Hemper Lucky Cat Bong

The Hemper Lucky Cat Bong takes the maneki-neko — the beckoning cat that sits by the till in Japanese and Chinese shops — and renders it as a working borosilicate glass water pipe. Raised paw, collar, bell and painted detailing, with the body forming the water chamber and the neck rising from behind the head.

It was Hemper's January 2024 theme release. Like everything in their monthly run it was produced as a limited batch rather than an ongoing catalogue line, so once a design sells through it isn't repeated. That's part of why Hemper glass has a collector following rather than just a customer base.

How it performs

Novelty glass gets a reputation for being decorative first and functional second. This isn't that. It takes a standard bowl and downstem, holds a sensible amount of water, and draws like a normal beaker of the same capacity. The wide, low body is genuinely more stable than a straight tube, which matters more than people expect on a coffee table.

The XL version is a substantial step up rather than a slight one — taller, wider chamber, and heavier in the hand. If you're choosing between them, the regular is the everyday piece and the XL is the centrepiece.

Specifications

• Material: borosilicate glass
• Sizes: Regular and XL
• Design: maneki-neko beckoning cat
• Release: January 2024 Hemper theme
• Includes: bowl and downstem
• Collection: Lucky Cat family

Looking after it

Shaped glass has more corners for residue to settle in than a straight tube, so it benefits from more frequent cleaning rather than harder cleaning. Change the water every session and it will stay clear for months. Our guide on how to clean a bong properly covers the ten-minute routine, and the one thing to avoid with painted detailing is soaking it in neat isopropyl for hours, which can lift colour work.

Frequently asked questions

What size bowl does it take?
A standard bowl and downstem, both supplied. Replacements are in bong accessories.

Is the XL just a bigger version?
Same design, significantly larger. Taller, wider chamber, noticeably heavier.

Will Hemper make more of these?
Theme releases are limited runs tied to the month they were issued. Once a batch is gone it isn't reissued.

Is there a matching Peak attachment?
Yes — the Lucky Cat Peak Attachment carries the same design and fits the Puffco Peak and Peak Pro.

Pairs well with

• Hemper Lucky Cat Peak Attachment — matching design for a Puffco Peak
• The full Hemper range
• Bong accessories — spare bowls, downstems and screens
• Cleaning products

18+ only. Limited run — once sold through, not reissued.