[Cur]

Well folks, the time has come. I soon will be transitioning out of my current job with mandatory random drug screenings and will be able to enjoy my long-lost passion. In preparation thereof, and while I have a good paycheck, I have toyed with the idea of buying a quality lab glass bong. A well-known large Internet retailer is currently having a sale for 20% off site-wide. I've narrowed my choices down to these four, and would like to hear opinions on quality/value. The difference between the cheapest tube and the most expensive beaker is $83, the difference between the most expensive tube and the cheapest beaker is $32, and from the cheapest beaker to the most expensive is $43.

Ehle 45mmx5mm tube with ice pinches. Current price $140. I understand they are the epiphone to RooR's Gibson, but how high quality are the tubes themselves? Are the joints sturdy? Does anybody have experience with an Ehle straight tube? 18mm>18mm downstem.

Medicali 45x5mm straight tube with ice pinches. Current price is $148. Same as above, but American-made. I notice the joint has a much different profile than the Ehle or RooR. What's the deal with that? How is the quality of the jointery and welds? I've heard (read) Medicali had issues with QC earlier on, but that they have come quite a way since then.

US Tubes 14", 5mm thick beaker base with ice ring. Current price, not on sale, $180. Really attractive, and I've heard great things about US tubes, although at 5mm thick is there going to be much of a difference from the others I am entertaining?

Ehle Myers beaker base 45mmx5mm with ice pinches. Current price $180. I like the idea of a beaker because on my old green star the ice would melt and cause the water to overflow during a long session. The beaker seems to allow more of buffer for ice--and I used to love using ice.

RooR little sistah 45mmx5mm with ice pinches. Current price $223. The most expensive of my choices, but also the most deeply discounted price. The only downside is it is only in stock with 14mm>14mm downstem. The RooR is a known quantity, and I will say, I spent some time as a teenager in Germany so RooR, despite being overpriced, has a special nostalgia to me. However, I am not sold on the idea of spending an extra $80 on nostalgia alone. However, if the joints and glass is worth the difference (in addition to the personal nostalgia) I will gladly pay the difference.

As you can tell, I like scientific glass. Im not much for heady work on bongs... I certainly can appreciate it, but it's not something for which I'm willing to pay the price.

Please give your experience. I'm not interested in any brands that I haven't listed here, so I appreciate those of you who will likely say "what about X or Y?" but that is not what I am looking for. Thanks to all of you in advance!

[Cur]

No opinions at all, eh? Oh well, the saw is over now. I'll have to do more research and wait until Black Friday or something. I saw HVY tubes at aqua labs, so maybe I'll go that route. Who knows?

[shithawk420]

No fucking question about it.get the Ehle.they are better than roor in my opinion cause they don't pump out as many tubes as roor so there quality control is better.DO NOT get a HVY!!

[Cur]

Did HVY go downhill?

[shithawk420]

If its the HVY I'm thinking of they were never that great.maybe I'm thinking of HEAVY or something. either way EHLE make great tubes.you can't go wrong.personally I'd get a 5mm 500 or 1000 with the teardrop ash catcher with flame polished logo and diffuser.I've been out of the scene for awhile but its still probably the best bang for the buck.

By the way,EHLE is made in Germany and is right next to ROOR factory. ROOR is great but you will get at least the same quality with EHLE for cheaper price

[Cur]

Originally Posted by shithawk420

If its the HVY I'm thinking of they were never that great.maybe I'm thinking of HEAVY or something. either way EHLE make great tubes.you can't go wrong.personally I'd get a 5mm 500 or 1000 with the teardrop ash catcher with flame polished logo and diffuser.I've been out of the scene for awhile but its still probably the best bang for the buck.

By the way,EHLE is made in Germany and is right next to ROOR factory. ROOR is great but you will get at least the same quality with EHLE for cheaper price

Oh yeah man, HVY used to be top of the line stuff, so you're probably thinking of something else? I never knew they did scientific glass until very recently, though.

Yeah, I was introduced to EHLE while I was living in Germany. I know they're German. I didn't recall them being so much cheaper than RooR, though. Just made me wonder.

Thanks for the advice. Anybody else have anything to add?

[shithawk420]

Oh sorry.my mistake.ehle aren't cheap but there cheaper than roor.US tubes are good too.the even have 9mm tubes.can't go wrong with them either.

[810FireFarm]

smoke cartel . com

i have bought a couple of very economical yet quality rigs from them.

[REALPOTency]

Ehle glass bong is always good option for quality/price
i had some 3 different types 14 and 18mm ,
bent neck and straigth, i prefer bent neck 14mm but is depend your smoke style

-bent neck is soft-slow hit and you can smoke Reclining
-straight more fast-direct And should be used with a more straight posture or standing

14 or 18mm?
It depends on your lungs, throat and pipe
(long of tube/outlet diameter mouth/input diameter Bowl/banger/dome)
14mm for express smoke,soft
18mm is more for hardcore smokers

roor little sista good option too ,classic and vintage

[Mukind]

HVY recently changed the way they make or their contractor makes their pieces. Joints are different, not as high quality IMO. Ordered one for 140, got it for 110 but dif joints.

Changed the female joint of the tube and changed the height of the slider needed. It takes a less than 3" slide only

I'd give you a link to the old one but for some reason malwarebytes is stopping me from accessing aqualabs....Sketchy