Does Hookah Size Really Matter?

This blog article was last updated on June 5, 2023

"A tale as old as time..." you know the song.

The answer to this question is ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ Where the general thought on this topic originates from is that "larger hookahs smoke better than smaller hookahs" due to the longer stem which allows more time for the smoke to cool as it travels to the water, where it is filtered and further cooled. Fair point, and to some extent sure, but when you think about three to four extra inches for smoke to pass through...it's passing through so quickly the difference one might observe is miniscule.

We’ve done our research and performed numerous tests and we've concluded that when comparing a large hookah to a small one, you may notice some very small differences but they will be so subtle. When comparing two hookahs that are closer in size, the difference is often imperceptible. One of the only factors to consider is the size of the hookah base. The larger the hookah base, the more room for smoke to collect, which may give you quicker and fuller puffs but the ultimate factor, the taste, is going to be the same.

Nonetheless, there are many small hookahs we sell that smoke as well as the larger ones due to the shape and volume of their hookah base. However, there is such a thing as "too small of a hookah", but some people chose to sacrifice smoking quality for portability and convenience. The choice is up to you and we'll be happy to assist you in making that decision! Rest assured though, if a hookah smokes poorly we will not carry it, but some hookahs definitely smoke better than others.

One point to note though is that the size and thickness of the hose you use on your hookah is a large factor to the way your hookah will smoke. The thicker the tubing the easier it is to pull through and thus it can make it easier to create those clouds. Today most hookah hoses are washable, share the same size silicone tubing, and thus are almost inconceivable to tell apart from one another. The shisha tobacco and hookah charcoal you use are one of the biggest factors to how well your hookah will smoke.

90% of how a hookah performs comes down to bowl loading and heat management with your coals. A larger hookah does not "create bigger clouds".