Turbine Percolator vs Honeycomb Percolator

The easiest way to choose between a turbine percolator vs honeycomb percolator is to ask yourself - do you want a visual show or maximum filtration? Both flat-perc designs are going to deliver way smoother hits, but they filter smoke differently. 

The turbine perc bong creates this incredible water tornado as you clear the chamber. On the other hand, the honeycomb percolator bong produces the smoothest possible rip. 

We stock both designs from the best brands the industry has to offer, and we’re going to cover all the little nuances you need to know to feel confident choosing between a turbine perc vs honeycomb perc. Find the perfect percolator bong today!

Turbine Percolator vs Honeycomb Percolator (Quick Comparison)

What is a Honeycomb Percolator? 

The honeycomb perc got its name from the design itself. It’s a flat glass disc with dozens of small holes. It looks like the cross-section of a beehive. 

These percs sit horizontally within the main chamber of the bong. Water and smoke get pulled up through the honeycomb as you pull the bowl to clear your rip, filtering through all of those holes simultaneously. All those bubbles = tons of filtration for the smoothest, coolest hit.

It’s honestly pretty rare that your bong would have just one honeycomb percolator. Most of the pieces we carry here at Badass Glass have 2-3 honeycombs stacked on top of each other for maximum filtration. 

The downside is that all those little holes are areas where resin can collect. This can slowly but surely impact the drag of your bong. It can also make cleaning a bit of a hassle. Whether those trade-offs are worth it for the extra filtration is for you to decide. 

What is a Turbine Percolator? 

You don’t hear about turbine percs as much as you do honeycomb percs. But they’re still a style worth looking into. The turbine perc is also a flat disc. The difference is these percs don’t have any holes. Instead, they have angled slides cut into the glass. Kind of like fan blades.

This leads to a very different sort of diffusion. You can visually see the difference between a turbine percolator vs honeycomb percolator, actually. The water spirals up the walls of your bong like a tornado. It’s truly a sight to behold. That’s part of the appeal - dinner and a show, so to speak! 

You just get ample filtration with a turbine perc. Just not quite on par with that of a honeycomb. But the turbine perc has less drag and is easier to clean as a result. 

Turbine Perc vs Honeycomb Perc: Key Differences You Need to Know Before Buying

You can start to see which of these percolators better aligns with what you’re looking for out of a piece already. Honeycomb percs give you maximum filtration. Turbine percs are easier to clear and clean, all while giving you a stunning spectacle.

But if you’re still not positive which of these is right for you, keep reading as we’ll compare the turbine perc vs honeycomb perc side by side below. 

Function

Function speaks to how well the perc filters smoke - and more importantly, how cool it is by the time it reaches your throat and lungs. This is where the honeycomb perc has an edge over its turbine perc counterpart.

More holes = more bubbles = more filtration. It’s really that simple. Some honeycomb percs have more than 50 holes, and some bongs have three or more honeycombs stacked within them. 

That’s just not something a turbine perc could ever match in terms of filtration. It still filters smoke better than a bong without a percolator would. But you’d notice the difference if you were to do some sort of “blind smoke test.”

Drag

The trade-off for extra filtration is drag - or the effort required to hit the bong. Turbine percs are easier to hit if you have a lower lung capacity. Air moves through the slits a bit easier since they’re larger than the holes of a honeycomb perc.

This is the one real downside we hear customers report back to us about with their honeycomb perc bongs. Especially in triple-stacked honeycomb perc bongs. They’re caught off guard by how tiring hitting the piece is. 

That’s why we typically only recommend the honeycomb bong for advanced tokers. Go with the other side of our turbine percolator vs honeycomb percolator comparison if you have weaker lungs. 

Cleaning

The same tiny holes that lead to more drag with a honeycomb percolator bong make for a somewhat bigger hassle on cleaning day. This can actually amplify the drag effect we just spoke to. If you don’t clean your bong often enough, you’ll notice it with a honeycomb percolator as the tiny holes get clogged.

That’s not to say that you never have to clean a turbine percolator bong. Just that it takes a little less effort, and the consequences of cleaning to irregularly are less severe. 

The Perfect Percolator Bong is a Few Clicks Away 

Whichever side of the turbine percolator vs honeycomb percolator debate you land on, your new favorite piece is right here at Badass Glass waiting to be discovered. Shop all our glass bongs and see what catches your eye today! 

Frequently asked questions

Do percolator bongs hit harder?

Not at all. How “hard” a bong hits is up to you - the user. How big of a rip you take is what influences how hard a bong hits. That being said, you can take “harder” rips from a percolator bong without feeling it as much because they’re so much smoother. 

Are bongs with percolators better?

Not necessarily. We prefer them, but a lot of people find that they prefer the drag-free nature of a bong without a percolator. Regular bongs are also easier to clean and they cost less. You should weigh the pros and cons of a percolator bong vs regular bong before you do decide. 

What is the best type of percolator?

There are so many different types of percs beyond the turbine perc vs honeycomb perc debate. You could even learn about the honeycomb vs tree percolator in our blog. There’s no right or wrong answer!