Are Mya Hookah's Worth The Price

[smokeup]

Hi All,

I've been surfing this forum and its great, so I just joined right now. I have a very old egyptian style hookah that I bought from a hookah lounge way back when -- around 2001. It's pretty much dead, and I want/need to get a new one.

I've been looking at the Mya Saray VORTEX featured on hookah-shisha's website. I've looked at the product reviews and other posts re this specefic hookah model on this forum. And I'm still left wondering whether its worth $130 for the May Vortex Hookah. Just from looking around, it seems like you can get a high-end egyptian hookah for literally half the price.

What's the final verdict on Mya Saray Hookahs in general and the Vortex in particlar? Is it worth the extra money?

I've heard some complaints about a metallic smell/taste and the downstem rattling the hookah when taking big draws -- which I thought would not happen seeing as how the base is so wide and sturdy looking.

Any additioanl insight, personal experiences and comments very much welcome. Drop some knowledge on me. Thanks.

[ahwahoo2006]

Mya is awesome, definitely worth the price. Ive got a QT myself, and I absolutely love it.

[hookahlife]

Hi smoke,

Shopping for a new hookah is definately exciting. Mya's are great hookah, they are well made and have consistent quality. These are not the same as a normal Chinese hookah. The durability on Mya hookahs are closer to that of a good Egyptian hookah, and of course the designs are beautiful. When buying a Mya you have to be willing to overpay a little bit for the design and quality because its basically one of 3 brand names in hookahs, so they command a premium.

If you are used to the durability and smoke of an Egyptian hookah but crave a more modern design and a slighlty more machined construction then the Mya is worth the money.

If you are a traditionalist, Egyptian hookahs are your best choice. Just make sure to get these from reputable dealers as the quality can vary greatly if you shop at some unknown location online. Also, keep an eye out for Khalil Maamoon (or Khalil Mamoun), which is the only brand name in Egyptian style hookahs. These are priced very reasonably and are designed and built with high standards for quality. At the moment I am only aware of 2 sites that carry these, which would be www.hookahcompany.com and www.hookah-life.com , but im sure the forum member could give you more online retailers that carry them.

The Mya Vortex in particular is a well built hookah. We have never smoked out of one but have read only good reviews on it and receive a steady stream of requests for us to carry it so I would give it a thumbs up. Every hookah has complaints, so any individual problems people may have mentioned should not worry you. However, if you see people continuously bringing up the same issues that should warn you of a bad hookah.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Mike
Hookah Life

[smokeup]

Hi smoke,

Shopping for a new hookah is definately exciting. Mya's are great hookah, they are well made and have consistent quality. These are not the same as a normal Chinese hookah. The durability on Mya hookahs are closer to that of a good Egyptian hookah, and of course the designs are beautiful. When buying a Mya you have to be willing to overpay a little bit for the design and quality because its basically one of 3 brand names in hookahs, so they command a premium.

If you are used to the durability and smoke of an Egyptian hookah but crave a more modern design and a slighlty more machined construction then the Mya is worth the money.

If you are a traditionalist, Egyptian hookahs are your best choice. Just make sure to get these from reputable dealers as the quality can vary greatly if you shop at some unknown location online. Also, keep an eye out for Khalil Maamoon (or Khalil Mamoun), which is the only brand name in Egyptian style hookahs. These are priced very reasonably and are designed and built with high standards for quality. At the moment I am only aware of 2 sites that carry these, which would be www.hookahcompany.com and www.hookah-life.com , but im sure the forum member could give you more online retailers that carry them.

The Mya Vortex in particular is a well built hookah. We have never smoked out of one but have read only good reviews on it and receive a steady stream of requests for us to carry it so I would give it a thumbs up. Every hookah has complaints, so any individual problems people may have mentioned should not worry you. However, if you see people continuously bringing up the same issues that should warn you of a bad hookah.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Mike
Hookah Life

Thanks Mike. That is helpful. Do you guys have plans to carry the Vortex, seeing as how you've had numerous requests regarding this model?

[Scoop]

overpriced for something bound to break.

[whitey456789]

heyy man I was wondering the same thing about the Vortex. I just recently (about 2 weeks ago) bought it. Granted I was using a shitty 60 doller hookah before this, but the Vortex is awesome. Thing is sturdy, stem is heavy, it just feels like a well bulit pice of equipment. I also read the thing about a metal taste/smell, but have encountered no such problem. If your looking to buy a new hookah I would strongly reccomond this u won't be dissapointed...hope this helps good luck!

[smokeup]

heyy man I was wondering the same thing about the Vortex. I just recently (about 2 weeks ago) bought it. Granted I was using a shitty 60 doller hookah before this, but the Vortex is awesome. Thing is sturdy, stem is heavy, it just feels like a well bulit pice of equipment. I also read the thing about a metal taste/smell, but have encountered no such problem. If your looking to buy a new hookah I would strongly reccomond this u won't be dissapointed...hope this helps good luck!

Thanks Whitey. Where did you get your Vortex from? Did you notice that the glass base was "thin" looking -- as other people have commented. That's is worrying me a bit.

[poopooshaboo]

Just get a friggin acrylic.

[hookahlife]

Hi Smoke,

We do plan on carrying it and you should see a few different color variations in our inventory by mid-late July. Just keep in mind that the stem style/design may vary from model to model so if you like the stem styles you see on curent online sites, we may not have exactly that.

Hope this helps, and good luck in your search.

Regards,
Mike
Hookah Life

[SmokeMojo]

I just purchased a Vortex with an Aqua Bohemian Vase and a Cloisonne Hose and it should arrive tomorrow. I have owned a couple Mya's in the past and still own a QT and an older Model with a plain "bell" base. They have done nothing but produce good sessions so I'm excited about recieving the Vortex. I've smoked out of I believe the 26 and 31 inchers and both were superb and produced so much smoke I couldn't see my hand in front of me.. And that was with Havana! Just make sure to do some research and you'll find the right Hookah.
Also look for the Mya Staff Hookah, they are elegant and priced like the Vortex. My good friend owns one of these and our sessions on it have been wonderful.

[gunsboy]

I have a MYA QT and few other high end hookahs. The material is nice and heavy (durable) too, but they do not even get close to a good old cheap egyptian hookah. The MYA one cost me around $200 and I bought the rotator one from the other place that I forgot their name (hehehehe). Too expensive for the quality. Now I smoke daily using a small ghetto egyptian hookah that my little brother bought me for probably not more than $20-30. It smokes like a dream, but I used the MYA hose on it.

[indy]

I've got a 4 hose egyptian that cost me $140 from Hookah-Shisha and a Mya Vortex that cost me $130 from the same company. They aren't even in the same league. The Vortex not only whips the pants off of the egyptian, but it then sells those pants at Buffalo XChange to make a couple of bucks.

[SmokeMojo]

I've got a 4 hose egyptian that cost me $140 from Hookah-Shisha and a Mya Vortex that cost me $130 from the same company. They aren't even in the same league. The Vortex not only whips the pants off of the egyptian, but it then sells those pants at Buffalo XChange to make a couple of bucks.

I truely LoL'd and that doesn't happen often...
The only hookah I own that smokes AS well as my older Mya is a 3 hose syrian with safe seal valves. The new Mya's though are a different story, the smokes were on a different level. This is why I decided to make a purchase. I don't know about the durability of the new models, but I've had my other one for over 2 years and it hasn't rusted or broke in any fashion.. The only problem I have had happened two weeks ago.. They make those hoses so damn sexy, my puppy had to eat one.

[indy]

The only problem I have had happened two weeks ago.. They make those hoses so damn sexy, my puppy had to eat one.

Indeed... the puppy could hardly be blamed.

[spoolinspoon]

I recently also purchased the new design stem. It does smoke a bit different then my older stem. What I like the best is the tray issue they fixed on it. One thing I did notice was that the stem gets a bit warm.....

The only thing that can come close to my Mya's is my SS Oasis w/Ice bowl. Next hookah will be the new QT or bambino. And then.................crystal

[MaxT0]

How does the Staff compare to the Vortex? I'm thinking of getting a new hookah and those two look appealing. Most importantly is do they both pull the same? And has the Staff had issues with the base glass being too thin?

Thanks for any input!

[SmokeMojo]

How does the Staff compare to the Vortex? I'm thinking of getting a new hookah and those two look appealing. Most importantly is do they both pull the same? And has the Staff had issues with the base glass being too thin?

Thanks for any input!

My buddy has a staff and the base seems a lot more solid than the ones I have seen on the vortex. The smoke was similar depending on what we were smoking. The staff smoked Tangiers better whereas the vortex's smoked havana and starbuzz better. My friend packed every bowl, and used small tangiers phunnel on both. His family owns the hookah lounge that I frequent so I get to use a lot of their different Myas. They don't use the staff because it is a few more bucks per hookah than the Vortex, but you also get a cloisonne hose with it.. So I guess it kind of evens out. I'd say they are both similar in functionality, the staff may be a couple inches shorter, nothing major though. I don't know if it was just me but the smoke seemed a little thicker out of the vortex, whereas the Staff seemed to smoke quite a bit longer..

[SmokeMojo]

The stem may be different than pictured, they do that sometimes. That's the Vortex I just ordered from them, but mine is an aqua base. I'll recieve it monday, and I'll be sure to smoke it then too So we'll see how different it is.

That stem is different though, never noticed that.

[smokeup]

The stem may be different than pictured, they do that sometimes. That's the Vortex I just ordered from them, but mine is an aqua base. I'll recieve it monday, and I'll be sure to smoke it then too So we'll see how different it is.

That stem is different though, never noticed that.

The base is different too -- it has a new sliver design at the top and the silver band around the base is smaller and positioned higher.

[SmokeMojo]

The stem may be different than pictured, they do that sometimes. That's the Vortex I just ordered from them, but mine is an aqua base. I'll recieve it monday, and I'll be sure to smoke it then too So we'll see how different it is.

That stem is different though, never noticed that.

The base is different too -- it has a new sliver design at the top and the silver band around the base is smaller and positioned higher.

Oh yeah, I see that now. I got a 1 hose and then just bought the adaptor and I have extra hoses. But the one hose amber base they show is the same as the old one?

[smokeup]

The stem may be different than pictured, they do that sometimes. That's the Vortex I just ordered from them, but mine is an aqua base. I'll recieve it monday, and I'll be sure to smoke it then too So we'll see how different it is.

That stem is different though, never noticed that.

The base is different too -- it has a new sliver design at the top and the silver band around the base is smaller and positioned higher.

Oh yeah, I see that now. I got a 1 hose and then just bought the adaptor and I have extra hoses. But the one hose amber base they show is the same as the old one?

ya. looks like. wierd. I've been scouring the internet looking for an older version Vortex in green -- as that is what I have my heart set on. The only one coming up is sold by CustomHookah -- but I thought they went out of biz or something. Plus, they don't give you all the nice freebies that that H-S does.

[SmokeMojo]

The stem may be different than pictured, they do that sometimes. That's the Vortex I just ordered from them, but mine is an aqua base. I'll recieve it monday, and I'll be sure to smoke it then too So we'll see how different it is.

That stem is different though, never noticed that.

The base is different too -- it has a new sliver design at the top and the silver band around the base is smaller and positioned higher.

Oh yeah, I see that now. I got a 1 hose and then just bought the adaptor and I have extra hoses. But the one hose amber base they show is the same as the old one?

ya. looks like. wierd. I've been scouring the internet looking for an older version Vortex in green -- as that is what I have my heart set on. The only one coming up is sold by CustomHookah -- but I thought they went out of biz or something. Plus, they don't give you all the nice freebies that that H-S does.

I'll let you know if I have the old base once I get mine on monday from HS. I have a feeling it may be random..

[3rooker]

MYA hookahs are DEFINITELY worth the price!

TX

[hookahpimp]

Lol MYA! Are over priced under manufactured stems that leek air in so many different places it’s not funny. the only good thing that comes out of Mya is when it hooks up with its partners Czech for their glass and Crystal work... that’s about it I would go “KM” any day of the week compared to Mya. But if are not a serious smoker who does not care about quality of smoke and flavor and just want something expansive to show off with then get a Mya. Because in the end a hookah made in china is not a hookah that is meant to be smoked out of. When was the last time you’ve herd some one say “wow my Mistuba hookah lasted 6 months after constant use” never it’s the same thing with stargates I personally have gone threw 7 of them big and small all leak water after 15 to 20 uses. Face it, yes I admit the look quite elegant and yes I have owned and tested many of them they are not all that to be honest with you my favorite my hookah is the acrylics, but not for personal use I use them when I cater parties and don’t want to deal with drunk Arabs breaking glass hookahs everywhere... and I am not just saying it. I used to sell then and give them day in and day out. Go to any café any real café with real hookahs 9times out of 10 it’s a KM because of their durability over the years. The only thing you change is the hose and a glass from time to time. Look just get a KM stem and buy a Mya glass or crystal base and you should be set.

Plus you need a hookah that will fit a 1/4 inch hose so you can maximize air flow and only an Egyptian hookah can offer you that...
But that’s just my opinion anything hand made is always better than something manufactured.

[tkato]

MYA's are well built... other than that i don't see a reason buying one...