Hookah Mat

Mats and boards for prep and drying

Packing a bowl and washing a hookah both leave a mess. A board or mat gives you one spot for each job and keeps your table clean. Decide which job you need it for first, then pick a material you like.

For packing your bowl

Packing boards give you a flat surface to fluff and mix tobacco. Wood looks good and silicone is easy to wipe. Examples:

• Boards with a magnet, such as the Darkside Work Board With Fork Poker, which keeps the fork-poker to hand, or the Wookah Walnut Board, with a magnetic bowl holder you can attach or remove.
• Painted wood, for example the Kong Tobacco Packing Board: solid pine, hand painted and varnished so liquids don't damage the wood or scratch the paint.
• Silicone mats, such as the Fumari Silicone Shisha Mat: 2.5mm food-grade silicone that works as a clean prep area and also cushions your base.

For drying parts

A drying mat holds washed bowls and parts while the water drains away. Look for an anti-slip underside and ridges or studs that let air through. The Aeon Drip Mat has notches that collect the water and goes in the dishwasher, while the Darkside Anti-Slip Drying Mat uses round studs to catch water and let air flow.

Let every part dry fully before you put the hookah back together, so no water stays trapped in the stem or hose port.

For brushes and cleaners, see cleaning and drying. More boards are under packing mats and boards, and wooden stands and coasters under mats and stands.

Questions

Can a drying mat go in the dishwasher?

The Aeon Drip Mat can. For other mats, follow the care notes on each product.

What is the magnet on a packing board for?

It holds things in place while you work. On the Darkside board it keeps the fork-poker to hand, and on the Wookah board it holds the bowl.