What are Chillums and One-Hitters?

Among a sea of e-nails, portable vape pens, and desktop vaporizers exists a more traditional method of consumption that has persisted since the origins of cannabis, so you may be asking yourself, what are chillums and one-hitters?

Pipes are a tried-and-true method used to smoke marijuana, but one of the most convenient and effortless ways to smoke weed is with a chillum, also known as a one-hitter or bat. This small and pocket-friendly tool is a must-have accessory for any cannabis consumer.

What’s a Chillum?

A chillum is traditionally a cone or tube-shaped pipe that has an attached mouthpiece and a bowl. While designs and shapes can vary, most one-hitters have a tapered mouthpiece and wider bowl end, so that users can pack in ground-up weed to smoke.

Chillums don’t normally have a carburetor like spoon pipes, which leads to restricted airflow if they are not packed correctly. Despite this limitation, one-hitters offer users a fun and classic way to enjoy smoking marijuana.

Benefits of a Chillum

So, why would anyone opt for a one-hitter pipe instead of a temperature-controlled vape pen or a fast-heating e-nail used to dab concentrates? Chillums offer users the benefit of reconnecting with traditional methods of consumption. Due to their small nature, one-hitters can only hold enough weed for one or a handful of draws. This allows users to microdose cannabis on-the-go in a discreet and effective manner.

Chillum History

Today’s chillums are made out of heat-resistant glass, wood, and other niche materials, but ancient pipes were made out of clay, bone, and other easily accessible materials. Chillum use goes back at least to the 18th century, where Hindu sadhu monks would use cilams, or pipes, for spiritual rituals.

Native American tribes and Rastafarians would also use chillum-style pipes to smoke marijuana for religious purposes. These simple pipes are seeing a resurgence in popularity as consumers look for portable ways to smoke weed.

Chillum Types

Chillums generally have a tube shape, but some may be simpler or more stylized than others. Most are made from either glass or wood, each with their own pros and cons.

A one-hitter glass pipe, also known as a tasting pipe, is a miniature style of chillum. This small pipe is just large enough to fit one hit’s worth of weed inside. One-hitters allow users to get a small taste and dose of their buds without drawing too much attention.

Dugout pipes are another type of chillum and chillum accessory. These compact tools are usually square-shaped and feature a compartment to fit a one-hitter and another to hold your ground-up marijuana.

A Monkey Pipe, also known as the “Fisherman’s Friend,” is a branded chillum with a swiveling lid that can cover the bowl. These pocket-friendly pipes can be made out of a mix of wood and metal for a sleek look.

How to Buy a Chillum

Chillums are made out of a variety of materials, but the most common materials are glass and wood. These handy pipes can run you anywhere from $5 to hundreds of dollars for custom or artisan-crafted one-hitters with imaginative designs.

The cheapest chillum options are good for first-time users, but are vulnerable to chips, cracks, and breakage due to their cheap material quality.

If you’re looking to buy a high-quality glass chillum, look for borosilicate glass, which is made out of silica and boron trioxide. This heat-resistant glass may also go by “lab-quality” or “scientific” glass. It’s also used for ovenproof glassware. Glass chillums are preferred in many cases since they don’t impart a flavor on the smoked weed, but they are also more prone to breaking.

Wood chillums may alter the flavor of a bud strain, but some users actually prefer this method of consumption because of the flavor the wood imparts to the experience. Hardwoods such as walnut, maple, and rosewood are usually used for chillums, but you may also find them made out of bamboo. Stone chillums are also available. Stone chillums offer increased durability but can be difficult to clean.

How to Use a Chillum

Chillums are invaluable tools that let you smoke with ease and discretion. While they do offer convenience and portability, there is a learning curve to smoking out of a chillum. For one, you don’t want to grind your weed too finely or you run the risk of burning it up quicker or breathing in ash. You need to break up your weed large enough to remain in the pipe, but small enough to fit.

You can pack the chillum vertically by dipping it into the ground-up weed and pressing your desired amount inside the bowl with your finger. If it holds, you can light it at a 45-degree angle to keep the weed from falling out. Once lit, take a few draws and enjoy a microdose of your favorite cannabis strain.

Chillums are an easy and effective tool that should be in every cannabis user’s tool kit. Smoking cannabis has lost steam due to its harshness and relative unhealthiness, but many users continue to hold onto the tradition of pipe smoking. Chillums offer variety and style for users that have a busy lifestyle, but still want to enjoy smoking their weed.