Do The Sizes Of Hookahs Directly Influence Taste/quality?

[Swift06]

This thread's question for discussion is: Does the height of a hookah contribute to the quality of the session? Assuming that you were to have two ordinary hookahs that were exactly the same (grommets, water level, hose, coals, shihsa etc), would the size difference really be a contributing variable?

My friend raves about how he wants a mini hookah, but his 30" does really well for smoking. I have smoked with extremely similar setups (his is a mod ice torrent, other was a mya with ice chamber a few inches taller). I cannot tell the difference and I'm not sure to believe his hype of mini hookahs.

Hopefully someone can clear this up for me. It could possibly be a simple question of pneudraulics and volume, but I just have no idea. I think that the heighth wouldn't matter simply because it's just unused space that doesn't do anything to contribute to the taste. The only thing I can think of is the smoke might get stale or something between hits and you would take a longer hit of 'stale' smoke, but I have no way of confirming this.

Please contribute with any kinds of ideas that you have or have heard. Also, I'm sure that experiences go a long way as well. If the majority thinks that smaller hookahs are better from experience, then I'll just have to give it a shot myself! I don't know anyone with a mini, so I'd just have to buy one or something.

Discuss. Edited February 7, 2008 by Swift06

[MechAnt]

The only main difference between a tall hookah and shorter one is that the smoke is cooler in a taller one. Other than that, quality is unaffected. I've smoked Bambino's and QT's set up correctly that can out smoke a mediocre-ly set up KM.

[shisha fan]

The only main difference between a tall hookah and shorter one is that the smoke is cooler in a taller one. Other than that, quality is unaffected. I've smoked Bambino's and QT's set up correctly that can out smoke a mediocre-ly set up KM.

thats absolutely true. the way you set up a hookah makes a very big difference in smoke quality (given that you have a good pipe).

[Swift06]

so you guys would say that taller hookahs are better? is that right, since the smoke would be cooler?

[MechAnt]

Not necessarily. It's like a penis. Size doesn't ONLY matter, its how you handle it

Somebody, sig quote that Edited February 7, 2008 by MechAnt

[chromecarz00]

Not necessarily. It's like a penis. Size doesn't ONLY matter, its how you handle it

Somebody, sig quote that

done. I was waiting for one, I always seem to miss them...lol
as for the question, I will call all of the above. But if you get a tall one its easier to knock over, and short ones are easier to transfport. Just putting it all in the pot here...

[Codename067]

Does not matter.

It's all about your setup. I can make the shortest hookah hit, and i can make the tallest hookah hit.

[shoresidejake]

i personally prefer a taller hookah. i own both a 24" and a 29", as well as a mini hookah i picked up at a local arab store. i think it's all about personal preference honestly. however, i do agree that a taller pipe seems to keep your smoke a little cooler. Edited February 7, 2008 by shoresidejake

[jfaltous]

Look at it this way... the amount of smoke produced is a result of the type of bowl you're using, the amount of tobacco inside of it, the amount of coals/heat you provide to the bowl, and the amount of air that you have being pulled through this setup.... the size of the hookah doesn't really come into play there...

However, on a purely theoretical side of things, since the water acts as a filter a larger hookah will have better filtration than a smaller one, and you'll get cooler (and thus thicker) smoke.... and larger ones have way more potential to look good imo

[shoresidejake]

yeah... taller hookahs look much cooler

[cartercdad]

is there a fact section on how to set up your hookah to get a better smoke. i have read alot but now with the new pipe that works like crazy amounts of smoke. i need to figure out how to make the smoke less harsh and i now have to use 2 3 kings charcoals to get it going and it does not last that long. let me know or if there is a link for a setup that is the best practice. btw it is a social smoke orion III.

[EvansLight]

There is a such thing as too tall and too short. To short and the heat is gonna transfer right down to your base and the smoke is gonna start getting warmer and harsher, and the flavor and smoke can suffer. Too tall and the drag starts to get harder and harder, but flavor and smoke are usually about the same. But the taller the more chance for air leaks which can augment the taste and clouds.

[Codename067]

yeah... taller hookahs look much cooler

How does a 38-40" KM sound to you?

[ZenSilk]

Small hookah in fact do smoke hotter than Tall hookahs. But not becasue the smoke travels farther down the shaft.

Hookah smoke, after you take a hit, sits in every part of your hookah, including the hose and stem. Hookah smoke is slow to dissipate when not spread out through the air. In that case, MORE smoke sits in your hookah without moving while you are not taking a hit. While it's sitting, it cools. The larger the hookah and hose, the mroe smoke cools, which = a cooler hit.

With smaller hookahs, though, the fact that they have small stems does make a difference while the smoke is in motion. When you pull, the smoke barely travels far at all. Even after a hit, not very much smoke is sitting in your hookah, so you get some cool smoke at the start of your next hit, but it goes to warm very quickly because of the short distance the smoke is travelling.

This is all relative though. When you are smoking with multiple people out of a larger hookah, the smoke will be warmer because it sits inside the hookah for less time than just one person smoking.

[zeppyrkr]

what are you guys talking about? ive never experienced hot smoke in either qt or bambino, well i do use ice, usually smokes freaking colder then i like to be honest ... ?

from my experience the only plus i give to taller hookahs is there easier to set up, there less picky about how you do it, almost anyone can get a nice tall km to smoke wonders, it takes a bit more practice with smaller hookahs. Edited February 7, 2008 by zeppyrkr