First time stepping into a smoke shop — in person or online — can be overwhelming. There's glass, devices, accessories, attachments, batteries, papers, tools. Here's the cheat sheet.
The 3 main categories
1. Glass & Pipes
Anything you smoke OUT OF that's made of glass (or sometimes silicone, metal, or wood). Includes:
- Hand pipes — spoon pipes, sherlocks, chillums. Pocketable, simplest.
- Bubblers — mini water pipe in handheld form. Cooler hits than a hand pipe.
- Water pipes / bongs — larger pieces with water filtration. Smoothest hits.
- Dab rigs — specifically for concentrates, smaller and more focused than bongs.
2. Vaporizers
Devices that heat material to vapor instead of burning it. Cleaner, more discreet, more efficient. Three main types:
- Dry herb vaporizers — vaporize ground material (PAX, Storz & Bickel)
- Concentrate / wax vaporizers — e-rigs and dab pens (Puffco)
- 510-thread cartridge vape pens — batteries that pair with standard cartridges
3. Accessories & Essentials
The supporting cast that makes everything else work:
- Grinders — grind material for even burns
- Rolling papers + cones — for joints
- Storage — smell-proof bags, stash jars, travel cases
- Cleaning supplies — isopropyl alcohol, brushes, salt for glass cleaning
- Lighters & torches — standard lighters or butane torches for dabs
What does a beginner actually need?
Three setups by experience:
- Total beginner: A simple hand pipe + grinder + lighter. That's it.
- Want smoother hits: A small bubbler or beaker bong + grinder.
- Ready to invest: A dry herb vaporizer (Pax Mini or Storz & Bickel Mighty+) for a cleaner, more discreet experience.
Brands to trust
Stick to authorized retailers. We carry: Puffco, Storz & Bickel, PAX, GRAV, Stündenglass, MJ Arsenal, Vessel, Pulsar, Yocan, RAW, Zig-Zag. Each comes with manufacturer warranty when purchased through an authorized retailer like us. See our brand list.
Common mistakes
- Buying knock-offs from Amazon or eBay (no warranty, often fail QC)
- Going premium without practicing on basics first
- Skipping the grinder — it makes a huge difference
- Not cleaning glass regularly — ruins flavor and longevity
Where to start
Visit our Best Sellers to see what other customers love, or hit our Bundles page for starter kits. Need help picking? Reach us at info@ziggysmiami.com.
21+ only. All products are smoking accessories sold for legal use.
