Traditional Shishas

Choosing a traditional shisha

Traditional shishas are classic upright hookahs: a stem standing in a water base, with the bowl on top. Within that shape, makers take quite different routes, so start with the material and the draw you like.

Wood or metal?

• Wookah: made in Poland with a wooden body and stainless steel parts, in models such as the Wookah Classic Hookah and Wookah Exclusive Hookah. The Classic pairs the wooden body with a wooden vase, and the Exclusive has polished metal parts and comes in a suitcase.
• Regal: known for a wood finish and an extra wide stainless steel downstem, for example the Regal Joker Clear Wood Hookah or the Regal Hookah Cavalier, whose wooden part is handmade in California.
• Starbuzz: American designs such as the SB-H1 Hookah Set, with an aluminium stem on a glass base, and the Challenger XS, a 28-inch shisha made in the USA.

How it draws

Regal hookahs have no diffuser, which gives an open draw with a strong rumble. Wookah downstems come with a diffuser that you can remove if you prefer the standard Wookah sound. If you like a quiet session, that difference matters more than the looks.

What comes in the box

Sets differ, so read what is included. Some, like the Starbuzz Mini USA, come with a phunnel bowl and tongs, while others give you the stem, base, hose and mouthpiece and leave the bowl to you. For a bowl to match, browse traditional bowls. More from each maker is in Wookah and Regal.

Questions

Do traditional shishas come with a bowl?

It depends on the set. The Starbuzz Mini USA includes a phunnel bowl, while the Wookah Hookah comes with the stem, base, mouthpiece and hose, so you add your own bowl.

Are there smaller traditional shishas?

Yes. Look at compact designs such as the Starbuzz Mini USA, about 21 inches tall, or the Wookah Mini Smooth Hookah.