Hookah Hoses 101
Hookah Hoses are one of the most important aspects of the hookah smoking experience, it’s the piece that comes in contact with the user, therefore it needs to be of quality material. In this post we chose to dig deep into all the different types of hoses, which work best for your needs, and the science behind the making of a hookah hose.
The main purpose of the hookah hose is to increase the amount of time the smoke takes to get to you, mainly so the smoke is cool enough to taste the flavor of the shisha. And of course it allows the hookah to be smoked from afar, it would be a bit difficult to try to smoke the shisha directly from the base, wouldn’t it?
Hookah hoses come in many different styles, materials, and quality. Mainly made from soft leather, the hookah hose is designed to be durable and comfortable to the touch. Being the part that comes in contact with the most hands it needs to be strong, yet enjoyable. Alot of the hookah lounges in the US have moved to the plastic hoses which are washable and inexpensive, although I prefer the traditional leather made hose.
Cost isn’t a huge factor with hoses because they don’t require much labor or material, the most expensive hose I’ve ever touched was made with leather, wood, and porcelain. I think the owner said it was less than $40US, which isn’t bad at all for the quality of the hose and how great it looked. On average a hookah hose will probably cost you between $10 and $20, although most hoses can go as low as $5.
Most people don’t put much thought into their hose though, I’ve settled many times for the hose that came along a hookah. The only reason why you would consider upgrading or buying a new hose is if the previous hose was damaged or worn down. Unless you want to slowly build your own custom hookah, a nice hose is probably the second or third thing you would buy. First being the base and bowl as the secondary priority.
When it comes to sizes, hookahs are measured by gauge. The larger the gauge (or width), the better the flow you’ll get when pulling on the hookah. I wasn’t able to find the average gauge of a hose anywhere, but I usually measure it by wrapping my finger around the hose. When you’re around hookahs all the time, you’ll grow accustomed to the regular sized hose.
When it comes to the hose tips, the traditional hoses come with wooden tips. Alot of people prefer them because they are comfortable on the lips when compared plastic, but wood deteriorates with time and the absorb saliva once the protective coat wears down. I personally prefer plastic tips because they can usually be replaced easily, which means I don’t have to buy a new hose every time my tips wears down or breaks.
Regular hookah hoses are about 68″ long and can go as long as 77″ to 82″ from tip to tip. I use the average 68″ hose at home and the longer ones when I entertain because it makes it easier to share to more people who are sitting around the hookah.
The most important thing to remember about hookah hoses is that they transport the smoke to you, using a cheap or plastic hose will most likely ruin the taste of the shisha and kill the great experience of smoking hookah all together.
Post your comments below! This should be an interesting topic of conversation.
Traditional Hookah Hoses
