Hookah is popular not only as a means of smoking, but also as a souvenir, an item that creates an atmosphere in the room. It brings with it an oriental flavor and has a decorative function. On the other hand, a hookah is a device of several elements, so knowing some of the details will help you when choosing.
Instructions
Step 1
Many people buy a hookah as a souvenir - as a keepsake and to decorate the room. Most often they are brought from tourist trips to eastern countries. Since the main purpose of such products is to please the eye, decorative hookahs are chosen, often small, sometimes even with a sealed pipe (not suitable for smoking). If your goal is just a beautiful souvenir, then there are no restrictions on the choice, you can be guided only by your aesthetic preferences.
Step 2
If you need a hookah for smoking with friends and on vacation, choose a model with a height of about 40-50 cm. It is convenient to take it with you to the dacha, to a picnic, and it does not take up much space. Appearance in this case is not so important, so be guided by your preferences.
Step 3
If you plan to use the hookah permanently, then the best choice would be a professional model with an average height of 60 to 120 cm. The assembled hookah height is one of the most important parameters, because the longer the smoke travels, the safer it is. Chilled smoke does not dry out or burn the respiratory tract. For a professional hookah, the main thing is functional characteristics, and the appearance does not really matter.
Step 4
Make sure the quality of the hookah. Check its tightness: cover the top of the shaft with your palm and suck in air through the mouthpiece. If the air is not drawn in, this is good - the hookah is airtight, if it is drawn in, the model is of poor quality. Inspect the product for external integrity - so that there are no cracks or dents. Pay attention to the material of manufacture. The shaft (smoke pipe) should be made of metal, ideally stainless steel. The bowls (where the tobacco is placed) are made of metal, and ideally of high quality clay. Flasks are made of metal, clay, glass, expensive ones are made of natural quartz or crystal. The heavier the flask, the more stable the hookah.
Step 5
The smoke is inhaled directly through the hose, which consists of three parts: a branch pipe, a hose and a mouthpiece. The branch pipe is inserted into a shaft or a flask and is made of strong, durable wood. A good hose is thick and flexible and should not crack or break during washing and drying. Leather hoses are considered to be of the highest quality (but also difficult to maintain); more affordable ones are made of rubber, polyethylene, and steel springs. Hoses are 40-80 cm long - the longer the better. Mouthpieces (inhalation tips) are mostly made of hardwood, but they can also be made of plastic, stone, etc. The mouthpiece and nozzle should not be varnished, anyway it will quickly crumble.
Step 6
Hookahs are available with one and several pipes. The former are of the highest quality (since they are more airtight), although models with several pipes are often more spectacular and make a greater impression on guests. If you want to buy just such a hookah, then make sure that there is a valve with a ball in each tube, otherwise you will not be able to smoke from one hose if there are other unused and leaking hoses.
Step 7
Additional accessories usually come with a hookah: a plate, a cap for charcoal, tongs for tobacco and charcoal, a screen for a bowl. Make sure they are included or purchase separately. You will also need good quality tobacco for smoking and charcoal for kindling.
