I usually try to smoke a bowl in one hit so about 15 seconds. All my more experienced toker friends do the same so it sounds a little weird that a single bowl can last so long for some people. However, my newbie friends usually can't finish a bowl in one hit so they usually light it 3-5 times and then throw out the "ash". Which way is better? Hard to say. To each their own I suppose.
ive hit bowls where the ganj was so dank yet so harsh. i could barely take a full hit without almost throwing up a lung. and then im blasted. that bowl lasted quite a bit. we would take 1 hit every half hour because we couldnt breath anymore... or remember where we put the bowl. anybody think coughing makes the high more intense? seems to me whenever i cough after a hit it takes me away/\.