Ispire is your number one source for cutting-edge vape technology, whether it’s our Ducore® technology or industry-leading devices like The Wand or daab™. But, sometimes it’s important to go back to the basics. One of the earliest recorded methods and fan favorites of smoking is a good ol' green bowl, whether out of a pipe or a bong. Though simple in nature, it’s important to know how to pack a bowl of weed the right way.
Knowing how to load a fresh bowl during a sesh with friends can be a valuable skill to learn. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out, but it is something that requires a dedicated bit of practice to nail the art of a perfectly packed bowl. So, if this is your first time learning how to load one up or you’re looking to brush up on your skills, you can trust you're in good hands. We’re no Cheech or Chong, but we do know how to pack a bowl.
There are a few variants that can affect the outcome of your smoking experience, such as packing your bowl too tightly. This may not leave enough room to properly exchange airflow. Or you may experience the opposite where you pack your flower to lose, and it all gets sucked through the bottom. Nobody wants that, so you'll want to ensure you add these techniques into your routine next time you go to load some fresh flower into your pipe or bong.
Step 1: Pick Your Strain
First things first, and probably one of the most essential parts, is to select your desired strain. Aside from choosing if you want to potentially stay awake and be productive with a Sativa or stay in for the night, relax, and let your body slip into pure euphoria with an Indica.
When deciding on the strain, you’ll want to make sure you factor in the density of the flower you’re smoking. All flower and herbs are unique and different in their own ways. Some buds tend to be more sticky or dense than others. This will come into play when packing your bowl.
Step 2: Choose Your Smoking Vessel
Time to choose your smoking apparatus. Most smoking vessels are made of borosilicate glass to withstand high temperatures of heat. You can find both glass pipes and glass bongs available at most smoke shops. If you’re choosing to pack your bowl for a bong, you’ll need a separate bowl piece to pack your flower in. Most bongs should already come equipped with a bowl piece with a downstem. This is opposed to a pipe, which has a divet for your flower to rest in. Either method does the job, but keep in mind that bongs have a better filtration system, producing a more intense high.
Step 3: Grind, Baby Grind!
Now let's grab that strain we set aside earlier and prepare to execute the mission of grinding the green. We have a few options when it comes to grinding flower for a bowl. You can choose to use a grinder, but some will say that's too fine of a grind for a bong or pipe and should be reserved for joints and blunts. Or, there’s the option to simply break the flower apart with your hands. But, others will argue that it doesn't burn evenly. It's personal preference, and we say go with your gut!
Step 4: Packing The Bowl
We’ve finally made it to the most anticipated point in this article. The packing of the bowl.
You’ll want to start by taking your thumb and index finger and pinching together a reasonable amount to fill your bowl piece. Start by placing any larger pieces towards the bottom, your smaller pieces on the top, and follow through with a final pat to the top to maximize full effect and not risk any flower getting sucked through the bottom.
Remember, you’ll want to make sure that you’re not over-packing your bowl. If you’re using sticky or dense flower, you’ll want to make sure you avoid over-packing for this reason. Sometimes less really is more.
Step 5: Let It Burn
Alright, everyone’s favorite part…the actual smoking of the bowl. Now that we’ve learned how to pack a bowl, it’s time to smoke it or show your newfound work of art to your friends at the next smoke circle. Take your sesh to the next level with The Wand by Ispire and enjoy a perfectly-temped dab to top off the occasion.
