Commentary on hookahs, smoke rings, and The Dream

Our hose recommendations for your HoboHookah.

We’ve been around for a little over a year now, and with thousands of HoboHookahs shipped globally, some of the old war-horses are starting to show their age.  Not the patented HoboHookah hookah pipe of course, but rather those pesky accessories which science simply hasn’t been able to engineer their faults away yet.

Case in point: Your average hose is going to need replacing, on average, either after 6-months of heavy use or 12 months of moderate use. The HoboHookah’s unique screw-on hose attachment requires a special kind of hose to ensure you keep living the dream.

Replacement Options:

1) The Mod-Hose (first picture): Not every mod hose is the same.  The cheaper ones look modern, but do not have the removable ends that you need for the HoboHookah.  The Mod-Hose pictured left is of higher quality than most and advertises its "Removable ends for easy and thorough cleaning".  To use with your HoboHookah, simply unscrew one end and screw it on to the HoboHookah just like your old hose.  Be sure to ask the shop that you are buying from if the hose does have un-screwable ends.  Cost: $10-12

2) The Cloisonne Hose (second picture, with end removed): Named after the East Asian art of ceramic decorations, these beautiful and very high quality hoses also have detachable ends.  Just like the Mod-Hose: Remove one of the ends, and that will screw onto the HoboHookah.  Cost: $20-25

3) The MYA 1/8in Hose Adapter (experimental): MYA and other similar hookahs, have accessories that will allow you to remove the carb (exhaust port) and add a hose adapter, turning your one-hose hookah into a two-hose hookah.  These same adapters can work with the HoboHookah as well: Simply screw the adapter on to the HoboHookah’s nipple and then use any standard hose as you would with standard, non-revolutionary hookahs.  Be Aware: These adapters come in 1/16th (typical) and 1/8th (more rare) versions.  Make sure you are getting the 1/8th-female style adapter before purchasing. Cost: $5-10

Our recommendation is to go with the Cloisonne hose: While they cost more, they will last longer, paying off the additional up-front price.  In addition, they typically have better airflow than most hoses on the market.  If you are thinking of getting the hose adapter (Option 3), be aware that the seal is not as good as with the screw on design and that certain hoses are very heavy and could result in a less stable setup. 

These hoses will be available on our site shortly, but in the mean time, we have purchased both types of removable end hoses from Hookah-Shisha.com, and we recommend the hoses manufactured and sold by them.

There is a HoboHookah for sale on Craigslist right now:

Bought HoboHookah about 3 months ago. Used about 5-6 times and cleaned after every time. Original price is at 60$ plus shipping, so I am selling for $40FIRM and no shipping charge as long as you pick up. Its a nice hookah, but just want to get out of it. Here are some specs from the website:
- Stainless Steal HoboHookah Pipe - fits on nearly any bottle or vase
- 6 Foot (1.8m) Black Hose - threads snugly onto the pipe and allows maximum reach
- Slick Carrying Bag - fits HoboHookah, accessories, and up to 1L bottle for easy transport

Looks like it needs a good home. Any Party Pioneers know WTF Inland Empire is? Drop us a line.

We went back to the Bean Town and here’s what we found…

Its been a good year since we made the last Fung Wah trek and brought our patented hookah to Boston. This time around we stayed away from Tia’s, the shit-hole that it is, and went to a couple real clubs:

First, Boston is so very different than New York. In many ways, its like a small town: If you are a young professional, and frequent the local clubs, you will run into people you know. Crazy. In NYC, the scene is so massive that just running in to someone can only be described as serendipity.

Our first stop, was Gypsy Bar, one of the hotter spots these days up in Red Sox land. Its got your classic posh feel, just to frame your drink purchases appropriately so you don’t freak out about a $10 dry cocktail. The great thing about Gypsy, and bars of this ilk, are the split halves: There is a bumping dance floor, not wide open, but with nooks and crannies to slip your party into, and a bar up front that is away from the loudness in case you need to give your legs and ears a break.

Next, is the hot dog stand: Man, there are some good dogs in Boston. My previous review, highlighted the lack of food available after the 2pm bell, which is still more or less the case, but if you are lucky enough to find an Italian dog stand, served on a fresh roll with peppers and onions, that’s living the dream. The Boston dogs put NYs to shame.

Finally, we ended the night at Venu, which was a poor choice. Picture roman columns and weird projections on the wall and so few people, all listless, and that sums it up. On the positive side, if there is an artificially long line outside, you can pretty much roll up to the bouncer with a well timed “Come onnnnn!” and they’ll let you in, as long as you look like you got money and have closed toed shoes.

We ended the night up on the roof deck near Copley: Smoking a little Starbuzz Pomegranate out of vanquished Arizona Iced Tea bottle, which could only be described as a brilliant setup for hookah in Boston.

The next day, we hit the local beach off the Andrews T stop, which was surprisingly uncrowded for such a great day. The beaches around Boston are classic east coast style: Nothing the West has, but a pleasant place to kick it, get a tan and drink a few beers while playing Frisbee.

There was one last notable event we should report: The Fisherman’s Feast in the North End. The North End is known for its Italian food, but something about the Feast is just about bringing the best to those less initiated. I for one, recommend the Quahogs with hot sauce and the Pujole (a grilled pepper and steak in an Italian roll). Phenomenal. We even got into the “Club House” for the after party, where we were treated like family, which we pretended we were.

This trip around I think we got a bit better overall sense of the scene: Boston is a compact, small town, with features of NY but with that neighborhood feel you expect in a Williamsburg or Jersey City. We’ll be back again, as usual, we wouldn’t deprive our Bostonian friends of the only portable hookah.

Nakhla Cappuccino. What a beautiful flavor. In the totem pole of flavors, this one ranks right near the top for me, especially when some real cappuccino is down there in your chamber, keeping the party alive.

But last night, as I nipped on the deliciousness, something just wasn’t right. The coals I called on, 3 Kings, just weren’t doing the job for me.

It was the 2nd night in a row of this hassle, so I called in the back-up, the trusty Starlight briquettes. Normal mortals might find this a hassle - you’ve gotta dump the old coal, light the new one, get it going, and then deal with your blackened hands.

But you’re no normal mortal, because you follow the trusty…

HoboHookah Coal Management Method

First I saw how poorly the 3 Kings coal was burning. See how un-uniform that ash is? That’s the 1st sign of your SNAFU.

But never fear: you DON’T have to get up. Simply wipe away about half the ash of the old coal, and lay your baby Starlight briquette right down on the newly opened, freshly burning part as so:

As you watch your new coal light up, don’t inhale quite yet. It’ll taste like scheisse. Instead, enjoy the fireworks and keep your hopefully lively conversation going. After she’s done throwing sparks, take a few hits to really get her lit up.

Just as you start to feel the smoke get noticeably warmer, move the new coal to the other side of the bowl and lean the old coal against her. This will let it contribute to thickening your smoke, but prevents excess burning of the shisha.

And voila, you’ve successfully transitioned coals sans dirty hands or having to mobilize your body. All done without pausing the conversation.

Bonus: If the smoke gets too warm, dump that old coal. This may require getting up, though, so handle with care. Good thing the Hobo’s easy to carry.

Got a tip to share? Let us know in the comments.

The HoboHookah in the Arabian Peninsula

Ah, Oman: What a diamond in a pile of Zirconium. We here at HoboHookah have stamped our passports in a good portion of the Middle East. Its of course where our passion for the hookah sport was born. But out of all those destinations there is something special in Oman.

Driving in to Oman from Dubai is a sight: Leaving the glitz of high towers for the rolling mountains of Oman was a relief. Then, arriving in Muscat, with its white, low-profile buildings, wide Malibu-esque palm lined boulevards was like arriving in an Oasis. In fact, we stayed at the Oasis Hotel on the south side of town, which we recommend for its cheap rooms (in still a pretty expensive city) and its interesting…after hours bar.

Oman, and Muscat, offer a lot more than meets the eye: Wadi Bashing in the western desert. Swimming in the Warm currents of the Indian ocean and of course smoking shisha while sipping some sweet tea. If you’ve forgotten your HoboHookah at home, we recommend the fine smoke and kabob of Fishawy’s, named after the famous hookah bar in Cairo’s Khan El-Khalili.

While Oman is definitely a vacation from the rest of the Arabian Peninsula, its still a conservative, although accepting country. Try pioneering your own party style there, Difficulty: Leave the alcohol in Dubai.

Thanks to David Z and company for the the hookah pictures from Oman. Keep living the dream!

Been to Oman or the Middle East? Shoot us your story at mail@hobocans.com