Design is the choice hookah smokers struggle with most. Each style has its own packing and smoking dynamics.
Phunnel bowl
A Phunnel bowl has a single hole at the bottom of the tobacco well, on a spire that rises about 10 mm from the centre.
High airflow: Packing the tobacco does not cover the central hole, so the draw stays easy and airy.
Clean stem and base: No tobacco falls from the bowl into the downstem or diffuser during the session, so nothing clogs. And because the tobacco juice does not drain into the stem and base, your hookah stays clean.
Longer-lasting, more intense flavour: The juice that stays in the bowl keeps the tobacco from drying out, so the flavour is more intense and the session lasts longer.
Smooth draw: With foil or a heat management device (HMD), the smoke starts with the top layer burning. Since there is no tobacco directly over the central hole, more air is pulled in with the smoke and the draw is smoother.
Killer bowl
A Killer bowl (the classic multi-hole bowl) has between 4 and 7 holes at the bottom of the tobacco well.
Fluff pack: Pack the tobacco loosely, almost as if you were sprinkling salt, so that it sits 2–3 mm below the rim of the bowl. Looking down into it, you should see only tobacco, not the holes.
Airflow management: Keeping the holes clear is key to an easy draw, so a bowl screen is recommended with these bowls.
Thick, harsh smoke: The air passes straight through the tobacco and the holes beneath it. The smoke is much thicker and more satisfying, and feels relatively harsh and full-bodied.