Glass City Pipes Guide to Percolator Bongs
Posted by Thomas Young on
What is a Percolator?
Percolators make your bong smoke smoother, cooler, and cleaner.
Also known as “percs,” percolators are glass filtration systems that are either built in or added on to a bong. The extra diffusion helps reduce irritants and the temperature of the smoke, making for a superior smoking experience overall.
In short: the more bubbles, the better.
Percolator bongs come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s a quick rundown of a handful of bong percolator types:
Tree Percolator
Tree percs resemble just that—a tree. Smoke comes up through the “trunk” of that tree (i.e. the main central tube) and down through the “branches” of that tree which have slits at their ends, producing a mess of bubbles and that classic sound we all know and love.
Showerhead Percolator
Showerhead percs also look like their namesake—showerheads. A vertical tube flares out at the bottom, with holes or slits along the rim. Smoke bubbles through those openings at the base and into the main chambler before continuing on to the mouthpiece.
Because of their design, showerhead percolator bongs combine well with other types of percolators. They also combine well with additional showerhead percs.
Honeycomb Percolator
You’re never going to believe this, but honeycomb percs…look like honeycombs (the kind you find in beehives). Are you sensing the trend yet?
Honeycomb percolators are flat discs studded with holes, through which the smoke filters. More holes means more bubbles, which is why many feature more than 30 or more. And because of their simple, yet elegant design, they can easily be stacked on top of one another for additional diffusion.
Circular Percolator
Also known as “circ percs,” the circular percolator is in the shape of…you know what? Nevermind. You already know.
In any case, the diffusion occurs through holes or slits around the rim of a glass circle. Similar in design to the showerhead, circ percs can be found in percolator bongs and even in ash catchers.
Matrix Percolator
Thankfully, Matrix percolators do not look like The Matrix. But, like the movie, they will blow your mind.
As far as bong percolator types go, those that feature a Matrix perc are top-tier. Cylindrical in shape, these bad boys offer 360-degree filtration through both horizontal and vertical slits. The complex design makes for extra diffusion and, thus, spectacularly smooth smoke.
Cheese Percolator
Often known as a “swiss percolator,” cheese percs resemble a wheel of — you guessed it — Swiss cheese. Holes pepper the outside of the circular base in an often unpredictable pattern. They offer extra filtration and a cacophony of chaotic bubbles, and make for a unique percolator bong.
Pick Your Perc
There are still plenty more different and dynamic designs out there. So how do you determine the best percolator bong for you? We say try them out. Grab yourself a cheese perc ash catcher and throw it on the bong you have now. Or start with a simple, yet elegant Matrix percolator bong. Whatever you choose, you’re guaranteed a smooth, easy smoke for those full, fantastic hits.
For more information on smoking, pipes, bongs, and more, read more from our blog. Or if you’re ready to get shopping, check out our full bong collection.