Frit Hand Pipes Explained: 6 Frit Glass Pipes to Consider

Frit hand whistles are the easiest and most user-friendly way to get high. Whether you knew they had a name or not, these small, seemingly indestructible pieces of glass are synonymous with stoner culture, especially in the early years. There’s a pretty good chance your first smoke was one of these colorful and affordable pipes.

The name comes from the small pieces of colored glass – called “frits” – which are melted on the inside of the whistle, adding an extra layer of strength to the glass and making it more durable than its single-pane counterparts. Fry whistles come in an endless array of designs and color combinations, and rarely cost more than a hundred dollars—even for the really, really cool ones.

Easily accessible, functional, and nostalgic AF, these are the perfect whistles to toss in a backpack, stash in your glove box, or just use around the house.

In honor of this trusted smoking accessory, here are six fritted hand pipes for you to check out now.

Frit Spoon Whistle by Grav

This grav whistle is as simple as it comes. Not pumpkin spice simple, but simple in the good, functional way you want a glass fritted pipe to be. The two-tone gradient comes in five colors and has an inverted mouthpiece that catches ash to protect against an unexpected burst of hot ash in your mouth.

This whistle is a well-made, solid option worth gifting to others or yourself.

Price: $39.99

Bugs Life Spoon Pipe by Empire Smokes

Here we see the average fry pipe being taken to the nth degree of magical fairy forest reality. Empire Smokes is known for its fully fleshed out whimsical pieces that depict the living ecosystems of our planet and beyond.

This particular ecosystem is made up of baby mushrooms, forest creatures and snake moss that appeal to the world’s trippers – just like the trees.

Price: $85

Red Alien Head Whistle by Glass Art North West

This whistle puts a freaky spin on the frit genre, bringing a very welcome alien energy to a potentially stagnant bunch. Handblown in the Pacific Northwest and sold by the artist, this one-of-a-kind pipe comes directly from the glassblower, a medium that has become increasingly marginalized by industrial manufacturers overseas.

Like the others, this whistle is made from heavy borosilicate glass and ready for a cosmic adventure.

Price: $28

Rasta Theme Frit Gandalf Pipe by Bern Glass

Gandalf pipes are always a vibe geared towards the uber laid back homebody smoker who puffs and broods all day. While they can be a little precarious about breakage, this borosilicate glass Gandalf whistle from Bern Glass is Rasta-style designed and thick enough to withstand leaving the home.

Price: $72.99

Frit Honeycomb Handpipe by Ascend

This stylized fry pipe is equal parts trippy and soft. A classic honeycomb pattern on the front adds 3D depth to the small, sturdy design, making it the perfect festival companion.

Price: $50

Classic calumet by Jerome Baker Designs

The word “calumet” refers to ceremonial whistles used by Native Americans, so this Jerome Baker whistle alludes to the exalted status it holds in the history of glassblowing.

Jerome Baker rose to fame in the 1990s for blowing glass bongs for just about everyone, including Jack Nicholson and Phil Lesh. He also has a bong line with Tommy Chong and is generally a legend in the room. This pipe was blown in the style of Bob Snodgrass, another legend in the glassblowing world that Jason Harris, founder of Jerome Baker Designs, studied with. These cool little whistles come in (almost) every color of the rainbow, finished with a black rim and white flourishes.

Price: $25

Lindsay MaHarry

Lindsay MaHarry writes about cannabis from her home in Los Angeles. She also hosts a product reviews show called Hot Tokes and creates video content. Follow her on Instagram: @_oystergirl_