Vape Bongs: Can You Use a Vaporizer with a Bong?

More people are turning to dry‑herb vaporizers and cannabis oil pens as they become accessible. Vaping gained momentum, in part, as concerns over smoking grew in recent years. Still, vaping cannabis continues to have doubters, despite peer‑reviewed studies pointing to a slimmer overall risk profile than smoked options like joints, pipes, or bongs.¹ 

Concerns aside, the vape trend shows that consumers crave clean consumption and potent effects. Enter a fresh hybrid accessory to hit those marks: the vape bong. 

Is There Such a Thing as a Vape Bong?

Yes, vape bongs exist. This relatively new piece of tech is quickly becoming popular among cannabis consumers who want a smoother, cooler vaping experience. 

What is a Vape Bong?

A vape bong is an innovative combination of the traditional water pipe and a vaporizer. The device is compatible with dry flower, concentrated oil, or both. Vape bongs are ideal for home setups or portable sessions, and can work as a handheld device or a tabletop rig. 

While a vape bong doesn’t make the vapor stronger in THC content, it can improve the overall experience. The cooling effect of the water filtration makes larger, smoother hits possible, potentially leading to a more pronounced effect/experience. 

How Does a Vape Bong Work?

A vape bong works by directing vapor from a vaporizer through a traditional bong’s water filtration. The result is reportedly a cooler hit coupled with enhanced flavor clarity and a more enjoyable experience.²

Using a vape bong mirrors a traditional smoke session in many ways. For example, consumers inhale from the neck of the bong, drawing air through the vaporizer. The action heats the dry cannabis flower or oil, producing aerosol vapor instead of smoke. The vapor passes through bong water, cooling and smoothing each hit before it reaches the lungs, resulting in a cleaner, well-filtered experience.³

By using an adapter or compatible accessory, nearly any vaporizer can connect to a bong. Its setup resembles a standard glass bong, with the main difference being that the traditional bowl is replaced with a vaporizer adapter. 

The adapter is designed to match the joint size of the vaporizer being used. Popular brands, including Pax, Mighty, Crafty, and various Arizer devices, offer dedicated water pipe adapters, making integration straightforward and user-friendly.

Weed vaporizer bongs operate like classic water pipes, though each brand has nuances. Still, the fundamental principle, drawing vapor through water for a cooler, smoother hit, remains consistent across models.

The Hardware

Extra hardware is usually required to pair a dry‑herb vaporizer with a bong. Most portable units rely on a water‑pipe adapter or a length of food‑grade silicone tubing. The pieces create a secure, airtight link between the devices. These accessories are typically sold separately, making size and style compatibility an important shopping consideration.

Dry‑flower vaporizers use a tubing route to bridge between the vape device and the bong. One end fits over the joint (the part of the bong that connects the base to the downstem and bowl), and the other goes over the vaporizer’s mouthpiece. Glass mouthpiece adapters are also available for consumers who prefer an all‑glass pathway.

Several styles of vape‑bong hybrids can be found online or at local smoke shops, and the exact inhalation technique may change with brand‑specific designs.

How to Use a Vape Bong (Step-by-Step)

1. Place the bong on a flat surface. 
2. Remove the bowl from the joint. Fill the chamber with the appropriate amount of clean water. 
3. Insert a compatible adapter into the joint opening. If using a vape cartridge, the cart should fit snugly inside the adapter. 
4. Once everything is put together, the consumer places their lips gently against the neck opening and inhales at their pace.

Do All Bongs Work with a Dry Herb Vape? 

While not all bongs are compatible, most can work with dry herb vapes using the right adapter.

Other innovative devices are also raising the vaping possibilities, including ball vapes. They use tiny spheres made from various materials, like rubies, sapphires, or quartz, to produce additional airways. The effect creates more evenly distributed heat and a more efficient vaporization process.

What are the Benefits of a Vaporizer Bong?

Select research suggests vaping can be less harmful than smoking from joints or pipes. Switching to a vape bong may provide a different experience with a smoother, cooler, and overall less harsh hit. 

Some of the reported benefits of vaping and using a vape bong include:

Potential Harm Reduction 

Eliminating combustion from consumption may reduce the risk of adverse respiratory health and lung function compared to traditional smoking.⁴ Vaping reduces exposure to the harmful effects of combustion by-products produced when the plant is burned. 

That said, concerns about vaping remain, including uncertain long-term cardiovascular impacts. Additional research is needed to confirm the full health implications.

Efficiency and Bioavailability 

Vaping concentrated oil allows for higher levels of plant compounds to be consumed. Compared to traditional dry flower smoking methods, the difference could result in a few percentage points higher absorption.  The effect is due to the slightly higher cannabinoid content when vaporized. The retained THC and other compounds enhance each pull's overall potency and effects while providing more consistency with each hit.

Cooler Hits 

Like a traditional water bong, a vape bong cools the smoke as it enters the water before reaching the lungs. The pathway produces a smoother inhalation, resulting in less impact on the throat. 

Be aware that water levels play an essential role in the experience. Under- or overfilling a vape bong, like traditional bongs, can lead to spills or a lack of water to cool the hits. 

Filtering Micro Particles 

It’s far less common than smoking, but vaping can allow microparticles and plant material to reach the consumer’s mouth. Filtering hits through a bong’s water minimizes the chances, resulting in a cleaner, more enjoyable hit.

What are the Risks of a Vape Bong?

Vaping and using a vape bong are typically considered a milder choice than smoking. Still, potential risks remain.⁴

Increased THC Levels 

Vaping delivers increased THC levels to the blood, leading to amplified effects that may overwhelm some, leading to the unwanted impacts caused by overintoxication. 

Cognitive Impairment

Select research suggests that vaping can lead to decreased cognitive and psychomotor performance, possibly due to chronic exposure.

Paranoia   

Increased rates of paranoia have also been reported in select vape studies, particularly infrequent consumers who may not be used to the effects of high-potency products. 

Device Safety   

While cannabis is becoming increasingly regulated, some devices and products continue to raise safety concerns regarding ingredient standards, dosage, and overall quality. Consumers should stick to buying products from licensed operators to minimize risks from subpar devices or vape products.

Cleaning and Maintaining a Vaporizer Bong

Although vapor production exposes equipment to less tar and ash than smoking, aerosolized microparticles still settle on glass, gaskets, and adapters. Regular cleaning should clear any lingering residue before it can harden, block airflow, or host bacteria.

Cleaning a vape bong is similar to cleaning a traditional bong, with a few added steps. In addition to the water pipe, keeping the vape cart or dry flower vape and the adapter clean is best for maintaining the product's functionality and efficiency. 

There is no universal timetable for cleaning a vape bong. However, as session frequency increases, maintenance should also increase. Industry best practice calls for rinsing the piece and swapping water after every use, or at least once a week for frequent consumers.

Skipping basic cleaning and maintenance may result in health risks and diminished device performance. Health concerns linked to inhaling contaminated aerosol include:

• Pneumonia 
• Sepsis 
• E. coli infection and other adverse bacterial exposure 
• Increased coughing and related lung irritation

Before cleaning a vape bong, read the instructions, as some pieces have specific cleaning recommendations, such as using water over standard cleaning solvents. 

What to Look for When Buying a Vape Bong

Before buying a vape bong, components, or accessories, first consider the following:

• Joint and adapter compatibility (size, threading, connection style)
• Construction materials 
• Overall dimensions, weight, and discretion
• Ease of cleaning and required maintenance
• Cost
• Availability of replacement parts
• Customer reviews
• Proof of business licensing 
• Published laboratory tests demonstrating safety and performance

Best Weed Vaporizer Bong

These are some of the top vape bongs according to the NuggMD community: 

1. VapBong by Jaxel's Art: Ceramic pieces of art.
2. Flowerpot: A versatile collection of vape hardware with customizable features.
3. Vapvanna Screwball Starter Kit: Provides beginners with everything they need to use a ball vape.

References

1. Morgan J, Gschwend G, Houston M, Jones A, Kelso C. Vaping preferences of individuals who vaporise dry herb cannabis, cannabis liquids and cannabis concentrates. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 2022;240:109632. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109632 ↩︎
2. Spindle TR, Cone EJ, Schlienz NJ, et al. Acute Effects of Smoked and Vaporized Cannabis in Healthy Adults Who Infrequently Use Cannabis: A Crossover Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2018;1(7):e184841. Published 2018 Nov 2. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.4841 ↩︎
3. Meehan-Atrash J, Rahman I. Cannabis Vaping: Existing and Emerging Modalities, Chemistry, and Pulmonary Toxicology. Chem Res Toxicol. 2021;34(10):2169-2179. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00290 ↩︎
4. Chaiton M, Kundu A, Rueda S, Di Ciano P. Are vaporizers a lower-risk alternative to smoking cannabis?. Can J Public Health. 2022;113(2):293-296. doi:10.17269/s41997-021-00565-w ↩︎

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.