Oblako Hookah Bowl

Oblako: the Russian phunnel for dense clouds

Oblako is Russian for cloud, and the bowls live up to it: the smoke output is among the strongest you will get from a phunnel. They are made in Russia, by hand, from white clay.

Experienced smokers have had the brand on their list for years, and it still works for beginners: packing an Oblako is easy. Then there is the look, and with the range of colours you will almost always find one that matches your hookah's sleeve.

What colours are there?

The models differ in their glaze, and that splits the range into two groups.

Glazed

On the glazed models the upper half of the bowl is glazed, which includes the depot where the tobacco sits. That slows the aromas soaking into the clay. Among the best known versions are Marble Black, Blue Eye, Black Cosmos and Rose Gold, alongside stronger tones such as Orange, Kiwi and Green Topaz.

Mono

The mono models are glazed all over, black or white on the inside of the depot and a single colour outside. Sand, Olive and Beige are the common ones. If bleeding bothers you, mono is the group to pick: it starts later here than on the others.

Special editions

Oblako also develops bowls together with other brands. The best known example we carry is the Doosha, which comes in the Phunnel M size only. On top of that, a number of Russian brands such as Musthave and Alpha Hookah have had the standard models made with their own logo.

Why does a bowl bleed, and what helps?

The reason is micro cracks. The heat of the coals creates them in the glaze over time, and the liquid from the tobacco gets into the clay through them. The clay soaks it up until the molasses eventually seeps out. It does not look great, but there is no reason to worry: it has no effect on the flavour.

Does an Oblako suit your session?

At 20 to 22 g the Phunnel M sits at the upper end of what a bowl usually holds. That covers both cases: smoking alone with a session of around 60 to 90 minutes, or sharing one hookah, where it gets pulled on more often and the tobacco runs out faster.

If you want to go past 90 minutes, you can light a second set of hookah charcoal during the session and take the rest of the flavour with you.

Which smokebox fits an Oblako?

An Oblako is classically smoked with a heat management device, in other words a smokebox. Those usually measure 75 mm across, exactly like the bowl, so they sit securely. The ones we sell most are the ONMO HMD, the Kaloud Lotus and the AO 912.

Aluminium foil works too. A chimney attachment is a poor match, so for Oblako we recommend the smokebox setup throughout.

These Oblako sell best with us

Glazed Black Cosmos: dark speckled glaze, glazed on top and therefore slower to bleed. One of the classics of the glazed line.

Oblako Oblako Phunnel M - Glazed Black Cosmos Tobacco Bowl To the product

Mono Sand: glazed all over and therefore sealed the longest. The quiet tone goes with almost any sleeve.

Oblako Oblako Phunnel M - Mono Sand Tobacco Bowl To the product

Doosha White Edition: the collaboration with Doosha, available in the Phunnel M size only. For anyone who wants something of their own sitting on the hookah.

Oblako Oblako Doosha Phunnel M - White Edition Tobacco Bowl To the product

What are the alternatives?

On looks the Hookain Lit Lip comes closest. It also comes half glazed and fully glazed, and in use there is barely anything between the two bowls. Both work for beginners and experienced smokers, so go by your own taste there.