Bong Downstems

What Is a Bong Downstem?

The downstem is the glass tube that runs from your bowl down into the water. Smoke travels through it and comes out under the water, which is where the filtration happens. It’s a small part, but the right downstem has a big effect on how smooth your hits feel.

Downstems are also one of the easiest parts of a bong to break or lose. That’s why most of our customers are looking for a replacement bong stem that fits the piece they already own.

Does Your Bong Need a Downstem?

If your bong has a removable downstem, you need one to use it, since without it the smoke never reaches the water. Some bongs have a fixed downstem that’s fused into the glass, so you only ever replace the bowl. Stemless bongs skip the downstem altogether and pull smoke straight into the chamber. If you’re not sure which one you have, look inside the joint. A removable stem will pull straight out.

Bong Downstem Sizes

To get the right downstem, you need two things to match: the joint size and the length.

Joint Size

Downstems are often listed with two numbers, like 18mm to 14mm. The first number is the joint on your bong, and the second is the size of bowl it takes. Most bongs use an 18mm joint (also called 19mm) with a 14mm bowl. Smaller pieces may run 14mm to 10mm or 14mm to 14mm. If your bowl doesn’t match your new downstem, a bong adapter can fix it.

Downstem Length

Length is where most people go wrong. If it’s too short, the tip won’t sit under the water. Too long and it hits the bottom of your bong. The easiest way to measure is to use your old downstem: measure from the bottom of the frosted joint to the tip. If you don’t have one, measure from the joint down to about a centimetre above the base of your bong.

Our downstems run from around 90mm to 180mm, so there’s a fit for almost any bong, from mini beakers to tall straight tubes.

Types of Bong Downstems

Diffused Downstems

A diffused downstem has slits or holes at the tip that break the smoke into lots of small bubbles. More bubbles means more contact with the water, so you get a smoother, cooler hit with less splash. If you’re not sure what to pick, a bong diffuser stem is a solid upgrade over a plain open-ended one.

Straight Downstems

A straight downstem has an open end with no slits. You get bigger bubbles, a lighter pull and a louder rip. Some people prefer it for exactly that reason, and it’s easier to clean.

Flush Mount Downstems

A flush mount downstem sits flush inside your bong’s joint instead of sticking out past it. It looks cleaner, and there’s less to knock when you’re passing the bong around. Red Eye Glass, Red Eye Tek and Cheech & Chong all make flush mount diffusers.

Metal Downstems

A metal downstem is basically unbreakable. The Ace-Labz Titan-Stem 3.0 also adjusts in length, so one stem fits a lot of different bongs.

Downstem Brands We Carry

Gear Premium has the widest range of lengths, so it’s the easiest place to find an exact fit. Red Eye Glass and Red Eye Tek make flush mount diffusers, and Tek also makes downstems in its Terminator finish. Castle Glass Works makes 5.75 inch downstems in 9 hole, 8 slit and straight styles. We also carry official Cheech & Chong downstems, plus stems from iRie, Jane West and LIT.

How Much Is a Downstem for a Bong?

Most of our glass downstems cost between $10 and $20. Basic acrylic stems are only a couple of dollars, and premium metal stems cost more. Considering how much smoother a good diffuser makes every hit, a downstem is one of the cheapest upgrades you can make.

How to Remove a Stuck Downstem

Resin acts like glue, so downstems get stuck. Don’t force it, because that’s how joints crack. Soak the bong in hot water or pour isopropyl alcohol around the joint, give it some time, and twist the stem gently as you pull. Cleaning your downstem regularly keeps it from sticking in the first place.

How to Clean a Downstem

Pull the downstem out and drop it in a container or zip bag with isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt. Shake it well and rinse it with warm water, then use a pipe cleaner to clear out the slits. If you don’t have alcohol, hot water and a bit of dish soap work too, they just take longer. A bong cleaner makes the whole job faster.

Finish Your Setup

Grab a new bong bowl to go with your downstem, add an ash catcher to keep your water cleaner, or browse the rest of our bong parts. Not sure what size you need? Send us a message with your bong’s joint size and the length of your old stem, and we’ll match you up. Every order ships discreetly from our Vancouver warehouse.