Portable Shishas

Taking your hookah on the move

A portable shisha is about more than height. Think about how it packs away, what it needs to work and how well it copes with being carried in a bag. Different makers solve that in different ways.

What sets them apart

• Compact with built-in storage: the El-Badia P1, for example, is 24cm tall with a patented hose winder that stores the silicone hose around the hookah, and a reversible ceramic bowl.
• Stemless designs, such as the PurjFam Hookah: shatter-proof glass windows in an aluminium shell, 304 stainless steel hardware, any hose out of the box and three diffuser settings, from silent upwards.
• Complete sets, like the Kaloud Krysalis Calix Set With Lotus III: Kaloud's portable hookah with a Samsaris Vitria III bowl, an adapter and the Lotus III heat management device, so the heat side is covered.
• Tough everyday builds, for instance the Hoob Navi: stainless steel and anodised aluminium, with a magnetic lock between stem and base, a magnetic hose connection and a shockproof base with a wide neck.

What to pack with it

Outdoors, a travel bag keeps everything together; see bags and cases. Bring tongs for the coals and enough water to fill the base. If you want something small for the table at home rather than for travel, compare the small shishas.

Questions

What should I look for in a travel shisha?

Something that packs flat or stores its hose, with a base that will not break easily. Shatter-proof or shockproof parts help when it lives in a bag.

Do I need a separate heat management device?

It depends on the set. The Kaloud Krysalis Calix Set includes the Lotus III, for example; with others, check what is in the box on the listing.

Can I use my own hose with the PurjFam?

Yes. PurjFam make it to work with any hose out of the box.