Maybe you fashioned one out of an old Coke can in college or maybe you had one passed to you at a party, but chances are you’ve interacted with a pipe at some point in your life. These handy little tools are incredibly useful for smoking weed because of their simplicity and portability. Knowing how to correctly use a pipe also happens to be the most basic skill you want to have in your smoker toolkit.

Before You Begin

Find a pipe that suits your needs and personality. How often are you planning on using it? Is this pipe going to live on your porch, bookcase, or coffee table? How much are you looking to spend? The more decorative the pipe, the more cash you can expect to throw down. The size will also determine how many hits you can get without having to repack the bowl. If this is your first time purchasing and using a pipe, I’d recommend starting with a small, basic glass hand pipe from your local headshop. It’ll be easy to use and shouldn’t set you back more than $20.

To get started, you’ll also want to acquire a lighter, a basic grinder, and a nug or two of high-quality flower.

Step 1: Grind

Break up a nug of dried flower, place it in your grinder, and twist a few times or until it resembles the texture of loose leaf tea. Achieving this consistency will allow air to easily pass through the plant matter and expose a great surface area to the flame. If you don’t have a grinder handy, place your bud in a shot glass and cut it up with scissors until you reach the right consistency.