Completely New.

[spork7426]

Ok so I'm completely new at everything hookah. I just learned about them recently while browsing the web, and became interested and decided to put some money into what seems like an amazing experience. Anywho...I want to spend *around* $100 for everything (ideally if not lemme know) but here's what I want and see if you guys can't help me find one:
[list][*]at least 3 hoses[*]look cool [*]hard case[/list]Three things, yes...but i don't know a lot about them so as for now thats just about it...I'd like to start simple to get a feel for what the base feel of a hookah is.
And lastly, what I'm worried about is I'm going to get a hookah and then not have everything I need (like 5 minutes ago I found out you need charcoal for it I know I'm a newb) so if theres anything that I'll need to buy extra please let me know. thanks

-Spork


P.S. If there's any tips on this let me know too OH! I almost forgot! What kind of things am I going to have to buy over and over again (I imagine charcoal is one.) Thanks so much!

[agunn1231]

ok....multiple hose hookahs, they are not the best, but if you want one go for it, personally i'd stick with a single hose hookah.
Next up if you are gonna go mulitple hose, go with MYA hookahs, cause you can switch from single hose to multiple, others here will have more into about that. Plus MYA often comewith hard cases. and look cool. You'll be buying coals over and over again, and shisha. and foil.

[kajon]

I'm assuming you haven't smoked a hookah before by your description, but i could be wrong. First off if there is a hookah lounge by you I would recommend going to one and seeing if you like it. (some lounges are terrible so try to look up a good one in your area). Unless you're going to be smoking with a ton of people a three hose hookah is not very practical in my experience, a 1 hose mya hookah is what I would start with. They good and they don't cost that much. Also things you will need to replace constantly would be coals and the tobacco and every once in a while a broken bowl. Go to the vendor area on the forums for some trusted vendors although there are a lot more out there.

[HookahLover25]

You should get the best 3 Hose hookah and stop wasting your money on the other cheaper brands and get this SEXY BEAST instead!

http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-1735-mya-colossus-3-hose-hookah.html

Can't wait to get the 4 hose version!!

-3 Hoses
-LOOK FKING SEXY!
-Nice hard case

But the price will kill you..but its a worthy buy.

[agunn1231]

[quote name='HookahLover25' timestamp='1290121281' post='488724']
You should get the best 3 Hose hookah and stop wasting your money on the other cheaper brands and get this SEXY BEAST instead!

[url="http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-1735-mya-colossus-3-hose-hookah.html"]http://www.hookah-sh...ose-hookah.html[/url]

Can't wait to get the 4 hose version!!

-3 Hoses
-LOOK FKING SEXY!
-Nice hard case

But the price will kill you..but its a worthy buy.
[/quote]

a smaller mya might be more appropriate for someone new to hookah

[HookahLover25]

[quote name='agunn1231' timestamp='1290121946' post='488726']
[quote name='HookahLover25' timestamp='1290121281' post='488724']
You should get the best 3 Hose hookah and stop wasting your money on the other cheaper brands and get this SEXY BEAST instead!

[url="http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-1735-mya-colossus-3-hose-hookah.html"]http://www.hookah-sh...ose-hookah.html[/url]

Can't wait to get the 4 hose version!!

-3 Hoses
-LOOK FKING SEXY!
-Nice hard case

But the price will kill you..but its a worthy buy.
[/quote]

a smaller mya might be more appropriate for someone new to hookah
[/quote]

Agreed. Don't listen to me , I'm just in love with that hookah X_X!

[jorlyfish]

[quote name='kajon' timestamp='1290120923' post='488723']
I'm assuming you haven't smoked a hookah before by your description, but i could be wrong. First off if there is a hookah lounge by you I would recommend going to one and seeing if you like it. (some lounges are terrible so try to look up a good one in your area). Unless you're going to be smoking with a ton of people a three hose hookah is not very practical in my experience, a 1 hose mya hookah is what I would start with. They good and they don't cost that much. Also things you will need to replace constantly would be coals and the tobacco and every once in a while a broken bowl. Go to the vendor area on the forums for some trusted vendors although there are a lot more out there.
[/quote]

I agree - if you've never smoked before, do it a couple times (or at least once...) before you go and spend $100+ on a pastime/hobby/whatever.

[Chreees]

He said his budget was $100...

First off, why do you need three hoses? I suggest getting a Mya QT or Mya Bambino. It'll run you $40-$50 from HookahCompany.com, Hookahjohn.com, or Hookah-Shisha.com. This leaves room in your budget for coals and shisha.

Second... Brands of shisha. I suggest starting with Nakhla, Al Fakher, and Starbuzz. These three will be easy to deal with since you're starting out.

Third... coals. Do you have a coil-stove or can you buy a portable one to light natural coals? Takes 5-10 minutes. I highly suggest going natural if you can. If you don't have access to a burner, then you're only option is quicklights. HookahJohn's "CH" coals (We cannot spell out the name of them on here, due to the drug connotation, but check his site and you'll quickly see what I'm talking about) are regarded as the best quicklight on the market. People also praise Three Kings quicklights. Back to naturals though- if you can get naturals, get Coconaras, HookahJohn's CH naturals, Al Fakher coconut coals, or Exoticas naturals. Those are, IMO, the best naturals you can get.

As for other random tidbits you'll need... Foil, something to poke holes with (I prefer a toothpick), and tongs (your hookah should come with tongs, especially if you grab a Mya).

Hope this helps. We're here to help you out and get you smoking right.

Oh, and I also agree- go try out a lounge first.

[spork7426]

Hey first of all thanks to everyone for the mass amounts of information. Yes I am new to hookah smoking, and there are no good places within a 3 hr radius for smoking hookahs. So, thank you all for bearing with me while I try to get all of this information straight. Yes, I do plan to smoke with several people but the option to go solo is amazing.

So summing down most of the information, I looked at some hookahs and I found this one. But, being the newbie I am can you tell me if this one is something I would be interested in (based on my previous requests)?
[url="http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-6673-mya-saray-hookah-econogon-3hose-hookah.html"]http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-6673-mya-saray-hookah-econogon-3hose-hookah.html[/url]
If not, I would once again appreciate if someone might point me to a more specific model that I could buy that's what I want.

Second, Charcoals.
[quote][color=#1C2837][size=2]Third... coals. Do you have a coil-stove or can you buy a portable one to light natural coals? Takes 5-10 minutes. I highly suggest going natural if you can. If you don't have access to a burner, then you're only option is quicklights. HookahJohn's "CH" coals (We cannot spell out the name of them on here, due to the drug connotation, but check his site and you'll quickly see what I'm talking about) are regarded as the best quicklight on the market. People also praise Three Kings quicklights. Back to naturals though- if you can get naturals, get Coconaras, HookahJohn's CH naturals, Al Fakher coconut coals, or Exoticas naturals. Those are, IMO, the best naturals you can get. [/size][/color][/quote] So this probably sounds like a dumb question but...whats the deal with the coil-stove? I guess I never really thought about lighting the charcoals (for some reason i thought i could just use matches?) so I just heat the coals up with the stove then use the tongs to the "plate"? And what do quicklights do that I dont need a stove for? Do I just light them or what? And whats the difference (taste wise, feel wise, etc.) between quicklights and naturals?

Third, Other Questions.
So the "bowl screen" goes into the bowl and protects the bowl from getting burnt/dirty or whatever?
Lastly, the hookah I looked at said it came with 10 mouthtips. So I can exchange the whole mouth tip off the hose? Or what are they for?

Thanks once again, so much, for putting up with me and teaching me your ways. I know I'm new but I think this hookah thing is something worth getting into the experience for. So, thanks guys.

[spork7426]

Oh! And does that hookah I picked out come with everything I need to *start* ? I'd hate to get something and expect to be ready to go then have to order more things.

[Epoch]

The Econogon is an awesome hookah, BUT it's all sold out. Look in the drop-down menu...

And any hookah you purchase from Hookah-Shisha.com will come with two rolls of instant-light charcoal, and two 50g packages of shisha. That's only about enough for four sessions. Not much, but you can smoke without buying any extras.

[71903DC5]

You're better off ordering more Shisha with the hookah itself. Save on shipping.

[noodle]

[quote name='spork7426' timestamp='1290227102' post='488861']
Hey first of all thanks to everyone for the mass amounts of information. Yes I am new to hookah smoking, and there are no good places within a 3 hr radius for smoking hookahs. So, thank you all for bearing with me while I try to get all of this information straight. Yes, I do plan to smoke with several people but the option to go solo is amazing.

So summing down most of the information, I looked at some hookahs and I found this one. But, being the newbie I am can you tell me if this one is something I would be interested in (based on my previous requests)?
[url="http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-6673-mya-saray-hookah-econogon-3hose-hookah.html"]http://www.hookah-sh...ose-hookah.html[/url]
If not, I would once again appreciate if someone might point me to a more specific model that I could buy that's what I want.

Second, Charcoals.
[quote][color="#1c2837"][size="2"]Third... coals. Do you have a coil-stove or can you buy a portable one to light natural coals? Takes 5-10 minutes. I highly suggest going natural if you can. If you don't have access to a burner, then you're only option is quicklights. HookahJohn's "CH" coals (We cannot spell out the name of them on here, due to the drug connotation, but check his site and you'll quickly see what I'm talking about) are regarded as the best quicklight on the market. People also praise Three Kings quicklights. Back to naturals though- if you can get naturals, get Coconaras, HookahJohn's CH naturals, Al Fakher coconut coals, or Exoticas naturals. Those are, IMO, the best naturals you can get. [/size][/color][/quote] So this probably sounds like a dumb question but...whats the deal with the coil-stove? I guess I never really thought about lighting the charcoals (for some reason i thought i could just use matches?) so I just heat the coals up with the stove then use the tongs to the "plate"? And what do quicklights do that I dont need a stove for? Do I just light them or what? And whats the difference (taste wise, feel wise, etc.) between quicklights and naturals?

Third, Other Questions.
So the "bowl screen" goes into the bowl and protects the bowl from getting burnt/dirty or whatever?
Lastly, the hookah I looked at said it came with 10 mouthtips. So I can exchange the whole mouth tip off the hose? Or what are they for?

Thanks once again, so much, for putting up with me and teaching me your ways. I know I'm new but I think this hookah thing is something worth getting into the experience for. So, thanks guys.
[/quote]

Like most barbecue charcoal, you can't simply hold a match to it to light it. Quicklights have a chemical (usually saltpetre) to get things started. Saltpetre can give a bad taste, especially if it's not pure. Natural coals are nearly pure carbon and therefore tasteless. Dousing the coal in lighter fluid like with a barbecue would work, but would probably taste nasty. Stoves are the next best thing. Electric coils are spaced close enough that you can simply put coals on top and turn on the power. You can do this with gas stoves, but burner grilles are usually spaced too wide to do this. A piece of steel gauze will help. Don't bother with glass-topped stoves. If you use naturals, you should have a metal bowl made for carrying coals. Walking around the house with a hot coal in tongs is asking for trouble. With quicklights, you just light the coal right at the hookah, then put it in the ashtray and wait for it to fully light.

The bowl screen goes on top of the bowl. Coals go on top of that. Most people prefer to use aluminum foil instead.

Mouthtips are little plastic things the size of your first pinkie joint that fit on the end of the mouthpiece. If multiple people share a single hose, each person uses their own tip to avoid passing mouth germs around.

[mushrat]

http://www.myasaray.com/store/item.asp?ITEM_ID=919&DEPARTMENT_ID=42

Doesnt come with a starter pack but this is a solid, multi port capable, under 100 bucks, with carrying case, hookah.

http://www.southsmoke.com/pd-the-taverna.cfm

Same Hookah without a case. You could call and ask about a case for it.

[Josh Hamilton]

hmm...Id get a nour from HJ for a starter...they are damn beautiful and CHEAP now.
then Id start smoking tangiers...then get a good hose...a nice start to being a hookah snoboh...and dont forget to invest in a phunnel...tang phunnel


dont bother with the case...just buy a suitcase and fill it with foam Edited November 22, 2010 by Josh Hamilton

[ih303]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' timestamp='1290123390' post='488730']
He said his budget was $100...

First off, why do you need three hoses? I suggest getting a Mya QT or Mya Bambino. It'll run you $40-$50 from HookahCompany.com, Hookahjohn.com, or Hookah-Shisha.com. This leaves room in your budget for coals and shisha.

Second... Brands of shisha. I suggest starting with Nakhla, Al Fakher, and Starbuzz. These three will be easy to deal with since you're starting out.

Third... coals. Do you have a coil-stove or can you buy a portable one to light natural coals? Takes 5-10 minutes. I highly suggest going natural if you can. If you don't have access to a burner, then you're only option is quicklights. HookahJohn's "CH" coals (We cannot spell out the name of them on here, due to the drug connotation, but check his site and you'll quickly see what I'm talking about) are regarded as the best quicklight on the market. People also praise Three Kings quicklights. Back to naturals though- if you can get naturals, get Coconaras, HookahJohn's CH naturals, Al Fakher coconut coals, or Exoticas naturals. Those are, IMO, the best naturals you can get.

As for other random tidbits you'll need... Foil, something to poke holes with (I prefer a toothpick), and tongs (your hookah should come with tongs, especially if you grab a Mya).

Hope this helps. We're here to help you out and get you smoking right.

Oh, and I also agree- go try out a lounge first.
[/quote]


Incubusratm is on like donkey kong, y'all.

Spork, if you're a no-nonsense kind of person like I am, then you'll LOVE the Mya QT topped off with small Tangiers Phunnel Bowl and Razan washable hose. Complete your ensemble with some delectible Exotic Starbuzz tobacco in flavors like Blue Mist, Sex on the Beach, or my personal favorite, Pink! After you've loaded your brand new phunnel with your flavor of choice, top it off with a piece of heavy duty Reynolds brand foil, then throw on a couple 100% natural, eco-friendly natural coconut coals from Hookah John or Coco Nara. Don't get distracted by the hype, Spork. For less than $100 you can get everything you need for truly EPIC sessions. Act now! Operators are standing by.

[Nima]

Multiple hoses are great.
[list][*]Make sure to get longer hoses[*]Khalil Mamoon and Nammor are the best hoses.[*]A good hoses determines 40% of your smoke quality[/list]What you will use over and over:
[list][*]Coals[*]Tobacco[*]Mouth piece (if you use them)[*]Foil[/list]The hookah itself:
[list][*]Get a Magdy Zidan or Khalil Mamoon hookah. You will not regret it.[/list]Welcome to the hookah smokers community

[dune024]

Hookah:
-1 Hose hookahs generally tend to smoke better than multiple hose hookahs. However, Mya hookahs have the capability to switch from a one hose with a purge valve to a 2/3/4 hose hookah. (You'll have to buy extra hoses if you buy a 1 hose Mya and intend to smoke it as a 2/3/4 hose).
-As you're new to hookah, I'd recommend getting a smaller one rather than a bigger. The Mya QT and Mya Bambino are great small hookahs that smoke very well. The taller the hookah is, the longer time the smoke has to travel from the bowl to the base, which results in a SLIGHT decrease in temperature (in my opinion). Cooler smoke is often preferred to hotter smoke (depending on the smoker). If you buy a Mya QT, which doesn't cost more than $50ish, it will also come with 2 rolls of quick light coals, 2 small (50 gram) boxes of shisha, tongs, a metal bowl screen, and a cleaning brush (i think).

Bowl:
-As a beginner, a regular bowl is fine. By regular I mean the bowl that comes with the hookah. A more advanced bowl, and the one largely regarded as the best in the market, is a Tangiers funnel bowl, which can be purchased from a variety of online vendors.
-The bowl attaches to the top of the stem of the hookah, and sits atop a rubber grommet, which keeps the hookah airtight. Grommets seal the bowl to the stem, as well as the hoses to the stem. (Hose grommets are smaller than bowl grommets - both should come with your hookah/hoses, but can be purchased separately).
-You cover the bowl, once packed with shisha, with either a metal bowl screen or with aluminum foil. Aluminum is widely preferred to the metal screen, because it conducts heat better. You tightly wrap the foil around the bowl, then use a toothpick or something small and sharp to poke holes as to conduct heat to the shisha. My preferred method is to use a thumb tack, and poke concentric circles around the entire bowl, evenly spaced. I would also recommend using Reynold HEAVY DUTY foil rather than regular foil. The reason for this is that it will prevent your shisha from becoming burnt (too much heat), and allow for an easier smoke.

Coal:
-There are two types - quick light (aka instalight or instant) and natural. Quick light coals can be light with a lighter (or a match), and will smoke and spark and smell immediately upon contact of the flame to the coal. Thus, it is recommended that you light them either outside or under a vent if inside. If you choose to use quick light coals, light them, then place them in the hookah tray (underneath the bowl) and allow all of the black coloring to burn off, then place them on the bowl.
-If you choose natural charcoal, I'd recommend Coco Nara's. They do not contain the chemicals that quick lights do that allow them to light from a lighter. So, they need to be lit another way. You could use a grill, a torch lighter (which will take longer), or even a blowtorch (I've seen it lol). The best way to light them however is using a coil top stove, or an individual coil range which can be purchased from places like walgreens. You simply palce the coals on the coil, heat it up, after about 5 minutes flip the coals, and when they're totally red they're ready to be placed on the bowl.
-When placing the coal on the bowl, regardless of type of coal, generally place them on the outside of the bowl. After a while of smoking, you may notice the smoke becoming harsh, or tasting burnt. If this happens, it means you need to rotate the coals to new positions on the bowl. With time and practice, you'll understand the process better and be able to "heat manage" your bowls correctly, producing giant clouds of smoke with great flavor that does not taste harsh, or make you cough.

Hose:
-The hose that comes with the Mya QT is a standard Mya hose. It is not a bad hose, but has a relatively narrow diameter. The narrower the diameter, the harder it is to pull smoke through the hose. Other hoses, like the Nammor or most Khalil Mamoon (KM) hoses have wider diameters, and thus produce thicker smoke with more ease. In other words, the wider the hose the easier it is to pull smoke. There are many hoses available online, ranging in price from $5-$25 or so (give or take). The stock hose with most Myas is a fine hose to use if your're new.
-It is also worth mentioning that any new hose will have a bit of a funny taste to it. This will disappear after several rounds of hookah. In addition, "ghosting" refers to the way in which a flavor of shisha can sometimes remain in the hose. For example, you might smoke cherry, then mint, with the same hose. When you smoke mint, you might find a lingering cherry taste. This will usually disappear after a few minutes of smoking. A solution to this problem is to have multiple hoses. I.e. one for mint, one for all other flavors, or one for fruit flavors, one for others, etc.
-Some hoses are washable, like the Nammor hoses, some are not, like the Mya hoses. With washable hoses, you can run hot water (and/or lemon juice, or w.e else you want to clean it with) through the hose, hang it for a night and allow it to dry, and then use it again. You could do this every few weeks, or months, etc. This will prevent any unwanted build up of rust/other particles that can accumulate inside a hose. With Mya hoses, you may notice that they start to taste dirty anywhere from 6 months-a year, give or take.

Shisha:
-As a beginner, I'd recommend the following brands: Al Fakher, Romman, Starbuzz. While Nakhla can be easy to manage also, be aware it can also give you a hell of a buzz. The other three tobaccos can be packed loosely in the bowl, or tightly, and still provide a good smoke. Some of my favorite flavors are - AF MINT, AF chocolate, AF vanilla, Romman Lemon, Romman Good Times, and Starbuzz Blue Mist.
-As a good starting point, I'd say pack the bowl so that the top of the shisha comes just below the foil (not touching), evenly spread around the bowl. Don't cram it in, but make sure it is full, and even along the top. This should give you a pretty good smoke damn near every time.

Base:
-The base of the hookah generally doesnt make much difference as to the quality or quantity of smoke. I've had great smoke from small hookahs and big hookahs. Water is the liquid of choice, and should be filled to about 3/4 of an inch to an inch above the bottom of the stem. personally, I put a large quantity of ice in with the water. The colder the water, the colder the smoke. Cold smoke to me is much more enjoyable than hotter smoke. Also, the colder the smoke, the denser it is (basic science), and thus the thicker it is. I like big clouds. Some people say that you get more flavor if you don't use ice - I can't really say as to if thats true or not. I just always put ice in.

Cleaning:
You'll want to rinse your hookah stem and bowl after every time you pack a bowl. You could do this after every 2 bowls or so, but I find you get a cleaner and better tasting smoke if you give it a quick rinse after each bowl. Additionally, blow through the top of the stem after rinsing to get remaining water out. If you let the water sit through 2 or more bowls without changing it, you'll notice a definite decrease in smoke flavor (the water gets dirty, obviously). I use hot water and lemon juice to clean both my stem and my base. Use cold water after to cool it down, but be sure not to change temperatures too rapidly on the glass base as this coulddd possibly make it crack. Bowls will accumulate a bit of a black residue on them after several uses. This is not a problem, but can be cleaned with a sponge, hot water, and soap.

Thats about it. I think that should give you a good guide to reference as you begin to get more into it.

[mustafabey]

You are wise to join us and ask for advice. You will save some money and not have a stable of pumpkins and chinese cheapies gathering dust. Listen to all the great advice and decide. Each individual has a diiferent approach,taste and favorites. I myself prefer a traditional set up, no lights, extra hoses, weird vases, but that me. looka round, visit the vendors websites and explore. People here tend to favor HookahJohn,Hookah -shisha and the hookah company. They are all great vendors and between those three you'll probably find everything you need.Accessories will arise with various levels of "must need". Shop around. I use eBay, but if you are not eBay savvy, I'd stay away. Things on eBay arenot always what the appear to be. Most sellers(95%) are honest but there are thieves out there and people just ignorant about what they sell. Pretty isn't always quality. And one last word of advice, if you like our little forum and want to participate don't get anything hookah wise with the Ed Hardy name on it, or everyone will poke a little fun at you, endlessly!

[nun]

Since you're on $100 budget, try this site http://www.dirtcheaphookahs.com/hookahs-3-hose-hookahs-c-65_117.html

[Epoch]

http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-6077-hookah-nammor-giza.html

Nammor hookahs are my go-to recommendation for anyone getting started.

1. They come standard with a Nammor washable hose.
2. Airflow is on par with KM, the biggest name in hookahs.
3. Great starter prices on their smaller hookahs.
4. Come with a decent clay Egyptian bowl, unlike the standard porcelain mod bowls.

But trust me when I say all these folks know what they're talking about. Every hookah smoker has different preferences!

[spork7426]

Hey everyone thanks again for the wonderful advice. Honestly, I didn't think it would be that many choices, and that not many people would reply. Boy was I wrong
Anyway, I have decided to look around a whole bunch more with a much more educated mind about what I am buying. So thank you to all who contributed! This truly is a fantastic community with many experienced people and I hope that the information here can help out anyone else looking to start out.
-Spork
P.S. When I finally decide on one I'll try to remember to post it here (if I don't forget because I'm too busy enjoying my new tool )

[Hassouni]

I second the suggestion for a Nour from HJ, but I'm biased against KMs. I STRONGLY advise getting a 1-hoser, multis really don't work as well as you'd think. Even a Mya one where it seals off still defeats the purpose since only one person can smoke simultaneously.

I also recommend starting with Nakhla or AF, although AF can be finicky with heat - Nakhla is better in that regard. As for coals - well, if you must have instants, use CH. Electric coils work better than most residential gas stoves (although on high powered commercial ones they light quickly). So if you have gas, buy a cheapo coil burner.

[rahl071]

I vote QT. It doesn't meed your 3-hose criterion, but you'll find that this is rarely, if ever, an issue. It's a solid pipe that is durable, cheap, and good. Everything you need in a starter hookah.

[spork7426]

Ok guys, sorry its taken me like a year or whatever to get this all straight. I had to spend money on other things and blah blah blah. Anyway I finally secured ~$200 for a hookah. SO I after I've read everything, it seems that if I buy something from hookah central then I'm getting one that'll be good right? So I found this one I really like, doesn't have a hard case, but like one user suggested, I will just get a suitcase and fill it with foam. It has 4 hoses and it rotates. It's a comet. [url="http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-130-comet-four-hose-hookah.html"]http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-130-comet-four-hose-hookah.html[/url] I haven't purchased it yet but I think this is the one. My only remaining questions are: Do you think this one will last? (like not a cheapo piece of crap?) And do the multiple hoses make and size make a huge difference on airflow?