose them if they can afford something pricier.
All the three materials offer tons of variety in the design and color department.
How Do You Clean an Acrylic Bong?
Acrylic bongs have a removable downstem and bowl, and often also feature a removable stand, bowl cap or mouthpiece. So, to clean it you first have to take all these parts apart.
To clean your downstem and bowl, you can simply put them in a zip lock baggie or a bowl, add alcohol and salt and shake it for a minute or two. Then rinse it with some water.
For the acrylic part, it’s safest to use only water or a bong cleaner dedicated to plastic, since it won’t damage the plastic as glass cleaners would.
You could also use the standard sea salt/50-70% rubbing alcohol method where you add these two into your bong, swirl and shake until all the build up lifts, and finally wash everything off with hot water. However, this method could slightly damage your bong after a while.
To scrape the residue from edges, you can get a dedicated bong brush or just a bottle brush you can find at virtually any store.
And make sure to change your bong water regularly to keep your piece clean for longer.
Conclusion
Acrylic bongs are one of the best picks for beginners who want to try using water pipes for the first time. They’re very affordable, usually costing around $20. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so you can easily find out what design you like the most, without spending a hundred dollars on a glass or silicone pipe.
Acrylic bongs are also great for traveling, camping trips, group sessions and festivals. The main reason is also the low price, as you won’t have to worry too much if someone will steal or break your pipe. However, they also have the best balance of a light weight and impressive durability, which are usually the most important factors you need in your travel piece.
