As a Dab Rig? And Should You?

Can you use a bong as a dab rig? Absolutely—and sometimes, it works surprisingly well.

If you have a smaller bong you love, you’re already halfway to a solid dabbing setup. All you need is a compatible banger and a torch, and you’re ready to go.

But what does “compatible” actually mean? Your bonger needs to line up with your bong in three critical areas:

Bongs, bubblers, bowls, and bangers are all either “male” or “female.” Male joints slide into female joints (keep it PG!), while female joints sit over male ones.
Most RORA bongs and bubblers have female joints, and our bowls/bangers are typically male. But if your bong and banger are both male or both female, you’ll just need an adapter to bridge the gap.

Most bangers come with either a 90° or 45° neck angle. If your bong’s joint stands straight up and down, a 90° banger is best—it’ll keep the banger’s bucket horizontal when inserted. If your bong’s joint is angled, a 45° banger will fit naturally.

Your bong and banger’s joint sizes must match. Standard sizes are 10mm, 14mm (the most common), and 18mm. If they don’t match, you can usually find an adapter (like this one) to fix the issue.

The biggest perk here? Using your existing bong saves you cash—you only need to buy a banger (and maybe an adapter, if needed). It’s a budget-friendly way to test dabbing without committing to a whole new piece.

If your current bong is on the larger side, it’s probably not ideal for long-term dabbing. Here’s why:

First, concentrate vapor is way more potent than flower smoke. A big bong will fill up with that potent vapor, and you’ll likely need multiple pulls to clear it—by the second or third hit, the vapor can go stale, ruining the experience.

Second, flavor is a huge reason people love dabs—and a large bong’s excess water filtration and air cooling dilute that rich, bold taste. You’ll end up with a smoother hit, but you’ll lose the nuanced flavors that make concentrates special.

Finally, larger bongs have more interior surface area, which means more resin buildup. Over time, you’ll waste more of your concentrate on sticky residue inside the pipe. While you save money upfront by skipping a dab rig, you’ll lose product (and cash) in the long run.

That said, using a large bong with a banger is a great way to “test the waters” of dabbing before buying a dedicated rig. It just won’t give you the best possible experience long-term.

Now let’s talk about the alternative: a dedicated dab rig.

Dab rigs are designed to maximize the flavor and potency of concentrates. If you care about quality—even the small details—a dedicated rig will elevate your dabbing game.

Another win? Most dab rigs come with a banger included. You won’t have to hunt for a compatible one or buy adapters; it’s ready to use right out of the box.

Plus, let’s be real—more glass is more fun. You can pick a rig that fits your style:

And as you get more comfortable with dabbing, you can upgrade your setup with extras like a carb cap, pillar, or marbles/pearls to fine-tune your hits.

The most obvious downside? Cost. A banger usually costs $15–$25, which is way cheaper than a whole new rig. But here’s the thing: most dab rigs are modest in size, so you don’t have to break the bank. In fact, you can get a premium RORA rig with a banger for under $100.

Storage is another possible concern. If you’re short on space, adding another piece to your collection might feel overwhelming.

But there’s a workaround: hybrid pieces that work for both flower and concentrates. These let you get the best of a bubbler and a dab rig in one. Just swap out the banger for a bowl depending on what you’re using that day. The RORA® Eclipse Rig and RORA® Rain Rig are great options—they have a small footprint but still deliver powerful hits.

No matter which path you choose, RORA has you covered. We’ve got bongs, bubblers, dab rigs, bowls, and bangers—everything you need to start dabbing or upgrade your existing setup. Check out our collections to find the perfect fit for your style.