Premium Shishas

Choosing a high-end shisha

At this level you are usually choosing between stainless steel, aluminium and wood builds, and many models come as full sets. Narrow it down with three questions: how many people will smoke, how tall you want it, and whether you want everything in one box.

Sharing with friends

Count the hose ports first. Multi-hose models such as the Aeon Edition 6 Premium Plus take up to 4 hoses, and the Steamulation Ultimate Gen. III adds a Cooling Purge you switch on at the push of a button. If you smoke alone, a one-hose version such as the Aeon Edition 6 Lounge Plus keeps things simple.

Height and build

• Tall: for example the Embery Wood Envolve (78cm overall), the Steamulation Superior Gen II (67cm, aerospace aluminium) or the Japona Sensei, the tallest Japona.
• Mid-size and compact: such as the Aeon Edition 6 (53cm), the Japona Satori and Satoshi, or the Hoob Navi with its magnetic stem-to-base lock.
• One design in several heights: Solari, for instance, makes the Primadonna (45cm), Dolevita (62cm) and Solemio (83cm).
• Wood: Wookah pairs a wooden body with V2A stainless steel, and the Wookah Classic adds a wooden vase. The Regal Cavalier has a handmade wooden part and no diffuser, for an open draw.

Complete sets

Some high-end pipes arrive ready to go. Kaloud's Krysalis sets, for example, include a bowl, adapter and the Lotus III heat management device, and the Calix is Kaloud's portable hookah. Others give you choices in the box: the HKY Steel X Orlinski comes with a light and a heavy downstem, so you can switch between an easy, modern draw and a more traditional one.

To see a whole brand side by side, open Wookah, Aeon, Japona or Steamulation.

Questions

Which high-end shishas suit a group?

Look for multi-hose models. For example, the Aeon Edition 6 Premium Plus and the Steamulation Ultimate Gen. III each take up to 4 hoses.

What is the Cooling Purge on the Steamulation Ultimate Gen. III?

It is a cooling function built into the purge, which you turn on at the push of a button.

Does a high-end shisha come with a bowl?

It depends on the model. Some, such as Kaloud's Krysalis sets, include a bowl and heat management device, while others come without, so check the contents on each listing.