Getting Started & Setup · 6 min
Which hookah suits you? Choosing by budget and use
Which hookah to buy? Material, size, closed chamber, diffuser, 18/8 ground joint and scope of delivery explained, plus models for every budget.
Shisha Getting Started & Setup · Part 1 of 3
What do I need to smoke hookah? Accessories checklist
To smoke hookah you need a hookah with hose and mouthpiece, a bowl, aluminium foil or an HMD, natural charcoal with a charcoal lighter and tongs, and tobacco. A molasses catcher, diffuser and bowl-packing mat make the session more comfortable, but they are not essential.
In this article11 chapters
- What belongs in the basic equipment?
- The hookah: glass base, stem and dip tube
- The bowl: Phunnel or multi-hole bowl
- Aluminium foil, chimney top or HMD?
- Charcoal, charcoal lighter and tongs
- Hose, mouthpiece and seals
- Parts and accessories in pictures
- Which tobacco for beginners?
- What is only nice to have?
- Checklist before your first session
- Frequently asked questions
What belongs in the basic equipment?
Seven parts are enough for the first session. A complete set usually includes the hookah, hose, mouthpiece and bowl. You almost always buy charcoal, charcoal lighter and tobacco in addition.
| Part | What for | Included in the set? |
|---|---|---|
| Hookah | Glass base with water, stem with dip tube, charcoal tray | yes |
| Hose and mouthpiece | You draw the smoke through the silicone hose | usually yes |
| Bowl | Holds the tobacco, sits on the bowl adapter | often yes |
| Aluminium foil or HMD | Separates the charcoal from the tobacco | rarely |
| Natural charcoal | Provides the heat | no |
| Charcoal lighter and tongs | Heat the charcoal through and place it safely | Tongs often, lighter no |
| Tobacco | Goes into the bowl | no |
What is really in the box for your model is stated under scope of delivery on the product page. What to look for when choosing the hookah is shown by the article Which hookah to buy?.
The hookah: glass base, stem and dip tube
The glass base is the glass in which the water sits. On top of it sits the stem made of stainless steel or aluminium. Its lower end is the dip tube. It sits one to two centimetres deep in the water. If it sits deeper, the draw gets heavy.
The hose connector and purge valve sit on the base, the lower part of the stem. Via the valve you blow stale smoke out of the glass base. At the top, the stem carries the charcoal tray and the bowl adapter. Depending on the model, you connect glass base and stem via a thread, a ground joint or a push-fit connection.
You will find models under Hookahs, ready-assembled packages under Complete sets and bundles.
The bowl: Phunnel or multi-hole bowl
The bowl sits on the bowl adapter, a silicone bowl seal makes it airtight. The tobacco goes into the depot, the hollow in the bowl.
A Phunnel has a single raised opening in the centre. The molasses stays in the depot. With a multi-hole bowl, there are several holes in the base. For beginners, a Phunnel is the safe choice because no molasses runs into the stem.
How to tell the designs apart is explained in the article Phunnel, clay bowl or multi-hole bowl. How the tobacco gets into the depot is shown in the article Building a hookah bowl the right way.
Aluminium foil, chimney top or HMD?
A separating layer belongs between charcoal and tobacco. Three ways are common.
| Setup | How it works | Suitable if |
|---|---|---|
| Aluminium foil | Stretch tight over the bowl, perforate, place the charcoal on top | you want to start inexpensively |
| Chimney top | Sits on the bowl, the charcoal lies in the chimney on the screen, you don't need aluminium foil | you want to smoke without foil and chimney and bowl fit together |
| HMD | Metal attachment, carries the charcoal and replaces the foil | you want to control the heat via the number and position of the coals; some models also have a lid for this |
An HMD must fit the rim of your bowl. Designs and regulation are explained in the article HMD, Smokebox and Kaloud. Bowls and attachments are listed under Hookah bowls and Chimneys & HMDs.
Charcoal, charcoal lighter and tongs
The standard is natural charcoal made from coconut shells in cube form, cubes for short. The number in the name gives the edge length: cubes labelled 26 measure 26 millimetres. Natural charcoal burns long and without any taste of its own, but needs a charcoal lighter.
| Step | What you look out for |
|---|---|
| Lighting | Place the cubes on the heating coil, let them glow for seven to ten minutes |
| Turning | Turn once after half the time |
| Checking | Red glow all round, fine grey layer of ash, no black spots |
| Placing | Usually three 26 cubes on foil, two to three in the HMD |
You only touch glowing charcoal with the charcoal tongs and place it on the charcoal tray. Smoke only in an open outdoor area, not indoors and not even with a window open, because glowing charcoal releases carbon monoxide. Everything on this is listed under Hookah charcoal, Charcoal lighters and Charcoal tongs.
Hose, mouthpiece and seals
A silicone hose is usual. It picks up hardly any flavour and can be rinsed through with water. One end goes in the hookah's hose connector, the other carries the mouthpiece made of aluminium, stainless steel, carbon or glass.
The hookah is made airtight by three seals: the bowl seal at the bowl adapter, the hose seal at the connector and, with push-fit glass bases, the glass base seal. If the hookah draws air, it is almost always down to one of them. If several of you smoke, everyone takes their own hygiene mouthpiece.
You will find replacements under Hookah hoses, Mouthpieces and Seals.
HMD
Carries the charcoal and replaces the foil.
Natural charcoal cubes
26 cubes made of coconut shells.
Bowl seal
Keeps the bowl airtight on the bowl adapter.
Hose connector
Connects hose and base.
Diffuser
Optional: breaks up the bubbles at the dip tube.
Charcoal tray
Catches ash and carries the placed charcoal.
Which tobacco for beginners?
Hookah tobacco is cut tobacco that sits in molasses. Light tobacco on a Virginia basis is more forgiving than dark tobacco when packing the bowl and with heat. Dark tobacco is stronger and takes more experience.
The flavours are listed under Hookah tobacco, alternatives without nicotine under nicotine-free tobacco substitute. How an opened tin stays moist is explained in the article Storing hookah tobacco properly.
What is only nice to have?
You don't need these parts for the first session. But they solve typical annoyances.
| Part | What it brings |
|---|---|
| Molasses catcher | Sits between the bowl and stem and catches molasses running down |
| Diffuser | Attachment on the dip tube that breaks up the bubbles: quieter and softer on the draw |
| Bowl-packing mat and tobacco fork | Clean table and loose tobacco when packing the bowl |
| Stem and glass base brush | Clean the stem and glass base after the session |
| Windshield | Keeps the charcoal glowing evenly outdoors |
| Coaster | Protects the table and gives the glass base a firm hold |
You will find the parts under Molasses catcher, Bowl-packing accessories and Cleaning. How to keep the glass base, stem and hose clean is shown in the article Cleaning a hookah the right way.
Checklist before your first session
Go through the list once before you light the charcoal.
- Glass base filled, dip tube one to two centimetres in the water
- Stem firmly on the glass base, charcoal tray fitted
- Bowl seal and hose seal in place, the hookah draws no air
- Bowl packed, foil tight and perforated or HMD fitted
- Natural charcoal heated through all round, tongs at hand
- Hose and mouthpiece connected, a spot in an open outdoor area
You now know what belongs in the basic equipment. In the Hookah advisor you choose your budget and state which parts you already have.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need at a minimum to smoke hookah?
A hookah with hose and mouthpiece, a bowl, aluminium foil or an HMD, natural charcoal with a charcoal lighter and tongs, and tobacco.
Is everything included with a hookah set?
A complete set usually includes the hookah, hose, mouthpiece and bowl. You almost always buy charcoal, charcoal lighter and tobacco in addition. The product page states the exact scope of delivery.
Do I need an HMD, or is aluminium foil enough?
Aluminium foil is enough to start with. An HMD replaces the foil. You control the heat via the number and position of the coals; only some models have a lid for regulating.
Which charcoal do I use for the hookah?
Natural charcoal made from coconut shells in cube form. It burns long and without any taste of its own, but needs a charcoal lighter.
Do I need a molasses catcher?
No. It is a convenience and catches molasses that would otherwise run into the stem. With a Phunnel, the molasses stays in the depot anyway.
About the author
Julian
Hookah expert
For this article
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