Chinese Hookahs

[ih303]

There is a great double standard staring the members of this community right in the face. I'm talking about Chinese Hookahs.

Since I began learning about hookahs, I held the assumption that Chinese Hookahs were the devil. I believed them to be of lesser quality than their middle-eastern counterparts. In my books, if it wasn't a KM, Temsaah, MZ, or Mya, it wasn't worth my time or money.

Things began to get complicated for me when I started having quality issues with the well-known Egyptian brands. In fact, the brand I've had the least problems with is Mya. I began to get a little suspicious, though, when I began to see little "Made in China" stickers on various Mya components. My suspicions were finally confirmed when I talked to a importer who told me they get all their Mya stems from China and even some of the bases. They said the only bases they didn't get from China were the Bohemian ones.

So the cat is out of the bag - Myas are Chinese Hookahs. And Ironically, they're some of the highest quality hookahs you can buy, IMO. This makes me think that China is responsible for both crap and quality hookahs. The question is, though, how do you tell the difference?

[garykainz]

I think the difference comes with a quality name brand you trust. I've been smoking out of my Mya gryo for over 2 years and it smokes like the day I unboxed it.

I guess the best comparison would be that the iPhone is made in China, as are things like this:
[img]http://bwaffles.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/harry-potter-obama-sonic-backpack.jpg[/img]

Hilarity aside, stick with the brands you trust, I do.

[Cp44]

I've never had a problem with hookahs made from china.

[no longer welcome]

I'm opposite to the post above me. I used to buy Chinese hookahs before I knew any better, some were ok and some were terrible, however, I always like the quality of MYA hookahs. After being more in the business and a forum member I got on the KM bandwagon and have never gone back. I'm not going to argue which is better, however, MYA to me was the only quality Chinese hookah. I really am not trying to break any rules or advertise here but since Ian brought up the topic there is a new Chinese hookah that is comparable to MYA. I know Ian so he can email me about these. I have made a yt video on this but will not link it here because I used an intro promoting another forum. If Mush or any of the mods allow it I can link the page from my site for you guys to see. I may have done this already in my vendor thread, but back to the subject, MYA's are great quality for Chinese Hookahs, but the rest of Chinese Hookah that I have seen are crappy to say the least. Now, every hookah out there can smoke great, depending on how you set it up, really, they all work, so why choose some over other? The cheapo Chinese ones do wear out and fall apart really quickly, and Ian, since you are in a lounge experience they may not be good for you. Must, I believe, used to use MYA for his lounge, but I think, and am assuming, his lounge was a bit "calm" or they used table top Mya QT's. Anyhow, Ian, other than MYA there are no really good Chinese Hookahs that I know of, well that was until 2-3 weeks ago when I found a competing product, brought to us from one of the MYA dealers coincidentally.

[boludo]

Not all chinese hookahs are crap. The problem is that most of them are no-name hookahs that are difficult to differentiate. Some of them are poorly build and break easily, others are great. I have no problem with chinese hookahs, but I will not buy them online (unless is a mya) because I cannot see how well/bad they are built; I bought a chinese hookah locally that works great.

[Hassouni]

The difference with Mya is that the company itself is not Chinese, it (I think) is Lebanese. Therefore, the people running the company, and more importantly, designing the pipes, know damn well what they're doing. The manufacturing is done in China but to their specific standards. Just as someone mentioned, the iPhone is made in China, but under extremely tight specifications from Apple--it even says on the box, "designed in California."

Other Chinese pipes I feel are just being made by whatever company looking to cash on on the so-called fad....just like all the Chinese factories that have started making vuvuzelas during the World Cup

That being said...I'm having my own issues with Egyptian made stuff....as of right now my preferences lie with Lebanon and Turkey

[Chreees]

You're a lounge owner and just now finding out Myas are Chinese?

I keed, I keed. I'm sure you already knew from the get-go. But the way your post sounds it seems like you're just finding out.

I personally love Myas. Thinking about picking up another QT sometime. I've even considered selling my KM and going back to a QT simply because it's so damn easy to setup and manage. I can clean it in my kitchen sink. And it hits like a champ. Almost as good as my KM does now. I'd say the QT produces about 2/3 the amount of smoke that a KM will give you. I'm sure most members would agree with that. And for some reason, I seemed to get more flavorful sessions out of my QT than out of my KM. With the KM I seem to have to work a tad bit harder to get the sessions going good, whereas I remember with the QT just throwing the coals on and having a good time with huge clouds and great flavor. Reason I don't sell my KM? I've customized the shit out of it, especially the vase, and Tyler (delSol) made me an awesome custom hose to go with it. It's all just too beautiful. I could buy another QT, but I fear that if I did it just wouldn't get enough attention. I'm a one-hookah man. I tend to smoke the more beautiful hookah. But, perhaps someday I will come back to you, my little friend. You were great to me, and I will never forget you.

[Chaz1337]

There is a difference between Chinese and Mya. I dont even put them in the same boat because of the differences in quality. I have come to read chinese and know that means a shitty Mya rip-off hookah. Im sure everyone on here would agree that Mya Saray quality is competitive with even the finest pipes coming out of the middle east. Basically Im ripping all the knock off Hookahs which come from cheap chinese sweat shops.

[Josh Hamilton]

Ian > when you said "Egyptian" what exactly was wrong with them?

[dizzbizz]

I always knew Mya was Chinese... The no name Chinese Mya-Knockoffs are what I have problems with..

[KeepItSimple]

I'm not even a huge fan of Mya, but considering that they are Chinese pipes, they are light years ahead of the other no-name brands. If I can recall correctly, most of us, at least I do, when talking about a shitty chinese pipe we normally put something like "Yea, it was a shitty no-name chinese hookah." So I'm thinking for ease/laziness it just got cut down to "Yea, it was a shitty chinese pipe." But I always think that Mya is excluded when using that phrase.

But now that you mention it maybe we should be more careful with our exact wording, who knows what newbie will be searching the forum for answers and write off Mya because of what we say?

[thatonethere]

Wtf is up with the pic of that shirt?!

Anyway. The market is so flooded with slapped together crap that sucks no matter what you try to get. I think that's the main issue with Chinese Hookahs. Everybody and their mother is trying to sell these things at high prices and they lie about quality. When you get the thing home, use it for a little while and when it breaks, you get pissed. The money you used to purchase something you hoped would last has been pissed away on crap. The same thing goes with anything made with poor quality and craftmanship. Everything nowadays is built with a planned obsolescence in mind so you have to go out and either buy a whole new product because the old one isn't made anymore, or a part in the product has failed and cost too much to service. You see it with electronics and cars a lot. People in general are tired of having to hunt for shit to replace shit that broke because of some small element that can't be replaced. Every generation has their shit they hated. Before, it was Japanese shit, and we have Chinese shit we have to sift through to find the quality stuff.

With that being said, I love my Mya QT. I just wish I purchased it before I bought my first Chinese POS. My OG KM tri is nice as well. Edited July 2, 2010 by thatonethere

[mxtaylor]

[quote name='boludo' date='01 July 2010 - 10:55 AM' timestamp='1277999752' post='473567']
Not all chinese hookahs are crap. The problem is that most of them are no-name hookahs that are difficult to differentiate. Some of them are poorly build and break easily, others are great. I have no problem with chinese hookahs, but I will not buy them online (unless is a mya) because I cannot see how well/bad they are built; I bought a chinese hookah locally that works great.
[/quote]

+1. All of the other Chinese hookahs try to look like Mya's. Hard to tell one from the other based on a picture from the internet that may not even be the "real" product, as you would receive it.

[joytron]

All of my friends who have started smoking hookah have initially disregarded my advice and gotten a shitty chinese pipe. Everyone has had issues and upgraded almost immediately.

[Chreees]

[quote name='joytron' date='04 July 2010 - 03:37 PM' timestamp='1278275821' post='473970']
All of my friends who have started smoking hookah have initially disregarded my advice and gotten a shitty chinese pipe. Everyone has had issues and upgraded almost immediately.
[/quote]

I think it is just the "hookah noob" way. Everyone starts with a shitty pipe until they realize there is better out there. We've all been there. It's how we all start out. I think the biggest misconception is "they are all the same." My friend has a shitty Inhale and she likes it. She's never smoked out of mine, though. Bet if she did her whole view would change.

[Chaz1337]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' date='04 July 2010 - 05:22 PM' timestamp='1278278530' post='473974']
[quote name='joytron' date='04 July 2010 - 03:37 PM' timestamp='1278275821' post='473970']
All of my friends who have started smoking hookah have initially disregarded my advice and gotten a shitty chinese pipe. Everyone has had issues and upgraded almost immediately.
[/quote]

I think it is just the "hookah noob" way. Everyone starts with a shitty pipe until they realize there is better out there. We've all been there. It's how we all start out. I think the biggest misconception is "they are all the same." My friend has a shitty Inhale and she likes it. She's never smoked out of mine, though. Bet if she did her whole view would change.
[/quote]

I started Genuine Mya! Figured for $200 this thing is going to last a lifetime and boy was that the best decision of my life!

[mitchard]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' date='04 July 2010 - 02:22 PM' timestamp='1278278530' post='473974']
[quote name='joytron' date='04 July 2010 - 03:37 PM' timestamp='1278275821' post='473970']
All of my friends who have started smoking hookah have initially disregarded my advice and gotten a shitty chinese pipe. Everyone has had issues and upgraded almost immediately.
[/quote]

I think it is just the "hookah noob" way. Everyone starts with a shitty pipe until they realize there is better out there. We've all been there. It's how we all start out. I think the biggest misconception is "they are all the same." My friend has a shitty Inhale and she likes it. She's never smoked out of mine, though. Bet if she did her whole view would change.
[/quote]

Theres nothing worse that finding one of these forums and realizing how much money you have blown on garbage at the local smoke shop haha. I made the mistake too, but quickly learned the error of my ways and bought my Nour and a phunnel.

One of my brothers coworkers came over to my place to smoke with us a couple weeks ago. He has smoked before, but was blown away by the KM and Tangiers, as both products were far superior to anything he has ever smoked. He was asking me about buying one, and I said I would be more than happy to help him out, and even get him a 10-20 percent discount online with my codes. He was supposed to email me so we could find him a pipe, but he ran off to Seattle the next day and bought some garbage chinese multihose from a smoke shop.

...and spent a lot more than he would have on a new KM w/hose, a phunnel and some tobacco.

[Tom1]

[quote name='ih303' date='01 July 2010 - 08:56 AM' timestamp='1277989006' post='473554']


So the cat is out of the bag - Myas are Chinese Hookahs. And Ironically, they're some of the highest quality hookahs you can buy, IMO. This makes me think that China is responsible for both crap and quality hookahs. The question is, though, how do you tell the difference?


[/quote]

This was never in the bag, MYA's have always been the ONLY exception.

[Hassouni]

[quote name='ih303' date='01 July 2010 - 08:56 AM' timestamp='1277989006' post='473554']
So the cat is out of the bag - Myas are Chinese Hookahs. And Ironically, they're some of the highest quality hookahs you can buy, IMO. This makes me think that China is responsible for both crap and quality hookahs. The question is, though, how do you tell the difference?


[/quote]


Myas usually have MYA branded all over them

[Hookah_510]

5 years ago when I was a hookah-noob, my first 2 hookah's were unknown Chinese made pipes. I wasn't big on brand names and bought whatever the local shop had to offer. As I learned more about the hookah thing, I found out they were crap pipes. The same pipes sold on hookah company labeled as "junior". The first ended up rusting and the down step threads cracked apart. The bowl stem was getting there. The material in general started to change colors and oxidized.
I bought the same pipe again and same results happened later after 5 months use. I smoked 2 days a week average during this time. I normally rinse my pipes after my sessions.
Sometime in 2007, I find a reputable shop that sold Mya's. Picked up a Mya for $70 and its still working to this day as far as I'm concerned. No rust, no shit falling apart, nothing.

And in 2008, I join hookahforum.com. Researched more about Egyptian pipes and why their so great. Bought myself a Al Fakher 24" and later a KM Tri-metal which are the best fcukin hookah pipes IMO.

[NitetimeReign]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' date='04 July 2010 - 04:22 PM' timestamp='1278278530' post='473974']
[quote name='joytron' date='04 July 2010 - 03:37 PM' timestamp='1278275821' post='473970']
All of my friends who have started smoking hookah have initially disregarded my advice and gotten a shitty chinese pipe. Everyone has had issues and upgraded almost immediately.
[/quote]

I think it is just the "hookah noob" way. Everyone starts with a shitty pipe until they realize there is better out there. We've all been there. It's how we all start out. I think the biggest misconception is "they are all the same." My friend has a shitty Inhale and she likes it. She's never smoked out of mine, though. Bet if she did her whole view would change.
[/quote]


I'm thankfull I had a good friend advise me on what are some of the best pipes beginner and otherwise. So my first hookah was my MYA QT. What a great purchase that was. I did break down and get my wife a no name chinese pipe cause it was cute to her..lol and wow is it junk.

[ih303]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' date='01 July 2010 - 10:45 AM' timestamp='1278002730' post='473578']
You're a lounge owner and just now finding out Myas are Chinese? [/quote]

There's a lot of misinformation floating around this industry. I'd seen the "made in china" stickers on lots of trays and knew that some of the vases were made in the czech republic. But I wasn't sure if that was all there was to it. No one ever refers to Myas as "chinese" hookahs. In fact, the only times I'd ever heard anyone mention the two together were when the conversation was about chinese knock-offs of Myas. Chinese hookahs knocking off chinese hookahs? Preposterous!

Usually when I have questions, I go to the source. But it turns out, the folks over at Mya either A) Don't know the first thing about their own products, or Are big fat liars. Almost ALL the information I got from them turned out to be completelly wrong or misleading. I was assured their hookahs were absolutely NOT made in China. And that's coming from the horses mouth!

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt especially when it comes to their own products, but when other reputible players in the industry all say the same thing to the contrary of what the source says, the integrity of their word comes into question. I almost stopped selling Mya after realizing I'd been purposefully mislead. Fortunately, there are plenty of wholesalors I can get Mya from without going directly to them.


[quote name='Josh Hamilton' date='01 July 2010 - 11:49 AM' timestamp='1278006545' post='473594']
Ian > when you said "Egyptian" what exactly was wrong with them?
[/quote]

Mostly quality issues, i.e. welds coming lose, size inconsistencies, etc. Don't get me wrong, Egyptian hookahs are my favorite, but the nuances they tend to have on account of them being handmade are not endearing to everyone.


[quote name='Tom16689' date='06 July 2010 - 11:38 AM' timestamp='1278437897' post='474114']
This was never in the bag, MYA's have always been the ONLY exception.
[/quote]

I don't necessarily agree with this. The Econo line is crap. And the problem is, I've never once seen it mentioned anywhere in any description for an Econo hookah that the quality is much less than a regular Mya. I have people coming in more than I'd like complaining about their Mya that has completely rusted or has stripped threads. When I ask them to bring it in, it's almost always an Econo class. These things are being sold as Regular Mya's and are absolutely not an exception to the whole chinese hookah stigma.