Huano Acacia vs. Everglide Bamboo Green
An in-depth look at the Huano Acacia and the Everglide Bamboo Green switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When exploring the world of mechanical keyboards, the choice of switches plays a crucial role in tailoring your typing experience. The Huano Acacia, a linear switch, is celebrated for its medium-light weight and exceptional factory lubrication, offering a smooth and responsive feel that many typists appreciate. With minimal stem wobble, the Acacia provides a fluid keystroke ideal for those who prefer a straightforward, uninterrupted typing session. On the other hand, the Everglide Bamboo Green stands out as a tactile switch, delivering a distinct clacky sound signature paired with a crisp and sparkling tactility that typists often find satisfying. This combination of features makes the Bamboo Green excellent for those who enjoy a more engaging feedback during their keystrokes. While both switches cater to different preferences—smooth and linear versus tactile and pronounced—each offers unique advantages worth considering. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the switch that suits your specific needs.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
45g
Actuation force
43g
Bottom-out force
55g
Bottom-out force
62g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Standard
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
PBT
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
PBT
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Mount type
PCB (5-pin)
Spring
22mm single-staged spring
Spring
Gold-plated
Housing materials
When comparing the housing materials of the Huano Acacia and Everglide Bamboo Green switches, a notable distinction arises between the top housing due to their composition. The Acacia features a polycarbonate top, which enhances sonic clarity and effectively creates a sharper, higher-pitched sound profile. Its stiffness contributes to a crisper resonance, making it ideal for applications emphasizing RGB lighting due to its translucency. In contrast, the Bamboo Green utilizes a PBT top housing, which yields a more muted and neutral sound profile. While it may not produce the same crispness as polycarbonate, PBT's neutrality allows it to blend effectively into diverse acoustic environments without detracting from aesthetics, although it lacks the RGB advantages of a transparent housing.
Examining the bottom housings, the Huano Acacia’s nylon material provides a striking contrast to the Bamboo Green's PBT. Nylon is renowned for its softer texture, absorbing sound more effectively and producing a deeper, fuller sound profile that leans towards a duller note. This results in a more rounded auditory experience, particularly noticeable when bottoming out keys during intense typing sessions. Conversely, the Bamboo Green employs PBT for its bottom housing, providing a sound profile that remains neutral—neither particularly crisp nor excessively muted. This choice reflects the versatility of PBT, which, while reminiscent of the Farrago's sonic qualities, does not contribute the same depth that nylon offers.
In essence, the overarching design of each switch implies that sound experiences will be a blend of both top and bottom housing qualities. While the Acacia may deliver a brighter, more pronounced high-end sound thanks to its polycarbonate top, the fulness brought by the nylon bottom contrasts significantly with the Bamboo Green’s composition. Despite differing materials, both switches offer unique auditory experiences shaped by their housing combinations. The Huano Acacia will produce a sharper sound when releasing keys while yielding a deeper sound during key presses, while the Bamboo Green will maintain a balance between both functions without leading towards either extreme. Hence, even though the switches employ different materials, their interplay can create similarly engaging results based on how each housing material influences sound and performance.
Weight
When comparing the Huano Acacia linear switch and the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch, we find notable differences in their actuation and bottom out forces. The Acacia switch has an actuation force of 45 grams, while the Bamboo Green is slightly lighter at 43 grams, making the Bamboo Green the more suitable option for users seeking a lighter typing experience. However, when it comes to bottom out forces, the Acacia's 55 grams is less than the Bamboo Green's heavier 62 grams, indicating that the Bamboo Green requires more force to fully depress, appealing to those who prefer a more substantial feel while typing. Therefore, while both switches are relatively close in their actuation forces, the Acacia offers a lighter overall typing experience, whereas the Bamboo Green's heavier bottom out force caters to those who appreciate a firmer tactile response.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distances of the Huano Acacia linear switch and the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch, the Acacia has a travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Bamboo Green measures at 4 mm. This makes the Acacia the shorter option, appealing to gamers and those who prefer quicker response times, which can enhance the overall performance in fast-paced scenarios. In contrast, the Bamboo Green's 4 mm travel distance offers a deeper, more substantial feel, catering to individuals who appreciate a more pronounced tactile experience with each keystroke. As such, if you're seeking a switch that provides a balance of speed and depth, the Acacia could be ideal, whereas the Bamboo Green may be better suited for those who enjoy a more traditional, hearty typing experience.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The Everglide Bamboo Green has an MSRP of $9.67 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Bamboo Green for $7.19.
The Huano Acacia comes in at $3.39 per 10 switches.
Here at Milktooth, we offer the best prices on switches (on average, 27% lower the competition). In addition, we offer free shipping on orders over $49.00. We also offer free returns and exchanges, so you can shop with guaranteed satisfaction.
That said, while price is an important piece of the puzzle, our opinion is that you should ultimately pick the option that most suits your unique preferences since you’ll be using these switches for years to come. In other words, finding something perfect for you is, in our view, the most important criteria.
Typing experience
In terms of sound, the Huano Acacia linear switch produces a different auditory profile compared to the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch. The Acacia's sound is relatively subdued and smooth, providing a more muted feedback that many typists find pleasing for an uninterrupted typing experience. In contrast, the Bamboo Green is characterized by a clacky sound signature, offering a high-pitched and resonant auditory experience that can be quite invigorating. This sharper sound profile is crisp and sparkling, appealing to those who prefer a more dynamic acoustic feedback while typing.
When it comes to feel, the Acacia switch stands out with its medium-light weight and generous factory lubrication, delivering a smooth and refined typing experience straight out of the box. In contrast, the Bamboo Green features a stepped tactile feel, characterized by a distinct tactile bump that allows for a noticeable feedback during keypresses without being overwhelming. The Bamboo Green's tactile response is also described as accented and sharp, making it feel more pronounced and engaging, while still remaining comfortable for extended typing sessions.
In conclusion, while the Huano Acacia and Everglide Bamboo Green switches present some contrasting qualities, they each cater to different preferences in sound and feel. The Acacia is more muted and smooth, making it ideal for those who appreciate a serene typing experience, whereas the Bamboo Green offers a lively and tactile interaction with a crisp sound. Both switches can deliver enjoyable typing experiences, albeit differing in auditory and tactile feedback, allowing users to choose based on their specific preferences.
Conclusion
To conclude, your choice between the Huano Acacia linear switch and the Everglide Bamboo Green tactile switch will largely depend on your personal preferences and typing habits. If you prioritize a smooth, consistent typing experience with minimal resistance, the Acacia switches are an excellent choice. Their medium-light actuation force of 55 grams makes them suitable for prolonged typing sessions without excessive fatigue, and their factory lubrication ensures a seamless feel right away. These switches are particularly appealing for users who enjoy a quieter, more subdued auditory experience and prefer the linear feel without any tactile bump. Conversely, if you find satisfaction in tactile feedback while typing and enjoy a more engaging auditory experience, the Bamboo Green switches would be the way to go. Their medium actuation force of 62 grams offers a distinct tactile sensation with a pronounced, crisp bump that can enhance your typing rhythm. Additionally, the clacky, resonant sound profile can add a layer of satisfaction to your keystrokes, making it a delightful option for those who appreciate a more dramatic clicky feel. Thus, your selection should align with whether you value smooth linearity or tactile precision in your keyboard experience.
Mentioned in this article
