Gifts for Hookah Smokers: Ideas for Every Budget
Without knowing the set-up, you can give safely with a charcoal lighter, charcoal tongs, a bowl-packing mat, a bowl brush or a long mouthpiece, all from levels 1 and 2. Bowl and HMD have to fit each other. A complete hookah is available as a set from level 4.
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Gifts by budget
The tiers follow the current prices in the shop. The right-hand column says whether you need to know something about the set-up beforehand.
| Budget | Gift | Clarify beforehand |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1: smallest budget | AO giant charcoal tongs 30 cm | nothing |
| Level 1: smallest budget | Jookah charcoal lighter Small Blind 500 W | nothing, enough for one or two bowls |
| Level 1: smallest budget | AO bowl brush with brass bristles | nothing |
| Level 2: small budget | Smoke2u Hotplate 1000 W or Smoke2U Toaster 2.0 | nothing |
| Level 2: small budget | Darkside bowl-packing mat | nothing |
| Level 2: small budget | AO Coitelo charcoal tongs in folding box | nothing |
| Level 2: small budget | Mira Carbon mouthpiece 39 cm | does the person smoke with a silicone hose? |
| Level 2: small budget | Hookain Luv Lip Phunnel or Huka HMD | Phunnel used with an HMD? |
| Level 3: medium budget | ONMO HMD or ONMO HMD Stainless Steel | Bowl with standard HMD size? |
| Level 3: medium budget | Lit Lip Stone Ware Phunnel | Phunnel used with an HMD? |
| Level 4: upper budget | Moze Flare charcoal basket | nothing, tongs come separately |
| Level 4: upper budget | Hookain Baba Bowl Pro | Does the person smoke with aluminium foil in a group? |
| Level 4: upper budget | Mira Ghost Stainless Steel Carbon | Space and height, around 45 cm |
| Level 5: large budget | Moze Breeze Two Wavy | Bowl and hose are extra |
Charcoal lighter: the safe gift
Natural coconut charcoal only glows through properly on a charcoal lighter, and that does not need a particular model. The Smoke2u Hotplate 1000 W handles charcoal for several bowls at once; with the Toaster 2.0, up to six size-26 cubes stand in the shaft and hardly need turning. Light only in an open outdoor area, not indoors.
Small things from levels 1 and 2 that always fit
Long charcoal tongs of 30 cm keep the hand away from the embers; the AO Coitelo comes in a folding box and is therefore good for gift wrapping. On the Darkside bowl-packing mat, tobacco and molasses land on silicone instead of on the table when packing the bowl, and the fork is held by a magnet.
For care there is the round bowl brush with brass bristles; it cleans bowls made of clay and stone and the HMD. A separate long mouthpiece fits common silicone hoses; the hose is not included. How to clean up afterwards is covered under Cleaning your hookah.
Charcoal tongs
At 30 cm the hand stays away from the embers.
Bowl-packing mat
Tobacco and molasses stay off the table.
Bowl brush
For clay, stone and HMD.
Mouthpiece
Fits common silicone hoses.
Phunnel
Only if an HMD is in use.
Bowl and HMD: only with a matching set-up
A Hookain Phunnel holds around 12 g of Virginia and is built for an HMD. The HMD has to fit the bowl rim: the ONMO HMD measures 7.5 cm at the bottom, the Huka HMD 7.4 cm. If the person smokes a multi-hole bowl with foil, an HMD is the wrong gift. The differences are explained in Phunnel, clay bowl or multi-hole.
How to check the fit
Do not ask about the gift, ask about the set-up. A look at the smoking spot or a photo is usually enough.
| Gift | What to look at | Does not fit if |
|---|---|---|
| Phunnel | Is there an HMD on the bowl? | only a multi-hole bowl with aluminium foil or chimney is smoked |
| HMD | Bowl with standard HMD size, around 7.5 cm at the bottom | Large bowl such as the Baba Bowl with a special size |
| Mouthpiece | Silicone hose on the hookah | Hose with a permanently fitted handle |
| Molasses catcher | Joint on the stem, usually 18/8 | no joint or a different size |
| Large bowl | Group session with several smokers, aluminium foil | smoked alone and with a standard HMD |
Which HMD design heats in which way is covered in HMD and heat management.
Giving a new hookah
A whole hookah fits if there is none yet or the old one has done its time. With the Mira Ghost Stainless Steel Carbon, a hose, mouthpiece, tongs and a multi-hole bowl with chimney are included. With the Moze Breeze Two, a mouthpiece and two charcoal plates are included, but not the bowl and hose. What matters for material and size is covered in Which hookah to buy?.
Typical wrong purchases
Typical is an HMD that does not fit the bowl, or a molasses catcher with the wrong joint. A Phunnel is of little use if the person smokes a multi-hole bowl with foil. And with a hookah without bowl and hose, the most important thing is missing in the evening.
If you know nothing at all about the set-up, stick to a lighter, tongs, mat or brush. Those always get used.
Frequently asked questions
What do I give a hookah smoker if I do not know their set-up?
A charcoal lighter, charcoal tongs, a bowl-packing mat, a bowl brush or a long mouthpiece for the silicone hose. That fits any hookah.
Does every HMD fit every bowl?
No. The HMD needs a bowl with standard HMD size, around 7.5 cm at the bottom. Large bowls such as the Baba Bowl have a special size and are smoked with aluminium foil.
Phunnel or multi-hole bowl as a gift?
A Phunnel if the person uses an HMD. If they smoke a multi-hole bowl with aluminium foil or chimney, stick with the multi-hole bowl or give something else.
Which hookah makes a good gift?
A complete set with hose, mouthpiece, bowl and tongs, such as the Mira Ghost Stainless Steel Carbon. With the Moze Breeze Two, bowl and hose are extra.
How much does a good hookah gift cost?
Tongs, charcoal lighter, bowl brush, bowl-packing mat, Phunnel and mouthpiece are available in levels 1 and 2, HMDs up to level 3. A complete hookah starts at level 4.
What are typical wrong purchases?
An HMD that does not fit the bowl, a molasses catcher with the wrong joint and a hookah where bowl and hose are missing.
About the author
Julian
Hookah expert
For this article
