Getting Started & Setup · 7 min
What do I need to smoke hookah? Accessories checklist
Hookah, bowl, foil or HMD, natural charcoal with charcoal lighter, tobacco, hose and mouthpiece: the basic equipment for your first session.
Shisha Getting Started & Setup
Is an E-HMD Worth It? Costs, Advantages and Disadvantages
An E-HMD is worth it if you smoke several times a week. Charcoal, foil and lighter are no longer needed, and a pod takes around 10 g of tobacco instead of around 20 g in a charcoal setup. In return you pay for the device once, plan around a battery for about two sessions and do without the typical charcoal note.
In this article9 chapters
Charcoal setup and E-HMD compared
An E-HMD replaces the bowl, charcoal and lighter. The stem, glass base and hose of your hookah stay. The table shows what changes in everyday use, using the XKah Pro as an example.
| Point | Charcoal setup | E-HMD (XKah Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Heat source | 2 to 3 natural charcoal cubes per bowl, 3 with a chimney or foil | Battery, one charge for about two sessions |
| Preparation | Heat charcoal through on the lighter for 7 to 10 minutes | around 8 minutes of preheating on the device |
| Tobacco per session | around 20 g | 8 to 12 g per pod, usually around 10 g |
| Heat | Turn, move and add charcoal | fixed heating curve or your own temperature |
| Running costs | Charcoal, foil, electricity for the lighter | Electricity, pods, possibly a second battery |
| Taste | with a charcoal note | without a charcoal note |
Which costs disappear with an E-HMD?
Charcoal, foil and the electricity for the charcoal lighter are no longer needed. A 1000-watt lighter takes 7 to 10 minutes until size 26 natural charcoal has glowed through. That is 0.12 to 0.17 kWh per lighting. The battery of the XKah Pro stores 50.32 Wh, so around 0.05 kWh for about two sessions. With the tobacco you get by with roughly half.
Which costs are added?
You pay for the device once: the XKah Lite runs on a mains cable, the XKah Pro on a replaceable battery. Both are priced in the upper class, well above a classic HMD. You use the stainless steel pods again and again, and replacement pods come in a pack of two. For long evenings you need a second battery. It charges via USB-C in around 100 minutes.
Advantages of an E-HMD
- No charcoal, no foil, no ash and no flying sparks. You do not need a lighter.
- The heat stays the same throughout the session, without turning and adding charcoal. In Classic mode a session runs for 50 minutes; in Custom mode you set the temperature and duration yourself between 30 and 90 minutes.
- A pod needs around half as much tobacco as a bowl with charcoal.
- No carbon monoxide from glowing charcoal is produced. The tobacco is still heated, and the nicotine remains.
- Two silicone adapters in S and L fit narrow and wide stems. Pods and base may go in the dishwasher.
Disadvantages of an E-HMD
- The typical charcoal note is missing. Some find the flavour clearer, others miss the intensity and the ritual with the charcoal.
- One battery charge lasts for about two sessions. Without a charged battery the bowl stays cold.
- Before every session the device preheats for around 8 minutes.
- You only find the right fill quantity and temperature after a few sessions. If it is packed too tightly, the tobacco restricts the airflow.
- Pods discolour over time. Keep the battery contacts clean, and take the battery out after the session.
- Some users report batteries that weakened after a short time. So check the warranty and spare parts before buying.
XKah Pro
The XKah Pro is an E-HMD with a display and a replaceable battery for your hookah.
Inserting the pod
To fill it, you open the device and insert the pod with 8 to 12 g of loosely filled tobacco.
Replaceable battery
The battery with 13,600 mAh charges via USB-C and lasts for about two sessions.
Pods
The stainless steel pods with a screen are reusable and dishwasher-safe.
For comparison: charcoal
With charcoal you put 2 to 3 cubes that have glowed through on each bowl and push them forward during the session.
When does an E-HMD pay for itself?
The more often you smoke, the faster less tobacco and the charcoal you no longer need make up the purchase price. With several sessions a week the sums tend to add up. With one or two sessions a month, a bowl with charcoal stays more economical. If the charcoal note matters to you, an E-HMD does not replace your setup but complements it.
Calculator: XKah Pro
The calculator is pre-filled with values of the XKah Pro: battery energy for a 50-minute session plus 8 minutes of preheating and around 10 g of tobacco per pod. Enter your sessions per week and your electricity price.
Frequently asked questions
Is an E-HMD worth it if I rarely smoke?
Probably not. With one or two sessions a month it takes a long time until less tobacco and the charcoal you no longer need offset the purchase price. The calculator shows you the figure for your values.
How much electricity does an E-HMD use?
The battery of the XKah Pro stores 50.32 Wh, which is around 0.05 kWh for about two sessions. A 1000-watt charcoal lighter needs 0.12 to 0.17 kWh for one load of charcoal.
Does an E-HMD taste different from charcoal?
Yes, the typical charcoal note is missing. Some find the flavour clearer, others miss the intensity. You find the right temperature and fill quantity over a few sessions.
How much tobacco goes in a pod?
A pod of the XKah Pro holds 8 to 12 g, loosely filled. Around 10 g is usually enough; in a charcoal setup it is around 20 g.
Does an E-HMD have running costs?
Yes, electricity, replacement pods and possibly a second battery. Charcoal, foil and the electricity for the lighter are no longer needed.
Does an E-HMD fit my hookah?
The XKah Pro only replaces the bowl. Two silicone adapters in S and L fit narrow and wide stems. What matters is that the adapter sits tightly.
About the author
Julian
Hookah expert
For this article
What you need
From the same series
Read on
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.
Getting Started & Setup · 4 min
Does your hookah taste different every time? How to make your session repeatable
Same flavour, different taste? Eight values for your session sheet: tobacco amount, bowl, charcoal, water, cleaning. Change only one per session.