r/hookah • u/Smokymounts • 3h ago
My personal ranking of US hookah retailers after spending way too much money 😂
I’ve bought from (or attempted to buy from) most of the major US hookah retailers over the past few months. Just thought I’d share my experience. Obviously, this is only one customer’s opinion.
🥇 Shisha Depot ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Absolutely outstanding. Bought my Steamulation Ultimate One from them and couldn’t have asked for a better experience. They gave me a nice July 4th discount, included useful freebies (coals, grommets, etc.), and shipped everything quickly. Their website is extremely well curated with premium products, and customer service was excellent throughout. The only reason I’m holding back half a star is that they focus on a curated inventory rather than carrying everything. Still my favorite retailer for hardware.
🥈 Smoxygen ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
My go-to tobacco store (I’m based in NJ). Probably the best selection of Russian and premium brands I’ve found in the US. Shipping has always been reliable, and it’s usually the first place I check for new flavors. They don’t run many obvious promotions, but the selection more than makes up for it.
🥉 5StarHookah ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Huge inventory, competitive pricing, and they almost always throw in some nice freebies or gifts with your order. I’ve had consistently good experiences and never had any fulfillment issues. Great all-around retailer.
4. Hookah Vault ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5)
Probably the best customer service I’ve dealt with. They communicate well, ship quickly, and stand behind their orders. The only downside is that many of the popular or newer flavors tend to be out of stock. If inventory improved, this would easily be a 5-star store.
5. HookahJohn ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2.5/5)
I only attempted one purchase. After placing my order, I was asked to complete payment via Zelle, which I wasn’t comfortable doing, so I cancelled it. I still think their bowls are excellent and I’m interested in their Uncut tobacco line, but I haven’t ordered from them since.
6. Icon Hookah / Hookah Lab ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
Unfortunately, my worst experience by far. My first order arrived without two tins of Sebero Black Strawberry Guava. I accepted store credit instead of a refund and reordered the exact same items, only for them to be omitted again. When I requested a refund, I was only offered a prorated amount because the replacement order used the store credit issued for the original mistake. Missing the same products twice is frustrating enough, but the way the issue was resolved left me with little confidence in ordering from them again.