Help Buying First Hookah

[RyCon]

Hey Everyone,

I'm about to embark on the exciting journey of buying my first hookah and I would really appreciate all of your help. I would like to stay around $60 if at all possible but I am flexible (I am a poor college student so nothing too extravagent). I've only dealt with cheap hookahs from the local market (which are cheap for a reason) and a couple hookah bars so I'm not really experienced and not very knowledgeable on the different types but I'm willing to learn from all of you guys! So what would you suggest for a first hookah? Edited July 12, 2007 by RyCon

[hookahlife]

Hey Ry,

Welcome to the forum. When considering new hookahs you have to decide which style you like first. Are you interested in classic Egyptian, modern Chinese or some other variation?

There are a few primary things to remember. Egyptian hookahs are hand-made and will look and feel that way. You may not always get a perfect fit, you may see slight rusting or imperfect welds but these are all expected of Egyptian hookahs. However, any Egyptian hookah you buy from a reputable online retailer is well built and will likely last you a long time.

Chinese hookahs are a little trickier. There are many items on the market that look modern, and often times they are well made. With Chinese hookahs you can expect them to fit perfectly and have machine-made quality. However, some are better than others. Mya Saray is the best known brand of Chinese hookahs and is also the highest quality. The prices you pay will be higher, but they are worth it for the extended durability and ease of getting replacement parts.

There are a few other variations of hookah out there such as Syrian, Lebanese, Indian and they each have defining characteristics. But you can research those on the forum.

In your specific price range I highly recommend a Mya QT hookah. It is small, about 14", but it smokes well and gets exceptional reviews on this forum. It comes in multiple colors and can be adapted to a 2 hose model by simply adding a hose adapter found on most online retailers sites.

Mya Qt

Some reputable dealers:
http://www.hookah-life.com (15% Off with coupon code: hookahfrm1)
www.mnhookah.com
www.hookah-shisha.com
www.hookahcompany.com

The other online dealers also have coupon codes, which you can find by searching the forum.

Hope this helps.

[SmokeMojo]

The Mya QT is bigger than it looks in online photographs and it has a good presence. I too thought it was kind of ugly but really, it is pretty damn nice once you actually see it. You can't beat the MYA QT for smoke, flavor, durability and air tightness at that price range really. If you were willing to spend maybe $70 or $80, you'd put yourself in a much better variety price range. You can pick up a khalil mamoun or a better Mya for $80. Just so you know.. Never buy a hookah based on looks unless you're getting it for display.. I've found that some of the most extravagant egyptians have a lot of air leaks and they're built poorly. Look into Syrians if you want astounding looks, sturdiness, and air tightness at the price of an egyptian. I'll get a couple links.

[oggie505#2]

If you are going to smoke inside a lot, like in your dorm room then a QT is an excellent choice, my QT fit nicely on my dorm desk when i was on school. If you want something bigger, get a nice egyptian, they smoke excellent and u can proally find one 60 or less

[billy]

Mya QT Review :

http://www.hookahforum.com/Mya-Saray-Qt-t7447.html

and my Mya Bambino :

http://www.hookahforum.com/index.php?showtopic=11200&hl

[Allia22]

That one from hookahcompany isn't too bad at all. They seem to specialize in those stems, and while I had a different base (bell-shaped) it always performed well for me, and was a great first hookah. Excellent to learn the basics with. Just make sure you buy an extra set of grommets with it, especially bowl and hose grommets >.<