Heat Management Devices HMDs for your shisha bowl

Picking a heat management device

A heat management device, or HMD, sits on your bowl in place of foil. Your lit coals go inside it and it holds them over the tobacco, so the heat stays steady and is easier to control.

The main kinds

• Lidded devices, such as the Kaloud Lotus family: the coals sit under a lid you turn to adjust the heat. The Lotus 1+ takes 3 standard 2.5cm cubes without breaking them.
• Light aluminium designs, for example ONMO or HKY by Hooky. The ONMO has side slits and raised bumps inside so air reaches under the coals; the HKY has a double wall that holds the heat in.
• Stainless steel devices, such as the Na Grani, Nova Smoke or AMY Hot Pan. Na Grani says steel runs hotter than aluminium. The Apple on Top Provost II, in steel and silicone, doubles as a wind cover.
• Adjustable systems: the Steamulation Heat Management System gives eight heat settings, and the Oduman Ignis Venus has 3-stage airflow channels. The Starbuzz NAR adds a built-in thermometer.
• Thermal heads, like the Quasar Raas 2: a bowl and heating system in one piece, so there is nothing separate to fit.

Before you buy

Check that the device will sit flat on the rim of your bowl. Some fit widely, for example the Nova Smoke fits all HMD bowls. Others are matched to certain heads, so compare the listed size with your bowl, or choose one from hookah bowls.

Using an HMD

• Light natural coconut coals all the way through first, as an HMD will not light them, then place them inside with tongs.
• Give the bowl a few minutes to warm through before your first draw.
• If it runs too hot, take one coal out or open the lid a little rather than lifting the device off.

Questions

Do I still need foil with an HMD?

No. The device sits on your bowl in place of foil, and the coals sit inside it rather than on the tobacco.

How many coals go in an HMD?

It depends on the device. The Kaloud Lotus 1+ takes 3 standard 2.5cm cubes, for example, and the Nova Smoke holds two 26mm coals or four.

Is an HMD the same as a wind cover?

Not quite. A wind cover shields the coals from the wind, while an HMD holds them and controls the heat. Some, like the Provost II, do both jobs.