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Very good shisha and accessories
Very good shisha and accessories. I bought the Moze Breeze Pro along with a hose, coaster, mouthpiece adapter, and more. Unfortunately, the delivery didn’t go entirely smoothly at first. I had ordered the shisha in blue, but after a few days with no update, I contacted support. I quickly received a response explaining that the shisha was no longer available in that color. However, I was immediately offered a different color, and after that, everything went smoothly. Overall, I’m very satisfied and will definitely order from Moze again.
Fabian
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Aluminium smokeboxes: perfect for beginners and pros
Most HMDs on the market are made of aluminium, and for good reason. Aluminium picks up the heat of your coals quickly, passes it evenly to the tobacco and cools down just as fast. Your bowl reacts predictably, and you have time to adjust when things get too hot. That's why we recommend aluminium models especially if you're just getting started.
This is where you'll find every aluminium smokebox in our range, from ONMO, Kaloud, AO and Darkside.
The key points
- Aluminium heats up and cools down quickly, so heat management stays relaxed
- Lightweight, so it sits securely even on high-packed bowls
- Models with nubs, bars or a flat base
- Fits phunnels and traditional bowls
- Burn it out before your first session, then clean it by hand
What makes aluminium a good material
Aluminium HMDs are either die-cast or milled from a solid block of aluminium and then sandblasted. That gives them their slightly rough surface. Aluminium is a very light metal: the ONMO HMD, for example, weighs only 69 g. By comparison, the ONMO stainless steel HMD weighs 175 g.
When you smoke, you mainly notice how the material handles heat: aluminium stores less heat than stainless steel. The temperature is easier to control, and your tobacco stays in the right range for longer.
Many manufacturers finish the surface on top of that. The AO HMD is sandblasted, the Darkside Heater is anodised, and the Heater Pro has a galvanic coating. That's where its shiny chrome look comes from, which almost passes for stainless steel. Underneath, all of them are the same light aluminium.
Our aluminium smokeboxes compared
The biggest difference between the models is on the underside. That's where it's decided how the heat meets the tobacco.
| Model | Underside | Special feature |
|---|---|---|
| ONMO HMD | Bars | Room for two coals up to 27 mm |
| Kaloud Lotus 1+ | Nubs | Lid to trap the heat |
| AO HMD Sandblasted | Flat | Sandblasted, removable lid |
| Darkside Heater | Open base design | Anodised, made for three 25 mm coals |
| Darkside Heater Pro | Open base design | Galvanic coating, narrows towards the top |
The HMD from ONMO made good smokeboxes affordable. The bars on the base let you choose whether you smoke with a gap, with bar contact or with full contact. The raised rim holds a third coal tilted on its edge. The ONMO comes in Silver and Black.
The Lotus 1+ from Kaloud is one of the best-known HMDs out there. It works with nubs and comes with a lid that traps the heat. Most people skip the lid anyway, because the aluminium gets hot enough on its own. Besides Silver, it comes as Azuris in blue, Niris in black and Violis in purple.
On the HMD Sandblasted from AO, the base is completely flat, so the heat sits evenly on the tobacco. You fine-tune it with the removable lid.
Darkside has two models in this category. The Heater is designed for three 25 mm coals, the way it's usually done in Russia. The Heater Pro is shiny silver and narrows slightly towards the top, which also suits Russian smoking habits. On both, the coals sit raised, so they burn efficiently and you top up less often.
Aluminium or stainless steel?
That mainly depends on your experience and your tobacco. Aluminium is forgiving, because it cools down faster when you take a coal off or move it. A Stainless Steel Smokebox / HMD stores heat better and runs hotter overall. With moist flavours and lots of molasses that's a plus, but you also need to keep a closer eye on how many coals you use and where they sit, so your tobacco doesn't burn. If you're new to HMDs, aluminium is the most relaxed way in.
Tip: Give the smokebox some time after you add the coals. On a phunnel it's warm after two to three minutes, on a traditional bowl it takes six to eight minutes. Start with a little heat and add more if you need it.
Which bowl fits an aluminium smokebox?
The most popular combination is with a Phunnel. Spread the tobacco loosely in the bowl so the nubs or bars make light contact with it. For your first bowls, less contact works better and makes for a more relaxed session.
In Russian style, the smokebox goes on one of the Traditional Bowls. Leave a few millimetres between tobacco and base, with light contact at most. That way you get the most out of strong dark blends. The smokebox will be wider than the bowl, and that's fine. Step-by-step instructions for both setups are in our guide Tobacco Bowl preparation.
Burning out and cleaning
Before you use your new smokebox for the first time, burn it out. Oils are used during manufacturing, and you want them gone before you smoke. Place the smokebox outside on a fireproof surface, put two glowing coals underneath and two inside, and let everything burn through. Keep it off the coal burner, though: the aluminium gets too hot there and can melt.
Over time, a black crust builds up on the underside. That's caramelised sugar from the molasses. Let the smokebox cool down, scrape off the rough bits and soak stubborn spots in water for a few hours. After that, the rest comes off with a brush. Aluminium is fairly soft, so a brass brush from our Brushes is gentle on the nubs and bars. It takes years before they really wear down. Keep the smokebox out of the dishwasher, because the detergent attacks the material.
Popular aluminium smokeboxes
ONMO HMD Silver: the classic with bars on the base and plenty of room to play with your setup.
ONMO ONMO HMD - Silver Hookah Smokebox View product Kaloud Lotus 1+ Azuris: the Lotus with nubs and lid, here in blue.
Kaloud Kaloud Lotus 1+ Azuris - The Blue Lotus Hookah Smokebox View product AO HMD Sandblasted: flat base and removable lid, popular with beginners.
AO AO HMD - Sandblasted Hookah Smokebox View product Darkside Heater: anodised aluminium with a raised coal rest.
Darkside Darkside Heater Hookah Smokebox View product Darkside Heater Pro: galvanic coating, shiny silver and narrower towards the top.
Darkside Darkside Heater Pro Hookah Smokebox View product FAQ: Aluminium smokeboxes
What are the advantages of an aluminium smokebox?
Aluminium picks up heat quickly, spreads it evenly and cools down fast. That keeps heat management relaxed, and the smokebox is pleasantly light.
Is an aluminium smokebox good for beginners?
Yes. Aluminium stores less heat than stainless steel, so the temperature is easier to control. You have more time to adjust before the tobacco gets too hot.
What's the difference between aluminium and stainless steel?
Aluminium heats up and cools down quickly. Stainless steel stores heat and runs hotter overall, which helps with moist flavours and lots of molasses but needs more attention to heat management.
Which aluminium smokeboxes do you sell?
The ONMO HMD in Silver and Black, the Kaloud Lotus 1+ in Silver, Azuris, Niris and Violis, the AO HMD Sandblasted, plus the Darkside Heater and the Darkside Heater Pro.
Do I need to burn out a new aluminium smokebox?
Yes. There can be oils from manufacturing on the metal. Place the smokebox outside on a fireproof surface, put two glowing coals underneath and two inside, and let everything burn through. Keep it off the coal burner while you do this.
How do I clean an aluminium smokebox?
Let it cool down, scrape off the rough bits and soak stubborn spots in water for a few hours. Then scrub off the rest with a brush. A brass brush is the gentlest option for soft aluminium.
Can an aluminium smokebox go in the dishwasher?
No. The detergent attacks the material. Clean your smokebox by hand.
Does an aluminium smokebox fit every bowl?
The models here fit most common bowls, whether phunnel or traditional bowl. On a traditional bowl, the smokebox is often a bit wider than the bowl. That's fine as long as the air slots sit above the opening.