Water pipes & bongs
by Hemper
The Gaming Flower Bong is a 7-inch borosilicate glass water pipe from Hemper that filters and cools your smoke through water for a noticeably smoother draw. Decorated with retro gaming-inspired flower decals — yes, those flowers — it's a piece that sits on your desk like it belongs there, right next to the controller. Compact enough to stash in a drawer when company comes over, sturdy enough for daily sessions.
You know that flower from the game — the one that powers you up? Hemper took that concept and ran with it. The Gaming Flower Bong features hand-applied decals of those iconic fire flowers across the body of the piece, giving it an unmistakable retro-gaming aesthetic without looking like a toy. The glass itself is thick borosilicate — the same type used in lab equipment — so it handles heat and the occasional bump without cracking.
At 7 inches tall, this sits in that sweet spot between portable and functional. It's short enough to tuck into a backpack or keep on a shelf without it towering over everything, but tall enough that the water chamber actually does its job. When you pull smoke through the water, it cools and filters out some of the harsher particulate matter, giving you a draw that's easier on the throat than a dry pipe. That's basic physics, not marketing — water absorbs heat and traps heavier particles before they reach your mouth.
The honest limitation? At 7 inches, you're not getting the same level of cooling you'd get from a 12-inch beaker bong. The smoke path is shorter, so the water does less work. But that's the trade-off for something this compact and easy to handle. If you mostly smoke at your desk or on the sofa, the size is actually a benefit — less water to spill, less glass to knock over during an intense gaming session.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Hemper |
| Height | 7 inches (approx. 18 cm) |
| Material | Borosilicate glass |
| Design | Gaming flower decals |
| Type | Water pipe / bong |
| SKU | HS2613 |
| Filtration | Water filtration (downstem) |
Complete your setup with a decent grinder — a 4-piece aluminium grinder gives you an even, fluffy grind that burns more consistently in a bowl than hand-broken herb. A set of pipe screens is also worth grabbing to keep debris out of the downstem and make cleaning less of a chore.
We've sold hundreds of bongs over the years, and the number one reason people switch from dry pipes to water pipes is throat comfort. A dry pipe delivers hot, unfiltered smoke straight to your airways. After a few bowls, your throat feels like sandpaper. Water filtration changes that — the smoke bubbles through the chamber, drops in temperature, and arrives noticeably smoother. It's not a miracle, but it's a real, measurable difference you'll feel on the first hit.
The gaming theme isn't just a gimmick, either. If you're the type who settles in for a 3-hour session with a controller in hand, you want a piece that fits the vibe. The flower decals have a retro pixel-art quality that looks genuinely good on a desk setup. We've handled this one in the shop — the glass has a satisfying weight to it, about what you'd expect from a well-made 7-inch piece. Not so heavy it feels like a paperweight, not so light it feels fragile. The base is wide enough to sit stable on a flat surface, which matters when you're reaching for it without looking away from the screen.
Compared to something like a silicone bong of the same size, you're trading shatter-resistance for better flavour. Glass doesn't impart any taste to the smoke, while silicone can leave a faint rubbery note — especially when it's new. If flavour matters to you (and it should), glass is the way to go. Just don't put it on the edge of the desk.
Glass bongs are low-maintenance if you stay on top of them, and a nightmare if you don't. The single best habit: dump the water after every use. Stale water breeds bacteria and develops a smell that'll make your flatmates seriously unhappy. Once a week, pour some coarse salt and isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) into the chamber, cover the openings, and shake vigorously for 30-60 seconds. The salt acts as an abrasive, the alcohol dissolves resin. Rinse thoroughly with warm water afterwards — you don't want to inhale alcohol fumes.
The downstem is the part that gets gunked up fastest. Pull it out and soak it separately in isopropyl alcohol for 15-20 minutes, then scrub with a pipe cleaner. A clean downstem means better airflow, which means better hits. Neglect it and you'll notice the draw getting tighter over time, like breathing through a straw.
| Cleaning task | Frequency | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Change water | After every session | Fresh water |
| Quick rinse | Every 2-3 days | Warm water |
| Deep clean (salt + alcohol) | Weekly | Coarse salt, 90%+ isopropyl alcohol |
| Downstem soak | Weekly | Isopropyl alcohol, pipe cleaners |
Fill until the water sits about 2-3 cm above the bottom opening of the downstem. Too little and the smoke won't filter properly; too much and you'll get water splashing into your mouth when you inhale. Test it with a dry pull (no herb) — if water reaches your lips, pour some out.
Not at all — 7 inches is a solid size for a personal-use piece. You won't get the same cooling as a 14-inch beaker, but you get portability, easier handling, and less water to deal with. For desk sessions and casual use, it's the right size. If you want maximum cooling, look at something taller with a percolator.
This bong is designed for dry herb use with a standard bowl piece. To use it with concentrates, you'd need a compatible dab nail or banger that fits the joint size. Check the downstem diameter before buying an accessory — not all nails fit all joints.
Change the water after every single session — that alone solves 90% of bong smell. The remaining 10% comes from resin buildup on the glass walls. A weekly clean with coarse salt and isopropyl alcohol keeps it fresh. If you leave water sitting overnight, you're inviting bacteria and that unmistakable stale-bong odour.
The decals are applied to the outer surface of the glass. They hold up well under normal use and gentle cleaning. Avoid soaking the outside of the bong in alcohol or scrubbing the decals with abrasive materials — clean the interior with salt and alcohol, and wipe the exterior with a damp cloth.
Water filtration. When smoke passes through water, it cools down and some heavier particles get trapped before reaching your lungs. The result is a smoother, less harsh inhale. You also tend to use less herb per session with a bong compared to rolling joints, since bowls are more efficient than combustion along an entire paper tube.
Borosilicate is significantly more resistant to thermal shock and impact than regular soda-lime glass. It's the same material used in laboratory glassware. That said, it's still glass — drop it on a tile floor and it will break. Treat it with basic care and it'll last years. The 7-inch size helps here, since shorter pieces are less top-heavy and less likely to tip over.
Last updated: April 2026
