Metal, bamboo, wood, ceramic, or corncob pipes used to be the norm a few decades ago, but today, most pipes for smoking marijuana are made out of glass. These are typically “spoon” shaped, with a round bowl at the end attached to a long airtight stem that has a hole at the end on which you place your mouth, along with the “carb,” usually on the side of the bowl.
When they’re new and still clean, glass pipes allow you to see the smoke fill the chamber as you inhale and then rush through the mouthpiece as you take your finger off the carb. Thick glass pipes typically don’t get as hot to the touch as metal or thin glass pipes, making them easier to handle as well. Finally, glass pipes just look cooler, and provide a perfect medium for glass blowing artists to showcase their flair.