Hookah

[dman21]

In relativity with cigarette smoking, how dangerous is hookah smoking? Have there been any confirmed cancer cases stemming from this?

[Skell18]

I think I read somewhere that smoking hookah is the equivalent of smoking 100 cigarettes. All I say is, if you enjoy it, do it, you're going to die anyway so may aswell enjoy life whilst you can.

[halocog]

From what I've been reading, since it's vaporized and not smoked, illness is very rare. Most of the problems you hear about are from morons using grill charcoal instead of hookah charcoal and getting CO poisoning. With that said, you still take in a lot of CO.

[dman21]

I've never even smoked hookah, but have been curious about it. That being said, I'm trying to move away from all smoke...period. But, if hookah, is relatively harmless, that something I may look into doing on occasion. The CDC says it's worse than cigarettes, on the other hand though, there has never been to my knowledge a confirmed case of cancer due to just hookah smoking.

[dman21]

As I'm sitting here smoking my first shisha, I can say where some may say its far healthier than smoking. Lung feel, it feels far less harsh than cigarettes. Also, a much better experience than cigarette smoking. I see myself taking this up on occasion. Beside that, after my research I've done, it's probably one of the safest ways to smoke. No confirmed cancer cases from just hookah.

[OregonNative]

When hookah is prepared properly, the shisha isn't burning, it's vaporizing. Shisha is usually prepared in molasses, or some kind of syrup. When the natural water in this heats up, it produces a vapor rather than smoke. As far as bad stuff, I don't really see it being all that dangerous if you prepare it, and "smoke" it properly. I'm not a doctor though, so don't take my word on it.

I've been smoking hookah for years, if I taste it start to actually burn, it goes out. I haven't noticed any ill effects towards my lungs, or general health. Again, I'm neither a health expert, or a doctor.

[truthwolf1]

Interesting. I always thought hookah was a glorified bong.

Goal has always been to stop anykind of tobacco smoke/nicotine vapor directly on the lungs for the rest of my life but I might just have try this sometime.

[OregonNative]

Interesting. I always thought hookah was a glorified bong.

Goal has always been to stop anykind of tobacco smoke/nicotine vapor directly on the lungs for the rest of my life but I might just have try this sometime.

If you are interested in trying it, there are also tobacco free alternatives for hookah. The most common being "hookah stones". It basically replaces the shisha (tobacco/molasses mix), with stones covered in syrup/glycerin. Being that these stones cannot be burnt like tobacco leaf, there is no risk of breathing in carcinogenic smoke. These stones are of course, 100% tobacco free, contain nicotine (nicotine free is also available), very flavourful, and produce massive vapor clouds. I've used stones quite a few times and like them a lot. I still prefer regular shisha over the stones, but the stones are a nice alternative if you're trying to avoid tobacco products all together.

I'm not advertising from this site, nor have I ordered from them. The link does however contain some info about hookah stones & there is a video below talking about them.
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-10358...ones-100g.html

[Skell18]

If you want to get a tate of shisha try an eshish, I use them quite a lot, they are the ecigs of shisha and are nicotine free but taste identical to the fruity shisha and you get good vapor clouds ff them too.

[truthwolf1]

Thanks for the tip ON.

Do you have any thoughts on what type of hookah to buy? or are they all pretty much the same?

[OregonNative]

Thanks for the tip ON.

Do you have any thoughts on what type of hookah to buy? or are they all pretty much the same?

Some hookah are very different. I'd avoid more than one hose. They have some crazy hookas with like 2+ hoses. I find the clouds & experience are much better with a single hose than if you have a hookah with multiple hoses. Pass the single hose around, you'll enjoy it much more. I had an old two hose hookah and the "clouds" were never very good because when you divide the vapor between two people, you get much less.

I'll post a few links with some decently priced hookahs & a few different shisha that I enjoy.

I'd recommend this setup for you, just getting into it.
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-8398-...se-hookah.html

Total price is $65.00. It comes with the hookah, hookah coals, (2) 50g packs of shisha, tongs (for placing/removing coals), bowl, foil, and a cleaning brush. Mya makes some really nice hookas, this one is basically a perfect starter hookah. Single hose, glass base (don't use acrylic, or anything besides glass/ceramic, it changes the flavour and heated plastic is never a good thing), and some shisha + coals.

*EDIT*
These are some shisha that I really really enjoy, but maybe try to find a sample pack so you can try a bunch of different flavours.

Starbuzz, one of my favorites. It's strong, tastes great, tons of flavours, lasts for a long time (usually 45+ min smoke sessions), only downside is it's a little more expensive.
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/c-254-s...h-tobacco.html

Fantasia
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/c-298-f...h-tobacco.html

Al-Fakher
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/c-23-al...h-tobacco.html

[dman21]

If you want to try hookah, my advice is to do what I did, which is find the nearest hookah lounge. It was 4 dollars for a one hour session, and I didn't think this was too bad. Nic feel wise, picture the feel of snus, e cigs, and nasal snuff rolled all into one. I felt the effects I feel of all three smoking shisha. That being said, I'm still more of a snusser than a hookah smoker, but as I said, I plan on doing this as an occasional thing, maybe hitting the pipe twice a week or so and sometimes not at all. It's a nice experience though.

[OregonNative]

If you want to try hookah, my advice is to do what I did, which is find the nearest hookah lounge. It was 4 dollars for a one hour session, and I didn't think this was too bad.

Good advice, seriously. I'd rather spend $4-5 to find out whether or not I like it, than spend $65+ on a setup and find out I don't.

If you try it and like it, that kit I mentioned would be a good starter. Spend the $4-10 first to see if it's something you enjoy though.

[dman21]

Some hookah are very different. I'd avoid more than one hose. They have some crazy hookas with like 2+ hoses. I find the clouds & experience are much better with a single hose than if you have a hookah with multiple hoses. Pass the single hose around, you'll enjoy it much more. I had an old two hose hookah and the "clouds" were never very good because when you divide the vapor between two people, you get much less.
I'll post a few links with some decently priced hookahs & a few different shisha that I enjoy.

I'd recommend this setup for you, just getting into it.
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/p-8398-...se-hookah.html

Total price is $65.00. It comes with the hookah, hookah coals, (2) 50g packs of shisha, tongs (for placing/removing coals), bowl, foil, and a cleaning brush. Mya makes some really nice hookas, this one is basically a perfect starter hookah. Single hose, glass base (don't use acrylic, or anything besides glass/ceramic, it changes the flavour and heated plastic is never a good thing), and some shisha + coals.

*EDIT*
These are some shisha that I really really enjoy, but maybe try to find a sample pack so you can try a bunch of different flavours.

Starbuzz, one of my favorites. It's strong, tastes great, tons of flavours, lasts for a long time (usually 45+ min smoke sessions), only downside is it's a little more expensive.
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/c-254-s...h-tobacco.html

Fantasia
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/c-298-f...h-tobacco.html

Al-Fakher
http://www.hookah-shisha.com/c-23-al...h-tobacco.html

My local hookah bar has Al Fahker, and I must say it was very good. I intend on trying other brands down the road, but still...awesome, awesome stuff!

[OregonNative]

My local hookah bar has Al Fahker, and I must say it was very good. I intend on trying other brands down the road, but still...awesome, awesome stuff!

Heck yeah! Give Starbuzz a try if you come across it. Starbuzz mint is amazing (if you like mint), but it's overpowering mint (think Thunder Frosted) if you don't like a strong mint.