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I’ve tried a ton of different HHC and Delta 8 brands and products and I can promise you that they feel quite different and the effects offered by some brands are much better than others. In fact, some brands stand heads (and shoulders) above the competition when it comes to quality, effectiveness, and price.
Stick with us as we take a closer look at HHC vs Delta 8 to help you work out which one will be the best for you and which brands you should be shopping with.
HHC vs Delta 8: Summary
Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here’s the gist…
What does HHC feel like?
Potency – estimated to be around 70% of Delta 9 THC
Effects – more happy, energizing, and uplifting 😁
Benefits – best for depression, anxiety, motivation, and energy
Price – more expensive at ~$3.50 per serving (30 mg)
Best HHC products – Galaxy Treats’ award-winning Moon Babies HHC Gummies and HHC Puff Bars (disposable vapes)
What does Delta 8 feel like?
Potency – estimated to be around 50% of Delta 9 THC
Effects – more all-over-body relaxation and more psychoactive 🤩
Benefits – best for pain, insomnia, stress, and anxiety
Price – less expensive at ~$2.50 per serving (50 mg)
Best Delta 8 products – Vance Global’s award winning Delta 8 cigarettes and super potent Delta 8 gummies
Best HHC and Delta 8 THC brands
If you’re interested in learning more about each compound, then keep reading below. Or, if you’ve already learned everything you came for, then let me introduce you to two of our favorite HHC and Delta 8 brands.
For the best HHC products…
If you’re looking for a happy, heady HHC buzz, then head on over to Galaxy Treats, who specialize in products that will send you to space, man. This brand is best-known for their Moon Babies gummies, which won the 2022 High Times Hemp Cup for best gummies and, here at CBD Incubator, we have to agree that they’re pretty special.
For the best Delta 8 products…
If you’d prefer to drift away on a dreamy, Delta 8 vibe, then we recommend you do so with Vance Global. This brand made a name for itself in the smokables market, winning CBD Incubator’s coveted title of Best Delta 8 cigarettes, but now also boasts some of the most potent and effective Delta 8 gummies around. If you’ve not taken Delta 8 before, I seriously suggest you start with a half (maybe even less!).
What is HHC vs Delta 8?
Both HHC and Delta 8 are compounds that can be found naturally occurring in cannabis and hemp plants. They are part of a group of compounds called cannabinoids, which are made up of exactly the same elements as each other (carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen), but the chemical structure of each is slightly different.
Delta 8, Delta 9, and Delta 10 (also known as D8, D9, and D10) are all forms of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). They share an almost identical molecular structure and the only way to differentiate them is to locate the double bond on their carbon chain. Delta 8 THC’s double bond sits between the 8th and 9th carbon chain, whereas Delta 9 THC has a double bond located between the 9th and 10th carbon (and so on).
HHC is a form of hexahyrdrocannabinol and to the untrained eye it looks very similar to THC, but HHC doesn’t have a double bond, but two hydrogenated molecules instead.
The chemical difference appears to be very small, but the impact this can have on the pharmacology and effects of the compound can be larger than you might think.
Is HHC stronger than Delta 8?
When you look at the potency of the HHC cannabinoid vs Delta 8, scientists seem to agree with the anecdotal evidence that says HHC is stronger than Delta 8, potentially by around 50%. Personally-speaking, I would say that the highs experienced from each compound are too different to be compared fairly.
HHC usually seems to hit me harder at first, but I feel like I’m still able to think more clearly on HHC than Delta 8 THC. D8 feels like it gets me more intoxicated, perhaps because it has more of a tendency towards psychoactive effects and has more of an all-over-body experience.
Also, the potency of HHC is also prone to fluctuate from one product to another, which is explained by the ratio of diastereomers you end up with after the hydrogenation process. In another article entitled “what is HHC?”, it’s explained that:
“In the production of HHC, there is usually around a 50/50 mix of diastereomers [9r and 9s], meaning that, although all of the molecules produced have the same molecular formula, around half of them occupy a slightly different three-dimensional space.
Preliminary research suggests that they both have great therapeutic potential, but (allegedly) one of them is more psychoactive than the other. This may explain why different HHC products can affect you differently, with some feeling more energetic and others feeling more other-worldly.”
So, a 9r 60/40 mix may give you very different effects from a 40/60 batch because 9r has a much better binding affinity for cannabinoid receptors in the brain.
Is HHC better than Delta 8?
So, is HHC better than Delta 8 THC because it’s stronger? This is a tough question to answer because which one you prefer will ultimately depend on what kind of experience you’re looking for.
Recreationally-speaking, I enjoy taking HHC and Delta 8 THC in slightly different circumstances and I also find that they have quite unique therapeutic benefits.
HHC is better for…
If I’m going out to a gig or other event, looking forward to a sociable evening with dancing and/or company, then HHC would probably be my cannabinoid of choice because it’s more energizing and uplifting.
For this reason, HHC is also great for boosting your mood and relieving social anxiety.
Delta 8 is better for…
If my evening is heading towards a more chilled vibe, involving movies and games, then I’d veer more towards Delta 8.
I also turn to Delta 8 more readily when it comes to nausea and pain relief, and to improve sleep quality. Plus, there has also been a lot more research on the benefits of Delta 8, simply because it’s been around for longer.
Which is safer, HHC or Delta 8?
Neither one of these compounds have been around for long enough for anyone to confidently vouch for their absolute safety, especially when it comes to long-term effects. But we do know that no-one has died from taking them and that the only serious side effects recorded have been a result of accidental dosing and overdosing.
So, hopefully it goes without saying to a) not leave your gummies out for minors to get their hands on them and b) don’t eat the whole bag in one sitting!
Other potential side effects are mild and infrequent, including dry mouth, red eyes, drowsiness, anxiety, etc (basically the same set of common side effects that are associated with THC in general).
It’s always safer to buy online
As mentioned previously, both HHC and Delta 8 are naturally occurring hemp-derived cannabinoids, but they exist in such small quantities in the cannabis plant that extracting them for commercial use just isn’t a viable option. Instead, HHC and Delta 8 distillate have to be made in a lab via chemical processes such as isomerization (to make Delta 8 THC) and hydrogenation (to make HHC).
These psychoactive compounds are usually made from hemp-derived CBD, meaning they’re both legal at the federal level thanks to the Hemp Farming Act of 2018. They are both considered to be semi-synthetic cannabinoids because although they are man-made, they do also exist in nature.
The manufacturing process is a relatively simple one, but it’s important that it’s done properly and that the compounds are distilled thoroughly afterwards to ensure their safety and purity.
Please, please, please, don’t buy your minor cannabinoid products from gas stations. Buying online will give you so many better, safer options and better prices too 🤑
Whether you’re buying HHC or Delta 8, make sure that the brand you buy from can provide a certificate of analysis (COA) for the product in question. This COA should verify the product’s potency, so you know it will be effective, as well as its purity, so you know it will be safe.
Delta 8 products need to be tested for residual solvents especially, while HHC should always be tested for heavy metals.
Which is more expensive, HHC or Delta 8?
Another notable difference between HHC and Delta 8 is the price. You are looking at paying a higher price on HHC compared to Delta 8, simply because it’s more expensive to make.
If we look at the price of HHC vs Delta 8 gummies, for example:
Galaxy Treats’ HHC gummies – $35 for 20 gummies (15 mg in each)
I would recommend two gummies per serving = $3.50 per serving
Vance Global’s Delta 8 gummies – $20 for 8 gummies (50 mg in each)
I would recommend one gummy per serving = $2.50 per serving
Summary: Are Delta 8 and HHC better together?
Since I personally love them both, I find it impossible to say that either HHC or Delta 8 is better than the other, because they’re just different. Most people find HHC to be more of an upper, as it offers a more energizing and uplifting high. Delta 8 also imparts feelings of euphoria, but definitely in a more relaxing and sedating way.
I highly recommend trying them both to see how they make you feel and to see which effects you prefer, because cannabinoids do sometimes affect people a little differently.
On a side note, I’ve also been hearing of a lot of people taking HHC and Delta 8 together to experience even better effects and I have to say that I’m pretty excited to try out this combination for myself one day.
Best HHC & Delta 8 brands
As mentioned above, two brands that I’m happy to recommend at every turn are Galaxy Treats and Vance Global. Both brands are producing stellar quality products (that really work!) and they’re also managing to get their products on the market at incredibly affordable prices.
They’re not only better than a lot of brands out there but they’re also safer as both brands pay to have their products run through comprehensive third-party testing, for potency AND purity. This means that they’re choosing to pay extra to have their products tested for pesticides, heavy metals, microbials, mycotoxins, and residual solvents, because they care about your safety (not just profit).
You rarely see this level of quality and effectiveness at such low prices, which is why I’m so happy to be able to recommend them to you for all your HHC and Delta 8 needs.
Best HHC brand – Galaxy Treats
Galaxy Treats is best known for its gummies called Moon Babies. With 15 mg of HHC in each deliciously flavored gummy, I would recommend taking one if you want to stay in our atmosphere or take two for a more memorable trip around the moon🌛
Gummies usually take anywhere between 30 to 60 minutes to kick in, so if you prefer a more instant high, then Galaxy Treats also sells HHC disposable vapes called Blast Bars. Their Blast Bars contain only two ingredients, HHC distillate and natural terpenes, meaning no nasty fillers or additives. And with two grams of HHC in each bar, just one bar lasts for ages!
You can read my full Galaxy Treats Moon Babies review here.
Best Delta 8 brand – Vance Global
Vance Global has already won CBD Incubator’s highly coveted title of Best CBD Cigarettes and Best Delta 8 cigarettes for 2022, but their Delta 8 gummies are also hugely popular among fans of intoxicating, but legal, cannabinoids.
Smoking their Delta 8 cigarettes will offer more instantly gratifying effects (which are quite spectacular, btw). I sometimes find that Delta 8 can be a little harsh on the throat when you’re smoking it, so having a proper cigarette-like filter on these really makes it a more enjoyable experience. And, in case you’re wondering, the filter doesn’t hamper the effects of Delta 8 at all – these are super potent 💪
And the gummies too. Vance Global isn’t shy when it comes to potency and with 50 mg of Delta 8 in each gummy, they are pretty potent even for a more experienced cannabis user. Beginners are advised to approach with caution.
Summary
If you still have unanswered questions about either HHC or Delta 8, then you can learn more about each compound on our website, www.cbdincubator.com.
Whichever one you choose, or if you want to try both, then we hope you have a happy and safe ride (which you will if you stick with one of our favorite brands as recommended above). As always, if it’s your first time experimenting with these cannabinoids, when it comes to dosing, start low, go slow, and enjoy!
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