When the team at Manifest Glassworks aka MGW invited us to check out their newest diffusion system we were "f$#&ing stoked" to simply put it. For years the fine artisans at Manifest have been doing their thing acting almost like the HTC of the glass world, I say this because the HTC phone company isn’t about flashy ads or hype. Rather HTC has built a strong following of dedicated users simply because they put out a solid, well made product. When I got into the office after my multi-state trip I was giddy to see the giant box sitting at my desk, and even more curious as to what lie inside of it…
When I pulled the tube out of it’s cardboard and foam-peanut sarcophagus I first took note of the pieces size, just big enough to join the "big tube league" the piece also has a condensed feel to it. The diffusers on the piece are placed lower on the tube giving you an easier pull as well as enough extra tube space to ensure any water comes splashing at you. There is also a splash guard on the piece for a little extra insurance. The stemless design make this piece perfect for any attachments you may have, they’ve also added in some maria’s for some extra style points. To complete the set up an 18mm ice-pinch style slide, simple yet extremely effective the slide also features a sandblasted MGW "classic" logo to ensure you don’t mix it up with the other all-clear slides you may have in your collection.
The hit is what got us when trying out the tube, for a while now we here at the office had been on the look out for a large tube that was tall, ultra-functional, and smooth. We had many different choices lined up as for what we would get…. then this came in the mail. The hit is shockingly smooth and it’s also uninterrupted when you release the slide, which we thought was most impressive considering the tube is such a massive size compared to the smaller pieces we are usually using. Once the smoke enters from the stemless it encounters the MGW "Diffy Cap" perc, which acts much like the inverted circ perc on the MOmo Chugger model. Only MGW’s version is a lot smaller and the slits are closer together, with this diffusion style the water and smoke in this first chamber are blasted upward in a "volcanic" fashion from the bottom chamber into a second open chamber. Located in the third chamber is their newest perc titled the "Birdcage" perc, which acts like two of you favorite percs in one. From the first lower chamber the smoke is first separated into 6 different sections much like a tree perc, but unlike a tree perc your smoke is forced out into a circ perc rather than the classic one or two whole slits that come on the bottom of a classic tree. We believe this separation of the smoke allows it to become more evenly diffused, thus giving you a smoother hit.
All in all after our first encounter with an MGW tube we’re pleased to have been able to test out such an awesome product. The build quality is amazing and their staff really makes sure each and every tube is produced with the highest quality of standards. So the next time you’re looking for a new scientific vessel to add to your collection don’t forget to check out Manifest Glassworks. Currently their products can be found in many authorized retailers nationwide, but if you don’t live anywhere near one you can always check out their selection on Aqua Lab Technologies.
