Packing a bowl might seem simple, but doing it the right way makes all the difference.

A properly packed bowl keeps your hits smooth, airflow at its prime, and no wasted weed.

Too loose, and you’ll burn through it too quickly. Too tight, and you’ll struggle to get a good pull. And let’s not forget the dreaded moment when your precious bud falls right through the hole.

This how-to guide will walk you through the best technique to use to pack a bowl perfectly, every time.

The reason most bong smokers lose their weed to the pipe or bong hole is simply that they grind their weed down too finely.

You do not need to grind your weed into a powder to smoke a bowl. It just needs to be small enough pieces to cover a good surface area, and then it can be slightly pushed down with your finger.

Conversely, packing your bowl with chunky bud pieces can burn unevenly and waste your buds potential.

Use a grinder for a medium consistency—not too fine, not too chunky.

If your bowl’s hole is a little too big, there are two simple fixes: a metal screen or a larger nug as a natural filter.

A metal screen fits inside the bowl and catches small pieces of flower, preventing them from falling through. They’re inexpensive, easy to find at most smoke shops, and reusable with a quick clean. This is one of the best ways of how to keep weed from falling into the bong or pipe.

If you don’t have a screen on hand, use a larger piece of bud as a base. Drop it at the bottom of your bowl before adding ground weed on top. This acts as a natural stopper, keeps airflow smooth, and prevents bits from clogging your piece.

As you add more ground weed, gently press it down with your finger or a tamper, but don’t pack it too tight. You want a firm pack that holds its shape but still allows airflow. If it’s too compressed, it’ll be harder to smoke and might burn unevenly.