Das Boot Bong
Water pipes & bongs
by Hemper
Das Boot Bong — The Beer Boot Bong That Actually Rips
The Das Boot Bong is a borosilicate glass bong shaped like a classic German beer boot, made by Hemper in two sizes: 6 inches and 10 inches. It's one of those pieces that gets a laugh when you pull it out, then earns genuine respect once people take their first hit. The diffused downstem breaks smoke into fine bubbles, cooling it down before it reaches your lungs — so you're getting smooth, flavour-packed draws from something that looks like it belongs at Oktoberfest.
Which Size Should You Pick?
| Variant | Height | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 6" Das Boot (HS2372) | 15 cm / 6 inches | Tabletop sessions, travel, shelf display — easy to stash and quick to clean |
| 10" Das Boot (HS2372) | 25 cm / 10 inches | Bigger chamber, more smoke volume, smoother cooling — the one we'd reach for at home |
The 6-inch version is genuinely pocketable (well, jacket-pocket-able) and works brilliantly as a novelty gift or a piece you keep on the coffee table. The 10-inch gives you noticeably cooler smoke because there's simply more space between the water and your mouth. If you're only buying one, go 10 inch — you'll feel the difference on the exhale.
Specifications — Das Boot Bong by Hemper
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Hemper |
| Material | Borosilicate glass, 5mm thick |
| Available sizes | 6 inches (HS2372) / 10 inches (HS2373) |
| Percolation | Diffused downstem |
| Design | German beer boot (Das Boot) shape |
| Joint size | 14mm female |
| Included | Bong, downstem, 14mm bowl |
Complete your setup: a set of pipe screens keeps ash out of the downstem and saves you cleaning time. If you want to keep the glass sparkling, grab a bottle of bong cleaner — a 5-minute soak beats 20 minutes of scrubbing with salt and alcohol every time. And if the 14mm bowl that ships with the Das Boot isn't quite your style, we carry replacement glass bowls in various shapes.
Why the Das Boot Bong Deserves a Spot on Your Shelf
We've sold a lot of novelty bongs over the years. Most of them look great on Instagram and then sit in a cupboard because they're awkward to use, impossible to clean, or fragile enough that one bump on the kitchen counter ends the party. The Das Boot is the exception. Hemper built it from 5mm-thick borosilicate glass — the same lab-grade material used in scientific beakers — which means it handles thermal shock and the occasional knock far better than cheap soda-lime glass pieces.
The diffused downstem is the real workhorse here. Those small slits at the bottom of the stem split your smoke into dozens of tiny bubbles, massively increasing the surface area that contacts the water. More contact means more cooling, and more cooling means less throat irritation. According to research on waterpipe filtration, water filtration can reduce the temperature and particulate content of smoke before inhalation (El Hourani et al., PMC11424890). You'll notice it immediately: the hit from the Das Boot is noticeably smoother than a straight-tube bong of the same size without diffusion.
The honest limitation? The boot shape makes it slightly trickier to clean than a straight tube. The toe of the boot collects resin, and you can't just run a brush straight through. You'll want to use a liquid glass cleaner and give it a good shake — the boot shape actually works in your favour here, since the curved chamber creates a natural swirling action when you agitate the cleaning solution. Just don't leave it weeks between cleans. Resin builds up fast in that toe.
Compared to Hemper's standard straight-tube pieces, the Das Boot trades a bit of cleaning convenience for a lot of personality. Compared to silicone novelty bongs, you're getting proper glass flavour — no rubbery aftertaste, no lingering smell in the material. Glass is glass. It tastes like nothing, which means your herb tastes like everything.
How to Use the Das Boot Bong
- Fill the boot through the top opening with enough water to submerge the slits on the diffused downstem — roughly 2-3 cm above the bottom of the stem. Too much water and you'll get splashback; too little and you lose the filtration benefit.
- Insert the downstem into the joint at a slight angle, then seat it firmly. The 14mm female joint should hold the downstem snugly without wobbling.
- Pack the included 14mm bowl with your ground herb. Don't pack it too tight — air needs to flow through. A medium grind works best; too fine and it pulls through into the water.
- Place your mouth over the top opening of the boot. The shape naturally guides your lips into position — it's more comfortable than it looks.
- Light the bowl while inhaling gently. You'll see the chamber fill with milky smoke as the diffused downstem does its work, breaking the smoke into fine bubbles.
- Once the chamber is full, lift the bowl from the downstem to clear the hit. The boot's curved shape channels the smoke upward smoothly.
- Exhale, appreciate the fact that you just took a rip from a glass beer boot, and repeat as desired.
- After your session, pour out the water and rinse with warm water. For a deeper clean, add bong cleaner or a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt, cover the openings, and shake vigorously. The boot's curved toe traps resin — clean it at least weekly if you're a daily user.
