Our Love Affair with the One-Hitter—Here’s Why You Need One, too!
- The one-hitter is one of the simplest and most discreet cannabis accessories.
- These simple pipes are perfect for on-the-go, stylish smokes.
- One-hitters hold just enough cannabis for 1-2 hits, which makes them ideal for microdosing.
6-minute read
Why a one-hitter?
What do you do when you’re in the mood to smoke but only want a little bit of cannabis? Packing a bowl will give you more than the 1-2 hits you’re looking for. You might have half an old joint lying around…but old cannabis isn’t the best cannabis. Enter the one-hitter. Perfect for microdosing and on-the-go, one-hitters pack a mighty punch. And our Le Pipes are as elegant and sleek as they come. These small pipes produce smooth, clean draws. And their length also lets the smoke cool before it hits your throat. With one-hitters, you avoid harsh, throat-burning inhalations.
What is a one-hitter?
One-hitters are one of our fave smoking accessories. There’s so much to love about them. They’re small, thin pipes that fit just enough flower for a hit or two. These pipes are designed to let you easily consume cannabis when you’re on-the-go. They slip discreetly into your pocket, purse, or stash bag. Typically, one-hitters are made from glass, ceramic, metal, or wood. They also come in a variety of styles. So there’s one out there for everyone. Their shape normally mimics a joint or a cigarette. One end of the pipe has a little bowl with a small hole in it for air to pass through. That’s where you pack your cannabis. The other end is what you bring to your lips to inhale from.
Different types of one-hitters
All one-hitters have the same basic design. But they do vary some. The 3 types of one-hitters are bats, chillums, and dugouts.
Bats
Bats are a type of one-hitter that get their name from their shape. Born of prohibition, they’re a very discreet tubular shape. They quite literally look like a baseball bat or a cigarette. This style of one-hitter is often made of metal. But our fave, of course, is our ceramic bat, Le Pipe. Its minimalist simplicity is its strength. And it comes in 6 yummy colors!

Chillums
Chillums are tubular pipes that were traditionally made from soft stone or clay. They’ve been popular in the US since the 1960s. But chillums have been around since long before that. Archaeologists have found early examples of these kinds of pipes in Pre-Columbian America. They were also popular in 18th-century India. Later, chillum-style pipes spread to Africa. Old-school chillums were used with a stone. At first, it was literally a pebble. Inserting it into the pipe kept users from inhaling their actual herb—similar to how a filter or a screen functions. A chillum usually has a small hole drilled down through the center of the pipe and slits on the sides that allow smoke to pass freely.
Chillums today
Today, they’re primarily made of glass. In fact, lots of our customers use our borosilicate glass Soho Joint Holder as a tiny chillum. The depressions of its dot design serve the same purpose as the pebble did. They catch and hold your cannabis, similar to a bowl without actually being one.
Dugouts
Dugouts are a bit different than other types of one-hitters. They’re usually rectangular 2-piece sets that include a carrying case as well as a pipe. So they aren’t quite as small and discreet as others. But dugouts are convenient all-in-one kits for on-the-go consumption. The carrying case contains compartments for both a one-hitter pipe and ground flower. The name “dugout” apparently stems from the fact that they originated with a piece of wood that was dug out to create a prohibition-friendly hidden space for cannabis. But we like to associate the name with the fact that they allow you to pop your pipe into the flower chamber. So you quite literally push your pipe down and twist to “dig out” a bowlful of flower that’s nicely packed. Voilá!
What are the benefits of using a one-hitter?
You’ve got a lot of options when it comes to cannabis accessories and consumption methods. So why a one-hitter? These pocket-sized pipes have more benefits than you might think.
Discretion
Cannabis legalization is spreading across the US. So chances are you live in a state where recreational use is already legal—or will be soon. But we’re still fighting against the stigma fostered by 85 years of prohibition. (Yep. Cannabis hasn’t been illegal since time immemorial. It’s only been illegal in the US since 1937.) So not everyone is open about their cannabis consumption yet. We get it. Luckily, one-hitters are a great option for those of us who like to be more discreet about our consumption. Since these pipes are small and slender, they’re easy to tuck away almost anywhere.
Fantastic for when you’re on the go
Another perq of the one-hitter’s diminutive size is that they’re perfect to bring anywhere you go. Do you want to get in a quick smoke after work? Do you anticipate craving a quick hit before a night out in the city? Stash a one-hitter in your clutch, and you’re good to go. Slip it out for a quick smoke. It’ll cool off almost immediately. So, right after you’re done, you can stick it right back in even your smallest handbag.
Conserving your stash
In the cannabis world, there are few things worse than wasting perfectly good flower. But there are ways to conserve your stash. With bongs and pipes, it’s too easy to pack the entire bowl—even if you don’t want to smoke it all. But overpacking often leads to your cannabis going to waste. With joints, you can put them out when you’re done and relight them later. But once you’ve burned a joint, the flower is never quite as fresh. On the other hand, when you pack a one-hitter you’re not using much flower. You just use the exact amount of cannabis you want to smoke.

One-hitters make microdosing a dream
Microdosing is becoming an increasingly popular consumption method because it lets you reap all the benefits of cannabis without getting too high. Microdosing may also have health benefits to aid in getting better sleep, alleviating anxiety, and even managing menopause. One-hitters are all about consuming just a little. So one-hitters are a game-changer for microdosers. Edibles and tinctures are common ways to microdose, too. But once you take an edible, you have to wait up to 4 hours to feel its full effects. So, if you’ve taken too much, there’s nothing to do but wait…sometimes for 8-9 hours. When you inhale, though, you feel the effects almost immediately. So you can take a puff at time to figure out your personal sweet spot. A one-hitter holds only about 25 mg of flower. Depending on your strain, that means you’re getting just a few mg of cannabinoids like THC and CBD. And that’s a perfect way to microdose.
One-hitters are ideal for the environment
One of the many beautiful things about one-hitters is that they’re an environmentally conscious smoking method. These days, it seems like everyone is thinking about what they can to reduce their carbon footprint. And that includes our cannabis use. Unlike rolling papers, one-hitters are reusable. And unlike many vapes, they’re not made of plastic. They also don’t need batteries or electricity for charging.
How to use a one-hitter
We love how easy one-hitters are to use. And we think you will, too! Using a one-hitter is similar to smoking out of a larger pipe. All you need is your one-hitter, your strain of choice, and a lighter. You’ll want to grind your flower and pack it lightly into the pipe’s bowl to get rid of any big air pockets. If you pack it right and your cannabis is fresh, it should stay nicely in your bowl and not fall out. Raise your one-hitter to your lips with the mouthpiece towards you. Then, bring the flame of your lighter to the bowl of the pipe. The trick here is to hold the pipe at an angle, so you keep the flame as far away from your face as possible.
Taking care of your one-hitter
Like with any cannabis accessory, for the best experience, it’s important to properly clean your one-hitter. One of their other benefits is that they’re easy to clean. While you don’t need to clean them daily, it’s definitely something you want to do regularly. Otherwise, resin will build up and restrict the airflow that you need to get the most out of your cannabis. But cleaning never sounds fun to us. So here are our 8 secrets for easy pipe cleaning.