Help Me Spend 300-400 On First Hookah Purchase

[seatownclown]

okay so my friends and I have a couple cheap 40 dollar hookahs we bought at the local smoke shops and all we have ever smoked is al fahker and lately I have been thinking about buying a really nice hookah and some good shisha I am open to all suggestions. I know very little about hookah which is why I dont want to spend money without expert advice

I have 300-400 to spend on everything hookah, accessories, shisha etc

I have heard Mya's or KM's are the best

my only requirements are that I want the best smoke quality possible (overall smoothness, flavor etc) and I want a wide variety of flavors because I haven't tried a whole lot

I am most likely going to order from http://www.hookah-shisha.com

Thanks in advance I will +rep anyone who helps out

[freeOS]

Hookah-shisha is a fine place, I've ordered from them before. HookahJohn.com is actually a really active member here, and has great stuff, so I'd recommend him as well.

For shisha, I think Nakhla and Nakhla Mizo are crowd pleasers.

Whatever you do, stay away from Sahara & Hookah-Hookah stuff, it's very low quality.

[seatownclown]

Hookah-shisha is a fine place, I've ordered from them before. HookahJohn.com is actually a really active member here, and has great stuff, so I'd recommend him as well.

For shisha, I think Nakhla and Nakhla Mizo are crowd pleasers.

Whatever you do, stay away from Sahara & Hookah-Hookah stuff, it's very low quality.

thanks do you have any advice on if I should buy Nammor Hookah Hose's do they make a big difference on quality?

[Woodsytheowl]

I don't think you can rep people on HF from it's a nice thought

Hookah-shisha is alright if you're looking for a mya, but you could probably get much more variety if you went somewhere else.

Hookahjohn is a great vendor but with your budget and hookahcompany's czech base selection, you might want to check them out.

If I had that kind of budget and what I know now, I would split it into two seperate orders.

1. Get a czech base and KM hookah from HC (free 250g starbuzz promotion)

Vases:
http://www.hookahcompany.com/large_bohemia...s_3731_prd1.htm
http://www.hookahcompany.com/jumbo_bohemia...e_3072_prd1.htm
http://www.hookahcompany.com/large_bohemia...e_3059_prd1.htm
http://www.hookahcompany.com/al_aqsa_mosqu...s_3616_prd1.htm
http://www.hookahcompany.com/large_bohemia...s_3732_prd1.htm

2. Order shisha and a small tangiers phunnel from hookahjohn. (don't forget discount codes)

Small phunnel:
http://www.hookahjohn.com/product.sc?categ...mp;productId=65

As far as hoses, I would either get a nammor from hookahjohn or a grand egyptian from hookahcompany. Both are washable !

[Stuie]

Get an Obelisk. Some of the best money I have spent. Rest on shisha and get the free Mini Mya Hookah.

[neffertiti]

if you got a group of people, I'd go with a MYA. I have the GYRO (http://www.hookah-shisha.com/store/pc/configurePrd.asp?idcategory=241&idproduct=1743) and it smokes great. from what i've heard, all of the MYA's smoke great and have the autoseal. as for tobacco, i still go with nakhla AF, and Starbuzz. all three are fairly great for smoking and rarely get so badly burned they can't be salvaged.

One of the things that helped me out when i was starting was to start using decent coals. I use the Coconara's, but any coconut or canary coals are good. I've also heard great things about John's CH coals, but haven't personally tried them.

[seatownclown]

I don't think you can rep people on HF from it's a nice thought

Hookah-shisha is alright if you're looking for a mya, but you could probably get much more variety if you went somewhere else.

Hookahjohn is a great vendor but with your budget and hookahcompany's czech base selection, you might want to check them out.

If I had that kind of budget and what I know now, I would split it into two seperate orders.

1. Get a czech base and KM hookah from HC (free 250g starbuzz promotion)

Vases:
http://www.hookahcompany.com/large_bohemia...s_3731_prd1.htm
http://www.hookahcompany.com/jumbo_bohemia...e_3072_prd1.htm
http://www.hookahcompany.com/large_bohemia...e_3059_prd1.htm
http://www.hookahcompany.com/al_aqsa_mosqu...s_3616_prd1.htm
http://www.hookahcompany.com/large_bohemia...s_3732_prd1.htm

2. Order shisha and a small tangiers phunnel from hookahjohn. (don't forget discount codes)

Small phunnel:
http://www.hookahjohn.com/product.sc?categ...mp;productId=65

As far as hoses, I would either get a nammor from hookahjohn or a grand egyptian from hookahcompany. Both are washable !

are you saying to buy the base and hookah seperately? is there an advantage to this?

[seatownclown]

if you got a group of people, I'd go with a MYA. I have the GYRO (http://www.hookah-shisha.com/store/pc/configurePrd.asp?idcategory=241&idproduct=1743) and it smokes great. from what i've heard, all of the MYA's smoke great and have the autoseal. as for tobacco, i still go with nakhla AF, and Starbuzz. all three are fairly great for smoking and rarely get so badly burned they can't be salvaged.

One of the things that helped me out when i was starting was to start using decent coals. I use the Coconara's, but any coconut or canary coals are good. I've also heard great things about John's CH coals, but haven't personally tried them.

thanks any personal preferences on flavors?

[momatik]

If you want to order from hookah-shisha here is what I would do, not counting coals. I tried to pick flavors from companies most people rave about, for the most part. That one or two flavors people seem to enjoy most. The Al Fakher flavors are really my own preference though.

Once you add the discount code you should save more. Spend the money you save and buy a couple boxes of hookah john coals.

Also if you decide to go with this kind of order, and you don't feel comfortable with tangiers for whatever reason (buzz, difficulty, etc.), change it to lucid tangiers.

G'luck

[freeOS]

thanks any personal preferences on flavors?

Crowdpleasers:

BLUEBERRY

MINT

CITRUS/ORANGE

Goofy shit like margarita and bubblegum

[seatownclown]

If you want to order from hookah-shisha here is what I would do, not counting coals. I tried to pick flavors from companies most people rave about, for the most part. That one or two flavors people seem to enjoy most. The Al Fakher flavors are really my own preference though.

Once you add the discount code you should save more. Spend the money you save and buy a couple boxes of hookah john coals.

Also if you decide to go with this kind of order, and you don't feel comfortable with tangiers for whatever reason (buzz, difficulty, etc.), change it to lucid tangiers.

G'luck

thanks so much I really appreciate that, however that is an awful lot of shisha, would it be worth it to spend more on the actual hookah or is the quality gonna be the same once you break the 100 dollar range?

[freeOS]

thanks so much I really appreciate that, however that is an awful lot of shisha, would it be worth it to spend more on the actual hookah or is the quality gonna be the same once you break the 100 dollar range?

My suspicion is that you are correct about the $100 dollar range being fine for a hookah.


I wouldn't spend more than about $130 on one tops, regardless of what the obelisk crowd may say.

[mjdx88]

Dont forget tons of Nat coals. Order some Nak, AF, Fant. Those i have found the easiest so smoke. Get a Small Phunnel from MNH and 2 mini phunnel for santino. Since you have the cash. The Mya Gyro and a Nammor hose. Dont spend all of the cash IMHO, save it get your heat management down on those bowls. Then move up to Tangiers, you might end up spending a bit more it before you get it down.

Also if you have smoked Starbuzz or Fantasia before and you have flavors that you love stock up on that. If I had the cash I would buy like 2 Kilos of Fant. Blueberry...which is my favorite.

[neffertiti]

thanks so much I really appreciate that, however that is an awful lot of shisha, would it be worth it to spend more on the actual hookah or is the quality gonna be the same once you break the 100 dollar range?

My suspicion is that you are correct about the $100 dollar range being fine for a hookah.


I wouldn't spend more than about $130 on one tops, regardless of what the obelisk crowd may say.

i spent more than 130 on my MYA (between all the ports and matching hoses), and don't regret it in the least.

[mjdx88]

Dont order the phunnel from HS. Get it from Hookah John before he leaves. HS as far as I know are still making the Fake ones. Honestly some say they dont smoke any worse the the Tangiers phunnels. But that still cuts in to what eric makes.

[neffertiti]

Qty. Description Unit Price Price
Mya Gyro (3 hose) Hookah $194.95 $194.95



Customizations:
Mya Gyro Hookah::
blue"cloisonne" glass base - 3 hose "Autoseal"


Reconfigure Mya Gyro (3 hose) Hookah
Super Pack (3 x 84-piece boxes of Coco Nara Coals) $36.95 $36.95


Super Pack (3 Al Fakher Jars) $32.95 $32.95



Customizations:
Al Fakher 250g Flavor(s)::
grape

Al Fakher 250g Flavor #2::
lemon mint

Al Fakher 250g Flavor #3::
orange

Reconfigure Super Pack (3 Al Fakher Jars)
Starbuzz Shisha 250g $22.95 $22.95



Customizations:
Starbuzz 250g #1::
blue mist

Reconfigure Starbuzz Shisha 250g
Starbuzz Shisha 250g $22.95 $22.95



Customizations:
Starbuzz 250g #1::
tangerine dream

Reconfigure Starbuzz Shisha 250g

Total: $310.75

Estimated Shipping Charges




this is probably what i'd do, but that's just me Edited June 21, 2009 by neffertiti

[newjacksm]

Dont forget to get a Razan washable hose! noobie mistake cleaning un-washable hoses, so I would add a Razan/Nammor hose to the purchase. I also dont see Charcoal... You should also get natural charcoal... Which then means you need a coil burner which you can pick up for 10 bucks at walgreens. Walmart sells them too but I think a little more expensive.

You should pick up Coconara/CH Coconut coals/ Exoticas Sticks (not the japanese kind. Anyone of those will do you justice. I would also pick up some quick lites too just incase if you ever just want to light up too and not use a phunnel.

[fineout]

if you spend a shit ton of money you wont get a better hookah, 100-150 is all you need to get some of the best ones out there. although the obelisk is pretty ballin and if you want one of those im sure it would be money well spent...and a huge variety of shisha is always a good thing...and if you wanna blow your money bad you can get one of the pimp edition myas...

[momatik]

thanks so much I really appreciate that, however that is an awful lot of shisha, would it be worth it to spend more on the actual hookah or is the quality gonna be the same once you break the 100 dollar range?

Your smoking experience relies more on:
-Your tobacco
-Your coals
-Your hose

More than it does on the hookah.

You can get a $50 Mya Bambino and it'll smoke great. It will be just a tad bit more restrictive than the Khalil Mamoon, almost unnoticably, but you gain a lot in portability.

Believe me I know, I hate lugging around my KM.

[Dr. B]

similar to what momatik said, the hookah, if the hookah is a satisfactory pipe (I like KM & Mya, but there are a few other good manufs. floating around), it is mostly based on aesthetic preference. If you think about it, the coals come and go as does the tobacco, but the pipe is something you'll be smoking from all the time.

That being said, I'd go ahead and spend a chunk of change on the pipe and since this is your first quality pipe buy, I'd go with something in the 110-140 range. For instance, when I wanted a pipe based on portability and durability, I bought a Mya QT (around 14" I think) but when I decided I wanted a good, aesthetically-pleasing hookah to smoke out of most often without regard to portability, which may be the situation you're in, I spent ~130 on a 36" KM.

As for bowls & accessories, it'd be nice to have a phunnel around. It's not a necessity, but it makes life a helluva lot easier when smoking most tobaccos. Get a small if you decide on one, it'll give you long sessions without depleting your shisha as much as other bowls. If you go Mya for the pipe, pick up at least 1 auto-seal hose valve to whip out when the number of people smoking makes passing and waiting a tiring game.

My personal favorite tobaccos brands are nakhla and tangiers, but starbuzz gives a good smoke and isn't hard to prep. The Mizo line of nakhla might be more similar to what you're used to and I definitely reccommend it. Get yourself some coconut coals, which John makes in quicklight variety if that suits your favor.

That about covers it I think. Good luck Edited June 21, 2009 by Dr. B

[Arcane]

ok, here's my suggestions...

KM hookah 27" or bigger - pick whatever looks good to you. they'll smoke roughly the same
Small Phunnel Bowl
Medium Phunnel Bowl
Grand Washable Hose
Jumbo Tongs - i prefer these than the stock tongs

here's where i have some options for you:
Canary Golden Charcoal
+convenient (you can light coals on top of each other)
+doesn't burn as hot compared to other coals
-expensive
-don't last long

or you can choose
CH Nats or QL
+last a good amount of time
+inexpensive
-burns hotter than most coals i've used
-you have to take time to light new coals each set

as for tobacco brands,

I'd go Nakhla, Tangiers Lucid, and AF (if you don't want a buzz)

[delSol_si]

I would suggest spending more money on the accessories rather than the hookah itself. I personally believe the accessories are more important. All you need out of a hookah is for it to seal and not rust or break.

I would suggest getting natural coals, if you still want quick lights, CH makes quick lights. I would also strongly recommend get a Tangiers phunnel bowl. Don't get the chinese shit. The extra couple bucks is worth it. Might also try talking to Santino about a crown bowl, never used one yet myself (will be ordering in August), but the people who do own one seem to like them.

Last, stay away from Soex and Jewel.

[Rani]

Everybody is giving you good advice but there's something else I'd add in there...... I'd order a custom hose from Scalli here at the forum. It's honestly the best hose I've ever used.

'Rani

[SloppyJoe]

Get a KM hookah. Mya QT is a nice one for portability, although I would use a small phunnel on it with a different hose as well.
Get Tangiers tobacco lucid or original. (Go with hookahjohn and order 3 250g packs for $40)
Get a Tangiers phunnel bowl small, medium or large. (you can't get these from hookah-shisha)
Get golden canary natural Japanese coals.


There's my two cents. Edited June 21, 2009 by SloppyJoe

[ilikemyusername]

everytime i see one of these i lose a little respect for mya.
[/quote]