Best Bong Upgrades & Accessories

Everyone loves a bong for its massive water filtration, deep cooling chug, and hard hitting cloud production… but what if you want to take your dry herb enjoyment to the next level?

This is where Got Vape comes in to help, with our breakdown of the best bong accessories and upgrades you can pick up to modernize your glassware setup. While a quality water pipe is ready to rip straight out of the box, relying on basic downstems, plain glass bowls, and standard tap surfaces leaves a ton of flavor, smoothness, and convenience on the table.

Keep reading to discover the natural next steps in your water pipe journey. We’ll show you how to upgrade your piece with practical accessories and functional tools that the Got Vape Crew can personally attest bring real, tangible improvements to your smoke quality, draw resistance, and device longevity.

Whether you want to stop ash from dirtying your water with an ash catcher, upgrade to a showerhead percolated downstem, convert your piece into a dab rig with a quartz banger, or chill your hits with fresh ice cubes, this guide is your go-to roadmap to spending your budget on upgrades that actually make a difference.

If you’re looking for a brand new setup, check out our bong troubleshooting guide to learn how to fix common errors. Otherwise, read on to explore the best performance upgrades and must have gear to elevate every bowl you spark up!

Table of Contents:

Bong Accessories & Upgrades Quick Reference Guide
Why Should I Upgrade My Bong Setup?
1. Ash Catchers
2. Upgraded Percolated Downstems
3. Replacement Bowls, Slides & Built-In Screen Bowls
4. Quartz Bangers (Convert Your Bong into a Dab Rig)
5. Ice Cubes & Ice Pinches (Free)
6. Debowler Ashtrays & Silicone Tap Trays
7. Fast-Acting Cleaners, Res Caps & Silicone Plugs
8. Organic Hemp Wick & Angled Torch Lighters
9. Multi-Piece Grinders
Best Bong Accessories and Upgrades Of 2026
Upgrade and Elevate Your Bong Sessions

Bong Accessories & Upgrades Quick Reference Guide

Looking to get a cleaner, smoother hit from your water pipe without buying a whole new piece? Here is a fast breakdown of the top accessory categories, their primary functions, and how they enhance your daily setup:

Why Should I Upgrade My Bong Setup?

Bongs are absolutely iconic for one reason: they just work. With a simple set up that’s able to produce extraordinary results, the bong has become a staple with dry herb enthusiasts of all experience levels. Features like water filtration and a tight vacuum produce incredibly potent hits, resulting in the bong becoming one of the most celebrated pieces of glass of all time. 

Thanks to this love of the bong, many accessories and accessories have been created over the years that are able to augment the basic experience with even more filtration, potency, and smooth satisfaction. That’s why if you love your bong and want to take it up a notch, finding worthwhile accessories is a must. 

Basic open-bottom downstems create large, loud air bubbles that provide minimal water contact, leading to harsher hits. Burnt ash frequently pulls straight through the bowl, contaminating your clean water within just two or three hits. On top of that, pulling a hot glass slide with slick fingers can lead to dropped bowls and cracked joints.

Investing in purpose-built accessories transforms your piece into a high-performance smoking station. By adding an ash catcher, a percolated downstem, and clean ignition tools, you enhance filtration, keep your piece spotless for longer, and unlock the full potential of your favorite dry herbs.

1. Ash Catchers

Nothing ruins a good session faster than watching fresh, clean water turn dark amber after a single pull. Stop this waste in it’s tracks with the addition of an ash catcher, which is an auxiliary glass attachment that docks directly into your bong’s joint before the bowl, acting as a frontline filter for your entire setup.

This acts as a secondary screen and percolator, turbo smoothing your smoke before it even reaches your bong’s water basin. This makes for instantly noticeable improvements to your sessions, all by serving as a convenient middle-man for your smoking. 

There are two primary styles of ash catchers, each catering to different smoking preferences:

• Dry Ash Catchers: Engineered without internal percolators, dry catchers simply use gravity to catch falling embers in a small reservoir. They trap 90% of ash without adding water drag or throwing off your water pipe’s internal water levels.
• Percolated Ash Catchers: Equipped with internal showerhead, tree, or honeycomb percs, these attachments add an entire extra stage of water filtration. Smoke is diffused and pre-cooled before it even touches the main water pipe chamber.

Ash Catcher Advantages:

• Keeps your main water pipe chamber, percolators, and water crystal clear for multiple sessions.
• Dramatically reduces deep cleaning frequency for large, intricate glass bongs.
• Adds an extra layer of heat dissipation for smoother, cooler clouds.
• Available in 10mm, 14mm, and 18mm joint sizes with 45° and 90° joint angles to fit any rig.

Ash catchers are incredibly helpful upgrades that add a lot to your bong in seconds. However we do recommend being very careful with your ash catcher, as they can be rather delicate when attached to a bong and need to be treated with care to ensure nothing accidentally breaks. 

With the right care and cleaning, using an ash catcher is a smart and effective way to enjoy more from your existing bong. Get one and see the difference! 

2. Upgraded Percolated Downstems

Diving further into your bong, we have the downstem acting as a vital bridge between your bowl and your water chamber. Many factory water pipes ship with basic downstems that feature an open, un-diffused hole at the bottom. This pushes large, clunky bubbles through the water, resulting in a loud chug and limited smoke to water surface contact.

Swapping out your factory downstem for an upgraded percolated model completely redefines your draw resistance and cooling efficiency, all while the rest of your setup stays the exact same. 

Popular Downstem Styles:

• Showerhead Downstems: Feature a flared circular base with vertical slits that force smoke outward in a 360-degree radius, creating a silky, consistent pull.
• Multi-Slit Diffused Downstems: Utilize rows of precision diamond-cut slits along the sides and bottom, breaking smoke into thousands of micro-bubbles.
• Matrix & Tree Downstems: Miniature internal percolator arms that deliver maximum bubble stacking for larger straight-tube water pipes.

Percolated Downstem Advantages:

• Breaks smoke down into micro-bubbles, dramatically expanding the surface area cooled by water.
• Reduces inhale drag, giving your water pipe an effortless, smooth pull.
• Quiets the bubbling noise of your water pipe for a more discreet session.

Getting a new downstem can make a huge difference, especially if your starting from a stock setup or your current one has become irredeemably clogged with flew flowery gunk. No matter the reason, if you want smoother clouds then getting an upgraded downstem with percolators is a smart, Got Vape Crew approved decision. 

3. Replacement Bowls, Adapters & Built-In Screen Bowls

One of the fun things with bongs is that you can get various bowls that attach and change up your entire experience. These can range from bowls with built-in screens, special handles, and even party bowls perfect for packing up a couple of grams to burn down the house with some friends.  

All you have to do is make sure you have the proper dimensions for your bong and you can upgrade you setup with a near endless amount of different bowls. Having extra bowls also helps with cleaning, this way you can allow one to soak for several hours without having to wait all day. 

Bowl Upgrade Options:

• Built-In Glass Screen Bowls: Feature multi-hole glass daisy or honeycomb patterns fused directly into the bottom of the bowl. This stops flower pull-through permanently without needing disposable metal screens.
• Horned & Handle Slides: Incorporate thick borosilicate horn handles, roll stops, or silicone grips, letting you pull the slide to clear your bong without burning your fingertips on hot glass.
• High-Capacity Party Bowls vs. Snappers: Choose extra-deep bowls for packing massive group sessions, or narrow “snapper” bowls designed to clear single, fresh green hits in one pull.
• Bowl Adapter: Bowl adapters allow you to resize the joint on your bong. This is great for using different bowls and bangers, making them a useful tool in your collection. 

A new bowl is a great choice for your bong and actually has a huge difference on how your sessions smoke. Whether you’re going for something artistic or functional, bowls are a great accessory that’s perfect to have on hand to upgrade your sessions whenever the situation calls. 

4. Quartz Bangers (Convert Your Bong into a Dab Rig)

Why buy a separate concentrate rig when your favorite water pipe can do both? By simply swapping out your flower bowl for a banger, you instantly convert your water pipe into a high-powered dab station for all of the wax, shatter, and other various concentrate materials you can handle. 

Borosilicate water pipes handle concentrate vapor exceptionally well, and larger beaker bongs provide massive lung capacity for dense, milky concentrate rips. 

The main thing you have to watch out for is there being enough clearance space to fit onto your bong without being too close or touching. As bangers need to be heated with a torch, you must ensure that your water pipe is the correct size / shape in order to do so safely. Always double check and look for banger angels that work with your for the best results. 

Quartz Banger Advantages:

• Universal Compatibility: Available in 14mm and 18mm male joints in both 45-degree and 90-degree configurations to match any water pipe downstem.
• Pure Concentrate Flavor: Premium quartz holds heat evenly and delivers clean, terpene-rich vapor with zero metallic aftertaste.
• Massive Flexibility: Easily alternate between smoking top-shelf dry herb and dabbing concentrates in seconds on the exact same piece.

Having both a banger and a bowl that works with your bong is an awesome experience, really letting you swap between materials with complete seamless ease. Just be sure to double check it fits and you’ll be off to the races with all of the dabs / rips you and your friends can handle. 

5. Ice Cubes & Ice Pinches (Free)

Ready for our zero cost bong upgrade? We’ll get ready because the Got Vape Crew is here to spread the good word of adding ice cubes to your bong neck. This isn’t because we like our bong water to be cold when we drink it, but instead because ice cubes can radically cool the smoke from your bong and make for a far smoother experience. 

All of this is accomplished with good old fashioned free frozen water (freezer not included), so if you have an ice cube tray you’re ready to go! 

To make this easier, many bongs come with built-in ice catcher that allow for cubes to rest without falling into the basin. We recommend looking for one with an ice-catcher, this way you don’t have to rely on oversized cubes and can instead enjoy smooth rips with ease. 

Ice Cube Advantages:

• Zero Added Cost: Uses ice you already have in your freezer for an immediate, high-impact performance boost.
• Sub-Zero Temperature Drop: Condenses hot smoke into smooth, frosty clouds that are exceptionally gentle on the throat and lungs.
• Bigger Inhale Capacity: Cooler smoke allows you to take deeper, larger pulls without triggering an immediate cough reflex.

For a quick Got Vape Crew Pro Tip, remember to always check your water levels as the ice melts during long sessions so your downstem doesn’t get overfilled! This way you don’t get surprised with a mouthful of swampy bong water on accident and instead can enjoy ice cube smoothness to it’s fullest. 

6. Debowler Ashtrays & Silicone Tap Trays

Tapping a glass slide against hard glass, ceramic, or metal ashtrays to knock out spent ash is the number one cause of chipped bowl rims and shattered slide joints. One firm tap against a hard edge can end your favorite slide for good, leaving your bong completely useless as a result. 

This is where a silicone debowler ashtray comes in to make knocking out annoying ash easy, reliable, and safe. By featuring a raised cleaning spike molded directly into the center of a soft, heat-resistant silicone basin, they are able to make cleaning your bowl a million times easier. 

Debowler Ashtray Advantages:

• Safe Clearing: Invert your bowl over the center spike to scrape out stubborn, sticky ash in seconds.
• Shock Absorption: Soft silicone cushions the glass rim, making chips, cracks, and breaks impossible.
• Heat Resistance: Withstands burning cherries and hot embers without melting or scorching.
• Storage Organization: Many models include built-in slots to hold 14mm/18mm slides, lighters, and rolling tools upright.

While this doesn’t directly alter your smoke, it still has massive implications by keeping your bowl far cleaner and ensuring that your bowl can rip without clogs. Thus if you’re looking for a fun accessory that makes life with your bong easier, consider ashtrays with purpose debowlers. 

7. Fast-Acting Cleaners, Res Caps & Silicone Plugs

Over repeated sessions, smelly resin, dark ash, and stagnant water residue coat the inside of your bong. Trying to clean a large glass piece in the sink with dish soap just leaves sticky gunk stuck to your counters, creates a massive mess, and ends up leaving you right back at square one. 

This is where dedicated glassware cleaning tools make keeping your bong looking and tasting brand new a fast, efficient, and reliable. As a resultm can continue to get the most out of all of your bong pieces and accessories, maintaining your investment for better sessions down the line. 

Essential Water Pipe Cleaning Gear:

• Fast-Acting Liquid Cleaners (Formula 420): Salt-based instant formulas break down stubborn resin on contact without requiring overnight soaking. Pour, shake, and rinse for factory-fresh glass.
• 99% Isopropyl Alcohol & Coarse Salt: The classic DIY cleaning powerhouse. High-purity 99% ISO melts sticky lipids while coarse salt provides friction to scrub internal walls.
• Silicone Res Caps & Universal Plugs: Stretchy silicone caps that snap securely over your bong’s mouthpiece and joint. They seal your water pipe completely, letting you shake cleaning solution vigorously without spilling a single drop.

Purpose built products for cleaning your bong can really work wonders and will save you a massive amount of time. So if you’re enjoying your bong but want to give it a real clean, consider looking out for purpose built bong cleaners and supplies. 

8. Organic Hemp Wick & Angled Torch Lighters

Holding a standard disposable lighter upside down over a large bong bowl can burn your thumb and blasts your herbs with high-temperature butane, scorching fragile terpenes and masking the natural flavor of your flower.

Upgrading your ignition source to a hemp wick or improved lighter can give you complete control over your flame while preserving the authentic taste of your dry herb. These are here for the real aficionados, allowing you to experience the pinnacle of what your various dry herbs are actually able to deliver. 

Ignition Upgrade Advantages:

• Organic Hemp Wick: Natural hemp twine coated in pure beeswax burns at a much lower temperature than butane. It completely eliminates chemical gas fumes, delivering fresh, untainted terpene flavor.
• Cornering Control: The pinpoint flame of hemp wick allows you to ignite small sections of the bowl edge, keeping green, flavorful flower available across multiple hits.
• Angled Soft-Flame Lighters: Feature directional nozzles that angle flame downward into deep bowls without burning your fingers.

Getting an upgraded lighter or hemp wick is an inexpensive method of upgrading your overall bong enjoyment, having a big impact on your overall day-to-day session quality of life.  This makes for a great accessory to try out in your next session and see how much of an upgrade it delivers for your own smoking. 

9. Multi-Piece Grinders

Tearing buds apart by hand leaves dense, uneven chunks that burn inconsistently in a water pipe bowl. Uneven packs restrict airflow, cause canoeing, and often lead to unburnt chunks falling through into your downstem.

Running your flower through a 4-piece metal grinder yields an even, medium fluffy consistency that burns smoothly from edge to center. While they cost more than your hands (free), they end up saving you in the long time with less waster, better burns, and improved bong power. 

Grinder Advantages:

• Consistent Airflow: Uniform shredding allows oxygen to flow evenly through the bowl, maintaining a steady, self-sustaining cherry.
• Prevents Clogs: Stops large, sticky chunks from jamming your downstem diffusion slits.
• Kief Collection: 4-piece grinders sift potent trichome crystals through a fine stainless steel mesh screen into a lower catch basin, perfect for topping off bowls.

Investing in a quality is one of the smartest, most rewarding decisions you can make for your bong and a surefire way to get your current setup hitting even better. Do your dry herbs justice and make this year the one you step things up with a quality grinder for your sessions. 

Best Bong Accessories and Upgrades Of 2026

Ready to customize your water pipe? Here are five top-rated accessories and upgrades vetted by the Got Vape Crew to elevate your clouds, flavor, and session convenience this year:

• Wulf Mods Wipes Alcohol Cleaning Wipe 100pk
• Wulf 4pc 65mm Bevel Grinder 
• 14mm to 10mm Ground Glass Joint Adapter
• Wulf Cache Ashtray
• Wulf Cycle Banger

Check back regularly as the Got Vape Crew continues to test and review the newest glassware attachments, percolators, and cleaning innovations to keep your station hitting at its absolute peak!

Upgrade and Elevate Your Bong Sessions

Your glass water pipe is built to deliver smooth, heavy-hitting sessions, but adding a few targeted accessories completely elevates what it can do. Dropping an ash catcher onto your joint keeps your water sparkling clean, upgrading to a percolated downstem delivers an effortless chug, and tossing a few fresh ice cubes into the neck turns warm smoke into frosty, silky clouds.

Treat your glass with care, keep your downstem clean with regular maintenance, and enjoy cool, dense, flavorful hits every time you spark up.

Have any more questions about downstem sizing, joint angles, or pairing quartz bangers? The Got Vape Resource Center is always open with expert gear guides, device breakdowns, and session tips written by true glassware veterans. Until next time, stay cloudy out there!