Tongs

Picking a pair of coal tongs

Tongs let you place, turn and move hot coals while your fingers stay well away from the heat. Shifting coals around the bowl is also how you adjust the heat during a session, so a pair you find comfortable to hold makes a real difference.

How tongs differ

• Stainless steel with a sharp end: tongs such as the Starbuzz Carbine range or the Apple On Top Flip Tong have a pointed tip for breaking coals apart. Carbine tongs come in colourways like Arctic Frost and Raspberry Phantom to match the Starbuzz Carbine hookah.
• Compact and light: smaller stainless steel tongs, for example the Embery Mini Tong at 62g, are easy to steer. The Embery Medium Envy Tong is 20.5cm long with a geometric pattern.
• Aluminium and wood: tongs like the Kaloud Vestara Niris and Auris pair an aluminium body with wood, at around 110g.
• Made for one bowl: some tongs are shaped to grip a particular bowl. The XKAH Pro Tong, for example, fits the XKAH Pro bowl so you can lift it while hot.

Length or control?

Longer tongs keep your hand further from the coals, which helps when you lift them off a burner. Shorter, lighter tongs are easier to steer when you nudge a single coal on a small bowl or a heat management device.

Tongs work alongside a coal basket for carrying lit coals and an ashtray or coal plate for spent ones.

Questions

Can I use Starbuzz Carbine tongs with another hookah?

Yes. They are made to match the Carbine colourways, but they are ordinary coal tongs and handle coals on any hookah.

Why do some tongs have a sharp end?

The point lets you split a coal into smaller pieces, which is useful when you want a little less heat.

Is a bowl tong like the XKAH Pro Tong for coals?

It is shaped to fit its bowl so you can move the bowl without touching it. For handling coals, pick a standard pair of tongs.