Holiday Gift Guide 2020: The Best High-Design Bongs
Sometimes the best high comes from taking a good old-fashioned bong hit — a true and well-deserved pleasure in the surreal holiday season of 2020. And no cannabis connoisseur’s collection is complete without a prized piece of glass (or ceramic). A bong, technically known as a water pipe, was first used (and named) centuries ago by the Hmong people in Laos and Thailand, as a natural filtration device made from bamboo for smoking tobacco, cannabis and other herbs. Today, bongs are more beautiful than ever with cannabis companies elevating over-the-top ornate offerings from traditional head shops into minimal, modern works of art. Here are eight high-design bongs to gift the cannabis purist on your list this year.
Long live bonging!

Courtesy Session Goods
Session Goods Bong
Founded by five friends in San Francisco and Los Angeles as a side hustle, Session set out in 2019 “to create moments of indulgence, thoughtfully expressed through permissible vices.” Its debut designer bong is made of borosilicate glass with a sleek, tapered shape and molded indent for an ergonomic grip. An intuitive silicone footer protects the glass from inevitable damage (and also hides unsightly dirty water). $120, sessiongoods.com

Courtesy GRAV
GRAV Small Wide Base Water Pipe
From GRAV, the pioneer in scientific cannabis glass, comes its beloved Wide Base Water Pipe in an updated version, fabricated in translucent grey colorway with clear accents. This longtime favorite has all of the same features from the original like the wide conical fission percolator, which diffuses smoke through water and a narrow neck that prevents splash-back. $134.99, grav.com

Courtesy Elevate Jane
Elevate Jane Mimi
Meet Mimi, a delicate minimalist pipe that delivers the most proper of highs from the contemporary smoke shop Elevate Jane. Founder Angela Mou commissions all of the Long Beach-based store’s custom pieces from a locally-based glassblower in Orange County. $149, elevatejane.com

Courtesy Haring Glass
K.Haring Water Pipe
Inspired by the late visionary Keith Haring, the K.Haring Water Pipe (center in the photo above) features the artist’s iconic artwork and signature on precision-crafted, thick borosilicate glass. Its removable, diffused downstem fits a spacious bowl with an airtight, ground glass connection, while a seven-slit showerhead percolator produces smaller bubbles to moisturize, clean and cool your smoke (there’s also a built-in ice-catcher). $160, haringglass.com

Courtesy Summerland
Summerland
“Made from the earth, by hand, in California,” Summerland’s uber-cool collection of opaque bongs (and other “stonerware”) stands out for its clean lines. Constructed in lead-free, food-safe glaze and ceramic, its silicone grommet ensures easy hits and airtight carbs every time. Choose from three designs (Pleasure Point, Chongo and Land Yacht) in three shades (Dust, Charcoal and Terracotta) — or go for the original in glossy white. From $165, welcometosummer.land

Courtesy Marley Natural
Marley Natural Water Pipe
Utility meets design in this classically shaped water pipe, which seamlessly blends sustainably sourced black walnut with hand-blown borosilicate glass. The flush-fit, five-hole downstem and ice pinch make for cool, smooth and slow draws. The wood smoke chamber that connects to the