Bowls are better you get straight weed no paper burn. But truth is you conserve more bud with bowls and get higher than with joints. Cause you light a joint it stays lit so its burning and the smoke is going off into the air, same if ur passing the joint around to someone waste of bud in mid air. where as a pipe or bong u can easily put it out (if it isnt already out ) inhale rest of smoke in it by using the carb (or sliding stem) then re light to next person. only reason id use joints is portability , pipes are like that but u gotta hold it funny and light it, not the easiest for walking and talking