Best Ash Catchers for Optimal PH Balance (2023)
Best Ash Catchers for Optimal PH Balance (2023)
(We Tested 10 Industry Leading Ash Catchers to find the Best)
Ready to level up your bong game? An ash catcher prevents ash, keeps your bong crystal clear, and adds extra filtration – yes please.
Fun fact, an ashcatcher actually helps maintain the perfect PH level in your bong.
Nobody cares about PH, right?
Well did you know the optimal PH levels gives you the smoothest toke possible, prevents dry mouth, and harmful bacteria and disease growth in your bong water?
If you love keeping a clean bong while getting the smoothest tokes possible, then you will fall in love with using an glass ash catcher. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of an ash catcher and what negative health impacts arises from the absence of a having an ash catcher bong.
How an Ash Catcher Prevents Bacteria, Dry Mouth, and Harsh Hits
Double Showerhead
Best Overall
Ash Catcher
- Portable
- Quality Glass
- Water Cooling/Filter
- Ultra Smooth Smoke
Smoothest Smoke
Best Premium
AshCatcher
- Water Cooling/Filter
- Fixed Disc Downstem
- Amazing Smoke Quality
- Filter Tar and Resins
Honeycomb Perc
Best Value
Ash Catcher Bong
- Best Price
- Easy To Use
- Travel Friendly
- Smooth Hitting Smoke
Owning an Ash Catcher is like Owning A Self Cleaning System
Here at Cannassentials, we test cannabis products only from trusted online headshops. How did we test to find these top 3 best ash catchers?
- We Reviewed over 30 Industry Leading ashcatchers
- We Bought 10 of the best ash catchers.
- We Tested the 10 glass ash catchers to find out which ones were the best
- We Contacted previous customers to see how well their bong held up.
We tested and reviewed 30 different glass ash catcher brands from from tree perc, showerhead, honeycomb, to non diffusing ash catchers out there on the cannabis market. they were measured in how well they optimally filtered out debris, residue, and ash while functioning as a quality percolator for added smoothness to your hit.
If you are new to ash catchers or ash catchers for bongs, we highly recommend you skip below to learn: what is an ash catcher? If this is your first time smoking weed make sure to check out our full proof beginners guide.
Constant Variables: All of our testing was done with the same variables by using Ice Cream Cake strain 28% THC, .89% CBD grown through our own adventures testing for the best grow tents.
Finding the best ash catcher for all your smoking needs boiled down to personal preference. To keep things simple, we only tested glass ash catchers since they are more commonly used than other materials.
Best Ash Catcher of 2023
In order for an ash catcher to function optimally, it needs to be able to serve its main purpose, filtering out debris and residue such as ash and smal weed particles that make its way into the bong. Take a look at the results for best ash catchers of 2023 and be sure to check out our research behind the testing so you can find out and see for yourself which ash catchers are the perfect match for you and your bong piece. If you have another recommendation please feel free to contact us so we can test.
Best All Around Ash Catcher for Daily Use
This type of glass ash catcher is the perfect for all around daily use since they allow for a low drag yet also functions as a high diffusion percolator to give you the most subpar smoking experience. Not to mention the design itself makes it so that your bong ash catcher can stand upright without tipping or falling over, which reduces any spills or leaks from occurring.
Skip below to see our research on Best All Around Ash Catcher.
- High Quality Glass (Heat Resistant/Durable)
- Low Drag
- High Diffusion Percolator
- Proper Design (Stand Upright to Avoid Spillage)
- Customers We Contacted Loved This Product
Best Diffusing Ashcatcher With Smoothest Hits
This simple and classic ash catcher design is the most commonly preferred 18mm bong ash catcher on the market. Not only are you getting the best bang for your buck, but the quality and efficiency is unbeatable for the price. This bong ash catcher produced the smoothest hits with zero leakage.
- High Quality Glass (Heat Resistant/Durable)
- Leveled Joint
- Premium Borosilicate Glass
- Removable Downstem (maximum bubbles for cooling)
- Customers We Contacted Loved This Product
Best Valued Ash Catcher With Optimal Filtration
This 14mm no drag ash catcher is truly one of a kind. With its remarkable honeycomb design made for optimal percolation and filtration, there is no doubt you will have the most exceptional smoke quality. The high price tag is easily justified by how efficient this glass bong ash catcher is, especially when it comes down to performance.
- High Quality Glass (Heat Resistant/Durable)
- 90 Degree Joint Angle
- Extra Bubbles With Built In Honeycomb Perc
- Smooth Smoke Inhale
- Customers We Contacted Loved This Product
An Ashcatcher Prevents High PH Levels in Bong Water
Many smokers have seen the result of a water-pipe without the use of an ashcatcher: residue, dirty glass, and frequent cleaning.
But what happens to your bong-water if you let ash and residue build up?
- Learn why ash in a bong leaves your PH water levels soaring.
- Learn why high PH levels can cause harsh hits, nasty after tastes, and the dreaded cotton mouth
- Even worst, if your PH levels are not balanced in your bong water it allows for some pretty harmful bacterial growth
We’re here to break down the importance of having an ash catcher and just how it gives you the cleanest cannabis smoking experience.
The Benefits of the Perfect PH Levels in Your Bong
Healthy, neutral PH levels in water land at 7 and tap water will generally be around 7-7.5 – which is where you’ll want to keep your water levels at in your bong.
The easiest way to achieve optimal PH levels is by using an ash catcher bong.
A PH of 7 is also the ideal number for an optimal smoking experience (less harshness and smoother hits).
Cannibuns, a member of the Grasscity forum tested every stage of PH levels and found that anything above an 8 caused “horrible cotton-mouth” and also left a bad taste. When PH levels got too low the hits were just too harsh.
Every hit you take, you are chemically changing the PH water levels, through ash, tar, resin, and debris.
A bong ash catcher prevents all of the above, helping to keep your bong at optimal PH levels.
An AshCatcher Prevents Microbial Bacteria Growth
When it comes to the water in your bong anything above a PH of 7, immediately allows the chances of harmful toxins to grow.
There is a long list of serious and harmful bacteria types that will grow inside your bong in as little as 22-24 hours!
Leaving ash inside your water, can increase your PH levels to as much as 9 to 11!
Imagine what those numbers increase to after just a couple days of smoking and not cleaning your water.
This is why we highly recommend an ash catcher for every smoke session, so that you can reap the best quality of smoke without inhaling any harmful toxins in the process.
6 Reasons A Glass Ash Catcher is the Smartest Way To Smoke Cannabis
Ash catchers bongs, is literally one of the smartest and healthiest ways to smoke cannabis in an under-regulated industry.
See our 6 reasons why an ash collector bong is a smart investment:
- By using ash catchers bongs, you will eliminate all that build up, residue, and debris from entering your bong.
- A water pipe ash catcher keeps your bong cystal clear.
- The bong ash catcher perc helps add an extra layer of filtration and cooling.
- The best ash catcher will keep PH levels at an optimal 7, which helps gives you the smoothest hit possible.
- An ash catcher bong prevents cotton mouth and harsh after tastes.
- A bong ash catcher keeps PH levels neutral to prevent harmful bacteria growth.
The truth is anyone smoking from a water-pipe should invest in a bong with ash catcher. Our experts tested to find the best ash catchers of 2023, click to see the top 3 recommendations that help keep our PH at optimal levels.
Best Double Percolator Ash Catcher
Testing glass ash catchers were certainly exciting for us, as we were able to narrow down only the best ones that fit our standards of what qualifies as a quality ash catcher. In order for us to get the most thorough results, we tested each style and design for functionality and durability as well as an in depth study of how debris and ash was able to be filtered out and how they affect smoking experience.
After testing so many different ash catchers, this showerhead perc ash catcher took the cake for best daily use, due to its simple yet functional design. Quality is amazing for the price you pay, and you can be rest assured all your unwanted ash will steer clear out of your bong or water pipe.
An Ash Catcher That Maintains Proper Water Levels
"I've had a few ash catchers that literally would pull water from one side of the chamber to the next after every pull, even if it wasn't a hard one. It always annoyed me because I would end up having to dump water out of my bong after every few uses, but thats why I loved this ash catcher! It makes my bong look more stylish and I never have to worry about water making its way into my glass piece."
Water levels must be controlled and maintained at an ideal place or else you will have water leaking into the water chamber of your glass pipe or bong. Because of this unique showerhead design, water levels will ever reach pass the opening point where most leaks occur from pulling too hard. If you keep balanced water levels, you won’t ever have to worry about water overflowing. This percolator works wonderfully by maintaining water levels above the slits and holes where filtration takes place and since the percolator is designed to be at the base, it forces a higher percentage level for diffusion and water filtration to occur inside the ash catcher so that your tokes will hit smoothly and evenly.
A Glass Ash Catcher Must Have Optimal Filtration and Diffusion
A showerhead perc ash catcher makes it easy for water and smoke filtration to take place simply due to the location of where the percolator sits. Water is then able to filtrate at an optimal level so you don’t lose any of your vapors or smoke upon inhaling. Diffusion will be evenly balanced so you can have the smoothest tokes every sesh.
An Ash Catcher That Produces Smooth Hits
"The pulls and hits I get from this ash catcher is amazinggg! Not only are my hits strong and smooth but its also super easy to inhale. For someone who coughs alot, this definitely helped me tone it down a notch. Happy with the overall product and happy with price!
Nobody wants an extension or add on that requires you to pull twice as hard in order to get a good smoke. The amount of drag in an ash catcher it critical for your overall smoking experience. This makes it exceptionally easier on both you and your lungs. This showerhead perc does the job by delivering little to almost no drag upon inhalation, so you won’t be out of breath just to get a good pulling smoke.
Smoothest Hitting Glass Ash Catcher
Finding the best ashcatcher was quite an adventure. It was a tough call to make as we only bought the industries best ashcatchers to test against one another. Grav Labs is notorious for extremely well made glass, so it was not a surprise they took one of the top spots in our research. Take a look at some of the notable mentions in our research.
A Premium Ash Catcher Must Have Zero Drag
If you’re spending the extra loot on a premium quality bong ash catcher, there should be no reason why you are experiencing any drag time on your inhale. The point of a percolated ash catcher is to not only reduce harshness of smoke, but to also allow you to smoke without pulling too heavy. Heavy or strong pulls are one of the main reasons spilling or leakage occurs in an ash catcher.
An Ash Catcher Should Be Leveled With Your Glass Piece
"My brother actually had his beaker bong broken from not removing his ash catcher after using it. He placed it on the table after hitting and bam, there goes his bong on the floor. As nice as it looked, the ash catcher was wayy to heavy and big for his bong. I purchased this piece for him and he is in LOVE with it! It is now his favorite ash catcher and he has yet to have another accident."
You can find beautifully designed glass ash catchers out there on the market, but if your ash catcher is too big in shape or style, it can effect the balance of your water pipe. An efficient and ideal bong ash catcher is one that is medium in size and sits evenly next to your bong. This allows for everything to run smoothly without anything tipping over or to the side.
An Ash Catcher Must Be Spill Proof
"I loved this ash catcher for the simple fact that no matter how or where I place it, water doesn't come pouring out. I also find that it helps keep my bong more balanced and stable as to some of the previous ones ive had where it literally made my bong lean to one side if I didn't hold it in place."
You don’t want an ash catcher that is constantly leaking into your bongs water chamber. Overflowing isn’t common if you are using a high quality ash catcher, but it does happen, and when it does, you’ll only be wasting your time dumping out water and resetting everything back up. We made sure to test for leaks and spills with this ashcatcher. The tall design itself makes it difficult for water to accidentally travel into the water pipe chamber so you can smoke comfortably, without water levels rising too high.
Best Recycler 14mm Ash Catcher
Quality ash catchers can range from a number of varying prices, starting at $20 and reaching anywhere from $50-$100+. This makes it difficult to narrow down and pick the best ones for the best prices without losing or sacrificing quality and value. That’s why this non diffusing 14mm ash catcher won our choice of best glass ash catcher on a budget. It doesn’t lack in quality and you don’t have to break the bank to get your hand on one. Keep reading below to see the factors we tested to come to this conclusion.
How Versatile The Ash Catcher Joint Size Is
"This ash catcher was probably one of the best ones I've had in terms of how smooth and easy it was to use. Hits were easy on my throat and I was still able to produce huge amounts of smoke!"
Ash catchers can come in a number of different joint sizes depending on your specific bong piece. That’s why we made sure to pick an ash catcher that fit the most commonly used joint sizes and matched the majority of water pipes. With a 18mm joint size ash catcher or 14mm ash catcher bowl (depending on your choice), you can count on it sitting perfectly on top of the opening of your glass piece.
The Best Ash Catcher Must Be an Ideal Weight and Size
"Really diggin this piece for just how well its design was and how nicely balanced it sits on my bong. Not once did my bong tip over or come close to falling. It also adds a great touch to the overall look of my glass while givin me some of the best hits ever.
There are fancy and fun looking designs and style ash catchers, that it can be tempting and appealing to buy. However, what most don’t realize is, size matters! It’s one thing if you own a large sized bong where you won’t have to worry too much about an even weight distribution, but most users have a standard or medium sized water pipe. This means you have to be very mindful when adding an extension such as an ash catcher. The weight has to match the size ration of your piece, whichever size that may be. If it’s too big, you are more prone to your bong tipping or falling over, and if it’s too small, well, the ash catcher most likely won’t give you the fullest benefit or filtration and upholding its main purpose.
A High Quality Ashcatcher Must Maintain Optimal Water Pressure
When water pressure is too high, it effects the efficiency of the filtration and percolation. This boils down to the type of percolator you are using and how it is designed and where it is located. Percolators that sit at the bottom tend to work best, solely because it’s set at the furthest possible location from the opening where water spills out. Low water pressure allows for both smoke and water to filtered much faster without too much force being used. In turn, your hits are smoother, cleaner, and yes, even tastier. This design allows for water levels to stay balanced and stabilized.
What Is An Ash Catcher?
An ash catcher is exactly what the name implies, it catches burnt ash. Ever notice your bong slowly building up in floating residue or unwanted weed particles? Yeah, it isn’t fun. That’s why we highly recommend using one if you want to enhance your smoking experience. But that’s not all, an ash catcher generally comes equipped with a percolator, which acts as a filtering system which delivers smooth and clean hits that are easy on your lungs. By using a bong ash catcher, you can double the value of both a clean bong, and cool, smooth, tasty hitting smoke.
How To Use An Ash Catcher Like a Pro
An ash catcher is extremely easy to use and apply onto your bong or water pipe. No matter the design or style, they are all interchangeable and removable which makes it effortless to add on or equip onto your lovely glass piece.
- Remove your bowl piece from your bong.
- A glass ash catcher has two openings, one to connect onto the bong, and the other to connect to your bowl that was removed from your bong. Switch it out to the ash catcher.
- Place bowl piece on the opening end of the ash catcher. Use bong or water pipe as normal.
Types of Ash Catchers
There are mass amounts of glass and bong ash catchers circulating online headshops these days, and it can make it confusing for those who don’t know what they’re looking for. As far as some are concerned, there was only one style ash catcher which is the standard non diffusing ash catcher. When in fact, there are a number of different materials and intricate style designs out there. Let’s take this time to go through and understand the different functions each one has to offer.
Honeycomb Ash Catcher
A honeycomb ash catcher is one that contains a honeycomb shaped like disc that contains numerous holes where bubbles can easily form and stack on top of each other. It is worth noting that one should be cautious when picking a honeycomb ash catcher, as they tend to be too efficient when stacking bubbles, which are great for bongs and rigs, but can be terrible for ash catchers since it can cause water to rise and increase your chances of leakage.With that said, there are great ones out there if you do your research and shop smart.
Silicone Ash Catcher
A silicone ash catcher is typically made with the combination of glass, though you can find full silicone ones on the cannabis market. Silicone makes it easier to clean and build up is less likely to occur as compared to a full glass ash catcher. Because of the material, silicone also tends to reduce the amount of smell that occurs inside the ash catcher.
Tree Perc Ash Catcher
A tree pec ash catcher is great for durability and proper filtration. Smoke is carried into what is called the arms of the percolator where filtration happens. If you aren’t careful in your research, there are cheap and poorly made tree perc ash catchers that are not fixed at the bottom or base, which makes it extremely fragile and prone to breaking and shattering.
Showerhead Ash Catcher
A showerhead ash catcher is amazing for holding water levels above the slits and holes where percolation and filtration takes place. Because of where the showerhead perc sits, water is less likely to ever overflow into your bong chamber. They can be a great option for those looking to amp up there smoking game without risking any water leakage from happening.
Non Diffusing Ash Catcher
A non diffusing ash catcher is the more standard or commonly known type of glass ash catcher. They are basic and simple in design, but still offer exceptional quality in terms of filtering out burnt ash and unwanted particles from entering your glass piece. All ash and residue is contained in the ash catcher bowl, allowing you to maintain a clean bong.
What Makes a High Quality Ash Catcher?
An ash catcher is considered high quality if it lives up to its sole purpose, which is filtering and keeping out unwanted particles and debris such as ash and small buds that creep its way into your glass piece. Aside from a proper filtration, a quality ash catcher should come equipped with an added percolation feature so that you get the most out of your dry herbs every time, without any harshness on your lungs. A glass ash catcher should also be durable and reliable in terms of glass quality and material.
Smoke Quality Should Be Smooth and Clean
The point of using a percolated ash catcher is so that the harshness of smoke is reduced, therefore providing you with smooth hits. Hot smoke can and will cause lung irritation which will lead to a bad smoking experience. In a high quality ash catcher, these factors should never be an issue.
Filtration and Percolation for Enhanced Cooling and Flavor Profile
If smoke is properly filtered and percolated, you should expect nothing less of a quality flavor profile from your dry herbs. A good percolation design is worth spending on if you want to make the most out of your smoke sessions. Not only will your smoke be cooled down tremendously, but you will also be able to enjoy your dry flowers at its highest potential, without losing the taste from those delicious terpenes.
An Ash collector Bong Should Be Made of Thick Borosilicate Glass
Glass quality is a huge determining factor when looking for a high quality ash catcher. Poor quality glass is very prone to breaking or shattering which is a big no no when buying. Anything under 3mm thickness in borosilicate glass should be avoided, for you’ll only be wasting more time and money.
Proper Design For Balance and Stability
Another important factor in a high quality ashcatcher is looking at how well it was designed. Often times, it comes down to choosing the correct size to match your glass piece or water pipe. If you choose the incorrect size or one that is too big for your bong, it will make it prone to tipping over or falling and breaking. There are many different sizes and ash.catcher styles out there so making sure you have one that is tailored to what you already have is recommended.
Why Trust Our Research on Finding the Best Ash Catcher
Ash catchers are lovely extensions to add to your smoking collection, and that’s why we wanted to take and dedicate the time to research the best bong ash catchers out there, so you don’t have to. After extensive testing of over a dozen glass ash catchers, we were able to find and pick the ones we thought were worthy of sharing. You can be rest assured you will be getting the best ash catcher on the market without losing any value or quality. It has been a pleasure for us here at Cannassentials to be able to deliver and provide our users with the upmost highest grade ash catcher extensions.
