By Luke Sumpter


Chances are, you go through a routine before hitting your favourite rig. You grind up your preferred herb, insert a clean screen, place your lighter and other tools in their usual place, and fill up your piece with fresh bong water. But are you missing something big? Do you ever consider the temperature of bong smoke? While some cannabis users are perfectly happy hitting bongs with room-temperature water, others tout the benefits of ice catcher bongs.

These devices harness the cooling effect of ice to deliver smooth hits that go down a treat—throat and lung irritation be gone! However, if you look in the right corner of the internet, you’ll find anecdotal accounts of people claiming to experience lung infections and other conditions after hitting an ice bong. So, should you use an ice bong? Do they really cause lung problems? Is it worth the risk? Find out everything you need to know about ice bongs below.

What Are Ice Bongs

Ice bongs are exactly as they sound; they’re rigs that use ice alongside water to create cooler and smoother hits. You might not realise it, but every time you ignite your lighter, you’re wielding a flame that reaches a temperature of almost 2,000°C. This serious heat instantly combusts the herb or hash present in your bowl and creates a plume of piping hot smoke.

Whereas blunts, joints, and pipes deliver a hot and often harsh hit of smoke, bongs that use room-temperature or cold water offset this effect somewhat. Ice bongs take things one step further by placing ice cubes in the smoke path. As the smoke rushes past the ice, the temperature of the gas decreases before it enters the mouth, throat, and lungs. The result? A cooler and buttery-smooth hit that causes less irritation, discomfort, and coughing.

  • Ice Bong Designs

The cannabis space is packed with innovation. Naturally, this means there are plenty of ice bong options available. If your existing bong has a normal neck with a wide mouthpiece and uptake that leads down to the chamber, unobstructed, you can simply drop a few ice cubes into the bong water below.

However, inventive minds have created specialised ice catcher bongs designed to house ice separately from the main chamber. These models vary widely in size, shape, and configuration—but they all share one thing in common: small indents known as ice catchers in the uptake.

These structures usually sit at the bottom of the uptake, just above the chamber, and serve to prevent ice from falling into the water below. This creates a two-stage process; the smoke first filters through the bong water, before entering the ice catchment area where it swiftly drops in temperature.

Ice Bong Designs

Benefits of Ice Catcher Bongs

So, why bother with an ice catcher bong? Is it really worth the fuss ensuring you have a fresh batch of ice cubes ready to go before each smoking session? Check out the main benefits below to see what you think.

Benefits
Smoother Hits
You Can Take Bigger Rips
Superior Taste
Prevents Splashes
Looks Awesome
Seasonal Appeal
  • Smoother Hits

As the smoke travels around the ice, it rapidly cools. This results in hits that feel better in the mouth, throat, and lungs. Overall, ice catcher bongs provide a smooth, enjoyable smoking experience.

  • You Can Take Bigger Rips

Smoother smoke means bigger rips (and less coughing). You’ll find you’re able to pack big bowls and inhale larger hits with less discomfort. If you want to get higher, faster, consider packing your bong with ice to help those cannabinoids and terpenes go down.

  • Superior Taste

Many proponents of ice bongs choose this method for the taste. Cooler smoke helps the terpene profile of each unique variety shine through. Without the hot smoke, it feels as though the taste buds are more receptive to floral, earthy, fruity, sweet, and grassy terpenes.

  • Prevents Splashes

We’ve all been there. Whether you’ve nudged your bong a bit too heavily or tilted it at the wrong angle, bong water on the coffee table or carpet never fails to disrupt an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable smoking session. Ice won’t prevent all spills, but a column of frozen water in the uptake will prevent small splashes that would otherwise fly out of the mouthpiece.

  • Looks Awesome

Ice catcher bongs simply look good. Something about a tower of ice wrapped in glass makes for a stunning centrepiece during a smoking session. The sight only becomes more impressive as the cannabinoids keep flowing.

  • Seasonal Appeal

While hitting a chilly ice catcher bong in the middle of winter might not sound appealing, the opposite becomes true in the hot summer months. Do you really want to puff on warm smoke during the middle of a heat wave? Or would you rather wrap your hands around a chilly tower of glass while getting baked?

Cons of Ice Catcher Bongs

Are you drawn to the idea of ice catcher bongs? We don’t blame you. They offer something different. However, like everything in life, they also come with their downsides. Before we get into the main controversy surrounding this smoking technique, let’s look at some of their minor downsides.

Cons
Preparation
Time Limit
Additional Cost
  • Preparation

Ice bongs require more prep than their standard counterparts. Setting up a normal bong involves pouring some clean water into the chamber and then sparking up. In contrast, you’ll need to make sure you have a tray of ice cubes ready to go when using an ice catcher bong. If you plan on using one regularly, we recommend preparing another tray at the end of each smoking session.

  • Time Limit

How long do you like to smoke for? If you and your friends often find yourself hitting bowls for hours at a time, you’ll need more than one tray of ice ready for action. The column in an ice catcher can only cool hot smoke for so long before melting and flowing down into the chamber below.

  • Additional Cost

If any of your pieces have a wide mouthpiece and chamber, there’s nothing stopping you from dropping ice cubes straight into a rig you already own. However, if you want the full ice catcher bong experience, you’ll need to invest in a rig with indents that will keep ice cubes in the uptake.

How to Use Ice Catcher Bongs

Ice Catcher Bong Controversy

We can’t tout the benefits of ice catcher bongs without getting into the potential risks. But the science around the dangers of ice bongs remains murky and almost non-existent. Several anecdotal accounts on internet forums tell tales of people developing lung issues after using ice bongs.

Some posts claim that ice shards from fresh cubes can end up in the lungs, causing bronchitis and even pneumonia. While inhaling water is a known cause of pneumonia, no research exists to show a correlation between ice catcher bong use and lung pathologies (and we’re not likely to see such research any time soon).

If you have pre-existing lung issues or immune system disorders, it’s probably best to give ice catcher bongs a miss. You could also speak to your physician before doing so, but we understand this isn’t something most people are willing to disclose.

How to Use Ice Catcher Bongs

How do you use an ice catcher bong? Are they much different from standard rigs? Let us take you through the simple step-by-step process.

1. Prep your ice: Place an ice cube tray in the freezer at least a few hours before your session.

2. Load the uptake: At the beginning of the session, add ice cubes into the uptake, filling it to several centimetres below the cusp of the mouthpiece.

3. Pack your bowl: Process your weed as you normally would when using a standard bong.

4. Let the ice melt slightly: The reports involving inhaled ice shards have led some users to let the ice melt slightly before proceeding; wait until the cubes develop a smooth, frost-free exterior.

5. Hit and enjoy: Fire up your bowl and enjoy smoother and cooler hits.

How to Use Ice Catcher Bongs

Tips to Optimise Your Ice Catcher Bong Experience

Do you want to take your ice catcher bong experience to another level? The tips below will make that easy to accomplish.

  • Use a vape alongside: Some vaporizers have water pipe adapters that enable them to slot into bong bowls. If you want to add even more smoothness to the experience, use a compatible vape and experience terpene profiles like never before.
  • Develop an ice stash: If you start to become a keen ice catcher bong user, we suggest getting serious about your ice supply. Get several trays in your freezer that you can use at different points throughout the day, and replenish each tray at the end of every smoking session so you never run out. Perhaps consider freezing flavoured water, lemonade, or tea to make your hits more flavourful.
  • Keep the room cool: Want your ice column to last longer? Turn on a fan or switch on your air conditioning to prevent the ice from melting too quickly.
  • Play around with ice cube moulds: Ice cubes do the job, but why not get creative and add even more beauty to the experience? We suggest heart-shaped, fruit-shaped, or even cannabis leaf-shaped ice cube moulds.

With that, just experiment, and you can’t go wrong. Enjoying an ice bong is a time-tested stoner tradition, and after reading this article, we think it’s easy to see why!

Promoting Responsible Cannabis UseRQS emphasizes the importance of responsible cannabis consumption.

While many individuals use cannabis frequently without complications, some may be susceptible to developing adverse behaviours. We believe the herb should enhance one’s life, not hinder it.

Responsible use involves limiting consumption to adults only, refusing to operate cars or machinery while under the influence, and making an effort to resist abuse.

Stay Cultivated.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: