Good Hookahs

[JDub86]

I am new to the world of Hookah and I currently own a small one. I am just wanting to know what to look for when buying a new one. Because after browsing the forum it seems like there are a lot of options out there.

[Dom]

I am new to the world of Hookah and I currently own a small one. I am just wanting to know what to look for when buying a new one. Because after browsing the forum it seems like there are a lot of options out there.

many people like KM hookahs, but i prefer the Syrian Nours.

one of the online places to find a Nour is hookahcompany.com

search the forums for more topics about the KM, MZ, and Nour.

[Capt. Morgan]

Your best bet would be to go with a reputable brand. As Dom said KM, MZ, Nour, and Mya are all good choices. From those 4 you should look and figure out what you like in terms of appearance, multi vs single hose, portability, price range, etc.

If you are buying from a shop look for hookahs the look/feel sturdy. Large hose ports are a plus.

[erufiku]

Your best bet would be to go with a reputable brand. As Dom said KM, MZ, Nour, and Mya are all good choices. From those 4 you should look and figure out what you like in terms of appearance, multi vs single hose, portability, price range, etc.

If you are buying from a shop look for hookahs the look/feel sturdy. Large hose ports are a plus.

Also make sure it's air-tight... and doesn't have any holes in the stem

In my personal, subjective opinion the over-decorated stems are an indicator of a crappy hookah. I also find that quality hookahs come with good quality accessories (ie., the bowl, hose(s), etc). Oh, and thick glass vases are another thing you should be looking for. Not to say that a nice stem with a crappy hose can't be remedied by a Nammor/Razan, but overal it should come ready for a good session without having to buy anything extra before your first smoke. Edited October 13, 2008 by erufiku

[joelhookah]

There are alot of options out there, some good, some bad. But one thing you will hear time and time again are the top makers: Mya, KM, Nour and Magdy Zidan. Look at them, see which one appeals to you most cuz they all smoke about the same and are all top quality. I have a $20 Mya and I am quite content with my investment. I personally want a KM Pharonie from hookahcompany.com but thats not for everyone.

[hookah hippie]

get a KM they are the shit

[Hojo]

There are so many variables.

What is your budget? Do you smoke alone or as a group? Do you want a good portable hookah, or do you want something larger and/or more decorative?

[gaia.plateau]

It's hard to go wrong with a KM, MZ, Brass Syrian, or a Mya.

All of these types of pipes and their models have particular strengths... for my money the Bambino is the all around best hookah on the market.

[JDub86]

There are so many variables.

What is your budget? Do you smoke alone or as a group? Do you want a good portable hookah, or do you want something larger and/or more decorative?

Well right now I have a small single hose Hookah that me and my buddies share. I want to get a multi hose one so we don't have to wait in between.

[joelhookah]

For a multihose get a Mya. If you guys dont want to shell out that much, do yourself a favor and buy one with an autoseal system. Keeps you away from having to put your thumb on the hose when not hitting, a major PITA

[mushrat]

Good answers, uselss answers, im getting tired of "get a km" with no reasons attached.

As mentioned before, if you are able to examine the hookah ahead of time. Make sure the glass is thick without any major flaws. Thin spots, big air bubbles near the outer side or at the edges, messy welds around the ports (where the hose goes) it doesn't sit tightly in the base, general visual quality issues.

if not, go with a company that is relaible. Check the vendor reviews and even talk to some of the company reps/owners who frequent the forum. Make sure its a place you can return the hookah to if there is a problem. Check it BEFORE you smoke it.

Now I'll put in my 2 cents...if you don't have to have soemthing that looks traditional, try looking at soemthign from Mya Saray. The are solid cast, so there are no welds. The ports and downstem screw in, so nothing will crack from use, the bases are USUALLY relaible, although some do have thin spots, and they are brass cored with a chrome finish, except for the economyas, which are aluminium and chrome. The problem is with only a few exception, they don't look like your standard middleeastern hookah. For those, KM's, MZ's, Nour's are all good names, but don't let the name blind you from some nice no-name hookah. I have several no names, a hookah brothers, and a nour chiller and to be honest, they all smoke great.

[Stuie]

Now I'll put in my 2 cents...if you don't have to have soemthing that looks traditional, try looking at soemthign from Mya Saray. The are solid cast, so there are no welds. The ports and downstem screw in, so nothing will crack from use, the bases are USUALLY relaible, although some do have thin spots, and they are brass cored with a chrome finish, except for the economyas, which are aluminium and chrome. The problem is with only a few exception, they don't look like your standard middleeastern hookah. For those, KM's, MZ's, Nour's are all good names, but don't let the name blind you from some nice no-name hookah. I have several no names, a hookah brothers, and a nour chiller and to be honest, they all smoke great.

+ 1000

The man speaks the truth.

[modisess]

i guess if it smokes and purges well, then why bother with a brand? unfortunately my no name smokes very well, but i can't purge for shit.

[cemab4y]

There are many good, reliable hookahs for sale. I am lucky, I never bought a real "lemon". I look for quality, good construction, clear glass. Make no mistake, there is "crap" out there. The on-line dealers do a very good job, IMHO. If a dealer starts selling shoddy merchandise, the word gets around quickly!

I suggest you keep asking around. I also encourage you to get a multi-hose hookah with auto-seal, and also get the little plastic caps, that you can seal the unused hoses with.

[Dom]

as i've said before in other nour threads, i like the nour better than a km because of the look and the size. they both pull the same, but the KM purges a lot easier. but the nour still has a decent purge. it takes a little longer, but patience is a virtue. the downstem is shorter and more narrow on the nour, which i like.

i think that egyptian hookahs look kind of cartoony. (KM's are egyptian). that's just my opinion. most people on this forum will probably disagree. syrian hookahs (like the nour) have a lot more detail and to me, they seem classier. also, their downstem is more narrow than an egyptian, thus the purr isn't so freakin' loud. syrians are typtically smaller than egyptians, but the large nour that you'll find on hookahcompany.com is pretty tall for a syrian. but most often than not, at least the downstem is more narrow and also shorter, accomadating a more shallow vase.

now for my word on the pros and cons of brass:

nours are solid brass, which is more durable than a stainless steel hookah. now, some KM's have a brass core that runs from the top where the bowl is all the way down through the downstem. that's cool. KM also makes hookahs with part brass on the outside as well as a few solid brass ones. the downside to a hookah that is brass on the outside is that over time, it starts to get dingy and dull. it'll also get little brown water spots when it's humid or if water settles on it for too long. a good polish every now and then can keep it shining brightly. not necessary though. stainless steel never gets corrosion and you don't have to polish it. so as long as you clean it, it stays looking just as bright and shiny as the day you bought it.