Rotating Hookahs? Or Km

[gixxer]

Hey everyone, long time smoker first time buyer. I've started smoking a lot more heavily now that I'm in college and am finally deciding to purchase my own. I don't hear much feedback about the rotating hookahs on these boards so I'd figure I'd ask. My local hookah lounge has them and they seem really convenient, but my overall concern is going to be quality. Are these worth it or should I just stick with a KM?

Also, are all KMs pretty much consistent as far as quality goes? With an ice hookah will they still smoke as normal without ice (we have some halfass ice trays in our mini freezer so ice come on occasion)? Are there any places that carry KM hookahs which throw in free coals/shisha like hookah-shisha does?

Thanks a lot

[Imsomint]

I have only been smoking since about the end of August and have only used one hookah with the exception of a couple in a few random bars. In my months of lurking I haven't ever seen anything particularly good about rotating hookahs. I don't have any personal experience with rotating hookahs and when I come to think about it, it seems pretty impractical. Chances are if you don't have enough slack in your hose to actually rotate it upon passing the hose, you'll pull the hookah over. Goes great with their high center of gravity.

I just ordered a KM ice not 10 minutes ago. I'm hoping it will live up to the reputation KM seems to have among these forums.

[Bulldog_916]

Well, everyone and their mom owns a KM...there's a reason. They're quality pipes. I doubt you would hear much in favor of anything else other than Nour, MZ or Mya.

[OneGreenMonstah]

i'd stick with a traditional hookah personally although i can not speak on quality regarding the rotator it is not necessary to have a rotating hookah for smoking convenience; put the hookah on the edge of the circle (this requires a decent length hose and people sitting in relatively close) and you dont have to worry about it rotating or not. My concern with the rotator is its mid level center of gravity... are these more likely to tip than a bottom center of gravity traditional hookah? i'm not sure as i have never smoked a rotator. finally as you said there is little to no discussion on rotators... does that mean they arent any good so no one has one/ talks about them? definitely let us know what you end up with... especially if its the rotator and how it compares to the traditional! good luck yo

[Giant Ninja Robot]

I own a rotator and 2 KMs so I can give you the straight up answer you seek (my opinion at least)...

The rotator was the first hookah I owned and I loved it and frankly the fact that is rotates is really convenient, as it follows you wherever you take the hose, so if you're a wiggly fidgeter like me you can switch positions and seats without moving the pipe. I got spoiled and miss the rotating action lol, the drawbacks are that the construction on mine, an HC rotator, isn't as hardy as my KMs. In fact in 2 years use the purge valve and hose port are both leaking something fierce. There is also a leak where the vase meets the metal stand. Cleaning is a bitch if it doesn't easily disasemble. It smoked well while it was still in use, but my KMs smoke a bit better and are sturdier in construction.

KM makes rotators but they aren't available here to my knowledge so if you have to choose between say a noname or MZ rotator and a KM, I say go KM. Just sturdier.

If I ever get a KM rotator I'll be a happy man, till then I've got my other pipes and eventually an old rotator covered in JB weld lol.

Any other specific questions just ask...

also quick edit - to answer a question, the rotator is actually STURDIER as far as balance and center of gravity goes. Think of the design of a pyramid and how it can bear a heavier load, in a more stable fashion as opposed to a simple tower.

[MandirnOrange]

from what I hear, the rotating hookahs get stuck after a while and stop rotating fluently. KMs are always a reliable hookah.

[MandirnOrange]

Also, at gothookahs.com theres some that come with coals/shisha. Look for the ones that say SPECIAL.

[mushrat]

anything but a rotator.

[mattathayde]

i have a rotator, they smoke well but their are junk quality wise.

-matt

[ryno]

Apro has a rotator and the thing smokes like a champ and is really well built. I think because the makes differ, quality differs so much in them. I can honestly say his rotator smokes just as good as my KM Exotica and he's had it for over a year and has had little to no problems with it. If you like the rotators, I say get one, but the quality you can never be too sure of

[Giant Ninja Robot]

Rotators dont get stuck. At least mine never did and that was with pretty crappy upkeep.

[ALI]

you could just buy a km rotator. but i dont know if you can get them anywhere on the internet.

[SmokinMoose]

I have a KM rotator but my regular KM smokes much better.

I would say just get a regular KM and you will not be disappointed.

[erufiku]

I have two KMs and I smoke almost exclusively out of my MYA Bambino... Just because I'm too lazy to clean the big pipes. That being said, I don't really see the point of rotators. Get a lazy susan (or whatever that rotating thing is called) and a stable hookah, it'll work better I think.

[Giant Ninja Robot]

I'll say it again, the rotating function is awesome, don't knock it till you try it!

But the concensus seems to be that they are (in most cases) subpar in construction.

And yeah, frankly I use my Mya QT more than my KMs, just so much easier to use and clean!!! But for hardcore sessions I go with the KMs.

Really need a wide guage for the QT though, the tiny hose is killing me and my ultimate just won't work.

[mattathayde]

I'll say it again, the rotating function is awesome, don't knock it till you try it!

But the concensus seems to be that they are (in most cases) subpar in construction.

And yeah, frankly I use my Mya QT more than my KMs, just so much easier to use and clean!!! But for hardcore sessions I go with the KMs.

Really need a wide guage for the QT though, the tiny hose is killing me and my ultimate just won't work.

ya it makes it much easier when smoking with a lot of people but as a single user or with out having to pass around a table it ends up being kind of annoying since the coals can move when it rotates (and it swivels back and forth some when you move )

-matt

[gixxer]

I really appreciate all the feedback and advice. I'm 80% sure I'm just going to go with a KM and a nammor, but I'm definately going to spend some more time at my local lounge while over break to make a finally decision about the rotating hookah. My friends and I spend a lot of time outside smoking while studying and we get extremely lazy with the hookah, but I am figuring a long hose will also get the job done.

With a KM ice hookah will it smoke as normal without using ice?

[mattathayde]

I really appreciate all the feedback and advice. I'm 80% sure I'm just going to go with a KM and a nammor, but I'm definately going to spend some more time at my local lounge while over break to make a finally decision about the rotating hookah. My friends and I spend a lot of time outside smoking while studying and we get extremely lazy with the hookah, but I am figuring a long hose will also get the job done.

With a KM ice hookah will it smoke as normal without using ice?

unless you are sitting in a circle and pass the hose around the table it wont help much.

if i were to do it over i would probably buy a km if i can find one i like the way it looks (havent really shopped for them so not sure if there is one or not), or a mya

-matt

[Fluffy]

A km would be wise if you want it to last (and you should)

all the rotators ive seen were chinise junk

[NearFatal]

I actually own a double hose rotating hookah, I bought it about a year ago from a local middle eastern grocery store. I'm going to have to agree with everyone on the quality of it, it's not the best, but I still have yet to have a leak and I use it almost everyday. Even though the quality isn't the best i always get amazing sessions from it. Several of my friends own hookah's and mine seems to always hit the best. I love the rotator, I always smoke with another person but its usually 3-5 of us. It's very convenient to just put it in the middle of us and keep passing. I can't say anything about a KM because I personally have never smoked out of one. I think your decision comes down to how many people you are smoking with and how much ease you want in passing.