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
Wookah vase, hose and mouthpiece: what suits your body
The body sets the style, and the vase carries it on. With Wookah you choose between cut crystal glass, heavy crystal and smooth glass, plus the leather hose and wooden mouthpiece. Here I explain the differences and how to combine vase, body and mouthpiece so they work together.
In this article8 chapters
The Wookah vase families
| Family | Material | Look |
|---|---|---|
| Mastercut, for example Check | Lead-free crystal glass, hand-blown and cut | Cut patterns refract the light |
| Heavy Crystal, for example Venti | Crystal, around 3.2 to 3.5 kg depending on the model | Shimmers in rainbow colours in the light |
| Smooth, for example Smooth Clear | Glass with no cut at all, clear, matt or tinted | Calm, lets the body take the stage |
All large vases are around 28 cm high and sit on the body via the Quick Lock System. For the Mini there are separate, smaller vases such as the Mini Vase Smooth Clear. The wooden vase of the Classic is presented in the article Mini, Standard or Classic.
Check
Vertical grooves on the neck, a diamond lattice on the belly. To the Check vase
Comet
Stars with tails, large at the top and smaller towards the bottom. To the Comet vase
Terra
Horizontal cut rings like layers of earth. To the Terra vase
Flames Clear
Curved cuts rise like flames. To the Flames vase
Apis
Hexagonal honeycombs that refract the light from every angle. To the Apis vase
Striped Black
Black coating, with cut stripes that let light through. To the Striped vase
Heavy Crystal: weight that stays put
Heavy Crystal is real crystal and clearly heavier than Mastercut. The weight gives the Wookah a low centre of gravity, so it stands steady on the table. When light falls into it, the glass shimmers in rainbow colours, for example on the Heavy Crystal Tornado with its spiral cuts.
Smooth: calm and clear
The Smooth vases have no cut. The Smooth Clear gives a view of the water and dip tube, the Misty Smooth is sandblasted and scatters the light softly, and the Smoky Smooth runs from grey to black. If you want to show off a painted or grained body, Smooth is a good choice.
Combining vase and body
A simple rule of thumb: lots of pattern on top, little pattern below. A smooth vase suits Grom, Abstract or Tenebris. Calm woods such as oak or Nox can take a bold cut. Contrasts also work through colour, for example a black Nox on clear glass. The article Wookah wood types shows which body has which character. You can find all vases in the Wookah vases.
Leather hose and wooden mouthpiece
The Wookah leather hose is 150 cm long and comes without a connector, which is supplied with the body. It is available in black and brown. The wooden mouthpiece is around 28 cm long, fits both Wookah generations and is not taken apart. How to clean leather and wood is explained in the Wookah care guide.
Wooden mouthpieces to match the body
The mouthpiece picks up the wood type of the body or sets a contrast.
Pictured: Oak, Walnut, White Nox and Mauve. You can find all models in the Wookah wooden mouthpieces, and the basics on hose and mouthpiece in the article Hookah hose and mouthpiece.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Mastercut vase made of crystal?
It is made of lead-free crystal glass, hand-blown and cut. The Heavy Crystal series is real crystal and is clearly heavier.
Does a current vase fit my older Wookah with a thread?
No. Vases with the Quick Lock System do not fit bodies of the earlier series with a thread, and vice versa. How to tell the generation is on the Wookah brand page.
Do I need a separate vase for the Wookah Mini?
Yes. The Mini vases are smaller, and the Mini Vase Smooth Clear is around 19 cm high and meant only for Mini bodies.
Does the wooden mouthpiece fit both Wookah generations?
Yes. Mouthpieces are among the parts that fit Wookahs with the Quick Lock System and the earlier series with a thread.
Can a crystal vase go in the dishwasher?
No. Rinse it by hand with room-temperature water and avoid rapid temperature changes. The full instructions are in the Wookah care guide.
About the author
Julian
Hookah expert
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