Low temp bubbler hits are soooooo tasty.
I just had a billy at temp 4. I normally start at 5, or 3.5 if lower, but I think 4 really suits the bud I have atm. Flavour profile is on point.
I combusted (by choice, traditional bic + bowl) last night for the first time in a while, the flavour is rancid and dirty glass is just awful. The difference in effect was pretty noticeable - more sedation and headaches after punching cones. Nasty, but nice overall. I suppose.
Vapour bongs are just so much better in so many different ways!
I've seen a few posts here and there about what the best glass piece to accompany a grasshopper is.
I've connected mine to a good range of glass now, so I thought I may as well share some insight.
I think the (most wildly available) style bong that would be the most satisfying to use with the hopper would be the traditional 'beaker'. (small, <12" tall)
Most glass recommendations from the vapour universe seem to orient themselves towards a matrix side-car or similar
Obviously as a recommended option, it is a pretty good one too.
I actually got one after, and because of, using one.
But, that matrix will chop more flavour than a simpler perc. The can size is surprisingly large and the style lends itself more kindly to desktop usage.
The simpler
D020 is more flavourful by comparison. Less diffusion although more violent percolation (the cooling effect is more dominant than the flavour removal). The can volume is quite a bit smaller too, a much more portable option.
The grasshopper produces an impressive density of vapour that honestly works well with any bubbler design.
That piece is a 44cm tall honeycomb to 6-arm tree.
The chamber size (60mm tube) is reasonably large, and although you can get quite decent clouds with the hopper connected (see pic) the amount of diffusion is too much and the size is too big. It works well enough but it is far from the most satisfying dynamic, too many terpenes are removed.
Comparatively it is a fairly lacklustre experience.
Recyclers are also possibly overkill with diffusion, however their generally smaller size will limit the flavour reduction.
The other aspect to consider for flavour is the size of the mouthpiece. It seems smaller styles will yield better flavour, it may be due to the density as the fluid passes restriction or it could be a better application across taste receptors, or a mixture of both.
Below is my favourite piece to use thus far, that spawned this whole post (and my ultimate recommendation for an ergonomic 'beaker' design over the common matrix solution)
It combines a small mouthpiece with the conical-beaker shape, in a small form-factor at 8" tall. It has a 3-hole diffy which is great for vapour.
A downside for functionality is the coloured glass, which makes it difficult to see clouds.
Other than that though, super tasty, super tolerable huge hits.
This thing offers the most realistic faux-bong-smoking experience I've had yet.
The
banger-hanger in the background (above) is also unreal value at $25, though it uses such little water it has a very light drag and very minimal diffusion - which is fine, but isn't a big rip kinda feel (which I like). I prefer this piece to the D020 and matrix on alternating days.
In the interest of optimising the experience, different glass can either make or break the quality of the session. An unnecessary addition, perhaps, but 100% worth trying.