The most unusual shishas

Do you like water pipes, and even more so when they are one of a kind? The Hookah Battle competition is likely to impress you. The event has been held every year for 11 years in several major cities around the world, and is open to anyone who builds their own shisha. A look at the most astonishing designs.

Egor Chigridov and his Hookah Canon (2012)

As the name suggests, this one is a genuine cannon. Egor Chigridov is a leading Russian competitor with an impressive record. Each of his water pipes is more remarkable than the last. Beyond their appearance, they have also scored well with the various juries that have tested them.

Alexander Trofimov and his Hookah Cactus (2012)

Using a real cactus to build a shisha: somebody had to think of it. This is the work of Alexander Trofimov, a water pipe maker well known in the Hookah Battle world. He has several other hand-built water pipes to his name and has created his own tobacco brand. The cactus flavours the tobacco, which makes the piece a genuinely original build.

Nikita Fomenko and his Rocket Hookah (2016)

This rocket-shaped shisha did not go unnoticed. The striking build, made by Nikita Fomenko for the 2016 Russian edition, won the competition.

Its maker is no unknown. He owns several lounges in Kazakhstan and enjoys a considerable reputation in the shisha world of eastern Europe.

Nikolai Korsakov and his Flying Hookah (2015)

This design took third place at the 2015 Hookah Battle. The hot-air balloon shisha is a real feat, since it genuinely hangs in the air while remaining usable.

The man behind this piece is also very well known among water pipe users, as he owns the SkySpace Group in Saint Petersburg, which also sells more conventional shishas.

Grigory Diezov and his Engine Hookah (2016)

A shisha inside a car engine? Grigory Diezov did it, and did it remarkably well. The engine shisha won the 2016 contest for its ingenuity, but also because it has two heating systems and two separate hoses.