Looking To Start, Read Different Threads All Night And Now I'M Super Confused

[TampaJason913]

Never really smoked hookah before. But I did this past weekend and really enjoyed it. I normally just smoke occasional black and milds, but hookah was a lot more enjoyable.

I want to buy a good hookah to start with, and hopefully last a good while. I'd rather spend an extra $30 or so now, so I won't have to sell one I outgrow and get a better one.

I've read that KM's are the way to go, but small myas are good to start with.


H-S has the buy $100 worth of stuff and get a free mya mini.

I don't want to spend more than $100 out the door, so I'm leaning towards the H-S deal. Maybe get a new base, hose, and then the rest shisha and coals til I get to $100?

Help me out guys, am I going to be disappointed in the mya mini? It's just for personal use, occasionally.


Thanks in advance

[Josh Hamilton]

just make sure you buy it from a reputable vendor...then of course checkout the tobacco reviews on this forum>But you have to know what kind flavor profile you want...I just kept getting things that other people said was good and so far so good. I have 2 KMs and 1 Mya so far so good...I love KMs for the effortless pulls / MYAs smoke well too and look really well made

[delSol_si]

That mini mya is a great little hookah, but its more of a beginner hookah in my opinion. I like KM the most. If you go with the mini mya, you will probably love it, then when the day comes that you upgrade to a KM, you will go "HOLY SHIT! So THATS a KM!"

[TampaJason913]

so i should just get a KM from the beginning?

any strong opinions either way on these ones:

http://www.hookahcompany.com/28_amer_khalil_mamoon_hookah_4306_prd1.htm

http://hookahjohn.com/KM-Hookah-AMER-Blue-hose-149.htm

http://hookahjohn.com/KM-Hookah-AMER-Red-hose-144.htm

[kdkhookah]

I am actually smoking from the hookah that H-S gives away right now. It's a good hookah. It's definitely better than my first hookah. If you go with the mini as your hookah, there are some musts that you are going to have to get.

Hose - since you are going to order from H-S, get a Nammor hose. Mya hoses are way too small in diameter.

Bowl - The Mya bowls are okay. Personally don't care for them though. I suggest a phunnel. Make sure it's a Tangiers phunnel and not a Havana or Chinese phunnel. If you don't want to jump into the world of phunnel bowls just yet, get an Egyptian bowl.

Base - You may as well get another base too. The one that comes with the mini mya is an acrylic base. Mine came in cracked and is worthless. Others have had the same issue.

I know you named some of these items, but I though I would stress as to why you should get them. As far as coals, I would suggest natural coals. Depending on your stove top range this may also mean you need to get a single coil burner, which runs for about ten dollars. The tobacco you get will depend on your taste. That part is all trial and error. Personally, I enjoy Nakhla and Tangiers the most. All brands have their hit or miss flavors. Once again, it's all trial and error to find out what you like.

If you get into the hookah lifestyle, you will have to come to terms that it can be an expensive endeavor. You will eventually find yourself staring at that KM wanting to know if it is really that good or not; it is. You will find yourself wanting to try all the flavors, all the brands, etc. You will eventually want to add on to your hookah collection. I personally have five now. Others have more than that.

I'm not trying to steer you away from hookah by any means. This will all be reflected in how much you enjoy it and the amount you smoke. I smoke every day and enjoy every bit of it. So all I'm saying is, if you get into it you will have to get over having to spend $100 or more per order. Though I can understand being a bit hesitant to spend that much from the get go.

[twoapplesplease]

I say go for the mini....its a good little hookah....once you add up a new hose maybee a bowl or two...charcoals both QL and natural and a variety of tobaccos to try to find out what you like you'll hit that $100 mark in no time flat....then if you decide you are into hookah for the long haul youll have a nice little travel hookah

[delSol_si]

Ya, i should clarify the main 3 reasons I have against the mini mya is:
1. The hose ports are a bitch (all myas are like this, they are too cone shaped which makes inserting hoses more difficult)
2. it is open chamber, meaning you will NEVER get the vase cleared when purging.
3. the tray is too small to adequately hold a tangier's sized windcover (it will, but it is kinda lopsided and difficult)

I have one, and I like it, its a great travel hookah. I keep one KM at my buddy's place, one KM at my girlfriends place, and keep the mini mya at the dorms with me.

[kdkhookah]

[quote name='delSol_si' date='21 April 2010 - 12:25 AM' timestamp='1271823942' post='464517']
Ya, i should clarify the main 3 reasons I have against the mini mya is:
1. The hose ports are a bitch (all myas are like this, they are too cone shaped which makes inserting hoses more difficult)
2. it is open chamber, meaning you will NEVER get the vase cleared when purging.
3. the tray is too small to adequately hold a tangier's sized windcover (it will, but it is kinda lopsided and difficult)

I have one, and I like it, its a great travel hookah. I keep one KM at my buddy's place, one KM at my girlfriends place, and keep the mini mya at the dorms with me.
[/quote]

I agree will all of this. If you see yourself really getting into hookah, just go ahead and get a KM.

[bellydancerakn]

Get a couple of different kinds of bowls, a few hoses, a windcover (Def must if you smoke outside!!!), shisha, coals, and maybe a larger hookah and in no time you'll be at 100. Also, now is a GREAT time to buy from them because they have a sale going on.



And I think if you spen 100 you get free shipping... BUT don't quote me on that.

[TampaJason913]

[quote name='TampaJason913' date='20 April 2010 - 11:04 PM' timestamp='1271822657' post='464510']
so i should just get a KM from the beginning?

any strong opinions either way on these ones:

[url="http://www.hookahcompany.com/28_amer_khalil_mamoon_hookah_4306_prd1.htm"]http://www.hookahcom...h_4306_prd1.htm[/url]

[url="http://hookahjohn.com/KM-Hookah-AMER-Blue-hose-149.htm"]http://hookahjohn.co...ue-hose-149.htm[/url]

[url="http://hookahjohn.com/KM-Hookah-AMER-Red-hose-144.htm"]http://hookahjohn.co...ed-hose-144.htm[/url]
[/quote]

still looking for opinions on these.


i think im going to get the km from the beginning.
should i buy anything else for it while im at it? you guys know wayy more than i ever will. is the hose and bowl okay on the km's? and can someone recommend a good shisha to start with, but not to much of a waste since i'll be learning to prepare it the first few times.

[Josh Hamilton]

so what your main enjoyment in shisha? (buzz?flavor? both?) there are alot of good nakhla flavors (again check the tobacco reviews) aim for the 10/10 ratings and make sure more than 1 person rated it...
top of my head...
nakhla = cappucino (elbasha line). sweet melon . (mizo line) mint
Al Fakher = Apple Eskandari (a must have)
SB=Safari Melon Dew (A must have)
then the worthy mentionables for me = xonbeach, blue mist, strawberry margarita Edited April 21, 2010 by Josh Hamilton

[delSol_si]

[quote name='TampaJason913' date='21 April 2010 - 08:32 AM' timestamp='1271856762' post='464589']
[quote name='TampaJason913' date='20 April 2010 - 11:04 PM' timestamp='1271822657' post='464510']
so i should just get a KM from the beginning?

any strong opinions either way on these ones:

[url="http://www.hookahcompany.com/28_amer_khalil_mamoon_hookah_4306_prd1.htm"]http://www.hookahcom...h_4306_prd1.htm[/url]

[url="http://hookahjohn.com/KM-Hookah-AMER-Blue-hose-149.htm"]http://hookahjohn.co...ue-hose-149.htm[/url]

[url="http://hookahjohn.com/KM-Hookah-AMER-Red-hose-144.htm"]http://hookahjohn.co...ed-hose-144.htm[/url]
[/quote]

still looking for opinions on these.


i think im going to get the km from the beginning.
should i buy anything else for it while im at it? you guys know wayy more than i ever will. is the hose and bowl okay on the km's? and can someone recommend a good shisha to start with, but not to much of a waste since i'll be learning to prepare it the first few times.
[/quote]


They are all the same thing, just different vases and the color of the hose. The hose is non-washable, should smoke great until it starts leaking or rusting (it can rust even if you don't wash it, water still builds up in there)...if you are careful with it, i will probably last you a good amount of time though. I'd suggest getting a washable sometime in the future, not really necessary right now. At that same time, i have heard from people on the boards here that they only use non-washables and they last forever. I am convinced it probably has something to do with the climate you live it. The bowl is a standard clay egyptian, they are ok, but i would suggest investing in a tangiers phunnel if you want some serious smoke and are willing to learn how to use it properly.

[Arcane]

the Amer is a good hookah....i'd actually purchase one from hookahcompany...i think they have the older version(older style hose port), which i'm told is slightly better, but i forgot why....

i can't see what hose comes with the hookah, but if it's a KM hose...it'll do well. no need to buy a new hose, unless you're a stickler for washing them out.

as for coals, get yourself some CH Nats....they're good and aren't too hard on the wallet.

lastly, for tobacco....it depends.

If you're accustomed to nicotine: Nakhla. Hands down your first choice. It's inexpensive and very forgiving as far as packing and heat management goes. However, it does have certain characteristics that some find unappealing. Some flavors have a noticeable tobacco flavor and some flavors aren't as strong. Also, do not expect the sugar laden or modern flavors typically offered by the likes of Starbuzz or Social Smoke.

For the non-tolerant types:
I'd actually suggest Starbuzz. They have an astounding number of flavors to choose from, both from the soaked in sugar to the quickly dipped in sugar sides. Also, Starbuzz is fairly hard to mess up. After all, it's popularity isn't just the"exotic" (pun intended) flavors, but the ease of use. It's very tolerant to heat, can be packed nearly any way you can think of, and can easily tell you if something is "wrong".
The bad side? Obviously at $20 or more per can, it stands as one of the highest priced hookah tobaccos on the market. While it's a forgiving tobacco, if you mess up a few bowls...you probably threw away a good chunk of change there. And after a few bad sessions, the cost starts to add up. Another negative is the taste. Not so much the advertised flavor, but it's unadvertised companion. I've noticed that every Starbuzz flavor I've tried (around 10-12) has an artificial or chemical flavor, similar to the sugar subsititutes like Equal or Sweet n Low. The diehard fans may tell you it doesn't exist, but I think they're just accustomed to the overall flavor (chemically-ness included).

If you'd rather not pay that much for a tobacco that may go to waste for the first few bowls, Al Fakher is a good substitute. Fairly easy to pack and heat manage, although not at easy as Starbuzz (imo) and at around $5 less per 250g. However, AF has been known to have some consistency issues so every purchase is kind of like a crap shoot.


These are just my opinions, even though it's typed out as if fact. But, I hope that helps you out a bit.

[ih303]

Here's what I'd recommend:



[list=1][*][b][u]MYA QT[/u][/b] - Workhorse of the hookah world. Great for smoking at home and small enough to travel well. Compatable with bigger hoses and bowls.[*][b][u]Nammor Washable Hose[/u][/b] - Basic, quality washable hose imported and branded by Hookah-Shisha.[*][b][u]Tangiers Small Phunnel Bowl[/u][/b] - THE best innovation to happen to hookah since the coconut. Effortless pulls, flavor longevity, almost idiot-proof.[*][b][u]Box of CH Hookah Nats[/u][/b] - IMO, the best bang for your buck as far as coals go. You could spend more, but why?[*][b][u]250g Nakhla Mizo Guava[/u][/b] - The best Guava, IMO. Jucier than OG Nakhla and great as a mixer to tone down sweeter flavors (see below).[*][u][b]250g AF Orange[/b][/u] - Basic but solid orange flavor from Al Fakher. One of their finest, IMO. Fantastic mixer with all other flavors I'm suggesting (except K Cherry )[*][b][u]250g SB Blue Mist[/u][/b] - Starbuzz's most popular flavor. It's like a blueberry/menthol. Great by itself or mixed with orange, pineapple, or guava.[*][b][u]250g SB Pineapple[/u][/b] - IMO, the best pineapple flavor period. Starbuzz's signature sweetness is finally justified in this rendition. Great by itself, with Blue Mist (Pineapple Express), with Orange (BFF), or with Guava (2/3 of Horny Maker). *These are special blends from my lounge [*][b][u]250g Tangiers Lucid Kashmir Cherry[/u][/b] - I don't know if this is official, but based on what I sell, I'd guess this could be Eric's #1 seller. Fantastic, deep cherry flavor infused with the incense-like floral aroma of Kashmir. Try it in Lucid first before you start messing with Noir. I won't mix anything with any of the K's. They're just too perfect to touch.[/list]
As you can see, following my recommendation puts your money to best use by spending it on top flavors of shisa, which make up far more of the smoking experience than the pipe. And, PSSST.... here's a secret <whisper> With the Tangiers phunnel and Nammor hose, that Mya will crank out just as much smoke as hookahs twice its size!! </whisper> Plus, it's easier to break down, easier to clean, and easier to store. That's why they're so popular!

You'll be completely happy with this setup. Once you've mastered the hookah arts, go out and buy yourself that glimmering tower of smokey delights you always dreamed of. Until then, I say put the smoke before the gear.

I hope this helps!

[TampaJason913]

how's this order look?

[font="'normal Arial"][size=3]KM amer[/size][/font]
[font="'normal Arial"][size=3]HJ alien phunnel bowl[/size][/font]
[font="'normal Arial"][size=3]CH nats[/size][/font]
[font="'normal Arial"][size=3]foil[/size][/font]
[font="'normal Arial"][size=3]AF orange[/size][/font]
[font="'normal Arial"][size=3]Nakhla Mizo Guava[/size][/font]
[font="'normal Arial"][size=3]
[/size][/font]
[font="'normal Arial"][size=3]
[/size][/font]
[font="'normal Arial"][size=3]am i missing anything?[/size][/font]

[Josh Hamilton]

[quote name='Arcane' date='21 April 2010 - 10:42 AM' timestamp='1271864568' post='464612']

If you're accustomed to nicotine: Nakhla. Hands down your first choice. It's inexpensive and very forgiving as far as packing and heat management goes. [b]However, it does have certain characteristics that some find unappealing. Some flavors have a noticeable tobacco flavor and some flavors aren't as strong. [/b]
[/quote]
after trying several you really hit the nail on the head with this comment/phrases

[Josh Hamilton]

[quote name='TampaJason913' date='21 April 2010 - 12:06 PM' timestamp='1271869569' post='464625']
how's this order look?

[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]KM amer[/size][/font]
[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]HJ alien phunnel bowl[/size][/font]
[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]CH nats[/size][/font]
[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]foil[/size][/font]
[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]AF orange[/size][/font]
[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]Nakhla Mizo Guava[/size][/font]

[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]am i missing anything?[/size][/font]
[/quote]


[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]you might want to add mizo melon...to mix with guava / my taste buds dont like guava solo[/size][/font] Edited April 21, 2010 by Josh Hamilton

[Stuie]

[quote name='TampaJason913' date='21 April 2010 - 12:06 PM' timestamp='1271869569' post='464625']
how's this order look?

[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]KM amer[/size][/font]
[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]HJ alien phunnel bowl[/size][/font]
[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]CH nats[/size][/font]
[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]foil[/size][/font]
[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]AF orange[/size][/font]
[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]Nakhla Mizo Guava[/size][/font]


[font="normal Arial"][size="3"]am i missing anything?[/size][/font]
[/quote]


Yeah drop the foil and go buy some Reynolds Heavy Duty locally.

Not that there is anything wrong with it, it's just more cost effective, going with Reynolds.

[Arcane]

ditch the alien for now....learn how to smoke with your egyptian first. also, i think AF and Nak both smoke better in an egyptian... Edited April 21, 2010 by Arcane

[TampaJason913]

ended up going with the 31 inch pear KM w/ v3 narbish from HJ.
i dropped the phunnel bowl.

after lots of reading, i think that was a good buy.
it all came out to be $135.

[Arcane]

[quote name='TampaJason913' date='21 April 2010 - 09:00 AM' timestamp='1271876429' post='464660']
ended up going with the 31 inch pear KM w/ v3 narbish from HJ.
i dropped the phunnel bowl.

after lots of reading, i think that was a good buy.
it all came out to be $135.
[/quote]
nice hookah and hose. good vendor too...

congrats to you man....let us know how your first session goes and don't hesitate to stop by chat and ask for assistance if you need it.

[TampaJason913]

thanks for the help everyone.

i've been looking around at vases, because the one that comes with it is not the nicest looking imo.

will these fit the hookah i bought?
http://www.hookahcompany.com/golden_ruby_egyptian_glass_4702_prd1.htm
http://www.hookahcompany.com/large_sangria_hookah_glass_4701_prd1.htm

what measurements do i need to look for? and can anyone recommend a shop that has nice vases? i think i've been through most of the popular shops

[Jabbles180]

[quote name='TampaJason913' date='21 April 2010 - 06:27 PM' timestamp='1271899641' post='464758']
thanks for the help everyone.

i've been looking around at vases, because the one that comes with it is not the nicest looking imo.

will these fit the hookah i bought?
[url="http://www.hookahcompany.com/golden_ruby_egyptian_glass_4702_prd1.htm"]http://www.hookahcom...s_4702_prd1.htm[/url]
[url="http://www.hookahcompany.com/large_sangria_hookah_glass_4701_prd1.htm"]http://www.hookahcom...s_4701_prd1.htm[/url]

what measurements do i need to look for? and can anyone recommend a shop that has nice vases? i think i've been through most of the popular shops
[/quote]

you wont be upset! congrats on the buy and heres to a long smoking career. Just dont get mad when you start getting your first 300+ tobacco buys. haha