Who would have thought that a gangly foreign water pipe with a name like “hookah” would be so popular with college kids?

As Kane James, Binghamton’s resident hookah expert at Sugar Mountain, explains it, “In the last 10 years, the hookah industry has exploded. Most people wouldn’t have even known what a hookah was if you asked them then. Now almost everybody knows.”

The popularity, James said, has been fueled mainly by the fact that hookahs allow the communal act of smoking to thrive — something cigarettes don’t do — while keeping everything legal.

Another factor adding to the trend may be that many people find that hookah smoke is a lot smoother than that of cigarettes, but provides a similar “buzz.” The water in the hookah is responsible for the smoothness, and ice can even be added to strengthen this effect.

Even so, buying and maintaining a hookah can be a pricier endeavor than college students can afford. Depending upon the market, decent hookahs can range from $150-$350 — not including accessories like shisha and coals, which must be replenished often. Buying a hookah with more than one hose will also increase the cost.

Students who want to see for themselves what it might be like to own their own hookahs can go to Sugar Mountain, 42 Court St., or The Oasis, 142 Washington St., both in Downtown Binghamton