Silicone V.S. Acrylic - What Should you buy?

The Breakdown, why Silicone is better

Silicone Pipes are a relatively new addition to the expanding cannabis and tobacco market and have made a quite a name for themselves in recent years due to being darn near indestructible and super reliable. Made from food grade high-quality material, brands like Strong Silicone and Piece Maker have crafted some of the finest mid-level water pipes to date.

Acrylic pipes, on the other hand, are generally the cheaper option. They can be found in most Gas stations, malls or novelty stores for under $50. They make for a good secondary/backup pipe or even an in-between pipe if you're in the market for something better and just need a quick fix, but generally, isn't used as a long-term purchase or investment.

Now if you haven't noticed by the slightly biased introduction we believe Silicone is the way to go. Here are a few reasons why you should save a little more and invest in silicone.

Silicone bongs aren’t easily breakable

Well, hot dog! As we stated earlier these guys are dang near indestructible. Short of taking a pair of bolt cutters to them, it is almost impossible to break one. Even the thickest glass pipes can crack and shatter when dropped, Silicone always comes out smiling. Although they are still susceptible to damage like puncture wounds so it is advisable to not use sharp objects when cleaning them. Don't be jabbing knives into your fancy new silicone bong.

It is also important to note most Silicone pipes still use glass drop stems or bowls which are very much breakable but also usually cheap and easily replaceable. After all, as long as they are well-maintained glass bows and down stems can last much longer than their plastic counterparts.

It’s easier to clean silicone than acrylic

A huge problem with acrylic is that it’s hard to clean. This is a common complaint of acrylic bong owners and anyone who’s seen one can quickly pick up on it as well. Using anything but a specially made acrylic bong cleaner on those sorts of pieces can compromise the plastic and cause it to break down, leaking harmful chemicals, which means that most people just leave them dirty. Ewwww.

But when it comes to silicone you can use the best and simplest cleaning method of them all, the same one that glass owners swear by a mix of 90% rubbing alcohol, kosher salt, a toothbrush and a few minutes of patience. A special added feature of silicone is that it can be dishwasher safe, so if you don’t have any cleaner or alcohol on hand there’s still a way to make your piece look like it’s brand new. (And it’s good because like acrylic, silicone pieces can also get very dirty quickly.) Some silicone bongs even disassemble for easier cleaning, an unthinkable option for an acrylic piece and almost any affordable glass.

Silicone bongs are portable, unlike glass

We keep harping on this fact but it is a biggie, the indestructible nature of these pipes make travel and transportation a breeze. Just toss them in your backpack and go. Just make sure to store the bowl and down stem somewhere safe to make sure there won't be any accidents along the way.

Silicone is safe; acrylic might not be

Glass aficionados might argue that silicone isn’t a safe material to make a piece out of. But in reality, silicone bongs and bowls are often made of FDA-approved, high-quality silicone that’s non-toxic and BPA-free. What can be harmful, though, is using the metal bowls that often accompany acrylic bongs. Some people even argue that the metal and plastic pieces can leave behind a particular taste that glass pieces don’t. And the safety of smoking out of acrylic is still technically up in the air.

Like most great things in life, Silicone isn't the cheapest option, you can find cheaper glass and acrylic pipes but you can't find the build quality and durability that they offer. My Granddaddy always told me to buy once, and cry once. A pipe built to last will be cheaper in the long run than one simple built to work.