Been A While, Time For New Km Setup, Money No Object - Little Help? Deployed Right Now

[sksiazki]

Whats going on guys.

I'm deployed right now, the internet is heinous, so forgive me if anything weird happens like double posts etc.  And I apologize but it literally took me 12 minutes to log in and get to this post page so I can't do much research on back posts.

 

Anyways, I used to wander the back alleys of hookahforum few years ago but haven't been on in a while time.  Bought my KM back in 08 and have put a retarded amount of Tangiers through it since then.  Seeing as I live near San Diego now i.e. I can go see Eric and pick up whatever new concoction he has created...I smoke too much lol.  Finally, after yet another night where I came home from a 15 hour day burnt out getting ready for deployment, kicked my feet up on the balcony to relax for a movie and some shisha....3 movies and 7 hours of smoking later...again...and again haha I decided this can't be good for me, need to take a break.  I gave my hookah to a buddy to hold on to, to give my lungs a rest.  Well since I deployed he has moved to Okinawa and my pipe has moved with him.  Of course I knew I couldnt give up shisha, and smoking in Oman, Jordan, Dubai recently has of course reminded me.  So I figure its time to scoop a whole new set up.  I havent kept up on the industry in a few years so wondering if you would help me out.

I know this is kind of the classic "hey, let me leech off all the time you've invested in research etc so I don't have to spend any of my time and can just get a quick answer" haha I apologize.  The internet is seriously sh*$$y here, though it does work decent when I wake up around 3am.

 

My thoughts

 

Brand - KM unless some other badass company has come around that I don't know about.  Looking on hookahjohn.com it looks like they have some pretty incredible new styles!  The tower looks incredible, temple and diamond look great too.  Are there any of the models you would/wouldnt recommend?  Has KM kept up their quality over the years?

 

Size - Avg size, I use it for myself and friends get togethers so dont want a small one but not one of the huge ones thats a pain to move around/fall over.  That being said, I don't have a good grasp on what size will give me the best smoke.  I want a hookah that puts out smoke like a chimney, all dayyyy.

 

Hose - I've always been partial to washables because I have had too many bad experiences sucking rust down from other peoples sh*$$ly maintained metal hoses.  Seems like lot of people dont like washables?  Is there a good reason for that?  A while ago...before they were sold, Hookah Company.com was also in my backyard.  One day I stopped by and George was smoking with a "beast" hose or something like that, much bigger with a huge draw.  I took a few hits and really liked it but never bought one, then later when I asked Eric at Tangiers he said he wasnt a fan.  Again, dunno why. Anyone have thoughts on bigger draw hose?

 

Random - I like every newb has at some point smoked with ice cubes in the bowl.  I've never smoked one of the hookahs w/ special made ice holders though, is there any reason to purchase one?  haha I'm pretty sure everyone is going to say its bunk but just wondering.

 

Bowl - Phunnel.  I bought one of those crazy glass phunnels back in the day haha it was not worth it.  Now just regular clay phunnel unless there is something new and awesome.

 

Shisha - I solely smoke Tangiers.  Nothing else can give me the buzz I neeeeeeeeeed. On a side note, the Middle East has been kind of disappointing with shisha. Lot of places smoke Al Fakher, which no offense, I cannot stand, ish with food coloring makes my headache after a few hours.  Also, even if they speak English, they dont know what you are talking about if you say "hookah", they respond to shisha.

 

Price - not too concerned about it.  Don't want to blow a ridiculous amount but I'm not concerned with paying for quality/what I want.  haha I put the "money no object" up there to hopefully draw some more attention.

 

Thanks a lot guys, take it easy.

 

p.s. I also bought a little Scorpion dokha pipe out here...only smoked it a few times but didnt get any sort of buzz, just the flavor of burnt s*$t in my mouth.  Maybe I'll try again someday.

 

 

[sksiazki]

ha well I can see with another 20 minutes of trying to open pages that there may be some responses about Farida's.  I hadn't heard of them before, doing my best to research them, they look pretty nice but not seeing why they would be worth 100 over a KM?  But I have only just started researching them.  The crazy ones with giraffes or crescents going through the stem are pretty awesome though lol.  Not sure about $400 awesome though.

[Pavo21]

Whats going on guys.

I'm deployed right now, the internet is heinous, so forgive me if anything weird happens like double posts etc.  And I apologize but it literally took me 12 minutes to log in and get to this post page so I can't do much research on back posts.

 

Anyways, I used to wander the back alleys of hookahforum few years ago but haven't been on in a while time.  Bought my KM back in 08 and have put a retarded amount of Tangiers through it since then.  Seeing as I live near San Diego now i.e. I can go see Eric and pick up whatever new concoction he has created...I smoke too much lol.  Finally, after yet another night where I came home from a 15 hour day burnt out getting ready for deployment, kicked my feet up on the balcony to relax for a movie and some shisha....3 movies and 7 hours of smoking later...again...and again haha I decided this can't be good for me, need to take a break.  I gave my hookah to a buddy to hold on to, to give my lungs a rest.  Well since I deployed he has moved to Okinawa and my pipe has moved with him.  Of course I knew I couldnt give up shisha, and smoking in Oman, Jordan, Dubai recently has of course reminded me.  So I figure its time to scoop a whole new set up.  I havent kept up on the industry in a few years so wondering if you would help me out.

I know this is kind of the classic "hey, let me leech off all the time you've invested in research etc so I don't have to spend any of my time and can just get a quick answer" haha I apologize.  The internet is seriously sh*$$y here, though it does work decent when I wake up around 3am.

 

My thoughts

 

Brand - KM unless some other badass company has come around that I don't know about.  Looking on hookahjohn.com it looks like they have some pretty incredible new styles!  The tower looks incredible, temple and diamond look great too.  Are there any of the models you would/wouldnt recommend?  Has KM kept up their quality over the years?

KM kept quality on some of there pipes tri metals and what not but also Farida is nice, Elmas, Syrian or Tokel or Mya stil all good pipes.

 

Size - Avg size, I use it for myself and friends get togethers so dont want a small one but not one of the huge ones thats a pain to move around/fall over.  That being said, I don't have a good grasp on what size will give me the best smoke.  I want a hookah that puts out smoke like a chimney, all dayyyy.

A good size would be 24"-30" if u are looking for mid size like elmas 618 or km kamanja wheat is like 24 and KM Halzone or Pharnoie is like 30 or some farida but 24-30 is avg in size 

 

Hose - I've always been partial to washables because I have had too many bad experiences sucking rust down from other peoples sh*$$ly maintained metal hoses.  Seems like lot of people dont like washables?  Is there a good reason for that?  A while ago...before they were sold, Hookah Company.com was also in my backyard.  One day I stopped by and George was smoking with a "beast" hose or something like that, much bigger with a huge draw.  I took a few hits and really liked it but never bought one, then later when I asked Eric at Tangiers he said he wasnt a fan.  Again, dunno why. Anyone have thoughts on bigger draw hose?

Fancy and or Nuhose super cheap smoke super amazing and they are easy and cheap to replace, Also Razan and Narbish and Nogoom is a good washable hose also.

 

Random - I like every newb has at some point smoked with ice cubes in the bowl.  I've never smoked one of the hookahs w/ special made ice holders though, is there any reason to purchase one?  haha I'm pretty sure everyone is going to say its bunk but just wondering.

Crap waste of time

 

Bowl - Phunnel.  I bought one of those crazy glass phunnels back in the day haha it was not worth it.  Now just regular clay phunnel unless there is something new and awesome.

Typical Tangiers phunnel is nice also Crown Phunnels are a big hit out there, only used it once not sure about it yet.

 

Shisha - I solely smoke Tangiers.  Nothing else can give me the buzz I neeeeeeeeeed. On a side note, the Middle East has been kind of disappointing with shisha. Lot of places smoke Al Fakher, which no offense, I cannot stand, ish with food coloring makes my headache after a few hours.  Also, even if they speak English, they dont know what you are talking about if you say "hookah", they respond to shisha.

Naklah is a good, and something you can get is Zagoul which is made by Naklah its a more traditional type of tobacco, which you cna put coals on direct. i like it its a nice change, but tangiers is always amazing.

 

Price - not too concerned about it.  Don't want to blow a ridiculous amount but I'm not concerned with paying for quality/what I want.  haha I put the "money no object" up there to hopefully draw some more attention.

KM, Farida, Syrian, and Mya are all reasonably priced, Elmas are a bit more up there some syrians also.

 

Thanks a lot guys, take it easy.

 

p.s. I also bought a little Scorpion dokha pipe out here...only smoked it a few times but didnt get any sort of buzz, just the flavor of burnt s*$t in my mouth.  Maybe I'll try again someday.

[Pavo21]

ha well I can see with another 20 minutes of trying to open pages that there may be some responses about Farida's.  I hadn't heard of them before, doing my best to research them, they look pretty nice but not seeing why they would be worth 100 over a KM?  But I have only just started researching them.  The crazy ones with giraffes or crescents going through the stem are pretty awesome though lol.  Not sure about $400 awesome though.

 

you sure ur not looking at Elmas?

[sksiazki]

You right, those were Elmas, I mixed up my windows when I wrote that post.  

Zagoul, is that what that is called?  I'm going to have to check that out.  I saw Anthony Bourdain smoking that ish in one of his episodes in Saudi I think.  Didnt know what it was but knew it was different, was hoping I'd see some like that out here.

[Pavo21]

yah it is called zagoul its by naklah. 

[sksiazki]

Does anyone have any preferences on the different KM models?  I've never seen or smoked the temple or tower.

[Fouda]

Check the reviews section. See if anyone's ever used/owned one

[sksiazki]

ha, I'm a big fan of reviews, good call.  Unfortunately the internet is so bad it no kidding took me from my first try at 6am to this try now at 1030pm to get this page to load, around 30 tries, so I wont be able to get to the reviews page anytime soon, let alone read any lol.  That and I am unfortunately not on vacation out here ha, I have a job to see to.  I was just wondering if anyone had some input but it's all good.  Was hoping to purchase a new setup so it will be there when I get back from deployment but guess I will just have to wait until I get back and have functional internet.

[Fouda]

Well there aren't any reviews on the two pipes you specifically mentioned at least on this site. But I'm sure there are plenty of reviews out there

[Chreees]

If you're still close to Eric's, I'd just go there to pick up all your goodies. He'll have everything you need, and probably what you would really want (he will have the nicest stuff for the lowest prices).

 

Brand of hookahs:

 

Egyptians: Khalil Mamoon (although the quality has gone down while the price has gone ridiculously high), Farida, Magdy Zaidan.

 

Turks: Elmas, Tokel.

 

Syrians: Al Nawras, "Nour" (Nour is actually an importer, but many Syrians are branded this way). Good luck finding quality Syrians now, with the civil war going on there.

 

Those are the main brands I can think of off the top of my head. I know I probably missed a few other good ones, but I'm currently drugged up on hydro after getting a cyst removed on my neck. So, I apologize in advance for missing info in my post.

 

Size:

 

Depends on your preferences... I personally prefer something around 20-24" best. I own three hookahs, one small, one medium, and one large. I use all three.

 

Hose:

 

Eric has really nice hoses, but I ultimately prefer a good washable: Razan, Nammor, or Fancy/Nu Hose.

 

Bowl:

 

Tangiers Small Phunnel bowl, or the Tangiers Pico Phunnel bowl. Hell, try and pick up both. If you find the Tangiers bowls hard to find, CrownHookahs.com makes very good glass phunnel bowls, too, because they are made with similar dimensions to the Tangiers ones, therefore they work well. Don't bother with other brand phunnels, as they don't have the correct dimensions.

 

Shisha: Stick with Tangiers, but be sure to try out all Nakhla has to offer as well. These are my two top brands.

 

Random:

 

Don't bother with all the gimmicky products, and don't ever bother with ice in the vase.

 

That's all I've got for now. Welcome back to HF!

[sksiazki]

Thanks for the reply Bammer. 

I have read a few of the posts about KM's quality going down but they all seem to be in generalities.  What parts of the quality?  Bad welds, have theybeen falling apart?  I did read about one really poorly attached downstem.  

This is probably a newb question but does the size of the stem and or vase impact the smoke potential.  I mean obviously if you have a really small vase it cant hold enough smoke in it to billow, but do you see a difference in billows from say a 24incher vs a 32 incher?

Kind of the same question with the hoses.  The one time I smoked with the extra wide hose over at HookahCompany it really seemed to draw bigger and billow more, but I havent seen much discussion on larger hoses?

ha and this Kaloud Lotus really looks interesting,especially after reading a bunch of reviews.  I think I am going to pick one up.  Even if it is no better than foil, if it can make the coals last for over an hour on my balcony and prevent me from burning more holes in the carpet like I have in the last four places I've lived, Im a fan.

I am super stoked to try out all this new Tangiers shisha goodness!

[Chreees]

Bad welds, bent parts, sloppy overall construction, etc.For example, they weld on these shitty looking little accents like stars on some of their models. They just look horrid compared to other hookahs out there. Downstems will often have sharp metal sticking out of the bottom. There will sometimes be "slag" (random metal pieces leftover from construction) left INSIDE the hookah (had that happen on an older OG Trimetal model, actually). Trays often will have trouble fitting over the bowl ports and will need to be widened in order to fit. The complaints have gotten worse over the years and I just think it's getting a bit ridiculous. I hate how with so many products the company starts out great, then as demand increases quantity is also increased, but the quality suffers. Such a shame, as I used to really admire Khalil Mamoons. Nowadays I'm more inclined to recommend a cheaper Mya Saray model to folks just because the quality control seems to be better, and I know they have excellent customer service- One member on here contacted Mya and got his entire stem replaced just for a problem with his downstem. Pretty good if you ask me. I'd like to see someone call KM in Egypt and get something replaced. :lol: Instead what happens is these bad ones end up with vendors here in the States and they usually only have two choices: 1) take a hit and throw it in the trash (or sell it at a discounted price), or 2) try and sell it to a customer anyway at full price (sleazy and warrants a huge negative review... I've seen it happen before. Good vendors check KMs before shipping out). Anyway, like I said, ridiculous to the point where I'm starting to wonder why I even mention KM anymore when someone asks which hookah to get.

 

To get best smoke potential, KMs are a good way to go, because it does have a wide diameter downstem and hose port. But I've determined after owning many KMs and other hookahs that they are just not for me. I now prefer a slighting tighter draw, which for me results in more concentrated flavor, and I still get bangin' clouds. In other words, I don't think it's necessary to get a KM and the widest gauge hose on the market in order to get the best smoke out there. Smoking hookah is different for everybody, but for me personally it's about finding the perfect balance of flavor, clouds, and buzz. With the current gear I use, I have found that balance I believe. It will be different for everybody else, though.

 

Can't comment on the Kaloud Lotus, as I've never tried one. Nor do I intend to. Seemed like a gimmicky product to me, and Reynolds heavy-duty does the job just fine for me. I tend to find what works and stick with it. But it's always good to try new things. If I ever have extra cash on hand, I may try it out. But at the current price point, I doubt it. I'd rather spend the money on tobacco or coals, honestly. :)

[sksiazki]

That bad??  That does not sound promising at all, a shame to hear.  Sounds like I may have to wait until I get home to purchase from Eric although I was really hoping to have my setup there waiting for me when I fly in.  I'm just not nearly as big a fan as Myas, no offense to them.

 

I know what you mean about companies that allow their quality and or customer service to slacken once they start gaining more market share, it sucks and it's counterproductive on their part.  On a side note, if you haven't read Steve Jobs' bio but it is an excellent portrayal of someone who would not abide by that sort of attitude.  Even if you arent an Apple fan, the book is a pretty awesome insight into what it took to build a company so focused not on the bottom line but on the product quality.

 

ha sounds like you have a pretty balanced hookah goal; taste, smoke and buzz all even. haha shamefully I am more a member of the uncouth masses, a big fan of billows and buzz, although obviously since I only smoke Tang, it has to taste good.  Going back to my previous post, do you notice a difference in smoke output from a 24 inch pipe to a 32 inch or is the amount of possible smoke output limited due to your lung capacity?

[Chreees]

That bad??  That does not sound promising at all, a shame to hear.  Sounds like I may have to wait until I get home to purchase from Eric although I was really hoping to have my setup there waiting for me when I fly in.  I'm just not nearly as big a fan as Myas, no offense to them.

 

I know what you mean about companies that allow their quality and or customer service to slacken once they start gaining more market share, it sucks and it's counterproductive on their part.  On a side note, if you haven't read Steve Jobs' bio but it is an excellent portrayal of someone who would not abide by that sort of attitude.  Even if you arent an Apple fan, the book is a pretty awesome insight into what it took to build a company so focused not on the bottom line but on the product quality.

 

ha sounds like you have a pretty balanced hookah goal; taste, smoke and buzz all even. haha shamefully I am more a member of the uncouth masses, a big fan of billows and buzz, although obviously since I only smoke Tang, it has to taste good.  Going back to my previous post, do you notice a difference in smoke output from a 24 inch pipe to a 32 inch or is the amount of possible smoke output limited due to your lung capacity?

 

Yeah, Eric is your best bet. Even if you get a KM from him, you'll know it was personally inspected by him. He "cherrypicks" all of his KMs, meaning he goes over them meticulously before handing over the cash. Any hookah you buy from him is guaranteed to be a good one. So I'd consider that your best bet. Plus, it gives you an excuse to visit the lounge anyway. ;)

 

I have that book, but have still yet to read it. It's currently in storage, unfortunately. I'll dig it out whenever I get settled down into a new home of my own and finally read it. And yes, I am an Apple fan. :) I don't agree with all of their business practices (such as the horrible work conditions at Foxconn), but they make damn good products that work well for me (expect rants about Apple to ensue after your post and my post...).

 

Hey man, if clouds is why you smoke, then smoke for that reason. B) Like I said, we all smoke for different reasons and prefer different aspects of it. As for cloudage output from a 24 inch to a 32 inch, I wouldn't say that is a factor. A tiny Mya QT can put out just as much smoke as a KM. It's all about the accessories you use, the tobacco and coals you use, and your heat management skills. Also, the diameter of the hookah often comes into play. A larger diameter hookah will be more likely to give bigger smoke output. Most Chinese hookahs are just too darn small of a diameter that it feels like you're sucking on a straw, and you can't get much smoke. Now going back to accessories, a good example of what I mean with that is using an excellent quality bowl will make a world of difference. I'm sure you've used Tangiers phunnel bowls, so you know that if you put one of those on a Mya QT along with a nice wide-gauge washable hose, you've made that an awesome little beast of a hookah. So really there's many more factors than just the tallness of the hookah that come into play when it comes to cloudage.

[sksiazki]

haha well all this talk has made me realize I have been committing a crime I try not to commit about anything, having a closed mind.  KMs are all I remember researching back when I got my first hookah and like I said I havent been involved online since then so I have just always had KMs on my mind.  Taking the time to look at Faridas and Elmas fairly, I can see I have been missing an integral piece of the hookah discussion.  

The detail on the Elmas looks excellent and the Farida very good as well. I have never smoked a Turkish so now I am really flummoxed lol.  I think I just need to let go of this plan to have one waiting for me when I get back, I have too much testing and inspection to do before I buy whatever I wind up buying.  I wonder if Eric has an Elmas he would let me smoke.

I really appreciate their look and detailed craftsmanship.  ha but like I said, I am a big fan of clouds and I am reading mixed reviews on Elmas having a more restricted draw than KMs?  I also tend to transport my hookah a decent amount, whether it is to parties, the beach, concerts etc and some of them are super heavy (although it looks like those are mainly the ones with animals on them?)  It looks a little hard to get your hands on one?  I only find them offered 5-star or Nazar hookah and most are out of stock?

Ahhh the quandries of the hookah purchase, what could be more important?

[Bawhee]

for elmas look at nargilestore.com its all turkish but they have everything elmas on there.

[Coleman]

I used to live in san diego Eric will not be a carrier of elmas

[Chreees]

haha well all this talk has made me realize I have been committing a crime I try not to commit about anything, having a closed mind.  KMs are all I remember researching back when I got my first hookah and like I said I havent been involved online since then so I have just always had KMs on my mind.  Taking the time to look at Faridas and Elmas fairly, I can see I have been missing an integral piece of the hookah discussion.  

The detail on the Elmas looks excellent and the Farida very good as well. I have never smoked a Turkish so now I am really flummoxed lol.  I think I just need to let go of this plan to have one waiting for me when I get back, I have too much testing and inspection to do before I buy whatever I wind up buying.  I wonder if Eric has an Elmas he would let me smoke.

I really appreciate their look and detailed craftsmanship.  ha but like I said, I am a big fan of clouds and I am reading mixed reviews on Elmas having a more restricted draw than KMs?  I also tend to transport my hookah a decent amount, whether it is to parties, the beach, concerts etc and some of them are super heavy (although it looks like those are mainly the ones with animals on them?)  It looks a little hard to get your hands on one?  I only find them offered 5-star or Nazar hookah and most are out of stock?

Ahhh the quandries of the hookah purchase, what could be more important?

 

I don't think Eric will have any Elmas, but that may have changed recently.

 

Most folks who order an Elmas go through NargileStore.com. Get in contact with Mattarios2 or Hassouni on here and they can tell you exactly what to do to ensure your order goes through correctly (they are located in Turkey and communication can be iffy). 5StarHookah.com is about the only carrier of Elmas here in the States, but the vase options and whatnot are not the best. Better price from NS, too.

 

Now if you want an alternative to Elmas, I'd go with a Tokel. I have the Canary model and it's awesome. It's the exact same quality as Elmas (I used to own an Elmas 618 model but I found it too short for the vase I had it on). To order a Tokel, there's a guy in Istanbul who can get any model from Tokel's shop and ship it to you. Several folks on here including myself have ordered from him. I can give you his contact info, just PM me.

 

I'm sure you'll choose something nice. I hope we have given you some good options to look at. Best of luck man.

[joytron]

I think you are making this too difficult. Just go to the lounge and look at Eric's pipes and ask for advice. He has the nicest collection I have ever seen at prices you will not find online. He has Faridas, KMs, Syrians, and I think a few temsaahs. They are all of good quality. He may even sell you a bohemian vase if you, or he, is so inclined. Word of advice though, do not ask him what hookah to buy.

[Coleman]

I think you are making this too difficult. Just go to the lounge and look at Eric's pipes and ask for advice. He has the nicest collection I have ever seen at prices you will not find online. He has Faridas, KMs, Syrians, and I think a few temsaahs. They are all of good quality. He may even sell you a bohemian vase if you, or he, is so inclined. Word of advice though, do not ask him what hookah to buy. I'm gonna have to agree with This gentleman he is A lion and he is wise

[sksiazki]

haha I forget if I've mentioned lol....I'm Deployed.... i.e. not in America?  Therefore, due to my geographical separation from wonderful Southern California I am limited as to what I can physically accomplish.  However I do have time and some internet so I figure I will use this time to talk and narrow down my decision.  Thus when I do get back to SoCal I am not wasting time on things I could have accomplished out here instead of hitting the beach, hitting the mountains, hitting the Redwoods and hitting the nightlife.

I hear ya on Eric, I have been out there more than a handful of times to smoke or buy shisha, never to buy a hookah though.  

Thanks for the info Chreees, I appreciate you taking the time.  This is turning into an adventure, I always enjoy learning about new things.  One of my good friends is Turkish, just got back from a trip seeing family out there actually.  haha if only I had known to tell him to import a few for me.  Chrees do you notice a different in draw at all?

[Chreees]

Yes, Turks have a slightly tighter draw, but it's really nice, IMO. I personally would be patient and wait to go into Eric's when you get back to the States. You'll end up with a much nicer hookah for less money. ;)

[sksiazki]

haha you are right, I will just wait until I get home, pick up an Egyptian and then bide my time until I try out a Turkish.  haha being stuck on a boat in the middle of the ocean with no Tangiers in sight for months sucks though lol so I was attempting to succor my desires by doing as much of the planning etc as I could.

[Chreees]

Look at his Syrians, too. I much prefer Syrians over Egyptians. You may find you do, too. :)