Standing in front of a wall of rolling papers can feel like reading a menu in another language: 1¼, king size slim, single wide, hemp, rice, unbleached, slow burning. Pick the wrong one and you get a roll that canoes, burns hot or tastes like paper. This guide breaks down sizes, materials and tips so you can grab the right pack the first time.
Who this guide is for
Whether you roll your own tobacco every day or just want a pack of cones in the drawer, the choices come down to three things: size, paper material and whether you use a tip. We stock RAW, OCB, Zig-Zag, Elements, Juicy Jay's and more at Tobacconist & Vape, a franchised Express News store on East Hastings in Vancouver.
Rolling paper sizes explained
Single wide
The classic small paper, good for thin, quick rolls and lighter smokers. Try RAW Classic Single Wide Rolling Papers or RAW Classic Single Wide Double Window, which gives you 100 leaves per booklet.
1¼ size
The most popular all-rounder: a bit wider than single wide, easy to roll and forgiving for beginners. Good picks are RAW Classic Natural Unrefined 1¼, Zig-Zag Orange 1¼ and OCB X-Pert 1¼.
King size slim
Longer and narrower, for a longer smoke without a fat roll. RAW Classic King Size Wide suits fuller rolls, while OCB Premium Slim + Filters and RAW Classic Connoisseur King Size Slim + Tips come with tips in the pack.
Paper materials: hemp, rice, wood pulp and unbleached
- Unbleached / natural: brown, less processed paper with a mild taste. RAW Classic and Zig-Zag Unbleached 1¼ are the go-tos.
- Hemp: a little thicker, easy to handle and slow, even burning. Try RAW Organic Hemp 1¼ or OCB Slim + Filters Organic Hemp.
- Rice and ultra-thin: very light papers that let you taste the tobacco, not the paper. Look at Elements Ultra Thin Rice, RAW Ethereal 1¼ and Zig-Zag Ultra Thin Slow Burning. They take a little practice.
- Classic white: thicker, easy to grip and good for beginners, like OCB White.
Slow burning vs free burning
Slow-burning papers are thinner and treated to burn evenly, so your roll lasts longer and runs less. Free-burning papers light easily and stay lit. Zig-Zag makes both side by side: Zig-Zag Kutcorners Slow Burning and Zig-Zag Kutcorners Free Burning. OCB Ultimate 1¼ is another slow-burning favourite.
Tips and filters
A tip (or crutch) gives the roll structure, keeps loose bits out of your mouth and lets you finish the roll without burning your fingers. Card tips like RAW Perforated Wide Tips and RAW Slim Tips are rolled by hand. If you prefer filters, OCB Regular Filters and OCB X-Pert Extra Slim Filters are easy to use.
Pre-rolled cones and wraps
Cones skip the rolling: fill, pack and twist. RAW Classic 1¼ Cones, RAW Classic Cones 98 Special, RAW Organic Hemp King Size Cones and Pop Cones are all simple to use. For something different, there are Endo Organic Hemp Wraps, Juicy Jay's Hemp Wraps and the flavoured Juicy Jay's 1¼ Flavoured Rolling Papers.
Quick tips for a better roll
- New to rolling? Start with 1¼ papers and a tip.
- Spread the filling evenly before you roll - lumps cause uneven burns.
- Lick only the gum line, lightly. Too much moisture weakens thin papers.
- Store papers flat and dry so the gum doesn't stick early.
- Keep a RAW Classic Black Tips booklet or cones on hand as a backup.
Shop rolling papers in Vancouver
Browse the full range in our Rolling Papers & Supplies collection, and pick up a lighter in Accessories. Visit us at 140 - 2741 E Hastings St, Vancouver, or order before 5 PM for same-day delivery between 6 PM and 7 PM to Vancouver, Burnaby and parts of North Vancouver. You must be 19+, and ID is checked at pickup and delivery.