Glass

Glass remains the preferred material of choice for manufacturing higher end water pipes and dry herb vaporization devices thanks to its completely inert, non-porous nature and unmatched ability to withstand repeated heating and cooling cycles without emitting or imparting any flavors, odors or chemical contaminants to taint the purity of inhalation vapor and smoke. In particular, borosilicate glass and quartz glass are especially prized for this reason.

Glass as a substance does not absorb any residual moisture or oil and does not impart any extraneous flavors or aromas that could distort or mute the strain's intended taste profiles. It also resists staining or residue build up remarkably well and generally cleans up much more easily than many pipe materials. The intricate craft of glass blowing further allows for elaborate artistic sculpting and creative functional design. And premium grade borosilicate and quartz glass formulations in particular excel in their capacity to endure countless repeated heating and cooling sessions over many years of use if cared for properly.

Overall for smoking and vaporizing dry herb, glass remains simply unparalleled, which is precisely why era-defining companies like Volcano built their brand around glass construction for their desktop and portable models. Even relatively inexpensive scientific glass such as Pyrex provides excellent purity and smooth hits. But fine handcrafted glass art combines both extraordinary beauty and rugged durability into a single functional sculpture.