Dab Rig vs. Bong: What’s the Difference and Which Should You Choose?

TL;DR

• Bong = dry herb. Bigger chambers, bowls, easy cooling with ice. Common joints: 14 mm & 18 mm (female).
• Dab rig = concentrates. Smaller chambers, nail/banger, lower-temp vapor. Common joints: 10 mm & 14 mm (usually female).
• Can a bong do dabs? Yes—swap the bowl for a banger, but a purpose-built rig shines at flavor and temp control.
• Shop Dab Rigs • Shop Bongs

Both bongs and dab rigs use water filtration, but they’re tuned for different materials and temperatures. Here’s a plain-English guide to how they differ and how to choose based on your habits, space, and budget.

Core Purpose: Herb vs. Concentrates

Bongs are made for dry herb. They typically have larger bodies, bigger water volume, and a herb bowl/slide you pack and light. The airflow is designed for a steady draw and a quick clear.

Dab rigs are optimized for concentrates (rosin, wax, shatter). Instead of a bowl, you’ll use a quartz banger or nail. Rigs are usually more compact to preserve terps and keep vapor dense at lower temps.

Joint Sizes & Compatibility

• Bongs: Most use 14 mm or 18 mm female joints at 90°. Many beakers also use removable downstems with a 14 mm bowl.
• Dab Rigs: Commonly 10 mm or 14 mm female at 90° or 45°. The smaller 10 mm size keeps vapor warm and flavorful.
• Adapters exist. If you want one piece to do both, you can adapt: bowl ↔ banger, 14 ↔ 18, 45° ↔ 90°. Just make sure the seals are snug.

Accessories: What Each Setup Uses

Temperature & Technique

Bongs (herb): You’re combusting plant material, so the focus is on cooling and filtration. Bigger water volume, ice pinches, and extra percs help smooth the draw. It’s okay if the piece is tall; you’ll benefit from the extra chamber space.

Dab Rigs (concentrate): You’re vaporizing oils at controlled, lower temperatures (typically preheat the banger, let it cool a bit, then cap). Smaller rigs shine because they keep vapor from overcooling and preserve flavor. Too much diffusion can mute terps.

Size & Shape: Why It Matters

• Bongs: Beakers = stability and cooling; straight tubes = fast clearing and snappy hits. Multi-perc stacks cool more but require more cleaning.
• Rigs: Compact cans, recyclers, and bent necks are popular. Recyclers keep vapor and water moving for consistent, flavorful pulls without splash.

Cleaning & Maintenance

• Bongs: Rinse after sessions; deep clean weekly with a dedicated glass cleaner or ISO + coarse salt. Ash catchers reduce grime.
• Rigs: Q-tip swab the banger after each dab while it’s warm. Regular cleans keep quartz clear and flavor bright.

Which Should You Choose?

• Mostly dry herb? Grab a glass bong in the 12–16″ range with a diffused downstem and ice pinch.
• Mostly concentrates? Choose a compact dab rig (10 or 14 mm) with a quality quartz banger and carb cap.
• Both, but one piece? A mid-size tube with interchangeable bowl/banger works—just know a dedicated rig gives better terp flavor, and a dedicated bong gives peak herb cooling.

Budget & Starter Bundles

• Entry bong kit: 12–14″ beaker, spare 14 mm bowl, ash catcher, cleaner & brush.
• Entry rig kit: Compact rig, 14 mm quartz banger, carb cap + dab tool, torch, cotton swabs.

Safety & Best Practices

• Always handle hot quartz with care; let bangers cool on a heat-safe surface.
• Use mats/coasters to protect glass; remove the bowl or banger before moving the piece.
• Store cleaners and torches safely and out of reach.

---

For adults 21+ only. Keep out of reach of children.

Ready to choose? Browse our curated dab rigs for terp-chasing flavor or explore bongs for smooth, ice-cooled herb sessions—both ship discreetly.