Selecting the right papers to roll a joint or spliff is essential to getting the most out of your smoking session. Joint rolling papers can affect your smoking experience almost as much as what you’re rolling inside them and how well it’s rolled. Bad papers can burn fast, leave a bad aftertaste, and cause marijuana to burn unevenly.
Here’s a quick guide to choosing the best papers for your needs.
Size
The size of your rolling papers has the biggest effect on your joint. There are 5 common sizes to choose from.
Single-wides
Single wide papers are the smallest papers. They can be hard to roll because they must be rolled tight.
1 ¾ papers
Slightly bigger is the one-and-one-quarter-inch papers. This is the most popular size and is about the same size as a cigarette. These are best for one to three people.
1 ½ papers
The next size, a one-and-one-half-inch is between the size of a cigarette and a blunt. These are best for three to four people.
Double-wides
Perhaps the least popular size is the double-wide. These make larger joints, but they are tricky to roll. If you don’t roll them right, you’ll be smoking more paper than product.
King-sized papers
King size papers are great for four or five people. They have good ventilation and are easy to pass among a small group of friends in a smoke session.
The Paper Material
There are several materials from which rolling papers are made. The material will affect the quality of your smoke and the length of it as well.
The most common materials are hemp, rice, flax, and wood pulp. Some papers are made with extra chemicals, including bleach or chlorine. These papers can be harsh for some people, yet others won’t notice a difference when smoking.
Paper Thickness
The thickness of joint rolling papers doesn’t really affect the quality of your smoking session necessarily. It’s more of a preference for each individual, so you may want to try a few different sizes to find the one you like the best.
Thinner papers let more airflow into the joint, so they burn slowly compared to joints rolled with a thick paper. Thick papers will burn longer than thin papers, so you won’t have to re-light as often.
Add a Bit of Flavor
There are several rolling paper choices out today that allow you to add some extra flavor to your smoke with a flavored rolling paper. You can find papers with blueberry, citrus, coconut, and even chocolate. These add a hint of flavor to your smoke and can cover the taste of the burning paper. Some smokers love flavored papers; others prefer a pure smoke. One thing to note is that flavored papers usually burn faster than unflavored papers.
Popular Rolling Paper Brands
Elements rolling papers are made with sugar and rice, so they tend to offer a smoother smoke than do other brands. When you’re done smoking, only the caramelized gum remains.
Raw rolling papers, as the name implies, are made with no chalk, additives, or dyes. They aren’t bleached, and they are made from unrefined plant materials. They are easy to roll and don’t alter the taste of your smoke.
OCB papers are very thin. Some thin papers tear easily, but these are easy to roll without tearing.
If you want to try a flavored rolling paper, try Juicy Jay’s. They have some pretty cool flavors to choose from such as watermelon, banana, raspberry, green apple, grape, and blueberry.
Choosing joint rolling papers really comes down to personal preference. You may have to try a few different sizes, materials, and flavors to find the best one for you, but at least you’ll have fun experimenting!